This Wasn't Infighting, but Exterminating Parasites

Before dawn in Iwagakure, inside the Tsuchikage's office, Ōnoki stood by the window, his gray-white brows tightly furrowed.

His rough fingers unconsciously rubbed the windowsill as he muttered, "A Green Susanoo over seventy meters tall... That Uchiha Fugaku brat has eyes like Uchiha Madara's too... Is Konoha about to rise again...?"

Outside the window, the first ray of dawn pierced through the clouds.

Ōnoki turned to look at the mirror and discovered that overnight, he seemed to have aged ten years. There were several more strands of white hair at his temples.

Thinking of his captured son Kitsuchi, Iwagakure's five thousand elite trapped in enemy hands, and the thirty billion ryo in war reparations Konoha demanded, it felt as though a massive boulder were pressing down on his chest.

Suddenly, Ōnoki took a deep breath and called out, "Gari! Come with me to the front lines for negotiations."

Gari respectfully bowed. "Yes, Lord Tsuchikage."

He was a member of Iwagakure's demolition corps and possessed the Kekkei Genkai Explosion Release. His strength was not to be underestimated. Perhaps that was why the Tsuchikage had chosen him.

The two climbed onto the rooftop of the Tsuchikage Building. The morning wind was bitter, making Ōnoki's robes flap loudly.

He formed hand seals with both hands as chakra flowed through his body. "Earth Release: Light-Weight Rock Technique!"

A strange sensation of weightlessness swept over them, and their bodies slowly rose into the air.

Ōnoki controlled the flow of chakra and flew with Gari toward the border of the Land of Grass. Iwagakure gradually shrank below them as dawn coated its stone buildings in a layer of gold.

Konoha's front-line camp, central command tent.

The hurried footsteps of a guard shattered the morning's tranquility.

"Report, Commander-in-Chief Fugaku! The Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki and his guard Gari have arrived. They specifically requested to see you!"

Uchiha Fugaku opened his eyes inside the tent and checked his pocket watch—5:58.

Uchiha Fugaku's voice was as calm as still water. "Have them wait in the main tent first. Notify Uchiha Yashiro, Clan Head Kurama, and Clan Head Kazami to gather. Bring Sanfeng along too."

"Yes!"

By the time Fugaku entered the main tent, Konoha's higher-ups had all arrived.

Ōnoki sat across from them. Though small in stature, he radiated an authority that could not be ignored.

Uchiha Yashiro, Uchiha Sanpo, Clan Head Kurama, Clan Head Kazami, and the others watched him vigilantly. The atmosphere inside the tent was as heavy as iron.

Uchiha Fugaku took his seat at the head of the table, his voice unhurried. "Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki, apologies for keeping you waiting."

Ōnoki snorted coldly. "Uchiha brat, cut the nonsense. You can have the surrender document, but thirty billion ryo in war reparations? No. That does not conform to the rules of shinobi warfare!"

Uchiha Fugaku lightly raised a hand, and an attendant immediately served hot tea.

He slowly took a sip before speaking. "War has always been judged by its outcome. Besides, during the Third Shinobi World War, your side was the first to tear up the peace agreement. You were also the one who joined the other three great shinobi villages in besieging Konoha."

No one had expected Uchiha Fugaku to lay the matter bare so directly. The temperature inside the tent seemed to plummet.

Ōnoki's expression turned livid. "When four great shinobi villages attacked Konoha together, perhaps you should look for the reasons within yourselves! Besides, when two nations go to war, each relies on its own strength."

Uchiha Fugaku set down his teacup. The crisp clink of porcelain against its saucer interrupted the Tsuchikage's roar.

A faint smile touched his lips. "Ōnoki, perhaps... Konoha should join forces with Kumogakure to attack the Land of Earth, destroy Iwagakure, and wipe out your nation. Then starting next year, the Land of Earth will become history in the Ninja World."

Whenever you encounter advertisements asking, "Are you a real person?", simply ignore them and close them. Never scan any codes or send text messages!

Those words were like a kunai, accurately stabbing into Ōnoki's heart.

The old Tsuchikage's pupils contracted violently. He knew Kumogakure's wolfish ambitions all too well, and he also understood that Uchiha Fugaku was not bluffing.

