"How's the Land of Earth doing?"
Kawaki lounged lazily on the Hokage's office sofa, idly cracking sunflower seeds.
"Figure it out yourself."
Tsunade tossed several documents his way without interest and returned to her work.
"Whoa, Nagato did pretty well."
Kawaki opened the first file. It clearly stated that Akatsuki's leader Nagato had taken on two opponents at once and was clearly dominating.
As for Rōshi and Kitsuchi, the two unlucky ones, they were summed up in just eight words—struggling to resist, covered in injuries.
Others might not know how strong Rōshi and Kitsuchi were, but Kawaki definitely did.
One he'd fought personally, while the other had once sent a Tailed Beast-transformed Kinkaku flying in the original plot, and later even subdued both the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and the Ten-Tails.
"Pretty well what?"
Tsunade pursed her lips slightly, her tone brimming with dissatisfaction.
If it weren't for Kawaki insisting their goal should be to stall the Iwa ninja, she would've already ordered Nagato straight into Iwagakure.
What was the point of playing around with those two rock ninjas?
"You're in a good mood today."
Kawaki changed the subject, throwing her a compliment. He knew arguing with Tsunade wouldn't lead anywhere good.
"Don't need you to say that. Deal with your own stuff!"
Kawaki rolled his eyes dismissively—it was clear this trick had long lost its charm on her.
"Don't worry, I'll make sure you get your relief."
Kawaki quickly flipped open the second document while Shouta silently chuckled beside them, too afraid to interrupt.
"That's what you say."
"If that day never comes, I'll take it out on you instead."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Tsunade sensed something was off.
"On you," she quickly clarified—but only made things more awkward, even managing to make herself blush.
Shouta could only pretend he hadn't heard anything, burying himself in official duties.
"Cough, cough~"
Kawaki nearly choked, coughing several times to recover. What kind of inappropriate comments were those?
The office fell briefly silent again, only the sound of flipping pages breaking the quiet.
"Ōnoki should probably clash with the Third Raikage soon enough."
After finishing the last document, Kawaki mused thoughtfully.
"I'd guess so too, but the latest intelligence hasn't arrived yet."
Shouta finally spoke up, raising his head for the first time.
"I hope they both get bloodied and battered—no decent folks among them."
Tsunade bitterly remarked, pausing her furious scribbling.
"It won't be settled quickly."
"The Third Raikage is underestimating Iwagakure a bit too much."
Kawaki didn't believe the divided Iwa forces would be defeated easily, though it was certain they'd fall behind without controversy.
"The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind—let them wear each other down first."
Shouta gave a sly, foxlike grin, perfectly understanding Kawaki's plans.
"Haha, exactly right."
Kawaki laughed heartily, placing the files aside.
While they chatted comfortably in the office, full-scale war had already erupted in the Land of Earth.
Nagato and the Akatsuki ninja were locked in a fierce stalemate with the Iwa forces, while Rōshi and Kitsuchi could neither win nor retreat.
Unaware that Cloud Ninja were closing in, they still hoped Ōnoki would send reinforcements.
Unfortunately, these hopes only existed in their dreams.
Meanwhile, Ōnoki led his forces and intercepted the Cloud Ninja thousands of kilometers inland.
Both sides seemed to share an unspoken understanding, neither making the first move.
They advanced slowly until they finally came into sight of each other.
"Ōnoki, we meet again."
Third Raikage took a step forward, exuding immense presence.
"I never wanted to see you again."
Ōnoki hovered at the front of the Iwagakure ninja formation, his tone icy.
He saw no point in childish accusations—they would be pointless.
"Don't say that. We're old friends after all."
Ōnoki shot back sharply. "[Friends?] You must be kidding."
"We can be friends—if you hand over the Land of Earth to us."
The Raikage's smile remained unchanged, but his words carried a sharp edge.
"Fantasizing."
"You won't take another step forward."
Ōnoki flew forward and higher, distancing himself slightly.
"Don't say I didn't give you a chance."
"It's not too late to surrender now."
The Third Raikage moved forward leisurely, standing firm against Ōnoki.
