Sunagakure (Village Hidden by Sand)

The Hidden Sand village was founded after the conclusion of the Warring States period that had long imperiled the world. The first Kazekaze, Reto, had corralled all of the tribal clans and villages that were located in the Land of Wind and brought them under his control through his sheer might. Shortly after its founding, Konohagakure, lead by the first Hokage Hashirama Senju, would seek to trade with the land and offered its tailed beasts as a form of power sharing to prevent future wars.

However, as the Hidden Sand already had access to the One Tail beast, because it resided within its lands, the First Kazekage sought to leverage financial and territorial compensation in order to further bolster their standing. Sunagakure would also take steps to research the One Tail in order to learn how to better draw out its power for the sake of the village against future threats. These efforts would prove successful as the Third Kazekage would become able to mimic the abilities of the One Tail using Iron Sand.

Unfortunately, despite measures taken to engender peace, war would once again come to the world of shinobi with multiple Shinobi World Wars. Due to its proximity to the Hidden Stone Village, Iwagakure, Sunagakure constantly found itself in conflict with the village, and to this day share a rocky relationship even in eras of relative peace.

Sunagakure has never been the greatest military power in the land and have even been forced to outsource a considerable amount of their shinobi assignments to other villages, mostly the Hidden Leaf. While they lack in sheer numbers compared to nations such has Konohagakure, they make up with their unique specialties such as their corp of puppeteers, and their research and control over their nation’s tailed beast.

The Hidden Sand Village is notorious for its puppet using shinobi. These techniques were so popular among its shinobi corps that a specialized group of them was formed called the Puppet Brigade. They are also notorious for their poisons and toxins, with the great puppeteer Elder Chiyo being one of the most feared shinobi puppeteers of her time. So much so, that only Tsunade, of the Hidden Leaf, was capable of finding a cure to her deadly toxins.

Sunagakure would constantly refine and research these techniques, and after a point they considered if it was possible to grant life to their own puppets. This research, however, proved futile and was scrapped. During the events of the Chunin Exams, the Hidden Sand was coerced into a plot by one of the famed Sannin of Konohagakure, Orochimaru.

Gaara would be sent in as part of the exams to go berserk and rage within the village, while supporting forces alongside the Sound Village, Otogakure, would invade from the outside. However, Orochimaru killed and then disguised himself as the fourth Kazekage, and the plot would ultimately be foiled, leaving him on the run and disabled after having his arms sealed by the Third Hokage. Distressed by this betrayal, The Hidden Sand would seek to repair relations with the Hidden Leaf, which would be a gradual but eventually a successful endeavor for both nations.

Over the course of Sunagakure’s history, there have been five total Kazekage. Below is a brief description and visual of each one of them.

First Kazekage (Reto)

The first ever Kazekage and founder of Sunagakure, Reto brought the Land of Wind under his rule by the virtue of his strength and helped bring an end to the Warring States period.

Second Kazekage (Shamon)

The Second Kazekage of the Hidden Sand, Shamon was one of the first of the Kazekage to research the One Tail tailed beast in order to draw out its power

Third Kazekage

The Third Kazekage was revered as one of the strongest shinobi of his time. He suddenly disappeared during his reign, however, and it was found he was made into a puppet by the Rogue Nina Sasori

Fourth Kazekage (Rasa)

Rasa is known for his capabilities using Gold Dust, used from the minerals within sands in tandem with the One Tail Shukaku’s powers. He would make his own son Gaara into the host of the One Tail, and quell its rampages on several occasions.

Fifth and current Kazekage (Gaara of the Desert)

Son of the Fourth Kazekage Rasa, Gaara would be made into the Jinchuuriki of the One Tail Beast Shukaku before his birth. He was emotionally stunted and had a murderous streak due to his traumatizing upbringing but Gaara undergoes great change after befriending Naruto Uzumaki, a fellow Jinchuriki.

Kazekage Clan

While an actual surname is not given proper in the series, this is the clan that Gaara and his siblings Temari and Kankuro were born into, and has long held great power and prestige over Sunagakure. The fourth and fifth Kazekage have come from this clan, as well as the One Tail tailed beast’s host. With Temari’s marriage to Shikamaru of Konohagakure, a major conflict within the clan is a matter of succession, due to Gaara and Kankuro currently being childless.

Members include: Gaara of the Desert, Temari, Kankuro

Q. Does Sunagakure have ANBU?

Yes! The Hidden Sand Village employs their own ANBU forces. These forces are under the direct command of the Kazekage

Q. What is the Sand Village Kage called?

As the village is located in the Land of Wind, the title of Sunagakure’s leader is Kazekage.

Q. Is the Sand Village weak?

Not at all! It is one of the most difficult villages to attack head on due to its natural defenses, and has never before fallen to any opponents.