79 Chapter 78 : New Tsuchikage?

[Uchiha Ran: "It appears there's no need for an answer. The second possibility seems to be the case."]

Uchiha Ran smiled while holding his glasses with his fingers.

Everything aligns perfectly with his analysis.

However, he only possesses the Three Tomoe Sharingan, which is impressive but falls short of the top-tier abilities.

There are Uchiha Itachi and Obito, both possessing Mangekyō Sharingan, Han and Rōshi, blessed with tailed beasts, Tsunade, whose abilities have reached their peak, Terumi Mei, who has unlocked twin bloodline limits, and Uzumaki Nagato, the bearer of the Rinnegan, and the list goes on.

While he's uncertain whether he's on the Golden List of the Ninja World, he can speculate that his ranking is likely beyond the ninth or even lower.

Yet, in reality, he holds the ninth position.

This suggests that certain individuals are not included on the list.

However, the rankings presented by the Golden List must be rigorous. If it were solely based on bloodline limit potential, it wouldn't be called the "Bloodline Limit List" but rather the "Bloodline Limit Ranking."

Hence, it's reasonable to assume that Onoki was specifically mentioned.

And so he was.

Onoki has a special reward slot.

Unlike the Bloodline Limit List, where one can only choose one reward, here, the listed individuals can select two out of three rewards.

"La~"

The live broadcast screen of Golden List reappeared, focusing on Iwagakure, in the office of the Tsuchikage, the leader of the Iwagakure.

The elderly Onoki hovered in the air. Though old, his lower body was supported by Kitsuchi, making him appear tall and sturdy, a stark contrast to Onoki's usual posture. 

The high-ranking Iwagakure members were all present, more than when Kurotsuchi was initially added to the list.

This wasn't because Onoki had foreseen his placement on the list and gathered people to celebrate or worship him.

Instead, the Third Tsuchikage had seen the "end" of the Bloodline Limit List and summoned the village's top members to discuss something urgent.

The pace of the special reward announcement was so abrupt that they hadn't had time to prepare.

"Cough!"

Onoki arrived, hands behind his back, without any embarrassment. He calmly said, "I didn't expect this old man to rank above the first."

"Unexpected but not unwarranted."

"Ugh!"

With that, Onoki raised his head slightly, appearing as a solitary hermit.

This scene left many people baffled.

But as they saw the three rewards and the choice he needed to make, no one could find the words.

Except for Uchiha Ran.

[Uchiha Ran: "Not necessarily."]

"Oh, do the Fifth Hokage think that someone's bloodline limit surpasses even this old man?" Onoki inquired with an air of confidence.

What didn't he know? Senju, Uzumaki, Hyuga, and Uchiha Madara were all descendants of the Sage of Six Paths.

Currently, he even ranked higher than Ōtsutsuki Toneri.

Blow the competition away.

[Uchiha Ran: "You'll find out soon enough.]

"To make a fool of yourself!"

Seeing that Uchiha Ran's response wasn't enough, Onoki felt like he was just bluffing.

"Golden List."

"I'll choose the first option."

"I choose my granddaughter, Kurotsuchi, to inherit my inheritance."

Onoki made his choice decisively, his expression brimming with happiness and relief.

Unlike Sarutobi Hiruzen, who clung to the Hokage position and refused to let go, Onoki actually desired to relinquish his power and lead an easier life.

However, Iwagakure lacked suitable candidates.

Those with sufficient strength lacked the necessary status.

For example, Han and Rōshi, Jinchūriki, were not accepted by the villagers, with Rōshi's violent tendencies making him unfit for the role. They had to leave the village due to a conflict, as not many supported their coup.

People with status lacked strength.

For instance, Kitsuchi and Akatsuchi were elite Jōnin, far from Kage-level. 

Even with the tailed beasts, they couldn't single-handedly suppress threats, making it hard to win public trust.

Therefore, Onoki held onto power and ignored his reputation.

Even, during the Third World War, he faced the formidable Third Raikage. Third Raikage singlehandedly held off ten thousand Iwagakure ninjas for three days and nights, causing significant damage to Iwagakure, although he eventually perished which caused a lot of casualties among talented Iwa Ninjas.

Fortunately, Onoki soon discovered Deidara, an exceptional talent. Deidara, with Explosion Style bloodline limit and clay techniques, quickly reached Kage-level strength as a teenager.

Deidara, Third Tsuchikage's disciple, was the ideal candidate. He possessed both the strength and the required status.

If Deidara married his granddaughter, it would be the best outcome for the village and for Onoki.

However, Deidara had other plans, pursuing his artistic inclinations.

His pursuit of artistic freedom vanished, leaving Onoki heartbroken.

