"Uchiha brat, put Roshi down. I'll allow you to withdraw." Ōnoki lowered his voice slightly as he spoke.
Kagami Uchiha's lips curled upward, and he tightened his grip around Roshi's neck.
"Ōnoki, your Dust Release is famous throughout the world. The moment I let the Four-Tails Jinchuriki go, you'll definitely fire one at me, won't you?"
"Don't talk to me about a Kage's credibility. I don't believe in that nonsense."
Ōnoki's brow furrowed. "Brat, didn't Sarutobi Hiruzen teach you any manners?"
"Even a Stone Hidden Ninja would use an honorific when speaking to the Hokage."
Kagami Uchiha remained unmoved. "The purpose of a name is for people to use it. Honorifics are meaningless."
"If kneeling and begging would make you give up on the Four-Tails and let us leave, I can kneel for you right now."
"Heh." Ōnoki let out a cold laugh.
"Back then, it was your First Hokage who knelt and begged us to accept the Tailed Beasts."
As soon as those words were spoken, the Leaf Ninja's expressions darkened.
Kagami Uchiha smiled brightly. "Is that so? Then how long did you kneel when you and the Second Tsuchikage were beaten senseless by Uchiha Madara?"
Ōnoki's eyes narrowed into dangerous slits, and the pressure in the air grew heavier and heavier.
"There's no shame in losing to Uchiha Madara. The reason no longer matters."
"But, brat..."
Ōnoki stretched out both hands. A pure-white cube gradually formed between his palms.
"With you, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, accompanying Roshi in death, Iwagakure won't be losing out, will it?"
"Ōnoki, get one thing straight."
Only Kagami Uchiha showed no respect toward Ōnoki. That was also the most basic principle of diplomacy.
Only when both sides stood on equal footing could negotiations continue.
"If you dare release Dust Release, I'll have Minato use the Flying Thunder God Technique to take me and the Four-Tails back to Konohagakure!"
"A mere Four-Tails isn't qualified to die together with me!"
Minato silently glanced at Kagami Uchiha, then walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder, making his position clear through his actions.
He could never abandon his companion, but he could not show it at this moment.
Ōnoki maintained the starting stance for Dust Release but did not unleash it.
Dust Release was indeed extremely powerful, practically the strongest offensive technique in the Ninja World... but it had to hit first.
How could he not know about the Flying Thunder God Technique? He had crossed hands with Senju Tobirama several times, yet he had never even been able to touch him.
"Brat, tell me what you want."
At that moment, the Five-Tails Jinchuriki and the others also arrived, glaring menacingly as they waited for Ōnoki's order.
"Swear it in front of these Stone Hidden Ninja that you won't invade the borders of the Land of Fire within the next six months, and I'll return the Four-Tails to you. That's a good deal, isn't it?"
Ōnoki was so angry that he laughed.
"You've got it backward, haven't you? Roshi is indeed your hostage, but what you should be exchanging for him is your own lives!"
"Do you really think this old man doesn't dare use Dust Release? How many people can the Flying Thunder God Technique take away?"
"I haven't got anything backward."
Kagami Uchiha spoke unhurriedly. "We haven't crossed the border even once. We're merely guarding the borders of the Land of Fire here."
"Don't cover up your intentions with lofty words, Ōnoki. Didn't you come here to test Konohagakure and seize an opportunity to invade?"
"So..."
Kagami Uchiha clenched one hand into a fist and shouted:
"My companions can die! They won't die because of my decisions, but because they're protecting the Land of Fire, protecting Konohagakure, and dying at the hands of an invader like you!"
Every Leaf Ninja felt their spirit tremble. In an instant, the Will of Fire blazed fiercely within them.
Even Fugaku was fired up, his blood boiling.
"That's right! You despicable invaders! Even if I die, I'll never let you set foot in the Land of Fire!"
"Exactly! So what if we die? You're only the Tsuchikage! Do you think we Leaf Ninja are afraid of you?"
"Death is nothing! Lord Jing will definitely avenge us!" Xuanhuo roared. "Ōnoki, you'll face the wrath of the Uchiha Clan!"
That was what they said, and I really did want to invade the Land of Fire...
But...
Wasn't this the Land of Grass?
Did any of you consider how the Grass Ninja felt about this?
Ōnoki forcibly suppressed his anger.
"Sharp-tongued brat..."
"Dust Release—Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!"
A massive white beam of light descended with an unstoppable momentum, as if it would destroy everything in its path!
Ōnoki would never hold back because of Roshi, nor would he be fooled by Kagami Uchiha and Minato's act.
I refuse to believe that a boy who knows the Flying Thunder God Technique can teleport both the Four-Tails Jinchuriki and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki!
Die, all of you!
Before Dust Release, all living beings were equal.
Aside from the same Kekkei Tōta, no one had ever been able to withstand Dust Release head-on!
Not even Uchiha Madara!
"Brat! You're still far too green to threaten me!"
Under the terrifying pressure of Dust Release, everyone was unable to muster even the thought of resistance.
Minato was about to use the Flying Thunder God Technique—taking as many people as he could—when Kagami Uchiha shook him off.
After throwing Roshi to the ground, Kagami Uchiha smiled.
At this suffocating moment, the smile inexplicably seemed strange and terrifying.
Tailed Beast Chakra surged out, scorching his skin.
He changed from the Tailed Beast Cloak state into a partial Tailed Beast Transformation, leaving little of his human features behind.
Four enormous tails whipped wildly behind him, and the terrifying impact sent Minato and the others flying back.
It hurts... The Tailed Beast Chakra's erosion really is severe.
It was so hot that it seemed capable of burning the air itself to nothing!
But...
The feeling of possessing such abundant power intoxicated Kagami Uchiha.
All the desires in this world were merely a longing for power!
As long as one possessed power, anything could be obtained!
He clenched his fist tightly. Black-Red Lightning danced wildly, pulverizing the stones flying through the air.
"Those who have experienced Black Flash and those who haven't are worlds apart when it comes to their distance from the energy core."
Within the seal, Sukuna watched with folded arms, his smile cold and sinister.
"Your Black Flash is completely different from the one in the Curse World. Can that body of yours withstand such violent power?"
"Don't worry. If you die..."
"I'll avenge you."
"I'll slaughter every ninja in this world!!"
"Hahahahahahaha!!!!!"
Outside.
Kagami Uchiha was not disturbed in the slightest,
concentrating everything into one point.
Reaching the pinnacle!
"Black Flash!!"
A black-red lightning dragon surged up from the ground, crashing head-on into the seemingly indestructible Dust Release beam!
The tremendous roar nearly shattered everyone's eardrums.
The earth split apart, and space twisted.
Exploding thunder raised a hurricane that tore everything to shreds!!
"Brat!! Go to hell!!!"
Ōnoki roared furiously, continuously pouring in more Chakra.
As the energy continued to rise, the light grew increasingly intense, illuminating the entire battlefield.
In an instant, shock waves spread in every direction. The earth trembled, and the sky changed color.
Brilliant light and violent power intertwined, as though they were about to tear the world apart!!
"Artifact of the old era, stop coming out here and disgracing yourself!!"
Roar!!!
Black Lightning shattered space as it climbed higher and higher!
Crack—
Ōnoki had exerted himself too forcefully. When he heard the brittle snap from his waist, he immediately sensed that something was wrong.
Damn it!!
In that brief moment when his strength faltered, Black-Red Thunder completely seized the advantage and crushed the beam with overwhelming force!
Before you continue