005 Reborn as the Third Kazekage

For a swordmaster like Sakumo Hatake, whose unparalleled skill relied on raw taijutsu and extraordinary kenjutsu rather than elemental ninjutsu, finding a true nemesis was rare. Yet, among the few exceptions, Magnet Release was an undeniable counter—especially against someone wielding an iron blade.

"What a magnificent sword! Truly worthy of the legendary White Fang of Konoha." Arashi twirled the renowned blade in his hands, admiration clear in his voice. Meanwhile, its rightful owner lay slumped against the crumbling fortress wall, coughing up blood. The once-mighty Konoha ninja force lay scattered—hundreds of elite shinobi now nothing more than lifeless bodies sprawled across the blood-soaked floor, their crimson staining the walls. The stench of death and iron filled the air.

The central fortress of Ishi spanned roughly 600 square meters. Arashi's control over his iron sand extended up to 800 meters, making this space an ideal battleground for him. A semi-enclosed area, packed with so many people, left no room to escape or hide. He had emptied all twelve tons of iron sand sealed within his scrolls, blanketing the fortress just as Sakumo prepared for a final, desperate strike.

"To the Konoha ninja over there—you're surrounded by me alone," Arashi thought, a hint of dark amusement tugging at his lips.

What followed was a scene of pure carnage. Black iron sand surged like a torrential flood from every direction, consuming the fortress in a maelstrom of chaos. The once-sturdy structure transformed into a battlefield of nightmares, akin to a giant washing machine endlessly churning its contents. Iron sand roared as it spun, flinging shattered kunai and shuriken alongside fragments of bone and flesh. The screams of Konoha shinobi echoed amidst the relentless clatter.

Some reacted swiftly, retreating to safety—only to find the exits already sealed. A few daring leaps later, they were skewered by the rushing iron sand. Others tried to counter with Water and Earth Release techniques, but single-direction defenses were no match for Arashi's omnipresent assault. Water Dragon Bullets proved futile, and earthen walls crumbled like paper under the pressure. Their resistance was fleeting—mere ripples in a flood, gone in an instant.

This battle became the turning point for the Third Kazekage, Arashi. Stories spread like wildfire among Konoha survivors:

"If you smell iron while fighting Sunagakure shinobi, retreat immediately. That might be your only chance to survive. But if you see black iron sand on the ground, your name is already written in the Death God's ledger."

Brutal as his methods were, Arashi could hardly be blamed—it was war. A bloody sacrifice was sometimes necessary to establish authority, especially for a newly appointed Kazekage. Without it, neither allies nor enemies would take him seriously.

"Keep him alive. He might still be useful." Arashi flipped Sakumo's eyelids with dispassion, as though inspecting livestock.

"Understood, Kazekage-sama," said Akasuna Kaiki, kneeling on one knee. The once-defiant shinobi now bowed in complete submission to his formidable leader.

"I'll clean up the stragglers outside. Take a breather," Arashi ordered as he turned to leave.

"Be careful, Kazekage-sama. We've set some traps on the perimeter," Kaiki reminded him.

"Good to know." Arashi formed hand seals, summoning several shadow clones to scout ahead.

...

Land of Wind – Frontlines at the Singing Sand Sea

Inside a dimly lit tent, Elder Chiyo tightened the last screw on her newly crafted prosthetic. Testing its range of motion, she frowned in dissatisfaction and immediately reached for her screwdriver to make adjustments.

As the wife of the First Kazekage, Reto, Chiyo had witnessed her husband dominate rival clans with unmatched strength, uniting the desert under his rule. Every brick and stone of Sunagakure had been built under her watchful eye, and she loved the village as her own child.

Unlike the frail, death-faking elder of the Shippuden era, Chiyo in her prime was a fierce and cunning leader. Despite being over fifty, she carried herself with the same fiery spirit as Reto. As the head of Sunagakure's militant faction, she had fully supported the Second Kazekage's plan to invade the Land of Rain.

The Land of Wind, with its endless deserts and scarce resources, was rife with internal strife even after unification. Poverty and lack plagued the nation. Even during the First Kage Summit, Reto had opted for a single tailed beast rather than spending more to buy another. Why? Because they were broke.

The Land of Rain, on the other hand, was rich in resources and water. Strategically located between Iwagakure and Konohagakure, it offered both economic relief and a chance to seize the initiative in any future conflict.

"I hope Arashi can turn the tide," Chiyo murmured to herself, gazing into the flickering light of the lantern.

"Chiyo-sama, the rear supply convoy has arrived!"

...

Back at the Fortress

"Move it left a little. Yeah, there. Perfect," Arashi instructed, watching as Pakura's Scorch Release fireballs melted the iron sand into molten slag to patch the fortress walls.

"Pour it now!"

"Fsshh!" The iron hissed as Rasa doused it with water, causing the molten metal to harden instantly.

"Good, that'll hold for now," Arashi said with satisfaction.

Rasa had arrived with over three hundred reorganized jōnin in record time. While the battle was already over, intel from interrogated prisoners suggested that Konoha might launch a second wave. Arashi decided it was better to fortify the border than risk another clash within Sunagakure itself.

With a few tons of iron sand and Pakura's fire, the partially collapsed central fortress now boasted a reinforced metal shell.

"It's just a temporary fix. The wind and sand will corrode the iron quickly. We'll need to add brick and mortar later," Arashi said.

"Understood, Kazekage-sama," Rasa and Kaiki responded in unison.

"That should do it here. Rasa, you'll oversee the fortress defense. Kaiki, assist him—you're still recovering, and this is your turf," Arashi said, donning his wind goggles and wrapping his face in cloth.

"You're leaving already?" Kaiki asked, surprised.

"Konoha's taken a heavy loss here. Whether they'll continue their westward push depends on their high command. With our reinforcements in place, they've likely abandoned the idea of a surprise attack," Arashi explained, pointing southward.

"By the way, Kaiki, you have a son, don't you?"

"Yes, Kazekage-sama. My boy, Akasuna no Sasori, just turned five this year," Kaiki answered earnestly.

"Ah, Sasori, is it? How about this—when the war is over, I'll take him as my student," Arashi said with a confident smile, then vanished into the horizon.

(T/N: I wanted to translate something a little different this time—a fanfic set in Sunagakure, taking place slightly earlier than the canon timeline. When I came across this fic, I thought it had potential, especially with a rating of 9 out of 10. However, I have to admit, it feels a bit lacking in certain parts. There are many things I don’t particularly like about it, and at one point, I even considered dropping it.

Still, since it only has 150 chapters, I’ve decided to stick with it and finish it someday. For now, I won’t be posting this fanfic on Webnovel. Instead, I’ll upload all the chapters I’ve translated so far and then gradually work on the rest over time.

Honestly, translating this has been quite challenging. There are always new terms, names, and even Chinese-style naming conventions, which can be tricky to handle. If you notice any mistakes or inconsistencies, please don’t hesitate to point them out.)