Hearing the tone in Ōnoki's voice, as if he were leaving his last instructions, Kurotsuchi immediately frowned.
"Old man, what do you mean by that? Even if you've chosen to submit under the pressure of that Uchiha Kaede, it's not like you need to cowardly kill yourself over it, right?"
At her words, Ōnoki gave a bitter smile. "Brat, are you wishing for your grandfather's death every day?"
Then, softening his gaze toward the two, he said, "Don't worry. Until you've grown up, your grandfather will never die. Just remember what I told you just now—never forget to restore Iwagakure in the future!"
Deidara nodded, somewhat understanding.
Kurotsuchi pouted, muttering inwardly, "It's all because of that Uchiha Kaede! I even thought he was handsome at first…"
At that moment, an Iwa shinobi suddenly pushed the door open. His forehead was covered in sweat, as if he had run all the way here.
He respectfully reported, "Tsuchikage-sama, Lord Rōshi has returned with the two Jinchūriki!"
"Rōshi…" Ōnoki's brows furrowed.
Rōshi had been at odds with him for decades. His violent temper was something even Ōnoki could hardly control.
When he'd heard that Ōnoki had led Iwagakure to submit to Uchiha Kaede, Rōshi had stormed out of the village in anger.
But Kaede had specifically demanded both Rōshi and Han, the two Jinchūriki of Iwagakure.
With no choice, Ōnoki had sent people to persuade them to return.
Now that Rōshi was back, it meant he must have reconsidered for the sake of the village.
Ōnoki immediately rose to his feet. "I'll go see—"
Before he could finish speaking, a figure appeared instantly in the Tsuchikage's office.
"Who?!"
The Iwa shinobi instinctively pulled out a kunai in alarm at the sight of the figure's back.
But when Ōnoki saw the face, his pupils shrank. Quickly forcing a smile, he said,
"So it's Lord Kaede. I've already prepared what you asked for."
He lowered himself considerably in posture.
The Iwa shinobi, hearing the name, turned pale and collapsed to his knees.
"Uchiha… Uchiha Kaede?!"
Ōnoki's heart sank. He barked sharply, "Go bring Rōshi and Han here! Now, get out!"
Grateful for the reprieve, the shinobi fled.
Ōnoki instantly shifted his expression again, smiling toward Kaede.
"Forgive that display."
Kaede spared him a glance, not even bothering to acknowledge the "ant" from before.
"It seems you do know your place."
Under Ōnoki's flattery, Kaede sat directly in the Tsuchikage's seat.
Ōnoki, sitting opposite, dared not utter a word. With just one look from Kaede, he obediently kept his head down.
A suffocating, oppressive pressure filled the office.
Ōnoki hardly dared to breathe—but someone else had no fear of Kaede.
"Hey! So you're the Uchiha Kaede everyone's so afraid of?"
The crisp voice came from Kurotsuchi.
"…Hm?" Kaede glanced at her.
Ōnoki's soul nearly left his body. "She's my granddaughter, still young and ignorant…"
Kaede waved a hand dismissively. "I'm not petty enough to fuss over a little kid."
That only made Kurotsuchi puff up more.
"You're not that old yourself. How can you call me a little kid?!"
Kaede shook his head.
"My apprentice is a bit younger than you, but she could take on a thousand of you. If that doesn't make you a little kid, what does?"
At that, Kurotsuchi's cheeks puffed up like a pufferfish.
Kaede found himself slightly amused. Teasing this little girl might be fun when there's nothing else to do.
He idly bantered with her, while Ōnoki stood by sweating profusely, terrified she'd say something truly outrageous to anger the unpredictable Uchiha Kaede.
Fortunately, Kaede didn't take her too seriously.
Finally, Rōshi and Han were brought in.
Ōnoki let out a long breath, eager to send Kaede on his way.
"Rōshi, Han, go with Lord Kaede. Don't worry—he's promised not to harm you."
Han said nothing. He'd already accepted the idea of giving his life for Iwagakure.
But Rōshi's face burned with fury.
"Ōnoki, you really have grown backward with age! Look at you now—groveling like some dog. You're pathetic!"
Ōnoki's pupils contracted. This was bad.
Before he could speak, Rōshi turned his fury on Kaede.
"So you're Uchiha Kaede? Let me tell you something—I'm not like that coward Ōnoki! The dignity of Iwagakure isn't yours to trample. Ōnoki might fear you, but I sure as hell don't! No one in Iwagakure fears death!"
Kaede, bored with the rant, dug a finger in his ear.
Then he looked to Ōnoki. "This is your idea of cooperation?"
Ōnoki panicked. "Lord Kaede, I truly didn't know—"
Kaede silenced him with a raised hand, extending his will to envelope Ōnoki's mind for a moment before focusing on Rōshi.
"You're not convinced?"
Rōshi snorted. "In my life, aside from the First Tsuchikage, I've never bowed to anyone!"
As he spoke, a Tailed Beast Cloak flared around him.
"Die!"
In a flash, he lunged straight at Kaede.
"Rōshi, you—!"
Ōnoki was horrified. Rōshi clearly didn't care about the lives of Iwagakure's shinobi or civilians.
For the villagers…
Ōnoki grit his teeth, beginning to form Dust Release in his hands, prepared to kill Rōshi himself to keep him from offending Kaede further.
But before he could act—
Kaede's eyes went cold. "Kneel."
An overwhelming pressure slammed down on Rōshi, forcing him toward the floor. His knees trembled, and no matter how he struggled, they bent inexorably.
"Damn it… move!"
Rōshi's face flushed red, but the crushing force was irresistible.
Bang!
He collapsed to his knees before Kaede.
Ōnoki's eyes went wide in disbelief. "Just… from his presence alone…!"
And Rōshi was cloaked in Tailed Beast chakra, a power on par with a Kage-level shinobi—yet Kaede had brought him to his knees with nothing but will.
Ōnoki glanced at Kaede with deep respect. "He's gotten even stronger…"
Kaede ignored him, turning instead to Han.
"And you? Want to try resisting me?"
Han shook his head. He had already resigned himself to submission.
Kaede stood, giving Ōnoki a final glance.
"I'm in a good mood today, so I'll forgive this man's disrespect. Thank your granddaughter for that. But… make sure this was just an accident. You know the consequences otherwise."
Relieved, Ōnoki quickly assured him, "You have my loyalty."
Before he could say more, Kaede vanished with the two Jinchūriki in an instant.
"It's finally over…"
Ōnoki's body relaxed, nearly collapsing to the floor.
(End of Chapter)
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