Ōnoki Took the Lead

Meanwhile, Nagato of Amegakure was also surprised by what Uchiha Feng had been doing during this period.

The destruction of the Kumogakure reconnaissance force and the Jashin Cult is not a big deal.

The key point is that the other party did not hesitate at all, decisively and ruthlessly annihilating two top noble families and a top merchant guild in a fair and square manner.

This is something that has never happened before in the thousand-year history of the Ninja World.

Yet it was precisely this ruthless slaughter that left Uchiha Feng's alliance, which was on the verge of collapse due to the flames of war, almost unscathed.

This is somewhat similar to Nagato's long-held theory of "painful peace."

So, Nagato made a decision.

"Konan, please contact Uchiha Feng from the Land of Whirlpools for me."

I want to talk to him.

Inside the tower, he gazed out of the window at the entire Amegakure, speaking with a firm tone.

In Amegakure, the villagers' eyes were mostly empty and gloomy, while the people of all the countries in the alliance organized by Uchiha Feng had eyes full of hope for the future.

Therefore, Nagato wanted to discuss with Uchiha Feng why, even though everyone was using similar policies, the differences between the countries were so great.

"It seems you're confused too."

Upon hearing this, Konan looked at Nagato with some delight and smiled slightly.

"Yes."

Nagato replied with a wry smile.

He didn't need to hide his true feelings from Konan; he was indeed feeling lost right now.

Earlier, when Konan recounted what she had heard from Uchiha Feng, he considered himself a god due to his strength and did not take Feng seriously. Furthermore, under his leadership, Amegakure was no worse than any other ninja village in terms of economy and people's livelihood. Feng's words did not shake him in the slightest.

But now, under similar circumstances, two completely different living environments have emerged, which directly and forcefully shattered Nagato's confidence in construction, making him realize that he was indeed not as knowledgeable about construction as Uchiha Feng.

If that too is denied, then other confidence and beliefs will naturally not be as firm as before.

A few days later, Nagato's request to meet with Feng was delivered to both the Land of Whirlpools and Feng.

However, because Feng had been wiping out clans and plundering wealth from one family to another, and had left behind one treasonous statement after another.

Therefore, Feng is temporarily unable to see Nagato.

And it was precisely because Feng had committed unforgivable atrocities time and time again, yet remained free of charge, that the nobles could no longer cover it up.

Then, the winds of change in the Ninja World began to shift quietly.

Nowadays, some ninjas have gone from being obsequious to nobles to looking at the nobles around them with the eyes of someone scrutinizing lambs to the slaughter.

The nobles who used to be arrogant and domineering in the face of ninjas are now becoming cautious and wary.

The relationship between ninjas and wealthy merchants used to be one of absolute tool and master, but now... well... some people are already thinking of rising from the servitude and singing their own praises.

Even more incredibly, others in the Ninja World have already set an example.

In the Land of Earth, the three ninja units that Ōnoki had quietly withdrawn from earlier, after retreating to the territories of several noble families who had the most grievances against Iwagakure in recent years, quietly settled in place.

It wasn't until the clear information that Uchiha Feng had already wiped out the seventh and eighth powerful families but was still living freely reached Ōnoki's hands.

That very night, one of the three ninja squads inadvertently "stumbled" into the mansions of those noble families.

Then, in just one night, the mansions of several noble families were simultaneously robbed by bandits. Although the Iwa Ninja tried their best to protect the nobles, there were simply too many enemies, and the Iwa Ninja could only protect a few nobles.

However, some noble mansions were burned to the ground due to "accidental fires," leaving nothing behind.

Some noble families were simply looted by 'robbers' and left with nothing.

One family, in particular, was the most ruthless noble family to Iwagakure in recent years. They simply wiped out the family's registration, leaving no one alive, including the servants.

But everyone knows there were no bandits; it was all a staged performance by the Iwagakure ninja forces, a farce riddled with holes.

Because those 'bandits' who committed murder and arson simply weren't wearing ninja uniforms or Forehead Protector, but none of them concealed their faces or identities; they all openly and brazenly attacked with their faces showing.

Among them, the infamous, unparalleled strength, the Tsuchikage Shield— Akatsuchi —was surprisingly in the so-called 'bandit' team.

Therefore, some of the local Guard Corps had actually arrived at the scene long ago, but they could only watch helplessly as the Iwa ninjas who had "accidentally" entered the noble mansion Iwa Ninja with the "bandits," destroying the mansion and injuring countless nobles, and they dared not step forward.

Clearly, Ōnoki wanted to do the same thing as Feng, while also eliminating dissidents and enriching Iwagakure's coffers.

But because it was his first time doing such a rebellious thing, he didn't dare to go all out.

Therefore, unlike Uchiha Feng openly and indiscriminately slaughtered people, he did some superficial work and did not openly rebel against the Land of Earth.

However, the main reason was that Ōnoki was also testing the powerful and wealthy, as well as the daimyo.

These were enemies whom no one had ever imagined would become enemies, and no one knew whether the other side possessed any hidden strengths.

When the news reached the ears of the daimyo in the capital of the Land of Earth, he was so enraged that he cursed Ōnoki and killed several of his servants before he could calm himself down.

Now that it has already happened, there's no use in being angry or resentful anymore; the right thing to do is to find a way to respond.

But how should we respond?

If it were handled normally, a single imperial edict would suffice, Ōnoki would obediently send the murderer to meet his end.

But things are different now. Uchiha Feng has been wiping out and destroying noble families in various countries, trampling their so-called sacred status into the mud, never to be regained.

Considering what those three ninja squads from Iwagakure have done, the daimyo's edict might just be a worthless piece of paper to Ōnoki now.

Where are the three ninja squads from Iwagakure now?

After pondering for a long time, the daimyo suddenly asked the captain of the Samurai Corps guarding him.

In fact, the bodyguard beside the daimyo was originally a Guardian Ninja.

But at a time when Feng is stirring up trouble between ninjas and the powerful, the daimyo dares not gamble his own life on the loyalty of the ninjas.

"We are rapidly retreating to Iwagakure."

The Samurai Corps captain thought for a moment and then gave his answer.

"I see. I understand." Daimyo nodded slightly upon hearing this.

There was no reprimand, no accusation, and no mention of speaking to Ōnoki; it was all just a passing remark.

He had been thinking for a long time, and the Daimyo of the Land of Earth had not yet come up with any way to deal with Iwagakure had already harbored rebellious intentions, and Iwagakure's Tsuchikage, Ōnoki.

Therefore, he dared not offend Ōnoki at all.

Upon hearing this, the Samurai Corps captain was visibly taken aback by the daimyo's answer and reaction.

'So, even the Lord Daimyo is afraid when those ninjas who have mastered Chakra begin to rebel.'

What about me? Although I don't know Ninjutsu, my strength is no less than that of an ordinary Jonin. Could I also pose a threat...?

Damn it! How could I have such a disloyal thought?

He thought this to himself, and finally banished the bad thought from his mind.

But some ideas, once they take root, can never be forgotten. They take root and sprout deep in a person's heart, until the right time for them to emerge.