Iwagakure

The heavy stone door slowly closed behind him with a dull thud.

The Tsuchikage Office was plainer than Jingxin had imagined, yet it carried an unquestionable air of authority.

A large stone desk stood in the center of the room, its surface neatly piled with scrolls and documents.

The Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, sat behind it in a high-backed chair.

The old man was short, but he radiated chakra pressure as heavy as a mountain.

The office's only window was on the east side. Morning light slanted through it, casting a long, narrow shadow across the floor as dust drifted through the beam.

"We haven't had any friction with Konoha in a long time." Ōnoki lifted his eyelids, his cloudy yet sharp gaze pressing down on Jingxin as if it were tangible.

His voice was low and measured, every word carrying the weight of someone who had spent years in a position of power. "What are you doing at the border?"

Jingxin took a document from his backpack and handed it to the Iwa ninja beside him. "You might find this interesting."

He had already been searched when he came in, so the gesture drew no reaction beyond what he had expected.

The Iwa ninja brought the document to Ōnoki.

Ōnoki took the scroll and unrolled it to read.

As he read on, his eyes gradually narrowed.

The scroll recorded the Uchiha Clan Downfall and Jingxin's escape.

When the old man finished reading, he rolled up the scroll and set it on the desk. After a few seconds of silence, he gave a cold laugh.

"Heh... Konoha." He shook his head. "It calls itself the greatest village in the Ninja World, yet it couldn't even keep hold of the sharpest blade in its own village. The Uchiha... what a waste."

Ōnoki looked at Jingxin. "So you've come to join Iwagakure? Why us?"

Jingxin answered calmly. "I considered all the options. Among the major ninja villages, only Iwagakure can provide what I need."

Ōnoki grew interested. "Oh? The Uchiha Clan's reputation shakes the Ninja World. I doubt we're the only ones who'd welcome you. Tell me, what sets us apart?"

Welcome you.

When Ōnoki said those words, Jingxin felt a little reassured.

He explained, "Kazekage Rasa of Sunagakure is in his prime, but Sunagakure is relatively weak and lies close to Konoha. They also have a history of stabbing their allies in the back. As an outsider, I'd probably just be treated as a tool."

"Kumogakure is extremely martial and has an almost fanatical obsession with Kekkei Genkai. It would be a good place to go, but once I grow a little older, if I'm not strong enough, I might be at risk of being treated as a breeding machine."

At that point, he could forget revenge. He'd be lucky just not to be worked to death.

Actually, he wouldn't have minded a little hard work.

The real problem was that people there were a bit dark.

Though there were white ones, too.

But if Jingxin were "picky," wouldn't he get saddled with the shame of being accused of chiseling a pillar to steal books? ~

"Kirigakure is isolated from the outside world, and I'd have to cross the ocean. If I were discovered at sea, there'd be nowhere to run."

In truth, it was because Obito had been spotted in Kirigakure. Going there would be walking right into a trap.

"As for Iwagakure, the Tsuchikage is powerful and experienced. The Land of Earth is quite far from the Land of Fire, making it easier to keep things quiet, and Iwagakure's overall strength is close to Kumogakure's, or even Konoha's."

"Here, the only thing I need to do is earn your trust."

"After all, the Third Shinobi World War ended not long ago, and every nation is recuperating."

"Given my circumstances, whichever major ninja village I went to, they'd suspect I was a spy first."

Ōnoki leaned back in his chair and studied Jingxin carefully.

There was no fear in those black eyes, only analysis carried out with utmost calm.

Every assessment hit the mark, and his understanding of the major ninja villages was far too precise for a Genin who had only just escaped Konoha.

The old man gave an approving nod to himself.

Courage, intelligence, a clear grasp of the situation... these qualities were already far beyond his years.

More impressive still, his analysis objectively laid out the pros and cons. He neither disparaged Iwagakure nor tried to curry favor.

The more Ōnoki looked at this Uchiha survivor, the more he liked him.

Iwagakure needed geniuses—and geniuses with brains, too.

Ōnoki lightly tapped his fingers on the stone tabletop. "You survived the Uchiha Massacre Night and made it all the way to the border of the Land of Earth. That shows you have a clear understanding of how to plan for the future."

"Then why didn't you contact us earlier?"

Jingxin shook his head. "At the time, I was still a Genin of Konoha. Contacting a foreign ninja village before the massacre would have been treason."

A trace of approval flashed through the old man's eyes.

When Ōnoki spoke again, his tone was gentler. "You're right. I'll need to observe you for a while before I can be sure you're not a spy."

"Although the Uchiha were persecuted by Konoha, Itachi Uchiha's actions prove that Konoha's brainwashing methods are not to be underestimated."

"I have to rule out the possibility that you're the same kind of person as Itachi Uchiha."

That was exactly what Jingxin had been waiting to hear.

He took a small metal tube from inside his clothes. "I got hold of a chemical called 'Veritaserum' from the Konoha Research Department. You can have a trusted subordinate test it first, then use it on me."

Ōnoki raised an eyebrow. "Oh? 'Veritaserum'?"

Jingxin handed the tube of liquid to the Iwa ninja beside him, who then passed it to Ōnoki.

Ōnoki summoned an Iwa ninja and ordered him to take the metal tube for testing.

About an hour later, the report came back: its ingredients and effects matched Jingxin's description, but it would cause permanent, irreparable nerve damage.

"There's no need to use the Veritaserum." The old man set down the report and looked at Jingxin. "I can confirm your sincerity another way. There's no need to inflict permanent harm on Iwagakure's young genius."

Jingxin was slightly taken aback.

"Don't be nervous," Ōnoki said, his voice softening. "If you sincerely want to join us, I'll naturally take your interests into consideration. But until this matter is settled, you'll have to follow my arrangements completely."

Jingxin relaxed. "I understand."

Ōnoki said, "In that case, you'll stay at my house for now."

Jingxin nodded.

Ōnoki had the Anbu bring over a registration form.

Jingxin filled in the basic information: Kyoshin Uchiha, seven years old, former Konoha Genin, chakra natures: Fire, Wind, Earth.

Under his history, he wrote only: survivor of the Uchiha Clan Downfall.

After he finished the form, Ōnoki levitated into the air and took Jingxin away from the Tsuchikage Building to a modest stone house.

In the yard, a black-haired girl was practicing the Earth Release: Rock Fist technique, while a tall, broad-shouldered man named Kitsuchi watched over her.

The appearance of Ōnoki and Jingxin caught their attention.

Kitsuchi turned to face Ōnoki. "Father."

Kurotsuchi also stopped training and wiped the sweat from her forehead. "Grandpa!"

Ōnoki pointed to Jingxin and said, "This is Kyoshin Uchiha. He'll be staying with us for the time being, starting today."

The two of them looked Jingxin over.

Kitsuchi: Uchiha? Someone from Konoha?

Kurotsuchi's attention, however, was elsewhere.

His delicate features and calm black eyes drew a few extra glances from her.

Kurotsuchi came over with a playful grin and ruffled Jingxin's hair. "Hiya~ What a pretty little girl."

Jingxin: "?"