Chapter 116: Ōnoki of Both Scales
The Land of Waves, a coastal town.
Kitsuchi knelt respectfully on the ground, his expression grave as he looked ahead at the short, white-haired elderly man.
Notably, the diminutive old man had his hands clasped behind his back, his toes barely touching the ground as he maintained a floating state while admiring the surging ocean waves.
"How are the boats I asked you to prepare?" the old man inquired calmly without turning around.
"The ships are ready, and we've notified Kirigakure in advance as instructed." Kitsuchi finished his report, then hesitated before gritting his teeth. "Forgive my bluntness, Lord Tsuchikage, but you shouldn't have come personally. If this turns out to be a trap and Konoha and Kirigakure have secretly formed an alliance, the danger would be far too great!"
"Who do you think I am?"
The short old man slowly turned around, a hint of pride appearing in his eyes. "I am Ōnoki of Both Scales!"
The diminutive old man floating effortlessly in mid-air was none other than the Third Tsuchikage of Iwagakure—Ōnoki of Both Scales!
Born before the end of the Warring States period and now over sixty years old, he was practically a living legend in the shinobi world.
When mentioning Ōnoki of Both Scales, the first reactions from other Kage were: cunning, treacherous, calculating, and ruthless!
But beyond those qualities, what proved even more terrifying was Iwagakure's unique Kekkei Tōta technique—Dust Release!—a jutsu renowned for surpassing even Kekkei Genkai!
Ōnoki's mastery of Dust Release was even more refined and deadly than that of his predecessor, the Second Tsuchikage!
Furthermore, he was one of the exceedingly rare shinobi capable of sustained flight, granting him an overwhelming tactical advantage over ground-based opponents.
Even the Third Raikage—widely considered one of the strongest shinobi alive—had to exercise extreme caution when facing Ōnoki.
"What could a mere Mizukage and Hokage possibly accomplish even if they joined forces?"
Ōnoki crossed his arms arrogantly, his tone dripping with disdain. "In my eyes, they're nothing more than inexperienced children playing at war."
Seeing that he couldn't dissuade his leader, Kitsuchi could only give up helplessly. "Yes, Lord Tsuchikage. But please exercise extreme caution. You are the pillar supporting all of Iwagakure."
"I know, I know."
Ōnoki waved his hand dismissively with visible impatience. "Don't disturb my ocean viewing. Tell the boat captain we're departing tomorrow at first light!"
"Yes, Lord Tsuchikage!"
Kitsuchi slowly rose to his feet and respectfully withdrew.
Watching the brilliant sunset slowly sink below the distant horizon, Ōnoki felt genuinely satisfied. "What a magnificent sight. Such beauty can only be witnessed in the Land of Water."
Thinking of the Land of Earth with its endless rocky mountains and barren plateaus—scenery he'd grown utterly tired of over the decades—how could it possibly compare to the Land of Water's natural splendor?
Unfortunately, even the most breathtaking scenery could only be appreciated for fleeting moments. Ōnoki sighed softly, clasped his hands behind his back, and slowly levitated back toward his lodgings. He planned to stay near the coast tonight—firstly to enjoy the nighttime ocean view, and secondly to save time tomorrow since he could depart directly for the Land of Water from this location.
Returning to his room, Ōnoki glanced around and nodded with approval. "Kitsuchi found an excellent place. Very clean and well-maintained."
Just then, a tarnished yellowish oil lamp carelessly tossed in a corner among various discarded items caught his attention. He felt inexplicably drawn toward it.
Picking up the ancient oil lamp, its surface heavily covered in rust and oxidation, he could vaguely discern some obscure symbols engraved along its body. However, they were almost completely obscured by corrosion, making them impossible to read clearly.
Ōnoki, who had cultivated a longtime hobby of collecting historical artifacts, felt immediately intrigued. "This object is quite interesting. It must be at least a century old. Fascinating."
Finding the oil lamp genuinely captivating, he casually placed it on the nearby table.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, the oil lamp ignited inexplicably without any external stimulus!
A pale bluish flame flickered to life inside, casting an eerie, otherworldly glow throughout the room.
Ōnoki felt an overwhelming wave of drowsiness wash over him. He rubbed his eyes wearily. "Strange... I'm feeling unusually tired today."
Overwhelmed by the unexpected sleepiness, he shook his head, attributing it to simple old age, and decided to lie down on the bed for a brief rest.
The moment he closed his eyes, profound darkness swept over his consciousness like a crashing wave.
A black mist seemed to permeate his dreams, surging like an unstoppable tide. Faintly visible stars twinkled within the void, accompanied by incomprehensible murmurs that seemed simultaneously real and illusory.
Ōnoki felt his thoughts drifting weightlessly, like untethered balloons floating across a vast, endless ocean.
When Ōnoki finally regained full consciousness, he found himself standing inside an impossibly massive cathedral.
The magnificent church was constructed entirely from countless bleached bones. Innumerable skulls adorned the domed ceiling, their empty eye sockets staring blankly downward. Twisted, agonized faces protruded from the stained glass windows set into the walls, struggling desperately as if attempting to break through into the interior.
Directly ahead stood an ancient, weathered bronze table. Seated opposite him was a figure shrouded in radiant, shifting light—appearing to be composed of countless overlapping silhouettes layered upon one another.
Behind this mysterious figure loomed a massive cross constructed entirely from white bones, exuding an indescribably ominous presence.
This bizarre, nightmarish scene instantly sent genuine chills racing down Ōnoki's spine. He lowered his voice warily, demanding: "Who are you?!"
For reasons he couldn't fully comprehend, he felt profound, instinctive fear when facing this radiant figure of countless overlapping forms. He instinctively averted his gaze, as if his very soul were warning him: Do not look directly at it!
"I am merely a 'spectator' witnessing the unfolding of both history and the future."
Uchiha Kazuki stated casually, leaning back comfortably in his chair with his hands clasped loosely in his lap, his tone relaxed and almost conversational.
His spiritual vision activated silently, allowing him to observe the deeper astral layers through Ōnoki's spiritual body.
The colors within the Tsuchikage's spirit were deep and turbulent, occasionally flashing with conflicting emotions—tension, confusion, and unmistakable fear.
The fear wasn't particularly surprising.
After all, this 'Cathedral of Bones' constructed within Ōnoki's dream—while not a genuine divine realm—possessed a certain supernatural allure and psychological weight.
Even a legendary Kage-level shinobi like Ōnoki would naturally experience fear upon first encountering something so thoroughly beyond normal comprehension.
"Spectator..." Ōnoki frowned deeply, repeatedly contemplating that specific word. He felt instinctively that this 'spectator' wasn't as simple as the common definition suggested, but rather carried some much deeper, more significant meaning.
The experienced and cunning Tsuchikage quietly attempted to escape from this mysterious space.
But he quickly discovered with growing alarm that this wasn't a conventional genjutsu environment—he couldn't break free by disrupting his chakra flow!
Realizing the genuine severity of his situation, Ōnoki's vigilance increased dramatically. However, out of habitual caution, he decided against taking rash action before determining the entity's true identity and power level. Remaining calm and adaptable represented the wisest course of action.
Ōnoki carefully considered his tone and, after considerable deliberation, asked again with forced politeness: "Your Excellency... what are your intentions in bringing me to this place?"
"You seem to have fundamentally misunderstood something, Ōnoki of Both Scales."
Uchiha Kazuki spoke calmly and with complete indifference. "It wasn't 'I' who brought 'you' here. Rather, it was mysterious destiny itself that guided you to 'intrude' upon my divine realm."
[End of Chapter 116]
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