ALL NOVEL Chapter 151: Challenge won
Naruto's gaze shifted to Onoki, his words carrying a playful yet challenging tone. "Three down, only two left. I think you won't back down. Then be ready for a beating," he said confidently, his eyes locking onto Onoki. "Onoki, you're already old. Why are you tiring yourself out so much?"
The weight of Naruto's words settled in the air, and Onoki glared back, his pride as a Kage flaring. Though Naruto's words were teasing, they carried an undeniable truth—Onoki's age and strength were factors in this battle. The pressure from all sides was beginning to show, and Onoki felt the weight of the challenge before him.
"You think just because I'm old, I can't still fight?" Onoki shot back, his voice sharp but tinged with respect. "I might be old, but I'm still one of the strongest Kage. I won't back down so easily."
Naruto gave him a slight grin. "I wouldn't expect anything less, Onoki. But just so you know, even age can't save you from this beating."
The challenge hung in the air as the remaining Kage prepared themselves for what was about to unfold.
Onoki stood firm, his eyes narrowing as he prepared to face Naruto. Despite his age, there was a fire in his gaze that made it clear he wasn't going to back down easily. The other Kage watched, some with apprehension, others with curiosity, as the atmosphere grew tense once again.
"You talk big for someone so young," Onoki grumbled, summoning a cloud of dust as he began to lift himself into the air using his gravity-altering jutsu. "Let's see if you can back it up."
Naruto didn't flinch, standing tall with a calm expression, his hands casually in his pockets. "I've been waiting for this, Onoki. Give me your best shot."
With a sudden motion, Onoki launched himself forward, his fists surrounded by chakra as he attempted to crush Naruto from above. But before he could land the blow, Naruto disappeared in a flash of movement, his speed leaving an afterimage behind.
The old Kage wasn't deterred. "Hmph, you're fast, but you won't escape this!" Onoki shouted, his hands quickly forming seals.
Suddenly, a massive boulder emerged from the ground, flying toward Naruto at high speed. However, Naruto effortlessly dodged it, his body weaving through the air with fluid precision.
Naruto's eyes gleamed as he watched Onoki carefully, knowing that this wasn't just a battle of strength. "You're tough, Onoki. But you're too slow for me," he said as he dashed forward, launching a barrage of shadow clones at the Kage. They surrounded Onoki from all directions, forcing him to react quickly.
Onoki grunted as he used his jutsu to crush several of the clones, but Naruto had already anticipated his movements. One clone exploded in a burst of smoke, and the real Naruto appeared behind Onoki, his Rasengan charged and ready.
Before Onoki could react, Naruto slammed the Rasengan into his back, sending the Kage sprawling across the battlefield.
The other Kage, watching from a distance, were taken aback by the ease with which Naruto had dispatched Onoki.
Naruto stood over the fallen Kage, his expression still playful but with a hint of seriousness. "I told you, Onoki. You're strong, but I'm not going easy on you just because you're older."
Onoki slowly pushed himself up, his breathing heavy but his pride intact. He glared at Naruto with defiance. "You're strong, brat. I won't lie about that. But you've yet to face the full strength of a Kage."
Naruto smiled, wiping a bit of dust from his cheek. "Then bring it on, Onoki. I'm ready for whatever you've got."
As Naruto faced Onoki in one-on-one combat, the battle was fierce. Onoki used his Kekkei Tota, Dust Release, to launch powerful long-range attacks, attempting to break through Naruto's defenses with his pulverizing technique. Despite Onoki's age, his experience and skill with his Jutsu were evident, and Naruto had to remain on guard, narrowly dodging the destructive blasts.
On the other hand, A was resting and recovering his chakra, and soon, the thunderous roar of his lightning-infused attacks echoed as he joined the fray. He immediately closed the distance, taking the fight to Naruto in close quarters. His Lightning Style allowed him to move with unmatched speed, and his strikes were powerful, aiming to overwhelm Naruto with sheer force.