Gari could not help stepping forward. "Don't push Konoha's luck!"

Uchiha Fugaku did not even glance at him. His gaze remained fixed on Ōnoki. "Thirty billion ryo is indeed no small sum... which is why we never intended to make Iwagakure pay it."

Ōnoki's brows drew together. "What do you mean?"

Uchiha Fugaku lightly tapped the tabletop with his fingers. "Faced with the destruction of their nation and village, the nobles of the Land of Earth should be quite willing to pay this money for you."

The tent fell deathly silent. Ōnoki's hands trembled slightly as he understood the deeper meaning behind Uchiha Fugaku's words.

Either persuade the Daimyo and nobles to pay, or let Iwagakure face annihilation. It was naked political extortion, yet there was no way to refute it.

Uchiha Sanpo could not help chuckling, but Yashiro stopped him with a glance. Clan Head Kurama stroked his beard, approval flashing through his eyes.

Ōnoki's back bent a little further, as though bearing an invisible weight. In a hoarse voice, he said, "Bring me a pen. I agree."

An attendant respectfully presented the agreement and brush that had been prepared in advance.

Ōnoki took the brush, his fingers turning white from the force of his grip.

Just then, Uchiha Sanpo suddenly spoke. "I heard members of Shimura Danzō's Root leaked information about our strongholds to your village? Those traitors caused several of our operations to fail. I hope the surrender agreement specifically requires Iwagakure to hand over all related evidence and personnel information."

Shimura Danzō: I only dug out some Uchiha Sharingan. What are you going to do about it?

At those words, several Konoha clan heads exchanged shocked looks. Even Uchiha Fugaku raised an eyebrow slightly.

A sharp gleam flashed through Ōnoki's eyes as he weighed the pros and cons. The war would end soon anyway. Handing those things over would be fine. Letting Konoha's people tear each other apart and suffer more losses would be even better!

With that thought, Ōnoki gave a smile that did not reach his eyes. "We do indeed possess some... interesting intelligence."

Uchiha Sanpo suppressed the wild joy in his heart and put on a solemn expression. "Please include this evidence as an attachment to the surrender document. Konoha must thoroughly purge its internal traitors!"

Ōnoki stroked his beard, calculation gleaming in his eyes. "Gladly. After all... we of Iwagakure despise traitors who break the rules most of all, even traitors from other countries."

The negotiations continued, but the atmosphere had already changed.

When Ōnoki finally signed the agreement, the special attachment clearly listed seven records of secret contact between Root and Iwagakure, along with detailed information on three key intermediaries.

Gari immediately understood. He summoned a large scroll, undid its seal, took out several smaller scrolls, and placed them on the negotiating table.

As Ōnoki rose, he gave Uchiha Sanpo a meaningful look. "I hope this intelligence proves useful to you... At noon, I will deliver the thirty billion ryo. Once you receive the money, I hope you release the captives immediately!"

Uchiha Fugaku's gaze moved over the scrolls before he finally nodded slightly. "Rest assured. Once we receive the money, we will naturally release them at once."

After the tent flap fell closed, Uchiha Yashiro immediately set up a soundproof barrier.

Clan Head Kazami could not help demanding, "Sanfeng, you're provoking internal conflict!"

Uchiha Sanpo calmly unrolled a scroll. "Please look at the date of the third intelligence exchange. It was the very day the Kazami Clan was transporting supplies and encountered an ambush by Iwagakure elites."

Clan Head Kazami's expression changed dramatically. That ambush had cost him his eldest son.

Uchiha Sanpo's voice was cold as ice. "Danzō colluded with the enemy and betrayed his country just to weaken Konoha's clans. This isn't infighting, but exterminating parasites."

Uchiha Fugaku finally rose to his feet. His Mangekyō Sharingan glinted coldly in the shadows. "The war has not yet ended. What happened today goes no further than this tent."

Everyone turned solemn. They all understood that once this evidence was sent back to Konoha, the decisive battle between Shimura Danzō and the Uchiha Clan would become inevitable.

If you think this book is good, remember to add it to your bookshelf so you won't have trouble finding it next time.