The Land of Earth, a nation defined by desolate rocky cliffs and high-altitude mountain ranges.
Although its landmass is comparable to the Land of Fire, much like the desert-laden Land of Wind, most of its territory is unsuitable for human habitation. This is especially true when the biting gales blow from the north, sweeping vast amounts of fine rock into the air and carrying them into neighboring countries. This terrifying natural phenomenon, known as "Rock Rain," frequently causes immense hardship for the common folk.
Most importantly, the Land of Earth is entirely encircled by massive stone mountains, giving it a naturally isolationist character. It rarely communicates with the outside world. Consequently, the first impression of the Hidden Stone Village is often one of high numbers but low individual quality, relegated to the bottom tier of the Five Great Nations.
Compounded by a lack of Kekkei Genkai users and a dearth of top-tier combatants, the village relies almost entirely on Onoki, the Third Tsuchikage who wields Dust Release. On the surface, the village appears prosperous, but in reality, it is riddled with systemic vulnerabilities. In particular, the fact that Earth Release is completely countered by Lightning Release remains a problem without a solution; every direct confrontation with the Hidden Cloud results in heavy losses and little to show for it.
Nevertheless, Onoki had managed to lead the Hidden Stone to a moment of resurgence. However, following the conclusion of the shadow war against Konoha in the Land of Grass, that momentum had plummeted into an abyss like a roller coaster on a steep descent.
His son, Kitsuchi, dead! His granddaughter, Kurotsuchi, dead! His disciple and bodyguard, Akatsuchi, dead!
In addition to them, a vast number of elite Jonin and Special Jonin had perished. Though the numbers were not astronomical, it created an instantaneous vacuum in their high-level fighting force. Had it not been for this, he wouldn't have set his sights on Roshi, the Four-Tails Jinchuriki with whom he had a long-standing falling out.
"Roshi! Come back! The village needs you now," an older-looking Stone shinobi pleaded earnestly.
But Roshi remained unmoved, responding with a stoic expression: "Unless that old fossil Onoki steps down and gives up the title of Tsuchikage, I am never going back."
"Dammit! Do you have no feelings for the village left at all? This is the place that gave you life and raised you! And in the current state of things, who else but the Third Tsuchikage can support the backbone of the Stone?" another shinobi questioned loudly, his teeth bared in frustration.
Wasting half a month of breath with zero results had exhausted his patience. Had they not been outmatched in strength, these Stone shinobi would have likely chosen to use force to tie the Jinchuriki up and drag him home.
"Hmph! That's just Onoki's excuse for clinging to power! Look at how many powerful new-generation ninjas the Stone has produced under his rule all these years. Even the Kekkei Tota created by the Second Tsuchikage is on the verge of being lost! As long as Onoki is Tsuchikage, I will never return to the village."
As a stubborn old man, Roshi was not easily swayed by a few words; otherwise, he wouldn't have risked becoming a rogue ninja to wander the world.
One must understand that a Jinchuriki is the most vital weapon of war for any village! Unlike the legends whose names are carved into history generation after generation, a Jinchuriki represents a guaranteed floor for a village's military might. After all, no matter how powerful a ninja is, they will eventually grow old and die. But a Tailed Beast? It can be passed down forever.
Just as the Stone shinobi found themselves completely at a loss with the Four-Tails Jinchuriki, several unfamiliar figures suddenly appeared at the end of the road.
"O... Orochimaru?!" the lead Stone shinobi's pupils dilated instantly, and the hair on his body stood on end.
He wasn't alone; everyone present reacted similarly. But as the figures drew closer, they soon spotted another young man who inspired both hatred and terror—Allen.
"The weather in the Land of Earth is truly wretched. I'm starting to understand why they're always trying to invade others. If it were me, I'd do whatever it took to get a piece of normal land too."
Allen ignored the violent reactions of the Stone shinobi, complaining about the harsh environment as if no one else were there. He finally understood why this world was constantly at war, especially Konoha, which was frequently besieged by two or three villages at once. It was because the Land of Fire occupied seventy percent of the land most suitable for farming. In a world where survival resources were distributed so unevenly, of course everyone would target the one with the best lot.
"Hehe, it can't be helped. The Konoha founded by the First Hokage was too powerful back then, to the point where other small nations didn't dare raise a single objection regarding the border divisions," Orochimaru replied nonchalantly.
At this moment, all of his attention was fixed on Roshi.
Roshi quickly noticed this, narrowing his eyes as he asked, "Are you here for me as well?"
Orochimaru nodded slightly. "Correct. I need the Four-Tails inside you. While you have the right to resist, I suggest you don't waste your energy. No matter how you fight back, the result will be the same."
"Roshi! Run! Get back to the village! We'll handle things here!"
The lead Stone shinobi finally snapped out of his shock and immediately called for his comrades to take a combat stance. He knew perfectly well that his small group was no match for Allen and Orochimaru, and they would likely all be dead in seconds, but for the sake of the village's most vital asset, the Tailed Beast, they could not retreat a single step, even in the face of death.
"It's useless. You can't stop them. Leave this to me."
The moment the words left his mouth, a massive, thick, red tail erupted from behind Roshi, and his entire body was instantly encased in crimson lava.
"Going straight into a Tailed Beast transformation? What a diligent Jinchuriki. You want him, or should I?" Allen asked without turning his head.
"I'll leave him to you. I need to save my Chakra for the extraction process. As for these little Stone rats... Kimimaro, kill them all." Orochimaru's lips curled up slightly as he gave the order for slaughter.
"Yes!"
Kimimaro, whose terminal illness had been cured by Nen, didn't hesitate for a second. He lunged forward, raising his hand to unleash a signature ability of the Shikotsumyaku: Ten-Finger Drilling Bullets.
In an instant, a volley of finger bones flew out like bullets at speeds the eye could barely track. Before two of the Stone shinobi could even react, their heads were pierced with a sickening thud. Blood and brain matter seeped from the holes as they collapsed backward, gasping their final breaths.
"Dance of the Willow!"
Having secured the first kill, Kimimaro didn't stop. Long, sharp bones protruded from his elbows, knees, and palms. With a Body Flicker, he tore into the crowd, mercilessly slaughtering the Stone shinobi one by one.
Under his terrifying assault, the Stone shinobi were powerless to resist. They could only rely on Substitution Jutsus and Earth Release in a desperate, dying struggle. In a matter of minutes, as the last shinobi's heart was pierced by a bone blade, the one-sided battle concluded.
From start to finish, Roshi made no move to help. It wasn't that he didn't want to, but that he couldn't.
Allen had already fully deployed his electric field. For a radius of one kilometer, the entire area was shrouded within the domain of his Flying Raijin Technique. No matter what move the opponent made, they would inevitably be met with a tempestuous, overwhelming strike.