Chapter 173: You're the One Courting Death!
Oborotsuki's counter-question made Kakashi's expression tighten slightly. His gaze instantly darkened.
He didn't answer Oborotsuki's question.
At this moment, Oborotsuki shook his head and sighed lightly: "Since you won't say it, I'll answer for you."
"Konoha's number one technician, the Copy Ninja Kakashi."
"The reason you can master thousands of ninjutsu and earn that title… is because of your Sharingan!"
"Am I right?"
Oborotsuki smiled as he looked at Kakashi. It felt as though a bolt of lightning shot from his sharp gaze straight toward the other man.
Kakashi felt his scalp tighten. For a moment, he was completely speechless.
Because he already understood exactly what Oborotsuki meant by this.
If nothing unexpected happened, the next hat would be placed squarely on his own head.
Sure enough, right after Kakashi realized this, Oborotsuki continued:
"In this world, you're not the only one who possesses the Sharingan. You have it, Kakashi. The Uchiha clan of Konoha has it too."
"So why are you so certain it was me who controlled the Nine-Tails and One-Tail?"
"Did you see it? Or did you see it?"
Oborotsuki looked alternately at Kakashi and Maki.
Both of them were rendered completely speechless by his questions.
Because neither of them had personally witnessed Oborotsuki controlling tailed beasts to attack their villages.
Everything was merely the judgment of their higher-ups.
"Heh heh…"
Seeing that they couldn't answer, Oborotsuki let out another light laugh: "Why can't it be you, Kakashi, who controlled the tailed beasts to attack your village?"
"And why can't it be your village's Uchiha clan?"
"Kakashi, I actually have one more question for you!"
"I heard your village's Uchiha clan rebelled—is that true? But I'm very curious: as one of Konoha's oldest and most prestigious clans, why would the Uchiha suddenly rebel?"
Oborotsuki's words left Terumī Mei beside him utterly stunned. Hoshigaki Kisame and the others also showed shocked expressions.
Because Hiruzen Sarutobi had ordered the information sealed.
Up until now—aside from Sunagakure and Oborotsuki—none of the other villages knew this had even happened.
Kakashi finally experienced firsthand how formidable this man truly was.
Not only was his strength overwhelming—enough to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with any village's Kage—
But his mind was razor-sharp, and his tongue was vicious beyond compare.
For a moment, both Kakashi and Maki were once again left unable to respond.
"Lord Oborotsuki, please don't change the subject. The Uchiha matter has nothing to do with the issue we came here to negotiate today…"
"How is it unrelated?"
Oborotsuki snorted coldly and looked toward Maki before returning his gaze to Kakashi's face.
"You accuse me of using the Sharingan to control tailed beasts. Then let me ask you—why did the Uchiha rebel? They are the legitimate users of the Sharingan, aren't they!"
"Isn't it because your Konoha had a conflict with the Uchiha clan, and they retaliated?"
"Now you're just pushing the blame onto me. Why go through all this trouble? Sigh!"
"If you want to use this as an excuse to join forces and invade the Land of Water, just say it outright."
"Are you trying to start the Fourth Great Ninja War?"
Hearing those last few words, cold sweat appeared on Maki's cheek. His expression turned grave.
War was no joke.
He could use this threat against Kirigakure because he assumed they wouldn't dare accept the challenge.
But now it seemed the other side wasn't afraid of this move at all.
If war really broke out, with Sunagakure's current military strength and economic situation, they would likely fall into an abyss from which there was no return.
Kakashi naturally had similar thoughts.
Neither dared to rashly respond to Oborotsuki's words. The room fell silent once again.
Just as Oborotsuki completely dominated the two envoys in terms of momentum, and Terumī Mei was about to speak up to smooth things over—giving Kakashi and Maki an out so they could retreat with some dignity—
Suddenly—BOOM!
A towering figure wrapped in crackling lightning smashed straight through the wall of the reception hall and burst inside.
"Hōzuki Oborotsuki!"
"Where did you take my sworn brother?! Hand him over right now! Otherwise today I will make your entire Kirigakure run red with blood and leave no chicken or dog alive!!"
The one who appeared was none other than the Fourth Raikage in full Lightning Release Chakra Mode.
After returning to Kumogakure, gathering all his elite forces, and setting out, he had been haunted by the words of Black Zetsu and White Zetsu—worried that Killer Bee might really have his tailed beast extracted and die.
So he activated Lightning Release Chakra Mode ahead of the main force and rushed here at maximum speed.
With his overwhelming power, he had broken into Kirigakure undetected—slipping past every sentry and hidden guard like he was walking through an empty field.
It wasn't until he reached this spot that Kirigakure's ANBU finally noticed him.
At this moment, dozens of figures chased after him and poured into the reception hall, surrounding the Fourth Raikage completely—they were Kirigakure's ANBU.
"I originally thought that as a Kage of a village, you at least had some courage and strategy."
"I didn't expect you to be nothing more than a brainless brute with nothing but strength."
Oborotsuki looked at the Fourth Raikage with a grim face and shook his head helplessly.
At the same time, he released his chakra sensing ability outward.
He wasn't worried that the Fourth Raikage could cause any real trouble in front of him.
His only concern was Akatsuki.
It was now certain that Akatsuki had instigated these villages to attack Kirigakure. Their purpose was obvious.
It was the remaining tailed beasts in Kirigakure's possession.
Oborotsuki had absolutely no intention of letting them succeed so easily.
"Little brat! You're courting death!"
"After I kill you, I'll slowly turn your entire Kirigakure upside down. I refuse to believe I won't find Bee!"
The Fourth Raikage—already furious beyond reason—exploded with rage the moment he heard Oborotsuki's words.
He attacked instantly. His entire body turned into a streak of lightning as he charged toward Oborotsuki.
But Oborotsuki was even faster—he had already vanished from his original spot.
BOOM—
The entire conference table was smashed to pieces by the Fourth Raikage's punch. The shockwave sent massive amounts of debris and wood chips flying—still carrying terrifying destructive power.
Everyone in the room jumped back in all directions.
"You're the one courting death!"
Oborotsuki was also angry now. He immediately counterattacked.
The Decapitation Greatsword appeared in his hand. He raised it high overhead and slashed downward toward the Fourth Raikage.
Having experienced the weapon's power in their previous clash, the Fourth Raikage knew very well how terrifying this seemingly flame-wreathed blade was. He didn't dare take it head-on and quickly dodged.
BOOM—
Three trails of blue flames chased after the Fourth Raikage as though they had a will of their own.
How could the narrow reception hall withstand such an intense battle between the two?
The moment Oborotsuki's weapon unleashed the three Divine Flames, the entire room was already crumbling under the terrifying chakra pressure from both of them.
Rumble rumble…
Parts of the Mizukage building began to collapse rapidly.
Everyone in the room changed expressions drastically and jumped outside one after another.
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