Watching the four figures continuously fleeing from the encirclement of Iwagakure's forces, Ōnoki felt increasingly uneasy.
If it were merely three of the original Seven Ninja Swordsmen, that would be understandable. But with the addition of the Third Raikage—renowned for his overwhelming strength—why would they need to flee?
Thus, Ōnoki was certain that a conspiracy was afoot. The enemy clearly intended to lure them out, though their exact purpose remained unclear.
With a sharp glint in his eye, Ōnoki made a decision.
Since the enemy wanted to lure them out, he would play along.
However, this wasn't because he intended to turn the tables immediately. Rather, this was one of the few major cities within the Land of Earth. If a battle erupted here, the destruction would be catastrophic—and he would have a hard time explaining it to the Land of Earth's daimyo.
Moreover, even if they pursued the enemy outside the city, it didn't necessarily mean they would fall into a trap.
Clinging to the comforting thought that they were fighting on their home ground, and as long as they remained cautious and didn't stray too far, Ōnoki authorized the Iwagakure ninja to pursue the enemy.
As for himself, he floated high in the sky, vigilantly observing the surroundings to avoid ambush.
After many Iwagakure ninja had been lured out of the city, Ōnoki's careful watchfulness finally paid off: he detected an anomaly.
It was a young man, observing the battle below just like Ōnoki was.
Calling it "hiding" wasn't entirely accurate. Although the spot was relatively concealed, the young man stood there boldly and openly—otherwise Ōnoki wouldn't have spotted him so easily.
That figure was none other than Susanoo, under the control of Kawaki Aoba. As if sensing Ōnoki's gaze, Susanoo lifted his head, and their eyes met.
A chill ran down Ōnoki's spine. A bad premonition gnawed at him.
Susanoo grinned at him.
"Not good."
Instinctively, Ōnoki reacted, immediately unleashing a Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique toward Susanoo's position.
His reaction was swift—but unfortunately, Susanoo possessed spatial manipulation abilities.
Waving mockingly in Ōnoki's direction, a teleportation array lit up beneath Susanoo's feet, and he vanished completely.
With the target gone, Ōnoki's Dust Release disintegrated nothing but empty air. He scanned the surroundings, but Susanoo was nowhere to be seen.
Yet the ominous feeling in his heart only grew stronger.
And then, in the very next instant, his premonition came true.
A colossal teleportation array, much larger than the previous one, materialized over the battlefield below. It instantly enveloped the Iwagakure elites, the Third Raikage, and the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
The massive array glowed with a dazzling blue light. The Iwagakure ninja, realizing the danger too late, tried to escape, but they were far too slow to outrun an already-activated Space-Time Ninjutsu.
In a flash of blinding light, everyone within the teleportation field vanished completely.
"Space-Time Ninjutsu... Damn it! Such a large-scale Space-Time Ninjutsu?"
Hovering in the air, Ōnoki's eyes went bloodshot at the sight.
Half of Iwagakure's elite forces—including the Third Raikage—had been teleported away.
If they were lost or killed, the damage to Iwagakure would be catastrophic.
Ōnoki cursed inwardly. If he had access to such large-scale Space-Time Ninjutsu himself, he would never give the enemy a second chance to regroup.
Which meant that those who had just been teleported away were likely doomed.
Ōnoki's hands clenched in fury.
He swore: the next time he saw that brat, he would grind him to dust!
But just as he was stewing in rage, a sudden, sharp sense of danger struck him.
Without hesitation, Ōnoki dodged sideways—and a beam of condensed energy shot through the air where he had just been.
His eyelids twitched wildly.
If that attack had struck him, even with his experience and skill, he might have been fatally injured.
Gritting his teeth, Ōnoki turned his gaze toward the source of the attack.
It was none other than Susanoo—the same brat responsible for the Space-Time Ninjutsu. And in his hands, Susanoo was wielding a strange, cannon-like ninja tool aimed squarely at him.
Another flash of danger struck.
Ōnoki hurriedly dodged once again as another energy blast tore past him.
But it wasn't over. Susanoo—holding the Romantic Cannon—continued to fire chakra-compressed blasts relentlessly at him.
Ōnoki's face darkened.
Even with his agility, there was no way he could dodge every shot forever.
While retreating, Ōnoki swiftly formed hand seals, manifesting a Dust Release barrier in front of him.
The incoming blasts collided with the barrier and were disintegrated into atoms.
Only then did Ōnoki breathe a small sigh of relief—followed quickly by burning rage.
That he, the mighty Third Tsuchikage, was being toyed with like this by a mere youngster, after losing so many elite forces—it was utterly humiliating.
At this point, the distance between Ōnoki and Susanoo was about a thousand meters.
Thus, Ōnoki, whose eyesight was no longer what it once was, failed to notice Susanoo's next move.
A hidden Dimensional Array inside Susanoo's body activated, and a teleportation seal appeared under his feet—instantly warping him away.
"Let's end this battle here," Susanoo's voice echoed ominously.
Appearing just behind Ōnoki.
"What?!"
