Iwagakure Village, Tsuchikage Office Building
The news of the annihilation of the elite Sand Village team was like a huge rock thrown into a calm pond, causing huge waves within the Iwagakure Village and quickly spreading to the entire ninja world.
A six-year-old Genin independently carried out an S-level mission, instantly killing three Chunins and executing a Sand Village Jonin and his summoned beast, all using the legendary Kekkei-Killing Dust Release!
I'd like to add here that in the early world view of Naruto, most ninjas were indeed quite fragile. In this case, releasing Red Dust to kill the Jonin with Dust Release actually just means that Iwagakure has produced another Ohnoki. After all, in the eyes of people who have not seen the instant release of Red Dust, the upper limit of Dust Release is Ohnoki, and Ohnoki does not rely on Dust Release, which requires charging, to deal with speed-type enemies in daily battles.
The atmosphere in the Tsuchikage's office was completely different from the heated discussions outside. Ohnoki was floating behind his desk, and in front of him stood Akagi, who had just reported the details of the mission.
"Well done, Akashin." Ohnoki's voice was deep and powerful, with unquestionable certainty. "Clean, neat, and very intimidating. The Sand Village's claws have been completely cut off this time."
Chi Chen nodded slightly: "Yes, teacher. The information has been handed over to Senior Shanzhong. I believe we can dig out more information."
"Yes." Ohnoki drifted closer, his eyes fixed on his disciple. "After this battle, your name, along with the codename 'Rock', has spread throughout the ninja world. I was the one who spread it. You are not an ordinary ninja. You are destined to stand in the position of Kage. You must stand in the front."
He waved his hand suddenly and pointed to the approval document of the "Rock Plan" on the table with his official seal on it.
"This plan was proposed by you. I will not take credit for it. You are the hope for the future of Iwagakure."
Ohnoki's voice suddenly rose, with a determination as resolute as the cracking of a rock:
"Chichen! From this day forward, you are no longer the 'Rock' of the shadows! You are the future that the Hidden Rock Village has diligently nurtured, the pioneer and symbol of the 'Rock Project'. I will personally announce your existence and mission to the entire village and to the Land of Earth. Your strength and wisdom will be unreservedly revealed to the light of day, becoming the lever we use to shape the future. Use your actions to silence all those who doubt you."
Chi Chen faced Ohnoki's burning gaze, his heart beating strongly. He knew that this meant that he would officially be at the center of the storm and the target of all attacks. But he also knew that what Ohnoki said was right. How could someone who wanted to change the world be afraid of these things?
"Disciple understands!" Chi Chen's voice was clear and firm. "I am willing to carve a path forward for Yanyin and the Land of Earth!"
Iwagakure Village Central Square
A few days later, an unprecedented gathering took place, not as a wartime mobilization, but as a declaration of the future. A symbol of the Tsuchikage's bamboo hat hung from a massive rock face, and the square below was packed with Iwagakure ninjas, village representatives, and even leaders of neighboring villages, all holding their breath.
Ōnoki hovered in the center of the platform, his diminutive frame radiating the imposing presence of a mountain. He succinctly reported on the victory in the battle of the Eastern Territory, emphasizing Chichen's achievements and his demonstrated potential as a Kage.
When words like "six years old", "completed an S-rank mission independently", and "Dust Release" came out of his mouth, there were uncontrollable gasps and murmurs of disbelief in the square.
Immediately afterwards, Ohnoki dropped even more important news. For the first time in public, he elaborated in detail on the core goals of the "Stone Project". Taking the Iwagakure Village as a pilot, he would use the power of ninjas to transform barren land, explore new ways of utilizing resources, improve people's livelihood, and enhance national strength.
He openly mentioned the limited support and resistance faced by the royal capital's approval, but still declared with great force:
"This plan concerns the future foundation of our Land of Earth! We cannot be concerned with the gains and losses of a single moment or place; this is the foundation of the Land of Earth for generations to come! The Hidden Rock Village has an unshirkable responsibility for this! And the pioneer leading this plan is his disciple of the Two Heavenly Scales, the future of the Hidden Rock Village—Aka Chen!"
Everyone's eyes instantly fell on Chi Chen again. The young man was wearing a brand new uniform, his silver hair gleaming in the light. He took a step forward calmly and bowed slightly to the audience.
There were no grand words, but his calm and steady demeanor and the terrifying strength that had just been proven instantly turned all questioning eyes into shock, awe, and a hint of expectation.
