Debates across the Shinobi World

"There's nothing we can do. Even the Lord Kazekage's Magnet Release Kekkei Genkai can't contend with it. What can we possibly do?"

Ebizo shook his head; he had always felt that the man in the Tiger-Skin Mask was unreliable, and sure enough, things went wrong.

Chiyo began to wonder if Saki had actually used up her poison.

If she still can't kill Ryuuzaki Eiji after using that, then she's truly out of options. If she doesn't use it at all, then there might still be a chance for things to turn around.

"And sister, don't forget, the Dojutsu and bloodlines of Konoha have one thing in common: an extremely high heritability. If Ryuuzaki Eiji keeps producing offspring in Konoha, what will await us in the Future?"

Chiyo couldn't bear to imagine that scene. Did that mean Sunagakure was doomed to simply sit and wait for its demise?

"Perhaps he will die before reaching adulthood. The greater the power, the greater the burden on the body. If he squanders his power before his body is fully developed, he may die young."

Chiyo tried her best to present a favorable viewpoint, but how could she not know that even if Eiji died young, he wouldn't be unable to leave behind any descendants?

"Currently, the only one who can inherit the position of Kazekage is Rasa, the disciple of the Lord Third."

"But Rasa's experience is not enough..."

"In any case, he is undoubtedly the most suitable candidate, given his mastery of Magnet Release."

Chiyo felt a pain in her temples, waved her hand, and said, "Alright then, I'll convene Council of Elders and push him to the position of Kazekage."

"Let's think about peace talks now. The war can't continue; Sunagakure has no choice but to seek negotiations."

Negotiations? Sunagakure is so poor now that it can't even afford war compensation. If it declares defeat, what will it have to offer Konoha in return?

"Also, let's probe Konoha's attitude and see if Sunagakure has any chance of obtaining Ryuuzaki Eiji's offspring. We're willing to spend any amount of money; Rasa's Gold Dust can be exchanged for cash, and we can repay it slowly, but Ryuuzaki Eiji's bloodline is invaluable."

Ebizo's words shocked Chiyo.

How could Konoha possibly agree to this?

"There's no need for the child to live in Sunagakure. We can send equally talented individuals to Konoha, and perhaps Konoha will agree to that."

"... you mean?"

"If we educate the girls we send there properly, they will pass on their ideas to the next generation, and their children will support Sunagakure."

Although she felt this was a very risky idea, she decided to take a chance and find a group of girls in Sunagakure with good looks to see how Konoha would react.

Even if they were sent to Konoha, it wouldn't matter. She believed that these girls would teach Ryuuzaki Eiji's children to be loyal to Sunagakure, and then Sunagakure would also be able to possess the Eyes of the Blue Sky.

It's a pity Scorpion is a boy; it would have been better if he were a girl.

Just then, another Sand Village ninja hurriedly appeared at the door. Seeing the intelligence scroll in his hand, Chiyo felt her temples throb even more.

"Fine, let me see it. Anyway, things can't get any worse."

Upon opening the scroll, Chiyo saw a passage.

"The Sunagakure Konoha's surprise attack team on Konoha was ambushed by Konoha Ninja led by Hatake Sakumo, and the entire team was wiped out."

Chiyo's vision went black, and she collapsed to the ground.

◇

Iwagakure

The war had already begun, and although Iwagakure's intelligence work was not as good as Sunagakure's, which possessed mysterious powers, they quickly obtained first-hand intelligence.

Upon seeing the information on the scroll that Ryuuzaki Eiji had annihilated two thousand Sunagakure and decisively killed the Third Kazekage, Ōnoki's pupils dilated.

He clenched his teeth, his brows furrowed so tightly they looked like twisted ropes.

He cursed Hiruzen Sarutobi inwardly for his lack of martial ethics.

The war was going well, and no one had committed too much fighting force to the battlefield. Why did you suddenly pull this stunt?

"Dad, what should we do?"

Although the war has now fully commenced, Iwagakure has no intention of deploying Jinchūriki.

That's a vital fighting force for the Village. If they're lost in the Land of Rain, who knows where we'll find them next time?

"Dad, are we going to lose?"

But seeing Ryuuzaki Eiji's amazing record, Ōnoki felt that it was no different from deploying Jinchūriki.

Ryuuzaki Eiji is still so young, why are you, Hiruzen Sarutobi, so impatient to secure victory?

"Dad, when are we going to surrender?"

The Kitsuchi beside him kept nagging behind him, making Ōnoki's forehead veins bulge.

"Stop arguing, I'm thinking! Besides, our situation in Iwagakure is steadily improving, so what nonsense are you spouting about surrendering!"

"Uh, but based on the intelligence, I think Ryuuzaki Eiji is already invincible." Kitsuchi scratched his head. "Dad, you don't know, but there's a saying going around in the Shinobi World right now."

"What?"

Upon hearing his father's question, Kitsuchi Tu readily rattled off all the popular rhetoric and debate jargon circulating in the Shinobi World.

The statement that the Third Raikage and Ōnoki were evenly matched implies that the Third Raikage was roughly equivalent to Ōnoki.

Since Ryuuzaki Eiji was able to defeat the Third Raikage single-handedly, it can be concluded that Ryuuzaki Eiji could defeat Ōnoki single-handedly.

After hearing this, Ōnoki's head started to ache even more.

"What nonsense are you talking about! I possess the Dust Release technique, how could I possibly be on par with that barbarian!?"

"But Dad, people outside say the Raikage is incredibly fast, and your Dust Release can't hit him at all." Kitsuchi extended his index finger and continued, "And if you can't hit him, it's useless. And Ryuuzaki Eiji is even faster than the Raikage, so you can't hit Ryuuzaki Eiji either."

Ōnoki was so angry that he was fuming and wanted nothing more than to challenge the Third Raikage to a duel to refute this point.

But now that the Raikage is dead, how can he prove that he is stronger than the Raikage?

That's not good. If everyone in the Shinobi World thinks they're weaker than Ryuuzaki Eiji, wouldn't he be naturally superior to them when he becomes Hokage?

"And what about you? What are your thoughts?"

"Uh, actually, the topic of who's stronger between you and Ryuuzaki Eiji is a long time ago," Kitsuchi Tu scratched his head. "Now, the more popular topic is who would win if a hundred dads fought Ryuuzaki Eiji."

Kitsuchi joined the discussion in the Shinobi World Debate Circle a long time ago. He was very interested in this topic and, incidentally, he deserves credit for promoting the debate between a hundred Ōnoki.

Upon hearing this, Ōnoki felt a tightness in his chest and almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

This unfilial son doesn't even know how to speak up for his father, what are we going to do?

Even if I were at my worst, surely a hundred of me combined couldn't defeat Ryuuzaki Eiji, right?