With Ōnoki sitting on his shoulders, Kitsuchi slowly walked onto the rooftop of the Tsuchikage Building.
Bracing himself against his son's head, Ōnoki narrowed his eyes at the throngs of people on the "natural barrier."
He pounded his unbearably aching lower back and sighed inwardly.
He was pessimistic about this war.
He simply could not think of any way to face Konoha once it got serious.
But...
Determination showed in Ōnoki's eyes. Did Shimura Danzō really think he could take Iwagakure with just himself leading a force of no more than ten thousand?
He could not understand where Danzo's confidence came from, but that would not stop Iwagakure from giving its all.
As long as they could hold out a little longer, they could negotiate with Danzo.
Even if...
It only meant securing better treatment for Iwagakure's residents...
"Lord Kitsuchi... no, Lord Ōnoki!"
A travel-worn Iwa shinobi hurried to the Tsuchikage Building, flashed onto the rooftop, and dropped to one knee. Out of habit, he started to address the Fourth Hokage, but quickly corrected himself.
"Speak."
"The remnants of Kumogakure want to form an alliance with us. This is the summoning beast they asked me to bring back!"
The Iwa shinobi pulled a small turtle from inside his clothes. The turtle had withdrawn all five limbs and shut its shell, seemingly very unused to the Land of Earth's environment and unwilling to communicate.
Ōnoki looked impassively at the turtle shell the Iwa shinobi presented in his palm and shook his head slightly.
A "disruptor" like this was not up to the task, but it should still be of some help.
"Take it down and keep it fed."
"Tell Kumogakure. Tell A."
"Konoha is almost at our gates. If he has the guts, come to Iwagakure!"
"Yes!" The Iwa shinobi vanished