Chapter 18: This Isn't Infighting—It's Purging the Vermin
Before dawn in Iwagakure Village, inside the Tsuchikage's office, Ōnoki stood by the window, his gray-white eyebrows tightly knitted together.
His rough fingers unconsciously rubbed the windowsill as he muttered to himself: "A green Susanoo over seventy meters tall… that Uchiha Fugaku brat has awakened the same eyes as Uchiha Madara… Is Konoha… about to rise again?"
Outside the window, the first ray of morning light pierced through the clouds.
Ōnoki turned to the mirror and realized that overnight he seemed to have aged ten years—several more strands of white had appeared at his temples.
Thinking of his captured son Kitsuchi, the five thousand elite Iwagakure ninjas now in enemy hands, and Konoha's demand for three hundred billion ryō in war reparations, it felt as though a giant stone were crushing his chest.
Suddenly, Ōnoki took a deep breath and shouted: "Kari! Come with me to the front lines for negotiations."
Kari bowed respectfully: "Yes, Tsuchikage-sama."
He was a member of Iwagakure's Explosion Corps, possessing the kekkei genkai Explosion Release—his strength was not to be underestimated. This was likely why the Tsuchikage had chosen him to accompany.
The two stepped onto the rooftop of the Tsuchikage Tower. The morning wind was biting; Ōnoki's robes whipped loudly.
He formed hand seals; chakra flowed within him: "Earth Release: Light-Weight Rock Technique!"
A strange sensation of weightlessness came over them. Their bodies slowly floated upward.
Ōnoki controlled the chakra flow and carried Kari toward the border of the Land of Grass. Below, Iwagakure Village gradually shrank; the dawn light gilded the stone buildings in gold.
...
Konoha frontline camp, central command tent.
Urgent footsteps from a guard broke the early morning stillness.
"Report to Commander Fugaku! The Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki and his escort Kari have arrived. They specifically request to see you!"
Inside the tent, Uchiha Fugaku opened his eyes and glanced at his pocket watch—5:58.
His voice remained calm as water: "Invite them to wait in the main tent first. Notify Uchiha Hachidai, Clan Head Kurama, and Clan Head Kazami to assemble. Also bring that kid Sanpō."
"Yes, sir!"
When Fugaku entered the main tent, Konoha's higher-ups were already gathered.
Ōnoki sat opposite, his diminutive frame radiating undeniable authority.
Uchiha Hachidai, Uchiha Sanpō, Clan Head Kurama, and Clan Head Kazami watched the other side warily; the atmosphere inside the tent was heavy as iron.
Uchiha Fugaku took the head seat and spoke unhurriedly: "Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki, we've kept you waiting."
Ōnoki snorted coldly: "Uchiha brat, spare the nonsense. You can have the surrender document—but three hundred billion ryō in war reparations? No. That doesn't conform to the rules of ninja warfare!"
Uchiha Fugaku raised a hand lightly. An attendant immediately served hot tea.
He took a slow sip before speaking: "War is judged only by results. Besides, in the Third Great Ninja War, it was your side that first tore up the peace agreement. It was you who allied with the other three great ninja villages to besiege Konoha."
No one expected Fugaku to state it so bluntly. The temperature in the tent seemed to drop sharply.
Ōnoki's face turned iron-blue: "The four great villages attacked Konoha—you should look for the reasons within yourselves! Besides, in war between nations, it's every side for itself."
Uchiha Fugaku set down his teacup. The clear clink of porcelain against saucer cut off the Tsuchikage's roar.
A faint, almost imperceptible smile curved his lips: "Ōnoki… perhaps Konoha should join forces with Kumogakure and launch an assault on the Land of Earth—complete village and national destruction. Starting next year, the Land of Earth would become nothing but history in the ninja world."
These words struck Ōnoki's heart like a precisely aimed kunai.
The old Tsuchikage's pupils contracted violently. He knew Kumogakure's wolfish ambitions all too well—and he knew Uchiha Fugaku was not bluffing.
Kari couldn't hold back and stepped forward: "You Konoha people—don't go too far!"
