Land of Rain.
In the middle of a vast lake stood a small island, and at its center rose a towering structure. Numerous shinobi were stationed outside the tower, maintaining a vigilant watch.
To the east, a contingent of Konoha ninja stood guard, while to the west, Iwagakure shinobi had taken position. The two sides remained clearly separated, tense and wary of each other.
Inside the tower.
On the top floor, in a large hall, an elongated oval table stood at the center.
At one end of the table sat the Third Tsuchikage of Iwagakure, Onoki. His arms were folded in front of him, and his Tsuchikage hat rested on the table before him.
"You're demanding that we withdraw from the former territory of the Land of Rain and, on top of that, hand over four months' worth of land usage rights... You Konoha people really aren't willing to budge at all."
Onoki let out a cold snort and looked across at the Konoha shinobi before him. "You should know these terms are completely unacceptable, unless you're prepared to offer us adequate compensation for stationing forces."
As he spoke, Onoki let out a surge of chakra.
Even releasing just a portion of his chakra was enough to impose tremendous pressure on others. For a shinobi of his caliber, even elite Jonin could feel the weight of it.
Sitting opposite him was Konoha's elite Jonin, Yuhi Makoto. A thin sheen of sweat formed on his forehead as he endured the pressure of Onoki's presence.
He was a capable ninja in his own right.
But in the presence of the Tsuchikage, both in terms of status and sheer force of will, he found himself overpowered.
In truth, Konoha currently held the upper hand in this negotiation. Makoto was well aware that Onoki wouldn't risk starting a war lightly. However, with the Tsuchikage attending the talks personally, the pressure he exerted was immense.
"We will not be making any concessions, Tsuchikage-sama."
Makoto responded in a low voice.
He hadn't come to negotiate; the decisions had already been made by Kaede. He was simply there to relay the Fifth Hokage's stance.
Onoki frowned as he studied Makoto.
The fact that Makoto showed no sign of yielding despite the pressure meant the decision had likely been set in stone from the start, almost certainly by Kaede.
That fifteen-year-old brat truly didn't understand the nuances of diplomacy between great nations. His conduct was as domineering as ever.
Onoki's expression darkened.
And just then,
A commotion erupted outside. Konoha and Iwagakure shinobi seemed to have clashed. Moments later, an Iwa ninja burst into the room with a hurried report:
"Tsuchikage-sama! A large number of Konoha shinobi are advancing toward the tower!"
"…What?"
Onoki's expression shifted as he turned sharply toward Makoto, his voice dropping with suspicion. "So this is your game, Konoha? Resorting to force after all?"
Makoto's expression wavered with surprise and confusion. He had received no such orders, and as he opened his mouth to question what was happening outside, a voice suddenly shouted from behind him:
"Kill the Tsuchikage! Eliminate them all!"
"Makoto's expression changed drastically.
Something was wrong!
Konoha would never issue such an order, not without notifying him.
"You, !"
He turned sharply to look at the subordinate behind him, only to see the ninja had already formed hand seals and launched a fire-style jutsu straight at Onoki.
"Fire Style! Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"
"Earth Style! Earth-Style Wall!"
The Iwa shinobi standing near Onoki immediately countered the jutsu, forming seals and erecting a wall of earth to block the blazing dragon head-on.
Onoki's face darkened. He glanced out the window and saw dozens of Konoha shinobi rapidly approaching. Fighting had clearly broken out outside the tower as well.
"So there was never any intention to negotiate..."
Onoki rose into the air.
Though something felt off, even the Konoha forces outside didn't seem entirely coordinated, the one who gave the attack order had been standing behind Makoto the entire time. That man had to be a Konoha ninja, there could be no mistake.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The Iwagakure shinobi launched their counterattack, charging at Makoto and his group. Makoto, still unable to make sense of the situation, was forced to defend against the onslaught. At the same time, he shouted at his subordinate:
"What's going on?!"
"Why wasn't I informed of this?!"
"It was to deceive the Tsuchikage… This is the Hokage's order."
The subordinate answered coldly, continuing his assault against the Iwa shinobi.
Seeing this, Onoki snorted, his expression grim. "You think you can keep me trapped here? You've still got a long way to go."
Buzz!!
Onoki clapped his hands together, and a pale, glowing light flared between his palms.
He thrust his hands forward, forming a glowing white cube of chakra, his Dust Release, expanding toward Makoto and the other Konoha shinobi.
"You're still too young to kill me. Now be reduced to dust and atoms…"
"Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!"
But,
Just as Onoki was about to unleash his technique, a figure flashed into the hall like a bolt of lightning.
The newcomer raised a hand and reached out to the surface of the Dust Release cube. With a simple flick and tear, the entire construct burst like a fragile soap bubble, pop, vanishing into thin air.
Onoki's pupils contracted. His expression shifted from disbelief to sheer shock.
"Impossible… my Dust Release…"
The battle halted as both Konoha and Iwagakure shinobi froze.
All eyes turned to the figure who had suddenly appeared.
He wore the Hokage's conical hat and the flowing ceremonial robe of the Fifth Hokage. His expression was calm and composed.
It was none other than Konoha's Fifth Hokage, Hatake Kaede!
"What's going on here?"
Kaede had effortlessly torn apart Onoki's Dust Release. He glanced at the Tsuchikage, then at Makoto and the others, his tone calm as he questioned them.
Though it was phrased as a question, his gaze settled directly on the man who had attacked Onoki, the one who had stood behind Makoto.
From the moment he arrived, Kaede's perception had been locked onto everyone present. He could clearly sense the malicious chakra surging inside Makoto's "subordinate."
Szzzz!
The fake ninja's face twisted when he saw Kaede appear. Lightning chakra surged in his hand as he formed a blade of white-hot electricity and lunged at Kaede from close range.
Makoto instantly reacted. With a sharp swipe, he knocked the enemy's kunai aside and followed up with a fierce kick that sent the attacker flying. He bellowed at the man:
"Who are you?!"
Someone had just tried to sabotage their negotiations with Iwagakure!
For someone to strike so suddenly at Kaede, it was clear this was no Konoha shinobi. The previous "orders" had to be a ruse, meant to instigate an all-out war between Konoha and Iwagakure!
Makoto still wasn't sure whether this man was ever truly his subordinate. Either he'd been replaced, or he'd been controlled.
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