Chapter 491: Ōnoki Is the First Day, the Third Raikage Is the Fifteenth

The Four-Tails was undoubtedly a trophy of the Cloud Village, but this truth could not be openly declared.

Watching his son storm off in anger, the Third Raikage sighed. His son had inherited his rage but little else. Other aspects of his personality? Hard to describe.

Fortunately, while his son had his flaws, he was undeniably talented. With Killer Bee as his perfect partner, his son would be more than capable of leading the Cloud Village in the future.

"Ōnoki, do you really think you're the only one who can play dirty?"

The Third Raikage sneered.

Tactical retreat? Fine, you retreat. Retreat doesn't mean surrender? Fine!

If Ōnoki could stoop to shameless tricks, then the Third Raikage could do the same.

The decision was made: the Four-Tails would remain in the Cloud Village.

Ōnoki had cheated by denying defeat in the war, so the Third Raikage would cheat by keeping the tailed beast.

Ōnoki claimed that withdrawing troops didn't mean Iwagakure lost the war, so the Third Raikage would claim the Four-Tails without admitting to forcibly keeping it.

The Four-Tails would "settle" in the Cloud Village, and Iwagakure would have no hope of retrieving it.

Although the other villages wouldn't want the Cloud Village to keep the Four-Tails, the Third Raikage was prepared for that opposition.

Ōnoki had set the tone for this game, and now it was his turn to retaliate.

"If you're shameless, don't blame me for playing the same game," the Third Raikage thought.

He ordered his sealing team to begin extracting the Four-Tails from Roshi as soon as possible. Once the extraction was complete, Roshi's body would be returned to Iwagakure.

Ōnoki liked to play dirty? Fine. The Cloud Village didn't need Roshi's body. They'd return it as a "gift."

"I hope this doesn't kill you, Ōnoki," the Third Raikage muttered with a smirk.

The sealing team worked quickly, and with the Four-Tails extracted, Roshi's life came to an end.

The Third Raikage personally led the team transporting Roshi's body to the border of the Land of Earth.

"Stop here."

At the border, the Third Raikage halted his team. Unlike before, the Land of Earth's border was heavily guarded. Ōnoki had stationed a significant number of Iwagakure ninjas there, wary of a potential retaliatory attack by the Cloud Village.

While the probability of an attack was low, Ōnoki wasn't one to gamble. He knew the Third Raikage well—an old man with a temper as fiery as his pride.

Iwagakure's refusal to admit defeat had embarrassed the Cloud Village, and Ōnoki knew the Third Raikage would retaliate in some form.

The ninja army that had withdrawn from the battlefield was now stationed along the border, ready for any potential incursions.

With their naval forces decimated during the war with the Mist Village, the Cloud Village had no viable sea route to the Land of Earth. Any attack would have to come by land, through several small countries.

Ōnoki had prepared accordingly.

The Third Raikage, however, had no intention of starting a new war. He stopped at the border and waited.

With the Third Raikage himself present, the Iwagakure border guards didn't dare act recklessly. The news of his arrival was quickly sent to Ōnoki in the Rock Village.

"I'll wait for Ōnoki here," the Third Raikage instructed. "Scout the surrounding areas, particularly in the direction of Konoha. If there's any sign of an ambush, retreat to the Land of Fire immediately."

His guards obeyed, dispersing to conduct reconnaissance.

The Third Raikage was confident that Konoha wouldn't intervene. As allies, Konoha might disapprove of his actions, but they wouldn't openly oppose him.

With his team gone, the Third Raikage stood alone at the border, staring into the Land of Earth.

"Ōnoki, I hope you appreciate the gift I've brought you."

When news of the Third Raikage's arrival reached the Rock Village, Ōnoki couldn't sit still.

Ōnoki feared that the Third Raikage, known for his lack of restraint, might actually storm into the Land of Earth. It wouldn't be the first time he'd done so.

In the past, the Third Raikage's "visits" to the Land of Earth were often either for revenge or to extort compensation.

Ōnoki had no choice but to fly to the border to confront him.

By the time he arrived, it was already afternoon.

The Third Raikage stood motionless, waiting for him.

"Raikage, I didn't expect you to come in person," Ōnoki called down, his tone guarded.

Ōnoki hovered in the sky, refusing to land. Meeting the Third Raikage face-to-face was already a show of respect, but landing was out of the question.

Given the animosity between their villages, neither trusted the other. Ōnoki wouldn't relinquish his flying advantage unless he was certain of his safety.

The Third Raikage sneered, looking up at him.

"Ōnoki, you've given me quite a surprise. Since you're so shameless, I felt compelled to return the favor. I hope you'll appreciate the gift I brought."

"???"

Ōnoki's eyes narrowed. A "gift"?

Was this retaliation for Iwagakure's refusal to admit defeat?

Ōnoki scanned the area, wary of a potential ambush.

The Third Raikage noticed his caution and said bluntly, "There's no ambush. I don't have time for that nonsense."

It was true. With Ōnoki's ability to fly, an ambush would be a waste of effort unless it guaranteed a kill. The same logic applied to Ōnoki—attacking the Third Raikage without assurance of victory wasn't worth the risk.

Both men knew it was nearly impossible to kill someone of the other's caliber in a single strike.