Kakuzu OUT

"Ōnoki, the war is over! Come down! You'll realize just how correct the decision you just made was!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi rested the Adamantine Staff on his shoulder, one end of it faintly pointed at Ōnoki in the sky.

Even though the other man had spoken of surrender, he did not lower his guard.

After dealing with him for so many years, he knew full well that the man would never willingly give up so easily.

Sure enough, after hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's persuasion, Ōnoki did not descend from the sky.

Instead, a low laugh came from his mouth.

"Heh heh heh, hahahaha!"

"It's over—"

"That's right, Iwagakure has lost. Before long, perhaps even this name will vanish from the ninja world!"

"But—"

"I will use my own way to make you remember Iwagakure's final brilliant glory! I swear it in the name of Ōnoki of the Two Scales!"

Hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi was startled and hurriedly called out to everyone, "Careful! Do not let Ōnoki's Dust Release touch you! It is a powerful ninjutsu that can separate any object into atoms. If it touches you, you're dead!"

After warning everyone to stay alert, Hiruzen Sarutobi himself became even more vigilant as he carefully observed Ōnoki's movements. Yet in his heart, he had already guessed part of what Ōnoki was thinking.

He looked regretfully at Ōnoki in the sky, who was even a few years older than himself, and sighed. "You refuse to accept that Iwagakure is about to disappear. Do you want to become Iwagakure's final swan song?"

"Ōnoki, the pride in your heart will cost you your life."

"My life—"

"It doesn't matter. Even if I die, I will die as the Tsuchikage!"

"Take this—"

"Dust Release—Boundary Stripping Technique!"

A small Dust Release formation took shape in Ōnoki's hand, and