If one were to determine which of the current Five Kage had the longest tenure and the most years in office, it would undoubtedly be the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki. Based on the generational titles alone, it was clear that Konoha had already reached its Fifth Hokage, while Kumogakure was led by the Fourth Raikage. By conventional standards, most villages should be under the leadership of their Fourth Kage by now.
However, due to the Fourth Hokage of Konoha dying young during the Nine-Tails attack, the village had since moved on to the Fifth. Other villages, though, were generally still governed by their Fourth Kage. Yet, Iwagakure remained under the rule of the Third Tsuchikage. The reason was simple—Ōnoki had lived far too long, outlasting and even burying several potential successors.
If Danzō had been born in Iwagakure, he likely would have never had the chance to become Kage, no matter how much he schemed.
Ōnoki's longevity, however, was not the only reason he remained in power. His exceptional strength, cunning diplomatic skills, and ruthless protectiveness over his village made him nearly irreplaceable. His stance toward his own people and outsiders was starkly different. To his village, he was a stubborn yet protective elder. To outsiders, he was like an immovable stone wall—one that could either be used as a sturdy foundation or as a blunt instrument to strike down his enemies.
His signature technique, Dust Release (Jinton), was both an indomitable spear and an unbreakable shield. Capable of disintegrating anything into atoms, it was one of the most feared abilities in the shinobi world. Few dared to provoke him.
But today, Zixu intended to do just that. He wanted to test himself against this final obstacle.
"Hyuga Chinano, how much do you know about Ōnoki?" Zixu asked, crouching behind a massive brown boulder. After lowering the telescope in his hand, he turned to Chinano, who was already setting up her sniper rifle and calibrating it.
Chinano swiftly calculated the surrounding wind speed, temperature, and other environmental factors. She didn't bother using the rifle's scope. Her Byakugan was far superior, acting as the ultimate long-range lens. With a simple shift of her pupil, she zoomed in on Iwagakure, her eyes capturing every detail with crystal clarity.
To her, the mountains that hid the village from view did not exist. The entire Iwagakure lay exposed before her gaze, as if she were watching a girl fresh out of the bath with nowhere to hide.
"He's old. Probably in poor health," Chinano replied, her voice calm and matter-of-fact. "He specializes in Earth Release (Doton) and possesses a Bloodline Selection (Kekkei Tōta), which surpasses standard Kekkei Genkai. He combines three chakra natures—Earth, Wind, and Fire—to form Dust Release (Jinton), which can disintegrate opponents at the atomic level. It's capable of creating large-scale explosions with a single strike."
Her knowledge of Ōnoki was based mostly on hearsay, but she understood the danger of Dust Release well enough. It was nearly impossible to defend against. Once struck by it, even the most impenetrable defense would be reduced to nothing but dust.
Zixu had no desire to experience the effects of Dust Release firsthand. He had always prided himself on his powerful physique, but he doubted even his endurance could withstand disintegration. He had no intention of testing that theory.
"Still, considering how old he is, he must have plenty of physical issues by now," Zixu mused with a smirk. "Old men are prone to osteoporosis, right? Maybe I can use the Hyuga bone-setting technique to get close... give him a little 'treatment.'"
After fine-tuning the sniper rifle, Chinano stood up, her voice laced with a teasing tone. Zixu wasn't sure whether she was joking or being serious.
"No need," he replied. "We'll approach him directly. It would be best if we can reach an agreement. If not, no big deal. With the other villages coming, the balance of power will shift. We don't need another Tsuchikage throwing his weight around. Besides, when the four Kage gather, there's no way he won't get curious and suspicious. He'll have no choice but to show up."
With that, Zixu motioned for Chinano to follow him. He left a clone behind to man the sniper rifle, keeping it on standby.
"Isn't he worried that the four Kage gathering could be a direct threat to Iwagakure?" Chinano asked, furrowing her brow. "Even if the chances are slim, he should still be cautious, right?"
Zixu smirked. "You're overthinking it. This is a statement of intent. The other villages might not be adept at politics—they're either brash or disorganized—but Ōnoki is different. If we show weakness in front of him, he'll exploit it at every turn. We can't afford to give him that advantage."
The two soon arrived at the entrance to Iwagakure. Since they had already sent word to Ōnoki in advance, they encountered no resistance upon entering the village.
Iwagakure was situated against a towering mountain range, surrounded by massive rock formations. The village architecture reflected its rugged environment—stone towers and fortresses were carved into the mountains, resembling medieval castles. The central spire stood tall, nearly level with the surrounding peaks. It was likely that Ōnoki worked from there.
"Please wait here. Lord Tsuchikage will arrive shortly," announced a burly, middle-aged man with a red headscarf. His large frame and heavy build made him resemble a gorilla.
He led Zixu and Chinano into a stone house, but not the tall tower at the village's center. It seemed Ōnoki had no intention of meeting them in his office, either out of disdain or indifference.
After escorting them inside, the man left and stood guard by the door, awaiting Ōnoki's arrival.
As expected, they were made to wait. Zixu knew this was a classic power move—a deliberate attempt to make them stew and feel disrespected.
Sure enough, ten minutes passed, and not even a fly entered the room. Let alone Ōnoki. Chinano, visibly irritated, was already considering sniping the old man on sight.
"Relax. Let's give him ten more minutes. No need to get hasty," Zixu reassured her. "By the way, does the Hyuga bone-setting technique really work?"
Chinano scoffed. "Of course it does. Not all Hyuga are frontline fighters. Some of us run bone-setting clinics back home. They're actually pretty popular and respected in Konoha."
Zixu raised a skeptical brow. "Really? Prove it."
Chinano narrowed her eyes, seeing right through him. His casual tone and hopeful expression made it obvious—he just wanted a free massage.
With a resigned sigh, Chinano walked behind him and prepared to demonstrate.
Her slender hands suddenly emitted a strength far greater than her delicate frame suggested. With precise chakra control, she struck Zixu's back, causing his muscles to loosen. Under normal circumstances, he would have needed to remove his shirt for a proper bone-setting session, but this was just a test, so there was no need for formalities.
Chinano's fingers expertly pressed into Zixu's back. Her gentle yet forceful palm strikes manipulated his muscles and realigned his bones, guiding them back into optimal position. The Hyuga clan's mastery of chakra control allowed her to perform with pinpoint accuracy.
Though it was technically a healing technique, the scene from an outsider's perspective looked suspiciously like a brutal beating. Zixu's exaggerated groans and winces of "pain" didn't help.
Unfortunately, this was the exact moment that Ōnoki and his guards entered the room.
The elderly Tsuchikage, despite his experience, was momentarily taken aback by the sight. For a moment, he couldn't quite process what he was seeing. To him, it appeared as though Zixu and Chinano were engaged in some bizarre self-torture ritual.
Even his stone-faced guards seemed momentarily perplexed, unsure whether to intervene or quietly leave the strange pair alone.
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