Among the Five Great Nations, relationships were complicated—simultaneously hostile and interdependent. Wars didn't necessarily mean total annihilation. Even during the Great Ninja Wars, the major nations sometimes formed temporary alliances when circumstances demanded.
So when Naruto requested friendship with Iwagakure, Ōnoki's first thought was that this was merely diplomatic language. And second, even if Naruto genuinely wanted political friendship with Iwagakure, that wasn't impossible to arrange.
When it came to matters of national interest, personal feelings meant little. Friends today could be enemies tomorrow if the profit margins shifted.
Naruto was pleasantly surprised by Ōnoki's apparent openness. He smiled brightly. "That's wonderful! I never expected the Tsuchikage would want to be my friend so readily."
"Of course." Ōnoki raised his cup in a toast, his weathered face creasing with a diplomatic smile. "We're friends now. Everyone agrees, correct?"
He looked around at the other Iwagakure ninja.
"That's right, Naruto-sama!" They raised their own cups enthusiastically. "We're friends! Good friends! May Iwagakure and Konoha enjoy lasting friendship!"
The atmosphere seemed warm, celebratory even.
Then Naruto's expression turned serious. "Lord Tsuchikage, we're not friends yet."
Ōnoki's smile froze. His cup paused halfway to his lips. What?
After decades as Tsuchikage, he'd seen countless negotiations, survived multiple wars, and navigated complex political situations. He maintained his composure despite the confusion. "Hokage-sama, then how can we become friends?"
"To be my friend, you must show me your sincerity," Naruto explained calmly. "Without seeing genuine sincerity, how can true friendship form?"
"I see." Ōnoki's eyes narrowed slightly. "And how would Iwagakure demonstrate this... sincerity?"
The atmosphere shifted dramatically. Every Iwagakure ninja's posture changed, hands drifting toward weapons. Their expressions darkened with hostility. It felt like Naruto had come specifically to provoke them, to insult Iwagakure on its own territory.
Naruto remained completely unbothered by the sudden tension, the hands hovering near kunai holsters, the killing intent beginning to permeate the room. He hadn't even acknowledged the Iwagakure ninja as threats. He'd simply come to make friends through proper, civilized means.
"We need to have a friendly exchange," Naruto clarified. "Only through friendly exchange can I see your true sincerity."
The moment those words landed, the hostility intensified tenfold. Now the Iwagakure ninja were certain—Naruto had come to humiliate them.
Everyone stopped eating, stopped drinking, stopped moving entirely. All eyes fixed on Ōnoki and Naruto, waiting for the Tsuchikage's command. One word, and every ninja present would attack simultaneously.
How dare he, they thought furiously. Even as Konoha's Hokage, he can't just insult Iwagakure so casually.
Naruto continued smiling at Ōnoki. The old man sat in silence, face unreadable, clearly weighing his options.
Perhaps calculating whether to order the attack right now.
War hung in the balance.
And in this razor-edge tension, Nagato, Sasuke, and Nine-Tails continued peacefully eating their meal as if none of this concerned them.
The casual behavior caught every eye in the room. Ōnoki and the Iwagakure ninja all shared the same thought: Don't they realize that one wrong move, one command from the Tsuchikage, and they'll be buried under a coordinated assault from every ninja here?
But Ōnoki's mind was deep, his tactical instincts honed over decades. Logically, after being insulted so blatantly, he should attack immediately to restore Iwagakure's dignity and teach this arrogant child a lesson.
Yet something made him hesitate.
The calm. The complete lack of concern from those three.
What are they relying on? Why so relaxed? How many powerful allies are they hiding?
Ōnoki knew from intelligence reports that Hiruzen Sarutobi had died at Uzumaki Naruto's hands. The boy's strength was clearly formidable.
But no matter how powerful, one person couldn't fight an entire village.
Unless...
The ignorance on those faces. The smile on Naruto's. Something doesn't add up.
After careful consideration, Ōnoki chose diplomacy over violence. His smile returned, though slightly strained. "Since Hokage-sama wishes to test Iwagakure's strength, we're happy to accommodate that request."
The instant Ōnoki spoke, every Iwagakure ninja shifted into combat readiness.
Naruto nodded approvingly. This is more like it. Much more interesting than everyone just agreeing immediately.
He hoped everyone could be like Sasuke—strict about friendship standards. Sasuke had required three full friendly exchanges before accepting Naruto's friendship.
That's dedication to quality relationships, Naruto thought warmly. And friends with high standards are the most loyal. They consider everything from your perspective because they've invested so much in the bond.
"Excellent! Thank you, Lord Ōnoki." Naruto stood. "Then without further delay, let's find an open space where I can become friends with all the Iwagakure ninja."
