Uchiha's personal opinion

But all of this seems meaningless in the face of changing times.

Just as he could no longer understand the specific uses of the Shogunate's war tools, he, and the ninja village he created, had actually fallen far behind the ninja world.

But Onoki was still unwilling to give up.

Since the end of the Second Shinobi World War, Onoki has devoted himself to strengthening Iwagakure, even going so far as to defy public opinion and reconcile with his mortal enemy, Kumogakure, to achieve a situation where they can fight the Shogunate from behind. However, when faced with the Shogunate's all-out effort, even if the event is sudden, the power that the Shogunate unleashes is beyond what he and Iwagakure can withstand.

You should know that for the sake of Iwagakure, he went so far as to incite the Tachibana clan daimyo of the Land of Earth to exhaust the nation's resources and completely drain all its future potential before creating this ninja army!

If the Iwagakure army were to officially engage in war, what could they do besides using old-fashioned ninja tools such as kunai, shuriken, and explosive tags to fight against the heavily armed Shogunate ninja army?

Onoki was completely lost.

Suddenly, he heard footsteps in the distance behind him.

Onoki immediately stood up, straightened his clothes, and resumed his usual solemn demeanor.

"...Father, Lord Tsuchikage."

Huang Tu, who had returned, said cautiously, "The ninja army has caught enough fish. Would you like to start now..."

"understood……"

Onoki nodded calmly, "Also, have the Kita-Taki ninjas who have nothing to do catch some more fish so everyone can have a good meal."

"Yes, sir..."

Huang Tu bowed again, and before leaving, added, "So... shall we cook it now?"

"roll!"

Onoki got angry again, but then immediately regretted it: "I'll go back and eat fish later, don't rush me!"

"OK……"

The loess shrank its neck and disappeared in a flash, as if fleeing a disaster.

"Ugh……"

Ohnoki could no longer maintain his serious demeanor. He leaned against the tree trunk, sighing deeply and filled with worry.

Where exactly does Iwagakure find its way out...?

This is a question that Ohnoki has been pondering for a long time.

After a long while, just as Onoki was still puzzled and preparing to return to camp to eat fish, a cheer suddenly came from the Iwagakure camp.

Onoki immediately leaped to the treetop and looked towards his own camp.

A figure appeared on the horizon, and judging from the direction, it seemed to be the army of their ally, the Hidden Cloud Village, arriving!

Ohnoki breathed a sigh of relief.

Although this incident happened suddenly and there was no time to inform the Cloud Village in advance, judging from the Cloud Village's current performance, this ally is still somewhat reliable.

I wonder what's going on with the Shogunate...

Onoki wasn't in a hurry to go back and eat fish, so he turned around and looked towards the direction of the shogunate camp again.

Although the cheers from the Iwagakure camp resounded through the sky, the shogunate camp seemed unmoved, with each department continuing to perform its duties in an orderly manner, constructing fortifications and setting up ninja tools.

Onoki couldn't help but feel somewhat disappointed.

It's unclear whether the Shogunate ninjas were too slow to react or too confident...

However, judging rationally, Ōnoki believed it was due to the overconfidence of the shogunate's ninja army.

This assessment left him somewhat disappointed.

"Never mind, let's go eat the fish!"

Onoki shook his head and instantly turned back towards the camp.

……

"Lord Tsuchikage, we've caught a big fish!"

As soon as they landed at the camp, Akatsuchi walked up to them with a beaming smile and said, "And it's the most precious and delicious fish from the frozen pool of Takigawa Country. The Takigawa ninja, who are experts in sashimi, have already prepared it!"

"Is that so~"

Onoki temporarily cast aside his inner gloom and showed an enthusiastic expression: "Then I'll have to have a good taste!"

"We've also prepared the sweetest chilled spring sake!"

Akatsuchi's bowing and scraping demeanor was completely different from his usual composed appearance; he looked more like a eunuch serving a high-ranking official.

Back in the central command tent, Onoki pretended to be in high spirits, picked up a few slices of sashimi, and drank a few cups of sake, his face immediately flushing red.

Although he was so preoccupied with his own thoughts that he couldn't really taste the fish and wine, it didn't stop him from putting on a confident and assured demeanor.

After all, not only him, but all the Iwagakure ninjas actually harbored a sense of hesitation and unease.

Is it really going to war with the shogunate so suddenly?

Is our own ninja village truly ready?

Can we win?

What if we are defeated?

