The Three-Tails' chakra was annihilated, scattering across the surface of the sea.
Yagura Kokkuri's exhausted body floated up from beneath the water.
A wave struck him and flipped him over, leaving him face-up.
His eyes moved, staring at the fox in despair.
"Ōnoki… is Ōnoki truly that cruel…?"
Yako looked at the baby-faced young man and said, "Young man, this isn't your first time learning how cruel the shinobi world is.
This world is like a geisha in the Land of Hot Water, kneaded and shaped by whoever has power.
Yagura Kokkuri, order Kirigakure to submit to Konoha. I will find a way to make this world less cruel. At the very least, I'll establish deterrence and end war."
Yagura smiled.
"Go to hell. Konoha occupies the best resources in the shinobi world, and you still dare tell Kirigakure to submit?
Ōnoki is no good man, but do you think Konoha is any better?"
Yako shook his head.
There was no point trying to persuade Yagura.
Ninja were used to solving problems through violence. He could kill Yagura, but he could not change Yagura's will.
A wooden spear appeared in Yako's hand, and he stabbed Yagura to death.
In the distance, after seeing the Three-Tails killed, the Six-Tails fired a Tailed Beast Ball and immediately fled.
Yako did not chase it.
He wanted to increase his control over different chakra natures. The Six-Tails specialized in Water Release, so leaving it alive would let him use the system to farm some Water Release-related jutsu.
After dealing with the Three-Tails and Six-Tails, Yako gestured for Kushina to follow him.
When they arrived outside the temple, they happened to meet Yamanaka Kari, who had teleported over from Konoha and was anxiously searching for reinforcements.
"Lord Fox! Ōnoki and the Raikage have launched a surprise attack on the village!"
"Quick. We return together and reinforce the village!"
When they returned to Konoha Village again, they saw that near the wall, Sarutobi Hiruzen was fighting the Raikage.
The two had destroyed great stretches of the wall.
"Kushina, go help Lord Hokage."
Yako raised his head toward the night sky. Under the moonlight, a floating black dot could be seen.
"I'll handle Ōnoki!"
After thinking for a moment, Yako said to Yamanaka Kari, "Barrier Team Leader, Clan Leader Yamanaka Ino'en, has gone to the Land of Hot Water front. Jonin Kari, find some skilled members of the Yamanaka clan, as well as ninja proficient in barrier ninjutsu, and strengthen the Barrier Team.
Ōnoki and the Raikage may only be a decoy. The real person intending to destroy Konoha may be someone else."
Yamanaka Kari immediately accepted the order and vanished with Body Flicker Technique, heading off to gather people and reinforce the Barrier Team.
A mass of sand appeared beneath Yako's feet, lifting him into the sky.
Seeing the sand beneath the fox's feet, Ōnoki said, "Why do you have Sunagakure's secret sand technique?"
"Does that matter?"
Ōnoki sneered, despising Rasa even more.
Rasa could not even protect Sunagakure's most important secret technique. The secrets of sand manipulation had been stolen by Konoha's ANBU.
A square Dust Release barrier appeared in Ōnoki's hands.
In the next instant, he withdrew his contempt for Rasa.
Because a Dust Release barrier also appeared in the fox's hand.
What?
Had Konoha's ANBU sent spies to steal Iwagakure's Scroll of Seals?
And he, the Tsuchikage, knew nothing about it?
The two Dust Release attacks collided.
Because Ōnoki's mind had been shaken, his Dust Release was a fraction slower. The explosion occurred very close to him, and the blast sent him flying even higher into the sky.
Ōnoki lowered himself slowly in shock until he was level with Konoha's fox.
"You! Why do you have Sunagakure's secret sand technique and our Iwagakure's secret Dust Release?"
"Does that matter?"
Ōnoki's face turned ugly. Then he let out a self-mocking laugh.
