Currently, in Iwagakure, apart from the Third Tsuchikage, they had never seen such a powerful ninja. They didn't know where he came from, or why he was helping Rōshi.
"Ohnoki, did you really leave Iwagakure because of the Tsuchikage's position?" someone asked.
"Don't you know better than anyone whether I did it for power and status?" came Rōshi's voice from inside the carriage.
After signaling to one of his shinobi, Ohnoki's fingers twitched slightly behind his back: "Jinton: Genkai Hakuri no Jutsu" (Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique)...
He launched a sudden ambush, instantly trapping the entire carriage within the transparent cubic barrier of his Dust Release, including Shigeo, who was caught in the attack.
"Heh, and here I thought you were stronger. So this is all you've got?" Ohnoki sneered, glancing to the sides. "Seal him, now!"
They had already agreed: if they captured Rōshi, the first thing they would do was extract his Tailed Beast. Since he had decided to leave Iwagakure, the beast had to be taken back.
It was their ultimate weapon. Without a Tailed Beast, their standing among the Five Great Shinobi Villages would drop significantly. There was no way they would allow the Four-Tails to leave with him.
"What about the kid?" someone suddenly exclaimed in shock.
Ohnoki turned back, only to find that within the cube of Dust Release, the child was gone. Only the carriage remained. He couldn't even be sure if Rōshi had ever been inside. Warily, he scanned the surroundings, eyes sharp.
Suddenly, chaos erupted in the village.
"We're under attack!"
At the same moment, a child floated in the air. A violent gust swept through the village, sending dust and debris flying everywhere.
"We've been tricked!" Ohnoki dispelled his Dust Release and rushed to the carriage. With a single Doton (Earth Release), he smashed it open—empty. Rōshi was nowhere inside.
But what about the child? Ohnoki was certain he had trapped him within the cube. That technique enveloped everything from every direction. How had the boy escaped?
Puzzled, Ohnoki turned and flew back toward the village.
Shigeo halted his Fūton (Wind Release) and said to the Tsuchikage before him:
"Do you know why I only used Fūton just now? Because Rōshi forbade me from harming the villagers."
"Is that so? Too bad you wasted your best chance! Now, I'll show you the terror of this old man…"
Ohnoki's eyes widened as he roared:
"Doton: Iwa no Golem" (Earth Release: Rock Golem)!"
A massive stone golem materialized, charging at Shigeo. At the same time, Ohnoki conjured another Jinton: Genkai Hakuri no Jutsu, enveloping Shigeo in its deadly cube.
"Perish… feel what it's like to be reduced to dust!"
Within the cube, pressure built to an overwhelming degree. Yet in the next second, the boy's eyes turned crimson—Sharingan spinning—and then his figure vanished.
"Could it be… an Uchiha?!" Ohnoki froze. He didn't know what technique the boy had used, but those eyes—he recognized them instantly. If Konoha had allied with Rōshi, this was dangerous.
If Rōshi sided with Konoha, who among the Five Great Villages could oppose them? Iwagakure's strategic advantage would vanish. No, this boy had to die today.
But the child had disappeared without a trace, and Rōshi too was nowhere to be found.
Ohnoki wanted to mobilize the entire Anbu to hunt them down but feared they might still be inside Iwagakure. To protect the village, he refrained. Instead, he raised the alert level, ordering every shinobi to report any suspicious activity immediately.
He even sent a secret order for the Five-Tails' jinchūriki, Han, to return at once. The village was in danger—only Han could counter Rōshi. The other shinobi would focus on confronting the boy.
But to his surprise, three days passed in peace. Neither Rōshi nor the child showed themselves.
On the fourth day, after Han returned, a massive explosion shook Iwagakure—and everything changed.
Eight or nine colossal rock golems appeared, tearing through the village. At the same time, countless Shōton: Kesshō no Yaiba (Crystal Release: Crystal Spikes) floated in the air, dense as raindrops, threatening to fall at any moment.
Panic swept the streets. Villagers screamed, ran, and cried while the golems smashed everything in their path.
"Report, Tsuchikage-sama! Two golems in the east, two in the west, three in the south, three in the north—they're all heading toward the administration building!"
"Report, Tsuchikage-sama! Our men can't fight! Those crystals in the sky look like they'll fall any moment. The Anbu are hiding indoors to use ninjutsu, but in the village, every technique only causes more destruction!"
"Where are they?! Where's the enemy?!"
Ohnoki stormed out of his office. Today's events had surpassed even his understanding. He himself could barely summon two or three golems at once, but someone was controlling ten simultaneously. Who could do this?
Looking up at the sky full of floating crystal spikes, Ohnoki quickly shielded himself with Doton barriers, then unleashed Doton: Ganban Kyū (Earth Release: Rock Fist) and Doton: Gōremu (Earth Release: Iron Golem Technique) against the advancing golems.
These were his own techniques. How could someone else be using them against Iwagakure?
"Bad news! Han's been captured!"
Someone shouted. Ohnoki's vision darkened as he looked up to see a massive Mokuton (Wood Release) trunk wrapping around Han and dragging him into the sky.
That was their village's last jinchūriki!
If Han was taken, Iwagakure would be defenseless.
Ohnoki was torn—if he chased after Han, the entire village would be annihilated by the falling crystal spikes. But if he stayed, they would lose their Tailed Beast.
"Doton: Kyō Tsuchi no Jutsu" (Earth Release: Great Wall of Earth)…!
He summoned an enormous earth wall, raising it above the village to shield them all. Truly worthy of the Tsuchikage.
(End of Chapter)
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