"Tsuchikage-sama, you must never attempt rapid, consecutive dodges during high-speed flight again. Your back simply can't withstand it."
"Under normal circumstances it wouldn't be a problem! That brat hid explosive tags so insidiously... Forget it, I understand. Dismissed!"
Ōnoki lay on the bed, utterly despondent.
They had already consolidated their forces sufficiently.
Withdrawn from the frontlines to the Land of Earth, each stronghold guarded by no less than ten squads - under normal circumstances, no one could possibly breach their defenses.
Yet who could have predicted Konoha would deploy two Kage level shinobi for a sneak attack, precisely when he was about to receive intel from Kirigakure?
Truth be told, Ōnoki suspected Kirigakure was coordinating with Konoha.
But what infuriated him most was Rōshi.
That fool had always opposed him, and now his stupidity was confirmed - lured straight into a trap like some naive child.
And now? Captured!
Disgraceful.
"Bring me the intelligence scrolls! I want to see exactly what this Kanda Kyōichi's background is!"
Ōnoki struggled upright despite the pain.
Backache?
Nothing compared to heartache!
Kurotsuchi's father presented the intelligence documents.
Ōnoki read from top to bottom.
Suspected Senju descendant?
He frowned, unpleasant memories surfacing.
Further down:
Water Release, Earth Release, Wind Release, kenjutsu, genjutsu...
Mastery across multiple disciplines?
No.
According to their intelligence, add Ice Release and sealing techniques!
Undoubtedly.
Those "bird-like" explosive tags were his doing too, likely the very batch Iwagakure lost two days prior.
BANG!
He hurled the scroll away violently.
"Tsuchikage-sama!"
"Agh... the pain..."
His back flared up again.
Ōnoki collapsed back down, unwilling to speak further.
"Father, with Rōshi captured, what should we do? Seek peace with Konoha?"
"Fight!"
Ōnoki's expression twisted viciously.
Peace?
Konoha thinks capturing Rōshi can threaten me?
They're mistaken.
He never believed a single jinchūriki could dictate the course of war, nor would he alter his entire strategy for Rōshi's sake.
Jinchūriki were merely jinchūriki - shinobi who obtained external power. Not necessarily as formidable as imagined.
This applied to both Rōshi and Han.
Such was Ōnoki's perspective.
Thus in Iwagakure, jinchūriki faced neither the extreme hostility of other villages nor particular reverence. Many Iwa ninja considered Rōshi inferior to an average jōnin.
At least regular jōnin could deploy.
Rōshi remained largely confined to the village - impressive on surface but practically useless.
Han fared slightly better, yet still lacked respect.
Hence his eagerness to prove himself this time.
Yet.
The outcome only reinforced Ōnoki's convictions -
On the battlefield, jinchūriki weren't as invincible as they imagined.
"Tell everyone not to overthink this. While our losses aren't insignificant, Iwagakure can endure them. Tomorrow we repay Konoha double!"
"Help me up! We advance immediately!"
Ōnoki's temper flared.
"Yes!"
Kurotsuchi's father understood.
Full-scale assault against Konoha.
Orders disseminated.
The Iwa ninja marched in force - hundreds, perhaps over a thousand squads.
Over the years, Iwagakure had rebuilt considerable strength. These frontline troops weren't even their entirety - many more defended the rear and handled logistics.
This was Ōnoki's confidence against Konoha.
However.
Upon reaching the Land of Grass border...
Desolate emptiness.
In just one morning, Konoha hadn't left so much as a cloth behind. Were it not for previous battles here, the Iwa ninja might have doubted the Konoha camp's very existence.
As for the Kusa ninja...
Though present, they clearly had no intention of fighting. Their leaders approached respectfully.
"Honored Iwa ninja, Kusagakure pledges cooperation. Please spare the Land of Grass and its people!"
"Where are Konoha's forces?"
"They... they withdrew this morning. Said they were retreating to fortify the Land of Fire's borders."
The Kusa leader bowed obsequiously.
Seeing the massive Rock army, aligning with Iwagakure didn't seem so bad -
Konoha's numbers clearly couldn't compare.
So.
If they won...
Suddenly the Iwa ninja seemed viable again.
"Good."
Ōnoki dearly wanted to pummel him, but currently needed the Kusa ninja's cooperation.
However.
He'd show no courtesy to these turncoats.
"Since you're willing to cooperate, march with us into the Land of Fire."
"Th-that... Yes!"
"Hmph. Proceed to set up camp in the Land of Grass."
...
Land of Fire border.
Kyōichi and Rōshi sat atop a mountain peak, observing the distant Land of Grass with amusement.
From here, portions of the Land of Grass were visible.
So many Iwa ninja couldn't possibly conceal themselves.
"See? I told you Ōnoki wouldn't care about you. You overestimate your importance."
"..."
Rōshi remained silent, eyes closed in resignation.
