The Night He Chose Art Over Home
In an instant, the orange hair draped behind Jūzō Biwa transformed into countless steel-like senbon needles. They hovered upward before shooting toward the sky.
This hair-based technique bore a striking resemblance to Jiraiya's ninjutsu—Needle Jizō—though with its own deadly twist.
Unfortunately for him—
His opponent was the Third Tsuchikage.
"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!"
Ōnoki spread his hands, locking onto the thousands of incoming steel needles. In the blink of an eye, a blinding light illuminated both his face and Kamizuki Gen's.
A concentrated beam of energy formed—
And fired downward.
The steel needles dissolved instantly upon contact, disintegrating into nothingness.
This was Dust Release—
A kekkei tōta formed by combining Wind, Earth, and Fire chakra natures—
A power that surpassed even kekkei genkai.
Boom—
Before Jūzō could react, the beam pierced straight through his chest. The laser blasted into the ground behind him, carving out a deep crater—yet raising no dust.
Samehada slipped from his grasp and fell to the ground with a dull thud.
As Jūzō collapsed backward, his fading vision caught a glimpse of Raiga fleeing in panic.
But the moment he saw Dust Release—
He had already lost all will to live.
"Damn it… damn it… damn it!!"
Raiga looked back at Jūzō's fallen body, tears and snot streaming down his face as terror consumed him.
"I knew we shouldn't have taken this mission! I should've just defected!!"
He hadn't made it far—
When that deadly beam carved a deep trench across the earth, slicing toward his back like a divine blade.
"AAAAAH—!!"
His scream tore through the air—
Before his body was split clean in two.
Two members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist—
Reduced to nothing—
Without even the ability to fight back against Ōnoki.
After killing them, Ōnoki let out a breath of relief.
A rare smile appeared on his face.
With that single Dust Release—
He had just saved the village thirty million ryō.
A bargain beyond measure.
But before he could turn to speak to Kamizuki Gen—
He realized the boy was already beside the corpses, crouching down and picking something up.
"…Not good!"
Ōnoki clapped his hands in regret.
"Those ninja swords are extremely valuable!"
But by the time he reacted, Gen had already sealed them into a scroll.
What could he say now?
Ask for them back?
Or take advantage of being in Iwagakure and seize them by force?
Neither option was worth it—
Especially not at the cost of offending a mysterious and dangerously powerful organization.
Still unwilling to give up, Ōnoki descended and asked casually:
"Did you happen to see the ninja swords those two were carrying?"
Gen replied with a straight face:
"Ninja swords? What ninja swords? Were they carrying any?"
"Hahaha!"
Ōnoki laughed.
"Perhaps my eyes are failing me. The payment should be ready—let's head back."
This brat…
A master of playing dumb.
"After you," Gen said with a smile.
They returned to the southern outskirts of Iwagakure.
Only after a chest filled with cash was delivered into Orochimaru's hands—and verified—did Gen snap his fingers.
The massive white clay hand dissolved, releasing Deidara.
The moment Deidara landed—
Ōnoki waved his hand.
"Take him back. Keep a close watch!"
Deidara glared at Kamizuki Gen, about to say something—
But Tsuchiki and the others dragged him away.
Then—
Gen's voice echoed directly inside his mind:
If you want to come with me… I'll be waiting here at three tonight.
Deidara's tense expression slowly eased.
Their silent exchange did not escape Ōnoki's notice—
But the old fox chose not to interfere.
Ōnoki floated in front of Gen and said:
"I don't believe I've asked your name."
"Kamizuki Gen."
Ōnoki repeated it inwardly, searching his memory—
But found nothing.
"No records…"
"The mission is complete. We'll be on our way," Gen said, adjusting his sunglasses with a faint smile. "I hope we can work together again."
"Likewise," Ōnoki replied.
For now, he couldn't afford too much contact with Akatsuki.
Inviting them openly into the village… hosting them… discussing cooperation—
That was out of the question.
As he watched the three figures depart—
Ōnoki's gaze lingered.
Not only on Kamizuki Gen—
But also on Uchiha Itachi.
Itachi's name had already spread throughout the shinobi world.
Ōnoki had seen his portrait before.
"…What kind of monsters has Akatsuki gathered?"
His wariness of the organization's mysterious leader deepened further.
"Is Deidara alright?" Ōnoki asked an Iwa shinobi beside him.
"He's fine," the ninja replied honestly. "He's just complaining that if you hadn't confiscated his explosive clay beforehand, he could've handled everything himself."
Ōnoki's head throbbed instantly.
"Should've just let Kumogakure take him—then he could've blown up the Raikage's building!"
…
Late night.
A full moon hung high in the sky.
Deidara, carrying a sling bag, turned back to look at the brightly lit village one last time.
He took a deep breath—
And silently severed his ties to it.
With a few swift leaps, he shook off the Iwa shinobi tailing him, slipped through a gap in the village's defenses—
And resolutely stepped onto his path of art.
In the distance, atop a stone rooftop—
Akatsuchi finally spoke.
"Ōnoki-sama… are we really not going to stop him?"
Deidara thought he had escaped surveillance—
But his entire route had been watched from start to finish.
Ōnoki's eyes held a trace of sorrow.
"A person only understands the warmth of home… after hunger and cold."
"Let him go."
Akatsuchi fell silent.
…
South of Iwagakure.
The giant snake was summoned once more, lying across the valley like a massive stone monument.
Atop its head—
The three Konoha rogue ninja stood once again.
Orochimaru folded her arms and asked,
"Gen-kun… will that kid really come?"
Itachi, however, wasn't thinking about Deidara.
His attention remained fixed on Kamizuki Gen.
The more he observed—
The less he understood him.
Especially after witnessing Gen's strength earlier that day—
It had completely overturned his expectations.
Before, Gen had been comparable to him—
But still within limits.
Now—
Even if Itachi held every advantage—
Even if he launched a perfect ambush—
He was certain the one who would die…
Would be himself.
Which meant—
His plans needed to change.
Suddenly—
Gen lifted his head, looking toward Iwagakure.
A faint smile curved his lips.
"He's here."
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