Night.
Land of Earth.
Iwagakure.
At this moment, the Tsuchikage Residence was shrouded in a heavy, oppressive atmosphere—so heavy it bordered on suffocating.
Especially the Third Tsuchikage seated behind his desk. Ōnoki wore a deeply troubled expression; his already aged face now looked as though it had grown several years older in an instant.
Kneeling quietly before him was an Iwagakure Anbu ninja, his face likewise filled with disbelief.
"So you're saying that after hearing our threats, Konoha's Namikaze Minato not only wasn't intimidated, but instead chose to further support Uchiha Feng's Amegakure—making his position as Rain Shadow even more secure?"
The Tsuchikage Residence remained silent for only a few seconds before Ōnoki's deep, thunderous voice suddenly rang out.
As he spoke, his face twisted with clenched teeth, his anger plain to see.
Originally, when Uchiha Feng became the Rain Shadow of Amegakure, Ōnoki and the others had been greatly shaken and immediately ordered Iwagakure's troops to advance toward the Land of Rain.
However, after seeing the Rain ninja standing in full battle formation, Ōnoki—seeking to minimize casualties—chose instead to pressure Konoha, hoping that Konoha would cooperate with them to jointly eliminate Uchiha Feng.
After all, if Iwagakure and Kumogakure joined forces, even Konoha would find it difficult to withstand their ferocious momentum.
Yet what Ōnoki never expected was that after receiving their threats, Konoha not only refused to cooperate—but actually increased its support for Amegakure instead.
How could this not enrage him? How could he not be furious!?
One had to remember that Iwagakure's general Akatsuchi was still in the hands of Uchiha Feng and his people. If mishandled, his trusted right-hand man could very well walk straight down the path to death.
This—this was something Ōnoki absolutely could not accept.
"Lord Ōnoki, what caught us off guard is that Konoha, which used to be submissive and timid, has become extraordinarily tough this time. And from what I know…"
"Ever since the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, took office, the Uchiha clan—represented by Uchiha Feng—has given him immense support, especially Uchiha Feng himself…"
"There are even rumors circulating that Uchiha Feng is very likely to become Konoha's Fifth Hokage. Everything Namikaze Minato is doing is simply paving the road for him!"
When the Anbu ninja reached this point, he couldn't help but let out a long breath, his eyes flashing with deep astonishment.
When he first learned of this news, he himself had been badly shaken.
Sure enough, upon hearing this, the Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki suddenly understood. He grasped Minato's painstaking intentions—and also understood why Uchiha Feng had gone to seize control of Amegakure in the first place.
"It seems… both of them possess truly terrifying ambitions."
As he spoke, Ōnoki frowned deeply.
Amegakure's location was simply too special. Once it fell fully into Konoha's hands, Konoha could use it as a starting point to launch surprise attacks against surrounding great nations, thereby expanding its influence.
It could be said that the moment Uchiha Feng became the Rain Shadow of Amegakure, the entire structure of the ninja world was quietly shattered.
And the one who had orchestrated all of this was very likely Uchiha Feng himself.
Ōnoki did not believe that the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, alone possessed such vision and strategic foresight.
"Then, Lord Third Tsuchikage… what should we do?"
The Iwagakure Anbu ninja took a deep breath and couldn't help but ask.
After all, even now, the upper echelons of Iwagakure were completely at a loss. They couldn't possibly just watch as Amegakure was firmly grasped in Uchiha Feng's hands.
That would be a devastating blow to Iwagakure's prestige.
"Since Konoha is no longer an option," Ōnoki said coldly, "then we can only take the hard route. While Amegakure is still unstable, we crush it in one blow and reclaim it!"
As he spoke, his gaze turned icy.
"Understood, Lord Tsuchikage. I'll go make preparations at once."
The Anbu ninja nodded slightly. For Iwagakure as a whole, this course of action could be considered the optimal choice.
"Wait."
Just as the Anbu ninja was about to leave, a calm voice suddenly echoed through the hall.
"There's no need to mobilize the entire Iwagakure force for a mere Uchiha Feng. As long as I and the Five-Tails Jinchūriki take action, that'll be more than enough."
As the words fell, a middle-aged man wearing Iwagakure combat attire slowly walked in.
Behind him followed a man wearing a red conical hat.
Upon seeing the two of them, Ōnoki's eyes immediately lit up.
The man in front was none other than his son, Kurotsuchi—no, Huang Tu—one of Iwagakure's most decorated commanders, leading the village's ace troops and boasting an outstanding record of military achievements.
Countless Konoha ninja had died at Huang Tu's hands.
Yet compared to Huang Tu, the one who truly reassured Ōnoki was the man in the red hat behind him—
One of Iwagakure's two Jinchūriki: the Five-Tails Jinchūriki, Han.
Do not underestimate a Jinchūriki.
Ever since the Warring States Era, the great nations—seeking balance and peace—had eventually reached an agreement: each major nation would possess its own Jinchūriki to maintain equilibrium in military power.
Iwagakure's share were the Four-Tails Jinchūriki Rōshi and the Five-Tails Jinchūriki Han.
With the support of these two Jinchūriki, Iwagakure had been nearly unstoppable, sweeping across battlefields with overwhelming force.
Of course, Jinchūriki were not easy to control. Mishandling them would pose a catastrophic threat to one's own village—no different from a nuclear explosion.
This was also one of the reasons why the major hidden villages rarely deployed Jinchūriki.
At present, Iwagakure's ace troops had suffered badly against Uchiha Feng's formidable strength in Amegakure. But once a Jinchūriki entered the fray, the outcome would be far from certain.
Especially the Five-Tails Jinchūriki Han—known as the "Steam Ninja"—who had earned countless merits for Iwagakure. In the hearts of many, Han was an invincible, godlike existence.
"Send the Five-Tails Jinchūriki into battle…?"
Ōnoki fell silent.
Once a Jinchūriki stepped onto the battlefield, it was essentially equivalent to declaring war on the entire world—no different from igniting another Great Ninja War.
Yet ordinary troops were clearly no match for Uchiha Feng.
As Ōnoki pondered this dilemma, a flustered Iwagakure ninja suddenly rushed in from outside.
"Lord Ōnoki, bad news! Deidara of the Iwagakure Demolition Squad—who was originally part of our forces—is now carrying out terrorist-style explosion attacks all over Iwagakure!"
"What!?"
Ōnoki frowned, about to issue an order—
When suddenly, without any warning, a figure flashed into the hall.
"Greetings, everyone.
This humble one—the Third Rain Shadow, and Konoha high-level advisor—Uchiha Feng, pays his respects to all senior figures!"
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