Still young after all, Ōnoki thought. Impressive to become Hokage so early, but clearly lacks the maturity for subtle political maneuvering.
Since Naruto insisted on this "friendly exchange" approach, Ōnoki would use tactics. He'd send other ninja first in a wheel battle strategy, exhausting Naruto's chakra through sheer numbers. Then, when the boy was depleted, Ōnoki himself would finish things.
A valuable lesson about overconfidence.
"Hokage-sama, please." Ōnoki gestured toward the exit. "Lead the way."
Naruto rose immediately. An Iwagakure ninja guided them forward.
Sasuke and Nagato followed, the latter wheeling himself alongside Ōnoki. Nagato glanced at the elderly Tsuchikage and said quietly, "Ōnoki, you made the right choice."
With his experience, Nagato understood exactly what Ōnoki had been weighing moments ago. If Ōnoki had chosen violence instead of this competition, the entire Iwagakure Village would likely have become past tense by the end of today.
Just like Akatsuki.
Ōnoki didn't take the comment seriously. Even if Naruto was stronger than him, it would only be marginally so. The boy couldn't possibly overpower an entire village.
Nagato shook his head and moved past. You know nothing about Naruto's true horror. I hope you don't make wrong decisions in the future.
He mourned for Ōnoki internally.
Soon they arrived at an open training ground surrounded by exposed rock formations. The terrain favored Iwagakure ninja, giving their earth-style techniques natural advantages.
Naruto surveyed the space and nodded approval. An indoor venue would've been destroyed the moment he activated his Indestructible Body Form. That's how Konoha's Hokage Building had been demolished, after all.
He'd come to make friends, not demolish infrastructure.
"So, Lord Tsuchikage," Naruto asked with genuine anticipation, "will you be friends with me first?"
The moment he'd arrived in Iwagakure, Naruto had noticed something promising—many of these ninja looked extraordinarily durable. The kind of physiques that could withstand extended friendship sessions.
Especially that guard beside Ōnoki. The one called Akatsuchi. That man looks like he could last twenty minutes easily.
Hearing the question, Ōnoki shook his head. Absolutely not. He intended to appear last, after Naruto's chakra was exhausted, and claim victory in one decisive move.
He gestured to Akatsuchi.
The massive man stepped forward immediately, taking position at the training ground's center. "Hokage-sama, please allow Akatsuchi to go first."
"Perfect." Naruto walked out to face him. "Akatsuchi, use your full strength. Show me your sincerity."
"Don't worry, Hokage-sama. I'll give everything I have." Akatsuchi's voice carried absolute seriousness.
Even if Naruto hadn't asked, Akatsuchi would've fought with full power for Iwagakure's honor after that earlier insult.
Hold on as long as possible, Ōnoki thought, watching his subordinate prepare. Drain his chakra.
The battle was about to begin. Every eye in Iwagakure focused on the center of the training ground. Everyone held their breath, perfect silence falling.
Then—
Crack. Crack. Crack.
The sound of sunflower seeds being methodically consumed.
Every head turned. Sasuke, Nine-Tails, and Nagato sat casually on the sidelines, snacking away.
Meeting the collective stare, Sasuke spread his palm with complete sincerity. "Want some?"
Ōnoki: (⊙_⊙)
Iwagakure Ninja: (⊙_⊙)
None of Konoha's ninja are normal, they all thought simultaneously.
Shaking off the distraction, attention returned to the battlefield.
Akatsuchi charged.
His body—massive as a bull, built like a tank—thundered forward. Over two meters tall, probably three hundred pounds of muscle. The ground shook under his footfalls.
Unparalleled strange strength, they called it. Akatsuchi's specialty.
Though Naruto was tall at 1.9 meters, he looked almost slim compared to Akatsuchi's bulk. This collision would require serious effort to handle.
Akatsuchi closed the distance.
Naruto caught him by the head with one hand.
The sudden result rendered every Iwagakure ninja speechless. Ōnoki's jaw dropped. He didn't even use ninjutsu. Just one hand. And Akatsuchi can't struggle free.
WHAM. WHAM. WHAM.
Twenty minutes later, Akatsuchi lay on the ground, face swollen into something resembling a prize-winning pumpkin.
"Akatsuchi, that was excellent!" Naruto helped him up with genuine warmth. "I've seen your sincerity. Now we're friends."
"Hokage-sama..." Tears streamed down Akatsuchi's battered face, mixing with the blood from his split lip. "I'm so honored... we're finally friends..."
He shook Naruto's hand gratefully, then limped back to stand beside Ōnoki.
"Lord Tsuchikage," Naruto called cheerfully, "who's next?"
