"Everyone," Ōnoki said slowly, his gaze sweeping across the hall, "since the founding of Iwagakure, emergency jōnin meetings like today's have happened only three times."
"Each of those times marked a crossroads for the village's future."
"Even though I bear the title of Tsuchikage, at moments like this, I am no different from any of you. I am simply a shinobi of Iwagakure."
"Because I know this clearly—only the path chosen by everyone, with one heart and one will, can ever be the right path."
He paused, his voice lowering.
"This emergency meeting is being convened even though the shinobi world appears relatively peaceful. Uchiha Obito and his accomplices are still lurking in the shadows of this world, capable of striking a fatal blow to the entire shinobi world—and to Iwagakure—at any moment."
"Therefore, we must seize this rare period of peace. Every minute, every second must be used to strengthen ourselves."
"Only by doing so can Iwagakure survive the coming storms—and one day even surpass Kumogakure."
Ōnoki's words instantly ignited the emotions of the senior shinobi seated below.
The Will of Stone burned fiercely in their hearts. Eyes reddened with fervor.
Love for the village. The instinct to protect family and comrades. Hatred toward Uchiha Obito, the most wanted traitor in the shinobi world. Disgust—and rivalry—toward Kumogakure.
Each of them carried different thoughts, but at this moment, all of those emotions surged together.
All except one.
At the far end of the front row sat Rōshi, arms crossed, brow deeply furrowed. He looked down on Ōnoki's impassioned speech and snorted coldly.
"Ōnoki," Rōshi said bluntly, "put away your pretty words and that old fox routine."
"Just say what you actually want to say."
"I hate that self-righteous expression of yours the most."
The atmosphere in the conference hall instantly turned heavy.
Some of the jōnin below snapped out of their emotional fervor. To reach the rank of jōnin meant they were no fools—they could clearly hear the implication in Rōshi's words.
A pointed accusation.
That Ōnoki habitually stirred emotions to cloud judgment, guiding others to follow him blindly under the sway of passion.
Ōnoki's expression darkened. He hadn't expected Rōshi to challenge him so openly—especially at a moment like this.
Disagreements in private were one thing. Undermining him publicly was another.
Anger flared in his chest—but for the sake of the village, he forced it down.
"Rōshi," Ōnoki said coldly, "I know you dislike my methods."
"But everyone here is an elite of the village. Every one of them is a jōnin."
"Do you really think they're children who can't tell right from wrong?"
"If you have objections, then listen to what I have to say first."
"As long as your reasoning makes sense and earns everyone's approval—why wouldn't we listen to you?"
Ōnoki's counter pushed Rōshi into temporary silence.
Hearing this, the pride of the jōnin below rose slightly.
After all, none of them had earned the title of jōnin by accident.
No one disliked being acknowledged.
"Earlier today," Ōnoki continued, "I spoke with Uchiha Hikaru."
"And he rejected our request to further expand commercial cooperation in Iwagakure."
The hall erupted.
Angry voices surged like a tide, filled with indignation.
"Iwagakure has already joined the Ninja Association! Konoha builds bridges with Kirigakure, expands trade with Kumogakure, and even revives the First Hokage to plant forests in Sunagakure—so why won't they cooperate further with us!?"
"Isn't this just bullying honest people!?"
"Are we being excluded just because we're from the Hidden Stone!?"
"We poured resources into building the Ninja Association, and now that it's done, they want to cut us off!? That Uchiha Hikaru is a complete bastard!!"
Voices overlapped, anger spiraling out of control.
"Kitsuchi!" Ōnoki barked.
Kitsuchi stepped forward and roared, his voice cutting through the chaos.
"Silence!"
"Wait until Tsuchikage-sama finishes speaking before voicing your opinions!"
"Have you all forgotten basic discipline!?"
The uproar finally subsided.
Ōnoki glanced at Kitsuchi and nodded slightly, a trace of relief passing through him.
So… my son really has grown up. At least now, he understands authority and timing.
"Although Uchiha Hikaru rejected our proposal," Ōnoki continued, "his reasoning was not without merit."
"Among the Five Great Nations, the Land of Earth has the most inconvenient transportation."
"Even the Land of Wind has camels to transport goods."
"But our terrain is treacherous. Only a handful of roads are viable for trade, discouraging merchants from coming here."
"However, the construction of the new commercial district and the Ninja Association has already consumed vast financial resources."
"At present, the village simply cannot afford large-scale road construction."
"Therefore, Uchiha Hikaru proposed entrusting the war commission of Nadeshiko Village to Iwagakure, in order to alleviate our financial pressure."
At this, Rōshi let out a mocking laugh.
"Ōnoki," he sneered, "you really are getting old and muddled."
"Nadeshiko Village may not be famous, but its strength rivals Takigakure."
"You expect me to believe Konoha would hand over something that valuable?"
"You're blinded by money and can't tell reality from fantasy anymore."
In Rōshi's eyes, this was absurd.
How could Konoha willingly give up such a lucrative commission?
At that moment, a smile finally crept onto Ōnoki's face.
A smile like a fox watching prey walk straight into its trap.
"Under normal circumstances," Ōnoki said calmly, "it wouldn't happen."
"Even Sarutobi Hiruzen wouldn't have done such a thing."
"But while the Uchiha are the strongest force in the shinobi world today, they still lack something compared to an old man like me—experience."
"Konoha's cooperation with multiple villages requires enormous manpower, resources, and funds."
"They don't lack money."
"They don't lack technology."
"The one thing they lack… is people."
"Village expansion. Bridge construction. Caravan expansion. Flood control in the Land of Rain."
"Which of these doesn't demand massive manpower?"
"On top of that, Konoha has mobilized large numbers of shinobi for efficiency."
"If not for maintaining the stability of the Ninja Association, do you really think they'd give up the Nadeshiko Village commission?"
"If today the Ninja Association excludes Iwagakure," Ōnoki said sharply, "then tomorrow it could be Kumogakure."
"The day after, Kirigakure."
"Or even Sunagakure."
"It's that simple."
"This commission isn't charity."
"It's Konoha's concession."
"We won it with our own strength."
He turned his gaze toward Rōshi, eyes sharp as stone.
"Now tell me, Rōshi."
"Do you understand?"