Naruto, however, was not fazed. His reflexes were sharp as he dodged A's lightning-fast punches, his own body moving with agility and precision. At the same time, he had to keep his attention on Onoki, who was continuously launching long-range Dust Release blasts from afar, forcing Naruto to shift between defending from both sides.
Despite his overwhelming power, Naruto could feel the toll of facing two opponents at once. He was pushed to his limits, but his stamina and determination held strong. The fight was becoming a test of endurance, with both A and Onoki trying to land decisive blows, but Naruto was always one step ahead, using his clones and chakra manipulation to counter their attacks.
Soon, even A and Onoki began to feel the strain. Onoki, being an older fighter, found his stamina running low after releasing several devastating techniques. A, having fought for an extended period, started to feel the wear and tear on his chakra reserves. They were both struggling to keep up with Naruto's relentless pace.
Naruto grinned, sensing their fatigue. "I told you, I don't take breaks in battles," he said, his voice carrying a playful but dangerous tone as he charged forward, ready to push his opponents even further.
The fight had been intense, but it was clear to everyone watching that Naruto was in complete control. He had outlasted them both with his superior stamina, speed, and tactical genius.
A and Onoki, both battered and exhausted, realized that they were no match for the young shinobi before them. Despite their strength, Naruto had proven himself to be on a completely different level.
As Naruto stood victorious, he looked down at the two Kage, his breath steady and his confidence unwavering. "You've both put up a good fight," he said, "but now it's time to acknowledge what I've been saying all along. Konoha is the strongest village, and I'm its future."
"As you both lost, you must submit to Konoha," Naruto declared, his voice firm as he stood unscathed, showing no signs of fatigue.
Onoki grumbled, "I see. I'm getting old—couldn't keep up with a teenager."
With both Onoki and A defeated, they reluctantly agreed to submit as promised.
Naruto turned to Mifune. "All villages have agreed. Mifune, you know what to do. Inform all daimyo that if they don't surrender to Konoha within this week, they will face the same fate as the Fire Daimyo."
Mifune, standing at the side, nodded solemnly, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "Understood, Naruto," he said with a serious expression. "I will make sure all the Daimyos are informed of the terms. The message will be clear: submit to Konoha, or face the consequences."
Naruto turned his attention back to the defeated Kages. "You all have seen the strength of Konoha's shinobi now. There will be no more hesitation or underestimation. From now on, peace will be governed under Konoha's leadership."
The Kages, though defeated, remained silent. They had no choice but to accept the new reality, especially with the overwhelming power Naruto had displayed. They had tried to challenge Konoha, but now they had seen firsthand the consequences of their actions.
"I hope this will be the beginning of a new era," Naruto continued, his voice growing firmer. "An era where the true strength of a village is measured not by its individual power, but by its ability to protect and unite. If the other villages choose not to join us, then they will remain as they are—divided and weak. The choice is theirs."
Tsunade, standing beside Naruto, looked at the gathered Kages, her face a mixture of concern and resolve. "Naruto is right. This isn't about conquering or destroying. It's about ensuring peace and a future where no more clans have to suffer the way the Uzumaki and Senju did."
As the room fell silent, the weight of the decision settled in. The Kages, though reluctant, knew that there was little room left for defiance.
Onoki, still grumbling but resigned to the situation, spoke up, "I can't argue with your strength, Naruto. You've proven your point. We will submit."
A, his pride bruised but his resolve still firm, nodded reluctantly. "We will follow the terms. But know this, Naruto: Konoha will have to work hard to maintain peace with us."
Naruto smiled. "I expect nothing less. But if you're going to stand with Konoha, you'll need to do more than just submit. You'll need to help build this new world. This is a team effort."
With the Kages agreeing to the terms, Mifune prepared to deliver the message to the other Daimyo. The room, now heavy with the weight of the decision, slowly began to clear. Naruto had won—both the battle and the peace. The future of the shinobi world now lay in Konoha's hands.