Ōnoki's Fury

Rasa had been keeping a close eye on the movements in the Land of Lightning.

Ōnoki's temper was legendary; leading hundreds of his subordinates, he marched through the night with a menacing aura, racing toward the border of the Land of Lightning.

However, waiting for him was the Third Raikage, who had also mobilized hundreds of his own men. Ōnoki's actions were so blatant and his target so clearly the Land of Lightning that it was impossible for the Raikage not to notice.

Ōnoki first demanded to know why the Third Raikage had dispatched his own son and disciples to ambush an Iwagakure special operations team.

The Raikage naturally refused to admit it, as the entire affair was baseless to begin with.

"The evidence is irrefutable!" Seeing the Raikage still trying to quibble, Ōnoki lost his patience. Both sides deployed their forces for a massive battle; neither gained any advantage, and both suffered losses among their subordinates.

With that, Ōnoki's anger finally dissipated. At the very least, his actions had managed to save face for his village.

Often, things don't need to be made perfectly clear. Finding a scapegoat, pinning the blame on them, and giving them a sound thrashing is enough to quickly stabilize the morale of the troops and the people.

Having suffered an unprovoked disaster, the Raikage felt deeply stifled, wondering if Ōnoki was actually planning to declare war on the Land of Lightning.

Both sides returned to their respective villages with different reactions, but the matter was far from over.

Kicking open the door to the Tsuchikage's office, Ōnoki floated in, feeling refreshed. He had resolved another potential crisis, all thanks to his own swift and decisive actions.

Inside the office, Ōnoki's son, Kitsuchi, wore a complex and gloomy expression. Seeing Ōnoki return, he hurriedly hid the object in his hands behind his back.

"What's wrong, Kitsuchi? Why so sullen? I've just suppressed the arrogance of the Land of Lightning; isn't that worth celebrating?"

Ōnoki asked with slight dissatisfaction. I just fought a battle with the Raikage, and you're giving me this look like your father just died?

Kitsuchi hesitated repeatedly, unable to make up his mind. Finally, gritting his teeth, he handed the envelope from behind his back to Ōnoki and said indignantly, "Father, you must see this for yourself. Only you can make the decision on this matter."

Ōnoki was confused. Just as he took the envelope, a "clatter" sounded as something fell out from inside.

It was a finger—a pinky—radiating the distinct chakra fluctuations of Roshi.

Ōnoki quickly shifted into a serious state, his expression grave as he opened the envelope. Inside were a photograph and two sheets of letterhead.

In the photo, the Four-Tails Jinchuriki Roshi was restrained by a sealing jutsu, tied to a bed, his right pinky missing. Standing beside the bed was a Red-Hair youth.

His heart skipped a beat!

With trembling hands, he moved the photo aside and scanned the contents of the letter.

"To whom it may concern:

A promising young Jonin of our village, Rasa, recently captured the Four-Tails Jinchuriki of your village within the borders of the Land of Wind, who was attempting to assassinate our Kazekage.

Our village is magnanimous and intends to forgive the transgression of your village's Jinchuriki. In the spirit of being good neighbors, we wish to return him.

However, the Kazekage was deeply frightened and suffered mental trauma as a result.

Therefore, we cordially invite the Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, to the Land of Birds in seven days to negotiate matters regarding the Four-Tails Jinchuriki and the Kazekage's mental distress compensation.

We hope Mr. Ōnoki will not bring too many guards, lest your village's Jinchuriki suffer secondary injuries."

At the bottom was the signature.

He flipped to the second page, which was densely packed with a list of military supplies and their quantities, specifically noting the detailed location for the negotiations.

"Sunagakure! Roshi!"

Ōnoki let out a roar toward the heavens. The surge of anger aggravated the old wounds from his battle with the Raikage, and he spat out a mouthful of blood!

I was just venting! Why couldn't you think straight and actually go to the Land of Wind to investigate?

