7Chapter 1: The World of Hokage? No, the World of Kazekage
Standing atop a towering sand dune, Jinghanggazed at the blood-red sunset distorted by the scorching sands on the horizon. The outlines of the village below stretched into elongated shadows, accompanied by a few tumbleweeds rolling with the wind. Everything felt inexplicably desolate and magnificent.
"Sigh..." Jinghang let out a long sigh.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" A questioning voice came from behind.
Jinghang didn't even turn his head. He swiftly dropped into a half-kneeling position.
"Yes, Lord Kazekage. It's breathtaking."
Indeed, Jinghang is the protagonist of this story. In his former life, he was an ordinary community worker born in the 1980s, tirelessly fighting on the frontlines of epidemic prevention. With little else to occupy his time, his only hobby was reading manga. One day, after a sleepless night dealing with community health work, he returned to his dorm, unable to fall asleep. To pass the time, he opened his laptop to re-watch Naruto. As he watched, sleep finally overtook him. But when he woke up, he found himself in the world of Naruto. Or more accurately, the world of the Kazekage.
The endless yellow sands, the barren lands—this was unmistakably the Village Hidden in the Sand (Sunagakure). And he was nothing more than a war orphan from the First Great Ninja War.
But fate seemed to favor him. Over time, Jinghang discovered that he was none other than the Third Kazekage, hailed as "the strongest Kazekage in history." Yet, he was also the unluckiest Kazekage, as his ultimate fate in the original story was to become one of Sasori's human puppets. As a transmigrator, Jinghang couldn't accept such a tragic ending. Armed with the Magnet Release Kekkei Genkaiand the Iron Sand techniques, he leveraged his deep understanding of the manga and his relentless efforts to rise above his circumstances. From a young age, he stood out at the ninja academy. After graduating, he led a team to complete countless missions, earning the rank of Jonin at just 16 years old. His talents caught the eye of the Second Kazekage, Shamon, who appointed him as his personal guard.
Over the years, Jinghang fought battles across the land, earning the nickname "Blue Sandstorm" (thanks to his blue hair). He was seen as the natural successor to the Kazekage by both Shamon and the village elders.
"Do you still think we shouldn't go to the Land of Rain?" the Second Kazekage asked.
"Yes, Lord Kazekage."
"Why? Is it because of that poison-loving brat, Hanzo the Salamander?"
"Hanzo is no more than a minor threat; Elder Chiyo is more than capable of handling him. My concern is that if the battle becomes prolonged, other great nations will inevitably intervene. Neither Konoha nor Iwagakure will allow a powerful—"
"Enough!" Shamon's sharp tone cut him off.
"Do you think I don't understand the risks of this war? Look closely," Shamon pointed to the village below.
"Water scarcity! Poverty! Hunger! This is the life we live. Do you want our children to grow up suffering the same? If we don't fight, where will our space for survival come from? If we don't fight, how will we develop the village? You're short-sighted! You've disappointed me deeply." Shamon's voice grew increasingly agitated, the dragon tattoo on his face appearing even more menacing.
Jinghang remained kneeling, his head lowered, silent.
"If you don't want to fight this war, then you don't need to go. Go to the Abyss and watch over that monk, Bunpuku."
When Jinghang finally raised his head, Shamon was already gone.
The next day, the Second Kazekage personally led Elder Chiyo and a group of elite Jonin on a campaign into the Land of Rain. Elder Ebizō was left to manage the village's affairs, while Jinghang, the rising star and elite Jonin, was demoted to guard the Abyss—a prison where the One-Tail Jinchūriki, Bunpuku, was held.
