Chapter 298: Onoki: Eternal Loli?!
Land of Birds Border, Wind Whisper Town.
The Land of Birds, squeezed between the Land of Wind, Land of Stars, Land of Earth, and Rain Country, unexpectedly became a special haven amid the turbulent situation on the western continent due to its unique geographical position and neutral nature.
This small country, which did not even have its own ninja village, now had one of its ordinary border towns displaying a clamor and prosperity that clashed with the surrounding war.
Due to the war between the Land of Wind and the Land of Stars cutting off major trade routes, although the Land of Stars did not completely seal the border, it greatly strengthened border inspections, forcing countless merchant caravans and travelers to be stranded here.
Shrewd merchants simply turned this place into a temporary trade hub, where goods from various countries were traded and circulated, waiting for a glimmer of hope that the border would reopen.
The town’s streets were thus packed tight with all sorts of horse carriages, ox carts, camel trains, and bustling crowds, with inns fully booked, taverns rowdy, and the air filled with dust, spices, and a special aura of anxiety and anticipation.
On the second-floor wooden loft of an inn in the town center, Jiraiya was leaning by the window, his signature white long hair casually draped, his gaze thoughtfully scanning the endless stream of people below through the window.
The discussions from downstairs mixed with the sounds of carriages and horses clearly reached his ears.
“Hey? Mr. Yamashita? Didn’t you take goods to the Land of Earth? How did you turn back so quickly?” A somewhat sharp merchant’s voice rang out.
The man called Yamashita sighed, his tone full of frustration: “Ugh! Don’t mention it! I just got there and heard that Stone Village in the Land of Earth declared war without warning and fought with the Land of Stars! Now the entire western Ninja Continent is in chaos, trade routes completely cut off!”
“What? Stone Village joined the war too?”
“My god! Two great countries besieging the Land of Stars?”
“This is bad, my goods are still stuck in stock!”
“Stone Village! The Land of Stars is in danger now!”
The surrounding merchants immediately exploded, discussions rising and falling.
Some beat their chests in anguish over unsold goods and severed trade paths; others worried anxiously that the war would spread further, affecting this temporary haven.
A middle-aged merchant in cotton clothes shook his head and sighed: “Sigh, the Land of Stars was such a great place, reasonable taxes, good security. I’ve been trading there for years and never encountered extortion. Now it’s ruined, two great ninja villages attacking together, such a good business environment is probably all gone.”
A scarred-faced merchant nearby, who seemed to have weathered many storms, chimed in: “How many years has the Land of Stars been founded? How many ninja could they have at most? Sand Village and Stone Village are veteran Five Great Shinobi Villages with deep foundations. I heard the Third Tsuchikage Onoki of Stone Village was the ruthless character who mobilized over ten thousand ninja to wear down the Third Raiden to death! The Land of Stars this time… probably won’t make it.”
But some held different views. A loud-voiced burly merchant retorted: “Can’t say that! Last time I hired Star Ninja from the Land of Stars to escort my merchant caravan, their discipline and quality were impeccable! Never took bribes or extorted, and their combat power was like this!”
He stuck up his thumb: “Way better than the Konoha and Sand Village ninja I hired before! I feel they might not lose!”
Jiraiya by the window listened to these discussions, his brows gradually furrowing.
He had personally experienced the Second and Third Great Ninja Wars and had a deep understanding of Sand Village’s, especially Stone Village’s, war potential.
That old guy Onoki’s Dust Release and command abilities, along with Stone Village’s tenacious, group combat style, were extremely troublesome.
Over ten thousand Stone Ninja troops…
Just thinking about it made his scalp tingle.
Even the enigmatic “Lord Shura” of the Land of Stars, and the absorbed Uchiha, Hyuga, and other bloodline families, facing the full assault of two great ninja villages, the situation was absolutely not optimistic.
The direction of this war was hard for even him to predict; it felt shrouded in fog, weighing heavily on his heart.