Kyōichi continued his psychological assault.
"You may think jinchūriki are powerful, but in truth, many in the shinobi world can kill you. If Konoha truly feared jinchūriki, we wouldn't have distributed the tailed beasts initially."
"You just happened to counter me. Don't boast."
Rōshi disagreed.
Kyōichi smiled. "Is that what you think?"
"Without Ice Release and sealing techniques, I'd have nothing to fear from you."
Rōshi stated.
"Even without those I could defeat you - I simply prefer not paying that price."
Kyōichi shook his head, then sneered. "Why shouldn't I use techniques I've painstakingly developed? Did you think my Ice Release was innate?"
"It's a kekkei genkai."
Rōshi said coldly.
Kyōichi narrowed his eyes, understanding Rōshi's conflict with Ōnoki.
This fool...
Was he truly so arrogant?
Smiling, Kyōichi said: "Ōnoki and your Nidaime Tsuchikage weren't born with Dust Release, yet they developed it. If they could, so can I!"
"My loss was only because I haven't mastered the jinchūriki's full power."
Rōshi argued stubbornly.
And.
That chakra-absorbing sword.
If he were easily swayed, he wouldn't have opposed Ōnoki for years.
Kyōichi didn't expect enlightenment.
If this old fool truly understood, he might need to consider eliminating Rōshi.
Thus.
He nodded agreeably: "Your perspective has merit. Any path pursued to its extreme yields formidable power. The jinchūriki path is no exception."
"Huh?"
Rōshi looked startled.
What game was this?
Sudden amiability - had the sun risen from the west?
His wariness intensified.
Kyōichi said calmly: "You've developed Lava Release yourself, correct? A product of studying the tailed beast. But you're approaching it wrong."
"Wrong approach?"
Rōshi found this laughable.
A non-jinchūriki lecturing him on his approach? Sheer amateurism.
He ignored further comments.
But then -
Kyōichi's body erupted with tailed beast chakra.
BOOM!
His fist struck the ground, shaking the massive boulder beneath them to dust.
Next, a Rasengan formed in Kyōichi's palm, infused with fiery red chakra.
Lava Release Rasengan!
"The difference between humans and tailed beasts is humans understand chakra application better. Yet you've progressively become more beastlike."
"So foolish. If tailed beasts were truly formidable, would they be trapped inside you?"
Kyōichi's words cut deep.
Rōshi frowned, puzzled by Kyōichi's motives.
Yet he recognized -
The boy spoke undeniable truths!
Though countered, he couldn't deny the tailed beasts' limitations.
"Why tell me this?"
"I hear jinchūriki are disdained in Iwagakure. Some believe pursuing jinchūriki power is inferior to developing formidable ninjutsu?"
Kyōichi smiled. "While I agree jinchūriki aren't omnipotent, neither are they worthless - otherwise I wouldn't have worked so hard to obtain your tailed beast chakra. I say this hoping you'll become less obtuse."
Rōshi stayed silent, but unbeknownst to himself, his expression had softened slightly from its previous obstinacy.
Contemplative silence followed.
Indeed, subtle shifts occurred in his mindset -
Rōshi acknowledged his defeat had reasons.
This Konoha shinobi possessed rare talent, comprehension, and an insatiable drive to improve.
Such individuals were terrifying!
No shame losing to him.
"Let's go. Until Iwagakure's defeat, you'll be our guest in the Land of Fire."
Kyōichi said no more.
Using insights gained from Rōshi's memories to foster genuine belief in his sincerity showed preliminary results.
However.
Over-persuading stubborn old fools backfires.
This was just right.
Rōshi offered no resistance - his tailed beast chakra sealed, physical and spiritual energy drained to subsistence levels, rendering escape impossible.
As for suicide?
Under Kyōichi's watch, he held no such illusions. Upon returning to camp, immediate confinement awaited.
The precautions were impregnable!
Back in his sealed prison, Rōshi gazed at the ceiling, contemplating Kyōichi's words and Ōnoki's decision to attack Konoha despite his capture.
"The difference between humans and tailed beasts is chakra mastery?"
"I'm becoming the beast, not mastering it?"
He pondered deeply.
Before Kyōichi, Rōshi had stubbornly denied.
But in solitude, the logic grew increasingly apparent. Jinchūriki lagged behind Ōnoki not because of inherent weakness, but insufficient tailed beast development.
Moreover.
Why fear tailed beasts?
If they were truly mighty, they wouldn't be imprisoned within him.
Complete mastery would surpass the beasts themselves.
Clarity dawned, and despite himself, Rōshi felt grudging respect. For a normal human to so quickly harness tailed beast chakra - such talent would make a far superior jinchūriki than himself.
"I must forge the true jinchūriki path. Prove we're not village mascots."
"No! Upon succeeding, I'll share the proper jinchūriki methods with all, that they may better wield this power."