"Sun!"
"Can you still hear me?"
Old Purple sped through the night, his usually meticulous purple monk's robes somewhat disheveled. He freed one hand to press tightly against his lower abdomen, constantly calling out to the Four-Tails within the sealed space mentally.
No matter how Old Purple tried, even slapping the sealing spot on his stomach, his calls were like stones sinking into the sea, receiving no response from the Four-Tails.
Old Purple's heart sank to the bottom.
He hadn't expected that Konoha ninja, Kong Chen, would possess such terrifying mastery of sealing jutsu. With just a never-before-heard Five Elements Seal, he had completely severed Old Purple's connection with the Four-Tails within him.
While he could still use the abilities of his Lava Release Kekkei Genkai, that was a power etched into his bloodline from years of coexistence with the Four-Tails and the influence of its Lava Release chakra. Compared to the destructive power unleashed when cooperating with the Four-Tails, it was pitifully weak.
Now, Old Purple had transformed from a powerful Jinchuriki comparable to the Five Kage into an ordinary ninja who could only barely maintain Elite Jonin strength through his singular Kekkei Genkai.
"Damn him!"
Old Purple cursed with a grim expression, his running speed increasing.
"I must return to the village as quickly as possible and see how Onoki plans to handle this."
...
Iwagakure.
In a secluded corner of the village, the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, floated in a dark room covered in sealing runes. Watching the sealing patterns on the young boy's abdomen gradually fade and the Five-Tails show no signs of going berserk, he finally let out a long sigh of relief.
Perhaps it was fatigue from constantly changing Jinchuriki, or perhaps the attempts to break free from the Jinchuriki seal were always suppressed by the Dust Release. In any case, after being sealed into a human body once again, the Five-Tails seemed to have resigned itself, growing quiet within the sealed space.
"After searching for so long, I've finally found a child suitable for sealing the Five-Tails!"
"As for those children who sacrificed their lives for the village..."
Thinking of the children who had died participating in the Tailed Beast sealing plan due to the Five-Tails' lack of cooperation, a trace of sadness appeared on Onoki's ancient face.
"Akatsuchi, you don't need to follow me today."
"You and the ninjas from the sealing unit will guard Han. Report any issues to me immediately."
The plump Akatsuchi grinned sheepishly and patted his chest.
"Lord Tsuchikage, rest assured, Akatsuchi will be Han's shield alone today!"
Onoki was amused by Akatsuchi's honest expression. He pulled at the corners of his mouth, rose slightly, and firmly patted the shoulder of his most loyal guard.
"Yes!"
"I trust you!"
After once again instructing and encouraging the sealing unit ninjas, Onoki led his son out of the secret room.
"Muu, come with me. I have some things to tell you!"
"Yes, Lord Tsuchikage!"
Onoki glared at his son but didn't dwell on his address in front of others.
As the two walked out of the secret room, following their father, Muu secretly glanced at his father's displeased expression and cautiously asked,
"Father, you said you had something to tell me, I wonder..."
Onoki's floating body stopped in front of Muu. After a moment of silence, he spoke slowly.
"Do those children still have families?"
Muu paused for a moment before understanding his father's question.
"Oh..."
"Replying to Father, those children were all war orphans left from the previous war with Konoha, and they no longer have any close relatives."
"Otherwise, who would be willing to let their child bear the fate of a Jinchuriki..."
Onoki sighed deeply, shaking his head slowly.
"Alas!"
"No wonder those children were willing to become backup Jinchuriki for the Five-Tails. So that's how it is..."
"I have been an incompetent Tsuchikage!"
Muu remained silent.
He dared not comment on his father's behavior, whether it was genuine regret or feigned ignorance.
Despite everything, this person was still the Third Tsuchikage of Iwagakure, and also his father.
Often, a Kage cannot be too merciful.
Onoki was merely reflecting for a moment, not genuinely intending to discuss the experience of being Tsuchikage with his son. He knew that his son did not have the capability to be the Kage of Iwagakure.
While his strength was barely adequate, lacking the Dust Release and possessing only the Earth Release, he couldn't be among the top tier of the Five Great Shinobi Villages.
His intellect was even less to be mentioned.
Just with the question he had posed, Muu needed time to react. With such a mind and reaction speed, if he were to become a village leader, Iwagakure would likely decline.
Secretly lamenting his son's lack of promise, Onoki suddenly remembered the ninja who had appeared during the Five-Tails' rampage.
"Right!"
"Have you found that child I asked you to investigate?"
"His mastery of Earth Release is so profound. Even if he's not suitable to be cultivated as the next Tsuchikage, he shouldn't be an unknown figure in the village."
Muu's expression suddenly turned grim, and he shook his head at his father.
"Father, I'm afraid your plan will fall through!"
Onoki's brow furrowed, and he looked at Muu displeased, ready to scold him for his explanation.
"After receiving your command, I personally led people to search for the ninja who stopped the Five-Tails' rampage."
"But when we found him..."
"His body at home had been cold for a long time..."
Onoki's eyes widened instantly.
"What did you say?"
Muu scratched his head somewhat hesitantly.
"Mmm..."
"On the day he died, a Chunin named Yidan also mysteriously disappeared."
"According to the ninjas guarding the village gate, that Chunin named Yidan said he was on your orders to search for enemy clues outside the village, and then..."
"He never returned!"
"Therefore, I suspect that the ninja who blocked the Five-Tails and that Yidan were spies sent by other villages..."
Onoki's anger surged, and he flew up to slap Muu on the head.
"SPLAT!"
"OW!"
With a crisp sound, the thick-skinned Muu rubbed his slightly numb head and quickly caught his father, who had twisted his waist and fallen from mid-air.
Onoki, clutching his old waist with one hand, slapped Muu again with the other.
"You brat, why didn't you report such important matters sooner?"
"Months have passed, and you're only now telling me that the ninja who saved the village's people might be a spy?"
"Is your head filled with rocks?"
Muu looked wronged, letting his father's affectionate slaps land on his face.
"But your office was burgled at the time, and you were furious."
"I secretly investigated with my men, and when I reported to you, I didn't dare tell you about this matter."
"Later..."
"Later, I forgot about it..."
Onoki was so angered by his foolish son that he nearly suffered a cerebral hemorrhage. He pointed at Muu with trembling fingers, his lips quivering for a long time, almost unleashing a Dust Release to obliterate this brainless fellow.
"Stupid..."
Before Onoki's furious scolding could escape his lips, a Hidden Rock ANBU ninja suddenly appeared, kneeling solemnly before them.
"Lord Tsuchikage, Lord Roshi has returned!"