Hokage: Ryo's Path

“Flying Thunder God? I did not expect Konoha to have another user of that technique

besides Minato Namikaze!” Onoki held his waist, with immense pain showing upon his face.

Ryo ignored Onoki’s words. Instead, Orochimaru interfered saying with a bit of sarcasm:

“Onoki, it’s a pity that you’ve lost this time as well.”

“Hey! Ryo Yamanaka! Hand over Roshi’s body!”

“Old man, You’re not that dumb! Are you in a position to ask for such a thing?”

Ryo knew that if he stayed firm, Onoki, a man fit to be Kage, would come back to reality

and start to negotiate.

Onoki clearly could not afford letting Roshi’s corpse in Konoha’s hand. In the world of

Ninjas, information derived from an enemy’s corpse is of utmost value.

“Ryo Yamanaka, what will it take for you to give Roshi’s corpse?”

“It’s very simple. The Rock must immediately withdraw from the borders with the fire

country, and not try to invade Konoha. If you agree, I’ll give you Roshi’s corpse

immediately. If you don’t, then I’m afraid that intelligence from Roshi’s brain will be spread

to all five major countries. Never forget that I’m a Yamanaka; you know our clan’s special

techniques I believe.”

Listening to Ryo’s conditions, Onoki became hesitant. Roshi was of extreme importance to

the Rock, as a living man, or even as a corpse.

He was one of their Kage tier fighters, and the Yonbi Jinchuriki. He had performed countless

tasks for his village, and only god knew how much intelligence his brain held. If his body

felt into Konoha’s hands, no one could even imagine the grave consequences.

But that the same time, the Hidden Rock were at a disadvantage on the battlefield. Pulling

out their troops would hit the Ninja’s morale greatly on all other battlefiel

Ryo did not urge Onoki, and waited quietly for his decision. In mid air, the latter held his

waist and though it over again and again, and then finally accepted Ryo’s offer.

Seeing Onoki agreeing, Ryo put Roshi’s body back into the scroll, and handed it over

directly to his foe.

In reality, Onoki did not expect Ryo to hand over the corpse so quickly, and he kept staring

at the kid.

Ryo found himself being stared at by Onoki’s “deep love” eyes and had immediate goose

bumps:

“Oy Oy Oy, I don’t like men! Stop staring at me!”

“Ryo Yamanaka, you’ve directly handed over Roshi’s corpse; don’t you fear that this old

man might back out on his word?” Onoki didn’t pay attention to Ryo’s nonsense, and

directly asked about what’s in his heart.

“I believe that you, a Kage, would never do such a shameful thing. Even if you happen to

disappoint, I’m confident that we can defeat you either way.” Ryo said with confidence.

“Oh, Konoha is indeed a cradle of geniuses. Before you, there was that kid Minato

Namikaze, and now here’s Ryo Yamanka. Rest assured, this old man will keep his promise

and withdraw his troops. I’ll see on another battlefield!” After that, while holding his waist,

Onoki flew away from Konoha’s camp.

“Is it just me, or did he say that they were withdrawing their troops?”

“I heard the same as you!”

“Did we just get victory?”

“Well... probably?”

All over Konoha’s camp, that was the kind of dialogue that took place. Konoha’s Ninjas

were somewhat in disbelief that victory would come so simply.

At that moment, Ryo was also a little bit surprised that just Roshi’s corpse was enough to

push Onoki to withdraw.

“Ryo kun, you’re wondering why he agreed so easily?”

“Orochi san, you have any explanation?”

“It does seem like you were taking advantage of him, using Roshi’s corpes to force the Rock

to retreat. But Ryo kun, you’re ignoring one factor: We have already defeated them in the

previous battle.”

Orochimaru’s words made Ryo realize the truth. That cunning old man Onoki had put him

exactly where he wanted.

Just like Orochimaru had said, Ryo has ignored that his arrival changed the situation

between Konoha and the Rock.

Before he arrived, Konoha was in an absolute disadvantage, being beaten by the Hidden

Rock. After Ryo arrived, they were able to deal with the Explosive Squad, and Konoha was

in a position to take the initiative.

In the previous battle, the Rock lost to Konoha. It was obvious that they were in a desperate

situation. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have gone as far as summoning Roshi with the Yonbi to

attack Konoha’s camp.

What Onoki didn’t expect was that the Yonbi would be taken care of so quickly by

Orochimaru and Ryo. Of course, he never thought of the possibility that Roshi would

actually be killed by Ryo.

With his Jinchuriki’s death, Onoki knew that his village had no chance of winning this war.

Ryo’s terms were just perfect for him. He would get the important corpse of Onoki, while

getting a chance to retreat.

“Ryo kun, there’s nothing wrong with what you did. With the Rock retreating now, we can

be free to deal with the Hidden Mist. On the other side of the country, we can begin our

battle against the Water Country in the Wave country.”

“The water country’s Ninjas have landed in the Wave country?” Ryo was a bit worried.

“Yes! What is happening there is why I haven’t stopped you from making that deal with

Onoki. Having the Rock retreat is actually best for us as well.”

Ryo nodded. On the battlefield of the Water Country, Konoha had no Kage tier Ninjas. Their

strongest Ninjas were an Anbu and the 3rd’s son, both being Quasi Kage tier. The leaders of

the battlefield, the heads of the Ino-Shika-Cho alliance and the Hyuga twins were all some

of the finest Jonin tier Ninjas.

Out of Kage tier Ninjas, the Hokage gathered those seven to collectively create a force to be

reckoned with, one that can hold the Water Country Ninjas off.

The following day, under Onoki’s orders, the Hidden Rock started withdrawing their troops,

and Konoha’s camp was full of joy. Ryo Yamanaka’s name was to be remembered by all of

Konoha’s Ninjas on that battlefield.

The news about the Rock’s retreat reached Konoha’s camp, and the 3rd was extremely happy

about it. After reading Orochimaru’s report, and learning that the Yonbi Jinchuriki was killed

by Ryo, he laughed for a long time, and then ordered the Anbu to call for a high-level

meeting in the village.

In the 3rd’s office, Konoha’s higher-ups gathered. Of course, Danzo, who had restored some

of roots, was also there.

The third informed everyone with the contents of Orochimaru’s report. Some couldn’t

believe it. Ryo Yamanaka had been in that battlefield for less than two months, and yet he

had such a massive influence.

And that was against the power of the Yonbi! The ability to kill Roshi, meant that Ryo was

at least Kage tier

“Hokage Sama, this information mentioning that Ryo Yamanaka had killed the Yonbi

Jinchuriki, does it mean that that Ryo is...” asked the Hyuga family head.

The 3rd had nothing to hide: “Yes, Ryo Yamanaka is indeed Kage tier.”

His words made the meeting room get noisy, but he didn’t stop the discussion. He liked were

thing were going, as he wanted to create a new hero for Konoha.

In those days, morals were shot by the war. Even though Konoha was bearing no major

losses, they weren’t getting exciting victories either. The 3rd felt the need to create an idol,

one that gives confidence to Konoha’s Ninjas and citizens.

It was perfect for what he wanted that Ryo killed the Yonbi Jinchuriki and made the Rock

withdraw their troops. Such achievements are enough for him to become Konoha’s new

hero!

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