Saving the Uchiha clan starts with becoming the clan leader.

Therefore,

When the dust settles, the loess soil will still protect its companions in every village.

"It's just better to be prepared!"

Onoki sighed.

He didn't think Old Purple would really do anything outrageous, but as the Tsuchikage, he had to make thorough preparations as much as possible, regardless of his own thoughts, and he couldn't wait until something actually happened to regret not having made preparations beforehand.

"This matter... is settled then. Does anyone have any objections? If so, speak up now, before I meet with the envoy from Konoha."

Onoki looked around at everyone, his gaze focusing on Bunya and the others.

"Lord Tsuchikage, even if we join forces with the Cloud Ninja, we are still no match for Konoha?" Wenya asked cautiously.

"That's not necessarily the case. If we truly join forces with the Cloud Ninja, even Konoha would have no choice but to back down. However, as I said before, it's impossible for us to cooperate wholeheartedly with the Cloud Ninja. I don't trust those mountain barbarians who cause trouble everywhere. Given the chance, I don't think they would mind stabbing us in the back for revenge."

The Third Raikage died in an attack by Iwa ninja.

This matter is a deadlock between the Cloud Ninja and the Iwa Ninja. They can coordinate from afar and cooperate nominally to attack Konoha from both sides, but they can never truly fight side by side!

Hatred is a thing...

It's very difficult to resolve!

Wenya and the others fell silent.

Just as Onoki was about to speak, a loud "BOOM!!!" suddenly came from outside!

[Chapter 201. The Four-Tails Jinchuriki Defects!]

What happened?

This question arose in the minds of everyone in the tent at the same time. The deafening roar still lingered in their ears, and if they felt it carefully, they could even feel the ground trembling slightly beneath their feet. The two sensory ninjas in the group almost simultaneously changed their expressions.

"Lord Tsuchikage, it's Rōshi Kazuhan!"

A simple sentence was enough for everyone to understand what was happening outside: the two Jinchūriki seemed to be fighting!

only--

Why?

Countless questions raced through their minds, and a thousand words piled up in their throats, yet for a moment they didn't know what to say.

Onoki's face was ashen, and he didn't say a word. He simply formed a hand seal and used his unique ninjutsu called "Earth Release: Light and Heavy Rock Technique". He flew up and rushed out like lightning. Huangtu, Wenya and others hurriedly followed.

When they arrived outside the tent,

Just then, a bright flame rose into the sky. Judging from the location, it was undoubtedly the place where the Konoha envoys were arranged. As the distance closed, even those who were not sensory ninjas could gradually and clearly sense the two terrifying chakra auras.

I wouldn't say I'm very familiar with it, but it's definitely not unfamiliar either.

after all,

That was the chakra aura of the Four-Tails and Five-Tails belonging to their Iwagakure ninja.

"What... what's going on?" Wen Ya stopped running and looked at Lao Zi and Han who were fighting fiercely. Both of them had entered a half-tailed beast form, wearing scarlet tailed beast clothes, with tails behind them swaying wildly, like two red lightning bolts running around the field. Every collision would distort the surrounding terrain.

Fortunately,

Both of them controlled their strength, preventing the aftershocks from spreading unchecked.

The Iwa ninjas around them weren't wooden people either. Seeing that things were not going well, they retreated under the organization of the Jonin. Some skilled and daring Jonin stepped forward to try to persuade the two to stop, but Rōshi ignored them and kept punching Han with his fists wrapped in scorching lava.

Faced with Lao Zi's attack,

The Han were not to be outdone.

The Five-Tails also possesses a bloodline limit called "Boiling Release," which is not much weaker than the "Lava Release" used by Roshi. Although he is younger than Roshi, he is not much younger. Having experienced the trials of the Third Shinobi World War, Han is no longer a novice Jinchuriki!

Watching this fierce internal struggle,

Wenya, Huangtu, and the others let out incredulous groans.

What's going on here?

Why would their two main Jinchūriki fight on their own turf?

"Old Zi, Han, you two bastards, stop right now!!!"

The flying Onoki roared loudly.

However... Han hesitated for a second, but Lao Zi on the other side did not hold back at all and punched him hard with both fists. If it weren't for the excellent protection of the Tailed Beast Cloth, Han's face would definitely be covered in sauce. Even with the protection of the Tailed Beast Cloth, Han still felt his face go numb and his nose bridge was broken, but not completely.

In other words, it's a bone fracture!

Having suffered a loss, Han had no choice but to continue fighting. He withstood two punches from Onoki, but he couldn't withstand three or five. Even with the protection of the Tailed Beast Cloth, standing like a wooden stake and taking a beating would eventually lead to his demise.

"Bastard! Bastard!"

Onoki's eyebrows were twitching.

That damned Old Purple ignored my words and showed no respect for the Tsuchikage's authority. What's even more infuriating is that there were not only Iwa ninja in the camp, but also envoys from Konoha and Kumo ninja! This is a disgrace to the country in front of outsiders!

Anger burned fiercely in my chest!

then,

A pure white, soft light shone from his hands.

"Lord Tsuchikage!?"

"No way? You're going to use that move here?"

"Old Zi, Han, do you two want to die? Stop it right now!"

Seeing Onoki's stance and that ball of pure white light, the surrounding Iwa ninja panicked. If the Tsuchikage really used that move in a fit of anger, even the two Jinchuriki probably wouldn't be able to withstand it. Even if they were lucky enough to survive, they would definitely not have a good ending!

after all,

That's the one and only [Bloodline Limit: Dust Release] in the ninja world!

