Inside Iwagakure village.
Looking at the pure white, humanoid life form sealed inside a nutrient jar, Ōnoki's expression was incredibly serious, but deep within his serious eyes was a hint of unexpected joy.
"So you're saying… this creature's cells are highly active and remarkably docile? With only chakra stimulation, they could be directly integrated into a human body?"
Ōnoki tried his best to suppress the joy in his voice and asked Kitsuchi repeatedly: "Is the information accurate? Have you done any experiments? Have the various data evaluations been completed?"
"Results are consistent so far. The main difficulty now is large-scale cultivation."
Kitsuchi's face was equally serious. As a high-ranking official in Iwagakure, he fully understood the gravity of the situation.
White Zetsu. Its unique biological traits could—if decoded and properly applied—provide a revolutionary boost to Iwa's infrastructure: medical, industrial, strategic... this was a game changer.
"This is incredible… truly incredible!"
Ōnoki put his hands behind his back, his eyes filled with joy. His hunched back even straightened up a little.
Right now, Iwagakure was stuck in a dire bottleneck—barely holding together.
After the Third Shinobi World War, the five great nations and the five great ninja villages all had their resources replenished and their political situations greatly alleviated due to various reasons, such as forming alliances with Kirigakure and having all-around cooperation in industry and commerce.
But Iwagakure did not.
This stubborn old man upheld the so-called Will of Stone. Although they didn't implement a policy like Sunagakure's Blood-Sand, the country's and Iwagakure's closed-country policy was even more severe than Sunagakure's.
Using a self-imposed siege to implement an iron-wall defense was the policy implemented by the Third Tsuchikage in the current Iwagakure.
There was no other way. The current Iwagakure not only had a pitifully small number of seeds of hope for the future, but their mid-to-high-level combat power was also reduced to a few.
As for Kage-level strength, there was no one who could take on the heavy burden of being the Tsuchikage!
If not for Ōnoki still wielding the fearsome Dust Release, Iwa would've long lost its status as one of the Five Great Villages.
But even a mountain eventually crumbles. His body was growing frailer by the day. His chakra was thinning. His strength waning.
Iwagakure needed a new pillar and new vibrant power. He also had to quickly cultivate a new Tsuchikage, a shinobi who could take on the burden on his shoulders.
But unfortunately, this barren land of Iwagakure had not produced many astonishingly talented geniuses.
Akatsuchi was slow-witted, Kitsuchi was honest, and his granddaughter Kurotsuchi's aptitude was slightly inferior.
Only Deidara back then was to his liking, but the battle during the Chūnin Exams in Sunagakure shattered his hope for a future Tsuchikage successor...
All of this had led Ōnoki to formulate a new plan. But that plan required a specific kind of raw material.
And now, the perfect resource had fallen right into his hands—White Zetsu.
"Kitsuchi, no matter the cost, I want this thing mass-produced to the highest degree possible."
Ōnoki's voice left no room for doubt.
"They will be the cornerstone of the 'Rock Guard Project.'"
"Yes, sir!"
Kitsuchi saluted sharply and left the chamber.
Ōnoki floated in midair, gazing at the humanoid form soaking in the nutrient fluid, his clenched fists slowly loosening.
The Rock Guard Project—a human replication initiative meant to preserve Iwa. By using the remaining elite ninja's cell samples, they would create artificial life to serve as the next defense force.
The problem was, Iwa's biotech was far behind Konoha's or Kiri's. The research faced constant setbacks in stabilizing cellular fusion, integrating kekkei genkai, developing intelligence, personality, and consciousness.
And yet now, during these dark times, Kitsuchi had somehow captured this perfect specimen.
"Heaven does not forsake the steadfast. The Will of Stone will one day see the light of dawn!"
"Will of Stone?"
An unfamiliar voice abruptly cut through his monologue. Ōnoki's expression turned fierce. He snapped his gaze to the left.
