Master, Please Become a Hokage

Specifically speaking.

The Will of Stone is similar to the Honey Badger's headstrong behavior in the animal kingdom.

In the original story, the Rock ninja's unwavering fight of 10,000 against the Third Raikage is one of the best demonstrations of this.

These people have no concept of moderation.

"Unity is something everyone understands... The key to Iwagakure's legacy lies in the Will of Stone..."

Sarutobi Ryo's eloquent explanation immediately attracted everyone's attention, perking them up.

After all, the Iwagakure ninjas care a lot about this.

Because few outsiders mention the Will of Stone.

So...

They are indeed very interested and curious about this rare idea.

"Some people understand the so-called Will of Stone as... someone special who stands above all others, at the apex. It can be strength, or it can be character..."

This is the understanding of most Iwagakure ninjas.

Because Iwagakure's most precious legacy, a certain stone, is enshrined at the top of the tower.

It was created by the First Tsuchikage and has been guarded by his successors for generations.

However, in reality...

The so-called most precious stone can be replaced at will; any stone can be taken from anywhere and treated as the legacy.

On the one hand, this shows that it is not the material that is important, but the spirit.

On the other hand, it shows that everyone can become an inheritor of the Will of Stone.

"I think... I can also possess the Will of Stone..."

Before Sarutobi Ryo could finish speaking, the surrounding people burst into laughter.

The sarcasm and cynicism were almost overflowing.

Only Ōnoki remained expressionless, staring at Sarutobi Ryo, seemingly pondering something.

As a transmigrator, Sarutobi Ryo was familiar with all the plot points.

Even if he didn't mention the stone to Ōnoki, this statement was enough to pique Ōnoki's curiosity.

"Hmph, I thought the Third Hokage's son would be some kind of talent, but it turns out he's just a kid who talks big..."

Ōnoki crossed his arms and directly mocked him.

"As far as I know... the Second Tsuchikage created the 'Dust Release' Kekkei Genkai, and no one has been able to learn it to this day..."

Sarutobi Ryo suddenly mentioned Iwagakure's legacy.

Even Deidara was just an explosive chuunibyou teenager who failed to inherit Dust Release.

Sarutobi Ryo believed that it wasn't that Ōnoki didn't teach it... it was that they couldn't learn it.

After all, Kurotsuchi couldn't even create a Kekkei Genkai.

And Akatsuchi only created a Cement Release.

"If it were me... I could quickly learn Dust Release..."

To prove that I possess the Will of Stone.

When Sarutobi Ryo said this, all laughter suddenly disappeared.

The voices of the crowd stopped abruptly, and they stared at Sarutobi Ryo in disbelief...

Even Uzumaki Mito couldn't help but widen her beautiful eyes.

Because this was really... a boastful claim.

Chapter 211. Successful Negotiation

The request made by Sarutobi Ryo seemed inexplicable to the ninjas of Iwagakure.

Dust Release is their village's treasure!

It is the crystallization of the wisdom of two generations of Tsuchikage!

To some extent, it is an even more powerful weapon than the tailed beasts!

But to Utatane Koharu and Uzumaki Mito, Sarutobi Ryo's statement was simply wishful thinking.

How could anyone hand over their village's treasure for you to learn!

"What's wrong, Tsuchikage-sama, are you afraid?"

Sarutobi Ryo raised his eyebrows, his tone calm.

Ōnoki's mouth quickly curved into a disdainful expression: "Hmph..."

He thought the Third Hokage's son would say something useful, but he didn't expect such a boring request.

However, Sarutobi Ryo's next sentence made Ōnoki's expression freeze.

"Rōshi is already in our hands."

Everyone: "!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Ōnoki understood Sarutobi Ryo's meaning.

He simply wanted to use Rōshi... no, the Four-Tails, to exchange for Dust Release.

The conflict between Ōnoki and Rōshi had been going on for a long time.

