Although the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, led 10,000 Iwagakure shinobi into the Land of Fire with confidence in overwhelming Konoha, that confidence began to waver upon hearing that Byakuya, a member of the Uchiha clan, had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Ōnoki, one of the few living shinobi who had seen Uchiha Madara with his own eyes during the Warring States Period, knew too well the devastating power of the Mangekyō. The memory of Madara's might was etched into his soul—it was not just about raw strength, but the terror such eyes inspired on the battlefield.
Upon receiving intelligence that Kumogakure was also advancing toward the Land of Fire, Ōnoki hesitated. Despite Iwa and Kumo's recent hostilities—where numerous Iwa shinobi had fallen to Kumo's elite units—he realized something crucial:
"There are no eternal enemies, only eternal interests."
To crush Konoha and seize land in the Land of Fire, even a temporary alliance with a past enemy was worth considering. More than that, it was a preemptive measure—to prevent a sneak attack from Kumo while Iwa was engaged with Konoha.
Soon, word reached the Third Raikage, who had also stationed his forces near the Fire Country's border. His eyes narrowed as he read the message brought by a courier hawk.
"Ōnoki, that stubborn old dwarf, wants to cooperate...?" he muttered, handing the scroll to Dodai, his trusted strategist.
The surrounding Kumo shinobi were immediately incensed.
"Cooperate? With those rock rats!?"
"They killed so many of our comrades last season!"
"We should hit them instead of working with them!"
Tensions were high. The memories of their fallen comrades were fresh, and trust was a rare commodity among ninja nations. Yet Dodai, the voice of reason in the Raikage's inner circle, stepped forward.
"Lord Raikage, I understand everyone's feelings… but this isn't about forgiveness. It's about tactics."
Dodai's words cut through the clamor.
"We're in enemy territory, and our objective is Konoha. Ōnoki brought 10,000 shinobi into the Land of Fire. Whether we trust him or not, we can't allow Iwa to take Konoha alone—or worse, flank us when we're vulnerable."
That number—10,000—staggered even the Raikage.
"Ten thousand?" he repeated, brows furrowing. "That old fossil still has that kind of nerve...?"
But he didn't argue. He'd fought Ōnoki before and respected his cunning, despite their animosity.
"Fine," the Raikage said at last. "We'll hear them out. But if they try anything—anything—we turn the earth red with their blood."
The next day, a tense summit was arranged in a rocky canyon straddling neutral ground. Each Kage arrived with only a few guards to show mutual trust—or calculated restraint.
Ōnoki hovered above the ground, using Flight Technique to match the Raikage's imposing physical presence.
"Hmph. I thought a brute like you would charge in without a plan," he said, arms crossed, his voice laced with sarcasm.
The Third Raikage's eyes narrowed.
"And I thought you'd wait until my back was turned to drop a boulder on me."
Tension crackled between them like chakra on a battlefield.
Still, they were both veterans. They had seen wars claim too many lives and knew when pride had to be buried.
"Let's get to it," Ōnoki said at last. "We divide the battlefield—your Kumo forces strike from the west, we strike from the north. But once Konoha falls, Iwa takes the capital."
"What did you say!? That's impossible..."
"The territory near Konoha belongs to Kumogakure!"
The Third Raikage snapped, his fists clenched as sparks of lightning chakra crackled faintly from his body.
Kumogakure had long eyed the fertile land surrounding the Land of Fire, and now, with Konoha in a state of chaos, the opportunity was ripe.
"Don't get ahead of yourself, Raikage!"
"Iwagakure has already mobilized 10,000 shinobi—our claim to this land is justified."
Ōnoki, the Third Tsuchikage, floated mid-air with his arms crossed, his short frame belying the gravity in his tone.
Though small, his chakra control and Dust Release technique made him one of the most dangerous shinobi alive.
"Hah! You need 10,000 because your shinobi are weak."
"Kumo's elite forces don't even need half that number to break Konoha!"
The Raikage sneered, his pride in the strength of the Cloud-nin flaring.
"What did you say!? You dare mock Iwagakure?"
Ōnoki's face twisted in anger. His past experiences with the power of Madara Uchiha haunted him, and this kind of slight could not be ignored.
"Tch. If you want a fight, old man, I'll give you one right here!"
The Raikage's chakra spiked, ready for battle.
But neither moved. Despite their insults, both Kage understood the reality—they had a common target.
Konoha.
With the Third Hokage having fled and the village in disarray after the political upheaval and clan migration, Konoha had never been weaker.
The Uchiha clan had seized power under Byakuya, and their Mangekyō Sharingan user was a threat—but still just one man in their eyes.
To the Raikage and the Tsuchikage, Konoha was nothing but spoils waiting to be claimed.
"Let's be clear," the Raikage said after a tense pause.
"Kumo will strike first. You Iwa-nin better keep up—or we'll take all of Konoha for ourselves. Heh!"
Ōnoki snorted.
"Do as you like, brute. Just make sure you don't die at Konoha's gates. Dust Release will carve the path if you can't."
Their makeshift alliance forged from greed rather than trust, the two Kage departed, their forces marching toward the Land of Fire—blinded by arrogance, and unaware of the storm waiting for them in the form of the Uchiha.
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