Creak—
The door was gently pushed open, interrupting Jiraiya’s thoughts.
Konan walked in carrying a wooden tray, on which were two steaming bowls of ramen and a few side dishes.
Her neat purple short hair looked very capable, and her light purple Chinese-style training clothes were spotless.
“Lord Jiraiya, lunch is ready.” Her voice was crisp as she deftly placed the tray on the small table in the center of the room and began setting out bowl and chopsticks.
It had been nearly ten days since they left Rain Village.
With their speed, they had actually reached the border between the Land of Birds and the Land of Stars seven days ago.
However, with the Land of Stars plunged into war and the border on high alert, Jiraiya considered the risks of rashly entering a warring nation with no prior ties too great, especially with a sensitive Rain Village girl in tow, so he decided to temporarily stay in this border town to observe.
Konan had no objections on the surface; after all, the travel expenses were covered by this supposedly famous “writer.”
She quietly fulfilled her duties as “guard” and “temporary assistant,” tending to Jiraiya’s injuries.
Though this guy had amazing recovery; he was bouncing around lively just days ago, and one night she even caught him sneaking out for drinks, which made her both annoyed and amused.
Watching Konan meticulously set the tableware, Jiraiya couldn’t help but sigh: “Sigh, having a woman take care of you is different; the journey feels much more comfortable.”
“Hm? Lord Jiraiya, what did you just say?” Konan looked up, her eyes questioning.
“Ah haha, nothing nothing!” Jiraiya quickly laughed it off and changed the subject: “I mean, aren’t you worried about that kid from the Land of Stars? Things are heating up over there now.”
He was naturally referring to that mysterious boy she had met once in Rain Village but left a deep impression on her.
Konan’s hands paused slightly, then resumed as normal, her tone flat: “What’s the use of worrying? As a ninja, dying on a mission or battlefield is commonplace, isn’t it? From the moment he chose that path, he should have been prepared.”
Her words carried the unique indifference and acceptance of life and death typical of Rain Village orphans.
Jiraiya pondered for a moment upon hearing this.
He understood the view of those who grew up in constant war toward life’s impermanence, but still said: “That’s true… but he’s someone you care about, right? If something really happened to him on the battlefield, wouldn’t your heart ache?”
“I… I didn’t put him in my heart!” Konan reacted like a cat whose tail was stepped on, a faint blush instantly appearing on her cheeks, her voice unconsciously rising with obvious embarrassment.
“He… he’s so strong, how could he die so easily! I just… just…”
Seeing her reaction that was like “no silver three hundred taels,” Jiraiya couldn’t help but burst out laughing, stroking his beard with his usual teasing smile: “Oh? Is that so? I see~”
Teasing such a pure yet stubborn little girl always brought him inexplicable pleasure.
Jiraiya picked up his chopsticks and tapped the bowl edge: “Alright alright, no more teasing. Eat quickly, or the noodles will get cold.”
Konan puffed her cheeks, seeming to want to argue, but eventually huffily picked up her chopsticks and buried her head in eating, though the lingering blush at her ears betrayed her inner turmoil.
Just as the two ate in relative silence, the noisy clamor on the street below suddenly shifted tone, like cold water hitting boiling oil, exploding fiercely!
A shrill voice from extreme excitement pierced all the noise, clearly spreading throughout the street and up to the loft:
“Victory report! Land of Stars victory report! They won!”
“The Land of Stars won! Sand Village and Stone Village defeated! The two great ninja villages’ main forces completely annihilated! Kazekage captured, Tsuchikage surrendered!!”
“Whoa—!”
The entire town seemed ignited by this news, an even greater wave of sound erupting, with gasps, doubts, and ecstatic shouts intertwining deafeningly.
“What?!”
“How is that possible? Just a few days?”
“Sand Village and Stone Village… both defeated at once?”
“Is the news real? Who brought it?”