"After you killed Uchiha Madara, you remained quiet for several years. I once mocked you, thinking you were like those great figures in history who began brilliantly and ended poorly, indulging in comfort and wasting your strength.
Now it seems you weren't doing nothing these past few years.
The Konoha ANBU under your command are excellent. Excellent enough to secretly steal the secrets of several villages.
At this point, even if you had mastered the Raikage's Lightning Release Chakra Mode, I wouldn't be surprised."
Yako glanced down at the Raikage and thought that he had already died once this month.
Then he said, "Don't slander me. I truly haven't stolen the Raikage's Lightning Release Chakra Mode.
But you've reminded me. Next month… no, never mind, it may not be next month. Maybe some months in the future, I can try obtaining Lightning Release Chakra Mode."
Ōnoki lowered his eyelids, feeling a different kind of defeat in his heart.
Yako noticed the change in his expression and asked, "What's wrong, Ōnoki? Even you can feel dejected?
What use is it for so many ninja to die in war? In the end, Konoha will still be the victor.
Admit defeat, Ōnoki. Let the war end here. You only need to obey the postwar order Konoha establishes. I don't want to kill tens of thousands of Iwagakure ninja either."
Ōnoki slowly raised his head. His eyes shifted from dejection to blazing fighting spirit.
"Even when the First Hokage and Uchiha Madara entered the Land of Earth, I never yielded. Let alone before you, Fox.
You want me to admit defeat? Impossible!
I admit you are strong. I admit I am inferior to you. So what?
Even if I die, I will never die of old age. I will only die in battle, challenging the strong!
That is my Will of Stone!"
Yako shook his head.
Even if he became the strongest person in the shinobi world, there would still be ninja everywhere who wanted to challenge him.
Many people in this world had strange thought patterns. They firmly believed their kunai was the sharpest, firmly believed there was no enemy who could not be defeated.
Yako raised his hands and formed a seal.
"Since you refuse to admit defeat…"
Dozens of Longspear Egrets burst out from the white smoke.
Longspear Egrets were Yako's first type of summoned beast—extremely fast birds, perfect for aerial combat.
More importantly, each Longspear Egret was holding a Flying Thunder God kunai.
The Longspear Egrets scattered rapidly.
Ōnoki was stunned to discover that the fox had vanished.
A violent chakra fluctuation appeared behind him. Ōnoki quickly turned his head and saw the fox appear there instantly.
Damn it.
The fox also knew the Second Hokage's Flying Thunder God.
He truly was a monster.
Yako wanted to observe Ōnoki's Dust Release from close range, so he did not use any other jutsu. He deliberately used Dust Release to provoke Ōnoki.
The two clashed continuously with Dust Release in midair, and the light of their explosions illuminated the night sky again and again.
People inside Konoha occasionally raised their heads to look at the sky, watching white pillar-shaped barriers collide before erupting into dazzling blasts.
Ōnoki was having an extremely difficult time.
Fox was too fast.
He swept his gaze across the Longspear Egrets flying chaotically around him, thinking that he had to deal with those birds carrying Flying Thunder God kunai first.
Gathering chakra, Ōnoki waited for an opening between the fox's attacks and prepared to sweep the area with Dust Release, killing all the Longspear Egrets.
But before he could act, one Longspear Egret had already dived downward, throwing its Flying Thunder God kunai toward Ōnoki.
Just as Ōnoki's Particle Release finished condensing, a figure suddenly appeared above his head.
There was no need for Forbidden Technique: Gold Dust Severing Wave.
An ordinary Water Release: Water Severing Wave was enough to cut off Ōnoki's left arm.
Blood sprayed.
Ōnoki's left arm fell from the sky.
Yako's gaze followed Ōnoki's severed arm downward, searching through Konoha Village.
Sure enough, he saw someone wearing a black robe patterned with red clouds.
Uchiha Obito.
While Yako and Ōnoki were locked in battle, Uchiha Obito was about to make his move against Konoha Village.