The Sand Guardian

Enma Kurosawa lived in an isolated cabin, far from the heart of Sunagakure. His life was marked by solitude, with the vast dunes of the desert as his only companions. As an orphan, he had no memory of his parents, and his daily routine was shaped by the harsh reality of surviving in a hostile environment. He was not yet seven years old, but he had learned early to fend for himself—hunting, fishing, and defending himself against the desert's dangers.

He had few friends, mostly rare encounters with other children who occasionally crossed paths with him near the village. But these meetings were always brief, as Enma preferred the peace of the desert to the company of others. However, one day, while venturing further than usual, he noticed a figure in the distance, barely visible against the horizon.

Curious, Enma approached slowly. It was another child, clearly exhausted and lost. This boy seemed younger than Enma, with a tired expression and clothes that were worn and dirty. He didn't appear to be a ninja, but rather a child from Sunagakure who had ventured too far into the desert without preparation.

Enma continued to approach, and when he got close enough, he noticed that the boy could barely stand. "Are you lost?" Enma asked, his voice calm, but laced with curiosity.

The boy looked up slowly, hesitating. "I… I was looking for something for my grandmother, but I got lost… I'm Sasori..."

Enma studied him for a moment, his dark eyes showing no emotion. "You're from the village, huh? You shouldn't be out here alone."

Sasori nodded, but he was too exhausted to speak further. He staggered to get back on his feet, but his legs wobbled, and he collapsed to the ground.

Enma sighed. "You're an idiot for coming out here unprepared. Come on, I'll help you."

He extended his hand to Sasori, who took it without protest. Enma helped him to his feet, and together, they began walking through the desert. The scorching sand burned beneath their feet, but Enma led Sasori in silence.

Along the way, Enma turned to Sasori and said more seriously, "This desert isn't a place for kids like you. You're not ready to survive here."

Sasori, though exhausted, seemed intrigued by Enma's words. "You're not a ninja either... How do you know all this?"

Enma shook his head. "I just know how to survive. That's all." He had no title, no rank. He was just a child, like Sasori, but he knew the desert was tougher than any fight. He considered himself more of a survivor than anything else.

After several hours, they reached Enma's cabin. Sasori, still tired, thanked him, but Enma didn't respond, preferring to keep his thoughts to himself.

A month later, Enma was back in his cabin, going about his usual routine. That morning, while working outside, a man dressed in a long dark coat approached him. He was a ninja from Sunagakure, though his appearance didn't immediately reveal his exact role.

The ninja stopped in front of Enma's cabin, and in an authoritative but calm tone, he spoke:

"Enma Kurosawa."

Enma, surprised, turned toward the man. "What?"

The ninja locked eyes with him. "The Kazekage wants to see you tomorrow. After the Academy, you'll go to the Kazekage's office."

Enma frowned, not understanding what this was about. "The Academy?" he repeated. He had never heard of such a place.

"Yes," the ninja replied. "Tomorrow, after your first day at the Academy, you'll go straight to the Kazekage's office. This is an order."

Enma studied the ninja for a moment without saying a word. Then, with a quick nod, he agreed. "Alright."

He had no idea what awaited him, but he knew one thing: his world was about to change.