Standing atop a towering sand dune, Kyoji gazed at the crimson sunset, its form distorted by the scorching sands on the horizon. Below, the village's outline stretched into long, exaggerated shadows. A few tumbleweeds rolled aimlessly in the wind, adding to the scene's haunting blend of desolation and grandeur.
"Sigh…" Kyoji exhaled deeply.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" came a voice from behind.
Without turning, Kyoji immediately dropped into a semi-kneeling posture.
"Yes, Kazekage-sama. It's indeed a breath-taking view."
Indeed, Kyoji was the protagonist of this story—a man who, in his original life, had been a community worker born in the 1980s, laboring on the frontlines of epidemic prevention. With few hobbies, his sole hobby during past time had been reading manga. One night, after staying up for emergency duties, he returned to his dorm room, too tired to sleep. He opened his laptop and began rewatching Naruto. Before long, drowsiness overtook him, and when he awoke… he was no longer in his own world.
He had arrived in the world of Naruto—specifically, the world of the Shinobi. Surrounded by endless yellow sand and barren land, there was no mistaking it: this was Sunagakure, the Hidden Sand in The Village. And he, now, was an orphan of the First Great Shinobi War.
Yet fate had smiled upon him. Slowly, Kyoji realized that he had transmigrated into the body of the "Strongest Kazekage in History"—the Third Kazekage. Tragically, he was also known as the unluckiest, having been turned into a human puppet by Sasori of the Red Sand. As a transmigrator, Kyoji could not accept such a fate. Possessing the Magnet Release (Jiton) bloodline and mastery of the Iron Sand technique, along with his deep knowledge of the manga and relentless effort, he began to rise.
At the ninja academy, he shone brightly. After graduation, he led his squad through countless missions, becoming a jonin by age 16. His excellence caught the eye of the Second Kazekage, Shamon, who appointed him as a personal guard. Over the years, Kyoji earned renown on numerous battlefields and acquired the nickname "Blue Sandstorm" for his distinctive blue hair. He became the heir apparent in the eyes of both Shamon and the village elders.
"You still believe we shouldn't invade the Land of Rain?" asked the Second Kazekage.
"Yes, Kazekage-sama."
"Why? Is it because of that poison-loving brat, Hanzo of the Salamander?"
"Hanzo is of little concern; Elder Chiyo can easily deal with him. My worry is that if the war drags on, the other great nations will inevitably intervene. Neither Konoha nor Iwagakure will tolerate the rise of a strong—"
"Enough!" Shamon cut him off, voice sharp.
"You think I don't know the risks? Look carefully," he said, pointing toward the village below.
"Water scarcity. Poverty. Hunger. This is the life our people endure. Do you want our children to continue like this? If we don't fight, how will we expand our territory? If we don't fight, how will the village survive? You're shortsighted. You've disappointed me."
Shamon's voice trembled with passion, and the dragon tattoo across his face seemed to flicker with menace.
Kyoji remained kneeling, his head bowed in silence.
"If you refuse to fight in this war, then you will not go. Instead, go to the Abyss and watch over that monk, Bunpuku."
When Kyoji looked up again, Shamon had already vanished into the shadows.
The following day, the Second Kazekage led Elder Chiyo and a team of elite jonin in an assault on the Land of Rain. Elder Ebizo was left to manage village affairs, while Kyoji, despite being the heir apparent, was demoted to guard duty in the Abyss, where he was tasked with watching over the One-Tail Jinchūriki, Bunpuku.
Kyoji, having studied Naruto in-depth and participated in many fan forums, understood exactly where history stood. This was the dawn of the Second Shinobi World War, a conflict ignited by economic disparity after the First. Under the guise of seeking equality, various nations sought expansion through war. Sunagakure's invasion of Amegakure would become the catalyst for a chaotic, all-consuming struggle among the five great nations.
Konoha, with its deep resources and fertile land, would eventually emerge victorious. Sunagakure, however, would pay dearly: massive casualties, weakening influence, and a future marred by instability. The deaths of both the Third and Fourth Kazekage would cement the village's decline. Even their alliance with Orochimaru during the Konoha Crush would only end in the death of Hiruzen Sarutobi. By the time Gaara rose to power, the village would be all but subordinate to Konoha.
To Kyoji, this slow downfall could be traced back to a single mistake: Shamon's decision to initiate this war. As the "crown prince" of the village, Kyoji had hoped to reverse this path—but all his efforts had only landed him in the Abyss.
The Abyss was a vast, semi-enclosed canyon converted into a prison. Empty and echoing, its winding paths and oppressive silence were suffocating—like a descent into hell.
"Sigh… Boss, why'd you have to argue with the Kazekage?" Rasa complained, kicking a rock down the narrow trail. "Now we're stuck here instead of on the frontlines."
"Just shut up. The boss has never been wrong," Pakura retorted, casting a few light fireballs using her Scorch Release (Shokuton) to light the way.
As an elite jonin, Kyoji had his own squad. Before Tsunade's reforms introduced the concept of including medical ninja in combat squads, most teams consisted of three members. Rising quickly through the ranks, Kyoji handpicked his team: the future Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, and the powerful yet ill-fated jonin, Pakura. It was one of Sunagakure's most formidable squads. But perhaps as a subtle punishment, the Second Kazekage had exiled them all to the Abyss following Kyoji's defiance.
Rasa, far from the composed figure he would later become, grumbled constantly like a cranky housewife. Pakura, on the other hand, was Kyoji's loyal follower, treating his every word as law.
The Abyss twisted deeper, until finally, they saw a dim light ahead. A tall, slender shadow cast a long silhouette beneath it.
"Master Bunpuku, your meal is here," Kyoji said respectfully, passing a food box into the cell.
A middle-aged monk opened his eyes slowly. Upon recognizing the visitor, he smiled serenely.
"Thank you, Kyoji-dono," Bunpuku said, bowing with palms pressed together.
As Sunagakure's living weapon, Bunpuku was no stranger to Kyoji. In fact, they were well-acquainted. Kyoji, well aware of the secrets surrounding the Tailed Beasts, often visited to chat. He knew that Bunpuku was no ordinary Jinchūriki—he was arguably the first perfect one since the Sage of Six Paths. His pure heart had even earned the respect of Shukaku, who likened him to the Sage himself. Yet the village, fearing the Tailed Beasts more than they understood them, imprisoned him here instead of trying to learn from him.
"My gratitude isn't for the meal, but for your bravery in advising the Second Kazekage against the war," Bunpuku said as he began to eat.
"Alas, he did not heed my words," Kyoji sighed. "By now, the vanguard is likely at Amegakure's borders. War is inevitable."
Though their motives differed—one for his nation, the other for all living beings—the two shared a desire to prevent senseless bloodshed.
"You have done your best. Your conscience is clear. Do not burden yourself with guilt. I shall chant sutras to guide the souls of the fallen."
"Very well," Kyoji replied, studying Bunpuku's gaunt face under the dim light. The dark circles under the monk's eyes were stark.
"Master, how long has it been since you last slept?"
"By my count, fifty-five days."
"That's… terrible. Perhaps I should bring you outside for a while?"
Bunpuku's eyes twinkled as he smiled gently. Pressing his hands together, he replied,
"If so, I must trouble you, Kyoji-dono."