122. The War Is Over, The Akatsuki Organization Is Targeted Again

After hearing Yagami's words, Ōnoki remained silent for a while, carefully assessing their credibility. However, he soon realized that such deliberation was pointless. Uchiha Yagami now possessed the power to annihilate Iwagakure's leadership in an instant. Whether Yagami was making excuses for Konoha or not had no practical impact on Iwagakure's situation.

"Ōnoki!"

At that moment, the Fourth Raikage and his forces stormed into the headquarters, shouting as they launched an assault.

Ōnoki didn't hesitate. I can't defeat Uchiha Yagami, but I can certainly take on a musclehead like you! Without delay, he flew toward the Fourth Raikage, readying a Dust Release attack.

"Uchiha Yagami, your security company doesn't require rigid procedures to accept commissions, does it?" Ōnoki asked, stopping his attack after blocking the Raikage. "If I issue a commission to protect the Iwagakure shinobi present, will it take effect immediately?"

His plan was simple: if Kumogakure could hire the Uchiha to end the war, then Iwagakure could just as well hire them to protect their own people.

"Of course, there's no problem," Yagami replied casually. "But we'd have to face Kumogakure, and with so many Iwagakure shinobi present, the price might be... substantial. I wonder—"

"The price is not an issue," Ōnoki interrupted decisively. "But you must ensure that everyone here can return to the village alive!"

With a proud look cast toward the Fourth Raikage, Ōnoki waited for Yagami's response.

"In that case..." Yagami turned to the Raikage with a faint smirk. "Lord Raikage, we've fulfilled our task of helping you end the war. We attempted to eliminate the Tsuchikage to the best of our ability. Though we didn't succeed, you've seen for yourself how far my Susanoo went. The fact that the old man is still alive means we've done all we could."

Yagami paused for effect, then continued, "Now that the Tsuchikage has issued a new commission, we have no choice but to serve our new employer."

With that, Yagami gestured to the Uchiha shinobi, who had been standing alongside the Kumogakure forces. Under Shisui's lead, they moved immediately to join the Iwagakure side.

For a moment, the Kumogakure shinobi stood frozen in disbelief. They stared at their Raikage, unsure how to process what had just happened.

Good grief! They thought collectively. Just moments ago, we were allies, but now we've become potential enemies? These Uchiha switched sides faster than flipping a page!

The sheer ferocity of the Uchiha clan had been a comfort while they were allies. Now that they had become adversaries, the same power felt like an ominous weight hanging over Kumogakure.

Meanwhile, the Iwagakure shinobi experienced a completely different range of emotions. Despite losing many comrades to the Uchiha earlier, they now found themselves protected by the same overwhelming force. A strange sense of security settled over them.

How bizarre, they thought. The Uchiha are supposed to be our enemies, so why does their presence suddenly feel reassuring? Who in their right mind feels safe with their enemy protecting them? This is madness!

The Fourth Raikage, on the other hand, found his eye twitching uncontrollably as he processed Yagami's words.

"The Tsuchikage tried his best?" he thought sarcastically. After summoning Susanoo, you barely lifted a finger except to interfere with the Five-Tails Jinchūriki. And as for Ōnoki's Dust Release, it didn't even leave a scratch on the battlefield.

The Raikage clenched his fists but held his tongue. He knew Yagami was shamelessly manipulating the situation, but what could he say?

The commission had been clear from the start: killing the Tsuchikage was a condition, not a mandatory requirement. Uchiha Yagami had technically fulfilled the terms of the contract.

Besides, at this point in the war, Kumogakure's victory was already assured. Uchiha had done their part, and Kumogakure had little ground to complain.

At this point, accepting Iwagakure's commission didn't strictly conflict with Kumogakure's, but the overlap between the two was far too close in timing. "The turnaround time is unacceptable," Fourth Raikage muttered under his breath, frustration evident. 

Ōnoki, however, was unfazed and coldly addressed the Raikage. 

"Fourth Raikage, regarding this war, Iwagakure has already surrendered. Don't even think about extracting more benefits from us. You raided Iwagakure before and stole more than enough. 

And as for why this war started, you should reflect on that. Leaving aside our personal grievances, do you think this endless cycle of war is truly worth it?" 

His gaze grew colder as he added, "We haven't even been able to contact Four-Tails' Jinchūriki, Rōshi. That alone indicates something must have happened. 

Given what we know, it's entirely possible the Four-Tails' Tailed Beast Ball that struck Kumogakure wasn't launched by us." 

"Hmph! It's true that Cloud Shinobi was attacked by a Tailed Beast Ball, and Rōshi hasn't been seen since," Fourth Raikage admitted. "But what are you suggesting? That the Four-Tails Jinchūriki is no longer under Iwagakure's control? Or are you claiming someone else is pulling the strings?" 

"It wouldn't be unprecedented," Yagami interjected with a calm but sharp tone. "Don't forget, the Nine-Tails in Konoha have been controlled before, causing untold destruction. Why would it be unusual for the Four-Tails to be manipulated as well? 

Think back to the events leading up to this war—what were you doing before the fighting began? Who were you pressuring the most? And once the war started, who or what did you completely overlook?" 

Ōnoki and Fourth Raikage both fell silent, considering Yagami's implications. 

Yagami continued, "When I first heard about the war between Iwagakure and Kumogakure, especially knowing it was triggered by a Tailed Beast Ball, I suspected a certain individual—Uchiha Obito. His actions align too well with this chain of events." 

"What are you saying?" Ōnoki narrowed his eyes. 

"It's simple. The eyes of the shinobi world have been fixated on Amegakure and the Akatsuki organization for some time now. Obito wouldn't want his plans to be exposed prematurely, so he'd naturally sow chaos elsewhere to divert attention. And what better distraction than a war between two of the Five Great Nations?" 

"Amegakure... Akatsuki!" A sharp glint flashed in Ōnoki's eyes. The gears in his mind turned rapidly. Despite his age, his experience allowed him to see the truth in Yagami's words. 

"You mean to say that Akatsuki orchestrated this entire war by taking control of the Four-Tails' Jinchūriki? How bold of them!" Fourth Raikage growled, anger surging through him. 

"Very bold," Yagami replied. "And highly probable. Akatsuki's objective appears to be the capture of tailed beasts. There have been multiple sightings of a masked man operating in Konoha—likely Obito. 

You may not be aware, but the Fourth Mizukage, the Three-Tails Jinchūriki, was under that same masked man's control for years until his manipulation was exposed just last year." 

Ōnoki's expression darkened at this revelation. He turned to look at Han, who had reverted to his human form, seemingly assessing whether Yagami's claims were credible. 

"Fourth Mizukage... the Three-Tails' Jinchūriki?" Ōnoki murmured. "If what you say is true, then perhaps... Rōshi..." 

"I wouldn't look at me for answers," Yagami said with a shrug. "I may possess the Mangekyō Sharingan, but controlling a Jinchūriki directly is beyond my capability. If it were that simple, I would've long since taken the tailed beast from Iwagakure to guard my own gates." 

He smirked slightly and added, "Even in Susanoo form, with Tama mo's hypnotic abilities, a Jinchūriki fully transformed into a tailed beast can only be temporarily confused—not fully controlled. It's not something easily solved." 

Ōnoki's frown deepened, contemplating the implications. Both the Fourth Raikage and Ōnoki understood now that this war might not have been entirely their own doing. If Akatsuki had been behind it all along, their villages would have been nothing more than pawns in a larger scheme. 

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