The meeting room of Kusagakure (Hidden Grass Village).
The delegation from Iwagakure (Hidden Stone Village) was ushered inside by members of the Qian Army.
At a glance, Ōnoki spotted the sole man seated at the head of the table, wearing a black mask.
"So, you're Kakuzu?" Ōnoki's voice was low and demanding. Though he knew Kakuzu by reputation, he had never met the man in person.
Kin smiled faintly.
"You may call me An, or Mr. An. Kakuzu is the one standing behind me." He pointed to Kakuzu, who stood silently at his back, his green eyes fixed on Ōnoki.
"What do you want?" Kakuzu asked flatly.
Ōnoki narrowed his eyes. He had assumed Kakuzu was the one in charge of Kusagakure, but it seemed this "Mr. An" held the reins. A man capable of subduing Kakuzu was clearly no weakling.
"I simply didn't expect a man like you to submit to another," Ōnoki remarked pointedly.
Kakuzu glanced at Kin, who sat calmly in front of him. Lately, he had indeed considered going solo. After all, Kusagakure was raking in money, but most of it was being funneled into the bottomless pit of the Land of Rain's military.
But the problem was simple: he couldn't beat this guy.
So, what could he do?
Nothing.
Kakuzu wasn't eager to die, either.
Ōnoki, however, caught the subtle tension between the two and smirked.
Kin sighed inwardly and shot Kakuzu a look. Now's not the time to undermine me.
Turning back to Ōnoki, Kin spoke smoothly.
"I must admit, I never imagined the Tsuchikage himself would grace our humble village with his presence. We're truly honored."
"But aren't you afraid, Lord Tsuchikage, that you might not leave here alive?"
Ōnoki's expression shifted slightly at the threat, though it hardly unsettled him. As for being detained here? That was pure delusion.
"You lack the strength for that," Ōnoki retorted coldly.
The atmosphere grew tense, thick with hostility.
Suddenly, figures materialized in the meeting room—disguised Kusagakure shinobi of the Qian Army, weapons drawn and ready. Tsuchi and the kunoichi accompanying Ōnoki swiftly raised their own weapons, forming a protective barrier around him.
Kin and Ōnoki locked eyes, sparks of confrontation crackling between them.
Ōnoki demanded, "How did you obtain our Iwagakure's jutsu?"
Kin spread his hands innocently. "Now, now, Lord Tsuchikage, let's not make baseless accusations. Kusagakure is quite adept at developing its own techniques. The elemental affinities are limited, after all. Sometimes, ideas just… overlap."
"Aren't you afraid I'll report this to the other villages!?"
"Oh, that would be wonderful. I could expand my business to them. Of course, that would mean ending our dealings with Iwagakure."
Faced with Kin's unflappable, almost brazen demeanor, Ōnoki couldn't tell if the man was truly confident or merely bluffing.
Fine. Let's test his strength.
Kin, sensing Ōnoki's intent, smirked.
"So, Lord Tsuchikage wishes to gauge my abilities?"
Ōnoki's voice was steely. "I need to see if you're worthy of doing business with us."
"Fair enough."
Kin nodded. The Tsuchikage was still holding back, leaving room for negotiation.
"This village was hard-earned, after all. How about we take this to that mountain over there?" He pointed to a distant peak.
Ōnoki agreed. In an instant, he soared into the air and flew out the window.
"I'll be waiting."
As Ōnoki departed, Kin turned to the remaining two—Tsuchi and the kunoichi, who stood back-to-back, wary. He chuckled and addressed Kakuzu.
"Until our little contest is settled, don't neglect our guests."
Kakuzu gave a curt nod.
Then, Kin vanished without a trace.
On the distant mountain, Ōnoki hovered in the sky, his gaze fixed on the ground below. Suddenly, Kin appeared out of nowhere.
"Space-time ninjutsu?" Ōnoki's eyes narrowed.
Troublesome.
"Ready, Lord Tsuchikage?" Kin tilted his head, a playful challenge in his tone.
Ōnoki snorted. His hands blurred through a rapid series of hand seals.
"Earth Release: Earth Core!"
A square slab of earth beneath Kin's feet shot upward, carrying him toward Ōnoki at terrifying speed. The immense pressure forced Kin into a crouch, rendering him immobile.
Ōnoki raised his fist, rocks coalescing around it.
"Earth Release: Rock Fist!"
He drove the massive stone fist straight at Kin.
Kin's hands moved just as fast, weaving seals.
"Wood Release: Wood Locking Wall!"
Wooden pillars erupted from the rising platform, curving to form a protective dome around Kin.
Ōnoki's brow furrowed.
Wood Release!?
His fist slammed into the wooden barrier.
BOOM!!
The dome shattered under the impact, revealing Kin inside—his hands already forming another set of seals.
The splintered wood didn't scatter. Instead, it surged toward Ōnoki.
"Wood Release: Silent Binding Technique!"
The tendrils of wood lashed out, aiming to ensnare Ōnoki.
"Earth Release: Light-Weight Rock Technique!"
Ōnoki's body shot upward, evading the attack. Simultaneously, he activated another jutsu.
"Earth Release: Rock Arm!"
The platform beneath Kin morphed into a colossal stone hand, its fingers closing like a vise to crush him.
As the hand clenched, Kin's eyes flicked to the wood fragments still floating behind Ōnoki—debris from the shattered dome. A smirk tugged at his lips.
The stone hand closed with a thunderous crash.
Ōnoki, however, didn't let his guard down. Frowning, he immediately darted away from his position.
His instincts were correct.
Kin materialized where Ōnoki had just been, a kunai slicing through empty air. In his other hand, he clutched the wood fragments that had been drifting behind the Tsuchikage.
"I really can't underestimate a Kage, can I?"
Kin let himself free-fall toward the ground.
Ōnoki wasn't about to let the opportunity pass.
"Earth Release: Earth and Stone Dragon!"
The rocky arm transformed into a massive dragon of earth and stone, hurtling toward Kin midair. Kin crossed his arms, blocking the dragon's charge, but the force sent him rocketing toward the ground.
And Ōnoki wasn't done.
He flashed behind the dragon and thrust his palm forward.
"Earth Release: Super-Weight Rock Technique!"
The dragon's speed tripled in an instant.
It smashed Kin into the earth with devastating force.
BOOOOOOM!!
The impact carved a massive crater into the mountainside, the dragon dissolving into rubble.
But Kin was nowhere to be seen.
"Annoying. Space-time ninjutsu," Ōnoki muttered.
Shinobi skilled in space-time techniques were always a headache.
But this man wielded both Wood Release and space-time ninjutsu. The most famous space-time technique was the Flying Thunder God of Konoha's Second Hokage.
There's no way he isn't from Konoha.
Yet, when did Konoha produce such a powerful shinobi? And why hadn't Ōnoki heard of him?
Was he a rogue ninja? Or a vanguard for Konoha?
What is Konoha planning!?
From the shade of a tree, Kin emerged leisurely.
He looked up at Ōnoki, hovering high above.
"Shall we end this probing? Show me the true power of the Tsuchikage."
Ōnoki's eyes hardened.
"As you wish."
(End of Chapter)