Chapter 63: The Hokage
The wind howled.
At the colossal Kannabi Bridge, the strongest forces in the ninja world faced each other.
"Heh, Sarutobi Hiruzen, it's been a while," Ōnoki said with a sly grin, hovering in the air alongside the elite of Iwagakure—Kitsuchi, Roshi, and others.
Behind them, a vast forest stirred under clouds of dust, and the air was thick with tension.
Sarutobi narrowed his eyes, sensing something off about the Ōnoki before him.
For someone of his caliber, disguise techniques should have been impossible to use unnoticed. Yet, this unease gnawed at him.
Ōnoki's gaze lingered on Kushina Uzumaki among the Konoha ranks. His expression hardened.
"You Uzumaki girl have been quite the thorn in our side," Ōnoki sneered. "Seems like the Uzumaki clan wasn't dealt with thoroughly enough."
When he had exchanged intelligence with the Third Raikage and learned that Konoha's Nine-Tails Jinchūriki was a red-haired woman, he was furious—furious enough to almost throw his back out.
It had been an obsession ever since.
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"You damn old man! What did you say?!"
Kushina's fiery red hair flared as she erupted in anger, her chakra surging wildly. The oppressive aura almost toppled those around her.
On her pale face, faint markings resembling fox whiskers began to appear.
"Calm down, Kushina!" Minato rushed to her side, his hands gently trying to soothe her.
Though she wouldn't lose control completely, Kushina's volatile emotions gave the Nine-Tails a foothold.
"He's just trying to provoke you! Don't fall for it!"
Kushina took heavy breaths, her fists clenched tightly, her gaze locked on Ōnoki with an icy ferocity.
"You old bastard… I swear I'll kill you!"
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"Enough, Ōnoki," Sarutobi interjected, his voice low and commanding. "As a Kage, you should carry yourself with some dignity."
"It seems there's no room for negotiation here. Fine, I won't bother trying to make you surrender."
Sarutobi gripped the extended form of Enma, now a black iron staff in his hands, and readied his stance.
"This time, you'll lose again!"
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Ōnoki chuckled, his mustache curling upward in amusement. Sarutobi's sense of foreboding deepened.
"Hiruzen, you disappoint me. Allowing that Uchiha brat to grow unchecked—what a mistake."
"I never intended to do you such a favor, helping you deal with the Uchiha."
"Be grateful," Ōnoki sneered, his voice dripping with venom, "just as you were grateful when we helped dismantle Uzushiogakure, letting you capture the last remnants of the Uzumaki clan."
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Thud!
A sudden, thunderous heartbeat echoed across the battlefield.
Sarutobi's attention snapped to Kushina as he shouted urgently, "Kushina! The destruction of Uzushiogakure… it wasn't Konoha's doing. Even Lady Mito understood our hands were tied—we were engulfed in war ourselves!"
Thud!
Kushina clutched her head tightly as tendrils of red chakra began to seep out.
"I know… I know… Granny Mito told me…"
"Minato! Take Kushina and leave! She cannot remain here!"
Sarutobi's voice carried a tone of authority and desperation. A rampaging Nine-Tails would not differentiate between ally and enemy—it would be Konoha's undoing.
Sarutobi cursed inwardly. He had always dreaded this exact scenario. This was why he opposed deploying the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki on the battlefield.
Ōnoki glanced at Sarutobi mockingly as his form began to dissolve.
Pop. Pop. Pop.
The elite Iwagakure shinobi beside him vanished, leaving only dissipating clouds of smoke.
Shadow clones.
Sarutobi's heart sank further.
Diversion?
How was that possible? Their scouts had confirmed the presence of over ten thousand Iwagakure shinobi!
Ōnoki folded his arms, his expression cold. "Why don't you guess? Some are heading for the Kumogakure front, and others are infiltrating Konoha."
"The 15,000 shinobi I left here? They're fully prepared to die if it means victory."
"Maybe send that little teleporting brat of yours after me. We're not too far, after all."
Ōnoki grinned slyly before vanishing in a puff of smoke.
---
"Shut up!!"
Sarutobi bellowed as his staff extended, smashing through the lingering remnants of Ōnoki's clone.
---
Boom!
A column of black-red chakra erupted into the sky.
"Kushina!"
Minato shouted her name as he placed a sealing hand on her abdomen, pouring his chakra into the seal.
Three tails…
"I know… I know…" Kushina's voice was hoarse and strained.
"I know it's not Konoha's fault… but…"
"Why… Why was I the only one who survived?"
'Isn't it obvious?'
'Because you were the perfect cage for me!'
'Do you really think Sarutobi Hiruzen is some saint? If they could save you, they could've saved others. They didn't because they needed you as my vessel!'
'Let me out, Kushina. I'll help you wipe out everyone who destroyed Uzushiogakure!'
'But first, I'll kill that brat who's Madara's reincarnation!'
The Nine-Tails reveled in the chaos, sensing the cracks in Kushina's resolve.
She had grown accustomed to life in Konoha, mastering her seal with age and maturity. But that control was fragile—it relied on her emotional stability.
The Nine-Tails pounced on her turmoil, its voice a sinister whisper in her mind.
The seal holding it back was formidable, but even the best locks faltered under emotional strain.
---
The sound of charging Iwagakure shinobi, their numbers stretching into the horizon, jolted the Konoha forces back to the immediate threat.
All eyes turned to Sarutobi, awaiting his command.
Sarutobi's face darkened.
He needed to stabilize Kushina, but there was no time. The Iwagakure forces were already advancing.
And Ōnoki's true whereabouts were equally critical…
Jiraiya… the village…
If Ōnoki's forces reached Konoha, Koharu and Danzo might hold them off for a while, but if they were targeting the Kumogakure front…
Ōnoki and the Third Raikage could not have allied… could they?
---
Taking a deep breath, Sarutobi made his decision.
"Kushina! Calm yourself! You, Minato, and Orochimaru are to reinforce the Northern Front!"
Sarutobi's voice boomed with authority.
"Jiraiya, Kagami, and countless others are counting on you!"
"This is the village Lady Mito dedicated her life to protect. No matter your feelings, her love for you was genuine!"
"Anbu, leave three commanders here and send the rest back to the village!"
Sarutobi gripped Enma tightly and turned to face the advancing enemy.
"If I fall here, Orochimaru is to be named the Fourth Hokage."
"Now—execute the orders!"
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End of Chapter.
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