Kazekage Ninja: The Rise of the Hidden Sand

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"Ahh, this feels amazing," Rasa sighed contentedly, lying flat in the hot spring, his entire body submerged in the soothing water. The faint scent of sulfur lingered in the air, adding to his relaxation.

"If you're enjoying it, stay in a bit longer," Jinghang replied, pouring himself a cup of sake. He downed it in one gulp, then picked up a peanut from the plate next to him and popped it into his mouth, savoring the moment of leisure.

This wasn't the Land of Wind. They were in the Land of Rivers, a small nation nestled between the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire. Within its borders lay the famed Yugakure (Hidden Hot Springs Village), renowned for its abundant hot spring resources. Due to its limited strength, Yugakure had long allied itself with Konoha, relying on the larger village's protection. Over time, Yugakure lost its combat capabilities entirely, earning the nickname "The Village That Forgot War."

In this war-torn era, it was quite a spectacle for a ninja village to have more hot spring attendants than actual shinobi.

After picking up Rasa and Pakura from Ishi Fortress, Jinghang's diplomatic delegation of over thirty people set off toward Konoha. Passing through Yugakure, they received a warm welcome from the village leader, who invited the Kazekage to enjoy the famous hot springs as a gesture of hospitality. Jinghang, weary from the relentless desert winds, gladly accepted the offer to wash away the dust of his travels.

"By the way, Rasa, I need a favor," Jinghang said, breaking the tranquility.

"Come on, Kazekage-sama, don't be so formal. Just say the word," Rasa replied, sitting up in the water with a grin.

"Could you lend me some of that gold dust you've been saving up?"

Rasa immediately sat bolt upright, his face contorted in mock distress.

"Brother, I've been painstakingly gathering that gold dust to perfect my Magnet Release: Golden Puppet Technique..."

"I know, I know," Jinghang quickly reassured him. "But I'm out of options here. The village just finished a war. We have so many families of fallen shinobi to compensate, so many war orphans to care for. On top of that, we need to rebuild and invest in education. And that miserly Daimyo refuses to give us any funding. As the Kazekage, I'm really at my wit's end. Think of it as a loan to your big brother, alright?"

"Say no more, brother. I was just joking. It's just some gold dust. If it's for the village, you can even sell me off if you need to," Rasa said, breaking into a wide smile.

Jinghang couldn't help but feel a pang of emotion. Before him stood the future Fourth Kazekage, a truly tragic hero.

In the original timeline, after the Third Kazekage mysteriously disappeared, Sunagakure poured all its resources into searching for him, to no avail. The village fell into chaos, leaderless and embroiled in internal strife, with the Land of Wind descending into turmoil.

It was Rasa who stepped forward during this crisis, using the Magnet Release: Gold Dust he had learned from the Third Kazekage to quell the rebellion and assume leadership as the Fourth Kazekage, protecting the village from collapse. However, the stingy Daimyo continued to cut funding and reduce the number of shinobi, forcing Rasa to use his Magnet Release to gather gold dust and single-handedly sustain the village's finances.

When his wife Karura passed away and Shukaku ran rampant, it was Rasa who sealed the One-Tail into his newborn son, Gaara, sacrificing his family for the village. A selfless leader who gave everything for his people, Rasa ultimately met a tragic end, assassinated by Orochimaru.

But in this life, Jinghang vowed never to let such a fate befall his brother.

"Those who carry firewood for the masses must not be left to freeze in the snow."

"Brother, I want to establish a new department and put you in charge of it," Jinghang said.

"A new department? What kind of department?"

"The Mining Bureau."

"...What?!"

"Please, Kazekage-sama, eat, eat! This is a local specialty of Yugakure—hot spring fish. The meat is tender and flavorful; you must try it," the village leader said enthusiastically, placing a piece of fish onto Jinghang's plate. His demeanor was exceedingly respectful.

"If you have something to ask, just say it. Your hospitality is making me feel uneasy," Jinghang replied, seeing through the leader's intentions.

"Sigh, to be honest, I do have a matter troubling me, and I hope Kazekage-sama can help," the village leader admitted, setting his chopsticks down and speaking earnestly.

As it turned out, a group of cultists worshiping a so-called "Jashin" had infiltrated Yugakure. These fanatics were cruel and bloodthirsty, frequently raiding the village to kill, loot, and even abduct children. Despite multiple attempts to eliminate them, the cult leader's formidable abilities had thwarted every effort, resulting in the loss of several jonin.

The village leader had considered seeking Konoha's help, but with the ongoing war, Konoha was too preoccupied to intervene. Now, with the Kazekage passing through, he saw a glimmer of hope. He even offered a reward of ten million ryō if Jinghang could eradicate the cult.

Jashin Cult? Could it be that Jashin Cult from the original series? The one behind Hidan?

"Dare I ask, village leader, what abilities does this cult leader possess?" Jinghang inquired.

The leader's expression turned grim, and after a long pause, he finally spoke in a trembling voice:

"The most terrifying thing about him... is that he cannot be killed!"

In a dimly lit cave, dozens of Jashin cultists clad in black robes knelt before a grotesque and eerie stone idol. The statue had the face of a ghoul, with sharp fangs and a scroll clenched in its mouth. In its left hand, it held a crimson triple-bladed scythe, and in its right, a slender spear. Its entire body was covered in bizarre, blood-red runes.

Before the statue stood five wooden stakes, each bound with a child. Four of the children were clearly dead—one decapitated, another stabbed through the heart, a third with a shattered skull, and the fourth disemboweled. Blood pooled on the ground, painting a scene of horrific carnage.

The fifth child, however, was still alive, writhing in terror. His muffled cries seeped through the gag in his mouth as he struggled against his bonds.

A robed elder, his hands stained with blood, approached the statue and began chanting in a low, guttural voice. An ominous energy swirled in the air, growing stronger with each incantation. The statue's hollow eyes began to glow an eerie red, as if it were coming to life.

The blood on the altar slowly flowed toward the statue, seeping into its surface. The crimson runes adorning its body grew even brighter, eventually detaching and writhing like serpents awakening from hibernation.

As the elder's chanting quickened, the runes slithered toward the living child, coiling around his body. The boy, paralyzed with fear, fainted as the serpentine runes engulfed him.

A cultist stepped forward, and the elder sliced open his palm, letting the blood drip onto the child's head. He then drew a peculiar symbol—a circle enclosing a triangle—beneath the boy's feet.

The child's body began to change, black-and-white stripes spreading across his skin. The elder's face lit up with manic glee. Raising a dagger, he plunged it into the child's chest.

Incredibly, the cultist beside him suddenly collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

The elder's laughter echoed through the cave, a sound like nails scraping against metal.

"I've done it! We have another servant of Jashin!"

The cultists erupted in cheers, bowing even more fervently before the statue.

"Another one? So there's more of you, huh? Which of you are they?"

The sudden voice cut through the commotion, silencing the cave instantly.

"Who's there?" the elder demanded, pointing toward the entrance.

"Me? I'll tell you who I am. Magnet Release: Drizzle of Time!"