Onoki drew in a sharp breath, 'Konoha is actually using a war as training.'
"Then how do you plan to form an alliance with Iwagakure?"
"We're not going to be your shield."
Onoki was usually very forceful, but this time he was dealing with Uchiha Rengoku, the strongest fighter in the ninja world.
So his tone was much softer.
"Heh! Heh! Heh...", Rengoku laughed.
"Iwagakure only needs to send a few thousand people and make it look like we're attacking Sunagakure together."
"The rest of the time, just come help us improve the environment of the Land of Wind."
After hearing Rengoku's words, Onoki asked in confusion, "Don't tell me you're planning to turn the entire desert into an oasis?"
Rengoku spread his hands and answered naturally, "What else would I do? Why would I want a desert?"
Onoki asked doubtfully, "But where will your water come from? The water from the Land of Rain can't possibly cover the entire Land of Wind."
The Land of Rain was only one-thirtieth the size of the Land of Wind. Even if it had water resources, it could never irrigate the whole desert.
"I'm planning to use this."
Rengoku took a scroll from his clothes and opened it.
With a puff.
A huge machine appeared and immediately filled most of the room.
"This is a seawater desalination device."
Onoki looked at the huge machine with surprise.
Desalinating seawater was not difficult. The difficult part was doing it on a large scale.
These machines consumed a great deal of energy, and nobody was willing to desalinate seawater for the Land of Wind.
After all, the desert there could not retain water.
But now that problem no longer existed.
Because Iwagakure could lay hollow stone slabs beneath the desert and transport the desalinated water through them.
Then Wood Release could be used above them to create large forests.
The roots below could absorb the moisture seeping from the hollow channels, ensuring the plants survived.
As the roots continuously held water in place, the desert would soon begin to change.
Though "soon" here was measured in years. Taking over the entire Land of Wind was never something that could be done in a short time.
Pointing at several parts of the machine, Rengoku said, "This can run on solar energy or chakra."
"This is only a small desalination unit. I also have larger ones, but they're inconvenient to carry in storage scrolls."
"A large seawater desalination facility can process fifty tons of seawater a day."
"Fifty tons?"
Even Onoki was somewhat surprised.
Rengoku continued, "Konoha is already producing desalination equipment. Before long, we'll be able to support large-scale greening."
Onoki had not expected Rengoku to have prepared everything so thoroughly.
"Then what does Iwagakure get?"
The moment Onoki saw Rengoku, giving up had stopped being an option.
Now he wanted some benefits.
If Konoha relied only on force, Iwagakure would easily create problems behind their backs.
Rengoku naturally understood the principle of using both pressure and rewards.
Rengoku made a cutting motion through the air with one hand.
"You get half of the Land of Wind."
Onoki thought for a moment and shook his head, "The entire Land of Wind is desert. Greening it will take too long. It's not worth it."
Rengoku laughed.
'This old man is pretty sharp.'
"Whether it's one sheep or two sheep, the work is the same. We'll green one-tenth of your area. You'll plant the rest of the vegetation yourselves."
Because of Shaji City, the entire ninja world already knew that Konoha had shinobi capable of using Wood Release.
At first, many ninja villages were wary.
Later, they discovered that this Wood Release was on a completely different level from Hashirama Senju's.
It could only be used to build houses and plant trees, so nobody paid much attention to it.
Later, a second young man capable of using Wood Release appeared (Nawaki).
Although he was a little stronger than the first one (Tenzo), he was still only at the level of an ordinary Jonin.
And when they used Wood Release to grow forests around Shaji City, they never hid it from anyone.
After several years of accumulation, the area around Shaji City had become forest.
At the same time, every village in the ninja world completely let go of their fear of Wood Release.
"One-fifth. Iwagakure will organize a force of more than five thousand people to enter the Land of Wind. But you have to green my territory first."
Onoki bargained while staring closely at Rengoku.
Rengoku showed no special reaction. One hand stroked his chin while the fingers of the other tapped against his arm as if he were thinking.
"Alright. Deal."
Rengoku added, "The Land of Wind is too large. Completely swallowing it will probably take more than ten years."
"Onoki, is your health still holding up?"
Onoki stroked his beard, "This old man's health is still fairly good. I'll definitely live to see the day the Land of Wind is absorbed. Hokage, there's no need to worry."
Rengoku laughed.
He knew Onoki was exceptionally long-lived. If the clone rebellion had not happened, he might have lived to be one hundred.
"Heh... Onoki, you've misunderstood me. What I meant was..."
"Konoha has already developed a way to become younger."
"W-What? Become younger?"
Even Onoki's voice changed.
Rengoku laughed loudly, "Don't get excited. It's only about ten years younger."
Onoki let out a breath, but he also felt a little excited.
Although it wasn't true rejuvenation, becoming more than ten years younger would greatly improve his condition.
These days he floated wherever he went because his body was no longer what it used to be.
His lower back in particular was very weak and often gave him trouble.
At nearly eighty years old, he should have put down his burdens long ago.
But there had never been a suitable successor, so he had continued until now.
Although he had Deidara now, who wouldn't want their health to improve?
Onoki stared at Rengoku, "You're not worried at all?"
Rengoku laughed, "So even if you become twenty years old again, would that make you my opponent?"
Onoki fell silent.
At that age, he had still been polishing stones.
His strength had been so weak that Madara's Susanoo alone had knocked him to the ground.
That humiliation had stayed with him for life.
As for learning Dust Release, that happened many years later.
The truth was that it made no difference what condition Onoki was in.
Rengoku's Warrior God Susanoo was even stronger than Madara's. At present, nobody had a way to fight it or break through it.
At that moment, Onoki even felt somewhat fortunate.
Thankfully, Rengoku planned to slowly absorb the Land of Wind.
That gave him enough time to adjust.
Whether it was making advances in medicine, developing stronger military power, or finding another way out of the situation, all of those remained possible.
"Then it's settled. Remember not to reveal my whereabouts."
After speaking, Rengoku waved a hand and walked toward the exit.
"Send someone to Konoha to coordinate with us."
"Today, once Konoha's Chunin Exams end, we'll begin operations against Sunagakure."
Onoki walked outside with Rengoku, "Where did you go these past few years?"
Rengoku shook his head and did not answer.
Onoki said, "During the time you disappeared, Rasa of Sunagakure claimed he had killed you."
Rengoku curled his lip, "He can barely save himself, and he's still bragging."
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