Naruto: Pay-to-Win Ninja System

After the mobilization order was issued, the Third Tsuchikage didn't feel particularly worried. After all, unless Konoha had launched a full-scale invasion, it wasn't really a big deal.

Soon afterward, a crisp, childlike voice rang out, and an energetic young girl burst into the Tsuchikage's office.

"Grandpa!"

"Yaa! How come you're here? I'm in the middle of work!" Onoki said.

But inwardly, he was secretly delighted—after all, this was his most beloved granddaughter. He quickly set aside the documents he was handling, preparing to lift Kurotsuchi onto his lap for a warm snuggle.

Alas,

"Crack—"

A sharp sound came from his lower back, instantly making Onoki's expression shift.

"Grandpa, did you twist your waist again? I told you not to sit there all day—it's bad for your back!"

Kurotsuchi stood on her long legs and cheerfully hopped over to Onoki's side, lightly tapping his lower back while scolding him with a smile.

Everyone in Iwagakure knew how bad Grandpa's back was—otherwise, he wouldn't have had only one son, her father Kitsuchi...

"Good granddaughter, go easy, go easy!"

Onoki gripped the wooden table, wincing as he shouted. If Kurotsuchi kept tapping like that, his waist might actually break.

"By the way, where's Deidara?"

"Deidara? He's still working on resisting genjutsu. Lately, he hasn't been practicing ninjutsu with us anymore." Kurotsuchi pouted slightly, speaking unhappily.

She could understand Deidara, who considered himself a genius, feeling resentful after his humiliating defeat last time. But recently, he had gone too far.

He trained constantly, day and night without rest. She really didn't know when he might suddenly drop dead...

Still, from another angle, Deidara—focused entirely on training his resistance to genjutsu—had indeed stopped creating various explosions over the past month. This brought back a sense of peace the village had long missed.

Because of that, Onoki had even specially allowed him to move back inside the village from outside its walls.

"That kid… Sigh, let him sort things out in his own way."

"One failure isn't necessarily a bad thing."

"Oh right, good granddaughter, why are you here today?"

Kurotsuchi: "I came looking for Akatsuchi-senpai. Grandpa, isn't he here with you?"

Kurotsuchi scanned the room curiously, but Akatsuchi wasn't there. As both Grandpa Onoki's disciple and personal guard, Akatsuchi usually remained near the Tsuchikage's office.

"Akatsuchi? He went out on a mission. Just left."

"At this late hour, what kind of mission?"

"A squad of Konoha spies appeared outside the village. I sent Akatsuchi and others to check it out. Hopefully, they can capture them alive for interrogation."

Kurotsuchi froze slightly, somewhat startled.

"Konoha? Spies?"

"Does this mean Konoha is attacking?"

Onoki supported his waist and sat back down, smiling reassuringly.

"Not likely. Probably just five or six reconnaissance ninja. Nothing to worry about."

"But what if…"

"What if what?"

Kurotsuchi: "What if those few ninja are bait, and Konoha's main force is hiding behind them?"

"Do you think Akatsuchi and his team are walking straight into a tiger's den?"

"Definitely! That's exactly what I would do!"

"That explains why those Konoha ninjas were so easily exposed, right?"

Onoki fell into a heavy silence...

"No...No way that's happening. Konoha doesn't have the time or resources to start a full-scale war now. Otherwise, they wouldn't have used the Akatsuki organization for their last surprise attack. Besides, there's Homura Hidden Village standing right in their throat..."

Sweat began forming on Onoki's forehead as he stuttered out this self-reassurance.

As an ancient legend of Iwagakure who had survived three Great Ninja World Wars, Onoki truly possessed vast experience and keen insight.

But ironically, it was his overreliance on past experiences that clouded his judgment.

After all, in his eyes,

Over these many years, Konoha had never launched an offensive initiative.

All three Great Ninja World Wars were fought defensively.

Even the legendary First and Second Hokages had never initiated a war themselves.

Let alone Sarutobi, the aged Third Hokage—

Surely he wouldn't dare provoke a war now?

Of course, a lack of intelligence reports also played a role.

If he knew that half a month ago Konoha had suffered yet another attack, one they mistakenly believed had come from Iwagakure Village,

Then at this moment Onoki would absolutely not be taking things so lightly!

"Grandpa, whether it's right or wrong, you shouldn't risk Akatsuchi's life like this!"

"If there's really a problem, the entire village will be in danger..."

Hearing this, Onoki's face darkened even further.

Thinking carefully, his granddaughter actually made a good point.

At a time like this, gambling recklessly simply wasn't acceptable!

Even if there existed just a one-in-ten-thousand or ten-million chance;

Should the gamble fail, the consequences would mean total disaster for Iwagakure!

"I miscalculated. Go on, hurry back home first."

"Take care of your father."

"As for everything else, leave it to Grandpa."

Onoki urged once more, sending Kurotsuchi away from the Tsuchikage's office.

Without wasting another word,

He immediately pressed the alarm button beneath his desk.

Soon afterward, a piercing alarm rang throughout Iwagakure Village,

Waking family after family—those who had already begun sleeping or were preparing for bed.

[Level 1 Emergency Alert in Iwagakure]: This alarm indicates that a large number of ninja from other villages are currently invading!

At this very moment,

About two kilometers away, upon a rocky plateau to the southeast of Iwagakure Village,

A one-sided ambush was underway.

More than a hundred elite Konoha ninja were surrounding thirty Iwa-nin.

Without question, these thirty were the combined unit previously sent by Onoki, originally intending to eliminate the Konoha reconnaissance team.

Unfortunately, who could possibly have guessed

That the force lying in wait here wasn't merely a small Konoha scout squad?

It was an entire main battle army!

So much so that those thirty immediately walked into the ambush trap,

Instantly overwhelmed and swallowed entirely by Konoha's massive forces!

"The Third Hokage, all targets have been eliminated!"

Kakashi arrived before Sarutobi to quickly report.

"Excellent work—you've done well!"

A faint joy flickered across Sarutobi's heart while his expression remained calmly approving.

As the first proactive strike for Konoha, Sarutobi naturally wouldn't charge in recklessly.

Even if they somehow won through recklessness, Konoha would certainly suffer heavy losses.

Therefore, long before setting out, Sarutobi had already led his brainy war council, including Shikaku Nara, to draft multiple battle plans.

They aimed to secure the greatest victory possible with minimal casualties.

To him, luring out and wiping out those thirty Iwagakure ninjas was just the first course...

Right after eliminating this batch of Iwagakure ninjas, a scout from Konoha rushed in with a report:

"Hokage-sama, Iwagakure has raised the alarm! It seems they've discovered us."

"Already? That old fox Onoki really does have sharp instincts."

"But by now, Shikaku should have arrived as well!"

"Clean up the battlefield. Let's begin Plan B!"

Sarutobi barked the order.

This time, come hell or high water, he was going to rip a big bloody chunk straight out of Iwagakure Village!

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