Chapter 304: Chapter 304: Three and a Half

Chapter 304: Three and a Half

Naruto spoke. Though he was smiling, his words sent a chill down the spines of the Hidden Stone Village crowd below.

"Faced with a warning of an ’indiscriminate attack,’ not a single person immediately went to evacuate civilians or organize a defense..."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the faces below—some angry, some bewildered, some tense—as his lips curled into a near-malicious arc:

"Do you think the four hours I gave... is too long? Do you think I’m bluffing?

Or is it that the Ninja of Hidden Stone Village are already prepared to live or die with the Village, even dragging the civilians into a fight to the death?"

These words were like cold awls, stabbing ruthlessly into the hearts of Onoki and all the Hidden Stone Village Ninja. The phrase "fight to the death," in particular, carried a sense of cruel finality that turned many faces pale.

Naruto seemed satisfied with the effect he had caused. He raised a finger, shook it gently, and his tone suddenly turned cold:

"Well then, since you feel you have plenty of time..."

"Let’s change it to three and a half hours."

"The countdown starts now. In three and a half hours, the attack begins."

He had shortened the time limit by half an hour! This was blatant pressure and provocation, a test of Hidden Stone Village’s reaction speed and execution, and a further blow to the Tsuchikage’s authority—could they not even execute an evacuation order immediately?

"You bastard!!!"

Onoki could finally no longer remain silent. He let out a low growl of extreme suppression, a voice filled with fury, shame, and utter dissatisfaction with his subordinates’ slow reaction!

His mind had been completely occupied by Kurotsuchi’s capture, Naruto’s strength, and the potential destruction of the Village; for a moment, he hadn’t immediately issued the order.

Naruto’s words were like a blow to the head, instantly snapping him out of his painful ordeal. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Evacuate! They had to evacuate immediately! Every second delayed was another measure of danger for Hidden Stone Village!

He snapped his head down, his gaze sweeping below like a searchlight, instantly locking onto his burly son, Kitsuchi, who was also somewhat dazed by the sudden turn of events!

"Kitsuchi! What are you doing?! Why are you in a daze?!"

Onoki roared his command:

"Hurry! Now! Immediately! Organize all personnel and follow the highest emergency protocol to evacuate all civilians to the shelters outside the Village! Move!"

The shelters inside the Village were useless; a Tailed Beast Ball wouldn’t care if you were above or below ground.

"And you! What are you all standing around for?! Didn’t you hear the order?! Protect the civilians! Evacuate! Move now!"

Onoki’s roar echoed over Hidden Stone Village like a clap of thunder.

That small frame now erupted with an astonishing Aura and unquestionable majesty, instantly dispelling the confusion and stagnation in the hearts of some Ninja.

Kitsuchi, singled out and rebuked by his father, shuddered as a flash of shame crossed his face.

As an important Jonin of Hidden Stone Village and the son of Onoki, he should have realized what to do immediately, yet he had been so intimidated by the Aura radiating from the enemy that he had been at a loss.

"Yes! Tsuchikage-sama!"

Kitsuchi snapped back to his senses, all hesitation gone from his face as he immediately displayed his qualities as a commander.

"All Chunin and Genin, immediately follow the ’Tiger-Wolf-Tiger’ emergency evacuation plan. In squads, assist civilians in evacuating the Village. Prioritize personal safety; property is secondary."

"Jonin, assemble! Form a temporary defensive line, watch the skies, and be ready to respond to sudden attacks at any moment!

Perception Unit, expand your range and monitor all abnormal Chakra!

Medical Unit, prepare to receive potential casualties!"

A series of clear and urgent orders issued from Kitsuchi’s mouth.

As Onoki’s son, Kitsuchi was quite capable in command; once he received his orders, he began directing the forces.

Though his eyes still held worry for Kurotsuchi and anger toward the enemy, his duty and the Tsuchikage’s orders overrode everything else.

As Kitsuchi’s orders were issued, the previously stagnant Hidden Stone Village began to operate as if suddenly injected with vitality.

The Ninja below finally woke up from their dream. Although their faces still bore tension and resentment, their actions unfolded quickly and orderly.

Chunin and Genin quickly dispersed to every corner of the Village, using megaphones, whistles, and even knocking on doors to urge and guide civilians out of their homes. Under the protection of Ninja, they surged toward the outskirts like a tide along predetermined routes.

Cries, urgings, the weeping of children, the clatter of belongings...

The previous dead silence was instantly broken as Hidden Stone Village fell into a state of chaotic yet orderly emergency evacuation.

Meanwhile, the Jonin quickly gathered below Onoki and around the Tsuchikage Building, forming a tight defensive formation. Kunai, Exploding Tagss, and Ninjutsu were at the ready as they warily looked up at Naruto and Hikari in the sky, and the unconscious Kurotsuchi in their hands.

Perception Ninja closed their eyes to fully expand their senses, while Medical Ninja began clearing the area and preparing emergency supplies.

Watching the evacuation work finally begin to run efficiently below, Onoki felt a slight sense of relief.

Then, he looked toward Naruto.

Onoki took a deep breath and spoke in a tone as steady as possible, though it still carried suppressed rage:

"Your Excellency..."

Though he desperately wanted to tear the other party to pieces, he had to endure for now.

"Hidden Stone Village... seems to have never actively provoked you, nor have we ever had any deep-seated hatred with you, have we?"

"Why... invade us?"

Onoki stared intently at the expressions of Naruto and the young girl beside him.

To say there was no deep-seated hatred was impossible; the other’s father had built his illustrious reputation as the "yellow flash" by killing Ninja of Hidden Stone Village.

To Naruto, the topic Onoki had chosen was almost laughably naive.

"Heh."

Naruto gave a light chuckle, one devoid of warmth, containing only heavy irony and mockery.

He didn’t answer immediately but instead asked back:

"Old Mister Onoki, when your Hidden Stone Village allied with other hidden Villages and repeatedly tried to invade the Land of Fire to seize resources and expand territory, you didn’t say that."

Naruto keenly noticed that this old man had been suppressing his temper from the start. Even in extreme anger and with his granddaughter captured, he still addressed him as "Your Excellency" rather than calling him by name or using a derogatory term like "brat."

This actually made Naruto think a bit more highly of him.

He had come in the capacity of the Hokage and truly possessed formidable strength; the old man Onoki was still wary.

To be able to sit in the position of Tsuchikage for so long, he was indeed not just a reckless man who only knew rage.

This old guy was like that big, dark idiot Raikage; outwardly aggressive and easily swayed by emotion, but in reality, the calculations in his head were louder than anyone else’s.

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