I founded the "Bragging Cult" in Naruto.

Chapter 713 Those who seek the top will get it. Those who seek it will get the bottom.

The moment Onoki saw that the person who came was Sakamoto Tatsuma, his face turned as black as the bottom of a pot, filled with both anger and fear.

Enraged that the entire village was unable to track down Sakamoto Tatsuma, all their meticulous plans turned into a joke the moment Tatsuma appeared at the Tsuchikage Building.

Unlike the Konoha delegation's "surprise attack" on the Land of Water, this time Konoha gave a two-week advance notice, explaining that the Fourth Hokage would be visiting Iwagakure.

In the past two weeks, Iwagakure Village has not been idle; in fact, it has done a lot.

This included recalling Iwa ninja of Chunin rank and above, strengthening the village's reconnaissance and defense forces, and digging deep into the ground to guard against Konoha's Flying Thunder God Technique.

After all, the Iwa ninja had suffered a lot from the Flying Thunder God Technique. The incident where Minato Namikaze led thousands of ninja troops to parachute into the Iwa ninja camp, disregarding martial ethics, was still fresh in their minds.

Onoki also anticipated the possibility that Konoha might repeat the same trick, so he ordered all ninjas to conduct a thorough search inside and outside Iwagakure, intending to erase the Flying Thunder God Technique.

Before the Third Shinobi World War began, Onoki was unaware of this method. However, during the war, he dealt with Minato Namikaze too many times, suffering losses along the way, and gradually came to understand the Flying Thunder God Technique.

Therefore, Onoki also discovered that the Flying Thunder God Technique inscribed on a living person is almost impossible to erase unless that person is also completely erased.

However, if it is engraved on an inanimate object, such as the monstrous trident kunai often used by Minato Namikaze and Tatsuma Sakamoto, the Flying Thunder God technique inscribed on it can be destroyed by destroying the object itself.

This method had proven effective during the war, so after returning to the village, Onoki repeatedly cleared away any Flying Thunder God Technique seals that might have remained in Iwagakure.

But this time the force was unprecedentedly strong, and even some suspected artifacts were directly destroyed. Therefore, Onoki was certain that before Tatsuma suddenly appeared, Konoha had no possibility of another "airdrop".

But Tatsuma's appearance undoubtedly crushed Onoki's confidence, and his meticulous preparations became a laughing stock.

As for fear, needless to say, if Sakamoto Tatsuma could appear silently in the Tsuchikage Building, then could we say that if Sakamoto Tatsuma had any ideas, he could launch an attack on him, the Tsuchikage, at any time?

Not to mention Tatsuma, even Minato Namikaze and Onoki had beads of sweat seeping from their strawberry noses.

"Fourth Hokage! Your sudden appearance at the Tsuchikage Building—are you planning to reignite the war?!"

Huang Tu strode forward, blocking the path between Tatsuma and Onoki, glaring angrily at Tatsuma. Tatsuma asked in confusion:

"Didn't I inform Iwagakure half a month ago that I was visiting the Tsuchikage Building today for a meeting with the Third Tsuchikage?"

Huang Tu was taken aback, but still nodded and said, "But... how could you come directly to the Earth Shadow Building?! Shouldn't you have entered from outside the village, following diplomatic procedures?"

"Your Hidden Stone Village"

Tatsuma frowned, looked at the yellow earth, and said, "Is the fax machine broken? I remember that the faxes we sent from Konoha clearly stated that we should visit the Tsuchikage Building. Isn't this the Tsuchikage Building?"

As for diplomatic procedures, there were no agreements whatsoever regarding the minor detail of entering the village from outside and directly visiting the ninja village.

After saying that, Tatsuma shrugged, looking at Konoha with a "If you insist on thinking that way, there's nothing I can do" expression. For a moment, Kyoto didn't know how to respond.

"Cough cough~"

Onoki, standing behind Huangtu, coughed twice, signaling his son to move aside. Although it felt great to be protected by his son, it was something every father would want to see.

But since Huang Tu couldn't handle the matter yet, it still had to be left to his father to solve. Hearing his father's voice, Huang Tu wisely stepped aside.

Ōnoki had calmed down by now. Looking at Tatsuma, he said, "Hokage, our Iwagakure village's intention is that you should not have appeared in such a heavily guarded place as the Tsuchikage Building without our permission."

"Back then, Iwagakure launched a war against the Land of Fire without the consent of Konoha. I thought your Iwagakure preferred this kind of straightforward approach."

As Tatsuma spoke, he strode toward Onoki. The Iwagakure high-ranking officials who were meeting in the Tsuchikage's office were all watching Tatsuma warily, ready to make a move at any moment.

But faced with the killing intent and surging chakra emanating from these people, Tatsuma didn't even bother to glance at them, and went straight to Onoki's desk and sat down.

Beneath him, where there had been nothing, vines suddenly sprouted and instantly intertwined to form a comfortable rattan chair. Tatsuma sat on it and said, "Or does Lord Tsuchikage believe that my actions are more heinous than those of your Iwagakure?"

The two things are completely mismatched. Even if we take it to an extreme, Tatsuma's "trespassing" into the Tsuchikage building was nothing more than an attempt to steal Iwagakure's secrets or to assassinate Iwagakure's high-ranking officials.

It was merely an intention, and besides, Chenma's behavior after his appearance couldn't be used to forcibly convict him.

However, the war that Iwagakure launched against the Land of Fire was a real event that Iwagakure could not deny. The crimes and impacts of the two events cannot be discussed together.

Onoki's face darkened. He knew what Tatsuma meant. If he insisted on punishing Tatsuma, he would have to admit that Tatsuma's actions were worse than the war, which was impossible.

If Onoki dares to say something like that, the ninja community might not react much, but the civilians...

