Iwagakure, Tsuchikage Building.
Ōnoki floated in the center of the office, facing five elders and Kurotsuchi.
The meeting had already lasted three hours.
"The situation in the Land of Grass must be resolved as soon as possible," an elder said grimly. "Kitsuchi's troops are trapped at the border, unable to advance or retreat. And the armed refugees are operating over an increasingly wide area. They have already begun attacking our supply convoys."
"Not only that." Another elder in charge of intelligence opened a dossier. "According to ANBU reports, the Resistance Army in the Land of Grass is spreading into neighboring regions. Similar armed groups have appeared in the Land of Iron, the Land of Rivers, and even near Takigakure. Their weapons all come from Konoha."
Ōnoki kept his eyes closed and said nothing.
Kurotsuchi stood to one side, her expression grim.
"Grandfather." Kurotsuchi finally could not hold back any longer. "We can't keep dragging this out. Frontline morale has already hit rock bottom. Every day, the ninja aren't facing enemies—they're facing invisible traps and shots from nowhere. They don't know when they'll die, where the enemy is, or even what they're fighting for."
"What are we fighting for?" Ōnoki opened his eyes and stared at Kurotsuchi. "What do you think we're fighting for?"
Kurotsuchi froze.
"For... Iwagakure's interests?"
"Wrong." Ōnoki shook his head. "We're fighting for survival."
He turned and looked out the window.
"Naruto Uzumaki doesn't want to defeat us. He wants to wipe us out." Ōnoki's voice was low. "He uses food to trap us, weapons to arm our enemies, and public opinion to isolate us. He wants the whole world to know—ninja are no longer the rulers of this world."
The meeting room fell silent.
"So." Ōnoki turned back, his gaze sweeping over everyone present. "We must