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Hearing Sōsuke's words, Onoki naturally wouldn't believe him; his expression darkened menacingly.
His gaze towards Sōsuke was filled with intense killing intent.
If it were anyone else under such an imposing aura from the Tsuchikage, they would have likely already collapsed in fear.
Yet, Sōsuke remained unaffected, instead looking at Onoki with an interest as if he wanted to study what his current emotions were.
Hiruzen, too, was closely watching this scene with furrowed brows, his expression somber. Even he couldn't understand why Onoki would act in such a way.
However, one thing was certain, his actions must be related to Sōsuke!
Whether it was a genjutsu or some other method, no one knew.
At this moment, Hiruzen's gaze towards Sōsuke became incredibly complex.
He discovered that this ninja, who had always been considered the most talented of the younger generation in the village, had hidden many secrets unknown to others.
Unfathomable to all...
Just then.
Onoki could no longer bear this rage; his cold gaze fixed on Sōsuke as he said in a deep voice.
"Regardless, you must die!"
"I will personally execute you, ensuring you won't have a place to be buried!"
His words were resolute and chilling, making everyone present shiver from the killing intent.
Sōsuke, the target of this intense killing intent, simply wore a smile, casually observing Onoki and softly said, "Is that so?"
"It seems the Lord Tsuchikage is still very confident in his strength."
After speaking, his gaze lightly drifted towards Onoki's son, Ku, among the Iwagakure ninja, with a slight curve of his lips, chuckling.
"That one must be Lord Tsuchikage's son."
"Compared to you, Lord Tsuchikage, he is indeed imposing."
Feeling Sōsuke's gaze, Ku felt as if he was enveloped by an oppressive shadow, as though the Grim Reaper himself was standing behind him. This terrifying sensation made him breathe faster, with cold sweat forming on his forehead.
"Whoosh!"
Suddenly, Onoki appeared in front of him, his angry eyes blocking Sōsuke's gaze.
With Sōsuke's gaze obstructed, Ku's breathing calmed slightly, immediately looking at Onoki with concern, saying, "Father... this person..."
Onoki waved his hand to cut him off, his gaze unwaveringly fixed on Sōsuke, quietly instructing Ku, "Listen to me, take the remaining Iwagakure ninja and head back to the village, leave Konoha immediately!"
Hearing this, Ku shook his head, replying softly, "Father, if you stay in Konoha, then I will stay as well, even if it means dying here!"
Onoki, irritated, glared at him and said sternly, "Fool, if you die here, wouldn't I be left without any descendants!"
"Hurry and take the remaining Iwagakure ninja back, this invasion of Konoha was my mistake in judgment. Since I made a mistake, I naturally will be punished."
"But the Iwagakure ninja here should not have to die with me!"
"Remember, Ku! Without me in the future, think more before acting. Only then can Iwagakure truly walk towards a path of strength!"
Hearing Onoki's words, both Ku and the other Iwagakure ninja showed sorrowful expressions but did not resist his command anymore, nodding gently.
Across them, Sōsuke was observing the situation with a smile, suddenly speaking up.
"While I must say, Lord Tsuchikage, your decision to stay in Konoha alone is quite noble, however..."
He glanced around, chuckling lightly.
"It seems... they would need Konoha's permission to leave."
The surrounding Konoha ninja, seeing the Iwagakure ninja's intention to withdraw, watched them warily, preventing their escape.
Seeing this, Onoki's brows furrowed slightly, his expression darkening, without saying a word.
Clearly, he was not optimistic about the current situation.
After pondering for a moment, he spoke coldly.
"Sōsuke, you are now a rogue ninja of Konoha. If I die here..."
Saying this, he coldly glanced at Hiruzen in the distance and continued in a deep voice.
"Your fate will probably not be much better than mine."
Hearing Onoki's words, Sōsuke, standing in front of him, chuckled softly and replied quietly.
"Lord Tsuchikage speaks the truth."
"However, you might not be aware that I have mastered the Second Hokage's Flying Thunder God Technique. Escaping from Konoha should not pose a problem."
Sōsuke's gaze was subdued, but his words surprised Onoki, causing him to furrow his brows in astonishment.
This guy has mastered space-time ninjutsu...
