"You are Kaguya Kimimaro?"
Kimimaro finally came face-to-face with Ōnoki, the Third Tsuchikage—an aged man known for his sharp gaze, floating ability, and signature scowl beneath that unmistakable nose.
"Yes," Kimimaro answered with respectful calm. "It's an honor to meet you, Tsuchikage-dono."
Ōnoki squinted. "A polite one, huh? Hmph. No wonder Kurotsuchi got interested in you."
His words were flat, more observation than compliment. The old man's attitude was cautious, perhaps mildly probing.
They didn't linger on pleasantries for long.
"You're quite bold," Ōnoki began, leaning on his cane. "Secretly influencing the Land of Vegetables without inviting a direct response from the Five Great Nations... If it weren't for intelligence reports showing the Daimyō's 'special relationship' with you, other countries might have used her as a pretext to intervene."
Kimimaro chuckled lightly. "I wouldn't call it a secret. Anyone with decent intelligence resources likely knows I have influence there."
"Is she yours?" Ōnoki asked bluntly. "The Daimyō?"
"Yes," Kimimaro answered without evasion. "She is."
Ōnoki grunted. "Tch. So what does that make my granddaughter? Another name on your list?"
"They are all my women," Kimimaro said calmly. "In this world, there's no law binding a man to one woman. The strong walk a different path."
In the shinobi world, particularly among high-ranking individuals or feudal lords, monogamy was more a matter of custom than law. While many upheld it for appearance or principle, others—particularly those with status and power—often operated outside that framework.
Some female Daimyōs had multiple lovers. The chaos of war, the absence of firm governance, and the survival-first mindset of many hidden villages meant personal relationships rarely stirred official scrutiny—unless they caused political disruption.
Ōnoki's brow furrowed deeper. "A ninja's path demands focus. Those who get too entangled in desire lose their edge. If you weren't the Land of Vegetables' guardian shinobi, I might've broken your legs just for dragging Kurotsuchi into this mess."
Kimimaro didn't flinch. His face betrayed neither guilt nor arrogance.
Yet Ōnoki, for all his threats, relaxed slightly.
In his eyes, Kimimaro's indulgence in romance marked him as manageable. Dangerous, yes—but not the cold, calculating conqueror who might attempt to consume Iwagakure's outlying territories. Like Jiraiya of the Leaf—a powerful ninja, yet too distracted by his travels and personal vices to seize true political power.
Kimimaro, so far, was toeing a line that made him dangerous but not urgent.
Had Kimimaro been a power-hungry, celibate ascetic expanding his reach openly, Ōnoki's reaction would've been far harsher.
Kimimaro understood this well. His growth strategy was quiet: subtly transforming the Land of Vegetables into a haven for wandering shinobi, feeding them ideology and loyalty. The establishment of ninja groups wasn't yet public. The world believed the Land of Vegetables still lacked a hidden village.
Ōnoki used his position as Kurotsuchi's grandfather to scold Kimimaro a few more times, but never disrespected him outright. That disappointed Kimimaro slightly—he had hoped for a chance to gauge the Tsuchikage's power firsthand.
But he knew better than to provoke. The image he had built was one of measured ambition and restraint. There was no need to damage that now.
After sharing a tense but civil meal, Kimimaro didn't press the matter further.
The rest of the day belonged to him, Kurotsuchi, and Karin.
The three of them wandered through Iwagakure's markets and out into the mountain forests beyond the village—if only for a fleeting moment of peace in a world where peace was never guaranteed.
Ōnoki watched the two figures disappear into the distance and sighed. "Young people... always so full of energy."
He couldn't help but think back to his own youth—when he too had shared some reckless adventures with a few bold kunoichi. A nostalgic smile flickered across his face, but it vanished quickly as he remembered that one of those "young people" was his own granddaughter.
"Tch. Dad, are you really just going to let Kurotsuchi and that guy be like this?" Kitsuchi asked, visibly displeased.
Ōnoki remained calm. "Daughters grow up. You can't keep them under your wing forever."
"But Kimimaro isn't some ordinary shinobi from a hidden village. He was with Orochimaru. You know the type—dangerous, unpredictable. And the Land of Vegetables? It's too small a place for someone like him. He won't stay there forever."
Ōnoki narrowed his eyes slightly. "If he were still with Orochimaru, I'd be the first to act. But he's been independent for some time now. Besides... if anyone dares threaten my granddaughter, they'll find out the old Tsuchikage still has some fight left."
"You're really okay with this?"
"If Kimimaro is satisfied living quietly in the Land of Vegetables, that's fine. But if his strength grows, and he aims higher... as long as he doesn't harm Kurotsuchi, I can tolerate his ambition. In fact, a powerful partner might be a blessing for her."
Kitsuchi wasn't convinced. "And if his ambition grows beyond his strength?"
Ōnoki snorted. "Then I'll remind him of his limits. Ambition without power is just delusion. Unless he reaches the level of Hashirama Senju, he won't be able to shake the world. I've seen men like him before."
Meanwhile, elsewhere, Kimimaro was having a mental dialogue with his system.
[System Prompt Detected – Subject: Dust Release]
Kimimaro: Was it able to analyze Onoki's Dust Release technique?
System:
Dust Release (Jinton) is a Kekkei Tōta—unlike standard Kekkei Genkai, it involves the fusion of three chakra natures: earth, wind, and fire. This changes its nature entirely; it is not a heritable bloodline trait and cannot be reproduced through genetic means.
If the host wishes to acquire Dust Release, guidance from a current user such as Ōnoki or independent fusion research is required.
Kimimaro: So, any three chakra natures can be combined to create a Kekkei Tōta?
System:
In theory, yes. However, Dust Release is the only confirmed Kekkei Tōta in the known shinobi world. Even if a new Kekkei Tōta is created, its potency may vary drastically.
Consider how earth and fire can create either Lava Release or Crystal Release depending on the balance and chakra manipulation involved. Kekkei Tōta would follow a similar but more complex pattern.
Kimimaro: You mentioned Magnet Release earlier. Isn't that a Kekkei Genkai?
System:
Correct. Magnet Release is typically a fusion of wind and earth chakra. However, elite users—such as the Third Kazekage or the Fourth—sometimes manipulate magnetic fields more efficiently by incorporating traces of lightning chakra.
This augmented use of three chakra types does not equate to Kekkei Tōta, but it borders on the concept in terms of chakra complexity. The Magnet Release currently being refined into bloodline medicine includes trace lightning-nature enhancements to improve precision and power.
Kimimaro silently absorbed the information, his mind sorting through the possibilities of future chakra evolution.
Then suddenly—two hands grabbed his arms and pulled him away from his thoughts.
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