The battle between Tutai and Ōnoki instantly caused massive destruction.
Even though Tutai was only Half-step Kage-level, effectively just a bit higher than an Elite Jonin, even a Kage-level like Ōnoki couldn't hope to take him down quickly.
Dust Release might be strong!
But unless it was a sneak attack or a large-scale battlefield, its long wind-up time was a fatal flaw in Jonin-level combat.
No one would give you that much time to release Dust Release so easily.
It was the same here!
Under Tutai's harassment, Ōnoki had no time at all to condense Dust Release.
Rasa stood aside with his arms crossed, watching the fight indifferently from a distance.
He naturally saw Samui and the others escaping, but he didn't actually choose to stop them. Instead, he was constantly wondering if he should surrender too?
After all, any normal person could see that this alliance had no future!
Once the thought of surrender arises, the world suddenly feels vast.
"Kazekage, you..."
Just at that moment, Mei Terumī arrived.
However, she was dumbfounded by the situation before her: Ōnoki and Tutai were fighting, the Kumogakure delegation seemed to have fled, so why was Rasa still standing there like a spectator?
Looking at Mei Terumī, Rasa didn't know how to explain.
So...
He repeated Tutai's earlier explanation without adding any of his own thoughts.
Mei Terumī understood!
As a Kage, even if she had only recently taken the position, she understood Rasa's unspoken words almost instantly.
"Is your Sunagakure planning to follow Kumogakure's example?"
Mei Terumī didn't waste words and asked directly.
And to this...
Although Rasa was surprised by Mei Terumī's bluntness, he nodded slowly after a brief silence.
"Still considering it!"
Mei Terumī fell silent; she too began to consider it.
Did this so-called Four-Village Alliance really have a future?
Konoha was already ridiculously strong, capable of fighting all four alone. Now Kumogakure had decided to defect, and it looked like Sunagakure was thinking of surrendering too...
Dammit!
With only Hidden Mist and Iwagakure joined together, were they even qualified to be Konoha's opponent?
Forget it.
Even if Konoha were still in its declined state from Hiruzen Sarutobi's time, it would be two Villages against three. Even if it weren't certain death, the odds were heavily stacked against them.
Not to mention the current Konoha, which was terrifyingly strong under the Uchiha's leadership.
So, in an instant...
She also began to wonder: should Hidden Mist surrender too?
Precisely because she was considering surrender, Mei Terumī didn't bother to intervene in the fight between Ōnoki and Tutai.
...
Five minutes later.
The pursuit units from Iwagakure, Hidden Mist, and Sunagakure arrived. Seeing the situation, the Iwagakure Ninja immediately went to support Ōnoki.
But on the other side...
Seeing that the Sunagakure Ninja were also preparing to help, Rasa immediately spoke to them.
"Everyone, stop!"
The Sunagakure Ninja were full of confusion.
However...
Looking at the serious Rasa, despite their confusion, they all retreated behind him.
Seeing this, Mei Terumī also spoke up quickly: "Hidden Mist Ninja, all of you, fall back!"
The Hidden Mist Ninja: "..."
They also didn't understand, but they still chose to retreat.
After all, their Kage had spoken, and since Sunagakure didn't seem to be intervening, they naturally chose to obey.
The battle situation at this moment was complex, even slightly delicate.
"Tutai, surrender."
"You can't escape, and I don't want to kill you for now."
Ōnoki said in an icy tone.
Murderous intent flared in his eyes as he looked at Tutai, but he suppressed his anger.
He chose to try and induce a surrender!
The reason was simple.
Although he was furious that Tutai had allowed Samui and the others to escape, making him truly want to kill Tutai...
He couldn't!
Tutai was far more valuable alive than dead.
Kumogakure's surrender was a foregone conclusion, and Ōnoki had to consider the future. Tutai was clearly a sufficient pawn for him.
As the first Village to defect to Konoha, regardless of whether Uchiha Jin was willing, he had to show enough magnanimity and find a way to rescue Tutai.
Otherwise...
Would the Kumogakure Ninja who just joined Konoha really be willing to serve them?
In this situation, Uchiha Jin would have no choice!
However...
If Ōnoki could think of it, how could Tutai not?
So, hearing this, Tutai just smiled coldly and spoke indifferently.
"Ōnoki, give it up."
"Since I chose to stay, I never intended to go back alive!"
"As a Ninja, death is not something to be feared!"
"Besides, I'm already this old. Even if I lived, how much longer would I have?"
"To use this aged body to buy a chance for the Village's youth to survive..."
"Hmph, it's worth it!"
"And I want to advise you: stop dreaming of opposing Konoha."
"It's useless!"
"Do you see Hidden Mist and Sunagakure over there?"
"They aren't taking action right now; don't you understand what that represents?"
"I advise you to surrender."
"Ninja Villages no longer have value. The unification of the Ninja World is the best way forward!"
"You alone, Ōnoki, cannot go against the heavens."
"And you're already so old. Don't you want to consider your descendants, your Iwagakure Ninja, and your people?"
"Does Iwagakure have any young person besides you who can carry the mantle of Kage?"
"Even if Konoha doesn't act by force, the day you die will be the day Iwagakure completely collapses."
"On the contrary!"
"If you surrender voluntarily now, you might still secure a better future for Iwagakure."
"Otherwise, if you wait for Konoha to forcibly destroy Iwagakure, the future for all your people will be bleak."
Tutai's voice was cold, his expression full of disdain.
Yes!
Since he had chosen to stop Ōnoki alone, he had never thought of leaving here alive.
He was already so old; he truly did not fear death!
Instead...
It was as if he had let go of everything, and even turned around to start advising Ōnoki.
Ōnoki: "..."
He tried to open his mouth to retort, but he didn't know how.
Because Tutai was right; Iwagakure indeed had no successor.
Currently, Iwagakure relied almost entirely on him, an Old Man, to hold it together; there wasn't a single person below him who could take up the banner of Kage.
Though his son and granddaughter were excellent, that was only compared to ordinary people.
Compared to the truly top-tier peers of their generation, their strength was far too weak.
Forget comparing them to someone like Uchiha Jin; they couldn't even compare to Mei Terumī or Rasa.
"Stop! Release him!"
Just then, a cold shout came from the distance.
Immediately following that...
Everyone turned to see a large group of Konoha powerhouses arriving.
The person leading them was Tsunade!