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Watching the scene unfold, the Jonin's heart pounded. Panic surged through him as he saw the blades hovering inches from Kurotsuchi's neck. There was no time to think—only to act.
He shouted, speaking as fast as his breath would allow, "Do not kill her! She is Kurotsuchi, the granddaughter of the Tsuchikage! If you harm her, this will turn into an all-out war!"
A tense silence followed.
Inoiki didn't move, his expression unreadable. Then, he finally spoke, his voice calm and deliberate.
"I had my doubts when I looked at her. I suspected she might be Kurotsuchi, the Tsuchikage's granddaughter—but I wasn't certain. So… thank you for confirming it."
The Jonin exhaled, relief washing over him. Inoiki wouldn't kill her.
But the moment was far from over.
Inoiki's gaze sharpened as he continued, "Let's get one thing clear—I am not some bloodthirsty maniac. I don't kill for the thrill of it. But given the circumstances, I've had no choice."
He took a step forward, his voice steady, authoritative. "That said, this situation has turned out better than I expected."
Turning to the Jonin, he pointed directly at him.
"Listen carefully. I have two instructions. First— you. I know that signal you sent was meant to gather every Iwa ninja left standing. Now, you are going to do everything in your power to control them. You will ensure they do not attack my Konoha ninjas. If they do…"
He didn't finish the sentence. He didn't need to.
Then, Inoiki turned to Kurotsuchi.
Her hands trembled at her sides, her pride warring with the reality of her situation. She had been defeated. Completely.
"And you." His eyes locked onto hers, unwavering. "I know exactly what you're thinking. You feel humiliated. Disgraced. You're probably considering killing yourself just to avoid being a burden to your remaining forces."
Kurotsuchi's jaw tightened.
"But let me make one thing very clear—if you do something foolish like that, I will ensure every last remaining Iwa ninja is slaughtered."
His voice was cold, absolute.
"Even if it costs me half—maybe more—of my Konoha ninjas, it would still be a victory for us."
The battlefield was silent.
She had no choice but to live.
And for the first time, she hated it.
Kurotsuchi truly had considered it—throwing herself onto the ice swords, ending it all in an instant. It would have been an honorable escape from this humiliation.
But then she hesitated.
Inoiki's words rang in her mind, unwavering and absolute. He wasn't bluffing. She had witnessed his power firsthand. If he said he would annihilate her remaining comrades, he meant it.
She swallowed hard, fury and helplessness twisting inside her like a storm.
Meanwhile, the Jonin had already begun carrying out Inoiki's orders. He moved quickly, rallying the Iwa ninjas arriving in response to the signal, gathering them in one place. There would be no reckless counterattacks. Not now.
Inoiki stepped closer to Kurotsuchi, his cold gaze locking onto hers.
"Follow me. And don't try anything foolish." His voice was steady, devoid of emotion. "If you attempt any ninjutsu or try to escape, I'll know instantly. I am a sensory ninja, after all. And I promise you, the moment you try— you die. And you already know what happens to your comrades after that."
His words weren't a threat. They were a promise.
Kurotsuchi clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. But she said nothing. She had no choice but to comply.
Inoiki turned away and walked toward Kakashi.
"Did I do the right thing?" he asked.
Kakashi regarded him for a moment, then gave a nod. "You did the absolute right thing. The outcome couldn't have been better."
Inoiki exhaled, satisfied with the response.
"By the way, Kakashi-Senpai, can you seal her chakra? I'm not particularly skilled in sealing techniques."
Kakashi nodded and moved without hesitation. Forming quick hand seals, he pressed his palm against Kurotsuchi's back, sealing her chakra flow.
She stiffened as the familiar sensation of chakra suppression washed over her. Her last hope of escape—gone.
Now, she was truly a prisoner.
And there was nothing she could do about it.
Fifteen minutes passed, and at last, every surviving Iwa ninja had gathered in one place. A tense silence hung over them as Inoiki stepped forward, his voice cutting through the still air.
Turning to the Jonin, he spoke with calm authority, each word deliberate and unwavering.
"You will inform the Tsuchikage of everything that transpired here. Tell him that I am taking his granddaughter to Konoha. If he wants her back, he must send an envoy to Konoha for peace talks. Only then can he reclaim her."
His gaze swept over the assembled Iwa ninjas, his voice dropping to a deadly tone.
"As for the rest of you—you will leave this Konoha base immediately. You will remain outside its perimeter. And you will not, under any circumstances, attempt to double-cross me. If you do, she dies."
Several Iwa ninjas clenched their fists, their frustration evident, but none dared to challenge him.
Inoiki took a step closer, his next words even sharper.
"If anything happens to the remaining Konoha ninjas here after I leave—" his eyes narrowed, the weight of his promise settling over them like a storm cloud, "—then tell your Tsuchikage this: even if Konoha agrees to peace talks, I will go rogue. I will become a Missing-nin, and I will dedicate my life to hunting down every last Iwa ninja. I will make the destruction of Iwagakure my sole purpose."
His voice was calm, almost eerily so. This was not a threat. This was a certainty.
A heavy silence followed, the weight of his words pressing down on the gathered Iwa forces.
"And let me make one thing very clear," Inoiki continued, his cold gaze locking onto the Jonin. "If the Tsuchikage wants to take that risk, then he had better be prepared to personally protect every single ninja in Iwagakure. Because I assure you, only he has the power to stop me. No one else in your village is capable. I have that much confidence in my strength."
The Jonin swallowed hard, then gave a stiff nod. He understood.
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