The Nine-Tails' massive claw pressed firmly against the Fourth Raikage A's body.
"Hyūga Shigeo! What are you trying to do?" Ōnoki shouted, face twisted with anger. He had barely returned to Iwagakure before hearing that his nation's daimyo had been kidnapped. Rage boiled in his chest—if he had the power, he would have crushed that "demon brat" to dust on the spot.
But Shigeo only lounged casually, eyes half-lidded, a faint, mocking smile tugging at his lips. He didn't even bother to answer.
"You—you…" Ōnoki sputtered, his beard trembling.
Beside the Raikage, his aide Mabui grew frantic. Although the Nine-Tails hadn't harmed A yet, it was still a Tailed Beast—who knew what it would do next?
"Lord Shigeo, please release our Raikage," Mabui pleaded, bowing deeply. "He's still recovering from the injuries you dealt him before. I beg you—let him go."
Only now did the assembled Kage realize the true balance of power.
Though only Shigeo and two jōnin stood before them, with three Tailed Beasts behind him, the Five Kage and their hundreds of ANBU had no real chance of victory.
Inside the hut, the Lightning Daimyo shouted, "What are you all waiting for? Hurry up and come in already!"
He had spent two miserable days locked in that tiny room, eating soldier rations and drinking cold water. He'd had enough humiliation to last a lifetime.
"Please, let my lord go!" Mabui's voice trembled as she dropped to her knees, head lowered in desperate appeal.
At last, the Nine-Tails gave a low growl and flicked its paw aside, throwing A to the ground. He rolled, then stood, chest heaving. The fear and frustration in his eyes were unmistakable. For that brief moment under the beast's claw, he had been powerless—his strength meaningless. If Mabui hadn't intervened, he would already be dead.
What unsettled him even more was that the Nine-Tails had obeyed without Shigeo uttering a single word, as though the creature shared his very thoughts.
Shigeo's voice echoed calmly from above. "No need to go inside. We'll talk out here. The room's for the daimyos. Say whatever you wish—but remember, I came to collect a debt. If your answers don't satisfy me… I'll make sure you're not satisfied either."
He sat cross-legged on the rooftop, one leg draped lazily over the other. His posture seemed relaxed, but his presence dominated the entire mountainside.
Ōnoki turned slightly, signaling to his men stationed about a hundred meters away.
Three Iwagakure ANBU immediately received the order. They used Iwagakure no Jutsu (Hiding in Rock Technique), slipping underground to approach the hut from below, planning to rescue their captured daimyo.
They never made it.
The moment they neared the earthen foundation, thick Mokuton (Wood Release) vines erupted, binding their limbs. A Rinnegan-clad clone of Shigeo emerged from the shadows, seized them by the neck, and drained their chakra dry—then tore their souls free. The memories and intelligence of the ANBU flowed straight into Shigeo's mind.
Two more tried to follow and met the same fate—drained, soulless, and dead.
Above ground, before anyone could react, the earth trembled. Magnetic sand surged across the hillside while roots erupted from below—Jiton (Magnet Release) and Mokuton working in unison. The ambushers had no chance.
Screams echoed as dozens of Iwa ninjas were pinned to twisting trees, writhing helplessly.
Ōnoki turned, horrified, sweat beading on his forehead. Before he could act, a shriek came from inside the hut. The Earth Daimyo was dragged to the window, a kunai pressed against his throat.
"Hyūga Shigeo! What are you doing?" Ōnoki yelled.
"Negotiation," Shigeo said, standing on the roof beam. "If we're here to talk, then we talk. If not, we fight—openly."
As he spoke, three wooden branches burst from the ground outside, hoisting the corpses of the three ANBU who'd attempted the rescue. Their lifeless bodies swung in the air like grim warnings.
Everyone present understood immediately—it had been Ōnoki's secret move.
The other Kage had considered similar plans, but hadn't acted yet. Iwagakure had simply been the first—and now paid the price.
Inside the hut, the Earth Daimyo roared, "Tsuchikage! You have no honor! You called this a negotiation, and now you do this?!"
The Five Great Villages had sent ten thousand shinobi and failed miserably within an hour—defeated by a fledgling nation of barely a hundred thousand souls. What pride was left to defend? Would Ōnoki really gamble his daimyo's life just to save face?
In the shinobi world, daimyos ruled the nations, while Kage commanded their military power. Shinobi were soldiers, and without the daimyo's funding, even the mightiest village would crumble.
Though missions brought income, it was nothing compared to the taxes flowing from a country's citizens to their lord, and then to the villages.
Thus, the daimyo's authority always stood above the Kage's. Even appointing a Kage required the daimyo's approval.
Now, the Earth Daimyo glared furiously at Ōnoki, already thinking which loyal subordinate might replace him if he failed here.
Ōnoki's lips trembled. Every gaze was on him. The air itself seemed to freeze.
This was war in another form—a contest of leverage and will.
He had lost. His men were dead. He stood alone.
If he clung to pride and let his daimyo die, his return to Iwagakure would only spark rebellion. The people would curse him, and others would seize the chance to overthrow him.
At last, after a long silence, he bowed his head. "I was wrong. This is a negotiation… I acted rashly."
The Third Hokage and Fourth Raikage frowned. The five daimyos inside the hut were their superiors. They had come here to save them—and if they couldn't, what purpose did their titles serve?
(End of Chapter)
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