"Mm."

Ōnoki nodded curtly, saying nothing more as he led them away to their accommodations. Once again, he reminded A and his mennotto move alone—or else they would be placed under strict surveillance.

After Kumogakure, Sunagakure's reinforcements arrived as well.

Rasa had personally led the team—most likely because there were no major mining operations keeping him busy in the desert at the moment.

His presence alone proved how seriously Sunagakure was taking this matter.

To Rasa, Iwagakure's internal chaos was amusing to watch, but the idea of Black Zetsu stealing the Rinnegan wasnot. That was why he had personally come to oversee things.

The same went for Kirigakure.

Yagura himself had arrived with his team.

Now, three of the four great shinobi villages—Kumogakure, Sunagakure, and Kirigakure—had all made it to Iwagakure.

OnlyKonoha'sforces were missing.

—

"What's going on with Konoha? It's been two days, and theystillaren't here!"

A slammed his hands on the table in frustration.

Yagura shook his head slightly.

He wasn't sure what was happening on Konoha's end either.

In fact, he didn't even know who they had sent.

Maybe it was Tsunade.

Maybe it was Takuya.

At this point, those two were theonlypeople in Konoha who could truly represent the village.

For this kind of situation, at leastoneof them had to show up.

Look at Kumogakure—though the Third Raikage had stayed behind, A had come in his place.

As the next in line for the title of Raikage, hewasa worthy representative.

Konoha sending someone oflesserimportance would be an insult.

"Maybe they were delayed by something," Yagura offered.

Logically speaking, Konohashouldbe the most anxious about this situation.

Madara wastheirproblem to begin with.

So why was everyone here... except for Konoha?

Was this their way ofdeliberatelydelaying things out of spite?

Rasa scoffed.

"Is this because of the last Five Kage Summit?"

As soon as he said that, Ōnoki and A's expressions darkened.

But neither of them couldreallyargue against it.

Back then, when Konoha was trying to warn them, they had brushed it off.

Now thattheywere the ones in trouble, Konoha was suddenly taking their time.

Was this payback?

"Even though I've only met her a few times, I don't believe Tsunade is the type to play games like that," Ōnoki muttered.

As much as he hated to admit it,

Konohadidhave a valid reason to take their time.

Still, the idea of itbotheredhim.

"What if it'snotTsunade who's coming?"

A added fuel to the fire.

Ōnoki immediately felt a headache coming on.

He had only met Takuya once, but that wasenough.

The brat wasvindictive.

Considering what happened during the last Five Kage Summit...

If Konoha had sent Takuya, there was no doubt he would take his time getting here.

Damn it.

Good thing this mess wasn't happening in Kirigakure.

Yagura folded his arms and remained silent.

Rasa, too, said nothing.

He had no problem going againstTsunade—but when it came to Takuya?

He wasn't dumb enough to provoke him.

—

"Lord Tsuchikage!"

The meeting room door suddenly opened.

A team of shinobi entered.

"Konoha's forces have arrived. They've entered the village and are making their way here."

"Bring them in immediately."

Ōnoki let out a relieved sigh.

Finally.

Even though theyhatedto admit it,

It was hard to make progress without Konoha involved.

Not only were they the first village to suspect Madara's survival,

But theyalsohad the most intelligence on him.

If Konoha could provide a solution,

Then it was worth making a few concessions.

—

As he walked through the streets of Iwagakure,

Takuya glanced at the buildings around him, taking in the architecture.

It was almost asuglyas Sunagakure's.

More importantly, however—

Wherever he looked, shinobi were moving in tightly-knitfive-man squads.

Takuya nearly laughed.

Not because he was trying to be cruel,

But because Iwagakure reallywaspathetic.

Thefirstvillage to get targeted.

And they hadnoway to fix it.

"The Tsuchikage and the other village leaders are waiting in the meeting room.

Please follow me."

The man who had come to escort them was none other than Kitsuchi, Ōnoki's son.

Evenhewasn't walking alone—his squad was with him.

Right now, theonlyperson in Iwagakure who could move independently was Ōnoki himself.

That's how bad the situation is.

"We understand," Takuya replied nonchalantly, looking around as they walked.

Pakura was silent, following behind him obediently.

Meanwhile, Kushina looked like an excited child who had just been let out of her cage.

Everywhere she turned, the unfamiliar scenery of Iwagakure piqued her curiosity.

Before long, they reached the Tsuchikage's office.

Kitsuchi led them into the meeting room.

—

"Well, well. Looks like we've got quite the crowd here."

Takuya strolled in, flashing a grin.

His gaze swept over the room.

A looked pissed.

Ōnoki looked exhausted.

Rasa looked like he didn't want to be here.

Takuya chuckled and took a seat beside Yagura.

Kushina and Pakura stood behind him.

"It certainlyislively," A sneered.

"I just never thought I'd see the day whenKonohalet its Nine-Tails Jinchūriki walk around so freely."

This bastard—he's asking for a beating.

Kushina clenched her fists, ready to throw hands.

Takuya squeezed her wrist lightly, signaling her to stay calm.

Then, with abrightsmile, he turned to A—

And said the first thing that came to mind.

"That's none of your damn business."

A's eye twitched.

Takuya leaned back lazily.

"If you keep yapping, I might justunleashthe Nine-Tails on you."

Silence.

Deadsilence.

Even Yagura glanced up at the ceiling, looking completely done with the situation.

Ōnoki's face darkened.

Rasa simply looked away, as if pretending not to see anything.

A wasfuming.

"You—"

"Youwhat?"

Takuya sneered.

"Did you forget to bring your brain with you?

Why the hell are you yapping at me like this isyourvillage getting wrecked?"

A gritted his teeth.

Takuya smirked.

"Getting all worked up over nothing.

You talk big, but you're nothing compared to your old man."

"You little—"

"What? You gonna cry about it?"

Takuya shot him amockinglook.

"If you're done running your mouth, sit down. I'll deal with you later."

"Enough!"

Ōnoki quickly stepped in, stopping the argument before it escalated further.

"The reason we're here is tosolvea problem, not start fights!"

Once the tension settled, Ōnoki finally asked,

"...Why did Konoha take so long to get here?"

Takuya smirked, propping his feet up on the table.

"What's the rush?

It's not like Konoha's the one in trouble."

He tilted his head.

"Weren'tyouthe one who didn't take the threat of Uchiha Madara seriously?"

Ōnoki's facetwitched.

Takuya grinned.

"If Madara gets the Rinnegan back,

Youguys are screwed."

Tsunade wouldn't say it outright.

Buthewould.

___________________________

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