The question snapped Ōnoki and the other ninja back from their shock. They stared at Naruto with dawning horror, then at Akatsuchi with pity.
Then at themselves with greater pity, because Akatsuchi's current fate was their future fate.
"Uh... Kitsuchi. You go." Ōnoki turned to his son.
Kitsuchi hesitated. Seeing Akatsuchi's condition, he genuinely didn't want to become Naruto's friend. How can I show my face in public like that?
But his father was both his parent and the current Tsuchikage. Kitsuchi couldn't refuse both authorities at once.
Reluctantly, he approached Naruto. "Hokage-sama, you and my father are peers—both Kage of your respective villages. By that logic, I'm your junior. Please... show mercy."
To avoid Akatsuchi's fate, Kitsuchi abandoned all pride, lowering himself an entire generation before this twelve-year-old.
"Alright," Naruto agreed easily. "I'll only use ten percent of my strength. But Kitsuchi, you should still use your full power."
Relief flooded Kitsuchi's features. It worked! Ten percent means I won't end up like Akatsuchi!
WHAM. WHAM. WHAM.
Twenty minutes later, Kitsuchi lay beside Akatsuchi, face equally swollen, tears of betrayal streaming down his cheeks. "Hokage-sama... didn't you say ten percent?"
Why do I look exactly like Akatsuchi if he only used ten percent?!
Naruto lifted him with genuine enthusiasm, dusting off his clothes. "Kitsuchi, I really did only use ten percent. But I've seen your sincerity now. We're friends!"
Kitsuchi silently walked to Akatsuchi's side.
Akatsuchi suddenly laughed.
"What are you laughing at?" Kitsuchi snapped, embarrassed and angry. We both look the same. Why are you laughing?
"I just suddenly felt happy," Akatsuchi explained.
"Grandfather, let me compete with Hokage-sama." Kurotsuchi stepped forward unexpectedly.
"You?" Ōnoki stared at his granddaughter in disbelief. Everyone had seen what friendship with Naruto meant—bruised faces and swollen features. That was unfortunate for men, but for a beautiful young woman like Kurotsuchi...
"Grandfather, don't worry." Kurotsuchi's confidence remained unshaken.
Her logic was simple: Naruto was a boy. Surely no boy would treat a girl so roughly. That's why she dared volunteer.
She took position before Naruto with complete self-assurance. "Please enlighten me, Hokage-sama!"
"Sure." Naruto nodded.
WHAM. WHAM. WHAM.
When Kurotsuchi stood beside her father with a face like a battered melon, she understood her mistake profoundly.
"Haha..." Kitsuchi suddenly laughed.
"Father, why are you laughing?!" Kurotsuchi felt humiliated and furious.
"I'm sorry, daughter. I just suddenly felt happy." Kitsuchi probably understood Akatsuchi's earlier mood.
If only he looked this way, Kitsuchi would've wanted to die. But now that more and more people shared the condition, he felt strangely relaxed.
The world is still beautiful.
Ōnoki watched his granddaughter, his son, and his elite guard all sporting matching swollen faces. His mentality crumbled. You're Konoha's majestic Hokage. Why do you only aim for people's faces?!
At this rate, all of Iwagakure would become pig-heads. How would they show themselves to the other villages?
The deep malice felt personal.
Suddenly, Ōnoki remembered the red-haired ninja's words: "Ōnoki, you made the right choice."
Cold sweat broke out along his spine.
He finally understood what that meant. When Naruto proposed the competition and Ōnoki was deciding whether to attack immediately, those Konoha ninja had remained completely calm. Now, after three battles, Naruto had subdued Iwagakure's top three fighters without using a single ninjutsu.
If Ōnoki had chosen immediate violence... that would have been the wrong choice. With Naruto's strength, he might genuinely have repelled an entire village's assault.
Better this than death, Ōnoki thought, accepting reality. Just bruised faces. Just lost dignity. Better than lost lives.
He looked at the remaining Iwagakure ninja, hoping someone would volunteer.
One ninja stood.
Hope lit Ōnoki's face.
Then died immediately.
"Lord Tsuchikage," the ninja said clearly, "please become friends with Hokage-sama!"
"What—" Ōnoki stared in betrayal.
The ninja bowed deeply. "Please, Lord Tsuchikage and Lord Hokage, become friends!"
One by one, every remaining Iwagakure ninja turned toward their leader and bowed in unison.
"PLEASE, LORD TSUCHIKAGE AND LORD HOKAGE, BECOME FRIENDS!"
The synchronized voices echoed across the training ground.
Ōnoki's face went through several colors.
His own people. His own ninja. They'd thrown him to the wolves.
And from the sidelines, Sasuke cracked another sunflower seed with a satisfied smile.