"You must still be half-asleep."
"If you want to fight, then fight. Why so many empty words?"
Ōnoki's expression darkened further, and so did those of the ninja behind him.
And for good reason—the Third Raikage was being far too arrogant!
"I gave you a chance, but you refused to cherish it."
"Now don't blame me for being ruthless."
Before the Third Raikage even finished speaking, Ōnoki had already made his move.
[Earth Release: Earth Rising Lance!]
As soon as Ōnoki completed the hand seal, the ground beneath the Cloud Ninja cracked open rapidly, with countless thick, sharp land spikes bursting forth from the soil.
Covering an enormous area, the attack engulfed every single Cloud Ninja.
This was precisely why Ōnoki had moved forward earlier—he'd meticulously planned his attack.
Calling him a sly old fox wasn't an exaggeration.
"Die!"
The Third Raikage roared as he dodged the earth spike aimed at him. Behind him, screams rang out.
Not everyone had his reflexes. Those who couldn't dodge fast enough were skewered like pincushions in a gruesome display.
The slightly luckier ones only lost a hand or foot. Those who avoided the attack entirely were either elite Cloud Ninjas or extremely fortunate few.
Ōnoki's technique had indeed inflicted significant damage upon the Cloud forces.
"Charge!"
Without time to make further plans, the Third Raikage waved his arm and led the Cloud Ninja squad forward in a fierce charge.
His entire body crackled with electricity, taking the lead as the Cloud squad surged forward like a spear aimed to pierce through the Iwa formation.
"Advance!"
Ōnoki shouted the command for battle as well.
Remaining airborne, he didn't hold back. He knew full well that if he didn't stop the Third Raikage himself, his own forces would face a devastating strike.
Though hating the Raikage, Ōnoki had to acknowledge his strength.
"He's mine to deal with."
Ōnoki dove down sharply from midair straight at the Third Raikage.
"You little midget actually have the guts to challenge me head-on? [Hell Stab: Four-Finger Impalement!]"
He couldn't fathom where Ōnoki had found the guts—but it suited him just fine.
Massive amounts of lightning gathered on his four fingers, blazing with dazzling brilliance.
[Earth Release: Rock Fist Jutsu.]
ōnoki chose not to dodge despite knowing the power of [Four-Finger Impalement].
"Die!"
With a furious roar, the fists of Third Raikage and ōnoki collided.
*Bang!*
The thick, massive rock fist shattered instantly. [Four-Finger Impalement] left ōnoki simply outmatched.
Taijutsu had never been his forte.
After the exchange, ōnoki was sent flying immediately, while Third Raikage still had strength to spare.
Just as he was thinking about pressing the attack and letting ōnoki taste the might of [Three-Finger Impalement],
He suddenly felt his body grow unbearably heavy, and his pride-and-joy speed plummeted.
"Cough cough~"
"Now let's see if you can still move."
Spitting blood from a distance, ōnoki rose to his feet. Although injured, there was an expression of triumph on his face.
"So it was you."
Realizing immediately upon hearing that, Third Raikage quickly figured it out—if he wasn't mistaken, this must be ōnoki's [Super Heavy Rock Technique].
"Do you think I fought you head-on for no reason?"
ōnoki flew upward again into the air. His goal had already been accomplished, and he absolutely would not engage in close combat with Third Raikage again.
"Haha! So what?"
"But you're still the one getting trapped."
Third Raikage looked toward the countless clashing ninja below. It was obvious that the Cloud Ninjas held the advantage.
Even though they suffered many losses early on, their divided forces still overwhelmed the Iwagakure ninjas.
"You're laughing too soon."
"We'll find out after the fight."
Right now, inside ōnoki's heart, he cursed the Akatsuki Village ten thousand times over.
Neither spoke another word; soon, they were locked in battle once more.
Without his full speed, Third Raikage became much easier to deal with, being constantly pushed back by ōnoki.
But killing him wasn't easy either for ōnoki—the fight between the two became a stalemate of mutual restraint.
As time passed, the battlefield situation indeed leaned gradually toward the Cloud Ninjas, just as Third Raikage predicted.
...
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