Chp-112: I Have a Dream

In the Rock Shinobi camp, inside the largest command tent, Ōnoki was intently listening to the scout's battle report. This battle had his undivided attention; he had even taken command personally. Victory was the only option; failure was not acceptable.

"According to the plan, Lord Han personally engaged Hyūga Satoru. The opponent used a unique acceleration ability, matching Lord Han in speed," the scout reported solemnly.

"According to the latest intelligence, it appears Lord Han has fully released the Five-Tails," the scout continued.

Ōnoki's heart skipped a beat. "Is it the complete form of the Five-Tails?" he asked hastily.

"Yes."

Ōnoki let out a long breath, reclining in his chair. The complete form of the Five-Tails and merely borrowing its chakra were entirely different concepts. This indicated Han was not Satoru's match and had sustained severe injuries, forcing him to release the Five-Tails.

Damn it! Despite extensive preparations to counter him, even replacing almost all the Rock Shinobi equipment, they had still ended up here!

Ōnoki's expression turned grim. He had not underestimated Satoru, a young ninja who had recently risen to fame. Now, it seemed he had still miscalculated. He could only hope the Five-Tails could deal with Satoru. The Five-Tails was among the stronger tailed beasts. Even though Satoru was a rising star, he should not be able to match the Five-Tails.

Ōnoki reassured himself with these thoughts. "Dismissed. Inform me immediately if there's any news!"

"Yes!"

The tent fell silent as Ōnoki sat, holding his breath, awaiting the latest battle updates. After some time, a scout hurried in.

"Lord Tsuchikage, the Five-Tails... the Hyūga ninja has defeated the Five-Tails."

"What about Han?" Ōnoki's eyes narrowed. The Jinchūriki must not be lost.

"Lord Kitsuchi managed to retrieve him. The main force is retreating. Lord Kitsuchi has sent word to prepare the medical team; Han seems to be severely injured."

Ōnoki's fingers clenched the wooden armrests, causing them to creak. His face alternated between pale and flushed. Even as a veteran of the First Shinobi World War, the news caused him to grit his teeth.

He finally understood why the new Kazekage, Rasa, had been tormented to such an extent by Satoru. Even the Five-Tails had lost! It appeared Satoru might already possess Kage-level strength. However, he couldn't fathom how Satoru had defeated the Five-Tails. The Five-Tails, known for its speed, would be a formidable opponent even for him.

The scout, noticing his confusion, stammered, "He seemed to control a special metal giant, larger than the Five-Tails. The Five-Tails' attacks were ineffective against it."

A metal giant larger than a tailed beast? Ōnoki was momentarily lost in thought, recalling Madara Uchiha. In his youth, he had faced Madara multiple times, seeing him as a lifelong rival. To Madara, Ōnoki was merely a toy to be played with when interested and swiftly defeated when not. Madara's Susanoo was a colossal jutsu surpassing tailed beasts, its mountain-shattering power unforgettable.

"Do you know the name of that technique?" Ōnoki asked, his voice heavy.

The scout looked troubled as if organizing his words. "The scouts nearby overheard their discussion. It seemed... it seemed to be called..."

Impatient, Ōnoki frowned. "Spit it out! If you've heard the name, why are you hesitating? Does it really take this long to recall?"

"I remember now. It's called Magnetic Release: Sky-Splitting Iron Mountain Giant Slash Zero," the scout said in one breath, panting heavily afterwards. Luckily, as a top-tier scout, his memory was excellent. Otherwise, he might not have recalled such a long name.

Ōnoki was stunned. Magnetic Release: Sky-Splitting... What? Was that really a jutsu name? Who came up with it? Was there a mistake? After digesting the information, Ōnoki exhaled deeply, his face dark. It seemed he might have to intervene personally to suppress Satoru. Despite Satoru's impressive record, Ōnoki had the utmost confidence in his Dust Release. A direct hit from Dust Release meant certain death, regardless of talent.

However, if he entered the fray, the Leaf Village wouldn't remain idle. Hiruzen Sarutobi would surely join, along with Danzō and other top-tier ninjas. In terms of foundation, the Rock Village couldn't match the Leaf Village. After some thought, Ōnoki abandoned the idea of personally participating. "Send for Rōshi," he ordered. "Be respectful."

"Yes, sir."

The scout wiped the sweat from his forehead. Rōshi, the Four-Tails Jinchūriki, often clashed with Ōnoki, even threatening to leave the village. Ōnoki yielding to Rōshi indicated the dire straits the Rock Village was in.

Would both Jinchūriki join the battle? The scout was shocked at the thought.

Meanwhile, Satoru wandered through the camp, exasperated. Despite the days since the battle, the camp's discussion fervour hadn't waned; it had grown more intense instead. At the centre of the storm were Satoru and his massive metal mecha. The rough, wild appearance of the Jaeger had stirred deep waves in the hearts of these ninjas.

Ninjutsu was weak! Real men piloted Gundams! Such remarks were endless. Correspondingly, Minato's exaggerated name had also inexplicably gained popularity, spawning several versions. This was the source of Satoru's frustration.

Minato... you're something else! Satoru's eyes subtly glanced at Kakashi's tent. It still showed no signs of opening. Unlike the jubilant atmosphere outside, Kakashi seemed isolated in another world, not even leaving his tent much.

"He should have digested my words by now," Satoru mused. Knowing the village's dark side and the truth behind his father's death, how would Kakashi turn out? Blackening was inevitable. With a bit of guidance, Kakashi should easily fall to his side. The future Sixth Hokage is one of the village's most talented people. Satoru couldn't bear to let go of such talent.

No, not just Kakashi. He had to start planning now. The Third Shinobi World War was merely the beginning. After the war, the main storyline of Naruto would commence. Madara Uchiha, Nagato, Akatsuki... All these hidden figures would awaken. His clone had been tasked with searching the forests of the Grass Country. In the original story, Obito was taken by Madara after the Kannabi Bridge mission, gradually being groomed and blackened. This suggested that Madara's underground base was near Kannabi Bridge. With his clone, he might find the base ahead of time.

Satoru's eyes shone brightly. His goal was never just the clan or the village. He had a dream. To conquer the entire Earth, and from there, launch a counterattack against the Ōtsutsuki!