"Iwagakure's Dust Release is impressive!"
Sarutobi Asuma exclaimed.
This wasn't a fake compliment; it was genuine praise.
Dust Release was indeed incredibly powerful.
It could break down all matter, down to the molecular and even atomic level.
Sarutobi Asuma had to admit that, without the Truth-Seeking Balls, with all the methods he currently possessed, perhaps only Adamantine Sealing Chains at level 10, with his full power unleashed, could block it.
Of course, that would be a direct confrontation.
No one was perfect, and naturally, no Ninjutsu was perfect either.
"Elder Onoki, junior has experienced the might of Dust Release. Now, it's my turn to learn from senior!"
Sarutobi Asuma was polite, his smile as pleasant as a spring breeze.
But Onoki's heart pounded, his brows furrowed, and his mind was on high alert, more guarded than ever.
The next moment, Sarutobi Asuma vanished from Onoki's sight like a streak of purple lightning.
"So fast!"
Onoki and Hanzō exclaimed in unison, deep in their hearts.
Immediately after, the sound of exploding air followed.
Onoki turned his head to the left, catching a glimpse of a purple lightning streak, only for it to disappear again.
"This kid's speed is even more astonishing than the Third Raikage's!"
"Moreover, he can run and push off the air!"
"This is bad!"
Onoki's heart pounded. He immediately retreated, simultaneously forming Hand Seals, and spat out six stone clones that surrounded him.
But the next moment, with a roar, the three stone clones on his right were shattered by a purple blade.
"Too fast, I can't track him at all!"
Onoki hastily swapped positions with his remaining three stone clones while rapidly descending.
However, his stone clones were still being destroyed one by one by Sarutobi Asuma, who moved like lightning.
"Onoki is likely to lose!"
Hanzō couldn't hide his shock.
Sarutobi Asuma's speed was too astonishing!
Although Dust Release was powerful, its release speed wasn't fast. Against such movement speed, at such close range, it was impossible to even deploy.
He also couldn't hit him, unless he could cover a vast area that Sarutobi Asuma couldn't escape from.
"Speaking of which, this kid, Jiraiya, you wouldn't be able to match him either, would you?"
Looking at Sarutobi Asuma moving at high speed in the air, Gamabunta broke out in a cold sweat.
Jiraiya nodded with a solemn expression: "With this speed, being able to move at high speed in the air, combined with his Lightning Style Sword Technique, which is no less than Sakumo's, and his Wind Style Sword Technique, I truly can't block him."
"If I could fuse with two Sage Modes, perhaps I could!"
Gamabunta marveled: "What an incredible kid!"
"By the way, is he the person you were looking for?"
Jiraiya hesitated for a moment, then shook his head: "I'm afraid not!"
At this point, Onoki had landed and immediately created a semi-spherical earth prison for himself, hiding within.
But the next moment, the earth prison was pierced by several purple blade strikes, cut into seven or eight pieces, and collapsed with a roar.
"Third Tsuchikage-sama!"
The Stone Ninja, Tsuchi-kai, and others watching exclaimed.
Because they saw Onoki being cut into seven or eight pieces.
However, the next moment, the killed Onoki turned into stones and scattered.
A Stone Clone!
Rumble!
The earth shook.
The surrounding ground rose, and sharp rock pillars erupted from the broken ground in a haphazard mess.
At the same time, a giant pot lid descended from the sky.
The sharp rock pillars exploded, and Sarutobi Asuma shot upwards, cutting through the falling stone lid with a crash.
Onoki, who had already appeared on the ground, had prepared his Ninjutsu, covering the stone lid with Particle Style: Atomic Dismantling Jutsu. The moment the stone lid was cut open by Sarutobi Asuma, everything within the barrier was decomposed.
But the next moment, he sensed danger, and the roar of exploding air reached his ears.
Battle-hardened, almost instinctively, Onoki's right hand was covered in rock as he punched towards his left.
Boom!
Sarutobi Asuma's figure materialized, exchanging a punch with Onoki.
The rocks shattered, sending debris flying.
Onoki grunted, his short body shooting out, breaking the sound barrier with a roar. Waves of air billowed out, and with a final crash, he embedded himself in the mountainside.
"Gah!"
Onoki spat out blood.
"Third Tsuchikage-sama!"
A group of Stone Ninja cried out in unison, then swarmed forward.
Below Jiraiya, Gamabunta said, "That old man shouldn't have used that ineffective Dust Release just now; he should have used a ninjutsu like Swamp of the Underworld to restrict his speed."
Jiraiya shook his head. "Gamabunta, Asuma can run at high speeds in the air."
"He can use the air to propel himself, so ninjutsu like Swamp of the Underworld isn't very useful. Asuma doesn't need to run on the ground."
"This Body Flicker Technique is absolutely unsurpassable among the ninjutsu-taijutsu arts!"
"The Third Tsuchikage used Dust Release again because he realized that Asuma needs time to use those two black spheres!"
However, he also saw that Sarutobi Asuma had held back.
Otherwise, with Sarutobi Asuma's speed, Onoki would have died several times over while in the air.
Onoki originally had the advantage in the air, but facing Sarutobi Asuma, he became the weaker party.
