Three days later, Kazuyama had already flown out of the Land of Earth to avoid getting entangled with Iwagakure. He even headed north until he reached the sea before turning east. It wasn't until he saw a vast stretch of white and sneezed several times that he realized where he'd ended up.
"Kazuyama, I can sense my clone's presence. Its chakra is already very faint."
"Should we go back and recharge a bit?"
Chōmei's voice suddenly echoed, making Kazuyama pause. He quickly figured out where he was—on the northern coast of the Land of Waterfalls, and the white expanse ahead must be the Land of Frost.
He hadn't expected to travel this far in just three days.
"Alright, let's head to Takigakure. At least we'll be far away from the war."
With that, he set his course for the Land of Waterfalls.
...
Meanwhile, chaos had erupted in the Tsuchikage's office because of what he had done.
"Impossible! That guy is already dead!"
"No way! The First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, already killed him!"
"How could he still be alive?!"
Ōnoki smashed the table in front of him into pieces, panting heavily, his face twisted with rage. Standing before him were several Jōnin who had just returned, including his son, Kitsuchi.
Seeing Ōnoki this agitated, Kitsuchi was visibly shaken, but he stepped forward, his tone firm.
"Lord Tsuchikage, it's true. I saw the Sharingan with my own eyes, and watched as my comrades fell to Genjutsu. The enemy only used one Fire Release, and together with that blue skeleton, he devastated our forces."
"The other squad also fell to Genjutsu, which led to them being slaughtered by a swarm of snakes. That's why so many died."
Ōnoki's face twisted further.
Fire Release… That was his signature technique. When unleashed, it erupted like a volcano.
And that blue skeleton—no doubt about it, that was Susanoo.
Back then, he and his master had been crushed under that same blue skeletal figure.
Damn it! Damn it all!
"Everyone who can still move, come with me! I'm going to the site myself!"
He didn't believe the man had returned. But to be sure, he'd go see it with his own eyes.
"Yes, Lord Tsuchikage!"
Ōnoki pushed open the window and tapped each person in front of him.
"Earth Release: Light-Weight Rock Technique!"
The reason he, known as Ōnoki of Both Scales, could fly was due to this unique Earth Release. The technique lightened objects, allowing flight and acceleration—though it reduced power.
As the jutsu activated, Kitsuchi and the others suddenly felt light, rising into the air and flying after Ōnoki toward the scene.
Just as they took off, Kazuyama received a system notification.
[Ding! Due to the host impersonating Madara Uchiha and appearing in the Land of Earth, triggering Ōnoki's traumatic memories and causing him to go berserk, a special reward has been granted: Earth Release — Added-Weight Rock Technique!]
Kazuyama, still en route through the Land of Waterfalls, stopped in his tracks, surprised.
The reward didn't shock him—he knew full well how much psychological pressure Madara Uchiha had put on Ōnoki.
But the content of the reward was interesting.
Ōnoki had three signature jutsu. Excluding his terrifying Dust Release, his Light-Weight and Added-Weight Rock Techniques formed a core part of his arsenal. Lightening allowed flight, while weighting was the failsafe—too light, and you couldn't land.
This jutsu could also be used in taijutsu combat. More weight meant more destructive force.
It was an extremely powerful Earth Release jutsu that only Ōnoki had ever mastered.
"Kazuyama, what's wrong? Why'd you stop?"
"Nothing, Chōmei. Let's go—the waterfall to Takigakure is right ahead."
Suppressing his excitement, Kazuyama looked at the waterfall just ahead.
"Back again. Chōmei, doesn't this place feel familiar?"
"Ugh, don't even start. That waterfall is seriously getting on my nerves. Let's just finish up and go."
Kazuyama laughed and activated the Flying Thunder God Technique, instantly teleporting into Takigakure.
Even during wartime, the village remained peaceful—after all, Takigakure never got involved in the affairs of the Five Great Nations.
Activating his Transparent Escape Technique, Kazuyama easily reached the entrance of the sealed cave. Seeing the guards still posted, he grinned and walked right in.
He'd done this before—he knew the drill.
"Chōmei, let's begin."
"Yeah, I'll inject my chakra now."
As Chōmei channeled chakra into the insect husk, his presence once again filled the entire cave.
Soon, the process was complete. Kazuyama was about to leave—there were still guards outside, and he didn't want to hang around.
"Chōmei, after all these years, you mean to say none of them ever suspected something was off?"
"Tch, what's the big deal? I'm a bug, right? Isn't hibernating normal? I'm the Seven-Tails—can't I just hibernate a little longer?"
Chōmei's voice suddenly turned pitiful. Kazuyama frowned, unsure what brought this on.
"I'm telling you, back when Hashirama found me, I was still hibernating! That bastard just attacked me without a word!"
"I was half-asleep, and the next thing I knew, I was buried under a pile of wood falling from the sky! Who was I supposed to complain to?!"
Kazuyama burst out laughing.
But any lingering worry vanished. If the bug was sleeping and not causing trouble, that was a good thing.
As long as Takigakure didn't catch on, everything was fine.
With that handled, Kazuyama hit the road again. But the moment he stepped out of the Land of Waterfalls...
"Water Release: Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"
"Water Release: Water Dragon Flurry Technique!"
A roaring flood surged at him from all directions, and seven or eight water dragons lunged in with bared fangs.
"Damn it! Who's there?!"
"I'm outta here!"
The sudden ambush stunned Kazuyama—the scale of the water release techniques was no joke.
Exploding Water Colliding Wave? Someone this powerful was lying in wait?
Just as he tried to fly up to escape, things took another turn.
"Water Release: Umbrella of Heaven Technique!"
The moment he lifted off, a massive umbrella-like construct dropped from the sky, radiating a deep blue glow as it engulfed him and slammed him back down.
"Bastard! Who the hell are you?!"
...
(100 Chapters Ahead)
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