It took only a few hours to reach the border of the Land of Fire, near the crossroads of the Four Great Nations.
To his surprise, Onoki had already arrived, followed by a neat formation of Iwagakure shinobi. These ninja were all powerfully built, standing in impeccably straight lines. It was just what you'd expect from a village that specialized in earthworks.
Onoki floated alone in mid-air. His scouts had spotted the Uchiha party from a distance. With over a hundred people making no effort to conceal themselves, they were indeed easy to find.
Kawasaki looked up at the hovering Onoki, the corner of his mouth twisting into a smirk. The Tsuchikage might be short, but he certainly flew high. You really did have to crane your neck to look at him.
"Lord Tsuchikage, it's a bit impolite to fly so high, don't you think?"
Onoki let out a hearty laugh and slowly descended. A mountain of a man, Akatsuchi, stepped out from the crowd and stood behind him. Akatsuchi was supposedly only fourteen at this time, but his frame was already incredibly imposing, a contrast that was even more striking next to the scrawny Onoki. He had a round head, a round face, and a guileless expression. His nose, however, was just like Onoki's—in fact, most of the burly men in Iwagakure had the same type of nose.
Most of the Iwagakure shinobi behind Onoki shared this feature. It was no wonder Kurotsuchi had a thing for Deidara. When a handsome young man suddenly appeared among a crowd of rugged brutes, who else was she going to chase?
The moment the two groups appeared, spies in the surrounding area widened their eyes. Shinobi from both Kumogakure and Konoha were watching intently. The spies from Sunagakure were comparatively relaxed, as they had been ordered to simply observe. The Kirigakure spies had it the hardest; they were desperate for Iwagakure to attack Kumogakure and relieve the pressure on their own village. But Iwagakure hadn't brought many troops, so the pressure they could exert on Kumo would be limited. Or perhaps, Iwagakure's target wasn't Kumogakure at all.
"Uchiha Kawasaki, what are you doing here with so many of your clansmen?" Onoki asked.
Although it was Kawasaki who had requested the meeting, the sight of him with such a large group of Uchiha, whose auras screamed 'elite combatant,' made it clear this wasn't just about Deidara.
Kawasaki, in turn, saw the large force Onoki had brought and deduced that the Tsuchikage was planning to intervene in the conflict between Kumo and Kiri. The situation over there had reached a critical point. He couldn't let Iwagakure disrupt the plan.
"Lord Tsuchikage, I believe we have some things to discuss," Kawasaki said with a wave of his hand. An Uchiha clansman stepped forward, carrying the unconscious Deidara. Kawasaki added, "In private."
From within the Iwagakure ranks, Kurotsuchi's eyes lit up when she saw Deidara. "Grandpa, it's big brother Deidara!"
Akatsuchi's face broke into a happy grin as well. "It really is Deidara!" Despite his massive build, his face was still full of youthful innocence. It was clear the two were genuinely fond of Deidara.
"What are you two so happy about? He's currently a prisoner of the enemy!" Onoki snapped, rapping each of them on the head. He hadn't wanted to bring these two, but who else was there? He glanced at the unconscious Deidara, then at the formidable Uchiha force behind Kawasaki. He wondered if the Uchiha had allied with Kumogakure to stop him. Still, Kawasaki's expression suggested he had a different agenda.
Kawasaki chuckled as he watched Onoki scold Kurotsuchi and Akatsuchi. Iwagakure didn't have many outstanding young ninja in this generation, and the three of them had been childhood friends. Without Deidara, they must have felt the loss of a close companion.
The Iwagakure force numbered at least several hundred, all of them formidable shinobi. If a fight broke out with the Uchiha, both sides would suffer heavy losses. Kawasaki had no intention of clashing head-on with Onoki. Thus, after Onoki finished his lecture, Kawasaki made an offer.
"I've heard that Lord Tsuchikage's Ultra-Light-Weight Rock Technique allows people to fly. Why don't we go up and talk?"
Onoki's brow furrowed slightly as he studied Kawasaki, who met his gaze with an expression of pure sincerity. "You've got guts. The old man will grant your wish."
