Outside the heavy gates of the Land of Iron's Capital City, a bitter wind howled, carrying flurries of snow.
Before the gates, two starkly different figures caught everyone's attention almost immediately.
"Ōnoki, are you really ready?"
The Fourth Raikage stood with his arms crossed, his muscles bulging like mountains and his gaze sharp as a blade.
His eyes settled on the gray-robed old man hovering in the air-the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki.
Ōnoki floated in midair, his hair and beard stirring gently in the wind. The guards who normally accompanied him were nowhere to be seen. He had brought only the little orange-haired girl-Kurotsuchi.
A trace of mockery colored the Raikage's deep voice.
"You only brought this little brat, without even any guards? Planning to bow straight down to Yemu, are you?"
In fact, Yemu had given them two choices a week ago-
Submit or perish.
Those seven days had not merely been for them to "return home and discuss plans for governance." They had also been a final chance to think.
Did they want to become footnotes in history, a joke for future generations to laugh over?
Or preserve their legacy and let their countries cling to life?
Ōnoki lowered his eyelids, his leisurely tone carrying a sting.
"Fourth Raikage, what's wrong? Still dreaming? Or have you yet to face the reality before you?"
He glanced sideways, a cold gleam passing through his eyes. His voice remained unhurried, as though he were discussing something of no consequence.
"If you truly intend to resist... I wouldn't mind personally telling Lord Yemu exactly what's on your mind."
The Fourth Raikage's eyelid twitched sharply at those words, and his expression darkened at once.
He could sense Ōnoki's shameless eagerness to court the powerful, like an old fox clinging tightly to a tree in