Naruto spoke with a smile, yet his words sent a chill through everyone from Iwagakure below.
"Even after a warning of an 'indiscriminate attack,' not one of you immediately went to evacuate the civilians or organize your defenses..."
He paused, sweeping his gaze over the angry, bewildered, and nervous faces below. His lips curled into an almost malicious smile.
"Did you think the four hours I gave you... were too generous? Did you think I was bluffing?
Or have Iwagakure's ninja already resolved to live and die with their village, even dragging the civilians into death alongside them?"
Those words were like icy spikes, driving deep into the hearts of Ōnoki and every Iwagakure ninja. The words "die with their village," in particular, carried a cruel finality that made quite a few faces turn pale.
Naruto seemed pleased with the effect he had caused. He raised one finger and gently wagged it, his tone abruptly turning cold.
"All right, then. Since you think you have plenty of time..."
"Let's make it three and a half hours."
"The countdown starts now. In three and a half hours, the attack begins."
He had cut the deadline by half an hour outright! It was blatant pressure and provocation, a test of Iwagakure's response time and ability to act, and yet another blow to the Tsuchikage's authority-could they not even carry out an evacuation order immediately?
"Bastard!!!"
Ōnoki could no longer remain silent. He let out a low roar, strained to the breaking point, filled with fury, humiliation, and utter frustration at his subordinates' sluggish response!
His mind had been consumed by Kurotsuchi's capture, Naruto's strength, and the potentially devastating strike against the village. For a moment, he had failed to give the order at once.
Naruto's words struck him like a blow to