Crack, crack crack...
Like a bad signal, the white light flickered a few times before dying out.
"See, I told you it wouldn't be that easy," Onoki said, appearing calm on the surface, though cold sweat was actually beginning to form on his forehead.
"It really is something else. As expected of a [Kekkei Tota], it's even more impressive than a Kekkei Genkai," Naruto remarked.
On the Iwagakure's training grounds, Naruto was attempting to replicate the Dust Release mastered by Onoki by using Chakra of Wind, Earth, and Fire Natures simultaneously.
But the results proved it wasn't as simple as he thought.
Techniques like the Ultralight-Weight Rock Technique or the Ultra-Added-Weight Rock Technique, which, while difficult to learn, were essentially Earth Release Ninjutsu at their core, and once you grasped the corresponding Chakra Flow, you could more or less replicate them.
But Kekkei Genkai and Kekkei Tota were not the same.
Perhaps they all involved the fusion of Chakra of the same natures, but the proportions, sequence, and even the user's will could lead to vastly different outcomes.
For example, using both Water and Earth Nature Transformations, some might only achieve a so-called [Mud Release], while others could unleash the all-dissolving [Acid Release].
The differences were quite significant.
And the difficulty of replicating a Kekkei Tota was several times greater than that.
If they were of the same bloodline, there might be a small chance of naturally inheriting and mastering the so-called Kekkei Genkai through genetics.
But without a blood relation, like between the Second Tsuchikage, Mu and Onoki, it could only be learned through detailed instruction, coupled with Onoki's own high level of innate talent, to master the ability of Dust Release.
Even with the advantage of a blood relation, Onoki's son and granddaughter had failed to master Dust Release.
Onoki, who is nearly eighty years old, didn't want the Second Tsuchikage's secret technique to be lost with him.
Of course, this didn't mean he would teach this Jutsu to an outsider like Naruto.
His ideal candidate was still his genius disciple.
The misunderstanding from the previous conflict had been cleared up by Jiraiya after Onoki regained consciousness.
The stubborn Tsuchikage didn't persist in his attitude this time.
There was no other way… his fist wasn't as big as the other's.
According to the [Will of Stone] that the Tsuchikage learned, greater strength meant more say, and conversely, one could only passively accept reality.
Although Onoki had provided Naruto with information about the Seven-Tails' Jinchuriki and Takigakure, Naruto wasn't in a hurry to leave.
He always felt that Onoki was still hiding something.
It was just that the other party kept it to himself.
Crack, crack...
A faint white light glowed once again on Naruto's palm, indicating that the sequence in which he was injecting Chakra was at least correct.
But starting from scratch to reverse-engineer the 'formula' for Dust Release was still very difficult.
"Cough... Uzumaki Naruto, please stop trying for now," Onoki said, genuinely somewhat worried that this kid might somehow figure out the secret of Dust Release, so he began to change the subject.
"Would you be interested in making a deal with me?"
As he said this, the embarrassed expression on Onoki's face gradually shifted to seriousness.
In fact, this wasn't just a diversion… he had been looking for an opportunity to lay his cards on the table with Naruto for the past couple of days.
"Oh? Are you going to teach me this Dust Release now?" Naruto's response made Onoki fall silent for a second, then he continued as if he hadn't heard it at all.
"I've heard you've already clashed with that 'Akatsuki', is that right?"
"Yeah, their leader is dead. Now another guy calling himself Uchiha Madara is in control of the whole organization. I believe I already told you that," Naruto replied.
Onoki nodded slightly, not questioning the identity of Madara again.
"Then... have you seen a young man in that organization who uses Explosion-based Jutsu?" the old man asked, somewhat cautiously.
He was really afraid that Naruto's next words would be, "Yeah, I saw him. I killed him."
"Explosions? I've seen one who uses missiles, but that guy didn't look young at all..." Naruto was referring to Asura Path.
"Missiles... No, no. He uses something called [Explosive Clay]. Oh, right, that kid's name is Deidara. He also has blond hair." After Onoki described Deidara's appearance and other details, the response he got was a shake of the head.
"Clay... Haven't seen him. Maybe he was sent on some other mission by that organization," Naruto said.
Hearing this, the old man in front of Naruto finally let out a sigh of relief.
"In that case, I can rest easy."
"What's the matter, old man? Is that kid your grandson?" Naruto asked with a smile, looking at Onoki.
From the emotions the other was showing at this moment, Naruto could sense the kind of love an elder has for a younger family member.
And Onoki didn't deny it immediately.
"That child is named Deidara. He is my disciple... While we aren't related by blood, I see him as my own grandson," He said.
Then his expression suddenly turned serious as he looked at Naruto, "I know this request might be somewhat excessive..."
"But I still want to ask you not to take his life if you end up fighting him."
"That child just took a wrong path. In a way, it's also my fault."
"Please spare his life. If possible, it would be best to tie him up and bring him back."
As he spoke, this leader of a village, a man over seventy years old, actually bowed to Naruto.
"I'm begging you. In exchange, I will tell you the possible whereabouts of Roshi… that is, the Four-Tails' Jinchuriki."
After all, he was the village's Jinchuriki. Even if Roshi had left in anger and was wandering the world, Onoki couldn't just stand by and do nothing.
He had naturally conducted investigations.
Especially after the Five-Tails' Jinchuriki, Han, disappeared under mysterious circumstances, the investigation efforts intensified.
Hearing Onoki's words, a wide grin spread across Naruto's face.
'It wasn't a waste waiting here for a few days… the old man had finally spoken up.'
"No problem, I'll go easy on him if I run into him..."
"But isn't just a vague lead on a Jinchuriki's whereabouts a bit insufficient, old man? He's your disciple, whom you see as your own grandson," Naruto said, leaning closer to Onoki.
He very naturally helped straighten the other's bowed posture, then looked at him sideways with a mischievous glint in his eye.
Under that gaze, Onoki's heart tightened.
'This kid... he wouldn't want to...'
The expression on the short old man's face shifted repeatedly before he finally made up his mind.
"You're right. Just one possible location really isn't enough."
"If you can bring Deidara back... then... I... I am willing to teach you Dust Release."
When he uttered the last few words, Onoki's tone was incredibly strained.
It was as if saying those words had drained all his spirit.
He had ultimately violated the steadfastness expected of a village leader, placing his personal feelings above the interests of the village.
Onoki could, of course, console himself.
'This Uzumaki Naruto was so powerful that whether he had Dust Release or not, his threat to Iwagakure was equally unstoppable.'
But that was, after all, a secret technique passed down to him by the previous Tsuchikage… it was an asset belonging to the entire village.
It was like the mindset held by old-school craftsmen, such unique skills could only be passed on to the most recognized, direct disciple.
No wonder many crafts had fewer and fewer successors over generations, eventually dying out completely.
Looking at Onoki's expression, Naruto finally couldn't hold back his laughter.
"Ha ha ha ha..."
Onoki immediately looked up, flustered and angry, 'This brat, could it be he wants to humiliate me?'
Naruto laughed for a while, until the veins on Onoki's forehead became visibly pronounced, then he wiped the tears of laughter from his eyes.
"Old man... I've felt your resolve."
"I'll return that brat to you safe and sound."
As he spoke, Naruto stood up straight, his towering frame blocking the view in front of Onoki.
Sunlight spilled from above, seeming to cast a golden edge around this silhouette.
"As for that Dust Release or whatever, you keep it."
"I can develop something like that on my own. That's it then, see ya-"
Having said that, Naruto walked off the training ground.