"I am asking you, Ōnoki. Can Danzo represent our Konoha?" Ryun Uchiha's voice was filled with coldness, his eyes deep and somber. This Ōnoki was old but his mind was not; given the slightest opportunity, he would try to cause trouble.
"Ryun." Danzo's heart jumped, then a warm current flowed through him. Ryun Uchiha's meaning was that he could represent Konoha. For the leader to speak like this not only gave Danzo plenty of face, but also solid backing.
Ōnoki cursed inwardly. 'Damn, the Flying Thunder God user is really fast. Needless to say, Ryun must have heard my earlier words trying to sow discord. Damn it, how did he get here so quickly?'
But on the surface, Ōnoki smiled amiably. "Haha, Hokage-sama, what are you saying? Whatever you say goes. Since you say Danzo can represent Konoha, then he can represent Konoha!" Ōnoki began to pass the buck.
Ryun sneered. "Let me tell you, Danzo and I are like brothers, beloved relatives and close friends. He can not only represent Konoha, he can even represent me. His words are my words. Do you understand?"
"Understood, understood!" Ōnoki flattered.
"Hmph!" Ryun snorted coldly, then scanned the entire area. "Well, Tsuchikage, do you want to start a war with our Konoha Village?" As soon as Ryun Uchiha said this, all the Iwa-nin troops entered a combat-ready state.
Tōshi also had a gloomy face. He stared grimly at Ryun Uchiha. His parents had died at the hands of Konoha's Ryun Uchiha. If he did not avenge this, he would be unworthy of being their son.
He looked at Tsuchikage Ōnoki, his face full of expression saying, 'Big brother, if you say fight, we fight! We are not afraid of death!'
Ōnoki's mouth twitched. 'You're not afraid, but I am! This guy's battle records are all genuine, guaranteed to carry and win. Anyone who picks a fight with him is just asking to die for no reason.'
Since Konoha had already noticed their little movements, the wisest course of action at this moment was to surrender, to surrender and retreat! Letting the army die here meaninglessly would be a dereliction of his duty as Tsuchikage.
"Hokage-sama, this entire operation is targeted at the Land of Grass, not at all aimed at Konoha. If you do not permit it, then I will withdraw my troops immediately!" Tsuchikage Ōnoki knew when to bend and when to stand firm.
But Tōshi looked incredulous. "Tsuchikage-sama, why? Ryun Uchiha killed who knows how many people in our Iwagakure back then. This is the best chance to take revenge for the fallen shinobi. Why withdraw!"
He was currently blinded by his desire for revenge. The tragic death of his parents made him recall his past happy life every night when he slept, and he constantly thought about slaughtering Konoha.
Ryun Uchiha narrowed his eyes. "Tōshi, right? Iwagakure's newly promoted commander, founder of the Zerg Rush strategy, the one who dragged the Third Raikage to his death. Not bad, not bad. You are a talent."
Ryun Uchiha praised Tōshi, but secretly he had already developed killing intent. In the original story, Tōshi was a commander who had caused massive casualties to Konoha. His Zerg Rush strategy, though simple from Ryun's perspective, just involved constantly adding troops, was considered a top-tier tactic in this ninja world. Therefore, Ryun did not plan to let this little guy live.
"I spit on you, Ryun Uchiha. I wish I could eat your flesh raw!" Tōshi's eyes were bloodshot, his appearance like a demon. The hatred revealed in his eyes was now completely unconcealed.
"Shut up! Tōshi, get on your knees! Apologize to the Hokage-sama!" Ōnoki flew in front of Tōshi, grabbing him by the collar.
He was almost going crazy now. Finally, Iwagakure had produced such a talent, powerful, with outstanding command ability, and so young. He could not let him die.
"Haha, Iwagakure produces talent..." Ryun Uchiha's eyes flickered, unclear what he was thinking, but his gaze remained fixed tightly on Tōshi.
What did that mean? Ōnoki also didn't understand what Ryun Uchiha meant, but to guarantee Tōshi's life, he could only grit his teeth and place his hand on Tōshi's shoulder.
He began to apply the Weighted Rock Technique. Tōshi gritted his teeth, his face pale, his legs trembling. Ōnoki gritted his teeth. 'Sorry, Tōshi. To protect you, I have to make you lose your dignity!'
Thud! Tōshi's knees hit the ground, his expression dazed. He... was being forced by the Tsuchikage to kneel and apologize to the Hokage? Why? What had he done wrong? Wasn't the one in the wrong Hokage Ryun Uchiha?
"Are you convinced?" Ryun Uchiha smiled, looking at Tōshi kneeling on the ground.
"I am not convinced." Tōshi raised his head, his eyes shooting fire at Ryun Uchiha.
Ōnoki slapped Tōshi across the face. Tōshi's head snapped to the side.
"Are you convinced?" Ryun Uchiha asked again.
Tōshi was just about to say he wasn't, but then Ōnoki and Tōshi made eye contact. Tōshi's heart stirred, all the strength in his body seeming to disappear. "I am convinced."
Just as everyone thought the matter was about to end, Ryun Uchiha asked one more time. "Are you convinced?"
This time, even Ōnoki was stunned. Tōshi did not answer.
Then, Ryun Uchiha sighed. "Forget it." After saying this, Ryun Uchiha made a grasping motion with his right hand, and instantly a golden Susanoo hand materialized around Tōshi.
