Teaching the Dust Release

"Haha, is this the attitude of a disciple seeking his master's guidance? I must admit, I do admire you in this state, but it also brings back memories," Onoki said with a hint of nostalgia. Deidara was someone he watched grow up, and he knew the reason for Deidara's defection. However, he didn't try to stop him; as a master, he understood that one's growth depended on their own choices.

Since Deidara chose this path, as a teacher, Onoki wouldn't hinder him. In this aspect, Onoki believed he was much better than the Third Hokage of Konoha, who forced his most beloved disciple, Orochimaru, to leave for the village's sake.

"You're still as verbose as ever, old man," Deidara thought he would never have the chance to see Onoki again in his lifetime, but he didn't expect to come back in the end.

"Young people these days lack respect for their elders. Well then, Deidara, even though I don't know what prompted someone as proud as you to set aside your ego and come back to me, an old man, if you're back, and I have no intention of teaching you, then I'll spar with you for so many days. In fact, during our battle, I've already turned many of the theoretical knowledge you missed out on during your youth and defection into practical applications and taught you through combat."

"I suppose you've discovered the weakness of your exploding clay by now; otherwise, you wouldn't be so eager. Hehe, since the Sage of Six Paths' era, it was already established that Lightning Release counters Earth Release. Your explosive clay is, after all, a form of Earth Release, just a secretive one. However, it still falls under the category of Earth Release, and thus, it will be countered by Lightning Release, which alters its nature."

"You wouldn't have believed me if I had told you this before, and with your strength, most ninja skilled in Lightning Release wouldn't have any effect on you or made you realize the fact that Lightning Release counters your explosive clay. Now that you've discovered it, it's a good thing. It's better than realizing it during a life-and-death battle. If it weren't for certain reasons that brought you back, you would have probably ended up in a mutual destruction situation in battle if the enemy discovered your weakness."

As Deidara returned and drew him out, Onoki was also surprised. He also thought that he might not have a chance to see his disciple again in his lifetime, but now Deidara had returned, and his request was unexpected. Nevertheless, he didn't refuse. After all, what teacher wouldn't want their disciple to grow stronger?

He still saw himself first and foremost as a teacher, and then as the Tsuchikage. No teacher would not want their disciple to become stronger, ideally even surpassing the teacher. Of course, some individuals with ulterior motives or teachers like the Third Hokage were exceptions. Thus, when Deidara came to seek his guidance, he, as a teacher, taught Deidara all the knowledge he had missed when he was younger and later defected.

However, because he sensed that Deidara seemed to be in a hurry and didn't want to waste time, he decided to use practical experience through combat to let Deidara comprehend everything on his own, as it was the fastest way to achieve results.

"Hmm?" Deidara was not a fool, but the old man had been sparring with him every day since he returned, making his entire focus on dealing with the old man. He hadn't noticed the gains he made after each battle in these past few days. Having a Kage-level ninja as a sparring partner was something that countless people in the ninja world would envy, and Deidara had come to appreciate it.

As the village's Kage, Onoki naturally had detailed research on how to counter Lightning Release with Earth Release. He passed this knowledge to Deidara through their actual combat. However, Deidara was too focused and didn't pay attention to what he had learned.

"Deidara, do you know why I say you are my proudest disciple?" Onoki turned away, leaving only his back for Deidara to see.

"Stop acting," Deidara retorted with no good mood. He thought he was past the stage of pretending to be a big shot and acting like a skilled expert, yet Onoki seemed to completely ignore his words and continued to act as a skilled master, appearing aloof.

"It's simple. It's because if you hadn't defected, you would already be the Kage of this village," Onoki astonishingly said, leaving Deidara stunned. In Deidara's eyes, the Kage should be a blood relative of Onoki, like his son or granddaughter. How could an outsider like him be considered for the position?

"Surprised? Don't believe it? Hehe, I suppose you should know about my Bloodline Selection. If so, you should also be aware that my Dust Release was learned from the Second Tsuchikage. This Bloodline Selection is quite mysterious; it can be said to be hereditary, but it can also be taught to others. It's strange. There are two ways to learn Dust Release: the first is through hereditary succession by offspring."

"Unfortunately, my son and granddaughter didn't inherit this Bloodline Selection. Indeed, besides those who are descendants of those who use this Bloodline Selection, such as the Second Tsuchikage or my descendants, only those born with the innate constitution that combines Wind, Fire, and Earth Release have the qualification for inheritance. However, individuals born with the combination of Wind, Fire, and Earth Release are extremely rare. Neither my descendants nor the Second Tsuchikage's descendants have all three nature transformations simultaneously. So, the first method of inheriting through bloodline cannot continue."

"Thus, we can only resort to another method, which is similar to how the Second Tsuchikage taught Dust Release to me, to pass on Dust Release to you. Those who learn Dust Release have a special sense; if someone within a five-meter radius of me has the innate talent to learn Dust Release, they can sense it."

"And you, just like me back then, have the potential to learn Dust Release. I learned Dust Release from the Second Tsuchikage, and now I'm old. Since you've come back, though I know you'll leave again, I don't want the Dust Release passed down by the Second Tsuchikage to be without an inheritor after I die. So, whether you come back to Iwagakure in the future or not, since you've come back now to seek me out, I will teach you Dust Release."

"I hope that after I die, the Dust Release will have an inheritor, and it should be someone from Iwagakure. You were once a member of Iwagakure, and you are my disciple. Hehe, if I don't teach you, then who should I teach?"