"We're here!"
With the speed of Didaze's giant clay bird, the two soon arrived at Iwagakure.
"Who goes there!"
Seeing the giant bird flying overhead, the guards went on full alert. They had never seen anything like it.
They now suspected that the giant bird flying above them was a creation of an enemy ninja village.
"Everyone, take defensive positions!"
The guard captain at the gate gave the order.
"Don't stop them. Let them in!"
A voice rang out. The guard captain looked over and saw none other than Ōnoki's secretary, Kōdo.
"Yes, Lord Kōdo!"
Hearing Kōdo say this, the ninja no longer stopped Didaze. After all, Kōdo must have received Ōnoki's instructions to say that.
Everyone knew that Kōdo was Ōnoki's chief secretary.
Meanwhile, the giant bird in the sky began to descend.
Soon, the giant bird landed on the ground.
Didaze was not so arrogant that he insisted on flying over Iwagakure.
"Oh, it's Captain Didaze!"
The guard captain at the gate let out a sigh of relief. He knew Didaze, too.
The guard captain had to recognize every ninja ranked Special Jōnin or above. After all, if he could not even do that, there was no point in serving as captain.
"Please come in, Captain Didaze!"
The guard captain opened Iwagakure's gates and gestured for Didaze to enter.
"Thank you!"
After offering his thanks politely, Didaze entered Iwagakure with the Anbu.
"Didaze, come with me!"
Kōdo called out to Didaze, gesturing for him to follow.
"You can go back and report!"
Looking at the Anbu, Kōdo spoke again.
"Yes, Lord Kōdo!"
The Anbu bowed slightly, then quickly disappeared.
Following Kōdo, Didaze soon arrived at the Tsuchikage Building.
"Here we are. Let's go!"
Kōdo stepped into the Tsuchikage Building, and Didaze followed.
Didaze felt somewhat nervous.
After all, this was his first time meeting Ōnoki. Apart from once hearing Ōnoki give a speech about the Will of Stone at the Ninja Academy, the original owner of his body had never met Ōnoki alone.
Knock, knock, knock!
"Come in!"
Kōdo knocked on the door to the Tsuchikage's office, then opened it and entered after receiving a reply.
"So you're Didaze?"
Ōnoki looked at the blond young man, his eyes filled with admiration.
"Yes, Lord Tsuchikage. I'm Didaze!"
Didaze bowed as he spoke.
"You're very talented. You fought well in that battle at the border!"
Ōnoki praised Didaze with a smile.
He had already read Didaze's file: his parents had died on a mission, leaving him an orphan. He had graduated in Year 36, then spent two years in a Genin squad with his teammates, Dogen and Kafurin.
Afterward, Didaze and Dogen were promoted to Chunin. Another two years later, they were promoted to Special Jōnin and assigned to the border together as squad captains.
That was Didaze's file.
He was a true-born Iwagakure ninja with a spotless background, and Ōnoki was very pleased.
"I wouldn't dare claim that. Everyone is simply too generous with their praise."
Didaze would not let a few words of praise from Ōnoki go to his head, and he spoke.
"All right, I didn't call you here today just to praise you. There's something else I mainly wanted to discuss."
Old and shrewd, Ōnoki could tell at a glance that although Didaze remained outwardly composed, he still could not hide his delight underneath.
"Please tell me, Lord Tsuchikage. As long as it's within my power, I won't refuse!"
Didaze spoke.
"How did you develop this Explosion Release of yours? Could you let others with Explosion Release learn it?"
"Of course, I know this is ninjutsu you created, and I won't take it for nothing. I'll give you the opportunity to learn the Added-Weight Rock Technique, the Light-Weight Rock Technique, and even Dust Release."
Ōnoki spoke.
Honestly, Ōnoki's offer could be considered extremely generous.
The Added-Weight Rock Technique and the Light-Weight Rock Technique were two skills essentially exclusive to the Tsuchikage, while Dust Release was the Tsuchikage's hallmark.
It could be said that as long as Didaze learned Dust Release, he would certainly be the next Tsuchikage.
"Lord Tsuchikage, it's not that I don't want to teach others. The main issue is that controlling Explosion Release is far too difficult to get a handle on. I'm going by feel myself."
"And long-range Explosion Release is extremely dangerous. The slightest lapse in control could make it explode right on your own body."
Didaze gave a bitter laugh.
If he could precisely work out the appropriate proportions, he would certainly teach it.
After all, Dust Release, the Added-Weight Rock Technique, and the Light-Weight Rock Technique were very tempting.
But he had not figured it out himself yet. Right now, he was just going by feel, so how could he teach anyone else?
"Is that so?"
Ōnoki spoke.
He had thought everyone could learn Didaze's long-range Explosion Release. Just moments ago, he had already been imagining the entire Explosion Release Corps fighting at range.
After all, although the Explosion Release Corps had only eight members, every one of them was a Jonin. If they all learned Didaze's long-range Explosion Release, even a Kage Level powerhouse would struggle to escape unscathed.
But Didaze's words were like a bucket of cold water thrown over Ōnoki.
"It's fine. We can discuss it once you've worked it out!"
Ōnoki composed himself and looked at Didaze.
Although Didaze said it was difficult to learn, he himself already knew how to do it. Besides, someone as talented as Didaze would certainly have no problem succeeding him as Tsuchikage in the future.
"Didaze, go to the battlefield. As long as you make a great enough name for yourself in this war, I'll teach you the Added-Weight Rock Technique, the Light-Weight Rock Technique, and Dust Release!"
Ōnoki merely wanted an excuse to teach Didaze Dust Release. After all, with Didaze's talent, there should be a very strong chance that he could learn it.
His own son, Kitsuchi, could not learn Dust Release and could only study Earth Release, which also left Ōnoki feeling helpless.
"Dust Release is formed by combining earth-, wind-, and fire-nature chakra. You currently have earth and fire, so you'll need to develop wind-nature chakra next."
Ōnoki gave Didaze a reminder.
"Yes, Lord Tsuchikage. I understand!"
Didaze bowed as he spoke.
"Good, as long as you understand. I'll have Kōdo take you to the battlefield afterward. Remember, your life matters most. It doesn't matter even if we lose the war. You must protect yourself!"
Ōnoki floated up and patted Didaze on the shoulder in encouragement.
He had originally been considering passing the position of Tsuchikage to Kitsuchi if there was no other choice. Although Kitsuchi's aptitude was not particularly good by Kage Level standards, he could only pick the best of a mediocre bunch.
"Yes!"
Didaze felt the deep concern in Ōnoki's words.
"All right, Kōdo, take him to the battlefield!"
Ōnoki waved his hand, signaling for Kōdo to take Didaze to the battlefield.
"As for you, Kōdo, stay on the battlefield as well. I'll handle Iwagakure's affairs myself from now on. I have only one requirement for you: protect Didaze!"
Ōnoki said.
Kōdo possessed the Steel Release Kekkei Genkai. Steel Release could strengthen his body until it was indestructible, making it ideally suited to protecting others.
Although Kōdo normally served as a secretary in name, he was actually also Ōnoki's bodyguard, using his body to protect Ōnoki when necessary.