“Absolutely true! It’s from the Land of Stars! Official announcement from the Land of Stars! Even border checks are loosening!”
“My god! The Land of Stars… is actually this strong?!”
Up in the loft, Jiraiya’s hand holding the chopsticks froze mid-air, the noodles in his mouth forgotten, his face full of disbelief.
He abruptly turned his head to the boiling street outside the window, muttering to himself: “What a joke… Sand Village defeated is understandable, but Stone Village? That old fox Onoki isn’t simple… Just a few days? Seven days? Consecutive defeats in two battles? This Land of Stars…”
The shock in his heart was indescribable.
This completely overturned his understanding of conventional ninja world wars.
Even in the previous three Great Ninja Wars, he had never seen a great nation’s ninja village defeated in just days after war started!
Unless possessing absolute power like the First Hokage Hashirama Senju or Uchiha Madara back then, who could take on a nation single-handedly, how could they achieve such brilliant, even terrifying, results in such a short time?
That “Lord Shura,” and the hidden power of the Land of Stars, were far more terrifying than he imagined.
When he slightly recovered from the shock and turned back to Konan across the table, he saw the girl had put down her chopsticks at some point, hands tightly covering her mouth, shoulders trembling slightly, big teardrops uncontrollably rolling down from her yellow eyes, tracing her smooth cheeks and dripping onto the table before her.
It was no longer feigned calm indifference, but ecstatic joy and immense relief like surviving a disaster.
“He… he’s okay… That’s great…” She choked, her voice as faint as a mosquito, yet full of genuine emotion.
At this moment, any verbal denial seemed pale and powerless.
She clumsily wiped her tears with the back of her hand, but they only flowed more; finally, she looked up at Jiraiya, eyes shining with eager light: “Lord Jiraiya! Can we… can we go now? To the Land of Stars right now, okay?”
Seeing her teary-eyed yet full of anticipation, Jiraiya felt a mix of emotions, both dread of the Land of Stars’ terrifying strength and a touch of relief for the girl.
He took a deep breath, nodded, his playful expression gone, turning serious:
“Yeah, no need to wait anymore. Pack up, we’re leaving immediately. I also want to see with my own eyes what kind of place this ‘Land of Stars’ is, that made Shisui and Hizashi defect from Konoha and crush two great ninja villages in seven days!”
…………
Land of Stars and Land of Earth border, outside Tottori Mountain Castle.
The gunpowder smoke of war had not fully dissipated, the air still filled with faint blood scent and charred smell.
The originally desolate highland gobi was now covered with temporary tents and crude sheds, forming a massive camp.
This place was now the temporary shelter for over seven thousand Stone Ninja prisoners of war.
Around the camp, every certain distance, Star Ninja in deep blue uniforms patrolled or stood guard.
They looked solemn, eyes sharp, their kunai guns glinting coldly in the sunlight.
Though due to the large number of Stone Ninja making collection difficult, not all weapons were forcibly confiscated, but an invisible, suffocating pressure enveloped the entire camp.
This pressure came not just from the well-equipped, disciplined Star Ninja guards around.
Deeper still, it stemmed from the terrifying battle two days ago, and that towering red giant that effortlessly crushed two tailed beasts and over ten thousand troops.
Uchiha Hikari’s Perfect Susanoo!
That apocalyptic scene had long been etched like a nightmare into the souls of every surviving Stone Ninja, completely shattering their will to fight.
Now, seeing the Uchiha fan crest on some Star Ninja, many Stone Ninja instinctively lowered their heads, bodies trembling slightly, as if the crimson pattern itself contained endless fear.
Rebellion?
That thought had long vanished completely from their minds.
Surviving was already fortunate.
Inside the camp, the atmosphere was oppressive and heavy.
Groans from the wounded rose and fell, but more was a deathly numb silence.
Medical ninja teams sent by the Land of Stars shuttled among the wounded, efficiently performing debridement, bandaging, and medication.
