Deduction

Back in Takigakure, Houka reluctantly gave Deidara a sum of money and sent him off to buy materials for making Explosive Clay.

After Houka defected from Konoha, he naturally lost his dividends from Konoha Newspaper and Konoha Fried Chicken. Money had been tight lately, and he wished he could split one ryo into a hundred.

Fortunately, the weather was warming up. The ice in the waters near the Land of Snow had begun to break apart, and once the shipping routes opened, the fleet Shizuki had assembled could start turning a profit.

After sending Deidara away, Houka began secluded training.

The Weighted Rock Technique, Light-Weight Rock Technique, Ultra-Weighted Rock Technique, and Ultra-Light-Weight Rock Technique were all extremely difficult to master. To attain true proficiency, one needed an innate affinity for Earth Release ninjutsu.

For someone like Houka, who could only use Earth Release ninjutsu through chakra nature transformation, even if he mastered them, he would never be able to unleash their full power.

But Houka was not worried in the slightest.

The two massive bronze hammers wielded by his Susanoo were already astonishingly heavy. With the added boost of the Weighted Rock Technique or Ultra-Weighted Rock Technique, bringing them down would be like dropping two mountains. Who could possibly withstand that?

And while Houka was in seclusion, news of his defection from Konoha finally reached the Land of Snow.

By the fireplace indoors, Obito, Shisui, Haku, and Natsuhi and Hotarubi had gathered together.

"What the hell is Houka doing? He actually tried to assassinate Lord Hokage—that bastard!" Upon hearing the news, Obito was utterly dumbfounded, chilled to the bone.

He wanted nothing more than to storm up to Houka and demand to know why he had done it!

"Lord Hokage was a very kind old man." Haku hesitated for a