The space rippled, and Obito's figure slowly emerged from it. The ground below him squirmed, and Black and White Zetsu followed close behind.
"It's you!"
Ōnoki's eyes narrowed as soon as he saw that familiar spiral mask. Instantly, he began silently forming a specific hand seal.
Staring at the Sharingan beneath the mask, Ōnoki scoffed:
"What, are you planning to use that eye of yours to control me too?"
First the Third Mizukage. Then the Fourth Kazekage. According to the intel Ōnoki had gathered, both had fallen under this mysterious masked man's genjutsu.
Now he dared to show up in Iwa. His purpose was obvious.
"I see… So you've prepped a jutsu to block Mangekyō genjutsu ahead of time."
Obito felt the resistance instantly—the Tsuchikage's mind was completely unaffected by his ocular power.
It wasn't surprising. After his actions with the Mizukage and Kazekage were exposed, the remaining Kage would naturally start preparing countermeasures.
"There's no need to be so tense, Ōnoki."
Obito's tone was calm as he fixed his gaze on the old man.
"I'm merely here to reassert ownership. After all, you so boldly stole what belongs to me—it's only right that I come to collect."
"Yours?"
Ōnoki frowned deeply. "That thing... is one of yours?"
"More precisely, it's a Spore Clone of mine," White Zetsu said with a creepy giggle.
"You abducted my clone and have been experimenting on it non-stop. Oh, I've felt everything you did to it."
"It hurt. So much. So painful! So painful!"
"You guys just love to cause trouble. As long as it's something you need, you don't ask about right or wrong. You just take it first," Obito spoke slowly: "How will you, the rulers of these great nations, ever understand the truth of this world?"
Ōnoki was expressionless, his gaze cold: "Power is the truth!"
"You're not wrong. Power is the most convincing truth of all."
Obito nodded, but then shook his head.
"Unfortunately, I see no such truth in Iwa.
Look at yourself, Ōnoki. Ancient, withered—can't even stand up straight anymore. How much longer do you think your 'truth' can protect this pitiful village?"
"Long enough to erase your filthy shadow from this world!"
Ōnoki's eyes turned cold, he clasped his hands together, and his chakra surged.
The power to break down all matter in the world into atoms, the Kekkei Tōta, a level above Kekkei Genkai, erupted from Ōnoki's palms!
"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!"
The Dust Release barrier in his palms suddenly expanded, completely enveloping the figures of Obito and Zetsu with lightning speed.
Dust Release!
It was a Kekkei Tōta that was created from the combination of Wind, Fire, and Earth chakra. It was a jutsu that was above Kekkei Genkai. It would separate a target into its atomic state and completely obliterate it with a chakra barrier.
In terms of intensity, it could be said to be the most powerful offensive ninjutsu below Six Paths level techniques such as the Truth-Seeking Balls!
Yet ironically, in canon, it had few actual kills outside of a few Susano'o clones—almost as underwhelming as Amaterasu in real use.
Inside Kamui dimension, Obito watched the Dust Release chakra barrier completely envelop the area he was in. His expression was calm, and he even showed a hint of mockery.
The power of Kekkei Tōta was indeed exaggerated and formidable, with unparalleled power, but for him, who possessed Kamui, it was meaningless.
Sure enough, besides Yuki Yoru, my Kamui is still in a league of its own. It truly deserves to be called the strongest Mangekyō recorded in the Uchiha clan!
The chakra barrier slowly dissipated. Everything within its range was gone. Even the ground had been separated and turned into the smallest atoms in the world.
"Is he gone...?"
Ōnoki muttered to himself, searching his surroundings. He was obviously a little disbelieving that this guy, who had successively controlled two Kage and escaped after colliding with the monstrous freak Yuki Yoru multiple times, could be so easily defeated by him.
"Earth Style: Rock Armor!"
Ōnoki's keen combat awareness made him subconsciously activate Earth Release. An unbreakable earthen armor covered his body.