The medicines they brought were remarkably effective, their attitudes professional, showing no neglect despite the patients being prisoners.
This “preferential treatment” instead made some Stone Ninja feel even more complex.
On the train station platform west of Tottori Mountain Castle.
The atmosphere was starkly different from the distant prisoner camp, yet equally grave.
The Third Tsuchikage Onoki, the once dominant “Two-Day Scale” of the ninja world, now seemed twenty years older overnight.
His diminutive frame was wrapped in the dust-covered Tsuchikage miko robe, his face etched with exhaustion, defeat, and a bone-deep sense of powerlessness.
His son Kurotsuchi, and jonin Bun’ya, Kari, and others stood beside him, all bearing varying injuries, expressions solemn.
Uchiha Hikari stood opposite them, posture erect, black long hair slightly swaying in the highland wind, eyes calm and unruffled.
Behind her stood Uchiha Shisui, Uchiha Izumi, Uchiha Inabi, and Natsuhi, high-level officials of the Land of Stars.
“Kurotsuchi, Bun’ya.” Onoki’s voice was hoarse and low, even trembling slightly: “This place is yours now. Watch over everyone, rest and recuperate, especially Old Roshi and Han… they’re badly hurt, make sure to cooperate fully with the Star Ninja medical ninja for treatment.”
He paused, his gaze sweeping over these subordinates who had followed him for years, a flash of pain in his eyes, “Everything… we’ll talk when I return from Star Capital.”
Onoki’s words carried the pathos of a hero at the end of his road.
This trip to Star Capital was not equal diplomacy, but as a defeated party to accept the victor’s judgment.
He had almost no bargaining chips; Stone Village’s main force crippled, two jinchūriki badly injured, Land of Earth’s national power suffering unprecedented damage.
He could even foresee the harsh terms the Land of Stars would demand, even…
Purging the Land of Earth’s daimyo and nobles!
Uchiha Hikari’s cold voice rang out, breaking the heavy atmosphere: “Shisui, Izumi, Natsuhi, implement our established policy of preferential treatment for prisoners. Ensure their basic survival needs, full treatment for the wounded. Negotiations will end soon.”
Her gaze finally settled on Onoki, with an aloof detachment from above.
Onoki’s mouth tugged a bitter curve, nodding.
He understood this so-called “preferential treatment” was entirely based on the opponent’s absolute might’s mercy.
With the train whistle sounding, the group boarded the train.
The carriage interior was simple and sturdy, pure military style.
In stark contrast to the grim-faced, silent Onoki and Akatsuchi, Kurotsuchi was quickly captivated by this novel mode of transport.
She curiously wandered the carriage, touching the smooth metal walls, then pressed against the large window, staring unblinkingly at the rapidly receding gobi outside, occasionally letting out small exclamations.
“Grandpa! Grandpa! This iron box is so long! It really moves by itself?”
“Kurotsuchi! Don’t be rude!” Onoki couldn’t help scolding, then turned to the calmly seated Uchiha Hikari opposite with an awkward smile: “Sorry, kids don’t know better, hope you don’t mind.”
Uchiha Hikari glanced at the little girl full of curiosity toward the massive train, her icy eyes unusually free of impatience, instead shaking her head slightly: “No matter. Kids being lively is good.”
Hearing this, Onoki couldn’t help scrutinizing the girl before him again.
Exquisite features, flawless skin, clear and profound eyes; she looked just a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old girl.
Yet within this seemingly slender body lay power terrifying enough to topple a nation.
Onoki finally couldn’t hold back his immense curiosity and probed: “Forgive my impudence, but… you’re really not a descendant of Uchiha Madara?”
As soon as he spoke, Onoki felt the surrounding air tense slightly; Uchiha Hikari’s brows furrowed imperceptibly, a flash of displeasure in her eyes.
