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A green-white lotus, forged like polished jade, crystalline and dazzlingly brilliant.
Beneath its beautiful exterior lurked a power that even Ōnoki feared.
For Deidara, standing so close to Heshu, that energy was even more palpable.
Deidara's eyes went wide. He stared, unblinking, at the lotus spinning in Heshu's palm.
As it rotated, violent shockwaves rippled outward from Heshu.
"Watch closely," Heshu said. "This is an explosion."
He flicked it.
The spinning lotus vanished into a blur—a streak of light that shot forth like lightning.
Its target was the vast expanse of rocky cliffs beyond Iwagakure's walls.
A green whirlwind howled. A gale screamed. The force knocked dozens of Iwa-nin off their feet.
Deidara looked up, stunned. In the distance, a storm that seemed to bridge heaven and earth instantly tore the landscape apart.
BOOM!
The deafening blast shattered the air.
The roar shook the sky. An apocalyptic wave of energy erupted from the lotus's point of impact, devouring everything within hundreds of meters in an instant.
Ōnoki's pupils contracted. Shock was written all over his face.
Morning mist churned in the distance.
The phantom image of a colossal green-white lotus hung in the air, rotating slowly.
Its appearance was beautiful. The energy it released was pure annihilation.
"See it clearly now?" Heshu looked at Deidara.
Buddha's Fury Flame Lotus, a skill from Battle Through the Heavens' protagonist Xiao Yan, was the perfect tool to dazzle an explosion-obsessed kid like Deidara. He'd gotten it from that 60-point fusion using Sasori and Yugito's affection. Never had a chance to use it until now. Perfect timing.
"So strong!" Deidara's large eyes shone with manic excitement. "That was—that was incredible!"
[Ding! Target Deidara Affection +50!]
"Art is an explosion," Heshu said, his words deliberate. "Instantaneous art brings the most profound shock. Your Explosion Release is the same. It possesses the innate conditions for perfect, instant art. Don't waste that gift."
[Ding! Target Deidara Affection +60!]
[Ding! Target Deidara Affection +70!]
[Ding! Target Deidara Affection +80!]
"Hokage-sama!" Deidara lunged forward, grabbing Heshu's robe. "Can I… can I achieve something like that too?"
"…"
Well.
How to put it?
Deidara might never make a Buddha's Fury Flame Lotus. But he could make a star. A really, really big one.
Heshu decided not to crush the kid's spirit. "Of course. You'll undoubtedly become a tremendously powerful Explosion Release shinobi."
[Ding! Target Deidara Affection +90!]
"I'm going to become a shinobi as strong as you, Hokage-sama!" Deidara exclaimed, vibrating with excitement.
Ōnoki finally caught the weirdness in the air.
Wait. What?
Deidara was his student. Why was his goal suddenly to be like the Hokage? Where did that leave his face as Tsuchikage?
"I believe in you," Heshu said, gently correcting him. "But you are the Tsuchikage's disciple. Your goal should still be to become Tsuchikage yourself one day."
Ōnoki nodded. That's more like it!
Deidara frowned. He wasn't really interested in being Tsuchikage. He just wanted to blow things up. But… the Hokage seemed to want him to become Tsuchikage. And the Hokage had just unleashed that explosion.
He could do it. Tsuchikage? Fine. He'd do it!
Deidara clenched his fist. He wouldn't disappoint the Hokage! The Hokage was the one who taught him about art and explosion!
[Ding! Target Deidara Affection +95!]
"…"
A subtle smile touched Heshu's lips. Excellent. Kids were so easy. Explosion-obsessed kids were even easier.
Watching the newfound determination blaze in Deidara's eyes, Ōnoki felt a complex mix of emotions. He'd spent so long trying to light a fire under the boy, with little success. A few words from the Hokage, and suddenly Deidara was thinking about his future. A bittersweet, proud feeling swelled in the old man's chest. Of all Iwa's shinobi, Deidara had the most raw talent. Seeing him finally apply himself was… moving.
Ōnoki conveniently forgot Deidara's fundamental nature.
"Hokage, rest for a few days," Ōnoki said, pulling his newly motivated disciple back. "We will sign the treaty in two days."
Heshu nodded. "Agreed."
Their accommodations were a spacious, well-appointed house. Ōnoki couldn't afford to be criticized on hospitality. Their daily needs were met impeccably.
