Kazekage Ninja: The Rise of the Hidden Sand

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As the towering Hokage Rock came into view, Jinghang couldn't help but sigh with emotion. "Twenty years of dreaming about being Hokage," he thought to himself, "and I've finally arrived at the place where it all began!" However, only two faces were fully carved into the mountain, with the third still under construction.

At the gates of Konoha, a large crowd had already gathered to welcome them. Leading the group was a man wearing a red conical hat.

"Damn," Jinghang muttered as he quickly put on his green hat and quickened his pace. The village leader himself has come to greet me—what an honor! I can't leave him waiting.

"Kazekage-sama, you've come such a long way. Welcome, welcome!"

"Hokage-sama, you're too kind. For the sake of peace and friendship between our villages, this journey is nothing."

Jinghang and Hiruzen Sarutobi shook hands warmly. Jinghang could feel the strength in Sarutobi's hands—scarred, yet without calluses. It was clear these hands had been meticulously cared for to avoid impairing the sensitivity needed for wielding shuriken. This was no mere figurehead; Sarutobi was a seasoned veteran who had worked his way up from the trenches.

"Come, let me introduce you to some of Konoha's finest," Hiruzen said.

"This is our senior advisor, Homura Mitokado."

"A pleasure to meet you," Jinghang said, shaking hands politely.

"This is Uchiha Wataru, head of the Konoha Police Force and a member of the Uchiha clan."

"The Uchiha are a noble and renowned clan in the ninja world. It's an honor to meet you."

"And this is Hiashi Hyuga, leader of the Hyuga clan."

"The Byakugan and Gentle Fist are legendary techniques. A pleasure to meet you."

Hiruzen continued the introductions: the Aburame clan, the Inuzuka clan, the Akimichi clan, the Yamanaka clan... Jinghang greeted each one in turn, but as the line went on, his expression grew colder. The same was true for the Sand Village delegation behind him.

What's the meaning of this? Jinghang thought. It's just a welcome ceremony—did Sarutobi really have to parade every notable family in Konoha in front of me? Is he trying to intimidate me by showing off how many allies he has? Who does he think he's scaring? We've all crawled through mountains of corpses and rivers of blood to get here.

By the time Jinghang shook hands with the last person, he had made up his mind.

"Pakura, hand me the sword."

"Yes," Pakura replied, immediately understanding his intent. She handed over the White Fang short blade.

This sword had been taken from Sakumo Hatake during the Battle of Rishi. Jinghang, who usually fought with iron sand, had no habit of carrying a blade. Seeing that this short sword was both sharp and compact—ideal for a kunoichi—he had gifted it to Pakura, who had cherished it ever since.

"Konoha and the Sand Village have had a few skirmishes recently—unpleasant incidents, to say the least," Jinghang began, his tone measured.

At this, the expressions of the Konoha delegation darkened. Jinghang ignored them and continued.

"Our villages are neighbors and should be like brothers. Armed conflict is not what our people desire. Peace should be the main theme of our interactions. This sword, once carried by Konoha's commander, is now being returned to its rightful owner. This is a gesture of the Sand Village's sincerity in seeking peace and alliance with Konoha. Let us hope that our two villages will remain allies for generations to come, ending all hostilities. As the saying goes, 'After the storm, brothers remain; a smile erases all grudges.'"

With that, Jinghang held the sword, sheathed and with both hands, and respectfully presented it to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

So what if you have more allies? Jinghang thought. Your allies still fell to me. Don't try to intimidate me with numbers—I'm not buying it!

The faces of the Konoha delegation grew even darker, and the muscles in Hiruzen's face twitched visibly. After a long pause, he finally regained his composure.

Taking the short sword, Hiruzen unsheathed it with a sharp "shing!" He examined the blade briefly before, with a loud "snap," breaking it in half with his bare hands and tossing the pieces to the ground.

"Weapons are instruments of destruction," Hiruzen said solemnly. "Konoha and the Sand Village should never have gone to war in the first place. You are right, Kazekage-sama: 'After the storm, brothers remain; a smile erases all grudges.'"

Hiruzen extended his hand once more, and Jinghang quickly grasped it, hiding his astonishment.

The White Fang short blade is a peerless weapon, sharp enough to cut through iron like butter. For Hiruzen to break it with just his fingers... his strength must be unfathomable.

"Ah, it's about time for a meal. Kazekage-sama, would you and your delegation care to join us in the village for lunch?"

Jinghang, seeing little point in further provocations, nodded. After all, this visit was about negotiations, not conflict. With arms linked, he and Hiruzen entered the village.

Post-Banquet Negotiations

After lunch, discussions began in the Hokage's conference room. The two sides debated intensely over issues such as the ceasefire, territorial boundaries, and the terms of the alliance. To Jinghang, these matters were largely settled already, having been pre-negotiated with Danzo Shimura. The details could be left to subordinates to hash out.

After some time, Rasa signaled that the discussions were nearing completion. Jinghang stood up and addressed the room.

"Konoha is the world's oldest ninja village, and its founding marked a new era for the ninja world. Our own First Kazekage, Rettō, modeled much of the Sand Village after Konoha. In a sense, Konoha is like an elder brother to us."

The Konoha representatives nodded in approval. Finally, they thought, a bit of humility. Now we're getting somewhere. With the proper respect, negotiations can proceed smoothly.

"The Sand Village hopes that this alliance will lead to deeper cooperation between our villages. We plan to send a group of ninjas to Konoha to study at your ninja academy, as well as in your administrative and medical departments. We also hope that Konoha will send some of its finest ninjas to the Sand Village to provide guidance..."

Drunken Brotherhood

"You're my brother!"

"Yes, I'm your brother."

"And I'm your little brother."

"Yes, you're my little brother."

"No, no, I'm your little brother!"

"Yes, you're my little brother!"

"Brother!"

"Brother!"

The two Kage, now thoroughly drunk, had their arms slung around each other's shoulders. Their faces were as red as monkey's behinds, and their once-pristine clothing was in complete disarray. The table before them was a chaotic mess of empty dishes and bottles.

"Brother," Jinghang slurred, "that... Danzo Shimura... he's not trustworthy. You should keep an eye on him."

"Mm, I... know."

"And that Ōnoki... he's dangerous. If he makes a move, you'll have to handle him yourself."

"Mm, I know... Let Danzo... deal with him for now."

"His Dust Release is tough to counter. Be careful."

"Mm, I know... I'll just... stay away from him. If I don't get close... he can't do anything."

"Brother, don't worry. As long as I'm Kazekage, Konoha's western border won't need... a single soldier."

"Not... a single soldier?"

"Trust me, not a single soldier."

"Really?"

"More real than gold."

"Good brother, I'll drink to that!"

"To peace between our villages!"

"Cheers!"

"Brother, can I ask you... for a favor?"

"Name it."

"Teach me... the Eight Gates Release Formation."

"Why would you... want to learn that? It's bad... for your body."

"Just teach me!"

"Listen... I don't know it."

"Huh?"

"I really don't... but someone else does."