118. Onoki Accuses Konoha Of Not Practicing Tolerance
Afterwards, Yagami and the Fourth Raikage confirmed the cooperation matters, and Yagami took out several sealing scrolls containing materials for the transaction.
"I thought you would ask for a lot, but you ended up asking for just this little. It's a bit too much!"
Seeing that the supplies Yagami brought with him were sufficient for the transaction, the Kumogakure shinobi was speechless. If they hadn't been concerned about his combat power and the strength backing him, the Raikage might have considered robbing him.
"By the way, Raikage-sama, our Uchiha Security Company, offers a hiring service. If you need additional manpower, feel free to hire us for the war. Remember to contact us anytime."
Before leaving, Yagami took the opportunity to promote his business to the Raikage, leaving the Kumogakure shinobi speechless. The Uchiha clan now seemed entirely focused on profit-making!
Although the Fourth Raikage was known for being ruthless, he took this matter seriously. The next day, he issued a joint announcement with the Daimyō of the Land of Lightning.
Kumogakure's audacity stemmed from their strength, but now that the Uchiha clan had grown so powerful, they realized they couldn't afford to provoke them. Naturally, they refrained from playing any underhanded tricks.
However, the Fourth Raikage was still somewhat sly. Not only did he announce the cooperation, but he also disclosed that Uchiha had sold strategic materials, claiming it was to support their collaboration.
When the news spread, the most embarrassed party was Konoha, and the most uncomfortable was Iwagakure.
When the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, heard about this, he was speechless. "I just stated that Konoha would not get involved in this war, and now the Uchiha clan has cooperated with Kumogakure, providing strategic supplies. It's like throwing us onto a mountain of fire!"
When Yagami was asked to explain, he said the company's commercial activities had no connection to Konoha's politics or war and then left.
"You must be joking! We, the Uchiha Group, are businessmen. As long as there's profit, we don't care if there's a war. They're not going to attack us anyway..."
Over in Iwagakure, Ōnoki was practically fuming with anger.
Although Konoha hadn't formed an alliance with Iwagakure, they had indicated that they wouldn't involve themselves in the war. Yet, here they were supporting Kumogakure.
This was Konoha's idea of neutrality.
Ōnoki had painstakingly kept Iwagakure afloat by scavenging resources and pressing Kumogakure, and now Konoha's actions felt like a betrayal.
Immediately, Ōnoki publicly accused Konoha of hypocrisy, claiming they were stabbing an old man nearing eighty in the back.
He also tried to undermine Sunagakure, aiming to sever their alliance with Konoha.
In response, Sarutobi Hiruzen swiftly clarified that the Uchiha Group's actions were strictly business-oriented and had no relation to Konoha's stance.
If the ninja world had access to the internet, the conflict might have turned into a heated argument on social media instead of escalating further.
"Heh, your latest move has really gotten under Iwagakure's skin. That old guy Ōnoki is probably losing a few centimetres out of frustration," Fugaku said with a chuckle as he read through the intelligence report.
He had participated in many shinobi wars, but this was the first time he'd seen a battle between Iwagakure and Kumogakure unfold like this.
Kumogakure clearly had the upper hand but had been pushed back by Iwagakure.
Iwagakure, though in a weaker position, managed to maintain its combat strength by pillaging small nations for resources, gaining a temporary edge.
Now, the two villages that had been at war had shifted focus. One negotiated business dealings with Uchiha, while the other started a verbal spat with Konoha, which had chosen to remain neutral.
This is even more complicated than the melee between villages in the early days of the Third Shinobi World War!
What Fugaku didn't realize was that the direction of this shinobi war was no longer being determined by Iwagakure and Kumogakure but by the Uchiha Group, under Mingfeng's management.
However, Fū Yamanaka lacked the political talent to handle such matters, and Yagami had no intention of involving him.
Whether it was supplying strategic materials to Kumogakure or having Orochimaru provide intelligence support to Iwagakure, these were entirely orchestrated by the Uchiha Group.
It seemed as though Uchiha, stationed to Konoha's east, had no connection to the war. Yet, in reality, the war's rhythm was firmly under the control of the Uchiha Group, the massive organization pulling the strings.
"It's not over yet! For a stubborn old man like Ōnoki, we need to make him feel both despair and pain before the gates between Iwagakure and the Land of Earth will open. His uncomfortable days are far from over," Yagami remarked casually.
By now, Konoha had tacitly acknowledged Uchiha's status, while Kirigakure and Kumogakure had also recognized the existence of the Uchiha Group. Only Iwagakure and Sunagakure remained as hurdles.
Sunagakure was less of a concern.
As long as the other four villages acknowledged the transnational business nature of the Uchiha Group, any objections from Sunagakure would be negligible. Furthermore, the Daimyō of the Land of Wind had long desired the development of Uchiha hotels in his territory, only holding back to avoid conflict with Sunagakure. Yagami had suppressed these plans for now.
This left Iwagakure in the Land of Earth as the biggest obstacle to making Uchiha the only organization spanning all five major nations.
Iwagakure, unlike Kumogakure, couldn't be handled the same way. The Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, was an infamously stubborn old man, as demonstrated in Boruto's era.
While Konoha, Kumogakure, Kirigakure, and Sunagakure had all evolved into bustling metropolises, Iwagakure remained retrograde.
This wasn't just due to Iwagakure's imbalanced military and civilian expenditures but also Ōnoki's long-standing resistance to progress. His reluctance to relinquish power and embrace change had left the village stagnant.
To make Ōnoki and Iwagakure yield, their backbone had to be broken. Only then could Uchiha seize the opportunity to advance.
"Per your instructions, half of the Jōnin families have gone to Otogakure under Shisui's leadership. What is your plan?"
Hearing this, Fugaku began to grasp the reason Yagami had mobilized the security forces earlier. It seemed the target was Iwagakure.
"Don't worry. Wait for the Raikage to contact us. I believe he will make for a reliable collaborator," Mingfeng said confidently.
Uchiha needed to participate in the war, but not overtly. A legitimate reason had to exist.
While some might scorn the idea of playing both sides while maintaining appearances, Yagami saw it as necessary. A positive reputation was essential for the Uchiha Group's growth.
"Do you think the Fourth Raikage, as strong-willed as he is, will come to us?" Fugaku asked skeptically. He was familiar with the Raikage's tenacity and knew he wasn't one to give up easily.
"Yes. Although Kumogakure initiated this war, they aren't equipped for prolonged conflict. Their need to purchase strategic materials highlights this. None of the villages have fully recovered from the trauma of the Third Shinobi World War—except perhaps Konoha and Uchiha."
Yagami drained his teacup. He hadn't indulged in alcohol, not due to the "three taboos" of shinobi life, but to keep his mind clear and focused.
The Fourth Raikage didn't leave Uchiha waiting long. Within eight days, the Uchiha Security Company received an employment commission.
Despite the war, the Fourth Raikage wasn't solely fixated on fighting Iwagakure. Though the Tailed Beast Ball that struck Kumogakure was from the Four-Tails, it wasn't necessarily by Iwagakure's design—just an assumption.
No intelligence indicated Iwagakure's intent to target Kumogakure, and even they had lost track of the Four-Tails' Jinchūriki.
If not for his grudge against Ōnoki, the Fourth Raikage might have sought a truce already.
As the war dragged on, both Kumogakure and Iwagakure were exhausting their resources. The Fourth Raikage wasn't someone who placed vengeance above his village's welfare, so he turned to Uchiha to ensure Iwagakure paid a heavy price to end the conflict.
As for the issue of pride, it could be set aside when it came to critical decisions for his village.
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