Chapter 138: Chatper 138
If one were to determine which of the current Five Kage had the longest tenure and the most years in office, it would undoubtedly be the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki. Based on the generational titles alone, it was clear that Konoha had already reached its Fifth Hokage, while Kumogakure was led by the Fourth Raikage. By conventional standards, most villages should be under the leadership of their Fourth Kage by now.
However, due to the Fourth Hokage of Konoha dying young during the Nine-Tails attack, the village had since moved on to the Fifth. Other villages, though, were generally still governed by their Fourth Kage. Yet, Iwagakure remained under the rule of the Third Tsuchikage. The reason was simple—Ōnoki had lived far too long, outlasting and even burying several potential successors.
If Danzō had been born in Iwagakure, he likely would have never had the chance to become Kage, no matter how much he schemed.
Ōnoki's longevity, however, was not the only reason he remained in power. His exceptional strength, cunning diplomatic skills, and ruthless protectiveness over his village made him nearly irreplaceable. His stance toward his own people and outsiders was starkly different. To his village, he was a stubborn yet protective elder. To outsiders, he was like an immovable stone wall—one that could either be used as a sturdy foundation or as a blunt instrument to strike down his enemies.
His signature technique, Dust Release (Jinton), was both an indomitable spear and an unbreakable shield. Capable of disintegrating anything into atoms, it was one of the most feared abilities in the shinobi world. Few dared to provoke him.
But today, Zixu intended to do just that. He wanted to test himself against this final obstacle.
"Hyuga Chinano, how much do you know about Ōnoki?" Zixu asked, crouching behind a massive brown boulder. After lowering the telescope in his hand, he turned to Chinano, who was already setting up her sniper rifle and calibrating it.
Chinano swiftly calculated the surrounding wind speed, temperature, and other environmental factors. She didn't bother using the rifle's scope. Her Byakugan was far superior, acting as the ultimate long-range lens. With a simple shift of her pupil, she zoomed in on Iwagakure, her eyes capturing every detail with crystal clarity.
To her, the mountains that hid the village from view did not exist. The entire Iwagakure lay exposed before her gaze, as if she were watching a girl fresh out of the bath with nowhere to hide.