"Absolute justice?"
"What kind of childish make-believe is that?"
"In the adult world, only interests matter. Justice? In the end, it's just another way of securing benefits!"
In Iwagakure, in the Land of Earth, Ōnoki of Both Scales listened to the intelligence Kitsuchi had brought him and couldn't help scoffing.
"Still, another genius has emerged in Konoha-"
"First came Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara, then Tobirama Senju, Shimura Danzō, and Sarutobi Hiruzen."
"During the Second Shinobi World War, Hatake Sakumo and the Konoha Sannin made names for themselves one after another."
"In the Third Shinobi World War, it was the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato."
"And now there's Uchiha Chisen, flying the banner of absolute justice."
"The shinobi world really does favor the Land of Fire!"
Ōnoki of Both Scales couldn't help sighing. Compared with Konoha's steady stream of talent, Iwagakure truly lacked a younger generation capable of taking over. He had finally found a promising prospect, only for the boy to be obsessed with explosions.
Unlike Konoha's Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, Ōnoki of Both Scales genuinely wanted to retire. But there wasn't a single ninja in all of Iwagakure who could shoulder the burden of being Tsuchikage, so he could only soldier on.
"Father, are we going to declare war on Konoha?"
Kitsuchi looked at Ōnoki of Both Scales with worry. Just like in the Land of Lightning, the Land of Earth's Daimyo's Residence kept pressuring Iwagakure, even threatening its funding to force the village to act against Uchiha Chisen.
"Declare war on Konoha..."
Ōnoki of Both Scales frowned, feeling rather helpless himself.
Only seven or eight years had passed since the Third Shinobi World War. Even though Iwagakure had the most ninja among the Five Great Nations, that was nowhere near enough time for it to recover much of