Clang
A kunai grazed his neck—but missed. Obito chuckled behind him.
"So that's all Dust Release amounts to? Your combat awareness is commendable though.
But if I'd used Fire Release instead of a kunai, you'd be roasted along with your rocks by now."
"Arrogant brat!!"
Ōnoki's fury erupted.
If there was one person he hated the most in his long life, it was undoubtedly these Uchiha who had red eyes with tomoe and acted like self-important protagonists. The next was Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had opened the Box of Ultimate Bliss and destroyed half of the Land of Earth.
Even if the guy in front of him wasn't an Uchiha, he possessed the Sharingan, and could definitely be included in Ōnoki's list of "most hated people in his life."
Ōnoki's eyes were fixed on Obito in front of him. He once again condensed Dust Release chakra between his hands.
Obito kept Kamui active with a relaxed expression, laughing as he watched Ōnoki's actions.
Dust Release erupted again. Obito was still completely unharmed, which made Ōnoki fully understand the power the other party possessed.
"Space-Time Ninjutsu…"
He laughed bitterly through gritted teeth.
"So that's how you act with such impunity. With a technique like that, Iwa must feel like your personal playground."
"Exactly," Obito said coolly. Fighting anyone besides Yoru reminded him just how overpowered Kamui was.
"That's the privilege of having such a jutsu."
"Is that so!"
The corner of Ōnoki's furious mouth suddenly curled into a mocking smile.
In that instant, an earth clone suddenly condensed on the wall behind Obito.
The earth clone took the form of Ōnoki. Its hands clasped together, and the space around them was suddenly covered with a dense layer of incantations.
"What—!?"
"Void Sealing Jutsu!"
The earth clone of Ōnoki roared, and at the same time, he slammed his hands on the ground, and chakra surged into the ground: "Earth Release: Earth Flow Spears!"
The ground trembled, and sharp rock blades burst out of the ground, knocking Obito into the air.
At the same time, the Dust Release that his real body had already started to condense between his hands, roared out in that instant!
"Dust Release: Boundary Splitting Jutsu!"
The Dust Release that could obliterate everything erupted again!
A white light shone. Ōnoki sneered as he watched Obito being swallowed by the Dust Release.
During the Third Shinobi World War, the Yellow Flash of Konoha, Minato Namikaze, caused huge losses to Iwagakure on the front lines. In the Kannabi Bridge battle, a single team of his cut off their most important supply line!
Even later, on the front lines, Minato Namikaze took on fifty of them at once, which destroyed Iwagakure's morale and fighting spirit in the early stages.
After that, Ōnoki deeply realized the terror of space-time ninjutsu and immediately began to research how to counter it. He eventually came up with this move, the Void Sealing Jutsu.
Unfortunately, in the later stages of the war, the appearance of the Box of Ultimate Bliss completely shattered Ōnoki's original plan to use this move to restrict Minato Namikaze and counterattack Konoha. Later, after Minato Namikaze's death, this move lost its value.
He never expected that today, this move that Ōnoki had considered to be sealed away would have such a miraculous effect!
"In arrogant regret, turn into the atomic dust of this world!"
"You seem to be celebrating a little too early, Ōnoki
The sudden voice interrupted Ōnoki's words again. In his shocked eyes, the Dust Release that had swallowed the area Obito was in actually began to shrink.
No, it wasn't shrinking. It was being absorbed!
Under Ōnoki's disbelieving gaze, the Dust Release chakra barrier continuously twisted and deformed. Finally, like flowing water, it was completely devoured. The culprit behind all of this was a crimson fan.
"This is..."
Looking at the strange fan on his shoulder, Ōnoki's face showed a clear daze. It seemed that some memories that had been sealed away for decades were being slowly triggered.
But Obito did not give Ōnoki time to think. In that instant, a terrifying chakra, along with a white light, suddenly erupted from that fan!
"Uchiha Milkshake!!"