Chapter 34: Minato's Choice
Boom!
A furious storm of black lightning erupted, tearing through the heavens and scattering sparks in every direction.
Ōnoki barely dodged, his hand pressing against his back as beads of sweat rolled down his face.
Damn it—his chronic back pain flared at the worst possible moment.
But…
A technique capable of withstanding Dust Release—what was that?!
Ōnoki had used Dust Release to counter Bijū Dama numerous times before. This was not something mere tailed beast chakra could achieve.
To face Dust Release head-on, only Dust Release itself or space-time ninjutsu could suffice.
Ōnoki had indeed felt spatial distortions emanating from the technique.
---
"Brat… your abilities…"
"…just make me even more determined to kill you right now."
Ōnoki began gathering chakra to unleash another Dust Release barrier.
Meanwhile, Kagami suppressed the raging influence of the tailed beast chakra and rasped out in a hoarse voice:
"Ōnoki, four tails are my limit."
"If you try to make a move again, I'll unleash the full power of the Nine-Tails."
"This place… it's closer to the Land of Earth, isn't it?"
"Before I lose consciousness, I can guarantee that the Nine-Tails will head straight for your homeland."
"Do you want to see what the Nine-Tails' power can do?"
---
Under the crimson glow of the tailed beast chakra cloak, Kagami's right hand was bloodied and mangled.
The only two people who knew the truth were the unconscious Roshi and Minato Namikaze.
If they thought he was the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, so much the better.
Ōnoki fell silent, his mind racing as he weighed the risks and benefits.
---
"You're thinking too long!"
Kagami roared, allowing more tailed beast chakra to pour out, as if a fifth tail was about to form.
"Wait!!"
Ōnoki quickly dispersed his Dust Release, his voice urgent.
"In the name of the Tsuchikage, I promise Iwagakure will not invade the Land of Fire for the next six months! Return Roshi to us!"
---
The violent chakra gradually subsided, still maintaining the four-tailed state.
"I'll return Roshi in one week."
"No way! What if you extract the Four-Tails in the meantime? Don't play games with me!"
"Leave now, and I'll guarantee his life."
Ōnoki gritted his teeth. "As the Tsuchikage, I've made this promise before my Iwagakure shinobi. I won't break it!"
The tailed beast chakra wrapped around Roshi, lifting him.
"We'll retreat to the border and send him back. That's my bottom line. Take it or fight."
Kagami let the chakra flare up once more, exuding an even more menacing aura.
---
"…Fine."
Ōnoki took a deep breath, his gaze dark and unreadable as he stared at Kagami.
"Brat, tell me your name."
"Uchiha Kagami."
"…I see."
"Uchiha Kagami… I hope we meet again. This round, you win."
Ōnoki slowly descended into Iwagakure's formation, casting one last meaningful look at the Konoha shinobi before ordering his men to retreat.
---
Some distance away, a young man with a large nose similar to Ōnoki's sidled up to him.
"Father, even if he is the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, can't you still handle him?"
The shinobi world lacked a direct understanding of the Nine-Tails' power. They knew it was strong, but two Kage-level opponents should be enough to handle it, right?
Ōnoki, who had previously defeated the combined forces of the Four and Five-Tails, cast a sharp sideways glance.
"Do you want to be Tsuchikage already? Think I've lived too long, huh?"
"N-No, not at all!" The young man frantically waved his hands.
After a moment of silence, Ōnoki said gravely:
"I'm not sure if I can handle the Nine-Tails. And there's no need to risk it."
"Once you're back, spread Uchiha Kagami's name far and wide. Tell everyone how Roshi was defeated."
"Huh? But—"
Ōnoki's eyes narrowed as a faint, cryptic smile crept onto his lips.
"Do you know who he reminded me of?"
The young man hesitated, knowing well the figure who haunted his father's memories.
"…Uchiha Madara?"
"Exactly."
"He's far from the Madara I faced back then, but he's young…"
"Brats like him…"
"The ones most terrified of another Uchiha Madara aren't us."
"It's Konoha."
---
Ōnoki's patience stemmed from his desire to see whether the tensions within Konoha would erupt.
Suddenly, a black hawk appeared on the horizon, flying toward the Iwagakure forces.
A high-priority message?
Ōnoki opened the scroll, his face instantly flushed with anger.
"Damn it! That fool!"
"Raikage A has invaded the Land of Earth! The vanguard is nearing Iwagakure! Return immediately!"
Impossible!
Ōnoki had only been gone for two days—how could A have timed this perfectly?
---
Danzo.
It had to be that bastard leaking intel to Kumogakure.
"Huangtu! Stay here and wait for Roshi. Everyone else, return to the village at full speed!"
Muttering curses under his breath, Ōnoki took off, furious at the sudden invasion.
---
At the Fire Nation border, a female medical-nin carefully wrapped Kagami's wounds.
His entire body was a mess, his skin corroded by tailed beast chakra, leaving him looking ghastly.
"The burns and abrasions are manageable, but the damage to your bones will take time to heal."
As she finished bandaging him, she gave some instructions and left the tent.
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"How are you feeling?" Minato entered, concern etched across his face.
Wrapped like a mummy, Kagami's muffled voice replied:
"Still alive. What happened to Roshi?"
"We handed him back to the Iwagakure forces," Minato sighed. "Without the Sand Village situation, we could've killed the Four-Tails."
"That would've delayed Iwagakure by at least a decade from creating a new Jinchūriki."
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"Who gave that order?" Kagami asked flatly.
"Danzo-sama."
After a brief silence, Minato's expression grew serious.
"You've noticed, haven't you?"
Kagami chuckled lightly. "He's targeting me. Once you're gone, he'll likely make his move."
"This was his doing—leaking intel that brought Ōnoki here."
"I've heard from Jiraiya-sensei about becoming one with the village, truly a part of Konoha."
"But, Minato-senpai… some people in Konoha don't want the Uchiha to exist."
"I won't sit idly by."
"If I get the chance, I'll kill Shimura Danzo."
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"...He's Hiruzen-sama's closest ally…"
Minato wasn't concerned about Danzo's position in the village hierarchy but rather the tangled web of relationships surrounding him.
Technically, they should even refer to him as "Master Danzo."
Kagami remained silent, waiting for Minato's decision.
If Minato chose Hiruzen's side, Kagami would show no mercy in the future.
The lanterns in the tent flickered without a sound.
Finally, Minato exhaled and smiled warmly.
"Until you're fully recovered, I won't go anywhere."
"I'll protect you, Kagami!"
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