Ōnoki

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Ōnoki (大野木)
Alias(es)	Ōnoki of Both Scales 64
Gender	Male 65
Affiliation	Iwagakure; Land of Earth; Two Scales clan 65 86
Occupation/Role	Third Tsuchikage; Deidara’s teacher; secret owner of the black market 65 86
Status	Alive and retired; succeeded by Kurotsuchi, with an agreement that he remain informed of major village matters 86 88
First Appearance	Chapter 64 introduces him as a potential obstacle to the Uchiha’s plans; he appears directly in Chapter 65 64 65

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Dust Release mastery → Third Tsuchikage	88	A retrospective explanation identifies his mastery of Dust Release as the reason he became Tsuchikage. Elder Tu, another disciple of the Second Tsuchikage, failed to master it and remained an elder.

Background / History

Ōnoki studied under Mū, the Second Tsuchikage. He also personally witnessed Uchiha Madara’s terrifying power, an experience that shaped his assessment of the Uchiha clan and later resurfaced when Sasuke displayed a Complete Susanoo 65 86 88.

Ōnoki raised and trained Deidara from childhood, intending him to become the next Tsuchikage. He imposed the standards expected of a future Kage without recognizing how strongly Deidara resented those restrictions. Deidara preferred explosive clay to Dust Release and eventually defected, but Ōnoki continued hoping he would return and inherit the position 65 81 86.

As he aged, Ōnoki became increasingly concerned about Iwagakure’s lack of a capable successor. Deidara’s defection left a gap in the younger generation, while Akatsuki’s growing strength and Konoha’s powerful Uchiha–Hyuga alliance made him fear for the village’s security 65.

Appearance

• Small stature: Kurotsuchi compares his appearance to a little potato, contrasting him with the much larger Kitsuchi 65.
• Beard: His beard bristles when he becomes angry 65 81.
• Age-related back pain: His waist stiffens after paperwork, and movement can be painful enough that he floats instead of walking 65.

Personality

Ōnoki is stubborn, quick-tempered, and openly partial to Deidara. Even after Deidara destroys the Tsuchikage Building, he cannot bring himself to use Dust Release against the child he raised. Kurotsuchi notices that he is secretly happy to have seen his former pupil despite the attack 65.

His resistance to Kurotsuchi’s succession combines concern for Iwagakure’s safety with explicit opposition to a woman becoming Tsuchikage. He continues favoring Deidara despite his defection and objects that Kurotsuchi lacks Dust Release—even though Deidara does not know it either 65 86.

Ōnoki’s political pragmatism contrasts with that bias. He believes Konoha mishandled the Uchiha and says he would grant such a powerful clan authority or even the Kage position if doing so benefited his village. When faced with opponents he cannot defeat, he ultimately retreats or negotiates rather than committing Iwagakure to a hopeless confrontation 65 86.

Abilities & Skills

Dust Release

• Ōnoki mastered Dust Release, distinguishing him from Elder Tu and establishing his qualification to become Tsuchikage 88.
• During Deidara’s bombing raid, he considers using it to completely eliminate Deidara and his clay bird, but holds back out of affection 65.
• Kurotsuchi asks him to teach her the technique as part of her bid to succeed him; he refuses 65.

Light-Weight Rock Technique

• Allows him to rise into the air and move by floating 65.
• He uses it to lift rubble into the air before forming a giant stone fist 65.
• He routinely floats to avoid aggravating his painful waist 65.
• His aerial pursuit fails when Deidara’s clay bird climbs beyond the reach of his attack 65.

Added-Weight Rock Technique and Earth-Style Walls

• He combines Added-Weight Rock Technique with Earth-Style Wall Technique to enclose himself in defensive walls during the Tsuchikage Building’s destruction 65.
• The defense leaves him uninjured, although his body is blackened by the explosion 65.
• He increases the weight of his airborne rubble fist before launching it at Deidara’s bird 65.