Thinking this, Onoki's brows were tightly knitted, and a glint flashed in his eyes. He looked up at Sōsuke, who wore a serene smile, and said in a deep voice.
"If you had intended to act, you wouldn't have wasted so much time talking with me here!"
"What conditions would it take for you to help the Iwagakure ninja leave Konoha?"
When saying this, Onoki seemed to have forgotten his previous declarations of wanting Sōsuke dead, a basic quality of being a Kage.
After all, the interests at hand are what matter most.
Hearing Onoki's words, a slight smile formed on Sōsuke's lips, while Hiruzen, in the distance, frowned, his murky eyes solemnly fixed on the two.
"Indeed, Lord Tsuchikage is quite adept at shifting his stance, seeing right through it."
Sōsuke chuckled lightly as he spoke.
With that, his eyes narrowed slightly, shimmering with a faint light, and he continued.
"I want the Dust Release jutsu scroll. That should be quite easy for Lord Tsuchikage, shouldn't it?"
Their conversation, held in public, was not intended to be concealed.
The majority of Konoha ninja around them were stunned to hear their exchange.
Sōsuke has become a rogue ninja of Konoha!?
When did this happen, and how could such a thing occur!!
"How could Lord Sōsuke possibly..."
A Konoha ninja muttered to himself, his expression grim.
"Lord Sōsuke, why did you choose to leave the village!? Weren't you already chosen as the next Fourth Hokage?"
A Konoha ninja, hardly believing the truth, stared at Sōsuke's figure on the field and shouted.
Hearing his words, the crowd erupted in shock!
What!? Lord Sōsuke was designated as the Fourth Hokage?
But if that's the case, how could he possibly choose to leave the village!?
The field's noisy discussions made Hiruzen's gaze grow heavier, his heart filled with a hint of sorrow.
Onoki and the Iwagakure ninja in front of Sōsuke were also taken aback!
The 'Child of Konoha' was set to be the next Hokage!? But why then, would he choose to become a rogue ninja?
Addressing the shouting Konoha ninja, Sōsuke glanced at him, wearing a detached smile, and replied.
"As I've said before, although it might disappoint you, I indeed have become a rogue ninja of Konoha."
Hearing Sōsuke's confirmation, the ninja felt an overwhelming sense of despair, collapsing to the ground in defeat.
The idol he had pursued since becoming a ninja had left the village, delivering a severe blow to him.
Watching him, Sōsuke's gaze briefly flashed with complexity, quickly overshadowed by indifference.
In front of him, Onoki spoke gravely.
"I never expected someone to give up the position of Hokage to become a rogue ninja."
Sōsuke's eyes sparkled with amusement, chuckling lightly.
"To limit one's ambition to a single village may result in a life as mundane as yours, unremarkable and tasteless."
"For me, there are more glorious endeavors to pursue, which you will likely see in the future."
With that, Sōsuke stood taller, his gaze profound, softly saying.
"When that era arrives, I hope you'll remember this moment, for here lies the starting point of that era."
Hearing his words, Onoki appeared stunned, then frowned deeply, replying sternly.
"Utterly overestimating yourself. Do you think you can outperform the predecessors of the shinobi world!? To dare view the position of Hokage as mediocre!"
Unfazed by Onoki's rebuke, Sōsuke merely laughed.
"Oh, the so-called predecessors of the shinobi world... in my eyes, they are merely the beginning of a new era."
"Enough talk, it's pointless. Lord Tsuchikage, you must have recovered a bit by now. But, if you don't choose to trade, I doubt the Third will let you leave easily."
Hearing Sōsuke's words, Onoki's expression fluctuated, eventually saying in a deep voice.
"Why do you want the Dust Release scroll? You should know, even if I give it to you, it requires the fusion of three chakra natures, a Kekkei Tōta!"
Sōsuke simply chuckled in response.
"You just need to choose to trade... or not."
Hearing Sōsuke's words, Onoki glanced around at the Konoha ninja and scoffed.
"Then it's settled. The scroll is with me. After successfully leaving Konoha, I will naturally give it to you."
Hearing his words, Sōsuke's lips curved into a smile, nodding lightly.
"Then... I wish us a fruitful collaboration."