The Three-Tails' chakra was annihilated, dissipating over the sea.
Yagura Karatachi's exhausted body floated up from beneath the water.
A wave turned him over, face up.
He moved his eyes, staring despairingly at Fox.
"Ōnoki... could Ōnoki truly be so ruthless..."
Yōkō looked at this youthful-faced man and said, "Young man, this isn't your first encounter with the cruelty of the shinobi world.
This world is like a hot spring entertainer, shaped by whoever handles her.
Yagura Karatachi, order Kirigakure to submit to Konoha. I will find a way to make this world less cruel, at least achieve deterrence, so there is no more war."
Yagura smiled and said, "Go to hell! Konoha occupies the best resources in the shinobi world. How dare you talk about making Kirigakure submit?
Ōnoki isn't a good thing. Is Konoha any better?"
Yōkō shook his head. No point in persuading Yagura further.
Shinobi were accustomed to solving problems with violence. He could kill Yagura, but he couldn't change his will.
A wooden spear appeared in Yōkō's hand, piercing Yagura.
In the distance, seeing the Three-Tails killed, the Six-Tails fired a Tailed Beast Ball and immediately fled.
Yōkō didn't pursue.
He wanted to improve his control over different chakra attributes. The Six-Tails specialized in Water Release. He could keep it to farm Water Release-related techniques using the system later.
After dealing with the Three-Tails and Six-Tails, Yōkō gestured for Kushina to follow him.
Just outside the temple, they encountered Yamanaka Kari, who had teleported from Konoha and was urgently seeking reinforcements.
"Lord Fox! Ōnoki and the Raikage have launched a surprise attack on the village!"
"Quick! Let's return and reinforce the village!"
Returning to Konoha once more, they saw at the breached wall that Sarutobi Hiruzen was battling the Raikage.
The two had destroyed large sections of the wall.
"Kushina, go help the Hokage." Yōkō looked up at the night sky. Under the moonlight, he could see a hovering black dot.
"I'll deal with Ōnoki!"
Thinking for a moment, Yōkō added to Yamanaka Kari:
"Barrier Corps Captain, Clan Head Yamanaka Inson, is at the Land of Whirlpools front line. Jōnin Kari, gather some skilled Yamanaka clan members and ninja proficient in barrier jutsu to strengthen the Barrier Corps.
Ōnoki and the Raikage might just be a diversion. The real threat to Konoha could be someone else."
Yamanaka Kari quickly acknowledged and Body flickered away to gather people for the Barrier Corps.
A sand mass appeared beneath Yōkō's feet, lifting him into the sky.
Seeing the sand beneath Fox's feet, Ōnoki said, "Why do you have Suna's secret Sand Release technique?"
"Is that important?"
Ōnoki gave a cold laugh, feeling even more contempt for Rasa.
Rasa couldn't even protect Suna's most important secret technique. The secret of Sand Manipulation had been stolen by Konoha's Anbu.
A square Dust Release barrier appeared in Ōnoki's hand.
The next instant, he retracted his contempt for Rasa.
A Dust Release barrier also appeared in Fox's hand!
What?
Had Konoha Anbu sent spies to steal Iwagakure's Scroll of Seals? And he, the Tsuchikage, knew nothing about it?
Their Dust Release beams collided.
Ōnoki, due to his mental shock, was a fraction slower. The explosion occurred dangerously close, the blast sending him flying higher into the air.
Ōnoki stared dumbfounded, slowly descending until he was level with Konoha's Fox:
"You! Why do you have Suna's secret Sand technique and our Iwagakure's secret Dust Release technique?"
"Is that important?"
Ōnoki's expression turned ugly. He let out a self-mocking laugh.
"After you killed Uchiha Madara, you were quiet for years. I even mocked you, saying you were like those historical figures who started high and fell low, indulged in pleasure, wasting your strength.
Now it seems you weren't idle these past years.
The Konoha Anbu under your command is outstanding—outstanding enough to secretly steal the confidential techniques of several villages.
Now, even if you told me you mastered the Raikage's Lightning Release Chakra Mode, I wouldn't be surprised."
Yōkō glanced down at the Raikage and thought, I've already died once this month. 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...
Well, maybe not next month, but perhaps some month in the future, I might try to obtain it."
Ōnoki lowered his eyelids, feeling a different kind of defeat.
Noticing Ōnoki's change in demeanor, Yōkō asked:
"What's this, Ōnoki? Feeling respond?
What's the use of so many shinobi dying in this war? In the end, Konoha will still be victorious.
Admit defeat, Ōnoki. Let the war end here. You only need to submit to the post-war order Konoha establishes. I also don't want to kill tens of thousands of Iwa-nin."
Ōnoki slowly raised his head, his eyes shifting from despondency to fierce fighting spirit:
"Even when the First Hokage and Uchiha Madara entered the Land of Earth, I didn't yield. Why would I yield to you, Fox?
Making me admit defeat is absolutely impossible!
I admit you are strong. I admit I am inferior to you. So what? Even if I die, I won't die of old age. I'll only die in battle, challenging the strong!
That is my Will of Stone!"
Yōkō shook his head. Even if he became the strongest in the shinobi world, it would be filled with shinobi wanting to challenge him.
The thought processes of many here were flawed. They firmly believed their kunai was the sharpest, that there was no enemy they couldn't defeat.
Yōkō raised his hand, forming seals. "Since you refuse to surrender..."
Dozens of Spear Egrets burst from a puff of white smoke.
The Spear Egret was Yōkō's first type of summon—extremely fast flying birds, perfect for aerial combat.
More crucially, each Spear Egret carried a Flying Thunder God kunai.
The Spear Egrets swiftly scattered.
Ōnoki was shocked to find Fox had vanished.
Intense chakra fluctuations appeared behind him. Ōnoki quickly turned to see Fox who had Body Flickered behind him.
Damn it, Fox also knows the Second Hokage's Flying Thunder God. He really is a monster...
Yōkō wanted to observe Ōnoki's Dust Release up close, so he didn't use other techniques, deliberately provoking Ōnoki with Dust Release.
The two clashed repeatedly in the air with Dust Release. The light from the colliding beams and subsequent explosions illuminated the night sky again and again.
People in Konoha sometimes looked up at the night sky, watching white pillar-like barriers collide, followed by dazzling explosions.
Ōnoki was struggling greatly. Fox was too fast.
Scanning the chaotically flying Spear Egrets, he knew he had to deal with these birds carrying Flying Thunder God kunai first.
Gathering chakra, Ōnoki took advantage of a gap in Fox's assault, preparing to sweep the area with Dust Release to kill all the Spear Egrets.
Just as he was preparing, one Spear Egret had already dove downward, throwing a Flying Thunder God kunai toward Ōnoki.
The moment Ōnoki's Dust Release took shape, a figure suddenly appeared above his head.
There was no need for the Forbidden Jutsu: Gold Sand Cutting Wave. A simple Water Release: Water Cutting Wave was enough to sever Ōnoki's left arm.
Blood spurted. Ōnoki's left arm fell from the sky.
Yōkō's gaze followed the falling arm downward, searching within Konoha. Sure enough, he saw someone wearing a black cloak with red clouds!
Uchiha Obito!
While he and Ōnoki were locked in combat, Uchiha Obito was about to make his move against Konoha!
***
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(End of Chapter)