Lord Ōnoki's Fury

"If that's the case, then you'll have to stay here for a while. What you did this time was far too serious. We have to lock you up to satisfy everyone. Stay here. I'm leaving now." With that, Mito left.

"I see. Take care, Lady Mito." Seeing that there was no way out for the time being, Tianqi didn't insist.

After Mito left, Sarutobi and the others came in.

"Tianqi, are you all right?"

"Young Clan Head, are you all right?"

"I'm fine, Tsunade. Elder, why did you come too? You're getting on in years—why run around?" He looked at Elder sternly. Elder had treated him very well over the years, but he was old now and probably didn't have many years left to live.

"Young Clan Head, how could I stay at home in peace when something happened to you? I can't betray Lord Madara." No matter what Tianqi said, Elder couldn't betray Uchiha Madara.

"All right, I'm fine. Elder, hurry back. Don't go running around if you don't have to. Take it easy and enjoy your retirement. And don't mention that person in front of me again." Tianqi turned to look at Sarutobi.

"You brat. Elder only came because he cares about you. We heard there was a fight in the prison and worried you might do something rash, so we came right away. We didn't expect you to have beaten Danzo. Why can't you behave yourself even in prison?"

He waved a hand. "I didn't want to beat him up. He brought it on himself. He wouldn't stop taunting me, then tried to hit me. I couldn't just let him beat me, could I? I had no choice but to fight back."

"What? That old bastard Danzo tried to hit you? What right does he have? Teacher Sarutobi, you have to get justice for Tianqi!" Tsunade was furious when she heard Tianqi had nearly been beaten.

"Enough. Tianqi's fine, isn't he? I'll deal with Danzo."

"Tianqi, you'll have to put up with this place a little longer. Don't cause any trouble. Once we've paid compensation to Iwagakure, we'll let you out," he said gently, afraid Tianqi wouldn't be able to stand it and would cause more trouble.

"Pay them compensation? If they're unhappy, they can come find me anytime. I'll beat them to a pulp. They want compensation? Dream on!" Tianqi said, shaking his fist. He wasn't afraid. At worst, they could go to war. Who was afraid of whom?

"Give it a rest. You barged into their village and caused a huge scene. Paying them compensation is only right. Peace is hard-won. If they go too far, we won't put up with it either." Sarutobi Hiruzen was still young, full of drive and unlike the indecisive man he would become in his old age.

"Fine, fine. Do whatever you want. If we really go to war, I'm confident I can make the Land of Earth's territory part of the Land of Fire." Tianqi spoke with complete confidence. At this point, he really had the power to do it.

"Fine, fine. Just stay here and behave. I've got a pile of messes to deal with, so I'm leaving."

"Young Clan Head, I'm leaving too."

Tianqi waved them off, and the two walked out, leaving only Tsunade and Tianqi in the cell.

"Tsunade, you should go back too. I'll be out before long. In the meantime, you can start practicing the ninjutsu I taught you." He gently ruffled Tsunade's hair.

"Mm..." Tsunade nodded, blushing, then hurried out.

"Senju and Uchiha... The union of the two brings the power of the Sage of Six Paths, huh? Things are getting more and more interesting." Watching Tsunade leave, he lay back down again.

A few days later, thanks to Mito's intervention, the higher-ups had all agreed to the compensation, and the daimyo had also agreed to pay, out of respect for Mito.

Once everyone had agreed, Sarutobi waved his hand, wrote a letter, and sent a squad to the Land of Earth with the letter and the money.

Ōnoki flew into a rage as soon as he received the letter and money.

Slap!

"Damn Konoha! Damn Sarutobi Hiruzen! This isn't even enough to repair the houses, and they dare threaten me in their letter?" Ōnoki slammed his palm down on the table, shattering it, and shouted furiously.

The Iwagakure leaders nearby picked up the letter from the floor and read it.

Honorable Tsuchikage,

Regarding the attack on Iwagakure by a shinobi from our village, we offer our deepest apologies. However, what has already happened cannot be undone. Therefore, our village has decided to compensate yours with thirty million ryo to repair the buildings. We hope you will accept it.

Of course, we never start trouble, but if it comes to us, we aren't afraid of it either. We hope your village will think carefully.

After reading the letter, the leaders finally understood why Ōnoki was so furious.

"Lord Tsuchikage, with our current strength, we aren't strong enough to defeat Konoha. We should endure their provocation for now and build up our strength. Once we're strong enough, we can settle the score," one of the leaders urged.

"I know all that. I'm just angry. Damn Konoha—I'll remember this. You'll all pay for it someday."

Unlike the furious Ōnoki, Tianqi was happily enjoying the food Tsunade had brought him.

"Mmm, this food is so much better than what they serve in prison. I'm going to be sick of this place if I have to eat here every day." Tianqi devoured the food Tsunade had brought.

"Hang in there. Teacher Sarutobi has already sent the compensation. You'll be out before long." Tsunade smiled as she watched Tianqi wolf down the food. She had made it all herself, and seeing how much he liked it made her happy.

"He sent it so soon? How much did Big Brother Sarutobi send?" Tianqi asked with his mouth full.

"Take your time eating. I'm not sure either. I think I heard Grandma Mito say they sent thirty million ryo." She really didn't know the details of what the higher-ups had decided.

"Thirty million? Hahaha! If they really sent only thirty million, the Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, is probably furious enough to turn black in the face right now." Tianqi laughed.

"Why do you say that?"

"Haha, you don't know how much damage I did that day. Add in compensation for the injured, and it should take at least several hundred million. Big Brother Sarutobi only gave them thirty million, which isn't even enough to repair the houses."

"Hahaha! Iwagakure won't be able to stir up trouble for the next decade or so," Tianqi said happily.

"I see. If that's the case, will the Tsuchikage just let it go? If it were me, I wouldn't accept such a small amount." Tsunade thought for a moment.

"It doesn't matter if he accepts it or not. Iwagakure can't compete with Konoha right now. They were already weaker than Konoha, and after I stirred things up, they're even worse off. If Ōnoki starts a war with Konoha now, he'll only be digging his own grave. All he can do is swallow the loss in silence," Tianqi explained.

"I see. You did it for the village. Still, why did you have to go and cause trouble in Iwagakure? Now you're in prison."

"You don't understand, Tsunade. The Land of Fire has always had a better environment than the other countries. They've had their eyes on it for ages. Rather than wait for them to grow stronger and attack us, I'd rather weaken them in advance so they can't. I did all this for Konoha, for the Land of Fire," Tianqi said righteously.

"Sure, sure. You always have your reasons. I can't argue with you. Hurry up and eat. Once you're done, I'll collect the dishes and go. I have a mission in a few days." She urged Tianqi to eat.