"Go on, all of you," Heshu said to his entourage. "Enjoy yourselves. It's a paid vacation. Don't be so tense."
Masako looked at him like he'd grown a second head. "Hokage-sama, this is Iwagakure!"
How could they possibly relax? Protecting him was their only job!
"Relax. Nothing will happen. Go play." Heshu was here to enjoy the experience. The only one suffering was poor Nara Sōsai, stuck handling all the work back in Konoha.
"Let's all go out together," Shisui suggested with a smile. "Wouldn't you like to see the village, Hokage-sama?"
Heshu thought for a moment, then nodded. Maybe that would make them feel more secure.
Masako: "…"
It did not.
Winter days were short. Electric lights and red paper lanterns lit the streets as dusk fell early.
Heshu had changed out of his Hokage robes and removed his Konoha headband. He walked freely through the streets with Shisui and the others.
"Ah, this is nice. I'll buy it for Naruto."
"Oh, this looks fun. For Naruto."
"Haha, this is interesting. Naruto would like this."
"Hm? Icha Icha Paradise? Kakashi!"
Heshu picked up the book and tossed it to Kakashi.
Kakashi caught it, glanced at the cover, and flushed red. Damn, Iwa is bold. That cover is… something else. He stealthily tucked the book into his weapons pouch.
"…"
Shisui's smile froze, his understanding of Icha Icha Paradise's content all too clear. He was convinced Kakashi was solely responsible for corrupting Heshu's formerly pure mind.
As Heshu turned, he suddenly paused.
"Heshu? What is it?" Shisui asked, catching the reaction.
Heshu shook his head, but his peripheral vision had caught a flash of black and red cloth.
The Akatsuki? In Iwagakure?
Looks like he needed to switch to a side account and gather some intel.
His thoughts raced, killing any remaining desire to shop. The others naturally followed his lead back to the house.
Once in his room, Heshu shifted his consciousness to Hanataki, currently… elsewhere.
?
Taking in his surroundings through Hanataki's eyes, Heshu's heart sank. He'd only looked away for a short while, and Hanataki was no longer in Amegakure.
"Hanataki. What do you think of this puppet?"
A massive puppet dominated his field of view.
"…"
Heshu gave the puppet a once-over. "Looks good. Impressive. Niubi."
[Ding! Target Sasori Affection +100!]
"…"
Heshu suddenly found his patience for Sasori renewed.
"Hanataki. What does 'niubi' mean?" Sasori was clearly pleased by the approval, but the last word was outside his vocabulary.
"…"
Heshu was silent. How to explain this?
"Niubi… is the highest level of 'awesome'," Heshu said, inspiration striking.
"I see!" Sasori nodded in profound understanding, then turned to Heshu. "Hanataki, you also have niubi."
Heshu stared, speechless.
"Wh-what?"
Sasori repeated, sincerely. "Hanataki, you also have niubi."
A murderous intent began to simmer in Heshu. If only Sasori had added a single word—'are'—between 'have' and 'niubi', he wouldn't be this enraged.
"Sasori, I do not have niubi. But you do."
Sasori accepted the praise with grace. Hanataki must truly appreciate his art to say such a thing.
"We go to find the Five-Tails," Sasori declared. Once they captured it, he and Hanataki could work on perfecting the puppet together. Then Hanataki would surely think he had even more niubi.
Heshu instantly understood why he was near Iwagakure.
"We're in Iwa anyway. Let's look around first," Heshu suggested.
Sasori hesitated slightly. He wanted to complete the mission quickly, but he also didn't want to dampen Hanataki's mood.
"Fine."
For the next two days, Heshu dragged Sasori around Iwagakure, killing time until the peace treaty signing.
Ōnoki would definitely pull something during the signing. That's when Heshu, controlling his clone with Sasori, would move to capture the tailed beast and completely wreck the old man's plans.
Having a clone was so convenient.
The day of the signing arrived quickly.
In the villa, Heshu straightened his Hokage robes and fixed his hat.
"Let's go."
The weather was unusually clear. The air smelled of winter sun. Patches of thin snow on the roadside had begun to melt.
"Hokage-sama, be extra careful today," Masako warned from behind him, her eyes scanning the area like twin radar dishes. "Something might happen."
"…"
Heshu didn't know how to soothe her hyper-vigilance.
"What's there to fear? Shisui and I are here!" Jurī declared, standing tall beside Heshu. "We won't let anything happen to you!"
