The Hidden Rock Village.
Inside the Tsuchikage Tower.
The Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, dealt with some official business, then stood up, shaking his body to loosen up, and pounded his somewhat stiff back.
The Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, is the oldest ruler in the Ninja World, having participated in three ninja wars and even lived through the era of Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama.
Bam!
The door of the Tsuchikage Office was suddenly pushed open!
Little Kurotsuchi rushed in, her eyes filled with tears of fear: "Big Brother Deidara and Lord Han are in trouble, along with many uncles from the Dark Department; they've all been captured and are hanging in the forest over there!"
"What!"
The Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, was instantly shocked by this news. His old back, which was already uncomfortable, seemed to hurt even more, and he couldn't help but yell out: "Cough cough... my old back..."
"Grandpa!"
Kurotsuchi hurriedly went to support him while he sat down.
"Explain first..."
The Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, pressed his back while trying hard to listen to his granddaughter: "What exactly is the situation over there?"
"Someone kidnapped them..."
Kurotsuchi, still quite young, struggled to articulate what she'd seen: "The uncles from the Dark Department are all hanging from a tree. Big Brother Deidara is lying on the ground, Lord Han is tied up with vines, and a black-haired person kidnapped them, telling me to come and report, demanding we hand over Konoha's Kakashi Hatake to release them..."
"Such audacity!"
With extensive experience, the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, quickly pieced together from his intelligence what had transpired.
A recently famous Wood Release Ninja from Konoha had ventured into the Land of Earth and even kidnapped his disciple Deidara and the Five-Tails Jinchuriki, intending to use them to exchange for Kakashi Hatake!
The problem is...
There's no Kakashi Hatake in the Hidden Rock Village!
Unless Kakashi Hatake infiltrated the village on a reconnaissance mission and the Wood Release kid couldn't retrieve him, so he kidnapped important people from their village!
"Search the village for Kakashi Hatake!"
The Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, first issued an order to pursue Kakashi Hatake, then instructed: "Do not kill him; make sure to capture him alive."
This was for the safety of the Hidden Rock Village and to prevent any unintended consequences, should the captor actually kill the hostages for Kakashi Hatake, which would be highly unfortunate!
Kurotsuchi nodded repeatedly, adding: "That person said, if we hand over Kakashi Hatake, not a single hair can be missing—if one hair is missing, he'll pluck a hair from Big Brother Deidara!"
"Sounds like two kids having a squabble..."
The Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, frowned, supporting his waist to stand up, forcing himself to remain steady: "Is there really danger, or did I misorder? It sounds like your childhood pranks; I'll go see what's happening..."
The body of the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, slowly floated up from the ground, drifting out the window, and quickly flew toward the outskirts of the village!
As the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki had mastered Earth Release Ninjutsu to its pinnacle, using the Earth Release: Super Lightweight Rock Jutsu to greatly reduce his weight, thus enabling him to fly freely in the air. This is one of the few flying secret techniques in the ninja world.
Clearly.
This kind of flying jutsu is easy to envy.
When the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, flew over the forest, the owner of the forest took notice of the jutsu, even spotting him when he tried to approach the forest.
"Lord Kagura."
Little Karin looked up at the sky, somewhat alarmed: "The enemy rapidly approaching us seems to be... in the sky..."
"I see."
Akihara Kagura raised his head to look at the sky.
Humans thrive on the earth, yet the yearning for the sky never ceases.
Akihara Kagura glanced at the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, then back at Deidara and the Five-Tails Jinchuriki Han: "How did that old man manage to fly?"
"Tch..."
Deidara sneered: "Just that old man's Super Lightweight Rock Jutsu, I'm not interested. Eventually, my art can fly and even faster than him!"
Because the Earth Release: Super Lightweight Rock Jutsu not only requires a high talent and understanding of Earth Release but also knowledge of weight and gravity, along with prolonged research and practice.
"You studied it..."
Akihara Kagura looked at Deidara and instantly irritated him again: "But it seems like you didn't learn it..."
"I don't need to!"
Deidara felt a little embarrassed and immediately defended himself: "I already grasped the essentials of that jutsu. I'll soon create flying artworks and can't be bothered to waste time studying it!"
This statement is also true.
Not everyone has the time and patience to study a jutsu that seems to lack combat utility, especially if one already possesses extraordinary talent.
Deidara had long mastered the basics of the Super Lightweight Rock Jutsu and was developing his flying artworks, without needing to waste time researching the jutsu further.
"So, you didn't learn it."
When Akihara Kagura discussed matters, he always preferred to focus on results.
"Don't you understand what I'm saying!"
Deidara, frustrated, seemed like a golden-haired young lion: "That jutsu is a waste of time, with little significance for learning. I don't need to squander my time learning it because I can develop a flight technique more suitable for myself!"
"Alright, alright, got it."
Akihara Kagura quickly pacified Deidara with a sentence: "It's fine not to know that jutsu; I don't understand many techniques either, and sometimes learning is indeed tough..."
"It's not hard for me; it's just a waste of my time!"
Deidara took a deep breath and, agitated, explained: "The Super Lightweight Rock Jutsu requires mastery not just of ordinary Earth Release Chakra but understanding of the weight and gravity relation of the earth. By using the jutsu to reduce bodily weight, thus decreasing one's gravity, it entails prolonged practice to gradually lighten weight. The old man spent at least over ten years learning from this jutsu until he could fly—this time is older than my age..."
After introducing the Super Lightweight Rock Jutsu, Deidara started feeling a bit proud again: "Given some more time, I'll have developed my flying artworks! It shortens the learning time of that jutsu by the old man by ten times, at least!"
Deidara is a true genius.
To put it accurately, a nine-year-old Deidara already wielded Jonin level combat strength, and within two or three more years, he could unleash Kage-level power.
In another respect, this guy expended all his energy and combat power on his art.
If he focused fully on learning, Deidara was destined to surpass the Third Tsuchikage, but geniuses often think everything is within their grasp and subsequently don't cherish it, eventually refraining from following conventional paths...
Akihara Kagura differed.
Akihara Kagura's learning was automatic, and he couldn't assess his talent.
[System Notification]: [Ninja Professor] trait activated. The host possesses Earth Attribute Chakra in the body, with Chakra level at S or above. The [Earth Release: Super Lightweight Rock Jutsu] secretly being learned aligns with ninjutsu theory. [Earth Release: Super Lightweight Rock Jutsu] learned successfully!
[Earth Release: Super Lightweight Rock Jutsu (Greatly reduces the weight of matter, can lighten one's weight and enhance speed, allowing for free flight in the air.)]
"Deidara, your talent is truly remarkable, more gifted than anyone I've met."
After sincerely praising Deidara, Akihara Kagura's body gradually floated off the ground, heading towards the direction of the Third Tsuchikage.