bookbashuk Chapter 500: Meeting and Discussion, Preparing for Battle.
Chapter 500: Meeting and Discussion, Preparing for Battle.
"What? You ran into Onoki? And you actually fought him head-on? And you even managed a draw?"
The civilian commander, Mimura Yomi, suddenly sprang up from the wooden chair, gripping the table tightly with both hands, his expression filled with astonishment and disbelief.
Although he was not from a ninja clan, he had fought on the front lines for many years and was well aware of Onoki's terror.
That old guy can fly and control Dust Release, a terrifying ninjutsu that can decompose everything. He has dominated the ninja world for decades and has never been known to suffer a real defeat.
Unexpectedly, the Uchiha Sanfeng were able to fight him to a draw.
The news was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up a tidal wave in his heart.
Chief Kurama and Chief Kazami exchanged a quick glance, their shock fading in an instant, replaced by undisguised joy.
The two straightened their backs, smoothed the wrinkles in their clothes, and subtly adjusted their posture, trying to appear as dignified as possible.
Their gazes toward the Uchiha Mitsurugi were filled not only with awe but also with a deliberate attempt to curry favor.
Their clan was originally a vassal clan of the Uchiha clan. Now that the Uchiha clan has gained another Mangekyou Sharingan user with Kage-level strength, their clan's backing is becoming more and more solid. Naturally, their influence in Konoha will also increase. How could they not secretly rejoice?
The Eighth Hokage of the Uchiha clan stroked his chin, his brows furrowing slightly.
His eyes were filled with a mixture of joy and worry, two emotions intertwined and difficult to calm.
As the most senior hawk in the clan, he knew better than anyone the power of the Mangekyou Sharingan, and was also aware of its fatal flaw.
Every time you overexert your pupils, you are depleting your eye's functions, which will eventually lead to irreversible blindness.
With outsiders present, he naturally wouldn't reveal the kaleidoscope's secrets in public, lest someone exploit his weakness.
Uchiha Yatsuho suppressed the turmoil in his heart: "Mitsumine, tell me carefully, did Onoki actively express a willingness to cease hostilities, or was it really just due to the situation? That old fox has always been cunning and calculating, and he may have a backup plan to lure us into this."
Uchiha Mitsunori nodded slightly, his expression calm and composed.
He had already sorted out all the key points on his way back, so he was now full of confidence.
He glanced at the crowd and smiled as he replied, "It's normal for Elder Eighth to have concerns. The core reason why Onoki is willing to negotiate is that Iwagakure is currently besieged on both sides and unable to defend itself. The Third Raikage died at the hands of Iwagakure, and the Fourth Raikage, A, as his son, must hate him to the core. The war has lasted for so long, and we also have a lot of hatred for Iwagakure. Therefore, he is afraid that Konoha and Kumogakure will join forces to attack the Land of Earth, leaving them besieged on both sides. That's why he is eager to negotiate with us to buy Iwagakure a chance to breathe."
He paused for a moment, building up the anticipation, before slowly scanning the crowd with his gaze: "As for how long this ceasefire can last, and how much war reparations we can ultimately obtain from Iwagakure, the key lies in how much strength we can demonstrate next."
"In the ninja world, strength has always been paramount. Only when we are strong enough to intimidate them will they obediently submit and dare not play any tricks. If we are not strong enough, that old fox will definitely have us under his control."
The clan chief of Kurama leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, his voice filled with urgency and anxiety: "Mitsubone, how confident are you in dealing with Onoki alone?... His Dust Release is too troublesome; it can directly disintegrate ninjutsu and the physical body. In addition, he can move freely in the air, and ordinary ninjas can't even touch him... This leaves us with no good way to deal with him..."
He became increasingly agitated as he spoke, gesturing unconsciously with his hands. In his view, since Mitsumine could fight Onoki to a draw, he was naturally the best person to restrain the other. As long as he could keep Onoki in check, the negotiations would be a sure thing.
Uchiha Mitsunori slowly shook his head, raised his hand and gently pressed his left eyelid, feeling a slight soreness in his fingertip. His Mangekyou Sharingan had been overused during his fight with Onoki, and the residual energy was still present.
"If Onoki is truly committed to peace talks, he will definitely send people to flex his muscles and test our bottom line and strength before the negotiations begin. I just fought with him, and he is wary of my combat power. He will most likely send someone to restrain me and prevent me from interfering with the core negotiation process."
"Moreover, we are not equal in status... I am just a junior of the Uchiha clan, while he is the Third Iwakage... If I were to negotiate with him directly, it would inevitably give others grounds for criticism and make it seem like Konoha is powerless... Dealing with a veteran Kage-level powerhouse like Onoki is best left to Clan Chief Fugaku. Only the Clan Chief's strength and prestige are enough to contend with him on equal footing."
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As soon as he finished speaking, the room fell into a brief silence. Even the crackling sound of the kerosene lamp could be clearly heard. All eyes turned to Uchiha Fugaku, who was sitting in the main seat.
The dim light of the kerosene lamp cast interplay of light and shadow on Fugaku's face, making his expression even more unpredictable.
