"Is that Uchiha Asuka's Summoning Beast?" Mei Terumi narrowed her eyes at the Blue Serpent that had suddenly appeared between heaven and earth, while quietly breathing a sigh of relief.
When the Fourth Division had arrived to reinforce the battlefield, she had learned from them that Asuka had gone to seal the Third Raikage.
Since he had appeared here now, that meant the Third Raikage had been defeated.
"You're quite capable, handsome!"
Mei Terumi flashed a brilliant smile, then looked toward the two Akatsuki members blocking her path. "What a pity. I'm destined to stay single in this life. There's no way I'm marrying into Konoha."
At that moment, Ōnoki, floating in the air, also noticed the changes on the battlefield.
He glanced at the two enormous Summoning Beasts, supported his lower back with his right hand, and said to the Second Tsuchikage, "Lord Mu, those two are outstanding Konoha ninja who emerged after your death."
The Second Tsuchikage floated in the sky as well. Sensing the terrifying energy within the two Summoning Beasts, he said expressionlessly, "So after you, Ōnoki, did Iwagakure lose its next generation? Kirigakure is already on its Fifth Mizukage, and Konoha has its Fifth Hokage, yet Iwagakure still relies on you, the Third Tsuchikage, to hold it up."
"The 'Kage' of those villages died young, while I ended up becoming the longest-lived one," Ōnoki explained, though his words lacked conviction.
Iwagakure had not truly lost its next generation, but its situation was hardly good. Otherwise, Ōnoki would not still be occupying the position of Third Tsuchikage at his age.
If Iwagakure had just a few more ninja with the Will of Stone and strength on the level of a "Kage," he would have retired long ago.
Seeing the evasive look in Ōnoki's eyes, the Second