Biodata
| Name | Third Kazekage (Kazekage) |
| Alias(es) | Lord Kazekage |
| Gender | Male |
| Affiliation | Sunagakure |
| Occupation/Role | Third Kazekage; leader of Sunagakure |
| Status | Alive; intends to transfer the Kazekage position to Souya 235 |
| First Appearance | Chapter 1 (mentioned); Chapter 2 (physical appearance) |
Appearance
The Third Kazekage has blue hair, yellow eyes, and ordinarily wears a white Kazekage robe over blue ninja garb 2.
- Can form Iron Sand Wings for aerial movement 42 47.
- His fully activated Heavenly Cursed Seal form enlarges his body and covers it in gray-black armor, with triangular growths on his shoulders and wrists, gray-blue chest-length hair, blackened eye sockets, and pale yellow pupils 167 202.
Background / History
Upon becoming Kazekage, he resolved to end Sunagakure's status as the weakest of the great nations and lead the village toward prosperity. He recognized Souya's unusual political and military insight early, making him his direct disciple and relying on his proposals for reform 2 5.
Over more than five years, his reforms substantially strengthened Sunagakure. When renewed war threatened the Land of Wind, he convened the jonin council and adopted Souya's strategy of avoiding a direct assault on the Land of Fire in favor of expanding through smaller neighboring nations 6 7.
During the Battle of Kikyo Mountain, he personally fought Orochimaru, Minato Namikaze, and Jiraiya. His Iron Sand techniques could not contain Minato's Flying Thunder God Technique, and Jiraiya's Sage Mode forced him to retreat severely injured. The defeat damaged his reputation throughout the ninja world 42 47 53 54 55.
After the war, he pursued a more aggressive expansion of Sunagakure's authority. He ordered the elimination of Mist ninja entering the Land of Wind, oversaw the removal of the Land of Wind's Daimyo and the Genpei Family, seized the Daimyo's wealth, and directed the resulting resources toward Sunagakure's development 72 74 84. Under his rule, Sunagakure incorporated the Flowing River and Flying Bird regions, established new training systems, and expanded administrative education 72 95 121.
He later accepted the Heavenly Cursed Seal to increase his own combat power, unwilling to remain behind Sunagakure's rising younger generation 167. When Souya disappeared amid the conflict surrounding Iwagakure, the Kazekage faced the growing threat of Kirigakure, Otogakure, and internal instability without his most capable disciple 196 199.
During Kirigakure's invasion, he appeared to surrender himself to Yagura in exchange for the lives of Sunagakure's people and was publicly decapitated 201. The execution was a deception: he had used a body double altered to resemble him, concealed an underground defensive network beneath Sunagakure, and lured Kirigakure into a prepared trap 202. He then returned to battle in his Cursed Seal form, using Iron Sand and puppet forces to divide Kirigakure's army and confront Yagura's Six-Tails transformation 203 204.
Following the later destruction of Konohagakure, he announced his intention to pass the Kazekage position to Souya 235.
Personality
The Third Kazekage is intensely devoted to Sunagakure's survival, strength, and territorial growth. He views the village's historic poverty and weakness as problems that must be overcome through reform, military preparation, resource acquisition, and long-term planning 5 6 74.
He values capable subordinates regardless of age, repeatedly placing trust in Souya's judgment and treating him as both a disciple and a future ruler 2 5 143. He is also pragmatic to the point of ruthlessness: during the war against Kirigakure, he accepted the use of expendable troops, decoys, and even his own apparent death as parts of a strategy to secure victory 199 202 204.
Despite this severity, he shows personal pride in Sunagakure's younger generation and concern for the village's future. His pursuit of greater power through the Heavenly Cursed Seal came partly from his refusal to become a mere supporting figure beside Souya and Sasori 48 167.
Abilities & Skills
Magnet Release: Iron Sand
The Kazekage uses Magnet Release to manipulate Iron Sand into weapons, restraints, defenses, and aerial constructs.
- Forms Iron Sand Wings to fly and rapidly reposition in battle 42 47.
- Uses Iron Sand Shower to fire dense waves of needle-like projectiles across a wide area 47.
- Uses Iron Sand Triangular Prism to surround targets with magnetically controlled piercing prisms 47.
- Creates large-scale constructs including an Iron Sand Cuboid, walls, tops, branches, and spear formations 47 48 51 53.
- Maintains regenerating Iron Sand branches that continue attacking even after being severed 53.
- Deployed a massive Iron Sand top against Yagura's Six-Tails form and used Iron Sand barriers to contain a Tailed Beast Bomb's blast 203 204.
Heavenly Cursed Seal
Unable to progress quickly in Sage Mode because of shortcomings in chakra and spiritual power, the Kazekage accepted the most violent variant of Orochimaru's Cursed Seal research 167.
- Greatly increases his chakra and ninjutsu output 167.
- Transforms him into an armored, enlarged form with a monstrous appearance 167 202.
- Allows him to contend directly with Yagura in Six-Tails form 167 202 203.
- Sustained use is taxing; after expending powerful techniques, the armored shell sheds and he returns to normal 204.
Strategy and Village Governance
The Kazekage is an experienced strategist and administrator who combines military force with institutional reform.
- Adopted a campaign of expansion through smaller nations rather than an immediate war against Konoha 7.
- Implemented reforms that significantly increased Sunagakure's strength over five years 6.
- Directed the annexation and administration of the Flowing River and Flying Bird regions 72 95.
- Established a classroom-based ninja training system and supported specialized administrative education 95 121.
- Prepared Sunagakure's underground defenses, puppet decoys, explosive traps, and false-death operation against Kirigakure 202.
Relationships
- Souya — Direct disciple and most trusted strategist. The Kazekage guides his Magnet Release training, entrusts him with major policy and military decisions, and ultimately plans to hand him the Kazekage position 2 5 235.
- Sasori — Esteemed Sunagakure prodigy. The Kazekage worries about Sasori's grief and works with Souya to give him a new purpose; later, he entrusts Sasori with covert operations and major missions 2 74.
- Rasa — Fellow Magnet Release user who received the Kazekage's guidance. The Kazekage initially entrusts Sunagakure's future to him during the Kirigakure crisis, though Rasa later realizes he had been tested and never fully trusted 5 199 203.
- Ebizo — Elder adviser and partner in Sunagakure's diplomacy, expansion, and strategic planning 114 122.
- Chiyo — Senior Sunagakure elder who participates in village reforms and military organization under his leadership 61 121 150.
- Karin's mother — Has a personal relationship with her, revealed when Souya discovers that the Kazekage has been visiting her home 146.
- Minato Namikaze — Battlefield adversary whose Flying Thunder God Technique repeatedly evades the Kazekage's Iron Sand attacks at Kikyo Mountain 47.
- Jiraiya — Konoha opponent whose Sage Mode forces the Kazekage to recognize the danger posed by the Sannin 50 53.
- Yagura — Fourth Mizukage and enemy commander during Kirigakure's invasion of the Land of Wind; the Kazekage deceives him with a feigned death before confronting him directly 201 202 203.