Third Kazekage

Biodata

Background and History

The Third Kazekage was regarded as the strongest holder of the Kazekage title. He used the rare Iron Sand form of Magnet Release and maintained a working relationship with Elder Chiyo, whose earlier guidance he remembered 5 24. When Salamander Hanzo threatened Chiyo during the fighting at Sunagakure’s South Gate, the Kazekage intervened with an iron sand shield. He then blocked the Amegakure troops’ escape while Chiyo turned Hanzo’s toxic mist against them 23 24.

After Konoha secured surrender terms from the Land of Rain, the Kazekage’s attempt to obtain separate compensation for Sunagakure failed: Hanzo said Rain had no funds left. The Kazekage withdrew his troops to reorganize and prepare for war with Konoha 25.

During that war, Chiyo accused his disciple Rasa of colluding with Konoha and targeting fellow villagers. The Kazekage initially demanded evidence, then concluded that Rasa was involved after examining a map and letter. He promised Chiyo an explanation, but Rasa’s subsequent handling of the accusation left him reconsidering the disciple’s value as a future leader 53. Following a major defeat, Chiyo resigned as an elder despite the Kazekage’s public attempts to retain her. He increasingly favored Rasa over Pakura as a successor 63 64.

Appearance

The Kazekage is described as a tall man with sharp eyes and dark-blue, spiky hair 23 70.

• Distinctive feature — Hair likened to hedgehog spines 70.

Personality

The Kazekage could be attentive to Chiyo while pursuing his own political interests. He checked on her injuries after rescuing her from Hanzo, yet later treated the balance of power between Sunagakure’s elders and his preferred successors as a matter of leadership 24 63 64. He could also be ruthless: after a disastrous defeat, a messenger was killed on his orders 63.

He was confident enough to lead counterattacks personally, but Konoha repeatedly exploited that confidence. After his thousand-strong force was caught in an explosive-tag ambush at Mt. Dayu, he reacted with fury 66.

Abilities and Skills

Magnet Release: Iron Sand

• Iron Sand World Method — Shapes iron sand into spikes, cones, and pyramids for ranged attacks; he also used it to shatter falling boulders 66 71 72.
• Iron Sand Drizzle — Fires iron sand pellets; he used it alongside Iron Sand World Method against Enma and Sarutobi Hiruzen 71 72.
• Defense — Forms shields and an egg-shaped Absolute Defense shell. The shell stopped Hiruzen’s Fire and Water Release attacks, though the technique is not literally impenetrable 71 72.
• Mobility and close combat — Flies on an iron plate and can form iron blades without hand seals 53 66 72.

Command

• Battlefield leadership — Led elite troops in a counterattack at Mt. Dayu and later committed Sunagakure’s six-thousand-shinobi reserve to an offensive against Konoha 66 70.
• Political judgment — Weighed Rasa and Pakura as possible successors in relation to their abilities and ties to the elder faction 63 64.

Relationships

• Chiyo — Sunagakure elder whom he rescued from Hanzo; their mutual regard became strained by the handling of Rasa’s alleged betrayal and Chiyo’s later resignation 24 53 63 64.
• Rasa — His disciple and a potential successor. The Kazekage distrusted him after Chiyo’s accusation but later favored him; Rasa ultimately restrained him during the final battle 53 64 70 75.
• Pakura — Another potential successor whose talent the Kazekage recognized, though he was wary of her connection to the elder faction 63 64.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen — Opposing Kage whose forces fought him to a stalemate before drawing his army away from Sunagakure 71 72.
• Uchiha Xiao — Konoha strategist who anticipated the Mt. Dayu counterattack and later killed him with Susanoo 66 75.

Story Role and Major Arcs

• Mt. Dayu counterattack — Attempted to turn Konoha’s ambush tactics against it. Konoha’s Shadow Clones and explosive tags instead devastated his thousand-strong elite force 66.
• Final offensive — Led Sunagakure’s remaining reserve against Hiruzen. After realizing Konoha’s retreat was meant to hold him in place while another force threatened Sunagakure, he ordered his army back, but Hiruzen pursued 70 72 73.
• Death and surrender — An iron sand arrow he fired wounded Tsunade, prompting Xiao to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan. Rasa restrained the Kazekage with Gold Binding Mechanism, and Xiao killed him using Susanoo and an iron sand pyramid. Sunagakure surrendered afterward 75 76.