The yellow sand blotted out the sun, and the golden sun hung high overhead. The air warped and distorted in the searing heat.
Temperatures soared above 40°C during the day, then plunged below freezing at night. Yet even with such a gulf in temperature, a civilized nation of humans still existed here.
Within a canyon ringed by enormous stones, rows of ochre-colored houses were neatly arranged in a circular village.
At its center stood a round-topped building. The character for "Wind" on its front had taken on a weathered look after years of relentless sand erosion.
Bang—!
"Chōjūrō! The Kazekage-sama is gone, and you can't keep your ambition in check, is that it? I'm telling you, no election for the next Kazekage will begin until we hear something about him!"
In the Elder Council Hall on the top floor of the Kazekage Building, an Elder pounded the round table and stood to berate him.
But this time, unlike before, the Elders of the Kazekage faction sat in silence.
"Yūta. Tōsen."
The two men whose names had been called didn't answer at once. After a brief silence, they said, "Sajiu, you know about the Cloud Ninja raid on the border outpost. The village needs a leader to take charge of the situation."
"That's right. The disappearance of the Third Kazekage and Sasori has led Chiyo to stop involving herself in village affairs, but the village still has to survive."
The two men took turns speaking, and even some of the neutral Elders began to waver.
What they said made sense. And after switching sides, their earnest words only made them more convincing. Around the table, the Elders exchanged glances.
Sajiu looked around. His anger faded as he realized there was no point in fighting this, and that some of them might have already reached agreements before the meeting.
He glanced at Chōjūrō, whose expression remained calm, and grinned. "Fine. You're right. The village does need a new Kazekage. Then I propose that Rasa, a student of the Third Kazekage, become the Fourth Kazekage."
Chōjūrō, who had maintained a placid expression throughout the meeting, frowned for the first time. Before he could speak, an Elder beside him spoke up. "Rasa is still too young, and he has no outstanding achievements to his name. It'll be hard for him to win everyone over. The village needs a respected leader right now. I propose that Chōjūrō become the Fourth Kazekage."
"No achievements? He's barely in his twenties and has already completed over a hundred A-rank Missions and nearly ten S-rank Missions. If that isn't an achievement, what is? Besides, as a student of the Third Kazekage, he'd be a natural successor. If the Kazekage-sama ever returns, it would make for a fine story."
Sajiu paused and looked around. "Don't forget, the village's main source of income is minerals. I don't need to tell you whose doing that is, do I?"
The Elders had remained unmoved by Sajiu's first argument. Achievements came down to experience and ability, after all, and Rasa wasn't the only one with those. They could decide for themselves who was qualified.
But his last point had hit them right where it hurt. If Rasa developed a grudge against the village over the position of Kazekage, they couldn't afford for him to stop searching for mineral deposits, or even just slack off!
That would be like a deep gash right through their lifeblood.
Several Elders from clans heavily dependent on minerals immediately voiced their support for Rasa as the village's leader. He had the experience and the ability—and he'd made great contributions to the village!
The Meeting Room erupted into a clamor. Only Moyuzi, who was in charge of the Medical Department, stood with her arms crossed and her gaze lowered, as if she couldn't see the ugly spectacle before her.
The irony was that these people ruled Sunagakure.
Ordinary people might think the Kazekage governed Sunagakure, but that wasn't the case.
Even the Third Kazekage, hailed as the "strongest Kazekage," had been at a disadvantage against them and could only appoint a few Elders to mediate.
The Elder Council was the brain of Sunagakure. If they wanted, they could even keep the Kazekage's orders from ever leaving the Kazekage Building!
The strongest Kazekage, universally acknowledged?
By whom?
Had they even paid their respects and made their connections?
Worse, they secretly controlled the lifeblood of many industries in Sunagakure. One word from them could bring the entire village to a standstill!
When Chiyo and Ebizo had still been around, these people had at least kept themselves in check. Now that those two mountains looming over them were gone, the jackals that had slipped their collars were climbing all over Sunagakure, that fat lamb, to gorge themselves.
Sigh...
Moyuzi let out a silent sigh. To her surprise, everyone suddenly turned to look at her.
"Moyuzi, Lord Chōjūrō once taught you Ninjutsu at the Ninja Academy. I'm sure you think highly of him, don't you?"
"Moyuzi, you know Rasa's character and strength. He's the village's hope for the future!"
"Moyuzi..."
Of the twelve Elder seats, the missing Kazekage and the politically inactive Chiyo and Ebizo were absent, leaving nine people. The vote was tied, four to four on either side, which made Moyuzi's vote the deciding one.
"I..."
Moyuzi was the youngest Elder on the council. Usually, she simply voted with the others or abstained. Being told all at once that her vote would decide who became Kazekage left her flustered.
