Iwagakure

Biodata

Background

Iwagakure is the hidden village of the Land of Earth, a nation encircled by rocky mountains whose terrain creates formidable natural defenses against invasion 86. It is counted among the Five Great Shinobi Villages and, like the other major powers, has continued accumulating strength in the aftermath of the Third Shinobi World War 18 173.

The village previously clashed with Kirigakure during the First Shinobi World War. During the Second Shinobi World War, it conserved its strength and did not intervene 244.

Leadership and Military

• Ōnoki — The Third Tsuchikage. He is politically wary, assumes hostile incidents may conceal larger strategies, and considers the possibility of another shinobi world war 172 173.
• Kitsuchi — Ōnoki's son and a capable military commander, though Ōnoki considers him better suited to serve as Iwagakure's “spear” than as Tsuchikage 173.
• Akatsuchi — Regarded by Ōnoki as the village's “shield,” rather than a successor for the Tsuchikage position 173.
• Deidara — Ōnoki's disciple and an Explosion Release prodigy. Despite his destructive behavior, Ōnoki views him as a possible future Tsuchikage candidate 153 173.
• Rōshi — Iwagakure's Four-Tails Jinchūriki. Ōnoki treats his loss as unacceptable due to the strategic value of both jinchūriki and Tailed Beast 194.

Political and Strategic Policy

Ōnoki has maintained dealings with the Underground Black Market, employing bounty hunters for operations Iwagakure cannot openly conduct and to reduce the village's casualties during conflict 193. This willingness to use outside forces reflects his pragmatic approach to military affairs.

Following the attack on Hōzuki Castle, Ōnoki suspected that the incident could be a diversion aimed at the Land of Earth's southeastern border. He judged the wider shinobi world—particularly Kumogakure, Sunagakure, destabilized Konoha, and Kirigakure—to be close to another major war 172 173.

Major Incidents

Hōzuki Castle Aftermath

As the closest Great Village to Hōzuki Castle, Iwagakure was among the first to receive Kusagakure's notice and bounty order after the attack. Ōnoki reviewed the battlefield intelligence and compared its devastation to the earlier Moon Valley incident involving Red Moon 172 173.

Deidara's Destruction of the Tsuchikage Building

Deidara caused a major explosion that left the Tsuchikage Building burning, tilted, and heavily damaged. Ōnoki publicly demanded that Deidara be brought back to answer for the destruction 194.

River Country Excavation Team

Iwagakure deployed a mining and excavation team into the River Country, accompanied by Kakuzu and Sasori. Shisui Uchiha, operating under the identity Amaterasu of Red Moon, infiltrated the group, killed members of its advance team, and extracted intelligence from a surviving Rock ninja through Sharingan genjutsu 197 198.

The ensuing conflict drew in Deidara and Rōshi. Akatsuki later received intelligence that Red Moon had defeated both men and likely captured the Four-Tails 201 203 228.

Monitoring Konoha and Amegakure

When a meteorite passed over Iwagakure toward the Land of Fire, Ōnoki ordered immediate intelligence gathering on Konoha. He also planned to send an envoy to Amegakure under the cover of diplomatic trade to investigate how Amegakure had handled its own meteorite crisis 216.

Relationships

• Land of Earth — Iwagakure serves as the nation's principal shinobi village and defensive force 86.
• Ōnoki — The Third Tsuchikage directs Iwagakure's political and military policy 172 173.
• Kumogakure, Konohagakure, Sunagakure, and Kirigakure — Fellow Great Villages whose military expansion, instability, or internal crises contribute to Ōnoki's fear of renewed world war 173.
• Sunagakure — A rival claimant to the Gelel Ore Vein in the River Country; Rasa identifies Ōnoki's interest in the resource as a potential obstacle 194.
• Red Moon — Its operations at Hōzuki Castle and in the River Country draw Iwagakure's attention and result in the likely loss of the Four-Tails 172 198 228.
• Amegakure — Ōnoki seeks information on its response to a previous meteorite strike through a diplomatic mission 216.