Ōnoki, A Genius Rarely Seen in a Century

Iwagakure, Tsuchikage's Office!

"Heh heh!"

In response to the Tsuchikage's questioning, a cold laugh came from Mu.

Ōnoki's expression shifted slightly upon hearing that voice. It sounded somewhat familiar, yet he could not recall who it belonged to.

"Lord Tsuchikage, do you truly believe Iwagakure alone can hold back Konoha?"

Orochimaru's voice once again emerged through Mu's body.

Ōnoki merely furrowed his brow at the question and did not answer.

In truth, he had already realized certain things. On a desk in the office lay a scroll Roshi had sent him earlier, containing Roshi's speculation regarding Akatsuki's objectives.

Though Ōnoki had not fully believed what was written on it, the information had still served as a warning.

In particular, Roshi had said that the Akatsuki member with the Sharingan had two Tailed Beasts sealed within his body.

That information alone was enough for Ōnoki to infer a great deal.

Combined with the other party's repeated requests for him to investigate information regarding the Tailed Beasts, Ōnoki quickly guessed that Akatsuki intended to seize them.

At that thought, Ōnoki's heart trembled. He thought of Roshi and Han—the Four-Tails and Five-Tails.

If Akatsuki's objective was the Tailed Beasts, then it was only a matter of time before they made a move against Roshi and Han.

When that time came, even if Akatsuki helped Iwagakure hold back Konoha, given Akatsuki's current strength, if they turned around and directly targeted Roshi and Han, Ōnoki had no confidence that he could protect them.

If anything truly happened to Roshi and Han, then as the Tsuchikage, he would bear an inescapable responsibility. After all, it was he who had brought Akatsuki into the conflict between Iwagakure and Konoha.

Thinking back on it now, what he had done was no different from inviting a wolf into his