After quite some time passed.
The blinding white light finally faded completely. When everyone opened their eyes and looked toward the center of the battle, they saw that the clay bombs that had covered the sky had all been swept away by Ōnoki in an instant.
"This old man is strong!"
Sasori, who had already fled to the outer perimeter, stared deeply as his voice carried a rare hint of fear.
As a fellow genius, although Sasori often argued with Deidara, he had to admit that Deidara's strength was definitely not weak.
Moreover, Deidara had made so many preparations specifically for this. If Sasori had fallen into such a situation without special preparation, he would definitely be dead.
No matter how sturdy puppets are, they have limits. In such a dense, large-scale explosion, the core would definitely be destroyed.
At this moment, in the center of the battlefield.
Deidara knelt on one knee, pulling down a pre-prepared single-eye eyepatch.
When Dust Release is activated, it emits a blinding white light. Given Ōnoki's large-scale use of Dust Release, the intensity of the white light was可想而知.
The eye from which Deidara removed the eyepatch didn't need time to readjust to the surrounding light changes.
In an instant.
Deidara had re-locked onto Ōnoki, who was panting heavily in mid-air.
Seeing Ōnoki's current state, Deidara felt reassured.
Such a large-scale Dust Release attack required an enormous amount of chakra.
Given Ōnoki's current aged physical condition, he was likely now in a temporary weakened state.
"Hah!"
After locking onto Ōnoki's position, Deidara brought his hands together and quickly let out a low shout.
C3・No. 18!!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
In the high sky, a clay figure plummeted rapidly toward Ōnoki.
This figure was infused with Deidara's highest-level chakra, and its explosive power could easily destroy an entire village.
C3・No. 18 fell at incredible speed. In just two breaths' time, it had appeared less than five meters above Ōnoki's head.
Deidara didn't give Ōnoki any time to catch his breath and immediately shouted: "Katsu!"
Boom!
Terrifying flames and shockwaves erupted instantly.
They surged toward Ōnoki below. C3・No. 18 not only had great power but also a wide range. Even if Ōnoki wanted to dodge now, it was already too late.
"Earth Release—Golem Jutsu!"
Just as the flames were about to engulf Ōnoki.
A massive rock giant condensed from the ground, firmly protecting Ōnoki beneath its body.
Accompanied by tremendous rumbling, large amounts of rock scattered in all directions.
Although the rock giant that Ōnoki desperately summoned had barely blocked Deidara's attack.
The shockwaves from the clay bombs still blasted Ōnoki onto the ground.
"Not bad, Deidara. It seems you've really grown."
After steadying himself on the ground, Ōnoki exhaled heavily. When he looked at Deidara again, his gaze carried a hint of seriousness.
"However, if you think this is enough to kill me, you're far from it!"
Ōnoki's voice carried arrogance and defiance.
After preparing so many methods and still failing to seriously wound this old fellow, he truly was strong.
Deidara panted heavily. The consecutive attacks had consumed a significant amount of his chakra as well.
Tap! Tap!
Just then, a light sound of footsteps suddenly rang out.
In such a tense moment, any sound would instantly attract everyone's attention.
Ōnoki, Deidara, and the others simultaneously turned their heads toward the direction of the footsteps.
When they saw who was approaching, Kakuzu, Sasori, and the others showed respectful expressions on their faces.
Deidara's expression changed slightly, with a hint of anxiety in his eyes.
Ōnoki looked deeply at the figure slowly walking out, his voice carrying unprecedented gravity:
"So it really is you, Uchiha Madara!"
"Oh, so you're that little brat from before? I didn't expect you to become the Tsuchikage of Iwagakure."
Uchiha Madara looked down at Ōnoki, speaking with an indifferent tone.
After speaking, Madara turned his head toward Deidara:
"You've wasted too much time. Have you found the four jinchūriki?"
Before Deidara could respond, the White Zetsu standing behind quickly appeared before Madara and spoke respectfully:
"Lord Madara, the Four-Tails jinchūriki is not in Iwagakure."
Not there?
Madara frowned slightly and looked back at Ōnoki.
Had preparations been made in advance?
The Four-Tails jinchūriki, Rōshi, had left Iwagakure long before Madara's resurrection. Madara didn't know this and assumed Ōnoki had made preparations in advance.
Of course, Ōnoki naturally wouldn't explain this to Madara.
Ōnoki made the first move.
In such an extremely unfavorable situation, contrary to everyone's expectations, Ōnoki didn't choose to retreat. Instead, he charged directly toward Madara.
Seeing this, Madara raised his eyebrows, clearly surprised as well.
"After all these years, it seems you've forgotten my terror?"
Madara's face was filled with cold indifference. With a slight movement of his foot, he vanished from his original position.
Ōnoki, who had been charging forward, suddenly widened his eyes and quickly raised his arms across his chest.
At the same time, both arms turned into hard rock at a visible speed.
Accompanied by flying debris.
Madara, who had appeared before Ōnoki, kicked him away with a single lash of his leg.
Ōnoki's face instantly flushed red, but using this momentum, he quickly rose into the air and retreated toward Iwagakure.
Charging toward Madara earlier wasn't to fight to the death, but to lower Madara's guard.
From the moment Madara appeared here, Ōnoki knew that Madara's goal wasn't just the jinchūriki.
Iwagakure was in danger!
He had to return and deliver this intelligence to the village. He might even need to form an alliance with Konoha immediately.
Flying through mid-air, countless thoughts flashed through Ōnoki's mind, his eyes showing anxiety.
"Do you think you can escape?"
Madara looked up coldly at Ōnoki flying through the air. His eyes quickly transformed into the Rinnegan as he extended his hand toward Ōnoki.
Banshō Ten'in!
A terrifying gravitational force poured from Madara's palm.
Ōnoki, who had been flying through mid-air, froze. Before he could react, he plummeted toward the ground at tremendous speed.
Madara casually flicked his raised palm. Under this gravitational force, Ōnoki was thrown directly onto the ground, creating a deep crater.
A mouthful of blood spurted from Ōnoki's mouth.
What kind of ability was that just now?
Ōnoki barely stood up, looking toward Madara with horror in his eyes.
"It's about time to end this."
Madara slowly walked toward Ōnoki.
Ōnoki glanced around from the corner of his eye, a bitter expression rising on his face.
Besides Madara and Deidara, there were five other people around.
Even if these people were weak, they were probably at a similar level to Deidara.
Under these circumstances, there was no way he could escape.
Ōnoki's mind raced frantically. Even if he couldn't escape, he had to get the intelligence out.
While Ōnoki was thinking desperately, to buy time, he shouted at Madara:
"Uchiha Madara, what exactly are you planning!"
Seeing Ōnoki's expression, Madara had already guessed his little scheme.
But... Madara didn't care at all.
"From the moment we were resurrected, the end of your era was already destined."
"If this world truly has a so-called protagonist, then that protagonist will be born among the three of us! And only among the three of us!"
"Before that, this stage isn't big enough in my eyes..."
Although Madara's expression remained cold, his eyes burned with intensity.
Arrogant!
Ōnoki swallowed hard. Was this guy planning to treat the entire ninja world as his chessboard?!
A spray of blood erupted!
Deidara had appeared behind Ōnoki at some point, plunging a kunai into his heart from behind.
Ōnoki turned his head somewhat stiffly to look at the expressionless Deidara, then suddenly smiled.
The next instant.
Ōnoki completely collapsed onto the ground, lifeless.
The Third Tsuchikage of Iwagakure had died... just like that.
Kakuzu, Hidan, Sasori, and Obito stared at this scene blankly, momentarily feeling a sense of unreality.
[
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