Iwagakure was a stony village. Literally. Every building was made of Earth and stone. The shinobi were rigid as if in war. The civilians were livelier. The Sandaime Tsuchikage, Ohnoki, had been the Kage since the time of Sarutobi Hiruzen and was still the Kage, like him. He was also the pupil of his Shodai and Nidaime Kages. However, he was too stubborn to pick a Yondaime.
The duo tried to stay in everyone's good books till they met the Tsuchikage. They had met his granddaughter. Kurotsuchi and her friend Akatsuchi were an interesting pair. Akatsuchi was a giant of man and the helping hand of the short old Tsuchikage. He had a cheerful personality and positive attitude. Kurotsuchi was a hot tempered but talented girl, with short black hair reaching her shoulders and equally black eyes. She had initially disliked the blonde, but after a few encounters, they became acquaintances before becoming friends.
Kurotsuchi had been taught indirectly, like other shinobi of her age, to despise Konoha, especially the Yellow Flash. But Naruto's conversations led her to rethink, causing her peers to do the same. Eventually, Kurotsuchi made Naruto meet her grandfather, who was not at all impressed by the blonde shinobi. Kurotsuchi reassured her guest that the old geezer was a war veteran with back aches that was too senile to be impressed. Ohnoki had been outraged at that accusation but ended up with a back ache anyway.
After a short conversation, Ohnoki found himself meeting Naruto often and discussing many things with her, mostly diplomacy and politics.
Ohnoki was pleasantly surprised and happy to have met someone who understood where his logic and decisions came from. Naruto had comprehended his thinking and tried to correct him in topics that have undergone change, from fashion to shinobi training, as gently as possible without angering the old man. Then came the topic of hating a certain Namikaze.
"You know, Naruto?" Ohnoki had said one day, "I love my village and have gone through three great wars and many minor ones. I feel that as long as I'm alive, it is my duty to protect Iwa. That is the Will of Stone Shodai Tsuchikage had talked about. When Namikaze had killed so many of my people, my children, the people were devastated. But none of them more so than I. I hate him. Every time I think of hating him, there is a bitter feeling in me, making me hate him more." Ohnoki looked down, his hand trembling in rage.
They sat in silence for a while before Naruto spoke.
"Tsuchikage-sama, please do as I say for now. Just forget about Namikaze or Konoha. Forget about the village, for now." Tsuchikage raised a stubborn brow but relented after a while. "Now, imagine this situation. Kiri has declared a war all of a sudden. Or maybe not. But there was war for many years, so long a time that no one exactly remembered what strife in a meeting had caused it. Then, one day, on a border that was crucial for Iwagakure, you had to send only around 10 shinobi due to lack of manpower that had been sent to other places. You have sent your son Kitsuchi-san to that border since you had faith in his skills.
The enemy, knowing how important the border is for your village, have gathered in large numbers to subdue any troop patrolling the area. Then what would your shinobi do? Use every jutsu in their arsenal to kill and stop as many shinobi as possible. Kitsuchi-san has great skill and was capable of taking down hundreds of shinobi with his Doton techniques. He would return home a hero. What would Kiri think? What should Kiri think?"
"Well, the Mist shinobi should see that we only did what we could protect our village, our home, our people."
"What if Kiri thought of vengeance for killing hundreds of their shinobi?"
"I would think they are foolish for not understanding, but..." Ohnoki fell deep in thought. Naruto looked at him in anticipation. She knew he had realised what she was trying to convey, but didn't know how he would react. He was taking too long. It had been 10 minutes, but it seemed much longer than that.
"The Kiiroi Senkō (Yellow Flash) must've done that to save his village. But that doesn't mean he had to kill so many of my shinobi. I get it that he loves his homeland as much as I do, but still..." he choked on his tears that he held back.
"Tsuchikage-sama, I'm not asking you to forgive him immediately. I'm just trying to make you see where he was coming from. Whether you forgive him or not, Konoha shouldn't be affected by actions that were of his free will. It was in the moment of desperation. The moment when a shinobi becomes a killing machine that does anything to protect what he loves. You should know that more than anyone." Naruto said softly.
Ohnoki laughed. "Child, you are naive, but maybe not as much as one of your age should be. You are as good as a maturing adult. You have seen a lot, but still have more to see. I am not ready to forgive Namikaze yet, maybe in the future. I am not as kind as you."
Naruto smiled before giving a thoughtful look. "If you don't mind me asking, but I've had a thought bugging me since I entered this land. I've met many Iwa shinobi and they asked me strange things. If the Yellow Flash were to have a family, and I stress on if, what would be your approach towards them? Konoha is just a village, but his family?"
Ohnoki thought for a moment before shaking his head, chuckling. "Revenge-driven people try and harm them. But I should know better. His family shouldn't be held responsible for actions done on his own will. Now, will I be correct to boldly assume that you are the child of the Yellow Flash?"
"Yes, you will be." Naruto admitted. "Do not be concerned for the safety of your life. You have opened my eyes, and probably those of my granddaughter and her friends too. I shall work on both reducing the unnecessary hatred in the village and forgiving Namikaze. After getting to know you, I couldn't possibly hate you, even if I wanted to." Naruto gave a soft smile. "Thank you very much, Tsuchikage-sama."
.
Naruto developed her Earth release chakra, the only element she lacked. Her friends in Iwagakure helped her strengthen it while teaching her some Earth Release Techniques.
When she had to leave with her Sensei, Kurotsuchi hugged her ('No romance, you idiots!' Kurotsuchi yelled at her friends later. 'He is a friend, and perhaps a brother if we got to know each other longer.' She smiled fondly.) and warned her never to forget her. Akatsuchi, being the emotional guy, had almost shed tears, only to be reprimanded by the Tsuchikage for being too soft. Ohnoki simply put a hand on Naruto's shoulder and said, "Thank you, Naruto. You've helped me get back my forsaken self I had lost since meeting Uchiha Madara during the first Iwa-Konoha negotations. Remember, you have an ally in me, in Iwa. Continue on your path. Keep on growing, but never waver. Never let the Will of Stone in you die."
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Many more happy returns of the day to the man with the Strongest Will of Stone
✨🎉🎁🎂Happy Birthday Ohnoki🎂🎁🎉✨
(October 8th)
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Did I say the chapter ended? Oh I'm sorry! Scroll down for more...
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They were travelling back to Uzu no Kuni when they noticed a disturbance. On investigating further, they had found a hideout and its owner guarding it. "It's been a long time, Jiraiya, Naruto-kun."
Naruto replied, "Yes it has, Orochimaru-san."
To those who are confused with the timeline since the beginning of Naruto's travels:
Naruto had set off with Jiraiya around May- She was 14+ years old.
They had travelled to the Lands of Wave, Spring, Snow, etc., for 6 months- Her 15th birthday having passed.
4 months were spent in Uzu no Kuni- Age-15+ years
5 months were spent in Mizu no Kuni- Age-15+ years
5 months were spent in Kaminari no Kuni- Her 16th birthday having passed. Also, having met and deceived Uchiha Itachi.
2 months were spent in other villages, meeting Fuu and Utakata, Land of Iron- Age-16+ years
5 months were spent in Iwagakure- Age-16+ years.
There are 9 more months left for her 3-year trip to complete.
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