Not to mention the one who extracted Shukaku and wreaked havoc in Hidden Sand Village — Sasori of the Red Sand.
And let's not forget—
Uchiha Obito, who could control the Nine-Tails.
Simply put:
Every single member of Akatsuki was monstrously strong.
So Uchiha Sasuke knew very well—
Even if he managed to kill Uchiha Itachi in a one-on-one fight without interference...
What then?
Would the rest of Akatsuki just let him walk away?
If not, he'd die there — and that would mean losing to Naruto Uzumaki.
[Naruto]:
Sasuke! Just wait a little longer!
I swear, once we both get stronger, I'll go to the Land of Rain with you—and we'll come back together.
Just then, Kakashi appeared in a flash, landing beside the two.
[Kakashi]:
Sasuke, I have a way to help you get even stronger.
Seeing that he'd been offered a graceful way out, Sasuke gave a silent nod.
The footage continued.
[But after a moment… Uchiha Madara still hadn't disappeared.]
[Onoki stared in disbelief: "Why are you still here?!"]
[Uchiha Madara replied coldly: "A trivial jutsu like that could never bind me."]
[Madara had forcibly released the Edo Tensei himself.]
[But he also had no interest in continuing to clash with the Five Kage.]
[He'd finally gotten serious—unleashing his Complete Body Susanoo—and yet it accomplished nothing. That killed his excitement.]
[He figured it was time to go capture the Nine-Tails.]
[But then, once again, the ever-determined Onoki stepped forward to stop him.]
[Mei Terumi quickly spoke up: "Lord Tsuchikage! He's beyond what we can handle!"]
[Onoki: "Even so, we have to fight him. We must stop him here."]
[Onoki was prepared to die if it meant buying Naruto and the others even a little more time.]
[But the result was brutal—the screen cut to all of them, gravely injured and near death.]
[The footage ended.]
[Naruto Uzumaki @ Third Tsuchikage Onoki]:
Grandpa… Thank you!
[Kushina Uzumaki]:
Not bad, old man. You might act all high and mighty, but when it came to my Naruto, you stepped up.
[Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze]:
Lord Third Tsuchikage, thank you for everything you did for Naruto.
I believe… he won't let you down.
[Uchiha Madara]:
Bravery aside, it was still a pathetic attempt. You weren't even strong enough to make me go all out—trash, the lot of you.
[Uchiha Izuna]:
Nii-san, honestly… who in the entire ninja world could truly make you go all out?
[Hashirama Senju @ Onoki]:
In terms of protecting the next generation… You've earned my respect.
[Tobirama Senju @ Danzo]:
Danzo, watch and learn! This is what a real leader looks like.
If you still don't get it, forget about becoming Hokage in this life—or in a hundred lifetimes!
Everyone in the chat had something to say about Onoki.
Some praised him.
Some criticized.
Opinions were mixed.
And then—
The floating golden scroll trembled once again before releasing a dazzling light.
One beam of that golden light shot straight toward Hidden Stone Village, landing squarely in the Tsuchikage's office.
Kurotsuchi stared wide-eyed at the now-glowing Third Tsuchikage Onoki.
[Kurotsuchi]:
Grandpa… is this what it looks like when the scroll gives out rewards?
Onoki didn't respond.
He didn't have to.
His transformation spoke for itself.
The old, hunched man with a white beard…
Now stood tall — a young man in his prime.
Kurotsuchi was stunned.
She'd never witnessed the scroll's reward process firsthand.
And now that she had… how could she not be shocked?
Her grandfather, right in front of her, had become young again in an instant!
The power of the scroll was simply too incredible!
At that moment, Onoki let out a hearty laugh.
As soon as the golden light engulfed him, he had instantly understood what was happening.
Not only had his body been rejuvenated,
—He now possessed chakra reserves equal to the Nine-Tails.
[Onoki]:
Kurotsuchi! I originally planned to pass the Tsuchikage title to you, which is why I kept you close to train…
But now?
Looks like you might not get the chance anymore—WAHAHAHA!
Right now, Onoki was feeling absolutely incredible.
"To be young again… what an amazing feeling!"
"Even if I face the likes of Madara Uchiha or Hashirama Senju, I'll be able to hold my own!"
[Kurotsuchi]:
Congratulations, Grandpa! With this, Hidden Stone Village will definitely reach new heights!
[Onoki]:
Of course we will! In fact...
He paused dramatically before continuing.
[Onoki]:
Soon, Hidden Stone Village will replace Konoha as the number one shinobi village!
And just as Onoki's segment came to an end...
The golden scroll trembled once more, bathing the sky in radiant light and drawing everyone's attention.
On the Five Kage Composite Rankings, a new name was appearing.
Chapter 90
Group Chat:
[Uchiha Izuna @ Tobirama Senju]:
Tobirama! You've got the nerve to act proud?! Look at what the scroll said about you — just Hashirama's little secretary, hahaha!
If it weren't for him, you'd be nothing!
[Tobirama Senju]:
So what?! I chose to be my brother's secretary! I'm proud of it!
Not just anyone is worthy of assisting my brother!
[Uchiha Izuna @ Uchiha Madara]:
Nii-san! Look at Tobirama! LOL!
This is the definition of self-deprecation!
He's actually proud of being a glorified assistant!
In the Pure Land.
Madara's face darkened.
He wanted to tell Izuna that yes, being Hashirama's assistant was actually something to be proud of...
But after thinking it over... he decided not to comment.
And no one else dared use this moment to mock Tobirama Senju either.
The footage continued.
[From this point forward, only the leaders of the Five Great Villages would be referred to as "Kage."]
[The Little Mustache (Second Mizukage) was absent from the Kage Summit.]
[Why? Because he could be described in one phrase — "flamboyantly over-eager."]
[After his battle with Bandaged Man (Second Tsuchikage), he had exhausted his chakra and was lying at home popping kidney pills.]
[He wasn't brought to the summit because he lacked decorum and was still recovering — and frankly, because no one needed an extra clown in the meeting.]
Group Chat:
[Second Tsuchikage Mu @ Second Mizukage Gengetsu]:
WAHAHAHA! I'm dying! "Over-eager," "no decorum," "weak in the bones," and "King of Dirty Jokes"!
Little Mustache — I couldn't have described you better myself!
[Mu]:
Seriously! How did I never think to describe you like that before?!
This scroll really is amazing!
[Gengetsu @ Mu]:
Bandaged Freak! Shut up before I come over there and hit you with my 100x-strength ultimate technique!
[Mu]:
You can come, but wait until I get my reward first, alright?
Mu was confident.
If Gengetsu made the rankings, then he, the Second Tsuchikage, had every right to believe he would too.
Judging by Gengetsu's rank, Mu was either tied for sixth… or ranked even higher.
[Gengetsu @ Mu]:
Bandaged Freak #293 — why should I wait? Scared much?
[Mu]:
You're the one who's scared! You want to fight me before I get my reward because you know that once I do, you won't stand a chance!
[Gengetsu]:
Scared of you? I just don't want to waste time waiting around.
Besides, there's no guarantee you'll even make the list!
[Mu]:
Don't push it, Little Mustache! If you made the list, there's no way I won't!
As Gengetsu and Mu continued roasting each other in the chat...
Everyone's attention was drawn back to the screen as the next segment of footage began to play.
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