On the ground, Onoki could utilize Earth Style ninjutsu further to restrict Sarutobi Asuma's speed.
But as the saying goes.
Sarutobi Asuma is not the Third Raikage; not only does he possess high-speed movement and destructive power comparable to the Third Raikage, but he also has the ability that the Third Raikage lacked: the ability to use the air for high-speed movement.
Earth Style ninjutsu cannot restrict Sarutobi Asuma!
Ninjas with high-speed movement have always been the most difficult to deal with!
On the other side, looking at the injured Onoki, Hanzō's gaze was extremely deep.
"What a terrifying young man!"
Hanzō had to admit that facing such a ninja, he would likely only have the Poison of the Salamander as an effective countermeasure.
His Body Flicker Technique was not slow, but it couldn't compare to Sarutobi Asuma's.
A large number of Stone Ninja surged towards Onoki, but they were no match for Sarutobi Asuma.
Before Tsuchi-kai and the other Stone Ninja could arrive, Sarutobi Asuma had already appeared behind Onoki, who had just pulled himself out of the mountain.
"Bad!"
As Onoki tried to react, a crunch sounded from his back.
The intense pain stiffened his body, and cold sweat immediately poured down his face. "It's over!"
Tsuchi-kai and the other Stone Ninja also saw Sarutobi Asuma appear behind Onoki, their eyes widening.
"Third Tsuchikage-sama, be careful!"
"No!"
...
The Stone Ninja shouted one after another.
However, to everyone's surprise, Sarutobi Asuma's hand rested on Onoki's waist, and a green light emerged.
"Sorry, Senior Onoki, I went a little too hard just now!"
Sarutobi Asuma said with a harmless smile.
The pain quickly faded, and Onoki turned back in surprise. "You..."
Sarutobi Asuma smiled. "I said, if Konoha wanted to continue the war, they wouldn't have taken so many Stone Ninja prisoners!"
"I personally dislike war!"
"So I hope to end the war as quickly as possible."
"With so many Stone Ninja captured, you should be unable to sit still, Senior."
"And if I defeat you, Senior, then there will be no reason for the Stone Ninja to continue this war!"
Onoki was stunned.
"So, Senior Onoki, can we negotiate now?"
Sarutobi Asuma retracted his hand and asked with a smile.
Onoki turned to look at him, his expression quite complex. "We truly have no other choice now!"
"Iwagakure agrees to peace talks and to end the war!"
Sarutobi Asuma nodded with great joy and said with a smile, "Senior, you've made a wise choice!"
Onoki's eyes twitched, and he felt an urge to punch someone again.
This bastard always managed to infuriate him!
However, he held back and said, "Since we've reached an agreement, shouldn't Konoha release the prisoners?"
"Of course!"
Sarutobi Asuma nodded matter-of-factly. "As long as Iwagakure pays the ransom, Konoha will absolutely guarantee the prisoners are released unharmed!"
"Ransom?"
Onoki's eyes widened.
Tsuchi-kai and the other Stone Ninja who rushed over were also shocked. Someone shouted, "Sarutobi Asuma, you're going too far!"
"Hm?"
Sarutobi Asuma's expression turned cold. He glared with murderous intent, and the Stone Ninja Jonin who spoke instinctively took a step back.
"Rude!"
Sarutobi Asuma snorted coldly, flicked his sleeve, and the Stone Ninja was immediately sent flying uncontrollably.
Then, Sarutobi Asuma put on a smile again as he faced Onoki. "Senior, since they are prisoners, it's quite reasonable to ask for a ransom, isn't it?"
"After all, we have to cover the food and drink for the captured individuals, expend energy to treat their injuries, and ensure their safety."
Onoki gritted his teeth. "How much do you want?"
"Not much!"
Sarutobi Asuma held up three fingers. "30 million Ryo for each Jonin, 3 million Ryo for each Chunin, and 300,000 Ryo for each Genin!"
"What?"
Onoki and the Stone Ninja, including Tsuchi-kai, couldn't help but widen their eyes.
"Impossible!"
Onoki roared in refusal.
What a joke, 30 million for a Jonin.
Even for bounties, only a few seasoned Jonin or elite Jonin commanded a price of 30 million Ryo.
Setting the ransom based on bounty prices was outrageous!
Indeed, even Jiraiya felt it was a bit excessive.
Sarutobi Asuma, however, said with a smile, "It's peace talks, so we can negotiate!"
Onoki immediately made a counteroffer, "3 million Ryo for each Jonin, 300,000 Ryo for each Chunin, and 3,000 Ryo for each Genin!"
That was too steep a price!
Sarutobi Asuma absolutely refused and immediately countered, "20 million Ryo for each Jonin, 2 million Ryo for each Chunin, and 200,000 Ryo for each Genin!"
"Impossible!"
Onoki was furious and continued to haggle.
The old and the young, the short and the tall, the two of them, under the strange gazes of the three-nation ninja, haggled back and forth like ordinary people buying and selling goods, spitting as they argued.
Let alone ordinary ninja, even Hanzō watched and couldn't help but shed a cold sweat.
Gamabunta's eyes were also dazed. "Jiraiya, is this a joke?"
Jiraiya felt a bit awkward.
The price could have been discussed privately, but doing it this way was truly
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