Chapter 57: INAZ - 56
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"Inform me? Sorry, Lord Ōnoki, but now I'm informing you too. I will not let Deidara go with you. Besides... he himself doesn't want to go with you." Shinji showed no fear of Ōnoki' aura, instead smiling at him, seemingly completely unconcerned about his words. At the same time, Shinji's own aura began to erupt.
The auras of the two completely erupted at the same time. The All-Purpose Shop filled with a murderous atmosphere. But after just a few breaths, the auras of both sides vanished without a trace. Ōnoki was still Ōnoki, just that the aura on his body had disappeared, like an old man about to enter his grave, still wearing a slight smile. Shinji was the same, smilingly holding the teapot and refilling Ōnoki' cup.
"Ah, ah, that's how it is when you get old. No stamina," Ōnoki acted like a real old grandpa, picking up the teacup Shinji handed over and drinking. "This tea isn't bad."
"Naturally. This is the private collection of your arch-nemesis, Lord Third Hokage," Shinji said as if unconcerned.
"Oh? Then I must drink a couple more cups. That old man Hiruzen never gave me any of this tea. Truly wasted so many years of friendship," Ōnoki said teasingly.
"Lord Ōnoki, if you met Lord Third Hokage, you would surely start fighting immediately." Shinji didn't believe Ōnoki' words. Remember, he and Hiruzen Sarutobi had been fighting since their youth until now. Of course, nowadays, most of the time they were strategizing behind the scenes, directing the open and secret struggles between the two villages. Just planting spies in each other's villages happened frequently. Of course, these things were generally mutually agreed upon; if you plant one, I'll remove it.
"That's not how it's said. But Boss Shinji, do you know what's the saddest thing about old age?" Ōnoki suddenly changed the subject, a trace of sadness in his tone. "It's having no one to send you off. Look, I worked so hard to raise Deidara this big. Isn't it unreasonable not to let him go back and accompany this old man?" Ōnoki' acting really put those young idol actors to shame.
"Ah, ah, Lord Ōnoki, what you're saying... Your son Kitsuchi and granddaughter Kurotsuchi are going to cry themselves faint in the toilet," Shinji didn't believe Ōnoki' words at all. No one to send him off? Was he kidding? His son later survived the Fourth Shinobi World War, even managing to survive against opponents like Madara Uchiha and Obito Uchiha. Not to mention his granddaughter Kurotsuchi later became the Fourth Tsuchikage... ah no, the Fourth Tsuchikage.
"Ahem, this is indeed a bit difficult. Didn't expect Lord Shinji to have such a deep understanding of our Iwagakure?" Seeing his pitiful act had no effect, Ōnoki felt somewhat embarrassed. Of course, his words implied that Shinji knowing their affairs so clearly was because he was constantly paying attention to Iwagakure, also having designs on him, Ōnoki.
"Does Lord Ōnoki's affairs require special attention? You are esteemed as the leader of a village," Shinji raised his teacup and sniffed it under his nose.