Reborn in Konoha; I Think I’m Cultivating Immortality

While Hui in Konoha was preoccupied with concerns about the future existence of Kakashi Hatake, in another part of the shinobi world, others were also worrying about the future of their villages.

In the Land of Earth, within the familiar Iwagakure and the familiar Tsuchikage's office, Oniki, the Third Tsuchikage, was still working late into the night. He had not taken a break, consumed by his concerns.

Why was he working so late?

Because he was worried, worried about the future of Iwagakure and the entire shinobi world.

Over the past three years, Iwagakure had undergone significant changes. The village had developed, the quality of life had improved, and the number of elite shinobi had increased.

This should have been a source of pride, but Oniki couldn't shake his anxiety.

He was troubled by the fact that Iwagakure still hadn't produced a shinobi capable of rivaling Hui.

Even the number of Dust Release users had increased by only one in the past three years.

Now, including Oniki himself, there were three Dust Release users in the village. 

However, the third had only recently mastered the ability this year, and even then, their control was rudimentary at best.

The two other Dust Release users—one of Kage-level and the other an elite jonin—were embarrassingly inferior when compared to Oniki. 

Their inadequacies left him disheartened, shattering his hopes of using Dust Release wielders to counter Hui.

Moreover, three years had passed, and only seven years remained until the deadline set during the peace agreement.

In seven years, Konoha might launch a war to unify the shinobi world—or they might do nothing at all. No one could predict Hui's intentions.

For the past eight years, Konoha had remained peaceful, showing no signs of provoking other villages. They had become a model of peace, seemingly committed to maintaining stability in the shinobi world.

But who could truly know Hui's mind?

"I need to figure out what Hui is thinking…"

Oniki sighed deeply, his heart filled with unease and uncertainty.

This inner turmoil felt all too familiar.

The last time he felt this way, he had proposed to the Second Tsuchikage that the villages unite to counter Hui. That plan had ultimately triggered the Second Shinobi World War, leading to the death of his mentor and countless Iwagakure shinobi.

The loss of his teacher weighed heavily on Oniki, as did the thousands of casualties Iwagakure suffered during the war.

Still, he had no regrets about the decision itself. If anything, he regretted not acting sooner.

If he had proposed the plan one or two years earlier, perhaps Hui wouldn't have had time to grow so powerful. The outcome of the war might have been different.

His teacher, the Second Tsuchikage, might have survived, and Iwagakure might have been spared such heavy losses.

Now, Oniki found himself once again plagued by that same anxiety, the same mental anguish.

But this time, he vowed not to hesitate.

Unlike before, he wouldn't suggest outright war, no one would dare agree to such a plan. Hui's overwhelming power and reputation ensured that.

Instead, his approach had to be strategic. He needed to uncover the truth about Konoha and Hui's intentions.

If Hui truly intended to unify the shinobi world, then war would be inevitable, even if they were destined to lose. Oniki could not let Iwagakure perish under his leadership unless he fell alongside it.

He believed the other Kage shared similar sentiments. As leaders, they couldn't sit idly by if their villages were threatened with extinction.

"No matter what, we need to find out what's happening in Konoha and what Hui is planning. But how do I find a reason to go there?"

Oniki furrowed his brow, pondering the dilemma.

Then, a brilliant idea struck him.

"The Chunin Exams! Yes, I can use the joint Chunin Exams as a pretext!"

Excitement filled his voice as the plan took shape in his mind.

The Chunin Exams, a test for promoting genin to chunin, were typically held twice a year and served as an important opportunity for the great nations to evaluate each other's strengths.

He could use the Chunin Exams as a reason to send representatives to Konoha, or even go there himself.

This way, he could observe Konoha's current state firsthand and gauge Hui's intentions.

Additionally, the exams could provide insights into the other villages, as the shinobi world had grown increasingly disconnected since the Second Shinobi World War.

For eight years, the great nations had barely interacted. Oniki hadn't seen the other Kage in that time, and even encounters with shinobi from other villages had become rare. Missions were confined to their respective territories, with none daring to venture into another's domain for fear of sparking suspicion.

Such cautiousness wasn't unwarranted. No one wanted to risk giving Konoha an excuse to wage war.

By proposing a joint Chunin Exam, Oniki could not only gather intelligence on Konoha but also facilitate a meeting among the great nations.

The Kage could discuss their respective situations and formulate a strategy for dealing with Konoha. It was an opportunity to kill multiple birds with one stone.

"Let's hope things aren't as dire as they seem. But if Hui really intends to unify the shinobi world and carve out his own era, then I'll give my life before letting Iwagakure fade into history!"

Oniki muttered to himself, with burning determination in his eyes.

While he understood that unifying the shinobi world might not necessarily be a bad thing, his duty as Tsuchikage and the inheritor of the First and Second Tsuchikage's wills left him no choice.

He couldn't allow Iwagakure to disappear on his watch.

Having resolved his thoughts, Oniki began preparations.

The first step was to send a formal proposal to Konoha, requesting a meeting with the Third Hokage, Hui, to discuss the possibility of hosting a joint Chunin Exam.

If Konoha agreed, Oniki would visit personally. If they declined, he would hold discussions with the other villages first and find another reason to visit Konoha.

The next day, dozens of messages were dispatched from Iwagakure to the other major villages.

After eight years of relative peace, the shinobi world was about to stir once more.

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