Onoki's position as the Third Tsuchikage remained unshaken largely because he possessed the Dust Release, a kekkei genkai with destructive power sufficient to compete for the top spot among all ninjutsu, forbidden techniques, and kekkei genkai in the ninja world. Even the Third Raikage, who was known as having the "strongest shield," dared not directly confront the attack of Dust Release!

In the midst of the chaos, some of the Iwa ninja loudly urged the Tsuchikage to reconsider his actions, while others angrily cursed the two bastards, Rōshi and Han.

It must have been the threat of Dust Release that made it effective.

After another exchange, Lao Zi stopped his pursuit and distanced himself from Han. Han almost lost control of his strength, but seeing that Lao Zi seemed to have no intention of continuing the fight, he didn't insist on getting revenge. If Lao Zi hadn't been so persistent, he would have stopped long ago.

Onoki slowly descended, looking down at the mass of magma gathered at the bottom of the pit. The astonishing heat emanating from it evaporated the snowflakes falling from the sky. As for the snow around the pit, it had already been completely melted during the battle.

"Old Zi, what's wrong with you? What's going on? What conflict do you have with Han that makes you want to fight here?"

Onoki is not blind.

The actions of Lao Zi and Han before were enough to show that Lao Zi was most likely the one who started the trouble, while Han was probably forced to fight.

He stared at Old Purple, who was still in a half-tailed beast form, waiting for Old Purple to give him a reasonable reply so that he could calm things down. It was already embarrassing enough that things had gotten this bad; he couldn't let the envoys from Konoha and Kumogakure watch the show any longer. In any case, the principle of settling scores later was universally applicable.

We'll discuss the punishment later.

The most urgent task is to calm the situation!

"I have nothing to say. That idiot ruined my plans!" Old Purple responded coldly. He looked up at Onoki flying in the air, then looked down at the Jonin of Iwagakure gathered around him, and said coldly, "Lord Tsuchikage, I've had enough of your old and decaying Iwagakure. From now on, please forgive me for not being able to stay in this detestable village!"

He left behind these words,

With a twist of his body, Lao Zi's three crimson tails swayed behind him, and he shot off westward like a streak of crimson lightning.

"Old Zi? You bastard!"

Onoki's temple veins throbbed.

The pure white light that had disappeared before reappeared in his hands, but as he watched that bastard Old Purple pass through the layers of tents, using those junior ninjas as shields... the pure white light gradually dimmed again.

"Lord Tsuchikage, what is this?"

Huang Tu and Wen Ya swarmed over.

"That bastard Lao Zi has defected."

Suppressing the raging anger within him, Onoki calmly uttered this astonishing answer.

Huang Tu and Wen Ya were stunned.

Old Purple... Their Iwagakure's Four-Tails Jinchuriki has defected? Is this a joke? Or is he still half asleep and having a nightmare? He just pinched the thigh of the person next to him hard and heard his companion's short, sharp scream. He wasn't dreaming!

"Lord Tsuchikage, are you saying that Rōshi... has become a rogue ninja?"

"Did I not explain clearly, or are you all blind? Even if I didn't explain clearly, didn't you see that bastard Old Purple ran away? What is this if not defection? What are your eyes for, to vent your anger?" As if he had found an outlet, Onoki unleashed a torrent of abuse at the warrior who had spoken rashly. He was completely stunned by the outburst and trembled with fear at the sight of the enraged Tsuchikage, too afraid to move.

"So, should we go after them?"

"Chase?"

Onoki's lips twitched. "Who will go after him? Should I go myself? Or is there anyone among you who has the ability to capture Old Purple?"

Everyone was speechless.

Apart from the Tsuchikage, no one present dared to claim a sure victory against Rōshi. Han, the Five-Tails Jinchūriki, was no exception. In Iwagakure, where talent was showing signs of decline, Rōshi, the Four-Tails Jinchūriki, was already one of the top fighters. It was impossible to let the elderly Tsuchikage personally hunt down Rōshi. If something went wrong along the way, the sky would fall on Iwagakure!

then,

The topic of hunting down Lao Zi ended without a trace.

"Huang Tu, you take some men and clean up this mess."

Onoki ruthlessly handed this troublesome task to his son. The troublesome part of this job was not leveling the ground. For Iwa ninja, repairing the ground was no big deal, especially for a master of earth-style techniques like Yotsuchi. It was just like fixing a pimple for Mother Earth. It was not difficult!

The difficulty lies in how to appease the envoy from Konoha!

This huge crater was originally the place where the Konoha envoys were settled! Now, the Konoha ninjas, led by Suzaku Nara, all looked disheveled and covered in dust. Although they didn't seem to be injured, this matter couldn't go unresolved, especially now that they had decided to cooperate with Konoha!

Huang Tu frowned, scratching his head so hard he almost pulled out all his hair.

"Han, come here and tell me clearly what happened?" After sending his son to work, Onoki summoned Han and asked him what had happened. Although he could roughly guess what had happened, guesses were not reliable and he still needed to find out.

Han has already relinquished his half-tailed beast form.

He approached Onoki and began to explain the cause and course of events without any personal emotion.

······

In a fit of anger, Lao Zi left the main tent and did not return to his own tent to rest. The burning anger in his chest prevented him from calming down. Fueled by anger, an idea popped into his mind: since he could not persuade Onoki to change his decision, he might as well use the established facts to force the Tsuchikage to make a change.