"From today on, the first phase of the 'Rock Project' is officially launched! Akachen will be fully responsible for the deployment of ninja forces and the advancement of the 'Rock Stairs Demonstration Field' around the Iwagakure Village! All Iwagakure ninjas must fully cooperate! This is an S-level long-term strategic task for the Iwagakure Village!" Ohnoki's announcement was like a rock falling to the ground, leaving no room for doubt.
The gazes and reactions of the ninja world
This high-profile declaration by the Iwagakure Village was like another huge rock thrown into the lake of the ninja world, and the ripples it caused quickly spread to the desks of the Kages of the major ninja villages.
Konohagakure Village Hokage Office
Sarutobi Hiruzen put down the intelligence scroll in his hand and took a deep puff of his pipe. Amidst the smoke, his wise eyes were filled with a hint of amazement and solemnity.
"A six-year-old Dust Release user... independently completing an S-rank mission... Old Ōnoki has truly stumbled upon an incredible treasure." He glanced at Utane Koharu and Mitokado En beside him. "This Aka-Chen will probably be even more difficult to deal with than Ōnoki himself. He still has plenty of time to grow."
Utane Koharu frowned. "What's even more troublesome is that 'Stone Project'. Ohnoki wants to use the power of ninja to transform the country and improve people's livelihood? This is unprecedented. If they really succeed, the national strength of the Land of Earth will probably be enhanced."
Mitomon Yan interjected: "It's indeed worth being vigilant. However, for us, there's no need. The Land of Earth is too barren. Their upper limit is here. What good will it do to cultivate more land? And building roads will probably just be a waste of energy."
Danzo snorted coldly from the shadows: "Huh, genius? A seedling exposed to the sun too early will only die prematurely. Ninjas should hide in the dark."
Sarutobi Hiruzen blew out a puff of smoke, his eyes deep: "It is necessary to pay close attention, but let's wait and see for now. We have our own path to take."
He vaguely felt that Iwagakure's move seemed to have touched upon something deeper in the meaning of the ninja village's existence, but at present the Fire Nation did not have the soil or urgency to imitate it.
Sand Village·Kazekage Office
The atmosphere was oppressive, like the eve of a desert storm. The Third Kazekage's face was livid, clutching a detailed report on Red Dust's complete annihilation of Sand Village's elite squad and Iwagakure's "Stone Plan."
Losing an experienced jonin and several elite chunin was already a major blow, and the opponent was just a six-year-old child! This was simply a great shame for Sand Village!
"Dust Escape, Dust Escape again! That old immortal Tian Cheng, it's not enough for him to control this terrifying power, he actually cultivated a little monster!" An elder gritted his teeth, his eyes full of fear and resentment.
Ebizo's voice was thick with worry. "Even more troublesome is this 'Stone Project.' They want to transform the country and boost its strength! What does that mean? It means they want to fundamentally solve our resource scarcity problem. It's a shame we can't emulate them."
The third generation slammed his fist on the table, "Enough! What's the point of saying this now?!"
He forced himself to calm down, his voice hoarse and cold: "Chi Chen must be included in the top threat list! Find every opportunity to strangle him! As for that plan."
He looked at the terraces, roads, and mineral development described in the report, and an indescribable complexity flashed in his eyes, which was a mixture of jealousy, unwillingness, and a hint of desperate yearning.
"We don't have the conditions!" The Third Hokage finally said firmly, his tone filled with deep fatigue and helplessness. "The environment in the Land of Wind is even worse than that in the Land of Earth! The daimyo and nobles are even more stingy and short-sighted! What we in Sunagakure need now is survival! To seize resources! To win the war! Not to pursue those unattainable... beautiful dreams!"
A voice deep in his heart cried out: If only Sunagakure could have such conditions and courage... But he immediately suppressed the thought. Reality is like the cruel sand, grinding away all illusions. The most urgent task was to find an opportunity to attack the neighboring Rain Country and Grass Country!
Hidden Cloud Village:
The Third Raikage received the information, raised his thick eyebrows, and laughed heartily: "Hahaha! That shorty Ohnoki is quite lucky! A six-year-old brat can kill a Sunagakure jonin with Dust Release? Interesting! He's an opponent worth chopping off!"
But he scoffed at the "Rock Plan": "Huh, farming and building roads? Ninjas should speak with fists and lightning! Becoming stronger is the hard truth! Those stone-headed people in Iwagakure are so spineless for doing all this fancy stuff!"
As for the Hidden Mist Village, there was no reaction at all. Indeed, this plan was too useless for the current ninjas. The status of ninjas was rising rapidly. Of course, they had this time to develop the military and then get funds from the daimyo. Those who needed land would grab the land, and those who needed resources would grab the resources.
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