Kurama Provokes Ōnoki!

In truth, the Nine-Tails did not like Hiko getting close to him either. Unfortunately, whether he liked it or not, he had to obey, or he would get beaten up. Basically, aside from the Sage of Six Paths, the Nine-Tails had never taken the initiative to grow close to anyone.

It could be said that the Sage of Strength was a special exception.

"Thud! Thud!"

Although the Nine-Tails was not running, his sheer size and weight made the ground tremble with every step, leaving behind enormous footprints.

The blast shockwave from the Tailed Beast Ball had subsided. Under its attack, Iwagakure's vanguard had been reduced to only a scattered few; everyone else had basically gone to report to the underworld.

The distance between the two sides steadily closed.

Hiko looked down at Ōnoki, whose face had turned ashen as he stood before the army of shinobi, and said with a smile, "Ōnoki, it's only been a few years, yet you've somehow gotten even shorter. Is Iwagakure's food supply falling behind? You keep eating, yet you keep shrinking."

"Pfft—" Hatake Sakumo burst out laughing, only to be met with countless furious glares from Iwagakure shinobi. Realizing this was not the time to laugh, he forcibly held back his amusement and stood properly.

The two Root ninja beside him wanted to laugh as well, but did not dare.

Ōnoki's old face darkened as he snapped, "Uchiha Hiko, stop talking nonsense! I didn't expect you to still be so ruthless. You caused Iwagakure to lose so many people in one blow."

Hiko smiled faintly. "I give my friends a warm welcome, but when it comes to enemies, I'm sorry, I've always believed that dead enemies are the best kind. So don't talk to me about killing people. Iwagakure is the invader now. Since