Chapter 029: Even Zabuza Is Tearing Up—Have I Become a Side Character? (Please Support with Data)
Ōnoki gasped heavily for breath.
It had been 61 years since the founding of Konoha, and Ōnoki had gone from a young man to an old one.
But his collapsed, large nose still made him very recognizable.
The moment his title appeared, Tobirama immediately recognized his identity.
This was the boy who once followed the Second Tsuchikage during the Five Kage Summit invited by Hashirama in the past.
Tobirama's soul still looked youthful and elegant.
But Ōnoki was now an old man, always wondering if his time was nearing its end.
Yet, he hadn't raised a Tsuchikage capable of taking over Iwagakure… He had tried to groom Deidara, but Deidara ran off.
So now, all his hopes rested on his granddaughter, Kurotsuchi.
But… Kurotsuchi still wasn't ready…
[Namikaze Minato]: Well, Second Lord, it looks like the Third Tsuchikage is completely terrified.
[Senju Tobirama]: …
[Senju Tobirama]: How dull.
Tobirama scoffed disdainfully.
[Senju Tobirama]: Then allow me to reintroduce things. Welcome to the Konoha Group Chat.
[Third Tsuchikage - Ōnoki]: …
???
Ōnoki blinked in confusion.
Because the system interface on his chest didn't say this was the [Descendant Chat Group (^_-)], or its alias [Little Group for Livestreaming Kitahara Kaede].
[Third Tsuchikage - Ōnoki]: Oh! Mei Terumī!
Ōnoki noticed Mei Terumī.
[Future Mizukage - Mei Terumī]: Oh! Isn't this the Third Tsuchikage? I'm not even the Mizukage yet, and you already know my details. So, does that mean... you've been keeping a close eye on the state of the Five Great Ninja Villages? Are you planning to attack my weak Kirigakure?
[Senju Tobirama]: Is that true?!
Tobirama immediately responded to the implication.
He realized the deeper meaning in Mei Terumī's words.
She had implied that Kirigakure was weak, and that Ōnoki was powerful.
Then…
By the same logic, based on Kakashi's statements, Konoha was not doing much better than Kirigakure.
So…
First, suppress Ōnoki.
The Five Great Villages are still the Five Great Villages. With the Mizukage being neutral and even interested in recruiting Kitahara Kaede, she was unlikely to act aggressively.
So, if Iwagakure's Ōnoki could be intimidated, then Iwagakure would fall in line too.
That would give Kirigakure the peace it needed and also secure safety for Konoha.
Tobirama understood this as Mei Terumī signaling him to apply pressure on Ōnoki.
If Ōnoki backed down, then both Kirigakure and Konoha would have some breathing room.
Tobirama accepted Mei's goodwill and immediately released his aura.
He raised the fingers resting on his left shoulder.
In an instant—
A powerful wave of pressure surged toward Ōnoki!
[Third Tsuchikage - Ōnoki]: Ugh—!
Ōnoki's body collapsed directly to the ground in submission.
Keep in mind—among the current Five Kage, Ōnoki was the eldest and also the strongest.
Yet in front of Tobirama… he had no resistance.
This was the terrifying power of Konoha from the past.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Tobirama!
Hashirama hadn't realized the situation and thought Tobirama was bullying an old man.
So he spoke up.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Put your fingers down.
Suddenly, a far more terrifying green chakra erupted from the First Hokage's body.
[Namikaze Minato]: So this is the power of the First and Second Hokage?
[Namikaze Minato]: I suddenly feel the level gap very clearly.
Minato commented dryly.
As for Kakashi—
He had already mentally shut down.
Of course.
His title as the Sixth Hokage had always felt fake. The label of "weakest Hokage" turned out to be true.
He truly was the weakest.
[Senju Tobirama]: Hmph!
Though he thought his big brother was being naive again, Tobirama saw that Ōnoki was now flat on the ground and motionless, so his goal was achieved.
He withdrew his fingers and his aura.
[Third Tsuchikage - Ōnoki]:cough cough cough…
[Third Tsuchikage - Ōnoki]:cough cough cough…
Feeling the pressure ease, Ōnoki gasped desperately for breath.
[Senju Tobirama]: Ōnoki, welcome to the group chat.
Tobirama spoke.
[Senju Tobirama]: After the First Ninja War, your Iwagakure was more than willing to take part in the Second and Third Ninja Wars. You performed quite well.
[Third Tsuchikage - Ōnoki]: Uh… well…
[Third Tsuchikage - Ōnoki]: I didn't want that either, but if Iwagakure doesn't fight, it gets attacked.
[Senju Tobirama]: Asking you to sign an alliance treaty with Konoha shouldn't be too difficult, right?
[Third Tsuchikage - Ōnoki]: Uh… well, I'll have to think—
[Senju Tobirama]: You refuse?!
Tobirama's aura flared again.
[Third Tsuchikage - Ōnoki]: Uh—no no, I'll write it now, I'm on it!
**[Ding!]
[Third Tsuchikage - Ōnoki has gone offline]
"…"
[Everyone]: Incredible!
[Senju Tobirama]: Ōnoki is even more cowardly than I expected.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: ??
[Senju Tobirama]: Big brother, you idiot. I was putting pressure on Ōnoki. The current power structure is still the Five Great Nations. According to Mei's words, Konoha has dropped from first place to last.
[Senju Tobirama]: Though the weakest is still Sunagakure.
[Senju Tobirama]: But Kumogakure and Iwagakure are still quite powerful.
[Senju Tobirama]: So I needed to suppress Ōnoki.
[Senju Tobirama]: If he backs down, Konoha gets time to recover.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Oh! You were thinking that far ahead?
[Senju Tobirama]: …
[Senju Tobirama]: It's a good thing I was there to assist you before. Otherwise, I worry the village would've been carved up within ten years under your leadership.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Hey hey hey!
[Senju Tobirama]: You were even willing to give away Tailed Beasts. Look at how much trouble that brought to the village. We now have fewer than 3,000 ninjas.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Ugh…
And just like that, another person in the chat group shut down mentally.
Meanwhile, in the outside world—
Boom!
"Water Release: Water Shockwave!"
Kakashi had finally learned the Water Shockwave technique.
"This isn't even the same level!"
Even someone like Zabuza realized that Mei Terumī's Water Wall wasn't something he could break through casually.
So… if Mei Terumī wanted to catch him, it would be like grabbing a chick.
And for Kirigakure to dispatch such a high-level ninja to catch him… wow, he was really lucky, huh.
Zabuza mocked himself.
But—
Just as he was about to surrender, he noticed that Kakashi, who had broken through the Water Wall, completely ignored him. Mei Terumī ignored him too.
Kakashi got back onto the boat and sat down, hugging his knees.
"Eh?! Kakashi-sensei…"
"Why are you shutting down too?" Naruto and Sasuke noticed Kakashi's unusual state.
Meanwhile, on Mei Terumī's side—
"What kind of food do you like?"
"What's your favorite fruit?"
"When bathing, what body part do you wash first? For me, it's the shoulders."
"Dog person or cat person?"
"Currently dating anyone?"
"…" Kitahara Kaede: "Just so you know, I'm not going to Kirigakure."
"I know," Mei replied. "But I can go to Konoha."
"…" Kitahara Kaede.
"…" Zabuza.
Zabuza suddenly realized—
Nobody was paying attention to him anymore.
Had he already become… just a side character?