Kawasaki's proposal was a significant gesture of good faith. He and Onoki were not well acquainted and shared no trust. Onoki was old and experienced, and while Kawasaki's full strength was a mystery, his Mangekyo Sharingan had been seen before. He had even fought the perfect Jinchuriki, Yagura Karatachi. The result? Kawasaki was here, alive and well, while Yagura had since vanished without a trace.
By asking to fly, Kawasaki was intentionally putting himself at Onoki's mercy. If they were high enough, and Onoki were to suddenly dispel the jutsu, it would be incredibly dangerous. He was placing his life in the Tsuchikage's hands.
Kawasaki walked forward without any visible guard. Onoki nodded in satisfaction and lightly placed a hand on his shoulder. Instantly, Kawasaki felt his body become weightless and begin to float. He tried moving around, feeling as if he were swimming through water. He struggled to keep his expression neutral. He was a clan head now; he had to remain composed.
Behind Onoki, Akatsuchi and Kurotsuchi looked on with excitement, clearly eager to fly as well. But the occasion was inappropriate, and having just been scolded, they dared not make a sound.
After flailing in the air for a moment, Kawasaki finally managed to propel himself upward. He suppressed his inner excitement; it was time for business.
"Let's go, Lord Tsuchikage."
Onoki, ever the veteran, noticed Kawasaki's fascination with flying, and his wariness toward the Uchiha head lessened slightly. He, too, ascended into the sky.
The two rose to a height of one hundred meters before stopping. "Clan Head Kawasaki, this should be high enough."
Kawasaki hovered opposite him. The altitude was safe from prying eyes and ideal for their conversation. "This is perfect. Lord Tsuchikage, I'll be direct. The war between Kumogakure and Kirigakure will be over in less than half a month. There's no benefit for Iwagakure to intervene now."
"I am returning Deidara to you in the hope that Iwagakure will stand down for the time being and not attack Kumogakure."
The old Tsuchikage crossed his arms behind his back and sized Kawasaki up. He had only brought a few hundred men to probe Kumo's defenses and search for an opportunity. It was true that most of Kumo's forces were away, but they hadn't vanished. If Iwagakure committed a large force and got bogged down, and Kumo's main army suddenly returned, Iwagakure could be caught in a pincer attack. But Kawasaki's words implied something more.
"The old man is pleased to have Deidara back, but business is business. Do you think I would give up a prime opportunity to attack Kumogakure just for Deidara?" Onoki was no child to be manipulated. In the current situation, it was clearly the Uchiha who needed something from him. He decided to turn the tables.
Kawasaki was taken aback. Despite Onoki's affection for Deidara, his expression revealed that when it came to the interests of his village, he would not hesitate to sacrifice his student. Onoki had already sensed that Kawasaki had an ulterior motive and was pressing his advantage. Although Onoki's troops had entered the Land of Fire with the Third Hokage's permission, Kawasaki knew that if he didn't reveal some of the truth, Deidara would be a useless bargaining chip.
"Lord Tsuchikage, to be honest, I have assets inside Kumogakure. Their invasion of Kirigakure is actually a trap. It's uncertain how many of the troops they sent will make it back alive. If Iwagakure makes a move now, Kumo's reinforcements, who are currently at sea, will turn back. The trap we've laid will be for nothing."
Onoki was stunned by this revelation. He had assumed the Uchiha were helping Kumo by trying to prevent Iwagakure from invading. He never imagined the Uchiha were stopping him because they were worried Kumo's army would miss the trap!
"The Raikage is leading at least five thousand men. Even with an inside man, what can you possibly do?" Onoki was filled with doubt. Against such a large force, ordinary traps were useless.
Kawasaki maintained an air of mystery. "That is a secret, but I have told you the truth, Lord Tsuchikage. Iwagakure and Kumogakure are sworn enemies. Wouldn't you also wish to see them suffer greater casualties? Besides, with only half a month left, your forces here are too small to gain much of an advantage and could easily fall into an ambush. Wouldn't it be better to wait and see? You also get your genius student, Deidara, back. What's not to like?"