Political and Covert Operations

• Ōnoki regularly hires Akatsuki as a mercenary organization 81.
• He secretly owns the black market, whose completed bounties frequently target Konoha and Kumogakure ninja 86.
• He paid thirty million ryō for Sarutobi Asuma’s head and fears that exposure of his ownership could make the Land of Earth the main battlefield of another great war 86.

Relationships

• Mū — Teacher and predecessor as Second Tsuchikage. Ōnoki mastered Dust Release, unlike their fellow disciple Elder Tu 88.
• Deidara — Former pupil and preferred successor. Ōnoki raised him, refuses to kill him during his attack, and later tries to forcibly keep him in Iwagakure 65 81.
• Kitsuchi — Son. Ōnoki asks him to use “Father” at home, but Kitsuchi still answers with his official title 65.
• Kurotsuchi — Granddaughter and eventual successor. He resists her ambition until Sasuke forces him to abdicate in her favor 65 86.
• Muku — Nephew and captain of the Iwagakure Guard’s Third Division. Ōnoki orders him to capture Sasuke after Muku tricks Sasuke into entering Iwagakure 86.
• Sasuke Uchiha — Political opponent who exploits his attachment to Deidara, discovers his black-market secret, and compels his retirement 81 86.
• Pain / Yahiko — Akatsuki leader who opposes his attempt to reclaim Deidara. Their argument ends with Pain devastating half of Iwagakure 81 82.
• Elder Tu — Fellow disciple of Mū. Tu remains an elder because he did not master Dust Release and later challenges Kurotsuchi’s authority while Ōnoki is absent 88.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Diversion During the Land of Grass Campaign

The Uchiha identify Ōnoki as a serious potential obstacle to their attack on the Land of Grass. Sasuke arranges a one-hundred-million-ryō commission for Akatsuki to harass the Land of Earth for three days 64.

Deidara’s raid destroys the Tsuchikage Building. After failing to stop him, Ōnoki orders the ANBU to suppress news of the incident and rebuild the building within three days. The disruption leaves him unwilling to involve himself in the Land of Grass affair, clearing the way for Fugaku’s campaign 65.

Jigen’s Wanted Posters and Pain’s Attack

Ōnoki demands one hundred million ryō to distribute Jigen’s wanted posters across the Land of Earth. Sasuke counters by threatening to spend that money hiring Deidara to bomb the country for ten days. Ōnoki relents, but requires Deidara to visit the Tsuchikage Building, intending to keep him there 81.

Pain accompanies Deidara and refuses to let Ōnoki reclaim him. When Ōnoki disputes Pain’s claim that great nations bully smaller ones, arguing that the great nations also suffer in war, Yahiko reacts with fury. Super Shinra Tensei destroys half the village and kills many residents. Pain is summoned away before Ōnoki can retaliate 81 82.

Forced Abdication

After returning from the past, Sasuke is lured into Iwagakure by Muku. Still furious over Pain’s attack, Ōnoki orders Sasuke captured as leverage for negotiations with Tsunade. Sasuke’s Complete Susanoo immediately reverses the confrontation, leaving Ōnoki pleading for him not to retaliate 86.

Sasuke then uses knowledge of Ōnoki’s black-market ownership and the threat of overwhelming force to demand Kurotsuchi’s appointment. Ōnoki agrees on the condition that he be informed of every major village matter. A week later, he formally abdicates and Kurotsuchi becomes Fourth Tsuchikage 86.

Although Tsunade initially asks whether Ōnoki knows about Kurotsuchi’s proposed peace treaty, Kurotsuchi insists that she is now the Kage. Ōnoki is absent when the elders later challenge her agreement, having chosen to enjoy his retirement 88.

Notable Quotes

“As long as it benefited the village and the country, it did not matter who became Kage.” 65

“You won't even call me Teacher anymore, Deidara?” 81

“Kurotsuchi can become Tsuchikage, but I must be informed of every major matter in the village!” 86