Ōnoki of Both Scales!

The entire hall fell deathly silent.

Caomang's face flushed crimson. Anger surged through him as he clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white, and his Chakra began to stir. As the leader of Kusagakure, when had he ever suffered such humiliation?

But he knew that most of the Iwagakure ninja stationed in the Land of Grass had died at Broken Cloud Gorge, while Konoha's forces remained strong. If he truly angered Danzo, Kusagakure had no means to resist.

One after another, they're grinding us Grass Ninja into the dirt. Damn them!

And I can't afford to offend either side. That's the tragedy of a small country...

He kept his fists clenched, his anger lodged in his throat, unable to let any of it out.

The Daimyo of the Land of Grass also went pale. He hurried to smooth things over, waving a hand. "Caomang! Mind your manners!"

Tension stretched taut across the hall.

Orochimaru's expression did not change. "Your Excellency, we have no wish to force your country's hand. But Iwagakure is still watching for an opening. If the Land of Grass wishes to protect itself, it needs an alliance with Konoha. Supplies, permission to cross the border, and intelligence on Iwagakure could all serve as compensation."

"Konoha will not stand by while the Land of Grass is ravaged by Iwagakure again. In return, your country must show its sincerity."

Caomang gritted his teeth and glared at Orochimaru, but did not dare say another word.

The daimyo of the Land of Grass considered it for a long while, his expression grim. At last, he said, "This matter... Allow me to discuss it with my ministers. I ask that you two envoys from Konoha rest in the Capital for now. I will give you an answer within three days."

Orochimaru nodded slightly. "Very well. I only hope Your Excellency understands that we do not have much time to wait."

With that, he bowed slightly and left the hall with Jiraiya.

They stepped through the doors and into the residence's courtyard.

Only then did Jiraiya speak up. "Damn, Caomang looked ready to explode back there. He almost attacked. Orochimaru, weren't you worried he'd turn on us?"

Orochimaru gazed into the distance. "He wouldn't dare."

"The Land of Grass is weak, and Iwagakure isn't their patron. Small countries and villages like these cling to whoever is strongest."

"Heh. For all we know, they're waiting to see how Ōnoki responds."

"In any case, we'll have our answer in three days."

The evening wind swept through the courtyard, lifting a few fallen leaves.

Beneath the calm of the Land of Grass's Capital, dangerous currents were already surging.

The Land of Earth, Iwagakure, the Tsuchikage Building.

Ōnoki was in his forties, at the peak of his prime.

He stood straight. Though short, he had a vigorous bearing. His sharply defined face and piercing eyes carried the commanding presence of a Tsuchikage.

He had ruled Iwagakure for years and earned a fearsome reputation throughout the Shinobi World. Now both his mind and his fighting strength were at their peak.

In the office, a ninja with one arm severed and his body covered in wounds and blood knelt on the floor. He shook violently, his voice hoarse.

"Lord Tsuchikage! Our entire line at Broken Cloud Gorge has collapsed!"

"Lord Jianyan fought hard with his troops, but Konoha's main force surrounded them!"

"Lord Jianyan died covering the retreat! More than half of our fifteen hundred ninja were killed or wounded. The survivors fled and are holding out at Blackstone Fortress!"

"Our brothers died horribly! Lord Tsuchikage, you have to stand up for us!"

Every word struck those in the hall like a hammer.

The Iwagakure Elders and Jonin standing on either side wore grave expressions. None dared speak.

Seated in his stone chair, Ōnoki's face slowly darkened. A bone-chilling glint rose in his once-calm eyes.

"Jianyan... Useless fool!"

"Danzo... Damn him!"

"Hatake Sakumo... Orochimaru... Tsunade... Jiraiya..."

His voice was low, cold, and devoid of warmth.

Why? Why does Konoha have so many geniuses?

Jianyan was a veteran Jonin Ōnoki had personally promoted. Skilled in Iwagakure's advanced Earth Release, he was the key piece Ōnoki had placed on the Land of Grass border to keep the Land of Fire in check.

The plan had been exquisite: use the daimyo of the Land of Grass's invitation to station troops legally at Broken Cloud Gorge, quietly eat away at the border forces, and squeeze Konoha's western defenses step by step.