And because Rōshi had not taken any substantial actions to betray Iwagakure, Ōnoki could not directly kill Rōshi to replace the Four-Tails jinchūriki.

But now, Sarutobi Ryo was providing Ōnoki with this opportunity.

You give me Dust Release, and I'll return the Four-Tails to you.

The deal is fair.

The Tsuchikage, known as "The Dual Scales," would definitely consider the relationship between them.

So...

Is the Four-Tails worth exchanging for Dust Release?

The pressure immediately shifted to Ōnoki's side.

As the leader of Iwagakure, with the unity of the entire village, he needed to consider the village's interests and not just his own personal gain.

So, which is more important, the interests of Iwagakure, or...

Sarutobi Ryo directly posed a difficult problem for Ōnoki.

"Tsuchikage-sama, this is a trap!"

Immediately, someone spoke up, signaling Ōnoki not to fall for it.

But Ōnoki waved his hand, directly interrupting the other party.

He stared intently at Sarutobi Ryo, and their eyes met.

From Sarutobi Ryo's eyes, he understood that the other party was not lying.

After all, Sarutobi Ryo had defeated Han in the past.

And Han was still being held captive in Konoha for more than a year.

At first, Ōnoki deliberately didn't mention this matter, but now... the Four-Tails had also fallen into Konoha's hands.

It was as if Konoha possessed three tailed beasts.

The balance had already been broken.

If he hadn't mastered Dust Release, the situation would have become irreversible.

Now this kid actually wanted to demand Dust Release...

Was he trying to empty Iwagakure's coffers?

"Return the Five-Tails as well, and I will agree to your terms!"

Ōnoki made an even more unreasonable request.

Not only should you Konoha return our Iwagakure's Four-Tails, but you should also return our Five-Tails!

This kind of demand was like Ōnoki's proposal of a non-compensation treaty in the later stages of the Third Shinobi World War...

Even in a disadvantaged situation, Ōnoki was still scheming.

"Okay."

Sarutobi Ryo readily agreed.

This instead made Ōnoki slightly stunned.

Such a straightforward and decisive answer even made him wonder if there was some kind of trap...

"Since we Konoha were able to capture the Four-Tails and Five-Tails once... then naturally there will be a second time..."

Sarutobi Ryo explained calmly.

"Tsuchikage-sama... you must have already noticed it, right..."

It should be said that most Kage-level powerhouses had noticed something...

The tailed beasts could not absolutely determine the course of the shinobi world and the balance between the ninja villages.

Because there were too many experts who could easily subdue the tailed beasts.

In this way, Hashirama Senju's strategy of distributing the tailed beasts back then had obviously failed...

The tailed beasts were no longer the absolute trump card that they once were.

"Uchiha Madara intends to collect all the tailed beasts..."

Sarutobi Ryo hinted to Ōnoki.

Even a young junior like me can defeat tailed beast jinchūriki/tailed beasts.

For Uchiha Madara, it would be even easier.

I hope you will think carefully about the seriousness of this...

If Uchiha Madara wanted to, he could subdue all nine tailed beasts at any time.

Ōnoki, as someone who had personally witnessed Uchiha Madara's power, of course understood that the young man in front of him was not lying.

Uchiha Madara... did indeed possess that kind of power.

Ōnoki's expression became even more serious, and he ignored the surrounding people who were discussing.

He nodded solemnly: "I will agree to your terms!"

At this moment, Ōnoki showed his mettle as the Tsuchikage.

Finally, he added a sentence.

"This is for the sake of your father's reputation!"

Speaking of character, his father, Sarutobi Hiruzen, had an excellent reputation in the shinobi world.

No Kage did not praise him for it.

Therefore, Sarutobi Ryo gained some of Ōnoki's trust.

Ōnoki believed that Konoha was not here solely to deceive him for his Dust Release.

"However... are you sure you can make the decision to exchange two jinchūriki?"