105. Onoki Was Stunned By Anger
Seeing the appearance of the Fourth Raikage, Ōnoki's expression turned grim. For the Kage of a village to personally lead an attack on another village was no small skirmish. This was a declaration of full-scale war.
"Fourth Raikage, you deserve to die!"
The devastating losses suffered by Iwagakure, coupled with the unprovoked aggression, had enraged the veterans of the ninja world. Without hesitation, Ōnoki floated into the air to confront the Fourth Raikage.
The Fourth Raikage's Lightning Release Chakra Mode, both offensive and defensive, made him nearly impervious to attacks from ordinary shinobi.
However, Ōnoki's Dust Release, a Kekkei Tōta more advanced than typical Kekkei Genkai, possessed unparalleled destructive power. A single hit could disintegrate a target entirely, leaving no chance for survival.
Yet, Dust Release had its drawbacks. No matter how powerful it was, it was useless if it didn't land. And the Raikage's blinding speed was among the fastest in the ninja world, making him an exceedingly difficult target for the ageing Tsuchikage.
The battle between them quickly turned into a stalemate, with neither able to gain the upper hand. Their destructive clash reduced the Tsuchikage Building to rubble—an outcome fueled by the Fourth Raikage's raw strength and Ōnoki's Dust Release techniques.
In his frustration, Ōnoki overexerted himself, causing his old injury—a chronic back pain—to flare up.
Meanwhile, the battle between the two villages raged on. Kumogakure's offensive was relentless.
The tailed beast squad wreaked havoc, and the main forces, led personally by the Raikage, pushed deep into Iwagakure's territory within minutes. Old grudges and fresh wounds fueled the screams of Iwagakure shinobi.
"Fourth Raikage, you b*****d! Are you really trying to destroy us completely? What good will starting a ninja war do for you?"
Ōnoki bellowed in rage. In terms of combat, he was confident he could hold his own against the Raikage. With his Flight Technique and Dust Release, he could kite and eventually outlast him.
But this was Iwagakure—his home. He had no option but to retreat or fight strategically.
"Ōnoki, you have some nerve blaming me! You're the one who provoked this war! There's no point in talking—today, I will destroy Iwagakure!"
The Fourth Raikage's voice thundered. If Iwagakure hadn't launched a Tailed Beast Ball against Kumogakure, would he have needed to seek revenge so desperately?
The memory of his father's death and the sight of that devastating Tailed Beast Ball burning outside his village filled the Raikage with fury.
Muscles bulging, he charged toward Ōnoki in a frenzy.
Ōnoki's face darkened. He had no time to consider the meaning of the Raikage's words. Summoning his strength, he launched the Particle Style: Atomic Dismantling Jutsu. However, the Raikage dodged it with incredible speed, leaving Ōnoki cursing his inability to land a hit.
As the two clashed fiercely, Ōnoki noticed something unusual—the Fourth Raikage's attacks were losing their intensity.
The Kumogakure shinobi, who had penetrated deep into Iwagakure, were also beginning to retreat. Even the roars of the tailed beasts, which had been the loudest on the battlefield, suddenly went silent. The beasts had disappeared.
"Old man, I didn't expect you to have this much strength left at your age. I'm impressed... But don't think this is over!"
The Fourth Raikage received Dodai's signal and abruptly ceased his assault. While his instincts urged him to finish the fight, his strategic mind prevailed. A true leader understands when to press forward and when to pull back.
Without further delay, the Raikage turned and left. The Kumogakure forces withdrew swiftly, leaving Ōnoki confused but seething with rage.
"What's going on? Why are they retreating now?"
As the dust settled and the Fourth Raikage's forces disappeared, Ōnoki's expression darkened. The retreat wasn't a sign of Kumogakure conceding—it was merely a prelude to something more ominous.
"Damn it! Come when you want, leave when you want—what do you think I am? This is Iwagakure! I... tsk, tsk, tsk... my old back..."
Ōnoki grimaced, clutching his waist as the pain flared up again.
"Get over here! We cannot let Kumogakure leave so easily... No, summon the entire village's combat forces immediately! Quickly address the damage in the village, form wartime squads, and mobilize to the border. Contact the daimyo to prepare for war!"
Ōnoki's fury was evident, but he forced himself to temper his rage. While he wanted to send forces to pursue the retreating Kumogakure shinobi, the combat power displayed by Kumogakure—especially the Fourth Raikage and the two perfect Jinchūriki—made such an action reckless.
Venting his anger wouldn't help. Preparing for the inevitable confrontation was far more critical. A full-scale battle between Iwagakure and Kumogakure was unavoidable.
Although Ōnoki didn't know the exact circumstances that led the Fourth Raikage to attack Iwagakure with such overwhelming force, the reason no longer mattered. The attack itself was enough to warrant retaliation.
Iwagakure had been struck hard, and the village needed to regain its footing quickly. If Kumogakure wanted war, then Iwagakure would meet them on the battlefield.
Similarly, from the Fourth Raikage's perspective, the Four-Tails' Tailed Beast Ball fired at Kumogakure was nothing short of a declaration of war by Iwagakure. Refusing to respond would be unthinkable.
The Fourth Raikage had aimed to cripple Iwagakure's high-end combat power in this initial assault while also devastating their ability to mount a counterattack.
This wasn't just a war between two villages—it was a conflict closely watched by the other three major villages. If the war dragged on, leaving Kumogakure bogged down, it would only be a matter of time before another village exploited the situation.
Having achieved their objectives, Kumogakure's forces left Tsuchi no Kuni swiftly, wasting no time. They needed to regroup and prepare for the next phase of the conflict.
Historically, battlefields in ninja wars were rarely the homelands of the warring parties. Instead, the battles were fought in smaller nations caught between the great powers.
This was the harsh reality for small countries and minor shinobi villages—a cycle of tragedy they couldn't escape.
Ōnoki sent scouts to confirm Kumogakure's departure from Tsuchi no Kuni but refrained from ordering a pursuit. It would serve no purpose.
"Tsuchikage-sama! Seventy per cent of the village has been severely damaged, with nearly five hundred casualties. Two hundred and eighteen shinobi were killed, including twenty Jōnin!"
Standing amidst the ruins of the Tsuchikage Building, an Anbu member delivered the grim report. Silence fell over the gathered crowd as the weight of the losses sank in.
Kumogakure's attack had been swift and devastating. Many villagers and shinobi alike were killed before they even had time to react, caught in their sleepwear.
"Tsuchikage-sama! The logistics warehouse was attacked. The stored silver coins and weapons were looted. Half of the food supplies were stolen, and the rest were set ablaze!"
Before Ōnoki could respond, the enormity of the situation overwhelmed him. Without a word, he collapsed, unconscious.
"Tsuchikage-sama!"
"Tsuchikage-sama! Quickly, call the medical team!"
The desperate shouts of his subordinates echoed through the ruins as the village struggled to recover from the catastrophic assault.
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