But Jianyan had grown arrogant and underestimated his enemy. He had marched out without orders and thrown himself into a head-on battle with Konoha's army.

Torifu Akimichi's command was troublesome enough. Add Konoha's gifted young ninja, and then Danzo, that scheming bastard, had sealed off Jianyan's last chance of escape.

One wrong move had led to another. The entire plan had fallen apart.

Ōnoki's fingers tightened around the armrests. His Chakra stirred, and the air seemed to grow heavy.

"I told him again and again to hold his position, avoid battle, and apply pressure bit by bit."

"But he had to chase glory, rush in, and get himself killed."

"Now he's dead, and my entire plan is ruined!"

"Damn it!"

His gaze sharpened as he looked toward the distant mountains beyond the room, as though it could pierce every ridge and reach the Land of Grass.

"The Land of Grass... A pack of opportunists who'll go whichever way the wind blows."

"Our Iwagakure garrison protected them out of goodwill. Yet when battle broke out, they watched from the sidelines as our ninja fought and died. They did nothing to help."

"They deserve to die too!"

"Konoha used the dispute over the Land of Grass to sever Iwagakure's reach with precision. They've made an example of us with this battle, and they may already hold sway over the Land of Grass."

Ōnoki spoke slowly, his voice hard as stone.

"Lord Tsuchikage, what should we do? Konoha has gone too far! Give me leave to fight and avenge our fallen comrades!" an Iwagakure Jonin demanded furiously.

"Lord Tsuchikage, our first priority is sending reinforcements to the ninja trapped in Blackstone Fortress!" an older Elder with graying hair and beard urged.

"Enough!"

"The latest news is that Danzo has sent Orochimaru and Jiraiya to the Land of Grass. They're extorting it, demanding an answer within three days. They even humiliated the leader of the Grass Ninja in public."

Ōnoki tapped the table. A cold glint flashed in his eyes.

"You win one local battle and think you can crush a small country and intimidate Iwagakure? Danzo, Kagami Uchiha... Konoha has grown far too arrogant."

His brief anger passed, and Ōnoki swiftly regained his composure. He settled on a response and gave his orders.

"Send word!"

"Deploy two thousand ninja to reinforce the Land of Grass. The remaining garrison at Blackstone Fortress is to hold the gates, preserve its strength at all costs, and under no circumstances launch an attack! They will wait for reinforcements!"

"Also, have the daimyo send letters demanding an explanation from the Land of Fire and Konoha. Why did they suddenly attack Iwagakure? Does the Hokage intend to shatter the peace of the Shinobi World and start the Second Shinobi World War?"

The Iwagakure leaders bowed as one. "As you command, Lord Tsuchikage!"

Ōnoki rose. Immense pressure radiated from him as he fixed his gaze on the Land of Grass and spoke with icy resolve.

"If the Land of Grass sides completely with Konoha three days from now..."

"Then from that day forward, it is our enemy!"

"Iwagakure will repay today's humiliation a hundredfold."

"Remember this, all of you! Iwagakure is invincible so long as we stand upon the earth!"

He was at his peak, proud and boundlessly ambitious. For now, he buried an even deeper, more ruthless plan for revenge in his heart.

If only the Second Hokage hadn't died alongside Hozuki Gengetsu of Kirigakure...

If only that thickheaded Third Raikage A of Kumogakure weren't constantly watching Iwagakure for an opening...

I'd have led the troops to the Land of Grass myself and taken Danzo's head!

Cold rain fell without end, as it had for years, layer upon layer of fine droplets shrouding the town.

Shallow puddles dotted the damp stone road. The sky was an unchanging leaden gray.

In an unremarkable black-stone residence on the outskirts of a town in the Land of Rain, Kakuzu sat alone beneath the veranda.

A sharp cry rang out!

High overhead, a Ninja Hawk shrieked and dove straight toward the courtyard.

"Hm?" Kakuzu's dark-green eyes shifted, a trace of puzzlement crossing his face.

He opened the letter tied to the hawk's leg and froze for a moment.

The Land of Grass...

Then he rose and went back inside.