If you had to go, fine, but to get captured? How embarrassing—you're a disgrace to all Jinchuriki!

And that list—the supplies, or rather, the ransom—was enough to shock even him, the Tsuchikage. Mental distress compensation, my foot!

Even if Roshi was reckless, he couldn't have just charged into Sunagakure. At most, he would have wandered the border or spent some time in the territory where Luo Yongxin was known to appear.

And then he got captured.

The timing was so coincidental that it was hard for Ōnoki not to be suspicious. Could Sunagakure and the Land of Lightning have colluded to plot against me?

He looked at the photo again, his gaze burning as he stared at the young Red-Hair in the corner, wishing he could glare him to death through the paper.

Rasa... that must be the disciple of the Third Kazekage. Very well. I didn't expect that someone so low-profile would already possess the strength to defeat a Jinchuriki.

What now? Ōnoki suppressed his rage and began to ponder.

His first thought was to lead his men to slaughter their way into the Land of Wind, but he shook his head. The timing was wrong; he had just finished fighting the Land of Lightning. To go and start another war in the Land of Wind would be inviting public outrage. He had no choice but to compromise for now and see if there was an opportunity to recover the supplies later.

The Jinchuriki was of paramount importance. The sooner he was exchanged, the better. If the news leaked out, there was no telling what complications might arise.

If nothing else, the brute of a Raikage he had just fought would likely jump at the chance to kick them while they were down.

A Jinchuriki was equivalent to a nuclear weapon and possessed immense deterrent power. With the Land of Earth missing an arm, he had to be prepared for sharks smelling blood in the water.

Picking up the finger from the floor, he confirmed it indeed carried the chakra fluctuations belonging to Roshi and the Four-Tails. Ōnoki's doubts vanished, and he growled, "Take this list and prepare the supplies to exchange for the hostage.

Also, suppress this matter. I don't want a third person to know. In a few days, you and I will take the supplies and go to the Land of Birds together.

For now, under the guise of a military exercise, mobilize the village's ninja to stand by at the border of the Land of Birds. I don't want any accidents to happen."

What if this is a trap to lure us in? The Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, was finished off by Ginkaku and Kinkaku of the Land of Lightning in exactly such a way.

Even now, Ōnoki still couldn't fathom why the legendary Tobirama Senju, who was rumored to have stayed behind to cover the retreat with his Flying Thunder God, hadn't managed to escape.

Kitsuchi took the list and turned to leave; his father was in a fit of rage, and it was best to get out of there quickly.

"Clatter... crash... bang..."

As soon as the door closed, the sound of Ōnoki throwing things echoed from within.

Losing that shipment of supplies wasn't enough to break the bones or tendons of the Land of Earth, but anyone subjected to such blatant extortion would be furious.

A few days later.

In the capital of the Land of Birds, inside a clubhouse called Backbone.

Rasa sat upright on one side of a table, dressed in black, his eyes closed in meditation.

Beside him sat Pakura, the Shamate Hairdresser beauty, looking visibly awkward and deeply conflicted.

Chiyo had already spoken to her about the matter; for the sake of the village's stability and harmony, Pakura had agreed, though her heart was a complex mix of emotions—yet, notably, devoid of any resentment.

Rasa had been appointed as the negotiation ambassador, with Pakura serving as his bodyguard—much like a Kage's personal guard, though in reality, they were both being protected.

The atmosphere was stiflingly awkward until Pakura finally twisted the hem of her garment and asked, "Are you so confident that Ōnoki will come to negotiate? I've heard he's a very hardline man. What if he ignores the life of the jinchūriki and just brings people to surround and annihilate us?"

"He lacks the nerve for that. I have him figured out."

Rasa slowly opened his eyes, retracted his Microwave Radar, and smiled. "He is already here, and he has only brought two people."

[Requesting Recommendation Tickets]

As someone who has updated three times today, might I ask for some recommendation tickets?