Everyone knew that Fugaku's strength was among the top in the Uchiha clan. He had been in charge of the clan for many years and was calm and experienced. However, he had never had a public record of directly confronting a Kage-level powerhouse.
Although their past performance was reliable enough, they were still unsure of themselves when facing a ruthless character like Onoki, who had been through countless battles.
They let out a soft sigh...a hint of hesitation and worry inevitably flashed in their eyes...some even clenched their fists quietly.
Fugaku Uchiha naturally noticed the complex emotions in everyone's eyes.
His brows furrowed slightly, and the oppressive aura emanating from him seemed to materialize, causing the air in the room to freeze momentarily, and even the lights in the conference room to dim slightly.
Without any hesitation, he gently tapped the wooden tabletop with his fingers, making a soft "thud" sound that seemed to strike the heart of everyone.
With unwavering resolve and confidence, he said in a low voice, "Onoki... is in my hands..."
These seven words, though brief, were powerful and resounding, instantly silencing the doubts in everyone's hearts. They fully demonstrated the authority and charisma of the Uchiha clan leader, and the surrounding pressure dissipated somewhat.
Upon seeing this, Uchiha Mitsunori bowed slightly, bending his waist to a just-right angle, his posture respectful but not humble.
"Clan leader, I'll settle Aoyama Yui in first, and report back to you as soon as I get any news from Iwagakure."
Knowing that Fugaku Uchiha needed to discuss the specific arrangements for negotiations with higher-ups, he did not linger.
When Aoyama Yui first arrived at the Konoha camp, her special status made her tense. He needed to settle her in first and give her some time to adapt to the environment, so as to avoid her feeling uneasy due to the unfamiliarity and any further complications.
Fugaku Uchiha nodded slightly, raised his hand to indicate that he should do as he pleased, and then his gaze returned to the meeting documents on the table. He tapped the pages lightly with his fingertips, and the oppressive aura around him completely subsided.
Uchiha Mitsunori patted Aoyama Yui's hand, the warmth of her palm passing through the fabric, carrying a soothing meaning.
He could feel the tension in the woman's body beside him, and even sense her slight trembling. He understood her fear at that moment.
The two walked out of the conference room side by side, the heavy wooden door slowly closing behind them with a soft creak, shutting out the sounds of discussion and the somber atmosphere inside.
As soon as I stepped out of the meeting tent, the noise and shouts from the square hit me, creating a stark contrast with the silence of the meeting room.
The afterglow of the setting sun dyed the square a dark red, which perfectly reflected the chaos on the ground. The smell of blood and dust mingled together and drifted in the wind.
Logistics Department Chief Shimura Taro was pinned to a cold stone slab by three enraged ninjas, his limbs pinned down and unable to move.
Punches and kicks rained down on him, and his once neat dark uniform was now soaked in blood. The torn fabric revealed bruises and welts, and blood from the corner of his mouth stained his neck. He was beaten to a bloody pulp, and even his cries of pain became weak.
A cacophony of mournful cries rose and fell, as the surrounding ninjas gritted their teeth and cursed, "You bastard! Selling ninja tools and medicine from the front lines... how many brothers have died!... all because of you, my comrade could only fight with broken kunai, dying at the hands of the Iwagakure ninjas... I will avenge him!"
Uchiha Mitsunori merely glanced at it indifferently before looking away, his expression completely unmoved, as if the farce before him had nothing to do with him.
He felt no sympathy whatsoever... Shimura Taro was greedy and selfish... In order to line his own pockets... He not only resold urgently needed supplies at the front lines, but also leaked the whereabouts of the logistics team, indirectly causing the deaths of many Konoha ninjas. His fate was entirely his own fault, and even considered lenient.
Without pausing, he led Aoyama Yui across the plaza. The coldness emanating from him acted as an invisible barrier, causing the ninjas who tried to approach to watch to instinctively avoid him, lowering their heads and not daring to meet his gaze.
Yui Aoyama subconsciously lowered her eyelids, bit her lower lip tightly, and even breathed softly to avoid the bloody scene. Her fingers clenched so tightly that Mitsumine's sleeves were slightly wrinkled.
She felt a growing sense of apprehension towards the anger and ruthlessness of the Konoha ninjas, and she understood even more clearly that only by clinging tightly to the three peaks of the Uchiha clan could she gain a foothold in this perilous camp.
The two walked along the path at the edge of the camp for a while, gradually moving away from the hustle and bustle of the square.
As dusk deepened, the evening breeze carried the coolness of the mountains and forests, stirring up bits of dry grass from the ground, which stung slightly as it brushed against my cheeks.
The tents along the way gradually lit up, their orange light filtering through the gaps and casting dappled shadows on the path. Occasionally, the footsteps of patrolling ninjas could be heard from afar, then gradually faded away.
Before long, they arrived at a small hut in the corner of the Uchiha camp.
This was the original owner's residence in the camp. The original owner used to be a Chunin with a one-tomoe Sharingan, so his treatment was only average, but still much better than that of commoners and ninjas from small clans.