Ōnoki had practically been driven mad with rage lately.
The Five-Tails Jinchuriki had been captured by Akatsuki, and his fate was unknown. The people sent to search had failed to find any trace of Han.
Even Akatsuki's members seemed to have vanished without a trace. They had searched every underground black market throughout the Land of Earth and found nothing.
At first, Ōnoki had merely suspected that Akatsuki had been hired by Tobirama Senju.
But three days earlier, someone claiming to be an Akatsuki member had appeared in his office and personally admitted that Tobirama Senju had ordered it. After saying so, he vanished right before Ōnoki's eyes!
It was not that Ōnoki had not considered the possibility that Akatsuki wanted to provoke a war between them and Konoha, but he could not understand what a mercenary organization stood to gain from it. Did they intend to profit by involving themselves in their war?
Just as he was half-convinced and half-doubtful, intelligence arrived from Iwagakure's border. The defensive shinobi had captured a group of Konoha spies.
According to information extracted by the interrogation division, the purpose of these Konoha shinobi infiltrating the Land of Earth was actually to investigate the whereabouts of Roshi, the Four-Tails Jinchuriki!
That erased every last shred of Ōnoki's doubt.
"Damn Konoha!"
Following Ōnoki's roar, a large delegation set out for Konoha to demand accountability from Tobirama Senju.
"Excellent. The testimonies of the White Zetsu disguised as Konoha shinobi have made Ōnoki completely convinced."
Hidden underground, Zetsu watched the Iwagakure shinobi heading toward Konoha and let out a strange laugh.
"Lord Hokage! A group claiming to be an Iwagakure delegation is outside the village. They say they have come to demand accountability from you!"
Outside the Hokage Office, an ANBU shinobi with an anxious expression