Chapter 172: Onoki's Paranoia

"How complicated this is! Damn Uchiha Madara has no idea how difficult my situation is."

Black Zetsu racked his brains, trying to come up with an enemy strong enough to crush Uchiha Obito, but at the same time allow him to rescue him with ease...

However, at Obito's current level, who already possessed the three-tomoe Sharingan and had received intensive training from Setsuna, defeating him would be no easy feat. Not even the jonin of Iwagakure would be enough to stop him from escaping. Only figures like Onoki or the Jinchuriki of Iwagakure could completely crush him.

The problem was that controlling these three was difficult for Black Zetsu, as it could end up causing Obito's death...

"Don't worry, Rin. Everything will be okay." Obito, seeing a pensive and somewhat gloomy Black Zetsu, hugged him with a reassuring smile and said softly: "Even though war is terrifying, as long as we are together, we will overcome any obstacle."

"I know, Obito."

Black Zetsu forced a slight smile and glanced at Minato, who was also smiling as he watched the scene, and Kakashi, who simply shook his head in silence. A feeling of unease washed over him.

Their team also has Namikaze Minato, a Flying Thunder God, as a sensei...

If Obito encountered a problem, then Minato could come almost instantly, and the plan of blackening Obito had another uncertain factor, and the difficulty increased again...

Black Zetsu was lost in thought again. How could he get Obito off the game board, at least temporarily, without putting his life at risk?

The first step of the plan has been stuck at this time.

What Black Zetsu didn't expect was that while he was hesitating, Iwagakure couldn't hold back.

Black Zetsu knew that Obito, being a genius of the Uchiha, could become a target for Iwagakure. That's why he had to be extremely careful with his plan.

However, even Black Zetsu could not foresee everything. He could not fathom the fear that Onoki felt towards the geniuses of the Uchiha clan, a fear so great that it would lead him to act personally.

...

In the Iwagakure army formation.

Onoki was suspended in the air, looking at the military map in front of him, frowning, and said in a deep voice: "Konoha came prepared…"

"Those so-called new explosive tags and mine traps. Based on the samples brought back, it is clear that Konoha has stolen our Kekkei Genkai and developed new ninja war tools based on it."

Kitsuchi nodded, backing up his father's statement: "While you were at the meeting in the Land of Iron, the Explosion Corps was attacked. One of our entire divisions disappeared without a trace. It is now clear that Konoha is behind this."

"But… how did Konoha manage to obtain our Explosion Release Kekkei Genkai?"

Onoki cast a frustrated glance at his son and harshly rebuked him: "You can't even figure that out?!"

"We're talking about Konoha, a village that once had a figure like Senju Tobirama. It may seem like an impossible thing to plunder the Kekkei Genkai, but I'm sure Tobirama considered, and even attempted, something like that."

"Do you think that evil village of Konoha is Iwagakure that implements the will of stone and focuses on self-development?"

"Aside from anything else, a few years ago, there were rumors that Konoha was trying to replicate the Wood Release. These rumors didn't just come out of nowhere."

Suddenly, Onoki connected several pieces in his mind.

Konoha's confidence, their ability to act with such certainty, must have come from some forbidden techniques inherited from Senju Tobirama. Even a technique capable of stealing Kekkei Genkai that could give them such an advantage in war.

In addition, the new booby traps were causing great problems for Iwagakure, resulting in many casualties.

"Understood, Father. What measures will we take now?" Kitsuchi asked with a solemn expression.

"Konoha must have more hidden forbidden techniques, remnants of evil experiments left behind by Senju Tobirama. We cannot underestimate them…" Onoki squinted at the map and raised his finger.

"First, let the Earth Release squad continue disarming the booby traps. Let them use large-scale ninjutsu to increase speed."

"Second, we must be alert to Konoha's movements. These booby traps are only Konoha's first counterattack, and it won't be the last."

"Third, spread the rumor that our Explosion Release Kekkei Genkai was stolen by Konoha. This will enrage our shinobi and motivate them for battle."

Kitsuchi nodded silently, memorizing his father's instructions.

In Iwagakure, there were no advisors like the Konoha elders. All resources were under the direct command of the Tsuchikage, and the shinobi were tools to carry out his will.

During the years that Onoki has led Iwagakure, he has proven to be an exceptional Tsuchikage.

Onoki, who had witnessed Madara and participated in the First Great Shinobi War, now in the prime of his life, exhibited a maturity and insight befitting a true Kage.

"Father, should we inform the other villages about the information we have obtained?" Kitsuchi asked cautiously. "According to the information from Kirigakure, it seems that the situation on their front is not going too well."

Onoki sneered and waved his hand. "Let them sort it out themselves!"

In a firm tone, he added, "Kitsuchi, remember this: they are not our allies, but wolves who, once we defeat Konoha, will compete with us for the spoils of war. If they lose more troops, that only benefits us."

Kitsuchi hesitated for a moment but finally nodded.

"Don't rush to attack, let other shinobi villages help us explore the way first..." Onoki said with a calculating glint in his eyes. "But there is something we must do on our own: eliminate the enemy geniuses."

"According to information obtained from Konoha during the chunin exam, there is a young prodigy named Uchiha Obito who has already activated the three-tomoe Sharingan at the age of ten. Furthermore, he is quite talented in the Uchiha clan's Fire Release. He has extraordinary potential and is extremely dangerous..."

He paused before adding, in a heavy tone, "He has a fiery and arrogant personality. He even dares to compare himself to Uchiha Madara. It's both surprising and disturbing."

Onoki continued with a glint of murderous intent in his gaze. "That brat is already on our battlefield. Kitsuchi, I will personally eliminate this evil from the shinobi world."

"Sarutobi Hiruzen's apprentice who summons toads and the yellow-haired brat who is suspected of being able to use the Flying Thunder God Technique... Have Han and Roshi deal with them!"

"I will go after that Uchiha Obito. Only by reducing this danger to Iwagakure to dust, using my Dust Release, will I be able to rest easy."

Kitsuchi silently looked at his father, letting out a sigh inside.

His father's phobia of the Uchiha seemed to have taken root since his childhood, and there was probably no way to cure it in this life...

Despite his thoughts, Kitsuchi nodded obediently and added, "Father, what about that Uchiha Kazuki who is skilled in kenjutsu?"

"Don't worry about it. As I said before, he has gone the wrong way and has no potential. At most, he is an enhanced version of Hatake Sakumo..."

Onoki waved his hand. "Let's move, Kitsuchi!"

With that order, Iwagakure's war machine began to move.

As the centerpiece of the army, Onoki put great pressure on Konoha's front lines.

But most crucially, Uchiha Obito was now Onoki's target.

A slight hesitation and doubt on Black Zetsu's part gave Onoki the advantage to take the initiative.

As the Iwagakure battlefield began to stir, on the Kirigakure front, the confrontation was coming to an end.

Once the Kiri troops near the coast were dealt with, Kazuki walked from the beach to the forest where the Kiri army had been ambushed. He looked at the still burning Amaterasu black fire and let out a slight smile.

On this battlefield, there were still some elite Kiri shinobi fighting with all their might.

Among them, the most prominent were the members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.

After all, they were still part of the special division under the direct command of the Third Mizukage. As long as nothing happened to arouse widespread hatred, their loyalty was still evident.

Kazuki slowly raised his hand, his eyes narrowed as he pointed it at the Hiramekarei sword wielder...

What was that guy's name? Kazuki didn't really remember.

Yet he was the first to die.

A water bullet, resembling an iron projectile, pierced through the air in an instant, immediately exploding his head.

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