Every Iwagakure ninja has this question in their heart, but they don't say it out loud due to military discipline and regulations.

But Onoki, who knew perfectly well what was going on, didn't miss any opportunity to rally the Iwagakure ninja.

At the fish feast, Onoki chatted and laughed, which made the Iwagakure Jonin relax a bit. Even the Kumogakure Jonin who had come from afar could feel the Tsuchikage's full confidence and passion.

Everything seemed to be going smoothly, as if the distant Shogunate ninja army did not exist.

But the good times didn't last long, as a faint sound suddenly came from outside the camp.

It sounded like it was coming from afar.

Onoki's heart skipped a beat, and his expression changed slightly.

Immediately, exclamations of surprise rang out from the Iwagakure camp.

Now Onoki really couldn't sit still anymore.

After nodding to the group of Jonin, he took the lead and walked out of the central command tent, leaping up to the highest point of the camp and looking towards the direction of the Shogunate camp.

The shogunate ninjas at the forefront of the battle were no longer calm and serious as before, but instead danced and gesticulated wildly.

Then, a giant flagpole that soared into the clouds was erected!

A black flag with a fan pattern!

It's Uchiha Tokumitsu!

Onoki was somewhat dazed.

In addition, countless shogunate ninja troops filed into the camp, while numerous shogunate ninja began to set up camps on both sides.

Then more tents and more war tools began to be deployed, and they formed a crescent moon formation to partially surround the Iwagakure camp!

"—Meow!"

With a roar that shook the heavens and the earth, a huge figure radiating blue flames appeared—it was the Two-Tails!

"--roar!"

Another burst of fury erupted, and a gigantic gray spiky tortoise rose from the ground, raising its head and letting out a long roar—it was Three-Tailed Tortoise!

Besides Uchiha Tokumitsu, two tailed beasts also arrived!

Onoki was startled!

This time, fearing that the Sharingan of the Uchiha ninjas would be a counter, he did not bring out the Jinchuriki of Iwagakure!

After a quick estimate, Onoki suddenly realized that the Shogunate's ninja army in front of him numbered over ten thousand!

"The younger generation may not be very capable, but they certainly have the presence to back it up!"

On the surface, Onoki appeared calm and composed, chatting and laughing.

Chapter 459 The Spark

This was also the first time in Ohnoki's life that he felt he couldn't taste food.

Although Onoki appeared calm and composed after "admiring" the majestic appearance of the tailed beast of the shogunate, he invited everyone to return to the central command tent to continue their feasting and merrymaking.

However, although the Jonin from Iwagakure and Kumogakure put on a brave face, their minds were clearly no longer on the rather lavish fish feast.

Seeing this, Onoki stopped insisting and simply offered a few words of comfort before letting everyone disperse.

However, after everyone left, Onoki could no longer suppress the melancholy in his heart.

He initially wanted to smash some plates to vent his anger, but then he worried that if word got out, his ninja subordinates would be even more terrified. So he could only quietly put the items back on the table, turn around and go back to his tent to sleep.

As for whether the shogunate would launch a night attack... Onoki wasn't worried about that, and given the current state of mind of Iwagakure and Kumogakure, which were like birds startled by the mere twang of a bow, the shogunate's ninja army would not succeed in a night attack.

Around midnight, Onoki was suddenly awakened by the noise from the camp.

"Lord Tsuchikage..."

Just as Onoki was preparing to take to the air, Akatsuchi's voice came from outside the tent: "Lord Raikage has arrived!"

"Is that so..."

Ohnoki also breathed a sigh of relief.

Although the Third Raikage's reputation was damaged by his defeat and serious injury at the hands of the Third Mizukage, overall, for the Allied Shinobi Forces, which are now experiencing a growing sense of fear, having an additional Kage-level powerhouse is enough to calm their morale.

Moreover, Onoki believed that as long as one was willing to go all out, the Uchiha were not invincible!

……

At this moment, Uchiha Tokumitsu was also feasting and making merry with a group of Jonin. The Two-Tails, Matatabi, shrank to the size of a tiger and squatted beside him, happily eating roasted lamb one bite at a time. The Jonin were all genuinely excited, as if the two great ninja villages opposite them were just waiting to be harvested as battle achievements.

"Lord Tokumitsu!"

A Byakugan ninja ran in and reported, "More ninja reinforcements have arrived on the other side. According to observation, they should be the Third Raikage of Kumogakure!"

"Just a defeated opponent of the Third Mizukage..."

Uchiha Tokumitsu scoffed.