Because the immortality of Edo Tensei could not compare to the overwhelming boost granted by their peak physical bodies.
Immortality only increased their margin for error. Their true power was still far below their original limits.
Ōnoki's already dark expression turned as black as a soot-covered pot. He forced himself to breathe several times before regaining control.
"Lord Hokage, does the Daimyo of the Land of Fire know what you are doing?"
"Do the Daimyo of the other Great Nations know?"
He spoke with the tone of someone ready to gamble everything.
Uchiha Gen replied in his usual calm voice. "Of course they do not know."
"Whether they know is irrelevant. After the Great Ninja Villages are handled, it will eventually be their turn."
"This world does not need this many villages or this many countries. Naturally, it does not need this many Daimyo."
"No. In the future, the title of Daimyo will vanish entirely. That title sounds unpleasant to me."
A collective intake of breath followed.
Understanding his intent, Ōnoki, the Fourth Raikage, and the others froze. His ambition left them stunned.
After a moment, Ōnoki shouted, his tone grave. "You will plunge the world into chaos."
"It will not be chaos," Gen said. "Under absolute power, they cannot stir up anything significant."
"Even if chaos appears, it would simply be the growing pains that precede peace. It will be resolved quickly."
"Peace does not come without bloodshed."
"Someone will always have to bleed for it. Anyone who resists will be executed without mercy."
"Now that everything has been said, Lord Tsuchikage, it is time for your answer."
Dozens of eyes turned to Ōnoki and his forces. The weight of it made his knees feel heavy. Cold sweat gathered along his temples.
He slowly exhaled. "Iwagakure surrendering is not impossible, but Lord Hokage must demonstrate his strength."
"Until Lord Hokage shows his full power, this old man still believes Iwagakure can put up a fight."
The meaning was clear.
He wanted to surrender only after there was no hope left. That would reduce backlash and minimize damage to both himself and the village.
If they believed they still had a chance, trouble would inevitably appear later.
"A fight?" Uchiha Madara scoffed. "Come on. I will fight your whole village alone. Come at me all at once."
He waved with a cold glare, enraging the Iwagakure crowd all over again. They still did not dare to act.
Gen smiled and lightly placed a hand on Madara's shoulder. "Madara-senpai, give me a moment."
Madara paused and stepped back without argument.
It was not only about strength. It was about ideals and respect.
Gen never treated him like a mindless pawn despite the curse mark. Madara valued that deeply.
Ōnoki could not help but stare. Seeing Madara yield to someone so naturally was startling, though he had no time to reflect.
Gen asked with a quiet laugh, "So, how would you like us to prove it?"
Ōnoki's eyes brightened. He immediately said, "Only an absolute disparity in strength can make Iwagakure truly accept this."
"If Lord Hokage can defeat me and Han within one minute, Iwagakure will surrender immediately and allow Lord Hokage to act as he wishes."
"If not..."
Gen tilted his head. "If not, then what?"
"If not, then I ask Lord Hokage to grant Iwagakure the same treatment as Sunagakure."
Many Iwagakure shinobi stared at Ōnoki in confusion.
Why ask for that?
Why not demand that Konoha withdraw?
Madara laughed. "A clever choice. Ōnoki, you are not senile after all."
At this point, anyone still thinking clearly understood the situation.
They were the weak side. They were the fish on the chopping block.
The weak had no real bargaining position and no real safety.
Even if the stronger side agreed to terms, they could still overturn them at a whim.
Given that reality, Ōnoki's proposal was the only practical one.
Ignoring Madara's teasing, Ōnoki focused entirely on Gen, waiting.
"I accept your request," Gen said.
Ōnoki's heart lifted. It was almost certain.
Even if the Fifth Hokage was comparable to Madara, stalling with Han for one minute should still be possible.
"This place is not suited for combat," Ōnoki said. "Lord Hokage, please move with us to another locat..."
"There is no need," Gen interrupted. "This will end instantly. Neither of you can withstand a single blow."
Arrogant.
That was the first thought for Ōnoki, Han, Kitsuchi, Kurotsuchi, and the others.
Madara, Kushina, and the Fourth Raikage did not even flinch.
To them, it was simply the truth.
The Raikage looked at Ōnoki with a complicated expression, a mix of pity and morbid anticipation.
Ōnoki inhaled. "Since Lord Hokage is confident, then we will not hold back."
"Han."
"Here."
Han stepped forward, legs bracing. Steam armor hissed around him. His chakra flared violently, cracking the ground beneath his feet.
"Go."
"Understood."
The soil blasted apart. Han launched forward like a fired shell, steam trailing behind him. His momentum surged into a flying kick aimed straight at Gen.
Boil Release: Unrivaled Strength.
Jet Foot.
Han's powerful physique, combined with the Five-Tails Kokuo's steam enhancement, made him one of the strongest taijutsu fighters in the world. Close combat was where he excelled.
Han took the front line. Ōnoki, floating above, was the long-range caster.
A sphere of white light condensed between Ōnoki's hands, ready to fire his Dust Release at the perfect moment.
The Fourth Raikage leapt back. Madara and Kushina did not move.
If Gen said the battle would end instantly, it would.
Gen's eyes narrowed. Two faint golden lights shot from his brow, moving as fast as natural lightning.
One pierced into Han's body mid-charge.
The other pierced into Ōnoki, whose attempted evasive move made no difference.
Han's chakra surged wildly out of control. He coughed blood, his kick collapsing. He crashed to the ground and rolled until he stopped at Gen's feet.
Ōnoki's gathered white light flickered out, and he descended slowly, unable to maintain his footing.
Han rose and dropped to one knee.
Ōnoki also lowered himself, kneeling.
They spoke together.
"We surrender."
Iwagakure erupted.
More than half the shinobi and officials shouted in outrage, treating the two like traitors who had surrendered without a fight.
They argued loudly among themselves.
Most of them had not even seen Gen's attack. From their perspective, it looked staged.
Only a few sharp-eyed shinobi like Kitsuchi and Kurotsuchi caught a faint glimpse of the golden streaks.
"Quiet!" Kitsuchi roared, face dark.
"Father and Han-senpai were subdued by a secret technique."
The uproar died down, though disbelief lingered.
To them, accepting that the Tsuchikage and the Five-Tails Jinchuriki were taken down instantly was nearly impossible.
"Listen to Kitsuchi," Gen said. "Lord Tsuchikage and Han were indeed subdued by me."
Ōnoki and Han turned slightly and spoke with him in perfect unison.
All three aligned, speaking the same words.
A chill ran through the entire crowd.
The area fell silent. It was so quiet that even the faintest rustle could be heard.