Sure, Iwagakure Village may have broken some rules this time, but Konohagakure was being completely unreasonable!
Every other sentence was a threat. They kept bringing up war like it was nothing!
Did they seriously want to go to war with Iwagakure Village?
Oonoki didn't think Iwagakure Village had done anything wrong. In his eyes, all the blame lay with Konohagakure. Iwagakure Village had done nothing wrong.
"Elder, about Kusagakure Village..."
"This is no longer just about Konohagakure and Kusagakure Village—it now involves Iwagakure Village as well!
As expected, if you're too nice, people will walk all over you!
Konohagakure has been acting too soft for too long, and now even Iwagakure Village thinks they can push us around."
If Oonoki had simply said that Iwagakure Village would stay out of it, letting Konohagakure handle the situation however they pleased, Yan wouldn't have left so abruptly.
Wow, you want to step all over Konohagakure and expect them not to fight back?
You even hope they'll go along with it just to save face?
Oonoki, you really have some nerve.
"Let's go. Since Kusagakure wants to make trouble, we'll play along."
After sending a scroll to Tsunade detailing what happened in Iwagakure, Yan led his people toward the border between the Land of Earth and the Land of Grass.
He was curious to see how long Kusagakure's people could hide in Iwagakure, and how long Iwagakure would protect them.
When it came to spying, intelligence gathering, and security, Iwagakure was one of the best among the Five Great Ninja Villages. Even if Kusagakure's people stayed there, they would constantly be questioned and watched.
Yan wanted to see just how thick-skinned they were—how long they could shamelessly cling to Iwagakure.
"What? The Konohagakure people left?"
Kusagakure's delegation was completely dumbfounded when they heard the news.
They had come to Iwagakure to stir things up, hoping to use Iwagakure's strength to pressure Konohagakure into giving them an explanation.
But Konohagakure didn't play along at all. Instead of negotiating, they just got up and left, leaving Kusagakure stuck in an awkward position in Iwagakure.
To make things worse, they even announced that they would ambush and kill them on the road!
They were basically trapping them inside Iwagakure.
"We're sorry."
Tsuchikage's secretary sighed and said:
"Iwagakure originally intended to act as a mediator between Kusagakure and Konohagakure, hoping to help both sides reach an agreement and resolve the issue. But Konohagakure felt that Iwagakure was interfering and trying to boss them around.
After Hokage's advisor, Uchiha Yan, got into a heated argument with Tsuchikage, he decided to leave. Before he left, he even declared that they would ambush your group on the way."
"Damn it, how did things end up like this?"
The Kusagakure representatives were panicking.
Konohagakure had never done something this extreme before. As one of the Five Great Ninja Villages, openly threatening to kill people from a small village would seriously damage their reputation if word got out.
That was exactly why Kusagakure had the confidence to come to Iwagakure and cause trouble—they thought Konohagakure wouldn't dare go too far.
But Konohagakure wasn't playing by the rules.
Forget negotiations!
There was nothing to talk about. Just get ready to die!
If you dare to step outside, you're dead!
As for their reputation? Konohagakure didn't care.
"Sir, this isn't what we agreed on."
Kusagakure's representatives desperately tried to hold onto Iwagakure as their last hope.
But Iwagakure wasn't willing to be their lifeline.
If they really stepped in, that would mean openly going against Konohagakure.
Even siding with Kusagakure a little was already pushing it—it was toeing the line, but at least they could still deny it.
And even that was enough to make Konohagakure snap, let alone if Iwagakure fully took their side.
"Sorry, we didn't expect things to escalate this far either. Konohagakure is convinced that Iwagakure is trying to dominate them. At this point, our village can't help you anymore—unless we want a direct conflict with Konohagakure."
Not just anyone could be a lifeline.
Tsuchikage's secretary gave the Kusagakure Village representative an apologetic look before leaving decisively.
What happens next is up to you.
Whether you go around spreading the word, making yourselves look pitiful, or get down on your knees begging for Konohagakure's forgiveness—it has nothing to do with Iwagakure Village.
In the past, Oonoki would have seized this opportunity to stir up public opinion, maybe even ruin Konohagakure's reputation.
Unfortunately, the one representing Konohagakure this time is Yan. Against someone like him—who doesn't play by the rules—Oonoki wouldn't dare make a move.
If he did, he might just end up with his hand chopped off by Yan's blade.
Oonoki wasn't afraid to cause trouble when dealing with Tsunade or the Third Hokage because he was sure they wouldn't act recklessly.
But if Yan was in charge... that was a gamble he wasn't willing to take.
If he started fanning the flames on one side while Yan stormed into Kusagakure Village, forcing their leaders to bow down, offering them a few benefits, and getting them to turn around and accuse Iwagakure Village—then things would get really messy.
Make no mistake, Kusagakure Village was known for switching sides when it suited them.
If that happened, Iwagakure Village would be in a tough spot.
Rather than take the risk, it was better to cut ties with this mess as soon as possible. The shouting was over, the threats had been made, and the bridges were burned—but at least the two villages wouldn't end up in an all-out war over this.
Oonoki had to decide: should he risk getting dragged down by helping Kusagakure Village, or should he step back and stay out of it?
He chose the latter without hesitation.
Just like his approach toward Kumogakure Village.
Back when the Third Raikage was still alive, whenever Kumogakure Village provoked Iwagakure, Oonoki would always retaliate, giving them a taste of their own medicine.
But now, Oonoki had no interest in dealing with Kumogakure Village.
Compared to the more level-headed Third Raikage, who always considered the consequences first, the Fourth Raikage, A, was nothing but a hothead.
There was no telling what reckless move he might pull if he got embarrassed and angry.
If Oonoki fought back and kept the cycle of provocations going, there was no guarantee the Fourth Raikage wouldn't just escalate things into a full-blown battle.
Unlike the Third Raikage, who was content with a symbolic scuffle before calling it a day and heading home for dinner.
"This is bad. What do we do now?"
Yan had already made his stance clear, and they didn't even have the courage to leave Iwagakure Village—because if they did, they'd be dead.
With their level of strength, it wouldn't take much—just a single Anbu squad would be enough to finish them off.
The mere thought of dying at any moment left the Kusagakure Village delegation pale with fear.
No, this couldn't be happening. Iwagakure Village had to step in. They were one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages—the only ones capable of standing up to Konohagakure, the only ones who could save them.
Unwilling to accept their fate, the Kusagakure Village representatives sought out Oonoki, hoping he would step in and negotiate on their behalf.
They wanted him to convince Konohagakure to call off their pursuit.
Ideally, Konohagakure's forces would just pack up and go home, leaving them alone.
That was the only way they could safely return.
---------------------------------------
You can read 10 chapters ahead on patre on
patr eon.com/JYouyi