Kawasaki's words were sincere, and Onoki considered them carefully. It was true. From a strategic standpoint, sending a few hundred men to stir up trouble in Kumo's territory would yield limited gains. If what Kawasaki said was true, and Kirigakure had a massive trap waiting for Kumo, then waiting was indeed the wisest course of action.
After a moment of thought, Onoki asked loudly, "Kawasaki, can you guarantee that Kumogakure will suffer devastating losses?"
Hearing Onoki use his given name, Kawasaki smiled. "Rest assured, Lord Tsuchikage. Their losses will be enough to cripple them for years to come."
Onoki nodded, satisfied. He didn't press for details. The Uchiha were confident, and waiting a little longer was a small price to pay. "Very well. The old man agrees to this."
Kawasaki breathed a sigh of relief. "Excellent. Now that business is concluded, Lord Tsuchikage, shall we discuss a private matter?"
"Oh?" Onoki's curiosity was piqued. "What else do you want, Kawasaki?"
Instead of answering directly, Kawasaki smiled. "Lord Tsuchikage's students are all exceptional. I wonder who you have in mind to succeed you as the next Tsuchikage?"
At the mention of this topic, Onoki's smile faded. "No comment," he said flatly.
Kawasaki shook his head. "Lord Tsuchikage, it's common knowledge that you have yet to find a successor. If you're willing to talk, perhaps we can be frank with each other. I have a small plan that might be of some assistance."
Onoki frowned, wondering what game Kawasaki was playing. Their villages were rivals; why would he offer to help Iwagakure? "How do you propose to help me?" he asked, his brow furrowed.
Onoki was as stubborn as they came, unwilling to make a move without seeing results first. But Kawasaki needed to complete his objective, so he played along. "Deidara is exceptionally talented," Kawasaki began, testing the waters. "If he could be made to follow orders, he would be an excellent choice for Tsuchikage, wouldn't you say?"
The words struck a chord with Onoki. He did indeed dote on Deidara, but the boy was also a constant source of headaches. He was undisciplined and did whatever he pleased. As Onoki's student, he had access to vast resources but neglected to improve his skills, instead obsessing over his "art." When Deidara was around, Onoki's lectures and scoldings were a manifestation of his frustration and high hopes.
"That boy is too wild. He's not fit for such a great responsibility, nor is he a good candidate for Tsuchikage," Onoki snorted, his words half-truth, half-denial.
Kawasaki laughed to himself. Onoki was a stubborn old mule. "He's just a teenager; rebellion is normal at his age. Being mischievous now doesn't mean he'll be that way forever. Personality changes with age and experience, but talent does not."
Onoki sighed. Kawasaki had once again hit the nail on the head. Deidara wasn't even fifteen yet. In other villages, he might be of marriageable age, but Iwagakure was different. Surrounded by rocky mountains, its defenses were formidable, and it had little contact with the outside world. As a result, the village's customs were more conservative, and it was rare for teenagers to be sent to the battlefield. Almost all of Iwagakure's warriors were over the age of twenty. This was also related to their style of ninjutsu; their techniques often required immense chakra to be effective, which was why their battlefields were dominated by young adults.
This was also why Onoki always cleaned up Deidara's messes, no matter how much trouble he caused. In Onoki's eyes, Deidara was just a rebellious, immature child.
At this point, Onoki's attitude softened slightly. There were many things he was unwilling to admit, but they were facts nonetheless. His stubbornness dictated that he wanted someone who could inherit the Dust Release to succeed him as Tsuchikage. This was because learning Dust Release from scrolls alone was extremely difficult and fraught with risk. It wasn't that Onoki was unwilling to teach others; it was that they either lacked the aptitude or simply couldn't learn it.
"Deidara's talent is indeed outstanding, but his personality is too wild. He's wasting that gift!" Onoki relented, finally agreeing with Kawasaki. He sounded like a parent lamenting over a wayward child, filled with a mixture of helplessness and hope. After all, not everyone was cut out to be a teacher, especially not a stubborn old man in his seventies.
"Lord Tsuchikage, I have a way to make Deidara listen. Not only will he be willing to learn Dust Release from you, but I can also make him your assistant."
High in the sky, when Kawasaki's words reached his ears, Onoki's first reaction was not joy, but a deep frown. "The relationship between the Land of Earth and the Land of Fire is not exactly friendly. Or is the Uchiha clan planning something?"