Startled, Ōnoki whipped around—only to be ambushed by a sudden wave of yellow sand appearing in mid-air.
Ōnoki, master of Dust Release, was unfazed by such an attack.
But while he was fending off the sand, Susanoo was already moving again.
Long ago, Susanoo had secretly planted multiple Dimensional Arrays across the battlefield. In truth, it was sheer luck that Ōnoki hadn't accidentally stumbled into one earlier.
Still, for Kawaki Aoba, who was controlling Susanoo, it was merely a minor inconvenience.
Just like now, hadn't he once approached Ōnoki directly?
The blue teleportation array activated again, and the two vanished into the air.
The world shifted abruptly. When Ōnoki regained his senses, the Susanoo warrior who had been standing beside him had already disappeared.
Furious, Ōnoki realized the enemy must have used a space-time ninjutsu to escape — and worse, he had no idea where he himself had been teleported.
As he anxiously hoped he wasn't too far from the Land of Earth, a familiar voice called out behind him.
"Lord Tsuchikage!"
Ōnoki turned sharply and saw a group of Iwagakure elites — comrades who had also been caught up in the large-scale space-time jutsu.
Seeing them alive, Ōnoki let out a breath of relief, though suspicion immediately followed.
What was the enemy planning by bringing them all here?
It couldn't be just to send them on a scenic journey, could it? In the distance, he saw a river and a bridge; the place didn't seem desolate at all.
Just then, an Iwagakure shinobi approached and reported, "Lord Tsuchikage, I recognize this area. That bridge over there — it's the Kannabi Bridge in the Land of Grass."
"The Land of Grass?" Ōnoki frowned. The situation grew even stranger. Why bring them here, to a small neutral country bordering the Land of Earth?
If the enemy wanted to strike at Iwagakure, it would've made more sense to attack directly or trap them in one of the Great Nations. Unless... perhaps it was a feint?
Still, with his son Kitsuchi defending the village, Ōnoki reassured himself that Iwagakure would be secure for a while longer.
Suddenly, another shinobi came running over, dragging the corpse of a pale, white humanoid figure.
After placing it before Ōnoki, the ninja reported, "Lord Tsuchikage, we found several of these strange white corpses nearby. While scouting the area, we also discovered a concealed cave entrance."
Hearing this, Ōnoki's unease deepened.
They had definitely been lured here — drawn into some larger scheme.
Sighing, he ordered, "Take me to this cave. Also, have the others spread out — avoid gathering together."
As Ōnoki directed the Iwagakure forces, he had no idea that high above, hidden in the clouds, a group of observers was watching him carefully.
"They really went for the cave," Kurotsuchi said with a sigh, occasionally glancing at the masked figure beside her.
The Third Raikage, arms crossed, scoffed. His sharp gaze scanned the Iwagakure ninja below.
"That old fox Ōnoki — cautious as ever. He won't move without understanding the situation first," the Raikage muttered. "But more than him, I'm curious about who's hiding inside that cave. Someone important enough for you to value?"
The Raikage turned his fierce eyes toward the masked man — an enigmatic figure who had assumed a new identity.
Calmly, the man replied, "A relic of an older era — someone who should have long since faded away, but instead clings stubbornly to life. You'll understand when you see him."
Pausing, he added coldly, "He's blind now, ancient, clinging to his last embers of strength."
The Third Raikage stiffened.
A remnant of the old era? Blind?
Those clues pointed to a figure from legend — a name buried deep in the history of the shinobi world.
The Raikage's expression hardened. If it really was him, then this was no mere relic hiding — it was a dangerous force waiting to erupt.
Meanwhile, deep within the cave, the man in question — the once-mighty Uchiha Madara — listened silently as White Zetsu reported.
"Madara-sama, bad news. A number of Iwagakure shinobi have appeared outside. We've lost contact with our outer units."
As White Zetsu spoke urgently, another, more erratic White Zetsu danced nervously nearby.
"Ahh, terrible, terrible! We're surrounded! It's over! Madara-sama's so old now — how will he escape? Maybe if Madara-sama became a White Zetsu, I could carry him out!"
This hyperactive White Zetsu — Tobi — leaped about foolishly, oblivious to the murderous glint in Madara's remaining eye.
To think that someone like him — Uchiha Madara — would need to be carried to safety by a fool!
Suppressing his anger, Madara said curtly, "Zetsu."
Not the mass-produced White Zetsu. He was calling for the true strategist — Black Zetsu, the one he trusted as his will made manifest.
Black Zetsu rose from the shadows, bowing respectfully.
"Madara-sama, based on what we've observed, the Iwagakure forces didn't come here deliberately. They appear to have been transported via a large-scale space-time ninjutsu. It doesn't seem like they knew you were here."
Madara's frown deepened.
So this wasn't a direct assault?
"Still," he muttered, "someone has disturbed my peace."
Was this merely coincidence — or had someone deliberately thrown these forces into his lair to test him?
An amused glint appeared in his ancient, clouded eye.
"Heh," Madara sneered. "They dare measure Uchiha Madara's worth? Foolish insects."
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