Chapter 716

He couldn't imagine what Onoki's thoughts were at this moment; he couldn't even bring himself into Onoki's perspective.

There is an old saying, "The son sells the grandfather's fields without feeling pain."

Even if Huang Tu had struggled and fought various battles between heaven and man when agreeing to Mizunuki Ryosuke's request.

But compared to Onoki, who had truly accumulated these "family businesses," Huang Tu was at best "generous with other people's money."

And Onoki was the entrepreneur who had truly built this territory for Iwagakure.

In countless years past, Onoki had racked his brains for these every day, and now, just because of one wrong move, he had to hand all this over to others...

Huang Tu couldn't imagine such a mood, and couldn't understand it.

Even the Third Raikage on the side closed his eyes slowly after hearing the details of the whole thing.

For this opponent, Onoki, although he was hostile to him, he still respected him very much.

After all, when his strength was not as good as his, he forcibly schemed against him to the point of serious injury, and almost succeeded.

Such scheming and means were enough to be his opponent.

And at this moment, seeing a scene of "the end of a hero" about to be staged before his eyes, the Third Raikage was filled with emotion for a while.

The reason he closed his eyes was not because he couldn't bear to look.

It was because he already knew the ending in his heart, because things had reached this point, and Onoki was powerless to change the situation.

There was only one path left for him to take.

Finally, after a long time, Onoki spoke slowly.

"It's been hard on you, Huang Tu."

Onoki looked at his son with complex eyes, his tone full of complex and bitter meaning.

Unwilling?

Onoki was naturally extremely unwilling!

But what could he do?

Reality is just like this; no matter if he is convinced or not, what can he do?

And Huang Tu being able to do this step was already the limit.

Whoever was in Huang Tu's position might not necessarily do better than Huang Tu, even if it were himself, it would be no exception.

Even if Huang Tu omitted things like the confrontation with Mizunuki Ryosuke and the huge pressure when fighting against the "heart-piercing rhetoric" in his heart.

But how could Onoki not understand the pressure and torment Huang Tu endured to be able to reach this step and get another chance for father and son to meet?

In the end, it was his own wrong move; who could he blame?

Now that things have reached this point, the only thing to do is to face it.

Moreover, Onoki also knew that the road for Iwagakure next could only be walked by Huang Tu in his place.

The name of the Third Tsuchikage, Two-Days-Scale Onoki, would probably only exist in Iwagakure's history from now on.

The kind where "bad reviews" outweigh "good reputation."

Future Iwagakure ninjas would not remember that there was once a Tsuchikage who, after the First Ninja World War, racked his brains for Iwagakure for decades and developed Iwagakure into a prosperous state.

I am afraid that in the future, members of Iwagakure would only remember that it was this Tsuchikage named Onoki who single-handedly led this war that caused Iwagakure to turn from prosperity to decline.

Hearing Onoki's words, Huang Tu suddenly raised his head, his tiger eyes filled with tears.

At this moment, he noticed that Onoki's already thin figure had hunched over quite a bit more.

The theme of this meeting was clearly not to highlight the father-son affection between the Tsuchikage father and son.

Like the Third Raikage, Onoki, who was more seasoned than Huang Tu, instantly tasted many deep meanings in Mizunuki Ryosuke's actions.

Recalling everything Huang Tu described earlier, looking at Mizunuki Ryosuke's face that was young to an excessive degree, Onoki had to sigh that heroes truly come from youth.

According to Huang Tu's description, whether it was strength, wisdom, means, or strategy...

This Mizukage, who was young to an excessive degree, was without exception a top-tier choice; even compared to the older generation of ninjas who had been through many battles, he was not a bit inferior.

Such means, such composure, it was not an exaggeration to describe it as terrifying.

Even at this very moment, in a sense, having been defeated by this young man, he still had to owe this young man a favor.

After all, now that things have reached this point, Mizunuki Ryosuke could completely hide him away and use him as a hostage to coerce Iwagakure.

And there was no need at all to let him appear again.

Onoki appearing in the current scene seemed insignificant, but it had great significance for Iwagakure.

And this was extremely important for Onoki and for Iwagakure.

After deep thought, Onoki no longer delayed; he put away his complex eyes and let his complexion gradually become serious and earnest.

Even if he had to lose, as a Tsuchikage, he had to lose with dignity.

And this, I am afraid, was also what this terrifying young man wanted to see.

Therefore, Onoki sank his energy into his dantian and said slowly with a majestic voice.

"In this battle, I admit that I lost, and lost completely."

"Because of my improper command, it caused the casualties of over ten thousand Iwagakure ninjas, as well as the death of Roshi and the capture of the Four-Tails."

"But I lost, Iwagakure did not lose."

"Now, as the Third Tsuchikage, I agree to the Mizukage's request."

"The war ends in a draw!"

"And everyone present, the Mizukage, the Raikage, including myself, are witnesses."

Onoki said word by word, his tone full of solemnity.

After these words, everyone in the field had different expressions.

The Third Raikage slowly opened his eyes, his expression complex; Bee was at a loss, feeling somewhat inexplicable.

Huang Tu's eyes were moist, already choked with sobs.

Mizunuki Ryosuke's expression was indifferent, as if it should be so.

What seemed to be just a very simple and somewhat contradictory set of words was the last thing Onoki did for Iwagakure and for Huang Tu.

As long as this statement was spread, it would be Onoki, as the Third Tsuchikage, taking almost all the blame for the failure of this battle on himself.

Just as Onoki said, everything he admitted was witnessed by both Mizukage Mizunuki Ryosuke and Third Raikage Ai.

In the future, when mentioning this war, everyone would only use "it was all the failure of the Third Tsuchikage Onoki" to skip over it; perhaps Iwagakure ninjas would also scold this incompetent Tsuchikage a couple of times to vent their anger.

This seemed to be doing something unnecessary, but in fact, it cleared certain obstacles for Huang Tu to sit firmly in the Tsuchikage position in the future.

At least it would not let Huang Tu be implicated by the failure of this battle.

Although there would still be some influence, taking the blame for signing the "traitorous treaty" and "commanding the war failure" all on himself was a single stroke.

This not only made Huang Tu's succession to Tsuchikage much smoother but also eliminated the possibility of civil strife in Iwagakure.

And this was why Onoki had to owe Mizunuki Ryosuke this favor.

If Mizunuki Ryosuke didn't give him this chance to "take the blame," everything that followed could only be faced by Huang Tu alone.

This was not a good thing for Iwagakure's future.

After speaking, Onoki placed his gaze on Huang Tu; even though he was known for being stubborn and strict, his eyes were full of love at this moment.

"You did very well, Huang Tu."

"Don't forget Iwagakure's 'stubborn stone spirit'!"

"Stones can be found again if lost, but the fundamental spirit must never be forgotten!"

"I leave Iwagakure to you!"

After speaking, Onoki looked at Huang Tu with encouraging eyes.

And Huang Tu at this moment was already choked with sobs and unable to speak; his strong body was shaking violently, and his honest face was already covered in tears.

At that moment, without Mizunuki Ryosuke's signal, Hoshigaki Kisame came behind Onoki, applied a simple seal on Onoki in front of Huang Tu, and used shackles formed by water flow to restrict Onoki's movements.

From now on, Onoki's second half of his life would likely only be spent under the forced supervision of Kirigakure village. ===== CHAPTER 718 =====