In the Third Shinobi World War, no one could stay untouched. Ōnoki understood this well. If he waited any longer, he would become the enemy of the other villages, so it was time to choose a side.
Compared to Kumogakure and Kirigakure joining forces, Sunagakure was merely harassing Konoha along the borders. Ōnoki believed that with Konoha's strength, handling those troubles would not be a problem.
However, they still needed to fight for corresponding benefits. After being repeatedly urged by the other side, Ōnoki finally issued a top-secret document and had it delivered to the Hokage's Office at once.
Compared to the minor commotion caused by the newspapers in the village, this matter concerned everyone present and, even more importantly, the course of the war. The Third Hokage took out the document and said solemnly to his three companions:
"Ōnoki has stated Iwagakure's demands. They are willing to dispatch a large force to help us encircle and destroy Kumogakure, but they have one condition: we must lure out the Third Raikage, and Iwagakure will be responsible for killing him."
The Hokage's seemingly casual words struck everyone present like a thunderbolt. They all understood that if this succeeded, both sides would gain tremendous benefits. Yet the problems involved were extremely troublesome. Danzo was the first to offer a different view.
"Putting aside whether we can lure out the Third Raikage, the key question is whether Iwagakure's number of ninja and their capabilities are enough to kill him. And the Raikage's deployment is no small matter. It involves Orochimaru's front, and there is also a group of powerful ninja at his side."
Although Danzo was publicly recognized as the Darkness of the Shinobi World, one thing could not be denied: his methods and scheming were absolutely among the best in the Shinobi