Just as Seigen was about to explain himself again, Ōnoki launched an attack without another word.
“Earth Release: Earth Core!”
The moment Ōnoki appeared, Kurotsuchi seized the opportunity to escape from Seigen’s side.
“Grandpa!”
Feeling the ground violently tremble beneath his feet, Seigen leaped into the air to avoid the attack.
But Ōnoki wasn’t finished.
“Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!”
Damn it!
You old man really have no sense of fair play—opening with your ultimate move the moment we meet?
Seigen activated his Sharingan and used his space-time ability to evade the devastating Dust Release.
“Ōnoki, I’ve already told you—I came here to cooperate with your village.”
His patience had finally reached its limit.
I’ve tried talking nicely, but none of you will listen.
Fine.
If you only understand fists…
then fists it is.
In an instant, Seigen summoned his Susanoo.
“To hell with negotiations!”
“If we can’t settle this peacefully, then forget negotiating altogether!”
“What?!”
Ōnoki’s eyes widened as he stared at the towering black giant before him.
“Who…
who is this?”
“How can another Uchiha be this powerful?!”
The Hidden Stone shinobi lying on the ground trembled uncontrollably.
That technique…
Wasn’t that the same power Uchiha Madara had possessed?
Then…
The young man standing before them…
Was the Flame Shadow of the Hidden Flame Village.
Knowing better than anyone how terrifying Madara had been, Ōnoki immediately abandoned any thought of capturing Seigen.
It wasn’t that he lacked the courage.
The price would simply be far too great.
Not to mention…
Seigen had already demonstrated a space-time ninjutsu moments earlier.
Capturing someone like that was virtually impossible.
Making an enemy of him now would cost the Hidden Stone Village dearly.
“Wait!”
” Flame Shadow!”
“It was all just a misunderstanding!”
Seeing the enormous blade of the Susanoo slowly rise, Ōnoki nearly lost his soul in fright.
He hurriedly shouted to stop him.
Hearing that Ōnoki was finally willing to talk, Seigen immediately changed the direction of his swing.
Instead of striking the village…
He brought the blade crashing down upon a nearby mountain.
Slash!
A dazzling streak of light flashed through the air.
The entire mountaintop was cleanly sliced away by a single swing.
Everyone present swallowed nervously.
If that attack had landed inside the village…
“So…”
“Can we finally have a proper conversation?”
Ōnoki nodded and signaled the surrounding shinobi to lower their weapons.
“Come with me.”
He led Seigen toward the Hidden Stone Village.
After entering the village, Seigen curiously looked around.
The unique terrain meant nearly every home had been built into steep cliffs and towering rock formations.
Having grown accustomed to Konoha’s lush scenery…
The harsh living conditions of the Hidden Stone Village were immediately obvious.
“Tsk.”
“You people really do live under terrible conditions.”
“Hmph.
Unlike your Ko—”
Ōnoki instinctively started to say “Konoha.”
Then he remembered…
The Uchiha had already defected from Konoha.
He abruptly stopped himself.
“What exactly do you want to discuss with me?”
Considering Seigen’s overwhelming strength, Ōnoki suppressed the countless questions filling his mind.
He couldn’t help wondering…
He had only just dispatched a team to investigate the Hidden Flame Village…
Yet Seigen had immediately appeared at his doorstep.
Could it be…
Kitsuchi succeeded in capturing someone but got exposed?
Damn it!
I told that fool to be careful!
Ōnoki’s imagination began running wild.
In his mind, he’d already envisioned the Uchiha seeking revenge against Konoha and proposing an alliance with the Hidden Stone Village.
As they walked through the village, Seigen realized the Hidden Stone Village’s economy was even worse than he had expected.
Many civilians barely had enough clothes to cover themselves.
Beggars could be seen everywhere.
The shinobi lived slightly better lives…
But most of them wore faded combat uniforms that had clearly been patched and repaired countless times.
The Hidden Stone Village earned most of its income by accepting missions from the underground bounty exchange.
The funding provided by the Land of Earth simply wasn’t enough to support the village.
On top of that…
Over the years, Konoha had claimed the lion’s share of mission requests.
Life in the Hidden Stone Village had become increasingly difficult.
Seeing all this…
Seigen lowered his head and smiled to himself.
Ōnoki…
It’s time to show you the power of capitalism.
Following Ōnoki and the others, Seigen arrived at the Tsuchikage’s office.
Several bald elderly men were already waiting inside.
It was obvious they were the Hidden Stone Village’s senior leadership.
“All right.”
“Flame Shadow…”
“What exactly are you here for?”
Sitting in his wheelchair, Ōnoki fixed his gaze on Seigen.
The other elders did the same.
“I’ve come…”
“…to discuss a business deal with the Hidden Stone Village.”
After speaking, Seigen slowly swept his eyes across everyone in the room.
The wary expression on Ōnoki’s face immediately shifted the moment he heard the word “business.”
He couldn’t help becoming interested.
After all…
The village had received fewer and fewer missions over the years.
Its finances had been running at a deficit for several consecutive years.
If they didn’t find a new source of income soon…
Everyone would be eating dirt.
Still…
Seigen’s proposal struck Ōnoki as rather strange.
Normally, missions were handled by a village’s own shinobi.
Villages almost never hired ninja from another hidden village.
The Hidden Flame Village had only just been founded.
Logically speaking…
Shouldn’t they be the ones desperately needing missions to earn money?
The more Ōnoki thought about it…
The stranger Seigen’s intentions seemed.