At the border between the Land of Grass, the Land of Waterfalls, and Konoha.
The Iwa-nin encampnt was set up here, standing in tense opposition to the Konoha shinobi stationed within the Land of Fire.
"Tsuchikage-sama, the envoys from Konoha request an audience!"
Ōnoki was reviewing intelligence reports inside his tent when the report ca in. Raising an eyebrow, he glanced at his granddaughter beside him. "Who is it?"
"Konoha’s Hatake Kakashi, Nara Shikaku, and Maito Gai!" the ssenger shinobi replied.
Hearing these nas, Ōnoki turned to Kurotsuchi. "Kurotsuchi, go et them first. Tell them I’m under the weather and will see them a bit later."
Kurotsuchi was puzzled but didn’t refuse. She nodded and left.
’My foolish son is useless... The future of Iwagakure will have to rest on your shoulders, my dear granddaughter. This old man’s bones won’t last forever—age truly is rciless.’
Watching Kurotsuchi’s retreating figure, Ōnoki pressed a hand to his aching back with a sigh.
---
"Kurotsuchi-sama, these are the envoys from Konoha!"
The ssenger shinobi led Kurotsuchi to the edge of the camp, introduced them briefly, then discreetly withdrew.
As shinobi, gathering intelligence was fundantal.
Hatake Kakashi, Nara Shikaku, and Maito Gai—all three were famous figures in Konoha. Kurotsuchi had long morized their profiles. But this was her first ti seeing them in person.
"The Tsuchikage is feeling unwell and has asked to receive you. Please, co this way."
Kakashi exchanged glances with Shikaku, silently elevating his assessnt of Kurotsuchi’s importance.
Ōnoki wanted to exploit Konoha’s weakness—there was no way he was actually sick. The only explanation was that he was deliberately pushing Kurotsuchi forward.
Kakashi and Shikaku were well aware of her background.
Iwagakure had always eyed Konoha covetously, and Konoha’s intelligence on the Ōnoki family was thorough—Kurotsuchi’s height, weight, three sizes, signature jutsu, even her personal interests were all docunted.
But after today, they’d need to pay even closer attention.
The three entered the Iwa camp, feeling the subtle, probing gazes of the Iwa-nin. Unfazed, they followed Kurotsuchi into a tent.
"How is the Third Tsuchikage’s condition? Should we pay him a visit?" Kakashi asked politely.
In truth, he’d be thrilled if Ōnoki dropped dead—it’d buy Konoha years of peace. Without his Dust Release, Iwagakure’s threat level would plumt.
"No need. This old man is still holding up—no major issues yet!" Ōnoki entered through a side door, his gaze lingering briefly on Kakashi’s covered left eye.
’If we could keep Kakashi here, could we secure that three-tomoe Sharingan for Iwagakure?’
But doing so would an outright war with Konoha. Was Iwa truly ready for that?
Truthfully, Iwagakure didn’t want this war—but such a rare opportunity couldn’t be ignored.
"Where’s your Hokage? Sending the three of you instead of coming herself—does she look down on this old man?"
Ōnoki’s loaded question hung in the air, testing their response.
"Both Kakashi and I serve as Konoha’s advisors—essentially, elders. Two of us coming to et the Third Tsuchikage can hardly be called disrespect." Shikaku countered smoothly, deflecting the verbal jab.
Then, he pressed on. "We’ve co bearing the Hokage’s ssage. She wishes to ask the Third Tsuchikage—does Iwagakure intend to provoke the Fourth Great Ninja War?"
"Are you threatening ?" Ōnoki’s eyes flashed with killing intent. Despite his small stature, an overwhelming pressure filled the tent—enough to make a chuunin tremble.
This was the aura of a man who had dominated the shinobi world for decades.
Strong. Extrely strong.
Shikaku felt slightly stifled under the sudden murderous intent. Much of his strength lay in his mind, not in direct combat. He had never faced soone like Ōnoki, a master of Dust Release, head-on.
"The Third Tsuchikage’s reputation is renowned across the shinobi world." Kakashi stepped forward, shielding Shikaku from the oppressive aura. "But Konoha’s commitnt to peace is equally well-known. Yet Iwa has encroached on our borders without cause—does this not signal a desire for war?"
"So you’re Hatake Kakashi. Not bad."
Ōnoki’s lips curled in faint praise as he withdrew his killing intent.
The trio’s deanor surprised him.
The Konoha he’d heard of was weak-willed. Years ago, when Kumo tried to kidnap the Hyūga heiress and then frad the Hyūga, Konoha had been ready to sacrifice the clan head to avoid conflict.
Hearing of that disgrace had cented Ōnoki’s contempt for Konoha.
He’d expected to squeeze concessions out of them through negotiation—yet reality proved different.
"Your praise honors , Tsuchikage-sama. I’m rely an ordinary Konoha jōnin." Kakashi replied humbly. "We’ve co in the na of peace. The shinobi world has enjoyed over a decade of stability—surely, you wouldn’t wish to plunge Iwagakure into war?"
"True enough."
Ōnoki had to admit Kakashi was sharper than expected.
"But the Land of Earth is barren. Crops barely grow. I’ve co hoping Konoha, out of humanitarian concern, might lend us aid—say, eight to ten million tons of grain?"
Kakashi nearly lost his composure.
Even if Konoha emptied its entire stockpile, it wouldn’t have ten million tons. And unlike the Land of Wind, the Land of Earth wasn’t entirely infertile. Look at Suna—they’d been self-sufficient for years without making such outrageous demands.
"The Tsuchikage jests. Konoha can barely feed itself. We sympathize with your plight, but our hands are tied." Kakashi declined tactfully.
Agreeing to such terms would brand him a traitor before he even returned to the village.
"Yet hunger breeds chaos. If unrest spills over, even I may struggle to control it. Should conflict with Konoha arise... that would be unfortunate." Ōnoki said with a chuckle, his words laced with veiled threats.
Kakashi didn’t back down. "If that’s the Tsuchikage’s stance, then so be it."
"Before we left, Tsunade-sama’s orders were clear—if Iwagakure attacks, Konoha will respond in kind. Effective imdiately, I am the frontline commander against Iwa. I look forward to your... guidance, Tsuchikage-sama."
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Read 40 advanced Chapters on my P@treon.
/KakuzuTL
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