"Damn beasts!!!"
"How can such shameless scum even exist?!"
Ōnoki was so furious he nearly smashed his head against the ground.
After all—
the treasury didn't just contain 3.5 billion ryō.
Over the years, he had painstakingly saved up funds to revive Iwagakure—
far exceeding that amount.
And now—
it had all been looted by the shameless Fourth Raikage.
Ōnoki hurriedly turned toward Sarutobi Hakuto—
only to hear him speak calmly:
"I don't care whose money it was~"
"Whoever hands it to me—it's theirs."
Seeing that Sarutobi Hakuto only recognized money, not people—
Ōnoki had no choice.
Now—
he could only turn to the Daimyō for funds.
There was no way the village could gather such a sum in a short time.
3.5 billion ryō—
equivalent to "one hundred Sarutobi Asuma."
Only the Daimyō's treasury could produce that instantly.
The more he thought about it—
the angrier he became.
"Kitsuchi! Go!"
"Immediately request funds from the Daimyō!"
"No matter the excuse—secure the money!"
Without delay,
Kitsuchi departed with several ANBU.
If they couldn't pay—
they couldn't bring back Deidara and Kurotsuchi.
These two—
were the future of Iwagakure.
Nothing could happen to them.
Meanwhile,
Ōnoki silently calculated.
Once he got them back—
he would definitely settle accounts with Kumogakure.
That damned Fourth Raikage—
utterly shameless.
Unable to pay for his own people—
so he robbed Iwa's treasury instead.
No wonder he had attacked the Land of Earth out of nowhere—
this had been his plan all along.
With that realization—
Ōnoki made up his mind.
Kumogakure would answer for this.
As time passed—
Sarutobi Hakuto grew impatient.
There was no point waiting here any longer.
The Land of Earth—
was even worse than the Land of Lightning.
Nothing but barren mountains.
Looking at it too long was bad for the mood.
"Alright. When your people return, have them bring the money to Konoha to exchange for the hostage~"
"Waiting here is a waste of time."
With that—
he turned and left with his forces.
After so many days away—
it was time to return.
Though supplies had been prepared—
the less they consumed, the more remained.
And what remained—
naturally became his.
Seeing Sarutobi Hakuto about to leave—
Ōnoki grew anxious.
The future of Iwagakure—
was in those two.
If anything happened—
who would he blame?
"Wait! The jutsu scrolls are already yours!"
"The money will arrive soon—can you release one more?"
Sarutobi Hakuto considered briefly—
then agreed.
At his signal,
Deidara was returned to Ōnoki.
As for the hostage—
he kept Kurotsuchi.
With Ōnoki's granddaughter in his hands—
there was no risk of betrayal.
As for Deidara—
keeping him was just extra trouble.
Another mouth to feed—
and likely to curse during meals.
Better to return him and be done with it.
"Alright. Send the money as soon as possible~"
"You wouldn't want anything to happen to your granddaughter while she's with me, right~?"
Hearing this—
Ōnoki's already sour mood worsened.
Only now did it fully hit him—
what might have already happened to his precious granddaughter.
For a moment—
he wanted nothing more than to erase Sarutobi Hakuto with Dust Release.
But thinking of Sarutobi Hakuto's terrifying strength—
he suppressed the urge.
Not to mention—
two Mangekyō Uchiha stood nearby.
"…Understood."
"I'll send it as soon as possible."
For Kurotsuchi's sake—
he would make sure the payment arrived quickly.
Soon—
Sarutobi Hakuto led the Konoha army out of the Land of Earth—
heading back to the village.
Ōnoki stood silently amid the aftermath.
No one knew what he was thinking.
Before long—
Deidara woke up.
The moment he did—
he frantically searched for Sarutobi Hakuto.
Ōnoki placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Now do you understand why I've always been strict with you?"
"The ninja world runs deep…"
"You won't understand everything just yet."
Deidara fell silent.
Looking at his hands—
his eyes burned with unwillingness.
If he were stronger—
how could he have allowed Konoha to act so arrogantly?
And that Sharingan—
one day, he would surpass it.
No mere genjutsu would stand above his art.
With that thought—
Deidara knelt before Ōnoki.
"Master!"
"I want to become stronger!!!"
Ōnoki nodded, deeply satisfied.
Unexpectedly—
this disaster had brought something good.
He had always valued Deidara's talent—
only frustrated by his obsession with "art."
Now—
he had finally awakened.
This was a good thing.
With proper guidance—
Deidara would grow rapidly.
"Good! Good!"
"But before training begins—"
"You'll spend one week cleaning the Village Stone."
Deidara understood the task.
In the past, he found it meaningless.
This time—
he said nothing.
He simply stood—
and went to carry it out.
Seeing this change—
Ōnoki's frustration completely vanished.
He even felt grateful for the battle.
Otherwise—
he truly feared Iwagakure would lack a successor.
Now—
an awakened Deidara was the perfect candidate.
It seemed—
it was time to pass on everything he knew.
As Ōnoki returned to the village—
he thought of Kurotsuchi again.
He could only hope—
Kitsuchi would return with the money soon.
Only then—
could he bring his granddaughter back.
Meanwhile—
within the returning Konoha convoy—
Sarutobi Hakuto sat inside a carriage, relaxed and amused.
Laughter echoed faintly from within—
as the journey back to Konoha continued.
"Ha! Good, good!"
"Keep the music playing—keep dancing!"
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