klisemfg Chapter 551 Demonstration?
Chapter 551 Demonstration?
"The attackers were Cloud Village ninjas who destroyed the hill at the village entrance and even ruined my office?" Onoki's voice was low and slow, with a hint of barely perceptible doubt. "Then Huangtu went to give chase, and the attackers deliberately revealed their identities and made threats, saying that if they chased him across the border, a large Cloud Village force would be waiting for them?"
The Iwa ninja in charge of the report bowed and replied, "That's right, Lord Tsuchikage. The attackers claimed to be acting on the orders of the Fourth Raikage, and their words were extremely provocative, with many disparaging remarks about Iwagakure and you personally."
Onoki did not immediately respond. He closed his eyes, his fingers lightly tapping the ruins beside him, lost in thought. After a long while, he slowly opened his eyes, a glint of shrewdness flashing in them.
“This is not right.” Onoki’s voice carried a hint of sneer. “Although Kumogakure has always been tough and the Raikage has a volatile temper, if they really wanted to start a full-scale war, they would not have used such clumsy methods. First, they destroyed the mountain to make a big commotion, and then they destroyed my office. This is less of a sneak attack and more like… a demonstration.”
"A demonstration?" Several Iwa ninja exchanging puzzled glances.
“That’s right,” Onoki affirmed. “They launched a high-profile attack, but didn’t target any important military installations, or even penetrate the core area of the village. Instead, they chose to create chaos at the village entrance before destroying my office. This is clearly an attempt to provoke us, lure us into sending troops, and then…”
His gaze sharpened, and he coldly uttered two words: "...Set an ambush."
"An ambush?" Huang Tu's voice rang out. He had returned to the village, his clothes dusty and weary, but his eyes burned with fury. Upon hearing the Tsuchikage's analysis, he immediately retorted, "Lord Tsuchikage, you're overthinking it! Those bastards from Kumogakure are arrogant and domineering, clearly trying to humiliate our Iwagakure! Their daring to destroy your office is a blatant declaration of war! This humiliation deserves our immediate attack on Kumogakure, to make them pay!"
Huang Tu is straightforward and impulsive. Having personally experienced Zhang Hai's arrogant provocations, he naturally cannot accept Onoki's "conspiracy theory" analysis.
Onoki glanced at Yotsuchi, a hint of disappointment in his eyes, but more so, helplessness. He knew Yotsuchi's personality and the anger burning within him. However, as the Tsuchikage, he had to remain clear-headed.
"Yellow Earth, suppress your anger." Onoki's voice turned stern. "Your impulsiveness will bring disaster to the village. If they are deliberately provoking us to lure us into their trap, then no matter how many troops we send, we may still fall into their trap. That Raikage is no pushover; he is absolutely capable of doing such a thing."
He stood up, walked to a tattered map, and pointed heavily at the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning.
"Order!" Onoki's voice was firm and authoritative. "Immediately withdraw all ninjas sent to the front lines! At the same time, set up a large number of traps and explosive tags near the border and prepare for defense. What we need to do now is to defend firmly, not to launch an attack."
"But it's Lord Tsuchikage!" Huang Tu wanted to say something more.
"No buts!" Onoki slammed his hand on the table, his aged eyes radiating a powerful chakra pressure that forced Huang Tu to lower his head. "We cannot fight this war for now. Kumogakure is prepared; we cannot let them lead us by the nose!"
Then, Onoki's gaze shifted to another Jonin, his tone tinged with a complex mix of anger and barely suppressed rage: "And also, about that traitor, Roshi..."
His voice paused, his fist clenching involuntarily, his knuckles cracking. Rōshi's defection was undoubtedly adding insult to injury for him, a tremendous disgrace. For a tailed beast jinchūriki to desert on the battlefield was a heavy blow to Iwagakure's reputation and strength.
"I will not pursue his matter any further." Onoki finally suppressed his anger, but his tone was chillingly cold. "Since he chose to betray the village, he is no longer a member of Iwagakure. From now on, you are not allowed to mention his name in front of me!"
This was undoubtedly the Tsuchikage's complete abandonment and break with Rōshi. In the Tsuchikage's eyes, a traitor was not worth his further attention.
As the Tsuchikage issued the order, the pursuit battle between Konoha and Iwagakure was nearing its end.
Although the top fighters on both sides, such as Sakumo Hatake, Minato, Akira, Onoki, and Kyoto, did not directly participate in the pursuit, the battlefield was still exceptionally fierce. The Konoha ninjas, fueled by vengeful fury and anger over the attack on their village, launched a fierce offensive against the retreating Iwagakure forces. The Iwagakure ninjas, severely wounded and without command, displayed a final will to survive, fighting desperately.
Swords flashed, blood and flesh flew. The light of various ninjutsu clashed in the valley, explosions and screams echoed everywhere. This was no ordinary pursuit; it was more like a bloody massacre. The Konoha ninjas, using their familiarity with the terrain and their seamless teamwork, relentlessly whittled down the Iwagakure forces.
The death toll continued to rise. Compared to the previous skirmishes between small groups, this sudden pursuit resulted in far greater casualties. Every cold corpse foreshadowed the cruelty and unpredictability of war. The valley under the night sky was stained red with blood, becoming a scene of carnage. This brutal pursuit ultimately ended with the defeat of Iwagakure and a resounding victory for Konoha. But the price of victory was equally heavy.
The pursuit lasted a day and a night. As the dawn's light once again tore through the night, casting the blood-red sunset upon the earth, this fierce battle finally drew to a close. The once lush valley was now unrecognizable; the scorched earth, fallen trees, and scattered limbs silently testified to the carnage of the previous night.
Although the Konoha ninja achieved victory, the cost was extremely high. Every inch of the battlefield was soaked with the blood of Konoha and Iwagakure ninjas. The air was thick with the stench of blood and death, suffocating everyone. The surviving ninjas, their faces etched with exhaustion and numbness, their eyes vacant, mechanically tallied the casualties and collected the bodies of their comrades.
In the very center of this hellish battlefield, two figures appeared almost simultaneously.
On one side stood Sakumo Hatake, the White Fang of Konoha, clad in a white cloak. Though stained with dust and blood, his posture remained upright, his eyes sharp. Behind him lay the exhausted Konoha ninja, worn down by a night of bloody battle.