001 Reborn as the Third Kazekage

Standing atop a towering sand dune, the crimson sunset twisted and blurred at the horizon, distorted by the searing sands below. The village at his feet cast long, stretched shadows, accompanied by the occasional tumbleweed rolling by in the wind. The entire scene exuded an inexplicable sense of desolation and grandeur.

"Sigh…" Arashi let out a long, weary sigh.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" A voice came from behind him.

Without turning, Arashi immediately dropped to one knee in a half-kneeling position.

"Yes, Lord Kazekage, breathtaking."

Indeed, Arashi was the protagonist of this story—a man who, in his previous life, was a community worker born in the 1980s, fighting on the frontlines of a pandemic. His only hobby was reading manga in his free time. On this particular day, after working tirelessly through the night, he found himself unable to sleep. He decided to revisit Naruto on his laptop. As he read, he grew drowsy, and when he woke up, he found himself transported to the world of Naruto. More accurately, the world of the Kazekage.

The endless yellow sands, barren lands—this was unmistakably Sunagakure. In this new life, he was nothing more than an orphan of the First Shinobi World War.

Yet, fate smiled upon him. Arashi eventually realized he was reincarnated as none other than the Third Kazekage, a figure hailed as the "Strongest Kazekage in History." Tragically, in the original timeline, his fate was to become a human puppet at the hands of Sasori of the Red Sand. As a transmigrator, Arashi couldn't accept such a miserable destiny. Armed with his Magnet Release kekkei genkai and the Iron Sand techniques, combined with his deep understanding of the manga and relentless efforts, Arashi quickly stood out. At the Ninja Academy, he was a prodigy, after graduation, he led his team to countless successful missions. At just 16, he became a Jonin and caught the eye of the Second Kazekage, Shamon, who personally groomed him as his successor.

Over the years, Arashi's exploits earned him the nickname "The Blue Sandstorm" (thanks to his blue hair). The Second Kazekage and the village elders saw him as the inevitable heir to the Kazekage title.

"Do you still think we shouldn't go to the Land of Rain?" Shamon asked.

"Yes, Lord Kazekage," Arashi replied.

"Why? Is it because of that poison-loving brat, Hanzō the Salamander?"

"Hanzō is nothing more than a salamander, Elder Chiyo can handle him. My concern is that if the battle drags on, other great nations will intervene. Neither Konoha nor Iwagakure would stand idly by if a powerful…"

"Enough!" Shamon's sharp tone cut him off.

"Do you think I don't understand the risks of this war? Look down at the village!" He pointed to the village below.

"Water shortages! Poverty! Starvation! This is how we live. Do you want our children to endure the same misery? If we don't fight, where is our space to survive? If we don't fight, how will we develop the village? You're short-sighted! You've disappointed me greatly." Shamon's anger was palpable, and the dragon tattoo on his face seemed even more menacing.

Still kneeling, Arashi kept his head low and remained silent.

"If you're unwilling to fight, then don't go. Head to the Abyss and watch over Bunpuku, that little monk," Shamon ordered.

(T/N: Bunpuku was an elderly priest of Sunagakure and one of the first two jinchūriki of Shukaku.)

By the time Arashi raised his head, the Second Kazekage was already gone.

...

The next day,

Shamon personally led Elder Chiyo and a group of elite Jonin on an expedition to the Land of Rain. Elder Ebizō was left to manage village affairs, while Arashi—once seen as the heir apparent—was demoted to guard the prison known as the Abyss, where the One-Tail Jinchūriki, Bunpuku, was confined.

As an avid reader of Naruto and an active participant in fan forums, Arashi knew what was coming. The looming conflict was the Second Shinobi World War, about 20 years after the First. It was a battle sparked by widening economic disparities between nations, as militaristic factions sought to expand their territory through force. The war began with Sunagakure's invasion of Amegakure. From there, the Five Great Nations took turns engaging, turning the Land of Rain into a chaotic battlefield. In the end, the resource-rich and strategically superior Konoha emerged victorious.

Sunagakure, however, suffered devastating losses, including many elite shinobi. After this, the village experienced further setbacks with the deaths of the Third and Fourth Kazekage, reducing its status to that of a second-rate power. By the time Gaara became the Fifth Kazekage, Sunagakure was essentially a subordinate to Konoha. Arashi firmly believed that the Second Kazekage's decision to start this war was the root cause of the village's decline. As much as he wanted to steer Sunagakure away from this disastrous path, he wasn't in charge. His repeated attempts to dissuade Shamon only fueled the Kazekage's dissatisfaction, leading to his current predicament.

The Abyss was a semi-enclosed canyon converted into a prison. Despite its vastness, it housed only one prisoner. The oppressive silence and darkness made it feel like a level of hell.

"Seriously, why did you have to argue with the Kazekage? Now we're stuck here, unable to join the battle," Rasa grumbled.

"Enough, Rasa. When has he ever been wrong? Just follow his lead," Pakura said, lighting the way with her Scorch Release fireballs.

As a Jonin, Arashi naturally had his own squad. Before Tsunade proposed her theory that adding a medical ninja to a team would increase survival rates, squads typically consisted of three members. Arashi had claimed Rasa, the future Fourth Kazekage, and Pakura, the future Scorch Release master, for his team. This was easily Sunagakure's most powerful trio. However, Shamon's dissatisfaction had led to their exile in the Abyss.

Rasa, far from the composed and silent figure he would become, whined incessantly like a disgruntled housewife. Pakura, on the other hand, was Arashi's staunch supporter, convinced that everything her leader said was right.

The Abyss was deep and winding. After what felt like an eternity, they finally saw a faint light ahead. A shadow stretched long and thin in the distance.

"Bunpuku-sama, it's time to eat," Arashi said respectfully, passing the food box into the cell.

A middle-aged monk slowly opened his eyes. Seeing Arashi, he smiled faintly.

"Thank you, Arashi," Bunpuku said, bowing slightly with his hands pressed together.

Bunpuku, the village's strategic weapon, was no stranger to Arashi. In fact, they were well-acquainted. Unlike most who feared the One-Tail, Arashi frequently visited the monk, knowing his value. Bunpuku was, after all, the first perfect Jinchūriki since the Sage of Six Paths. His pure-hearted nature even earned the respect of the often-violent Shukaku. Unfortunately, the village's fear of the tailed beast led them to lock Bunpuku away rather than study and utilize his potential.

"Forgive my boldness, but you haven't slept in a while, have you?" Arashi asked, noticing the monk's dark circles.

"It has been 55 days," Bunpuku replied calmly.

"Goodness, that's no way to live! How about I take you outside for some fresh air?"

Bunpuku's eyes crinkled with a smile. Pressing his hands together, he said, "If it's no trouble, I'd be grateful."