"Deidara! Haven't I told you not to play your nonsense in the village?" Ōnoki rushed over, grabbed Deidara, and scolded him, "What if you had hurt our honored guests?"
After lecturing Deidara, Ōnoki turned to Uchiha Seiryu, his face tinged with apology. "My apologies, Hokage. This is my disciple, Deidara. I've spoiled him too much, letting him run wild. Please forgive me for this embarrassment."
"Not at all, Lord Tsuchikage," Seiryu replied with a dry laugh. "Kids will be kids—being a little mischievous is normal."
"Sorry to let you see this," Ōnoki said, but faint pride curled at the edge of his lips. After all, for Deidara to make such a commotion at his age was proof enough of his talent. There was a hint of boasting in Ōnoki's manner.
Seiryu noticed Ōnoki's little expression, understanding the old man's intent. Of course, Seiryu wouldn't let him off easily and stepped up to Deidara.
"Kid, was that ruckus just now your doing?" Seiryu asked with a friendly smile.
"Yeah!" Deidara replied proudly. "This is the art I pursue! Pretty amazing, right?"
"Not bad," Seiryu said. "It's certainly a new form of art."
"Haha, I didn't expect you to get it! You're way better than the old man!" Deidara beamed at the praise.
"To have such artistic pursuit at your age is great, but you're still a bit lacking," Seiryu said, a look of regret crossing his face. "But considering your age, it's already impressive."
"Is that so?" Deidara, hearing Seiryu doubt his artistry, bristled and stared up at him, chin raised, "Then tell me—what is true art?"
"A wise man once said," Seiryu replied mysteriously, "the most elegant form of art is to destroy something beautiful before an audience. Explosion is art, but only a minor one."
"Deidara! Get back now! This is none of your business!" Ōnoki quickly cut in, afraid Seiryu would corrupt his disciple and tried to shoo him off.
"Hey, old man! Can't you explain more clearly?" Deidara was rare to find someone willing to discuss art with him, so he refused to leave, pestering Seiryu for more.
"I was just joking," Seiryu said, glancing at Ōnoki, then flashing a mysterious smile. He said no more, and Deidara was soon dragged away by ANBU.
"I'll deal with you later!" Ōnoki glared at Deidara, who was still struggling in ANBU's grip, then turned to Seiryu. "Lord Hokage, do you usually entertain yourself by teasing children?"
Seiryu spread his hands innocently. "Tease children? Did I? Doesn't Lord Tsuchikage agree this child has talent? It's good for kids to have a hobby—they should be encouraged."
"Is that so? What are your disciples' hobbies, Hokage?" Ōnoki asked, lips twitching.
"My disciples' hobbies?" Seiryu thought for a moment. "Does graffiti on the Hokage Rock count? Naruto, that kid, loves giving us Hokage new looks. His father's face is the worst hit. It's really a headache."
"Haha, the Hokage's disciples certainly have unique tastes. But shouldn't you support your disciple's hobbies?" Ōnoki replied with a forced smile.
"Did I say I didn't support him?" Seiryu said. "I usually leave him alone. As long as he cleans it up after he's done, I'm fine with it."
Seiryu smiled at Ōnoki. When it came to children, discipline was needed for one's own, but for a rival's child—especially from an enemy village—the best thing was to encourage them to be even more unruly.
"Let's not waste more time—the banquet is waiting," Seiryu said. Seeing Seiryu's easy banter, Ōnoki could only grit his teeth, swallow his frustration, and force a smile as he once again invited Seiryu to the banquet.
After this little episode, Seiryu and his party followed Ōnoki to the banquet hall.
At that moment, all Iwagakure's high officials were present except for the village's jinchuriki—Han, the jinchuriki of the Five-Tails, Kokuō. Ōnoki was wise enough not to bring his own jinchuriki before an Uchiha with Mangekyo Sharingan. In fact, long before Seiryu arrived, Ōnoki had already told Han to stay hidden in the village during this period.
However, while Seiryu and Ōnoki were toasting at the banquet, Han, secluded in a secret chamber, suddenly received a warning from his tailed beast companion.
"Han, I sense another tailed beast's chakra," Kokuō spoke from within the sealed space.
"Is Son Gokū back? I'd better hurry to warn him not to return to the village for now." Han stood up, practicing his boil release, "Can you tell where he is?"
"No, it's not Son Gokū," Kokuō said gravely, "It's the Nine-Tails. The Nine-Tails is in your village."
"What?" Han was stunned. He had assumed it was just Son Gokū returning after a spat with the Tsuchikage, but it turned out to be the Nine-Tails.
"I must let Lord Tsuchikage know immediately." Han left the chamber at once.
…
After the banquet, Ōnoki escorted Seiryu and his party to their inn, then returned to his own office.
Once there, Ōnoki collapsed into his chair, exhausted from the day's verbal sparring with Seiryu.
Of Konoha's five Hokage, he hadn't been involved with the First. As the Second Tsuchikage's disciple, he had clashed with the Second Hokage, the wise man who built the current shinobi system—someone who'd left a deep impression on him.
He'd battled the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the longest. Sarutobi had been a tough opponent in his youth but grew indecisive as he aged, and under him, Konoha had declined while Iwa had steadily risen. So Ōnoki felt justified in claiming that, among the third generation, the Tsuchikage was greater than the Hokage.
As for the Fourth Hokage, Minato, Ōnoki had only met him on the battlefield and chose not to comment.
But now, dealing with the Fifth Hokage, Uchiha Seiryu, even after only a brief encounter, Ōnoki found him more troublesome than any previous Hokage.
'He's not even twenty, yet his strength is terrifying. On top of that, he's shrewd and careful—no wonder he could seize power from that old man Sarutobi.'
'Damn it, why did such a genius have to be born in Konoha? If he'd been in Iwagakure, I'd have made him the Fourth Tsuchikage by now!'
Ōnoki truly admired Seiryu, but knowing they would always be rivals, he couldn't help but feel bitter—and curse fate for favoring Konoha when they never valued their own prodigies.
As he mentally cursed the heavens and Sarutobi, a knock came at his door.
"Come in," Ōnoki called, composing himself.
Han entered, still in disguise. Seeing him, Ōnoki frowned.
"Han? Why are you here? Didn't I tell you to stay hidden during this time?" Ōnoki got up, closed the door, and spoke in a low voice, "I don't think Seiryu is that crazy, but for the safety of the village, we can't take any chances."
"I understand, Lord Tsuchikage," Han nodded, "but I have an important report."
"Kokuō told me he sensed the Nine-Tails' chakra in the village."
"What?" Ōnoki shot up from his chair. "The Nine-Tails is in the village?"
"That's what Kokuō says," Han confirmed.
Ōnoki took a deep breath. Both of Iwagakure's current jinchuriki had good relationships with their tailed beasts, and both could fully transform. If Kokuō said so, it was almost certainly true.
Cold sweat broke out on Ōnoki's brow as his mind raced: The Nine-Tails… Uzumaki… That kid! Minato's son! No wonder I thought that brat's chakra was abnormal—he's the jinchuriki!
"Damn it! This lunatic Seiryu, what's he planning by bringing a jinchuriki here?"
Ōnoki's breath quickened. He wasn't afraid of tailed beasts, but this was the heart of Iwagakure! What was Seiryu thinking—starting a Nine-Tails rampage in Iwa?
One couldn't blame Ōnoki's panic—who wouldn't lose sleep if the enemy brought a walking nuke into their home?