As an avid Narutofan and a frequent participant in Narutoforums, Jinghang knew all too well what was coming. The impending war was none other than the Second Great Ninja War. This conflict arose about 20 years after the First Great Ninja War, as economic disparities between nations widened and militant factions sought to expand their territories by force. The war began with Sunagakure's invasion of Amegakure (the Hidden Rain Village). What followed was a chaotic struggle among the Five Great Nations over the Land of Rain. In the end, Konoha, with its deep resources and fertile lands, emerged victorious. Sunagakure, however, suffered heavy losses, losing many of its elite ninjas. The subsequent deaths of the Third and Fourth Kazekages only furthered the village's decline. By the time Gaara became the Fifth Kazekage, Sunagakure had essentially become Konoha's subordinate.
Clearly, Sunagakure's downfall could be traced back to the Second Kazekage's decision to start this war. As the "Crown Prince" of Sunagakure, Jinghang naturally wanted to slow down the village's descent into chaos. But as he was not yet the leader, his repeated attempts to dissuade the Second Kazekage only fueled the latter's dissatisfaction. As a result, he and his team were sent to guard the Abyss.
The Abyss was a semi-enclosed canyon converted into a prison. Though vast, it housed only one prisoner. Its deep, dark, and silent atmosphere was suffocating, akin to the depths of hell.
"Sigh, boss, why did you have to argue with the Kazekage? Now, not only are we off the battlefield, but we're stuck guarding this dump," complained Rasa.
"Quit whining. The boss has never been wrong. Just follow his lead," said Pakura, using her Scorch Releasefireballs to light the way.
As an elite Jonin, Jinghang naturally had his own ninja squad. Before Tsunade's theory on the importance of medical ninjas in combat squads, a standard team usually consisted of three members. Jinghang, now part of Sunagakure's upper echelon, had handpicked his teammates. His squad included the future Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, and the powerful yet tragic Pakura. This was arguably the strongest team in Sunagakure. However, whether intentionally or not, the Second Kazekage, displeased with Jinghang's dissent, had the entire squad reassigned to the Abyss.
Rasa, far from the silent and composed demeanor he would later adopt as the Fourth Kazekage, grumbled incessantly like a nagging spouse. Pakura, on the other hand, was Jinghang's loyal supporter, believing that everything her captain said was right.
The Abyss was deep and winding. After what felt like an eternity, they finally spotted a faint light ahead. A long, thin shadow stretched out before them.
"Master Bunpuku, it's time to eat," Jinghang said respectfully, handing a food box into the cell.
A middle-aged monk slowly opened his eyes. Upon recognizing Jinghang, he smiled faintly.
"Thank you, Jinghang," Bunpuku said, pressing his palms together in a gesture of gratitude.
As Sunagakure's strategic weapon and someone Jinghang was familiar with, Bunpuku was no stranger to him. In fact, they were quite close. Jinghang, aware of the secrets surrounding the Tailed Beasts, often visited Bunpuku for conversations. He knew that this monk was no ordinary man. Bunpuku was arguably the first perfect Jinchūriki since the Sage of Six Paths. His pure heart earned even the respect of the volatile and cruel Shukaku, who likened his character to that of the Sage. Unfortunately, the village viewed Tailed Beasts as calamities, choosing to imprison Bunpuku in the Abyss rather than study or utilize his potential.
"I said thank you, not just for bringing me food, but for your courage in advising the Kazekage against the campaign in the Land of Rain," Bunpuku said as he began eating.
"Regrettably, Lord Kazekage didn't heed my advice. The vanguard has likely already reached the Land of Rain's borders. A major war is inevitable," Jinghang sighed. Though their motives differed—one for the nation, the other for humanity—they both sought to prevent the war.
"You've done your best. Your conscience is clear, so there's no need for guilt. Alas, the world will once again descend into chaos. Later, I will chant sutras to guide the souls of the departed to the afterlife."
"Hmm," Jinghang responded, glancing at Bunpuku's face under the dim light. His gaunt features were accentuated by two large dark circles under his eyes.
"Master, how long has it been since you last slept?"
"Let me think... It's been 55 days."
"Good heavens! This is unacceptable. How about I take you out for some rest?"
Bunpuku's eyes crinkled with a smile, his hands pressed together in gratitude.
"In that case, I would be most grateful."