Highlights
- Tsuchikage are pivotal leaders in Naruto, with each facing unique fates – some tragic, some strong.
- Mu, the Second Tsuchikage, was the strongest and met his demise in a heated conflict with the Second Mizukage.
- Onoki, the Third Tsuchikage, passed away after a scandalous reign marked by betrayals and fraudulence.
The Naruto series’ power-system dictates the Kage to be the strongest shinobi of their respective villages, with the responsibility of leading their nation also being vested in this sacred position. Naturally, this holds true for the Tsuchikage of the Hidden Stone Village, a nation that teeters on the controversial side of things with its underhanded policies. With multiple treaty violations and several accounts of deceptive tactics, the Tsuchikage are infamous for their self-serving antics.
The Hidden Stone has witnessed a total of four reigning Tsuchikage over its history, out of which three bear familial ties with one another. Despite its somewhat long existence, the Hidden Stone has the lowest number of serving Kage out of the Five Great Nations, though this resulted in plenty of exposition for each Tsuchikage and their eventual fates. Through the Hidden Stone’s well-documented history, the fate of each Tsuchikage is as clear as day, with some meeting tragic ends, and others still going strong.
4 The First Tsuchikage — Ishikawa
Died of Natural Causes
|
First Appearance |
Naruto Shippuden, Episode 332, “A Will of Stone” |
|
Debut Date |
September 26, 2013 |
As the founder of the Hidden Stone Village, Ishikawa was the embodiment of the Will of Stone, and his policies for his newfound nation reflected this will through its strategy of self-preservation. While it was never stated exactly how strong the First Tsuchikage was, it’s clear that he possessed considerable strength, evident from his feat of carving out a new nation that stood on par with the rest of the Five Great Shinobi Villages.
Similar to the first Kage of every other nation, the Naruto series never revealed the exact fate of the First Tsuchikage. However, it’s safe to assume he died of old age since he never partook in any of the Great Ninja Wars. While his own clan fell into disgrace, Ishikawa was able to leave behind an influential legacy, with the Third and Fourth Tsuchikage being his direct descendants.
3 The Second Tsuchikage — Mu
Killed By the Second Mizukage
|
First Appearance |
Naruto Shippuden, Episode 256, “Assemble! Allied Shinobi Forces!” |
|
Debut Date |
March 29, 2012 |
Dubbed as “Non-Person,” Mu was the Hidden Stone’s Second Tsuchikage, and arguably the strongest one out of the four. With access to the Dust Release Kekkei Tota, mastery over all five nature transformations, and the ability to nullify his own chakra presence, Mu’s strength truly remained unrivaled. However, the Second Tsuchikage wasn’t above dealing in underhanded tactics for the benefit of the Hidden Stone, a belief that he even imparted to his successor.
This very cunning nature is what led to the Second Mizukage, Gengetsu Hozuki, despising Mu. The two developed a shared hostility towards each other, and this very enmity led to their mutual deaths in a lethal confrontation. Mu was resurrected once more via Kabuto’s Edo Tensei, though the Allied Shinobi Forces failed to seal him away. His soul was eventually recalled to the Pure Land after Itachi released Kabuto’s mass Edo Tensei.
2 The Third Tsuchikage — Onoki
Passed Away From the Toll of Fighting Ku
|
First Appearance |
Naruto Shippuden, Episode 199, “Enter The Five Kage” |
|
Debut Date |
February 17, 2011 |
As one of the longest serving Kage out there, the Third Tsuchikage has shaped much of the present-day Hidden Stone Village. However, Onoki’s rule as Tsuchikage was marred by controversies, as his reign was laced with betrayals and treaty violations, even going as far as bankrolling the Akatsuki for his own benefit. The Hidden Stone became notorious for its history of fraudulence, and it wasn’t until the Fourth Great Ninja War that the Third Tsuchikage redeemed himself.
Almost a decade after the conclusion of the war, Onoki stepped down from the seat of Tsuchikage. However, he continued to research ways to reduce the loss of human life, resulting in the formation of Fabrications (human clones) that would fight in place of shinobi. The plan eventually backfired as Ku and the other Fabrications defied his orders. Onoki was able to defeat Ku, but it left him devoid of chakra and life force, resulting in his tragic demise. Onoki became the first of the original Five Kage from Naruto Shippuden to pass away, and that too, shrouded in yet another scandal.
1 The Fourth Tsuchikage — Kurotsuchi
The Current Tsuchikage of the Hidden Stone Village
|
First Appearance |
Naruto Shippuden, Episode 199, “Enter The Five Kage” |
|
Debut Date |
February 17, 2011 |
As the great-granddaughter of the First and granddaughter of the Third Tsuchikage, Kurotsuchi was already primed to take up the mantle after Onoki’s retirement. Her feats in the Fourth Great Ninja War deemed her the perfect candidate for the seat of Tsuchikage, and being a descendant of the previous Tsuchikage furthered her case.
Kurotsuchi currently serves as the Fourth Tsuchikage of the Hidden Stone, and her reign has successfully fostered close ties with the Five Great Nations. With new developments rattling Boruto’s narrative, Kurotsuchi’s fate could eventually change. For now, however, the young kunoichi has a firm grasp over her nation’s affairs, reflecting not just the Will of Stone but her predecessors’ policy of self-preservation.
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