You knew that in the future, Deidara would eventually be recruited by Uchiha Itachi. Naturally, the idea of teaming up with Deidara to kill Itachi had crossed your mind.
So, after your repeated suggestions, Deidara finally began considering learning Lava Release.
Yes, aside from methods tied to Tailed Beasts like the one used by Roshi, Iwagakure also had a way to awaken the Lava Release Kekkei Genkai through training. After all, the Second Tsuchikage created Dust Style by first mastering Earth, then Fire, and finally adding Wind...
And the first step to learning Lava Release, naturally, was to fully master Fire Chakra Nature Transformation.
With that, you and Deidara began to complement each other, rapidly progressing as you helped each other correct weaknesses in Earth and Fire Release, offering mutual guidance and suggestions for improvement.
[Seventh Month]
Over the course of a month, with Deidara's crash-course training, your own Indra-bloodline-enhanced talent, and the sensory insights gained from the ninja cats' passive absorption of natural energy, you were the first to fully master Earth Release Chakra Nature Transformation—even ahead of Deidara's progress in Fire Release!
Along the way, you even developed your own Earth Release secret technique, derived from the terrain-altering jutsu "Earth Release: Moving Earth Core"—
Earth Release: Great Tremor!
As the name suggests, it allows you to unleash earthquake-level attacks, with two distinct modes: area-of-effect and close-quarters combat.
The AoE version, Great Tremor, sends out a massive quake with the user's feet as the epicenter. It's excellent for clearing out Jonin-level or lower fodder and damaging massive targets like Susanoo.
In theory, Great Tremor could even be combined with Fire Release—triggering an eruption-like attack. If you were to gain Lava Release, the compatibility would be near-perfect. Unfortunately, the Chakra cost is enormous, and this location isn't suitable for testing jutsu on that scale, so you haven't been able to develop it yet.
The melee variant focuses seismic power into your fist. You can even stack it with the Ultra-Added-Weight Rock Technique to heavily damage an opponent and bypass rigid defenses like Susanoo!
Of course, this jutsu leans more toward a Nintaijutsu hybrid, demanding high levels of physical Strength, Chakra reserves, and advanced Chakra Nature Transformation control.
Even with your current level, you can only reach about magnitude 4 power.
If you ignore the backlash or fight in a desert and activate your title bonuses, you might just barely manage a magnitude 5.
But the real key is that this jutsu has no upper limit on output. As long as you can endure the recoil, you could theoretically unleash a magnitude 50 quake!
[Eighth Month]
Deidara really lived up to his genius reputation. In just two months, he managed to refine his Fire Release to the level needed to begin condensing Lava Release!
He even fused Fire Release particles into his Explosive Clay, doubling its destructive power—and adding fiery visual effects to some of his more artistically styled creations.
Still, even with Fire Release at that level, he hadn't quite caught up to you.
While guiding Deidara in Fire Release, you didn't neglect your own training either. After months of searing your Black-Blade Tachi in flames, you successfully separated the dark green toxic flames from it.
Though the Black-Blade Tachi was completely destroyed in the process...
You gained a fireseed from the wreckage. Using sealing techniques, you stored the fireseed within your body. With the Flame of the Infested slowly purifying its toxic Chakra, you began merging it into your bloodstream, refining it little by little.
Because the Land of Earth borders the Land of Wind, there's frequent friction between Iwagakure and Sunagakure. As a result, Iwa had stockpiled plenty of poisons and needles seized from Sand shinobi over the years—since Iwa-nin rarely use poisons, several warehouses were eventually crammed with the stuff.
You had your clone buy out the lot, then had Boss Black Cat smuggle some of it in. That's when you discovered—this toxic flame actually grows by consuming poisons...
[Ninth Month]
Your bond with Deidara grew stronger by the day. The two of you were nearly inseparable. Every time he spoke with you, his inspiration surged.
But you began to sense a faint sense of danger… You were starting to feel like you couldn't keep hiding your movements from Ōnoki much longer.
Sure enough, not long after, while testing out Deidara's newly designed clay rocket, you two ran into trouble. The rocket had no landing system, so it turned into a missile and exploded on impact—causing tremors that could be felt all the way in Iwagakure, several kilometers away!
Thankfully, you released the Flame of the Infested just in time to absorb most of the Chakra damage, and used a Stone Clone as armor to soak up the remaining shockwave.
Though you and Deidara escaped with only minor injuries, you were both brought before Ōnoki.
At last, you couldn't hide the truth any longer.
However, given how close you and Deidara had become—especially with you successfully convincing him to train in techniques beyond Explosive Clay...
The die was already cast.
Now, even Ōnoki wasn't sure how to deal with you.
Go by the book?
Fine. You trespassed into restricted areas, probed Iwagakure's secrets, and got chummy with the Tsuchikage's heir. That's a death sentence. But... Ōnoki didn't know how much longer he had to live, and Deidara was clearly in his rebellious phase—cutting him off now would only provoke open rebellion.
Without Ōnoki and Deidara, Iwa's high-end combat power would collapse. The smaller nations nearby would pick the village apart in no time.
So after promising Deidara he wouldn't harm you, Ōnoki called you in for a private talk.
And the first thing you said was—
"If I hadn't helped him, Deidara would've been abducted by the Akatsuki within a year—taken by Uchiha Itachi. And at age nineteen, he'd be killed by Sasuke Uchiha, after Sasuke awakens his full power."
That kind of story? Ōnoki didn't believe a word of it.
But you were completely confident. And when he looked into your Sharingan—eyes brimming with infinite possibility—he hesitated.
As someone who had once fought Madara Uchiha and been gravely injured alongside the Second Tsuchikage, Ōnoki couldn't afford to take chances—not with his heir's future.
You claimed your Sharingan could foresee the future and described in vivid detail how Deidara would die at Sasuke's hands. You included intricate descriptions of their jutsu and Chakra control during the battle.
The level of detail was such that even a shrewd old fox like Ōnoki believed—only someone who had seen the event could describe it like that.
No one could fake it.
Not that you were trying to. You knew full well—there was no outsmarting someone like Ōnoki. Only honesty would work.
"So, how much longer do I have to live?" he asked.
"I don't know. But you should live to see the Fourth Great Ninja War..."
"Heh. There's gonna be a fourth one!?"
Ōnoki gave a helpless chuckle. He asked you to describe the Fourth Great Ninja War—its timeline, its scale. You told him you hadn't dreamt that far yet.
He brought his hands together. A pale light flared between them.
You were enveloped by a Dust Release barrier—but made no move to dodge. You simply looked back at him, calm and unflinching, as if this was all within your expectations.
"You pass," he said.
The barrier vanished.
Ōnoki tossed you a scroll and a small token, then floated out the window without looking back.
You opened them.
The scroll contained training methods for Lava Release.
The token had your new identity etched on it—disciple of the Tsuchikage.
Apparently, the token had been made some time ago...
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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