"Mission failed?"
"It was my incompetence, Tsuchikage-sama. Please punish me."
"…The border defense unit previously reported that a team of Konoha shinobi infiltrated the country. They suffered considerable losses against those individuals. Were these people here to assist that spy?"
Inside the tent, Ōnoki sat behind a low table, looking up at Wanya, who was half-kneeling on the ground.
"Tell me! Who did Konoha send that made you come back empty-handed?"
"Konoha sent four reinforcements. Leading them was Hatake Kakashi, the son of the White Fang. Another was an Uchiha, whose exact identity is unknown. He specializes in Wind Release and swordsmanship, along with Sharingan genjutsu, which made him a troublesome opponent. The third person remained hidden but used a very unusual secret technique that controlled ink-based insects to fight on par with Suiryū Bihō. As for the fourth person..."
"The son of the White Fang? An Uchiha? A secret ink manipulation technique… No wonder."
Ōnoki's expression was calm. "And what about the fourth person? Why are you hesitating?"
"…The fourth person was a Mist ninja," Wanya replied in a low voice.
"A Mist ninja?"
Ōnoki's eyebrows raised slightly. "Are you certain it was really a Mist ninja and not just a trick by Konoha?"
"I'm not completely sure if they were truly a Mist ninja, but I can confirm that the weapon they carried was definitely the Thunder Blade from the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist."
Even an average Iwa ninja might not recognize such a weapon, but Wanya, being a high-ranking member of Iwagakure's Anbu, knew many secrets. This knowledge contributed to his decision to retreat when the situation became unfavorable. If his body fell into Konoha's hands, the consequences would be severe.
So, Wanya decisively chose to withdraw. He rejoined Rinba and Kurotsuchi on the way back. They returned along the same path, only to encounter the southward-bound army the next morning. They were then brought to the main tent to report the bad news to the elderly Tsuchikage.
"The Seven Ninja Swordsmen, huh?" Ōnoki repeated the unfamiliar name, frowning deeply.
The mission's failure didn't trouble him much. In his view, capturing the spy wasn't essential. Even if the southward-bound army's plans were leaked, at most, they would suffer another defeat. Otherwise, he wouldn't have allowed Kurotsuchi to join for the experience.
His foolish son, Kitsuchi, had always thought Ōnoki was pushing Kurotsuchi too hard. But the truth was, Ōnoki had never cared much about this operation. A leak would only further reduce Iwa's already slim chances of victory.
However, the involvement of the Mist ninja was troubling news.
"The Mist… What game are they playing? Why would they get involved with Konoha?" No one could answer the Tsuchikage's question, as everyone in the tent was just as puzzled and surprised.
"Do we have no information from our spies in Konoha?"
Ōnoki looked around.
"None so far."
Seeing everyone remain silent, Kitsuchi had to answer. "A while back, Konoha went through some chaos due to the Hokage transition. Our spies managed to gather a lot of intelligence, including a list of Konoha spies within Iwagakure. However, Konoha responded with several purges, making it difficult for our spies to operate."
There's always a cost. Spies from various villages took advantage of the transition to act, knowing the Fifth Hokage was busy solidifying their authority. But once things settled down, Konoha launched a series of purges to root out those spies, leaving few left.
Thus, Ōnoki had not yet received any information about an alliance between Konoha and the Mist.
"Wanya, go rest. Write a detailed report later. Kitsuchi, you all have work to do. Let this old man rest for a while."
Ōnoki didn't get angry. He dismissed everyone, including his beloved granddaughter, leaving himself alone in the tent. His back pain seemed to disappear, and he didn't seem worried about the upcoming war.
What was there to worry about? If they could win, they'd fight; if not, they'd surrender. With the bumbling Cloud ninjas taking the lead, they wouldn't be in too much trouble. That was the judgment he made based on all the intelligence he had.
Still, he couldn't achieve complete inner peace. Sitting alone was all he could do to calm himself.
Outside the tent, Wanya hung his head, unable to hide his disappointment. Although he wasn't punished for failing the mission, he believed strongly in "rewards for merit, punishment for mistakes," and felt uneasy without consequences.
If he went back to request punishment, it would seem like questioning the Tsuchikage's decision.
"Wanya."
Kitsuchi hurried over to his friend. "What's the deal with the Mist ninja?"
Those who knew Kitsuchi viewed him as strong, steady, and reliable. Only a few close friends knew he wasn't as calm as he seemed.
"Just like I said."
Wanya replied absent-mindedly.
"What I mean is, what do you think the relationship is between the Mist and Konoha?"
"You'd have to ask our spies in Konoha."
"Except the spies haven't reported anything. If the Mist and Konoha really joined forces, our plans would be in jeopardy. We launched this attack because Konoha appeared vulnerable due to the Hokage transition, and Cloud was winning battles against them."
"With those conditions, we made our plans to attack Konoha… But if they've allied with the Mist, there's a massive flaw in our strategy, one that could be fatal."
Kitsuchi's intentions were clear. He never supported the war against Konoha. However, he was in the minority in Iwagakure, and had no choice but to cooperate.
Still, he wouldn't give up easily. If the Mist had indeed allied with Konoha, the risks would multiply, and even the most aggressive factions in the village would have to reconsider.
"…I don't know."
Wanya pondered briefly but shook his head.
"Kitsuchi, I understand your concern. But we're past the point of no return. The army has already mobilized. We can't retreat without a fight, or it would destroy morale and cause chaos within the village."
"I know! I'm just finding it hard to accept. Our strength hasn't fully recovered, and fighting Konoha now… the odds are too slim."
"…Isn't that exaggerated? I know Konoha is strong, but after three Shinobi World Wars, they should be struggling. Isn't Cloud winning battle after battle in the Land of Hot Water?"
Kitsuchi was stunned by Wanya's rebuttal. His expression grew more bitter. "You think we have a big advantage over Konoha?"
"Of course! Elder Jinchūriki and Han are in the field, with Tsuchikage-sama leading. Cloud is giving their all, with the Fourth Raikage and two Jinchūriki. How can Konoha fight back against a two-front assault?"
Wanya's counterargument was sharp.
Kitsuchi remained silent for a few moments before finally speaking, "Don't forget the Yellow Flash, who nearly destroyed Konoha's defense forces. We thought Konoha was finished, but then he snatched victory from our grasp. Even if the Yellow Flash is dead, who's to say another 'Red Flash' or 'Black Flash' won't emerge?"
"Konoha may be weakened, but it's still formidable. To truly defeat them, we must unite Cloud, Sand, and Mist, chipping away at their strength, not attacking independently and risking being defeated one by one."
"But that's just a possibility, isn't it? There's only one Yellow Flash; such figures don't appear frequently."
Wanya didn't agree with Kitsuchi's view.
The conversation ended inconclusively. Both were practical and steady, so while they disagreed, the disagreement wasn't enough to sever their friendship. They'd still enjoy a drink together after work.
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