"Hokage, what is the meaning of this?" Ōnoki asked in panic.
Ryun Uchiha ignored him. His right hand clenched, and instantly Tōshi died in front of the assembled Iwa-nin troops, Ōnoki, and Danzo.
Ōnoki clenched his fists, his eyes wide with fury, but he still dared not make a move. Because if he attacked Ryun Uchiha, it would mean Iwagakure was declaring war on Konoha.
"Ōnoki, let's end this matter here, alright? You withdraw your troops, and we will leave too. The Land of Grass has it hard enough." Ryun Uchiha looked at Ōnoki.
Ōnoki was silent for a moment, then nodded. "Fine." After speaking, he turned and led the Iwa-nin troops away.
Ryun Uchiha did not make Iwagakure sign any surrender terms. This was his return favor for Iwagakure's assistance during the Third Great Ninja War.
Tōshi had to die. His talent was outstanding, and he held a grudge against Konoha. If he wasn't for Konoha, then the only way to feel at ease was to destroy him.
All that talk of high-minded principles, fairness and justice, never bullying the weak, it was all bullshit. In Ryun Uchiha's eyes, there was only Konoha Village, and Konoha's future!
Danzo released his Tailed Beast state. He bumped Ryun's shoulder with his own. "Ryun, why did you ask 'are you convinced' three times before killing Tōshi? Asking and then killing him, doesn't that seem contradictory?"
Ryun Uchiha glanced at him and laughed. "If I asked him if he was convinced, and he answered 'I am not convinced', then he would have resentment in his heart, holding a grudge. He would act against Konoha in the future. Could I let him live?"
"What about the second time?" Danzo was puzzled.
"The second time, he could choose to say he was convinced to save his life, showing he understands the bigger picture, knows how to endure, can bend and stretch. That makes him even more dangerous than the first case. I could not let him live." Ryun Uchiha laughed.
"And the third time." Danzo felt he was learning a lot.
"The third time, he didn't answer, showing he is a smart person. He had already guessed that I did not plan to let him go, and he didn't answer me. Since that's the case, I granted his wish, which can be considered letting him achieve perfect merit and completion." Ryun Uchiha laughed heartily.
Danzo didn't dare speak. He looked at Ryun Uchiha with a strange expression. 'So no matter how he answered, he was dead! You kill people, but you also destroy their spirit?'
Yes, that's right. Ryun Uchiha had already decided to kill. No matter how you answered, you had to die. But Ryun Uchiha asked those questions precisely to destroy his spirit.
The wind began to blow constantly, rolling up sand and dust, burying the bones on the battlefield. The buried bones would then become nourishment for the plants.
This is the cruelty of the age of war.
Ryun Uchiha and Danzo walked together towards Konoha.
Konoha
Minato Namikaze and the three kids arrived first at the mission hall to report the mission.
They received an S-rank reward, but to express his apology, Minato Namikaze did not take a single ryō of the payment, instead leaving the entire huge sum to the three children.
The three of them initially firmly refused, but finally, after Minato firmly expressed that he would not accept it, the three kids looked at each other. Ultimately, Obito spoke up. "Let's just accept it! We can't make Minato-sensei feel awkward, right?"
He smiled at Minato Namikaze, everything understood without words. Minato Namikaze smiled. "That's right, kids. You are the heroes of Konoha. Accept it."
And so, the three kids split the reward evenly and accepted it. However, Obito suggested that the three of them pool their money to treat Minato Namikaze, Kushina, Ryun Uchiha, and Grandpa Danzo to a meal.
Seeing that he couldn't refuse, Minato agreed, saying he would ask Ryun-sensei and Danzo-sensei. If they didn't come, there was nothing he could do.
The three kids nodded. So many people had helped them complete this mission; otherwise, who knows how much more troublesome it would have been.
Just as the three kids were about to part ways with Minato, Minato Namikaze grabbed Obito's hand. "Obito, come back home with sensei. Your shimu (teacher's wife) has been saying she wants to bring you home."
Obito Uchiha was startled, then nodded and went home with Minato Namikaze.
"Big sis!" Obito Uchiha laughed.
Kushina Uzumaki grinned. "Little Obito is here! Come in, quick!"
Obito Uchiha nodded, then walked in. Minato closed the door behind them.
"Kushina, I have something I want to discuss with Obito. I'll take him to the study!" Minato Namikaze smiled.
Kushina Uzumaki was taken aback. "Is that so. Well, alright then. I'll go make dinner. By the time you finish talking, the food will probably be ready!"
"Mm-hmm, thank you for your hard work, Kushina. We're in for a treat tonight!" Minato Namikaze smiled gently.
"Hehe! Hurry up and go! I'm telling you, if you bully my little brother Obito, I won't let you get away with it!" Kushina Uzumaki pouted.
"Haha, don't worry, how could I bully Obito? Right, Obito!" Minato Namikaze winked at Obito Uchiha.
Obito Uchiha nodded. "That's right, big sis. Minato-sensei always values me the most. He definitely wouldn't bully me!"
Kushina Uzumaki finally nodded and said, "Hm! That's more like it!" After speaking, she headed towards the kitchen.
Master and disciple exchanged a look and entered the study.
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