What if Onoki said that Tatsuma's actions were no worse than starting a war? That wouldn't work either, because that would fall into Tatsuma's trap, since Tatsuma defined Iwagakure's actions as "sin" from the very beginning.

If Onoki admits it, then Iwagakure will be at fault, and all the suffering they endured on the battlefield will become their own fault.

"Lord Hokage, let's keep one thing separate from the other."

Since he couldn't answer, Onoki simply pushed the question away. Tatsuma hadn't intended to put Onoki at a disadvantage with such a simple remark, but he still added:

"I think the two incidents are similar in nature, only differing in degree of impact. This time, it truly belongs to Konoha."

"What you say, Hokage? What I mean is that I am old and cannot handle such surprises. I do not think that you, Hokage or Konoha, have done anything wrong."

Onoki interrupted Tatsuma, simply denying that Tatsuma's sudden visit was a mistake. In doing so, although he felt a little disgusted with himself, he also prevented Tatsuma from continuing to make trouble over the matter.

Seeing that Tatsuma accepted his explanation, Onoki seized the opportunity to change the subject and asked, "I wonder what the Hokage wishes to discuss? In previous diplomatic communications, Konoha did not provide a clear topic."

"It's nothing major, I just wanted to ask when Iwagakure is ready to engage in the next round of war with Konoha?"

Tatsuma rested his elbows on the armrests of the seat, his fingers interlaced in front of his abdomen, looking at Onoki with a very relaxed posture.

However, Onoki and the other Iwa ninjas were not so relaxed after hearing Tatsuma's words. Many of them were instinctively afraid when they heard that Konoha was preparing to continue the war with the Iwa ninjas.

Even Onoki awkwardly rubbed his strawberry nose, looking at Tatsuma with a series of subtle changes in his expression before finally smiling and saying:

"Your Hokage is joking. The ninja world has finally achieved a period of peace. At present, whether it is Konoha or our Iwagakure, the focus should be on reconciling the conflicts between the Cloud Ninja, the Mist Ninja, and the Sand Ninja."

Let's end the war as soon as possible and create a peaceful era so that people of all countries no longer have to live in fear, right?

"I don't have much of a sense of humor, and I don't usually joke around."

Tatsuma leaned forward slightly, his upper body lifting off the back of his seat, and stared at Onoki, saying, "I won't hold it against Iwagakure for starting the war first, but shouldn't it be Konoha's turn to decide when it ends?"

Onoki swallowed hard, unable to tell whether Tatsuma truly wanted to continue the war or was merely intimidating Iwagakure.

After all, the current state of Konoha is too illogical.

Last time, he invited Tatsuma to mediate the war, but Tatsuma sent three thousand ninjas without saying a word and they spent several months carving out the Land of Water.

Although Onoki felt that this was Konoha sending a signal to Kumogakure so that the Kumogakure would seek revenge, it cannot be denied that Konoha was indeed in no hurry to end the war.

Even from their investigation of Konoha's public opinion in Iwagakure, many Konoha villagers and ninjas support continuing the war, especially the war against Iwagakure ninjas.

Because the war between Iwagakure and Konoha was the most intense and drew the most hatred, and there was no decisive victory, the last round of the war ended with both sides tacitly agreeing to stop.

However, Konoha didn't behave this way on other battlefields. The Cloud Ninja were so badly defeated that they signed a non-aggression pact, and none of the Mist Ninja who invaded the Land of Fire were able to escape, as were the Sand Ninja.

The Sand Village ninja were just there to make up the numbers. They fought for several years, and the Sand Village ninja didn't even cross the border of the Land of Fire. They actually attracted the least hatred.

The only one Konoha truly wants to conquer is the Iwagakure ninja, and to achieve a decisive victory against them.

Therefore, if Tatsuma were to decide to fight Iwagakure again, he would face no pressure whatsoever in terms of public opinion. Furthermore, Tatsuma's past actions made Onoki believe that he genuinely wanted to continue the fight.

"Lord Hokage."

After taking a few deep breaths, Onoki finally said, "Iwagakure has no intention of starting another war. Years of war have left Iwagakure severely depleted, and its people are suffering. Iwagakure will not take on this battle."

Therefore, I urge Your Hokage to propose another solution to end the misunderstandings and conflicts between our two villages and nations.

Without even hearing the words, Tatsuma knew from Onoki's tone that his goal was secured.

He wasn't some war fanatic. War is an act of exchanging one's own losses for resources; it's always a losing proposition, and whether one can make a profit is hard to say.

Therefore, if there were a way to gain without incurring losses, Tatsuma would not choose war.

However, Tatsuma couldn't say it directly. Just like the best way to open a window is to suggest tearing down the roof, he needed Onoki to take the initiative to suggest a way to settle the past without using war.

Those who aim high will achieve something in the middle; those who aim for the middle will achieve nothing. If Onoki could not accept war and could not directly pay reparations, then he could accept it if he first proposed war and then conceded to pay reparations.

Tatsuma smiled and said, "I presume the Tsuchikage is also aware that Konoha Village is about to undergo expansion?"

Onoki nodded, and Tatsuma continued, "The expansion of Konoha is a huge project. If it goes smoothly, it will definitely divert the attention of the Konoha ninjas and villagers, but... there will be considerable resistance."

Upon hearing this, Onoki's lips trembled. He understood. He had failed in his gamble once again. Tatsuma had not come for the war, but for the expansion of Konoha.

Konoha's expansion is stalled. Why? Because of lack of funds.

With a long sigh, Onoki said, "His Hokage has inherited the will of the previous Hokage and is seeking new developments for the ninja village system. Our Iwagakure will certainly give him our enthusiastic support."

"Enthusiastic support?"

"Full support."

"Fully support!"

(End of this chapter)