Kawasaki spread his hands. "You know the situation between the Uchiha and Konoha. We are already at odds. The Uchiha are planning to establish our own village, and we hope to form an alliance with Iwagakure."
"You Uchiha want to establish your own village?" Onoki had not expected this. An Uchiha who didn't want to be Hokage was a rare sight indeed. "You don't plan on becoming Hokage?"
Onoki was genuinely surprised. The Land of Fire was rich in resources, and the Hokage wielded immense power.
Kawasaki shook his head. "Not interested."
Onoki studied him closely. Kawasaki's answer was decisive; it seemed he truly had no such ambition. "Just an alliance? Fine," Onoki said casually. A verbal agreement was nothing compared to a bond forged through mutual interest, a fact Kawasaki understood perfectly.
"If the Uchiha were to fight Konoha, Iwagakure would be the happiest, wouldn't you agree?" he continued.
Onoki grunted noncommittally. These Uchiha were certainly an anomaly. Not only did they not want the Hokage position, they didn't even seem intent on fighting Konoha. Their solution to their conflict was to simply pack up and leave.
"If we Uchiha leave Konoha, it would be a good thing for you as well, right?" Kawasaki said bluntly. The Uchiha clan was powerful, wealthy, and full of talent, currently in a period of rapid growth. If they were to fully integrate into Konoha, the village might even regain the glory of Hashirama Senju's era.
"Are you Uchiha really leaving?" Onoki's curiosity was piqued.
Kawasaki nodded, pulling a map from his robes. He circled a spot and tossed it to Onoki. As the Tsuchikage caught it, Kawasaki explained, "We've cooperated with Kirigakure this time, and they will cede these islands to us."
Onoki looked at Kawasaki in a new light. "You've even chosen a location?"
"The alliance with Iwagakure I just mentioned isn't just empty words," Kawasaki said with a nod. "I'm talking about an ally who will help us build our foundation."
Onoki's gaze sharpened. "What do you mean?"
Kawasaki pointed to the map. "These islands are sizable, but they are scattered. Lord Tsuchikage is aware of the Uchiha's financial resources. I plan to pay for Iwagakure's experts to come and perform land reclamation, connecting the islands."
Onoki was moved. Land reclamation was a massive undertaking! While Iwagakure's Earth Release couldn't create matter from nothing, they were incredibly fast at reshaping terrain and constructing with existing materials. With enough resources, twenty Chunin could build an impregnable fortress in a single day. Iwagakure often took on such jobs, but a project this distant and enormous was a first.
Connecting the islands would require not just a few shinobi but at least several hundred elites. It was no wonder Kawasaki was offering this as a condition for their alliance. Onoki finally understood. Looking at the map, if the Uchiha succeeded, with such a vast territory, they truly would have no interest in the Hokage title.
Such foresight! Such ambition! Onoki couldn't help but marvel.
"Clan Head Kawasaki, the old man agrees to this matter," Onoki said, his decision made. This was a deal he was more than happy to accept. With the Uchiha splitting from Konoha, the Leaf's strength would be greatly diminished. Once the Uchiha settled in their new home, they would be near the Land of Water, making them Kirigakure's problem. As for Deidara, his return had become an unexpected bonus.
Seeing Onoki agree, a smile spread across Kawasaki's face. "In addition to that, Lord Tsuchikage, I have one small request."
"Speak," Onoki nodded.
Kawasaki made a slight gesture in the air. "I've always longed to fly. I want to learn the Ultra-Light-Weight Rock Technique."
Onoki chuckled. So that was Kawasaki's angle. "My Ultra-Light-Weight Rock Technique is not easy to learn. Many in my village can't even master the basic Light-Weight Rock Technique."
"Lord Tsuchikage only needs to give me the jutsu scroll," Kawasaki said calmly. "Whether I can learn it or not is my own concern."
Onoki didn't refuse. "Let's deal with Deidara first."
Kawasaki had already figured out Onoki's personality. The meaning was clear: handle Deidara, and the jutsu scroll would be his. He wasn't worried about the old Tsuchikage going back on his word.