"Everyone, follow me — let's end this Shinobi World War!"
"Yes!"
There was no need for further encouragement. The Konoha ninja before him required none.
The very presence of Aoyama Ryuyun — the Golden Lion — was their greatest source of confidence.
"Move out!"
With a single wave of his hand, he led over a thousand Konoha ninja forward, advancing toward Iwagakure, the Hidden Stone Village.
Among the ranks, Obito Uchiha watched Aoyama Ryuyun's commanding gesture, eyes filled with admiration.
"He's so cool! I want to be a man like him when I grow up!"
In Obito's heart, a true man was one who could shift the tide of battle with a single motion — just like Aoyama Ryuyun.
Kakashi Hatake, beside him, couldn't help rolling his eyes.
"The decisive strike's about to begin, and you're still daydreaming?"
"You bastard!"
Obito snapped, glaring at him. If circumstances allowed, he would've loved to argue it out right then and there.
---
Meanwhile, in the Iwagakure command tent...
Though he had lost both legs, Ōnoki, the Third Tsuchikage, had long since adapted.
Thanks to his Light-Weight Rock Technique (Keijūgan no Jutsu), he could still fly freely despite his injuries.
Just as Aoyama Ryuyun had once said — even without legs, the Tsuchikage's combat ability wouldn't be greatly diminished.
In the war council room, Ōnoki addressed his subordinates.
"These are our current—"
But before he could finish, a messenger burst through the doors, face pale and eyes wide with panic.
"It's bad, Lord Tsuchikage! The Golden Lion is leading thousands of Konoha ninja straight toward us!"
"What!?"
Ōnoki shot up into the air instinctively, hovering above the table. His face was twisted between rage and fear — but deep in his eyes, unmistakable dread flickered.
He remembered.
Six months ago, he had personally led Iwagakure's army into a decisive battle against Aoyama Ryuyun — and had been utterly crushed.
That humiliation had never left him.
The others in the room were equally shaken.
"That can't be!"
"Wasn't the Golden Lion supposed to be staying quietly at his camp?"
"We can't fight them — we'll be annihilated!"
"What do we do!?"
The room erupted into anxious murmurs. For half a year, Aoyama Ryuyun had remained silent, motionless — no one expected him to suddenly march with a full army toward Iwagakure.
If this wasn't war, then what else could it possibly be?
In the end, all eyes turned to Ōnoki.
"Damn it!" he growled, veins bulging at his temples. This was the first time he had felt such powerlessness since becoming Tsuchikage.
How do you fight a monster like that?
The atmosphere grew suffocating. None of his officers dared to speak.
If it were possible, Ōnoki would've liked to simply say, "Let's surrender."
But as the Tsuchikage — the symbol of Iwagakure — surrendering outright would ruin the village's reputation forever.
"Mobilize!" he finally roared.
"Lord Tsuchikage?" one of the captains hesitated.
"I said mobilize! Gather every Iwa ninja in the camp!"
His outburst shook the entire tent.
"Y-Yes!" came the hurried response, and the officers rushed out to execute his orders.
Ōnoki exhaled heavily. He already knew the outcome.
After this battle, Iwagakure would be forced to withdraw from the Third Shinobi World War.
But still — losing like this left a bitter taste in his mouth.
If it were an even fight, defeat would be easier to accept.
But to be crushed so thoroughly... that was humiliation.
He turned his gaze to Rōshi and Han, the Jinchūriki of the Four-Tails and Five-Tails, who stood quietly nearby.
"How are you both faring?"
The two exchanged glances before answering with resigned smiles.
"If it's a normal battle, we can manage. But against that Golden Lion… our tailed beasts won't cooperate."
Ōnoki frowned. "Why?"
Rōshi shrugged.
"The Four-Tails, Son Gokū, and the Five-Tails, Kokuō — they're both terrified of him."
Ōnoki froze. Even the tailed beasts…?
He knew they were proud, untamed creatures — but they could still feel fear.
If even the Bijū refused to fight, that said everything about Aoyama Ryuyun's power.
It was just like the Nine-Tails before Madara Uchiha — proud until faced with an overwhelming force that could dominate it completely.
Madara's Sharingan could bend the Nine-Tails to his will, turning the mightiest beast into a mere puppet.
To such a power, even arrogance bowed.
The same fear now lingered in the hearts of the Four-Tails and Five-Tails — the terror of the Golden Lion.
Ōnoki sighed, his expression heavy.
"Forget it. There's no point talking further. Prepare for battle."
Outside, the Iwa ninjas were assembling under his command.
---
Meanwhile, on a nearby cliff, Aoyama Ryuyun's thousand-strong Konoha force had arrived.
Below them stretched the vast, fortified Iwagakure encampment — rows of white tents extending for over a hundred meters.
"Sigh… bullying old men again. I almost feel bad," Aoyama Ryuyun muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.
Standing beside him, Hyūga Hiashi could only stare speechlessly.
He didn't even know how to respond to that.
After all, in this entire ninja world, only Aoyama Ryuyun could refer to Ōnoki, the Third Tsuchikage, as "an old man."
Without hesitation, Aoyama Ryuyun turned to Hiashi.
"Hiashi, bring forward all the ninjas proficient in Water Release."
"Understood!" Hiashi responded immediately, moving to carry out the order.
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