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In the heart of Iwagakure a small group assembled on the training field, surrounded by towering stone spires.
At the center of the gathering stood an unassuming figure - an elderly man witha triangular beard and a moustache.
But don't be fooled by his appearance.
This was no ordinary old man. This was Onoki the Fence-Sitter, the Third Tsuchikage and the oldest of the current five Kage.
A living legend, he was a master of the shinobi arts and a cunning politician.
Before him stood two children, as different as night and day.
One was tall and sturdy, with a round, friendly face and an easygoing smile. The other was small and lean, with a messy blond mop of hair.
These were Akatsuchi and Deidara, Onoki's newest disciples, hand-picked for their potential.
"Well, let's see what you've learned," he said. "Akatsuchi, you're up first."
The larger boy stepped forward, his face set in concentration as he knelt down and started forming hand seals.
His fingers, still a bit chubby, moved slowly and carefully through the sequence.
"Earth Style: Terra Shield!" He slammed his palm against the ground.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, with a loud rumble, a massive stone slab burst out of the earth, towering over the boy's kneeling form.
"I did it!" Akatsuchi exclaimed, his face splitting into a huge grin. "I really did-"
But his celebration was short-lived. The slab, apparently unable to handle his excitement, crumbled into rubble.
Onoki let out a deep sigh and shook his head.
"A shinobi needs to be solid, like a rock. That..." he gestured to the pile of rocks "...isn't exactly what I had in mind."
Akatsuchi looked down. "I'm sorry, Tsuchikage-sama. I'll do better, I promise."
The old man's expression softened, just a fraction. "I know you will, my boy. Iwa wasn't built in a day. It takes time to master Earth Release. It's not something you can rush."
He turned to the other child, who had been watching with an intense gaze. "Deidara, you're up next."
The blond boy stepped forward. He knelt down, his hands moving quickly and precisely as he formed the seals.
"Earth Style: Terra Shield!"
He slapped his palm against the ground, and another slab of stone rose up, identical in size and shape to Akatsuchi's.
But while the other boy's creation had been rough and unstable, Deidara's was smooth and solid, with crisp, clean edges.
Onoki walked over to examine the stone slab, running his hand over its surface.
A few flakes crumbled off at his touch, but the structure held steady.
"Impressive," the Tsuchikage said, his voice thoughtful. "And you used fewer seals than Akatsuchi, I noticed."
Deidara shrugged, trying to look casual, but Onoki caught a glimpse of pride in his eye.
As he looked at the boy, he felt a spark of something he hadn't felt in a long time - hope.
Hope for the future of his village, for the legacy he would one day leave behind.
Could it be? Could this boy, the son of humble artisans, be the genius Iwagakure had been waiting for?
The one who would lead them into a new era of strength and prosperity?
Only time would tell. But for now, he let himself dream.
Just as Onoki was lost in thought, a messenger shinobi arrived, kneeling before him with a serious expression.
"Tsuchikage-sama," the man said, his tone urgent. "We've received news. Orochimaru has defected from Konoha."
Onoki's bushy eyebrows shot up. "Orochimaru? That's... unexpected."
He fell silent. Orochimaru was a powerful shinobi, and his defection could tip the balance of power among the nations.
"Do we know why he left?" Onoki asked, his tone sharp.
The messenger shook his head. "No, Tsuchikage-sama. But our sources say he was last seen heading towards the Land of Water."
"The Bloody Mist," Onoki muttered. "What could he want there?"
It was a question with no easy answer.
The Land of Water was notoriously secretive, and ever since the rise of the Fourth Mizukage and the brutal graduation ritual, information out of Kirigakure had been scarce.
One thing was certain, though. Whatever Orochimaru was planning, it didn't bode well for the other villages. For the world.
Onoki dismissed the messenger with a wave of his hand, his expression grim.
He needed to gather his advisors to discuss this development and its potential consequences.
But first, he had to finish the lesson at hand.
He turned back to Akatsuchi and Deidara, who had been watching the exchange with curious eyes.
"Listen up, both of you," he began, his voice heavy with experience and authority.
"Being a shinobi is a tough road, full of surprises and dangers. Friends can turn against you in an instant, and even the strongest among us can get corrupted by power."
He looked each boy straight in the eye.
"That's why we need to stay on our toes and keep our skills and willpower sharp. For the sake of our village, and everyone we care about."
Akatsuchi nodded seriously. Deidara, on the other hand, tilted his head, a sly smile playing on his lips.
It was as if Onoki's words were a challenge.
He let out a deep sigh. Young people were always so eager, so convinced they were invincible.
He could only hope that the lessons he taught them now would stick, would guide them through the tough times ahead.
"Keep practicing," he said, turning to leave. "Focus on the Earth-Style Terra Shield. A strong defense is the foundation of everything else."
With that, he walked away. Akatsuchi and Deidara exchanged a glance before setting off to find a new spot to practice their skills.
They found Kurotsuchi in her usual spot, surrounded by a miniature city of sandcastles.
Her face lit up when she saw her two favorite playmates.
"Akatsuchi! Deidara!" she called out, waving them over. "Come see what I made!"
Akatsuchi crouched down to admire the intricate structures. "These are amazing, Kurotsuchi," he said, his voice warm with affection. "You have a real gift for art. You're a-"
But before he could finish, Deidara slammed his palm into the ground, using the Terra Shield jutsu to raise a slab of stone right in the middle of Kurotsuchi's sand village.
The girl's joyful expression crumpled, tears welling up in her eyes as she watched her creations tumble and break.
"Deidara, why?" she wailed, her small hands balling into fists. "Why did you do that?"
Akatsuchi's face turned red with anger. "What's wrong with you?" he demanded. "Apologize to Kurotsuchi, right now!"
But Deidara wasn't listening. He was staring at the ruined sandcastles.
At that moment, something shifted inside the young boy. A truth dawned on him, one that would shape his entire life.
Art wasn't about creating something that would last forever. It wasn't about making something that would stand the test of time.
No, true art was fleeting, a brief flash of beauty and destruction.
Art was an explosion, and Deidara felt it in his bones as he stood in the ruins of Kurotsuchi's sand village.
A grin spread across his face.
He had found his calling, his purpose. Nothing could deter him now - not the tears of a girl, not the disapproval of his peers.
He was Deidara, the mad artist of Iwagakure, and his art would change the world.
As he stood there, thinking about his future, he noticed a tiny movement near his feet. A small spider, no bigger than his thumbnail, scuttled across rocky ground.
Without hesitation, he lifted his foot and brought it down hard, crushing the creature beneath his sandal.