"?"
Not to mention Aoba looking blank, even Kurotsuchi wore an expression of disbelief, as if she had misheard.
"Ahem! Just a joke."
Onoki coughed lightly, then reined in the smile on his face a bit as he looked at the stunned Kurotsuchi.
"Kurotsuchi, we haven't seen each other in so long. Is this really the expression you greet your grandpa with?"
Kurotsuchi snapped back to her senses, her face growing even darker, "You old geezer aren't my grandpa. You're just an old undead bastard!"
As she spoke, she directly flung a sealing scroll straight at Onoki's face.
Then she stood up and stormed out of the conference room in a huff.
She didn't want to see him right now.
"What's this?"
Onoki caught the sealing scroll curiously, but didn't open it.
"It's some things Kurotsuchi bought in Konoha. You can think of it as a carefully prepared gift for you."
Aoba still helped explain for Kurotsuchi. He didn't follow her out. Judging by Onoki's look, he wanted to talk to him alone anyway, though he himself wasn't in much of a mood.
"Is that so? She even prepared a gift for this old man. That girl really has grown up," After hearing Aoba's explanation, a trace of relief inevitably showed in Onoki's eyes.
But he quickly hid it again, sat down across from Aoba like an old fox, and said, "I heard that at the village gate, you and Kurotsuchi were acting rather intimately. How far have you two progressed?"
"I was just helping her travel. Ordinary friends. There's no so-called intimate relationship."
"Is that so? Then that's really a pity."
Onoki looked full of disappointment, "Because I truly hoped that it would be you and Kurotsuchi's child who would succeed me as Tsuchikage."
"If you really want to step down, wouldn't it be fine to just let Kurotsuchi become Tsuchikage directly? I believe she can become a qualified Tsuchikage," Aoba replied casually, brushing it off.
"Kurotsuchi is still young. Becoming Tsuchikage would be too early," Onoki answered in a tone like idle family chatter, half-heartedly responding.
"Not young. Didn't Gaara become Kazekage at twelve?"
Aoba's expression suddenly grew more serious as he stared at Onoki, "And once the New Year passes, I'll be taking over my teacher's position as Hokage. And as Hokage, I'd still hope that Kurotsuchi can become Tsuchikage as soon as possible."
"!", Hearing that, Onoki frowned, the smile on his face slowly fading as he became serious.
As his expression changed, the previously relaxed, chatty atmosphere gradually dissipated.
He naturally heard the intent in Aoba's words. This was the same move used against Sunagakure, forcing him, the Tsuchikage, to step down and replace him with someone easier to control.
However, Onoki was old and experienced enough to keep his composure in major matters. He quickly returned to that half-smiling, half-not-smiling expression.
"You truly are young and accomplished. But when it comes to Kurotsuchi, she still can't compare to you…"
"Tsuchikage-dono, there's no need to keep playing dumb," Seeing that Onoki was still acting like this, Aoba couldn't be bothered to go around in circles with him anymore.
Joking around with Kurotsuchi was one thing, but with this old man, forget it.
And before long, he would be Hokage anyway. At that point, there'd be no need to explain anything. A single line of "I am the Hokage" would settle it.
So he spoke plainly, "For Kurotsuchi's sake, Iwagakure isn't Konoha's next target. You still have plenty of time to think about what kind of choice you want to make. The treatment for surrender and for being taken prisoner are worlds apart."
If earlier Onoki had only looked a bit grave, now that he was being threatened so directly, his face completely sank.
In contrast, Aoba remained calm and unperturbed.
The atmosphere in the conference room froze for a moment. In the end, it was Onoki who sighed first, breaking the silence.
"Is it really necessary to go this far? If it's for the sake of peace, Iwagakure is also willing to form an alliance and follow Konoha's lead. Why be so absolute?"
In his view, no matter how powerful Aoba was, he was still just a human. Even the legendary Sage of Six Paths was ultimately bound by lifespan.
So while the other party was at his peak, having Kurotsuchi marry Aoba to preserve the village was a viable option.
And as long as Iwagakure still existed, being Konoha's little brother for a few decades wasn't unacceptable.
But now…
"An alliance?"
Aoba's expression turned mocking, "Like back when you faced the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, and then started a war again after he died?"
Onoki's expression froze. Having his thoughts seen through made him feel a bit awkward, but that awkwardness quickly turned cold under Aoba's threat.
At that moment, recalling the intelligence sent back by spies in Konoha and Kirigakure, he really felt like he was facing Uchiha Madara again.
He took a deep breath, then spoke as if venting his resolve.
"Iwagakure may not be a match for Konoha. We're willing to step back and form an alliance, but we're absolutely not lacking the courage to perish together. We will never allow ourselves to be toyed with like Sunagakure and Kirigakure!"
"So that's the so-called Will of Stone. Then let's wait and see."
Aoba said indifferently. He had no interest in staying here any longer. Ignoring Onoki's ugly expression, he stood up and headed for the door.
But just as he was about to push it open and leave, he added one more sentence.
"Maybe after you witness the destruction of Kumogakure, you'll change your mind a little."
"What?", Onoki's eyes widened.
After saying that, Aoba pushed the door open and left the conference room.
It was still early. He was actually interested in taking a stroll around Iwagakure.
As for the destruction of Kumogakure he mentioned, he'd probably just show his face when the time came.
Capturing the Eight-Tails wouldn't be an easy task for Nagato. Without Black Zetsu's help, finding the Eight-Tails' location again wouldn't be simple.
When the time came, Nagato would most likely do what he did in the original story with the Nine-Tails and directly enter Kumogakure.
Given the Fourth Raikage's personality, there would definitely be a fierce battle.
———
After leaving the conference room, Aoba hadn't walked far when he saw Kurotsuchi and Kitsuchi in the middle of an argument.
Kitsuchi had originally been standing guard at the door. Seeing his daughter come out, he had gone aside to talk with her.
"I don't want to stay in the village at all. That old man is just too annoying!"
Kurotsuchi crossed her arms, looking like a rebellious girl.
Kitsuchi was also helpless about the things his old man did, but he still said sternly, "Kurotsuchi, you're a ninja of Iwagakure. Staying in Konoha all the time, what kind of look is that?"
"I don't care. Unless the old man apologizes to me, I absolutely won't… huh? Aoba, you finished talking with that old man so quickly?"
Mid-sentence, Kurotsuchi noticed Aoba walking out of the conference room.
"Aoba…"
Hearing that, Kitsuchi also turned to look at him, his expression somewhat complicated.
"More or less. It's just that your grandpa's mood probably isn't very good right now."
Aoba walked up to the two of them and nodded to Kitsuchi as a greeting.
"Not in a good mood? Did you two argue?"
Kurotsuchi looked surprised, curious about what the two of them could have argued over.
'Could it be that this guy is also really resistant to the rumors about himself?'
Just as Onoki had said, Kurotsuchi was too young. She actually wasn't suitable to become Tsuchikage at all and hadn't noticed Konoha's ambitions or the conflict between the two villages.
Aoba merely smiled and said nothing.
Kitsuchi's expression, however, grew heavier, "This is your first time in Iwagakure, right? Let Kurotsuchi show you around the village. I still have things to take care of."
After saying that, he hurried back toward the conference room.
According to Onoki, there absolutely couldn't be a conflict with Konoha right now. So why had the two of them argued?
"Honestly…"
Seeing that even her father had left her aside, Kurotsuchi couldn't help puffing out her cheeks, a rare look of grievance appearing on her face.
She had even brought gifts back, yet it seemed like neither of them really cared about her.
At that moment, Aoba took her hand and led her outside.
"Then be a good tour guide for me."
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