It's just an alliance based on interests.
"How long can you hold off the Hidden Cloud?"
Ayane did not immediately agree. She had ventured deep into the Hidden Cloud territory last time, raising the vigilance of the Cloud Village Ninja, and she couldn't handle thousands of Cloud Village Ninja alone.
Moreover, aside from the Fourth Raikage, the Cloud is not lacking in other powerful ninja.
For example, that Hidden Cloud Jonin Dodai, a Kekkeigenkai Corrosion Style Ninja, can create rubber walls and balls with strong defensive capabilities. Although he cannot completely block the impact force of the Divine Sky Strike, he can block most of its impact.
With rich combat experience, he can gauge the danger of her Divine Sky Strike at a glance, and immediately use appropriate Ninja Techniques to defend and protect everyone. This incredible insight into the battlefield is more troublesome than his Corrosion Style Ninja Techniques.
"How about two hours?"
Onoki thought for a moment and gave this answer.
It's not that it can't be delayed too long, but delaying too long would lead to many deaths on both the Hidden Rock Ninja and the Cloud Village sides.
Onoki didn't want to exchange casualties with the Cloud Village; he just wanted to quickly deal with them and then turn to attack the Konoha Ninja in the Land of Grass with the Hidden Sand in a joint invasion of the Land of Fire.
His goal was never the Cloud Village. If it weren't for the Third Raikage being too overbearing, he wouldn't want to provoke those barbarians from the Land of Lightning.
In the Ninja Realm, no Ninja Village operates as domineeringly as the Hidden Cloud, engaging in chicken-stealing activities, and then turning against the victims after being exposed.
How to deal with these strength-worshiping barbarians has always been a headache for Onoki.
Honestly, defeating the Hidden Cloud head-on would certainly be good, but the Hidden Rock lacks that ability. The comprehensive power of the Hidden Cloud surpasses that of the Hidden Rock.
War is not something that can be determined by personal strength.
On that day, to eliminate the Third Raikage, thousands of Ninja were sacrificed. Thinking of it made Onoki's heart ache.
"Two hours, huh? Could be worth a try."
Ayane nodded.
"Then I'll leave it to you."
Onoki breathed a sigh of relief.
It's not that he wanted to rely on these bounty hunters who live by money, regardless of their origins, but Hidden Rock lacks top-tier Ninja resources apart from himself as the Tsuchikage.
The Hidden Cloud's top Ninja isn't too many nor too few. After the Third Raikage's death, the Fourth Raikage was immediately pushed to power by the Elder Council without any internal strife.
And if he were to die, Onoki couldn't imagine the chaos that would unfold in Hidden Rock.
"Oh, I heard your side has the Four-tailed and Five-tailed Tailed Beasts. Why not send them to the battlefield to compensate for the combat strength?"
Ayane asked.
"The Tailed Beasts? They are means only used when absolutely necessary."
Onoki shook his head in reply.
This was not true. Not deploying the Tailed Beasts was because he hadn't handled the relationships well with the village's two Jinchuriki.
No need to mention the Five-tailed Jinchuriki, but the Four-tailed Jinchuriki Roshi had a stubborn personality and often quarreled with him, having tried to secretly leave the village several times, further straining their relationship when Onoki stopped him.
Of course, this sort of secrecy regarding the Tailed Beasts couldn't be explained too much to Ayane, nor could outsiders know that he, as Tsuchikage, had actually lost control over the Jinchuriki.
Thus, he used the excuse that Tailed Beasts would only participate in battles as a last resort to appease Ayane.
Ayane listened and didn't continue questioning.
She accepted Onoki's assigned task and left the Hidden Rock encampment.
Watching Ayane's swift departure, Onoki's eyes revealed jealousy and envy at the monstrous strength hidden in her delicate body.
Konoha... truly a cradle of talented geniuses.
Just this young girl alone, aside from himself as Tsuchikage, there likely wasn't anyone in Hidden Rock who could be her opponent.
According to Ayane, the other Sharingan female ninja from the former White Fang Squad, Uchiha Ruri, was even more powerful.
Thinking of this, Onoki felt both schadenfreude towards Konoha and a lot of jealousy and envy.
If it weren't for Hidden Rock lacking good talent, why would he have to rely on strong bounty hunters from the underground black market, tarnishing Hidden Rock's reputation?
It's truly because at the vast Hidden Rock Village, there isn't anyone capable of succeeding him as an independent leader.
The lack of successors is a more significant heartache than facing Konoha and Hidden Cloud for him as Tsuchikage at this moment.
◎
On the coastal battlefield, the Hidden Cloud and Hidden Rock began a new round of combat.
The Fourth Raikage charged ahead like blue lightning, smashing the multiple layers of earth walls standing in front with his fists, causing a massive commotion.
"Dust Style: Original Realm Stripping Technique!"
A massive pillar of light descended from the sky.
The Fourth Raikage easily dodged with his Lightning Style Instant Body Jutsu.
The white transparent pillar hit the ground, decomposing that piece of land into air, vanishing from the surface.
"Young Raikage, your Lightning Style Instant Body Jutsu carries a few of the traits of your late father, the Third Raikage. If he knew in the afterlife, he'd surely feel very gratified."
Onoki's body paused in mid-air, using a lightweight type of Ninja Technique to float. He was one of the few Ninja in the Ninja Realm who could freely fly in the sky.
Seeing the Fourth Raikage dodge his Dust Style Jutsu, he showed a smile of elder-like appreciation for the younger, seemingly intentionally provoking the Fourth Raikage.
"Old Tsuchikage jerk, if you know what's good for you, quickly return my father's corpse!"