"Uh, I think we should hear what Chiyo and Ebizo have to say about such an important matter."
Chiyo and her younger brother Ebizo had always stood together. That would make her own vote irrelevant.
But Chōjūrō spoke up in a low voice. "The two Elders are advanced in years, and they've already been through a lot because of Sasori. We shouldn't trouble them with this matter."
Chōjūrō was now old enough to know the limits of his own life. Sunagakure hadn't even existed when he was born. He had witnessed its founding and helped the village grow from a barren wasteland into a thriving place. If not for Chiyo, he would have been the one calling the shots in Sunagakure long ago.
But there was nothing he could do about it. Chiyo was a few years older, and he had followed at her heels since childhood.
Worse, she was stronger than him.
In his youth, Chōjūrō had been Sunagakure's foremost Taijutsu user. His Wind Release, Genjutsu, and Summoning Technique were all top-notch, and he had earned himself a measure of renown in the Shinobi World of his day.
But there had been too many monsters in his generation. When people listed the heroes of the past, his name no longer made the cut. That infuriated the conceited Chōjūrō.
In the eyes of today's young people, Chōjūrō had been a powerful Elder who held high office, but not a great shinobi. His strength had been second to Chiyo, the Kazekage, and Bunpuku.
Chōjūrō had lived his whole life in the shadow of Granny Chiyo, even after she retired.
Now that he finally had a chance to become Sunagakure's king while Chiyo stayed out of politics, he would never let her and her brother interfere in the village's affairs again.
Chōjūrō's opposition made the atmosphere instantly delicate.
The other Elders were conflicted, too. They didn't want to remain beneath Chiyo's thumb, but decades of obedience had made it difficult for them to even consider opposing her.
They were a pack of old victims of psychological manipulation, if ever there was one.
"Let's discuss the Cloud Ninja first."
Someone spoke up, and the atmosphere in the Meeting Room immediately lightened.
"I'll give you the details."
Yūta was the head of the Intelligence Department. He paused until everyone was looking at him. "A week ago, the Cloud Ninja suddenly attacked our border outposts along the Land of Rain. Five outposts and one base were destroyed, and we suffered heavy losses. Fortunately, our reinforcements arrived in time, and the defensive line is now secure. Take a look at the details."
As he spoke, Yūta took out a report and distributed copies to the Elders.
"I propose that Rasa lead a force to the border and repel the enemy."
After reading the report, Sajiu pondered for a moment, then his eyes flashed.
They said Rasa lacked prestige. What could be more impressive than leading people to repel the powerful Cloud Ninja?
The Cloud Ninja invasion was the perfect opportunity for Rasa to rise to power.
But as soon as Sajiu finished speaking, the seasoned Chōjūrō objected. "No! Rasa is needed to keep Shukaku's seal under control. Compared to the threat of the Cloud Ninja, the Tailed Beast is the foundation of the village. Sajiu, are you willing to disregard the village's safety?!"
He knew he couldn't let Rasa go to the front. If he lost, that was one thing, but if he returned in triumph, what reason would Chōjūrō have to stop him from taking over?
With his health as it was, Chōjūrō didn't know if he would live to see the next Kazekage election. Rasa was in his prime, and although Kazekage had never been a long-lived position, Chōjūrō didn't dare take the chance.
Sajiu had been outmaneuvered with an appeal to the greater good. His expression darkened, and he was at a loss for words.
The other Elders weren't fools. They had no ambition to take the Kazekage's seat for themselves, but they were eager to seize the chance to earn military merit.
They had no idea what had gotten into the Cloud Ninja, attacking the Land of Wind, but in this land of yellow sand, they truly feared no one.
After another round of heated debate, everyone finally decided to appoint Pakura, who came from a common background, as the leader of this defensive battle. It was an outcome everyone could accept.
Of course, they had already decided who would serve under her: elite fighters from the various Great Clans.
With the battle plans settled, only minor matters remained.
The Elders finally had a chance to drink some tea and soothe their parched throats. The mood seemed much better.
"By the way, has that boy named Hoshino Maki recovered?"
Chōjūrō asked casually, wondering whether he should visit the hospital and check on the survivor of the Cloud Ninja raid. It would be a good chance to win some favor with the villagers.
Visiting the injured was something a Kazekage ought to do. Lord Chōjūrō, who already thought of himself as the Kazekage-in-waiting, didn't consider it a burden.
"His body has recovered. It's just..."
Moyuzi looked a little strange. She hesitated, but in the end didn't say what she was thinking.
It was just that something seemed wrong with his head.
The little incident was quickly brushed aside. The important people didn't have the time to concern themselves with a kid.