He didn't announce Deidara as a traitor, hoping for his return someday. But all he got were tears.

Now, he could finally let go of his responsibilities with peace of mind.

The first reward allowed him to designate anyone, even those without Dust Style bloodline limit, to inherit his abilities fully.

This meant his granddaughter, Kurotsuchi, could reach her peak strength instantly.

Wasn't she the perfect successor to the Tsuchikage position?

"Kurotsuchi, how do you feel?"

As the Golden List light disappeared, Onoki eagerly asked.

In response, Kurotsuchi didn't speak but instead floated upward.

Using the Super Light-Weight Rock Technique, a skill exclusive to those with Dust Style bloodline limit, she showcased her extraordinary Ninjutsu prowess.

"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!"

With a flourish, Kurotsuchi created a transparent square barrier between her hands and directed it towards a rock outside the Tsuchikage Building's window.

"Boom!"

The imprisoned rock inside the barrier disintegrated into atomic particles, causing a massive explosion.

Upon witnessing this, Onoki burst into laughter. "Well done, well done! I, Onoki, have found my successor, the next Tsuchikage."

"My dear granddaughter, you're far superior to your father."

Kitsuchi: ???

Kitsuchi, who was happy for his daughter, wore a strained smile.

Onoki had transferred his strength to Kurotsuchi, but Kitsuchi didn't envy her. Having a strong daughter was a good thing. However, Onoki's double standards were hard to tolerate. Kurotsuchi's strength was essentially given to her by his father!

[Fourth Raikage Ai: "What a revelation! Kitsuchi is truly not Onoki's

  Son."]

[Senju Hashirama: "Hmm? How so?"]

[Third Raikage: "First Hokage, you don't know that the tallest person in Golden List's livestream is Onoki's son."]

[Senju Hashirama: "What? Is this logically sound?"]

[Tsunade: "Genetics can be very illogical."]

[Orochimaru: "From a genetic perspective, mutations can also be unpredictable."]

[Uchiha Madara: "Onoki, I must say, when it comes to dwarves, you're undoubtedly the strongest!"]

[Onoki: "Mr. Madara, even you..."]

Onoki had a thicker skin than most.

He didn't bother responding to the earlier comments.

He was aware that the more you argued with these people, the more spirited they became.

However, when Uchiha Madara echoed the same sentiment, Onoki couldn't hold back.

"Onoki: Fourth Raikage Ai, your lack of wit rivals that of your father."

Onoki retorted, making a pun.

Observing this, Uchiha Ran blinked.

Could it be that this elderly man was being passively flirted with by Uchiha Madara?

It seemed like he had stumbled upon something interesting.

"Grandpa, calm down!"

Kurotsuchi interrupted, trying to soothe Onoki's spirits. She said sincerely, "Grandpa, I've not only inherited the Dust Style but also all your Ninjutsu techniques. My Chakra capacity has increased several times, and I've even inherited your combat experience."

"They're just envious of you."

"Now, our Iwagakure is stronger than ever!"

"Oh?" Onoki's eyes sparkled.

He could understand the inheritance of Dust Style, Ninjutsu, and even Chakra, but inheriting combat experience was a joyous revelation. It meant preserving his sixty years of knowledge.

"Alright, alright!"

Onoki was greatly relieved and then pointed at the camera in the livestream room. "Everyone, my granddaughter is only sixteen years old, and she's inherited my peak strength. So, be cautious."

"Next, the era of the Rock Shinobi will begin!"

[Uchiha Ran: "???"]

[Uchiha Ran: "Am I hallucinating, or is it impossible for Konoha to ever be the number one village?"]

[Kurotsuchi: "Fifth Hokage, my grandpa is just excited. He takes things too seriously."]

[Kurotsuchi: "But when I become the Fourth Tsuchikage, I think we should seriously discuss marriage. I'm sixteen, you're sixteen, I have black hair, you have black hair, you're a Hokage, I'm a Tsuchikage, you're Kage-level, I'm also Kage-level. It's a perfect match! After all, if we get married, what my grandpa said isn't wrong. The era of Konoha will follow. What do you think?"]

[Uchiha Ran: "I'm surprised that your argument actually makes sense. But aren't you worried about giving your grandpa a heart attack by saying this now? 

It's like handing your granddaughter over to another village. Also, I think it might be very dangerous to speak like that. The young lady next to me is already giving you a death glare."]

[Hiss~]

Everything was fine in the Hokage world, except for one thing: girls seemed to know what they wanted by the age of six, skipped puppy love at twelve, and aspired to become mothers before turning twenty. It was a bit unsettling.

Thankfully, I'm a Uchiha. 

Brotherhood is more important!

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