Kaito had planned to inform Tsunade about the situation and let her decide whether to send messengers for peace talks.
But before he could take another step, a loud voice rang out.
"You? Who allowed you out!" The daimyo's son glared at Ino, eyes flashing with both lust and malice.
"Is this trash bothering you?" Kaito asked, turning his gaze to Ino.
"That's right, it's him!" Ino answered, her fists clenched tightly.
"Your Excellency is supposed to be the envoy from Konoha for peace talks! How dare you act so presumptuously, as if we mean nothing to you!" The Land of Earth's daimyo finally regained his composure and spoke coldly.
Kaito's voice was calm but lethal. "I don't like the way you looked at Ino. That means you have no reason to exist."
In an instant, Kaito vanished from sight.
"Damn it!" Ōnoki's expression changed and he prepared to move toward the daimyo's son—only to freeze when a scream split the air.
Two kunai were buried in the young man's eyes. He fell to the ground, rolling and shrieking in agony.
"Father! My eyes! My eyes! Kill him! Kill him!"
"You—! You!" The daimyo of the Land of Earth shook with fury, pointing a trembling finger at Kaito.
Finally, he shouted, "Guards! Kill him! Kill him! Third Tsuchikage, you as well!"
"Boy, you've gone too far," Ōnoki growled, floating toward Kaito. "In front of me, you dare to blind the heir of the Land of Earth? Do you take me for nothing?"
Kaito's tone dripped with disdain. "You think I don't take you seriously? I'm sorry, but it's the other way around—you mean nothing to me."
Haki flared around him, cold and oppressive. "Not only will I blind the daimyo's son, I'll destroy this entire palace afterward. Even you, Ōnoki, won't be able to stop me. I said it, and I mean it."
"Junior, you are seeking death! I'll teach you a lesson on behalf of Tsunade!" Ōnoki's mustache bristled, swaying in the windless air.
"Teach me? You?" Kaito smirked.
Crackle! Crackle!
Black lightning erupted from Kaito's outstretched right hand, its glow swallowing the surrounding space. "It's been a long time. Let's see what kind of lesson you think you can give me."
Ōnoki's pupils contracted sharply. This lightning—he remembered it all too well. He had seen it before, long ago, when fighting Uchiha Madara. Even after more than a decade, the memory was vivid, etched into his mind forever.
Black lightning! That's impossible! he thought. That man disappeared from the shinobi world more than ten years ago. He would be at least thirty now… but no one ever saw his face clearly. Could Tsunade-sama have sent him here deliberately—to make an example and announce his return? But… why does he look so young?
"Third Tsuchikage, what are you waiting for? Attack!" the daimyo barked.
"Shut up, old man!" Ōnoki roared, and the Land of Earth's daimyo flinched.
"No one from Iwagakure is to act without my direct order," Ōnoki commanded coldly.
He studied Kaito carefully. The eyes… the black lightning… the same killing intent. It has to be him.
"Are you… really him?" Ōnoki asked hesitantly.
Kaito's expression didn't change. "Who else could I be? Who in this world would dare pretend to be me?"
His tone hardened. "You have two choices. One—stay here and try to stop me from destroying the daimyo's palace, and watch as the Land of Earth is erased from the map. Two—leave now, return to Tsunade, and negotiate compensation. You have one minute to decide. If you waste it, I'll assume you've chosen the first."
"You… you…" Ōnoki's finger trembled as he pointed at Kaito. His shock was clear, but so was the fear creeping into his eyes. He knew this wasn't an empty threat.
Finally, he sighed, his face darkening. "I choose the second option."
Turning to the daimyo, he said, "My lord, I cannot help you this time. I won't see Iwagakure destroyed or become the one responsible for it."
He faced his shinobi. "We're leaving. Now."
"Ōnoki! What is the meaning of this?" the daimyo demanded, his voice tense.
Ōnoki didn't answer. He simply left, his entire force following him.
The daimyo stared after him, panic beginning to seep into his expression. He turned back to Kaito. "Your Excellency… I will overlook your offense against my son this time. Please, leave the palace immediately."
Kaito's laugh was cold. "You think what you're doing is showing respect? Who exactly do you think you are, to claim such a thing?"
Without warning, he struck the daimyo's son on the shoulder. The arm severed instantly, blood spraying as the young man screamed again.
"Father! Kill him!"
"You… don't go too far!" the daimyo growled, pointing a shaking finger. "Don't think I won't go to war with you!"
"Heh." Kaito didn't bother replying further. Forming hand seals, he created several shadow clones, then left the palace with Ino and the others.
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