Meanwhile, Hoshino Maki was standing in the lobby of Sunagakure Hospital, hands on his hips, shouting with all his might, "Is anyone seriously injured? Minor injuries are fine, too. If not, come get a checkup! You might have a disease!"
Seeing a handsome teenager in a patient's gown, around sixteen or seventeen, looking everywhere for patients, the people nearby found the scene absurd and hurried to steer clear of him.
What a shame. He had such a fine-looking face, but the brains to match were missing.
This world had no law saying that the mentally ill couldn't be held responsible for murder, but no one wanted to deal with them either.
Ye Mu—or rather, Hoshino Maki—looked anxiously from one patient to another. All he got in return was avoidance and fear.
Those with minor illnesses were afraid the doctor would find something serious. Those with serious illnesses were afraid they wouldn't even get to die with dignity.
"Hoshino Maki! Get back to your room!"
The head nurse—no, the matron—hurried down from upstairs, grabbed Hoshino Maki by the ear, and started dragging him back up. At the same time, she gave the people around them an apologetic smile.
Ah... those young nurses had been utterly taken in by a few words from this kid. They couldn't keep an eye on him at all.
"Ah! Ah! Easy, Aunt Miho! As an outstanding Medical Ninja, I fought desperately against the enemy on the front lines and suffered serious injuries. How can you treat an exemplary shinobi like this after I risked my life for the village?"
"Pah! You little punk, I know you. You'd be lucky not to wet your pants if you ran into a Cloud Ninja."
Miho snorted and teased him.
She and Hoshino Maki's parents had been in the same graduating class at the Ninja Academy, and they had been friends. After Hoshino Maki's parents died, she often went to his home to look after him while he was still young. No one knew better than she did what he was capable of.
When she heard that Hoshino Maki had gone to the border, she'd been worried about him. Thankfully, he'd survived.
Remembering what Hoshino Maki had looked like in the hospital's emergency room still made Miho shudder.
When they rushed Hoshino Maki into the operating room, he'd been almost unrecognizable. His insides could be seen through two deep diagonal slashes across his body. Miho had nearly fainted on the spot, before she herself could even get him onto the operating table.
She didn't know whether the gods had been watching over him or whether Hoshino Maki had an unusual gift for survival, but somehow they'd managed to save him from such terrible injuries. It was just that something seemed wrong with his head.
On the first day after he woke up, he'd stared blankly at the sky outside and wouldn't answer no matter what they asked him. On the second day, despite all the bandages covering him, he'd wheeled himself around, shouting that he wanted to go save lives.
To be fair, the three young nurses hadn't been able to catch Hoshino Maki as he sped around in his wheelchair. They'd worn themselves out, leaving Miho stunned when she arrived.
After that, Miho had personally kept an eye on Hoshino Maki. She'd been a shinobi herself, after all, and he'd behaved himself for a while. Who knew it had all been an act? While she'd gone to the cafeteria to get lunch, he'd run off again!
Their exchange put the onlookers at ease. It seemed this kid really was a Medical Ninja!
In Sunagakure—or, for that matter, the entire Shinobi World, except Kirigakure—Medical Ninja were highly respected. Tsunade's performance during the last Ninja World War, fighting on the front lines and treating the wounded, had completely changed many people's preconceived notions about Medical Ninja.
But after Chiyo retired following Sasori's and the Kazekage's disappearances, and Tsunade left Konoha and became a notorious high-stakes gambler, the medical field in the Shinobi World was left without a leader. Excellent Medical Ninja became increasingly scarce.
A Medical Ninja who had survived the battlefield had to have some skill, right?
These days, most excellent Medical Ninja worked for the Daimyo's Mansion, village leaders, and great clans, while the rest served shinobi at the borders.
Hospitals had Medical Ninja, too, but the patients waiting in line far outnumbered their available Chakra. Ordinary people could only see doctors or Medical Ninja of average ability, so if they could—
Many patients and their families looked at the teenager in the patient's gown uncertainly. Hoshino Maki, who had been ignored moments ago, suddenly became the center of attention.
But no one wanted to be the first to step forward. They all wanted someone else to test the kid's medical skills first, then they could decide whether to take a chance.
Just as Hoshino Maki was about to be dragged into the elevator, a pale hand caught the hem of his gown.
"Please, please save my husband."
After speaking, the woman dropped to her knees and covered her face as she wept.
References:
Naruto TV Series, Episodes 1–720
Gaara Hiden: Sajin Gensō
Zhihu articles
Bilibili creator videos
List of sources to be supplemented periodically
The worldbuilding is based on Gaara Hiden: Sajin Gensō.
Most readers' questions can be answered in the Q&A section under Related Works.
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