Heshu looked at Jurī's determined face, then at Shisui's smiling one beside him.
Today's a good day. Let's give Jurī a little… eye-opening experience.
Ōnoki hadn't chosen his office, a meeting room, or a reception hall for the signing.
He'd chosen Iwagakure's massive training grounds.
"…"
Wow. Could you be any more obvious?
Ōnoki was already floating in the air, waiting.
"The Hokage arrives early," Ōnoki said, his red nose twitching, voice dripping with sarcasm. He'd been here for two hours, freezing, and hadn't seen hide nor hair of the Hokage. Even a schemer like him couldn't help but complain.
"?"
Heshu looked at him, genuinely puzzled. "You never gave me a specific time, Tsuchikage."
It wasn't even that late. Heshu glanced up at the sun.
"Hokage-sama," Masako whispered, leaning close. "It's eleven o'clock."
"Nani?"
Heshu blinked. Right. The sun rose late here in the Land of Earth.
"Ah. Let's proceed," Heshu said, changing the subject. He looked at Ōnoki with concern. "Look at you, old man, frozen stiff!"
"…"
Ōnoki's fist itched. This was the first person he'd met more infuriating than Deidara on a bad day.
But soon, Tsukimi Heshu wouldn't be so smug.
A dark glint flashed in Ōnoki's eyes. He rubbed his hands together, a sinister gesture.
"Still that cold?" Heshu asked, noticing the friction. "Tsuchikage, when you get to a certain age, you can't be stubborn. You need to dress warmly." His gaze landed accusingly on Ōnoki's exposed ankles. "Chasing after young people's fashion trends like this… tsk tsk."
"…"
Ōnoki wobbled slightly in the air.
"Tsuchikage-sama?" Two Iwa-nin behind him moved forward in concern.
Ōnoki swallowed the old blood rising in his throat.
They entered the training grounds. The tiered stone steps were packed—not just with shinobi, but with civilians.
Heshu and Ōnoki took their places on the central platform.
"Today," Ōnoki announced, his voice booming across the grounds, "is the day Iwagakure and Konohagakure sign a treaty of peace!" His tone was full of gravitas. "We end the war! We bring long-awaited peace to our peoples!"
He paused for dramatic effect.
"I have already signed the peace accord!" He held up a scroll. "Now, the Hokage will add his signature!"
Ōnoki began to clap. A genuine, cunning smile finally broke through his frostbitten face.
Seeing that sly grin, Heshu knew the old man's plot was in motion. He looked at the scroll waiting for his signature. A flicker of amusement passed through his eyes.
Just as expected. The scroll had been swapped.
This version stated that, aside from a ten-year non-aggression pact, Konoha would cede one-tenth of its missions to Iwa and provide various material supplies.
"I can see the Tsuchikage has put great… sincerity into this treaty," Heshu said, smiling at Ōnoki.
Ōnoki, who was waiting for an outburst, was taken aback. This wasn't the reaction he'd anticipated. Heshu should be ripping the scroll apart in rage!
Then he remembered Heshu's nickname. The Shinobi World Spy. His composure was indeed extraordinary.
As Ōnoki's mind raced, Heshu continued:
"To have the shamelessness to add so many conditions… your sincerity is truly touching, Tsuchikage. After all, not everyone is willing to throw their dignity away for a few extra missions and supplies."
Heshu's tone was full of admiration.
"Pfft—!"
Ōnoki, who hadn't been verbally eviscerated like this since Madara Uchiha, nearly choked on his own fury.
"Tsukimi Heshu! You call yourself a Kage! To insult me so!" Ōnoki sputtered, feigning righteous indignation. "I, Ōnoki, invited you here in good faith for peace! You not only renege at the last moment, you insult me! You have exposed your true desire to scorn peace and reignite war! I can bear this insult, but the peace of the shinobi world cannot be broken! Therefore, I will—"
"You'll 'uphold justice' and eliminate me, this enemy of peace," Heshu finished for him.
"Er—" Thrown off by the stolen line, Ōnoki recovered quickly. "Exactly! So you still possess a shred of conscience!"
"It's too much!"
"The Hokage is that kind of person?"
"Unbelievable!"
"He wants to start a war!"
"He's a criminal against peace!"
"Someone like him only brings harm to the world!"
Under the deliberate prodding of certain Iwa-nin, angry shouts and curses began to rise from the crowd of civilians.
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