Chapter 12: The Battle Begins

Chapter 12: The Battle Begins

Didera was lifted off the ground. Although he was now taller than the Tsuchikage, it didn't matter much when Ōnoki could fly! Floating up, Ōnoki grasped Didera by the collar, glaring at him furiously.

Three years ago, when Didera first arrived in this world, he would never have dared to act so recklessly. He had been concerned about his own situation being discovered, and he could feel the overwhelming aura of strength emanating from the Tsuchikage.

Over the past three years, Didera had come to understand Ōnoki's personality. He was a strict and stubborn old man, but like all older individuals, he had a soft side, and that soft spot happened to be his granddaughter, Heitu.

Initially, Didera had refused to join Heitu in her pranks to curry favor with Ōnoki. However, after realizing this, he began to join her in mischief while also getting familiar with Ōnoki, who had grown much more tolerant of him over time.

Of course, this tolerance also stemmed from Didera's talent and the legacy left by his deceased father.

During these three years, Didera didn't just enhance his abilities and learn new jutsu; more importantly, he liberated his true nature. As someone once said, everyone has a child living within them; Didera was simply allowing that child to emerge again.

While the burdens of his past life didn't crush him, they had still constrained him. His master used to evaluate him as having strong fundamentals but lacking in spirit. This was understandable; a person had to toil every day just to get by, leaving no room for them to appreciate the beauty of life!

But arriving in this world felt like a fresh start. Without parental lectures and everyday pressures, there was only the pursuit of novelty, chakra, and the exploration of ninjutsu as he walked the path to becoming stronger.

During this time, he hadn't stopped creating clay sculptures. Instead, by liberating his true nature, his skills had elevated. This was evident in the many clay figures within his room, with no fewer than ten statues of Heitu alone, each one representing a milestone in his improvement.

Each piece showcased different periods of his skill level. He had also destroyed many unsatisfactory works; otherwise, there would be even more sculptures on display.

Of course, Heitu noticed the change in the quality of Didera's sculptures as well.

In truth, Heitu never thought much of Didera's earlier sculptures—they were just okay to her. She praised them only because they were made by her brother. However, she was genuinely impressed by his more recent creations.

Those sculptures seemed to possess their own souls. While some of his earlier works lacked distinctiveness, the latest pieces were increasingly striking.

Heitu once asked Didera for a sculpture, and though he agreed, she couldn't choose one, so she asked him which was his best. His answer dismissed her request, saying, "The next one!"

Heitu wanted Didera to give her the best one, so she decided to wait until he personally announced which was the best. To her, Didera was special, and she hoped he felt the same about her.

One day, Didera's sculptures caught the attention of others. Gradually, as he had made other types of clay pieces too, people began to ask if his sculptures were for sale.

Didera agreed since even the village's support couldn't cover his expenses. He had not only his daily living costs to consider but also training costs, as he was quite invested in getting stronger in this new world. Thus, his expenditures were significant.

Consequently, Didera's reputation spread, and people began to come daily seeking his sculptures, but due to his other commitments, he could only create one piece a day.

Even at that pace, Didera became much wealthier and, for the first time, earned respect from the villagers thanks to his sculptures.

Right now, even though Ōnoki appeared very angry, calming his wrath was surprisingly simple.

Like a magician, Didera produced a sculpture of the Tsuchikage from behind his back. Although it was still a bit damp, it was clear that he had completed it some time ago.

The sculpture was intricately detailed, and one glance revealed Ōnoki's imposing authority. The Tsuchikage reached for the sculpture and removed the Tsuchikage's cloak from Didera, dropping him back down.

"Alright! You little rascal planned this all along! This sculpture is nearly dry. Fine, I'll let you off this time for the sake of the sculpture. But next time, you'd better watch out!"

Afterward, Ōnoki carefully cradled the sculpture in his hands and summoned one of his guards, saying, "Put this in a glass case and place it in my office."

As he gently descended, Ōnoki approached Heitu, removed the straw hat from her head, and said, "You had a hand in this too, right? Just wait until I get home to deal with you!"

However, Heitu was unafraid. She stuck her tongue out at Ōnoki in a playful manner.

With the Tsuchikage's arrival, the atmosphere suddenly grew serious. Sensing the shift, Ōnoki said, "What are you all staring at? Weren't you here to watch the match? You lot, get started quickly; I've got business to attend to!"

Mo Zhi and the others were filled with excitement. The Tsuchikage himself was going to witness their duel?! They all understood the implications of this. Even if it was somewhat due to Didera's antics, it was enough motivation for them to give it their all.

If the Tsuchikage took a liking to them, that could only be a good thing! If he passed on even a technique or two, it would be invaluable!

So, they were ready to exert themselves completely.

Mo Zhi, Huo Guang, and Daishi all saw the fighting spirit reflected in each other's eyes.

Didera knew that this was indeed an opportunity for them, and it was also an opportunity for him. If he succeeded, he could apply for graduation.

With this in mind, Didera decided to unleash all his power; otherwise, he could end up losing.

"Let's continue with our earlier arrangement. So, who wants to go first?" Didera struck a pose, signaling that he was ready.

Mo Zhi, Huo Guang, and Daishi exchanged glances and then focused on Didera. Though Didera was strong enough to defeat each of them individually, he was still outnumbered, and they knew that teamwork would make a difference.

"Oh, so you all have recognized your own positions! In that case, let's all come at me together!" Didera maintained a nonchalant demeanor as if he did not take his opponents seriously at all.

"Didera, even though you're strong, we're not weaklings either. Since you're overestimating yourself, we have no reason to hold back. Prepare yourself! Today, you will definitely taste defeat at our hands," Mo Zhi declared, unable to stand Didera's laid-back attitude, and he was the first to throw down the gauntlet.

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