Chapter 297: Surrender?

Chapter 297: Surrender?

Senju Tobirama, having learned more about the Otsutsuki, returned to the surface with the group to assess the battlefield.

"Looks like there's nothing left for us to do."

The Mist Village shinobi had already advanced onto the shore, breaking through Iwagakure's defensive line along the river. Despite their desperate resistance, the Iwa shinobi were outnumbered and outmaneuvered. The outcome was already decided.

…

Ōnoki surveyed the chaotic battlefield, his expression heavy as he watched the scene before him.

Everywhere he looked, Iwa shinobi were in full retreat.

Following his orders, most of his forces had withdrawn, leaving only a single unit alongside him to serve as a rearguard.

They had lost… Isshiki had lost, and so had they.

There were plenty of excuses he could use to explain their defeat, but looking at the Second Tsuchikage nearby, Ōnoki didn't want to make any excuses.

Iwagakure had been defeated.

"You're not leaving?"

Mu glanced at Ōnoki, his tone complicated.

Beside Ōnoki, Kitsuchi, having withdrawn from the battle, looked at him with concern.

Ignoring Kitsuchi's worried gaze, Ōnoki closed his eyes and spoke in a dreamlike tone:

"Where could I go? Iwagakure… has already lost."

The defenses within the capital of the Land of Earth wouldn't hold against the Mist. Guerrilla warfare wouldn't yield results either. With the city cleared of defenders, if the Mist decided to go all out, they could even flood the capital with water jutsu.

This battle to defend the capital was already over.

Seeing Ōnoki's apparent loss of will to fight, Kitsuchi clenched his teeth. "Father, Iwagakure still has the strength to fight! If we regroup our border forces and wait for reinforcements from the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning, we can reclaim our lost territories—"

"Yes, there's hope. But that's no longer my fight."

Ōnoki opened his eyes and turned to Kitsuchi with a complicated expression. He smiled faintly. "From now on, I'll leave Iwagakure in your hands."

The Mist's tactics may have been brilliant, but without a steady, methodical approach to strike at the capital directly, they wouldn't have been able to establish a foothold in the Land of Earth. At best, they could have held the northeastern region near the river and the coastline.

Expanding their gains further was unlikely—not only would Iwagakure resist, but other nations wouldn't allow it. And if effective countermeasures against the Mist's tactics were developed, they might even regain everything that had been lost.

But none of this mattered to Ōnoki anymore.

Kitsuchi froze, unsure how to respond. Before he could speak, several figures approached against the flow of retreating soldiers.

The leader, wearing a Leaf Village forehead protector, stepped forward and addressed Ōnoki apologetically:

"Apologies, Lord Tsuchikage. We're late."

Ōnoki waved dismissively and looked at the Mist shinobi closing in on them. "There's no point in saying that now. Take Kitsuchi and leave."

"What?" Kitsuchi was shocked.

"Someone has to stay behind to cover the retreat. With Mu here, it has to be me."

Ōnoki's expression was calm as he continued, "Take Kitsuchi and go."

"Lord Tsuchikage, this—"

The Leaf reinforcements hesitated.

Ōnoki's tone grew stern as he repeated, "Go! That's an order!"

Kitsuchi stared at his father in disbelief. After exchanging a reluctant look with the Leaf shinobi, he finally nodded and began to retreat as instructed.

The clones guarding Ōnoki frowned but then heard him say quietly, "You should leave too. As long as I and the Iwa shinobi remain, there's hope that the clones and the Land of Earth can continue to stand together in the future."

The clones departed in silence.

By now, the Mist had dealt with the remaining rearguard Iwa shinobi and gathered before Ōnoki.

Yagura stepped forward from their ranks.

"I want to speak with Hyuga Fuji," Ōnoki said, looking directly at Yagura.

…

In the Daimyo's palace, news of the front line's defeat arrived swiftly.

The Daimyo of the Land of Earth, who had indulged in a life of excess ever since becoming Iwagakure's "cash machine," displayed a complex expression. The news of their loss was like a heavy hammer striking his already desensitized heart.

Even as a servant poured him wine, he didn't react.

Sitting in the vast palace hall, he held a wine cup in his hand, his gaze vacant as if his soul had drifted elsewhere.

So, the day had finally come.

He had allowed himself to be reduced to a cash machine, hoping that Ōnoki might spare his life and arrange for a dignified transition of power. But now that the Mist had invaded, his agreement with Ōnoki no longer held any weight.

What had happened to the Daimyo of the Fire Country when their capital fell? He had been killed on the spot.

And the Daimyo of the Wind Country? He had brewed his own poison and ended his life.

Now… was it his turn?

Watching the extravagant dancers before him, the Daimyo suddenly found the wine in his mouth unbearably bitter.

An elderly noble ignored the opulent scene in the hall and walked in without hesitation. "My Lord, the Mist has already taken the eastern streets. You must leave at once."

Drunk and indignant, the Daimyo retorted, "The Land of Earth is the weakest of the Five Great Nations. We've always been destined to fall!"

The noble frowned at the Daimyo's apparent unwillingness to leave. "You exaggerate, my Lord. Iwagakure is rallying its forces, and reinforcements from the Lands of Fire and Lightning are on their way. This is merely a temporary setback; there is still a chance for a comeback."

The Daimyo laughed bitterly. "What does any of that have to do with me? You should be telling this to Ōnoki. I have no soldiers, nor do I have the ability to lead an army. The Land of Earth belongs to Ōnoki, not me!"

"Lord Ōnoki stayed behind to cover the retreat and has already fallen into enemy hands."

The Daimyo froze.

Ōnoki had been captured?

After a moment, understanding dawned on him. He burst into laughter.

"I see… I see now! Hahaha…"

His laughter, unrestrained and mocking, caused the nobles around him to grow visibly uncomfortable.

Tears streamed from the Daimyo's eyes as he laughed.

"You sycophants! You sided with Ōnoki the moment I faltered. And now? Look where it's gotten you! All your investments in him have gone to waste. How ridiculous!"

"Now that the situation has changed and you see no hope for the Land of Earth, you want me to surrender to the Lands of Water and Snow to secure your future prosperity? Telling me to flee is just a pretense!"

His harsh words caused his attendants to shift uneasily, but the elderly noble breathed a sigh of relief.

He wasn't here to persuade the Daimyo to leave—he was here to gauge his intentions.

If the Daimyo could so quickly grasp his purpose, it meant he was already considering the same course of action.

The Mist's momentum was overwhelming, and Iwagakure had fallen far too quickly. Coupled with the earlier devastating battle that altered the skies, even the nobles feared for the future.

They didn't know how the war would unfold, but at the current rate, even if the Lands of Fire and Lightning managed to halt the Mist's advance, their own lands and wealth might be completely drained by the conflict.

Since they couldn't escape the Land of Earth, they might as well take a gamble.

With their positions and the Daimyo's authority, now that Ōnoki had been captured, they had the legitimacy to represent the Land of Earth and negotiate a surrender!

(Chapter End)

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