Chapter 178: Completely Cornered
At this moment, the Dust Release core unleashed by Uchiha Dali shone brilliantly and remained perfectly stable, exuding a level of threat that was in no way inferior to Ōnoki's own Dust Release core.
Seeing this scene before him, Ōnoki's expression turned more grave than ever.
In contrast, Uchiha Dali looked completely relaxed and composed. "If the two of us attack each other with Dust Release at the same time, who do you think will fall first?"
"Want to give it a try, Ōnoki?"
Ōnoki was indeed apprehensive.
No one understood better than he did just how powerful Dust Release was.
If two shinobi unleashed Dust Release on each other simultaneously, the most likely outcome was mutual destruction.
But if the opponent was an Uchiha, there was no guarantee he didn't have some kind of life-saving technique hidden up his sleeve.
In that case, the more probable outcome would be his own demise and Dali only being severely injured.
Ōnoki wasn't nearly noble enough to sacrifice his own life just to take the other down with him.
After weighing the risks, the glow of the Dust Release core in his palm gradually faded, and the fully formed attack silently dissipated into nothingness.
"What exactly do you want, Uchiha Dali? The Four-Tails and Five-Tails that Iwagakure possesses were personally allocated by your Konoha's First Hokage, Hashirama Senju."
"And now you've taken them back by force. Don't you think that's a bit much?"
Ōnoki's tone was forceful, but his heart lacked conviction.
Even he could tell his own words lacked strength.
Uchiha Dali didn't respond right away. Instead, he leisurely withdrew his Dust Release attack and then began to applaud.
"Well said. You're right—they were allocated a long time ago. But the First Hokage has long since passed. His decisions no longer represent today's Konoha, and the agreements signed back then hold no real meaning now."
"Does that make sense to you?"
"So you're just going to take them by force?!"
Ōnoki's expression darkened, his fury rising.
At that moment, he noticed that the massive hole he had blasted into the Four Red Yang Formation's barrier with his Dust Release was now visibly regenerating at an astonishing speed.
In the blink of an eye, the opening vanished, and the barrier was completely restored.
They were trapped inside once again.
Ōnoki's face turned red with anger. "Uchiha Dali, what is it you want!?"
"I want Iwagakure to submit to me. We'll establish a unified and complete new nation led by the Land of Fire."
Uchiha Dali replied.
"Absolutely not!"
Ōnoki refused without hesitation, not even pausing to think.
"Then you can all just sit in there and wait."
Uchiha Dali spread his hands with a casual shrug.
Ōnoki's face changed once again.
The strength of this barrier was incredibly high. He had barely managed to open a hole in it even by going all out with Dust Release.
But that wasn't enough to allow the entire force inside to escape.
So that was his plan—to trap their main forces within this barrier…
"You truly are vicious!"
Ōnoki squinted, finally realizing Uchiha Dali's true intent.
If their main force was trapped inside this barrier with no food or water, their army of over ten thousand would begin to suffer losses in just a few days.
This way, Uchiha Dali wouldn't even need to lift a finger to crush them.
It was undeniably a ruthless tactic.
"You think you can force me to surrender with a trick like this? You're still too young!"
"I've lived for decades—heck, I've even fought your Konoha's Uchiha Madara! You think I haven't seen it all?"
Ōnoki tried to maintain a facade of composure as he stared at Uchiha Dali.
But Uchiha Dali didn't bother arguing. Instead, he made an unexpected offer. "After unifying the shinobi world, if you're allowed to remain the governor of Iwagakure County, would that help you feel better?"
Ōnoki's refusal to accept his demand ultimately came down to personal interest.
First and foremost, he wasn't willing to accept being demoted—from being the Third Tsuchikage of Iwagakure, an equal to the leaders of Konoha, to becoming Uchiha Dali's subordinate.
Second was that patriotic sentiment.
Who would willingly see their homeland conquered, reduced to a subordinate state?
But if, after unification, Ōnoki were allowed to continue governing the former Land of Earth—just like Rasa and Yagura were allowed to remain in their positions—maybe the old man would be more open-minded.
"What did you just say?"
Ōnoki was momentarily stunned.
Uchiha Dali repeated his words.
Now having clearly heard him, Ōnoki let out a disbelieving laugh.
"Uchiha Dali, you clearly have no idea where the bottom line of this old man or the allied forces of the Land of Earth lies!"
"We will never surrender to you!!"
"And you can forget about conquering us with force!!"
Ōnoki was fuming, practically leaping with rage.
But Uchiha Dali completely ignored his tantrum. He casually walked straight through the barrier of the Four Red Yang Formation and appeared inside it in an instant.
He materialized beside Ōnoki, startling him.
Ōnoki immediately shifted into battle mode, his guard on full alert.
But Uchiha Dali didn't even spare him a glance. Instead, he descended toward the Land of Earth's allied forces gathered on the ground below.
Seeing this, Ōnoki frowned deeply, unsure what Uchiha Dali was up to.
The allied forces on the ground also noticed Uchiha Dali's arrival.
"Everyone, be on alert! That guy's come down!"
"A guy from Konoha? Didn't he say he's the Fourth Hokage or something?"
"Showing up here so casually… what's he trying to pull?"
"Seems like he's completely ignoring the Third Tsuchikage of Iwagakure…"
"..."
Earlier, when Ōnoki attacked the barrier with Dust Release, some of the shinobi on the ground had witnessed it.
Although they couldn't hear the exchange between Ōnoki and Uchiha Dali since it happened high in the air, they saw the barrier quickly repair itself after being damaged, and it was obvious that Ōnoki was powerless against his opponent.
This naturally caused many of them to grow anxious about their future—especially the shinobi from smaller nations.
These smaller nations had cooperated with Iwagakure in the first place because they feared Konoha's power. In return for protection, they had offered funds or even agreed to lease land to the Land of Earth.
But none of them had anticipated things turning out like this.
If even the Third Tsuchikage of Iwagakure couldn't intimidate the enemy, then what would happen to them?
As these shinobi pondered their fate, Uchiha Dali landed in their midst.
Naturally, Ōnoki descended from above as well.
Upon landing, Uchiha Dali ignored the crowd's reactions. His eyes swept slowly across each face, then curled into a half-smile.
"So many unfamiliar faces… Allow me to introduce myself. I am the Fourth Hokage of Konoha in the Land of Fire—Uchiha Dali."
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