Sitting atop his tiger puppet, Shinki glanced at Onoki, who stood as diminutive as ever, and explained with a sly smile:
"Hokage sits in his office year-round. Where's the exercise in that? I figured this trip to the Iron Country was the perfect opportunity to get some physical activity. Wouldn't you agree?"
Onoki seemed to nod slightly in agreement, though he remained suspicious.
However, before he could formulate a response, Shinki added, "On the other hand, Tsuchikage, it seems you prefer flying in the sky to walking. Is that because, given your... stature, walking proves too much of a challenge?"
Onoki's face darkened. The jab at his height hit a sore spot.
Height had always been an insecurity for Onoki. While it wasn't as noticeable in his youth, aging had only made the issue more pronounced. Most people wisely avoided the subject.
But Shinki? He had no qualms about stomping on this sensitive nerve.
When provoked, Shinki had a clear philosophy:
If you mess with me, I'll strike back harder.
"Sometimes, the more you concede, the more people think they can push you around," Shinki said bluntly.
He turned to the Third Hokage. "Take the Third Raikage, for example. As arrogant and domineering as he is, does anyone dare attack him? He's made it clear that crossing him comes at a cost.
"Iwa? Have they ever dared to challenge Kumo directly?"
The Third Hokage hesitated before answering. Shinki seized the moment.
"Is Konoha weaker than Kumo? Why should we tolerate disrespect?"
The Hokage's eye twitched. "Shinki, it's not about tolerance. It's about maintaining the village's—"
"A soft policy?" Shinki interrupted, his voice laced with disdain.
Hopping off his puppet, he stored it back into a scroll and turned to Minato, who stood by with an innocent look on his face.
"Minato, let's say someone were to provoke you outright. How would you handle it?"
Minato scratched his head, caught off guard. He glanced between his teacher's stern gaze and the Hokage's contemplative expression. After a moment, he answered honestly, "I'd make sure they never had the chance or ability to do it again."
Shinki beamed with approval. "Exactly. We can afford to be gentle with our allies and comrades because they are family. But with enemies? Gentleness is useless. Only strength and decisive action can ensure they think twice before challenging you again."
Minato nodded obediently. "Yes, teacher!"
The Third Hokage sighed, knowing full well that Shinki was using this moment to impart a lesson—not just to Minato but to him as well.
While Shinki had his differences with the Third Hokage, he couldn't deny that Sarutobi Hiruzen's soft diplomacy often created unnecessary headaches for the village. In contrast, someone like Danzo, for all his flaws, was at least decisive when dealing with threats.
"If Hiruzen had Danzo's toughness, and Danzo had Hiruzen's heart, Konoha would've been unstoppable," Shinki mused internally.
He thought back to the Senju brothers. Hashirama's balance of compassion and strength, combined with Tobirama's shrewdness and iron will, had set a standard no subsequent Hokage could match.
Arriving in the Iron Country, the team was greeted by its armored samurai. Even amidst the presence of ninjas from various nations, the samurai maintained their unique traditions and authority.
Before reaching their accommodations, the Konoha delegation encountered the Third Mizukage on the street.
"Hokage."
"Mizukage."
The two leaders exchanged polite greetings, their conversation surprisingly warm compared to the tension-filled interaction with Onoki earlier.
Shinki, uninterested in their exchange, led his disciples to their quarters. The ANBU teams remained with the Hokage for added security.
From the balcony of their lodging, Minato observed the Third Hokage and the Third Mizukage chatting amiably. Curious, he remarked, "Teacher, Mizukage seems much friendlier than Tsuchikage."
Shinki chuckled at the observation. He reclined in a chair on the balcony, basking in the sunlight. "Friendly? Hardly."
Minato tilted his head, confused.
"On the surface, yes, the Third Mizukage and the Hokage share a similar demeanor—both appear calm and amicable. But underneath that facade, the Mizukage is ruthless. You could even call him vicious."
Minato blinked. "Ruthless? Against his own people?"
"Exactly," Shinki replied. "The Mizukage has spilled more of his own blood than any outsider ever could. The Water Country is made up of countless islands, each with its own traditions and clans. The Mizukage consolidated power by eradicating dissent, wiping out entire ninja families."
Minato's face paled as he processed the implications.
"This isn't just theory, Minato. The so-called 'Bloody Mist Era' wasn't born out of nothing. It started with the Third Mizukage's reign and only worsened under Yagura's rule later. By the end, half of the Water Country's ninja families were wiped out."
Minato remained silent, his youthful idealism shaken.
Shinki, noticing his disciple's introspection, patted him on the shoulder. "Remember, strength is important, but knowing when and how to use it is even more crucial. Now, let's get some rest. Tomorrow will be interesting."
As the sun set over the Iron Country, Shinki leaned back and smiled. He knew the days ahead would be filled with challenges, and he was ready for whatever came his way.
>>>>>
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