Uchiha Fugaku didn't even glance at him; his gaze remained locked on Ōnoki: "Three hundred billion ryō is indeed no small sum… so we don't intend for Iwagakure Village to pay it."
Ōnoki's brows furrowed tightly: "What do you mean?"
Uchiha Fugaku's fingers tapped lightly on the table: "In the face of national destruction, the nobles of the Land of Earth should be more than happy to pay this amount for you."
A deathly silence filled the tent. Ōnoki's hands trembled slightly; he understood the naked political blackmail in Fugaku's words.
Either convince the daimyo and nobles to pay, or Iwagakure would face total annihilation. There was no room for rebuttal.
Uchiha Sanpō couldn't help but let out a low chuckle—quickly silenced by a sharp look from Hachidai. Clan Head Kurama stroked his beard, admiration flashing in his eyes.
Ōnoki's back hunched slightly, as though bearing an invisible weight. His voice came out hoarse: "Bring pen and paper. I agree."
An attendant respectfully presented the prepared agreement and brush.
Ōnoki took the brush; his fingers whitened from the force of his grip.
At that moment, Uchiha Sanpō suddenly spoke: "I've heard that members of Danzō Shimura's Root leaked our outpost intelligence to your village? These traitors caused multiple failed operations on our side. I hope the surrender agreement specifically notes that Iwagakure must hand over all related evidence and personnel information."
Shimura Danzō: Old man just dug out some Uchiha Sharingan—what are you gonna do about it!
At these words, several Konoha clan heads exchanged shocked glances—even Uchiha Fugaku raised an eyebrow slightly.
A glint flashed in Ōnoki's eyes as he weighed the pros and cons: the war would end soon—handing over these things was fine. Letting Konoha's people fight among themselves and cause more losses would be even better!
Thinking this, Ōnoki smiled insincerely: "We do indeed possess some… interesting intelligence."
Uchiha Sanpō suppressed the wild joy in his heart and maintained a stern expression: "Please include these proofs as an attachment to the surrender document. Konoha must purge its traitors!"
Ōnoki stroked his beard, calculation gleaming in his eyes: "With pleasure. After all… Iwagakure despises rule-breakers—even if they belong to another village."
The negotiations continued, but the atmosphere had shifted.
When Ōnoki finally signed the agreement, the special attachment clearly listed seven instances of secret contacts between Root and Iwagakure, along with detailed information on three key liaisons.
Kari immediately understood. He summoned a large scroll, unsealed it, retrieved several smaller scrolls, and placed them on the negotiation table.
As Ōnoki stood to leave, he cast a meaningful glance toward Uchiha Sanpō: "I hope this intelligence proves useful to you… By noon, I'll deliver the three hundred billion ryō. Once you receive the money, release the prisoners immediately!"
Uchiha Fugaku's gaze swept over the scrolls before he gave a slight nod: "Rest assured—once we receive the money, we'll release them at once!"
After the tent flap fell, Uchiha Hachidai immediately set up a soundproof barrier.
Clan Head Kazami couldn't hold back and questioned: "Sanpō-kun, aren't you stirring up internal conflict?!"
Uchiha Sanpō calmly unrolled one of the scrolls: "Please look at the date of the third intelligence exchange—it was the very day the Kazami clan's supply convoy was ambushed by an Iwagakure elite squad."
Clan Head Kazami's face changed dramatically. That ambush had cost him his eldest son.
Uchiha Sanpō's voice was cold as ice: "Danzō, to weaken Konoha's various clans, went so far as to collude with the enemy and sell out the village. This isn't infighting—it's purging vermin."
Uchiha Fugaku finally stood. His Mangekyō Sharingan glinted coldly in the shadows: "The war isn't over yet. Today's matter ends here in this tent."
Everyone fell silent. They all understood: once this evidence reached Konoha, the decisive confrontation between Shimura Danzō and the Uchiha would be inevitable.
If you're enjoying the translation, your support on Patreon really helps me keep going stronger and faster. Thank you! ❤️
patreon.com/arthursink