Onoki’s heart tightened, quickly adding: “Please don’t misunderstand! It’s just… hard to imagine that a figure like Uchiha Madara is your junior. After all, you look… so young.”
Hearing “young,” the displeasure in Uchiha Hikari’s eyes eased; she lightly snorted with arrogance: “I was active in the Warring States Period, naturally older than Uchiha Madara, about three hundred years older, roughly.”
“Three hundred years old?!” Onoki gasped, eyes bulging round; even Akatsuchi and Kurotsuchi beside him showed disbelief!
Over three hundred years old?
Still with a girl’s appearance?
At this point, Kurotsuchi, pulled back by Akatsuchi, overheard and blinked her big eyes innocently: “Big sister! Do you have some secret to eternal youth? Teach Kurotsuchi, okay?”
Called “big sister” sweetly by this innocent little girl, Uchiha Hikari’s mood seemed to improve a bit, a faint curve at her lips: “Secret? That’s a secret.”
With the train’s long whistle, this special military train slowly started, speeding southward along the railway through the northern border of the Land of Stars.
Inside the carriage, Onoki and Akatsuchi sat on one side, faces grave, silent.
The shadow of defeat and uncertainty about the future weighed like boulders on their hearts.
While Kurotsuchi excitedly pressed her little face to the window glass, staring at the rapidly passing scenery outside.
When the train emerged from the rugged northern mountain tunnel, a vast, vibrant plain suddenly opened before them, and Onoki’s pupils contracted sharply!
“This… this is Ghost River Plains?!” He stared incredulously out the window.
In his memory, this was unusable swamp and flood-prone riverbanks, barren soil, sparse population.
Yet now before his eyes were endless golden rice fields and neat farmlands crisscrossed by paths!
Even more shocking, in the fields, farmers operated small metal devices emitting faint glows he had never seen, farming with extreme efficiency!
“Such fertile fields… such farming tools… no wonder the Land of Stars has abundant grain, even exporting massively…” Onoki’s heart surged with shockwaves.
He finally understood that the Land of Stars’ strength lay not just in ninja, but in this revolutionary agricultural productivity and technology he couldn’t comprehend!
Turning a swamp into thousands of li of fertile land—the technology and organization behind it terrified and powerless him far more than battlefield victories.
The train continued south, the scenery outside growing more prosperous: towns and villages dotted around, wide roads bustling with carriages, a thriving scene worlds apart from the Land of Earth’s barren highlands.
Onoki gazed out the window, silent for a long time, finally sighing deeply to Uchiha Hikari opposite: “This defeat, I have nothing to say. I only hope that upon reaching Star Capital, Lord Shura… can grant me, and the Land of Earth, a little… final dignity.”
Uchiha Hikari glanced at him upon hearing this, replying flatly: “Lord Shura has more important matters to handle and is not currently in Star Capital.”
“Not in Star Capital?” Onoki was stunned, even more puzzled.
What could be more important than defeating two great countries, claiming victory fruits, deciding postwar order?
Then…
Who would preside over these negotiations deciding the Land of Earth’s fate?
With a belly full of questions and heavy heart, the train finally pulled slowly into Star Capital’s grand central train station.
On the platform, Land of Stars officials and ninja were already lined up waiting.
The door opened; Onoki took a deep breath, straightened his robe, striving to maintain a Kage’s final dignity, stepping off the train behind Uchiha Hikari, with Akatsuchi and Kurotsuchi following.
Onoki’s gaze swept the platform crowd, finally locking onto the figure at the front.
Golden short hair gleaming under the platform lights, gray eyes evoking clear skies, handsome face with a gentle yet authoritative smile…
In an instant, Onoki was struck like by lightning!
His whole body froze in place, eyes wide as saucers, mouth agape enough for an egg, face full of utmost shock, bewilderment, and incomprehensible horror!
Onoki instinctively stepped back, pointing a trembling finger, letting out a nearly distorted cry:
“Mi… Minato Namikaze?!”
