006 Reborn as the Third Kazekage

It is said that the Sands of the Desert was once a freshwater lake as vast as the ocean. Over time, the environment shifted, transforming the once-boundless waters into a sprawling desert with only a tiny oasis remaining. On windy nights, the howling winds passing through the remnants of ancient shells produce eerie, hollow wails, giving the Singing Sands its name.

Located near the borders of the Land of Rain, the Sands Oasis has been a strategic point since the First Kazekage's era. The Second Kazekage fortified it further, digging wells and stockpiling supplies, turning it into the northern Wind Country's largest military outpost—a forward base for invading the Land of Rain.

Now, it serves as the frontline where the armies of Konoha and Sunagakure face off. Fighting on home turf has given Sunagakure an edge. Boosted by recent supply shipments, their morale surged, and they managed to hold Konoha's army—twice their size—to a standstill. Chiyo had stabilized their defense, while Danzō refrained from launching an all-out offensive, creating a tense stalemate.

However, Chiyo understood all too well that this newfound morale was a fragile bubble. Supplies were running low and wouldn't last forever. Danzō's patience was a calculated move—waiting for Sunagakure's provisions to run dry, ensuring their eventual collapse. Staring at the map, Chiyo frowned deeply.

"Lady Chiyo, the Third Kazekage has arrived!" a messenger announced.

"Summon the unit commanders. Meet at the main tent immediately!"

Arashi removed his sand goggles and face covering, exhaling a long breath. After traveling back and forth over thousands of kilometers, sprinting for three days and nights, even his considerable chakra reserves were nearly depleted. As he wiped his face with a towel, sand fell from his cloak in small piles. Thoughts swirled in his mind, refining the plan he had crafted during his journey.

"Everyone's gathered and waiting for your orders in the main tent, Kazekage-sama," said a subordinate.

"Lead the way. And find me a new cloak—a white one," Arashi said, tossing his sand-covered cloak aside. The sand was impossible to shake off.

"This is the current battlefield situation," said Karura, gesturing toward the map. She cast a nervous glance at the newly appointed Third Kazekage, unsure of his temperament.

Arashi rested his chin on his hand, silently studying the map marked with red and blue forces. Chiyo and the other commanders waited quietly for his response.

"How many troops do we have left?" Arashi finally asked.

"5,874," Karura replied immediately.

"And the enemy?"

"Approximately 10,000."

"How long can our supplies hold out?"

"Twenty-five days at most."

"Are the supplies being transported from Lake Tsuki?"

"Yes."

"How long does the supply convoy take to reach here?"

"About fifteen days."

Arashi fell into deep thought.

"I have an idea," he said at last, picking up a red pencil and drawing a circle on the map.

"We're moving the decisive battle here," he announced, pointing at the circled area. Everyone's gaze followed his finger to the map. The location was labeled Lake Tsuki.

"What about the Sands Oasis? Are we just… abandoning it? Handing it over to Konoha for nothing?" Chiyo questioned, her tone sharp. The room erupted into murmurs, Arashi's words clearly confused the commanders.

"Heh, calm down, Chiyo-sama. Everyone, relax." Arashi smiled, gently pressing Chiyo back into her seat.

"'If we preserve our people but lose land, both can still be regained. But if we lose our people to protect the land, we lose everything.' This retreat is a strategic move for an even greater advance!" His words, delivered with charisma, silenced the room.

"There's a kind of victory in retreat and a kind of defeat in conquest. If Konoha wants this place so badly, let them have it!" Arashi declared dramatically, sweeping his hand with a flourish.

"Oh, by the way, where's the army's latrine?"

...

"This level of destruction isn't Chiyo's work," Danzō muttered to himself.

Surveying the camp left behind by Sunagakure, even Danzō's stoic face twitched. The devastation was thorough.

"Relay orders to Orochimaru and Jiraiya: pursue Sunagakure relentlessly. Harass them and prevent a clean retreat. If they encounter heavy resistance, fall back," Danzō commanded.

Later that night, while Danzō was sleeping, a scout reported a commotion in Sunagakure's camp. Horses neighed, and men shouted, creating a chaotic din. Though Danzō ordered the troops to stand by in full alert, he did not attack. To him, maintaining the stalemate would guarantee victory. A reckless advance risked falling into a trap.

However, at dawn, scouts confirmed that Sunagakure had truly retreated. Danzō arrived at their camp to find complete ruin. Not a single intact wall stood. No roof was free of holes. No food, no firewood—nothing was left behind.

"Danzō-sama," Tsunade, a young kunoichi, approached with a test tube, her nose wrinkling in disgust.

"Report."

"All eight wells have been poisoned. Along with a… generous addition of human waste," Tsunade said, her tone dripping with disdain.

"…"

"I can develop an antidote for the poison in two days, but… filtering the rest will take time," she added.

Danzō's face darkened further. After a long silence, he spoke.

"Forget it. Water and food will be supplied from the rear base in the Land of Rain. It's only a day's journey. No one is to camp here. In one hour, we move to regroup with Orochimaru's unit."

The young Jiraiya and Orochimaru led over a hundred Konoha shinobi, sprinting across the desert.

"Hey, Orochimaru! Let's race to see who catches Sunagakure first!" Jiraiya boasted, only to choke on sand blown into his mouth.

"Idiot," Orochimaru sneered, distancing himself from Jiraiya.

A lone figure appeared ahead—a man with long blue hair, wearing a white veil and cloak. Standing tall atop a dune, he faced the approaching Konoha ninjas.

"Iron Sand: Drizzle," Arashi said coldly, launching his attack.

Under magnetic control, countless grains of iron sand rained down at high speed. Orochimaru deftly flipped backward to evade, while Jiraiya used Needle Jizō to shield himself with his hardened hair. Several Konoha shinobi, unable to react in time, were shredded.

"You're the Blue Sandstorm of Sunagakure—Arashi," Jiraiya said, peeking through his silver hair.

"Indeed. You've heard of me?" Arashi replied with a smile.

"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!" Orochimaru countered immediately, snakes lunging toward Arashi.

"Iron Shield," Arashi summoned a massive black shield, blocking the snakes. But to his surprise, the serpents coiled around the shield and struck again.

Interesting. Just as Arashi prepared to strike, Jiraiya joined in.

"Wild Lion's Mane Technique!" Jiraiya's silver hair extended into deadly spikes, piercing Arashi through.

"Boom!" Arashi vanished in a puff of smoke.

A shadow clone?! Orochimaru frowned, realizing the trick.

The real Arashi emerged from behind a dune, clapping.

"Impressive, no wonder Hanzō called you the Legendary Sannin. Where's Tsunade? I hear she's quite the beauty. Care to introduce us?"

Before anyone could respond, Konoha ninjas launched their attacks.

"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"

"Wind Style: Blade of Wind!"

Arashi calmly raised a defense. "Iron Sand: Iron Wall."

As the shield glowed red from the fire, Orochimaru and Jiraiya exchanged a wary glance. They sensed danger.

"Iron Sand: Steel Garden," Arashi intoned.

The ground trembled. Black iron vines erupted from the desert, spiraling upward. Blood bloomed like flowers in the sand, painting the battlefield in gruesome beauty.