Iwagakure military camp.
Led by the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, Iwagakure's upper ranks had gathered together.
"According to intelligence from our informants, Sunagakure has decided to submit a ceasefire treaty to Konoha."
"A ceasefire? Heh, those spineless cowards. Even surrender has to be dressed up in prettier words."
"That's the Kazekage for you. He never dared fight a hard battle, and the moment he was at a slight disadvantage, he ran faster than anyone else. Coward!"
"The fighting in the Land of Rain should be nearing its end as well. Whether Hanzo or Konoha emerges victorious, neither side on that front will have the spare strength to continue the war."
As they discussed the situation, everyone turned their eyes toward Ōnoki in the seat of honor.
Ōnoki grinned, the mustache above his lip lifting slightly. "In other words... this is our last chance to strike Konoha. Once they recover, the Second Shinobi World War will be ready to declare its end."
"The Hokage is still there. That makes things troublesome..."
"Even a mere Sarutobi Hiruzen makes you so wary? Ōnoki, you really have grown old. Hmph!"
There was only one person in Iwagakure who dared talk back to Ōnoki like that.
The Four-Tails jinchūriki, Roshi.
His temper was as fiery as his short crimson hair. He wore a sparse, bushy beard and looked to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight.
The Four-Tails had been sealed inside him as a child. Through arduous training, he had become one of the rare jinchūriki capable of suppressing the Four-Tails without losing control.
Years ago, after a certain incident, Iwagakure's sealing techniques had improved dramatically. This allowed them to better seal the Four-Tails within him and enabled him to wield a portion of its power in battle.
As the Tsuchikage, Ōnoki valued order and authority above