"Our strategy for the Rain Village this time is simple. At the beginning, we'll take advantage of the three great nations underestimating us and secure enough victories. After that, we'll turn the war into a prolonged stalemate while stirring up the entire shinobi world and expanding the scale of the conflict. Ideally, we'll drag the Land of Lightning and the Land of Water into it as well. Once that happens, the focus of the three great nations will shift elsewhere. Meanwhile, our Rain Village can hide itself and bide its time. And if the Five Great Nations exhaust themselves too much, the Land of Rain will naturally become the sixth great nation of the shinobi world."
Harada excitedly explained his speculation.
"There are a few flaws, but overall it's not far off. Still, Harada, let me teach you something— even inside your own home, you must always maintain a certain level of vigilance."
After saying that, Hanzo instantly appeared behind a ninja who had just drawn his blade and questioned Harada.
A flash of a kunai.
The head fell to the ground.
"Root of Konoha… I've long heard of you."
"There was a spy?"
"Hanzo-sama!"
"Since Konoha has sent us such a generous gift, we should return the favor."
"We offer our hearts to Hanzo-sama!"
"We offer our hearts to Hanzo-sama!"
...
One week later.
The Rain Village wiped out an entire Konoha border defense unit—one hundred ninja in total: ten jonin and ninety chunin.
They invaded the Land of Fire and formally declared war on Konoha.
At the same time, they launched invasions into the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth.
With its own strength alone, the Land of Rain declared war on three great nations.
The name of the Land of Rain spread throughout the shinobi world, and it marked the true beginning of the Second Shinobi World War.
As for the events a few years earlier—the destruction of the Land of Whirlpools and the standoff between Konoha and the Mist Village, which supposedly signaled the start of the war—that was nothing worth mentioning.
...
Konoha
Land of Fire
The familiar group of four had gathered.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The "Shadow Hokage" of the shinobi world, Danzo Shimura.
And the two attachments, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane.
A heated discussion was underway.
Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "Everyone, what are your thoughts on this matter?"
Danzo Shimura replied, "Mobilize the full power of Konoha and crush the Land of Rain. Let the shinobi world see the consequences of provoking Konoha."
Koharu Utatane shook her head.
"Danzo, you're being too radical. It's only the Land of Rain. There's no need to mobilize the entire village. Hiruzen could dispatch two thousand ninja led by Orochimaru, and that would be more than enough to sweep away the entire country."
"Foolish."
Danzo barked angrily.
"What did you say? Say that again if you dare."
Koharu bristled like an enraged hedgehog.
"Koharu, calm down, calm down. Danzo must have intelligence the rest of us don't know about. Danzo, hurry and explain."
The good-natured Homura Mitokado quickly stepped in to stop Koharu while urging Danzo to continue.
"The leader of the Rain Village, Hanzo. His swordsmanship is astonishing. He once defeated the Iron Country's samurai leader Mifune in a single strike. He's evenly matched with the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki. It's confirmed that he has reached Kage-level strength. With a ninja like that in the Land of Rain, you actually want Orochimaru to lead a team and wipe them out? Are you overestimating Orochimaru, or underestimating Hanzo?"
"What? A small country like the Land of Rain actually has such a powerful figure?"
Koharu Utatane was stunned. She was responsible for communication with the daimyo's court and knew little about the latest developments in the shinobi world.
Since when had Kage-level powerhouses started appearing outside the Five Great Nations?
"In that case, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade will lead three thousand ninja to the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rain and drive all Rain ninja out of the Land of Fire."
Hiruzen Sarutobi summarized the plan.
"Hiruzen, using the full strength of Konoha to crush the Land of Rain is the only correct course of action. Simply driving them out of the border? Hiruzen, you're too soft."
"Danzo, I am the Hokage."
"Hmph. Hiruzen, you'll regret this."
After saying that, Danzo Shimura slammed the door and left.
"Homura, notify three thousand standing ninja to prepare for immediate deployment to the border."
"Understood, Hiruzen."
"Koharu, temporarily take over the intelligence department. Keep a close eye on the other four great nations. Not a single move of theirs can be overlooked."
"Hiruzen, leave it to me. Don't worry."
"Notify the heads of the major clans. There will be a meeting in two days."
Figures flashed through the air.
They were the Hokage's direct ANBU, sent to notify the clan leaders.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood up and looked out at Konoha as he spoke calmly.
"So the Second Shinobi World War is finally about to begin. This time, Konoha will certainly win. And at the same time… it's about time the influence of the ninja clans was weakened."
One hand held his pipe steady.
The other slowly clenched tighter and tighter.
...
Land of Earth
Iwagakure
Inside the conference room.
A long table was surrounded by many people.
At the head sat the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki—small in stature but with a resolute face.
Watching the noisy arguing below him, he grew extremely dissatisfied.
Bang.
With a single punch, he shattered the entire conference table.
"Go on, keep arguing! Why did you stop? Let everyone see that the leadership of the Iwa ninja—who claim to be united—is actually nothing but loose sand. Let the entire shinobi world know that our village is filled with undercurrents and internal scheming."
After Onoki roared in anger, the room instantly fell silent.
"Tsuchikage-sama, then how should we respond to the Land of Rain's public declaration of war?"
A voice asked.
"Declaration of war? So what? What exactly have we lost? Have any of our ninja died? The only losses are the daimyo's lands. If they want us to send troops, fine—send the money first. Then we'll deploy. That's fair, isn't it?"
Onoki said calmly.
"Tsuchikage-sama, would that damage our relationship with the daimyo's court?"
"Relationship? That little brat of a daimyo spends every day thinking about seizing power and turning Iwagakure into his personal army. Hmph. They don't treat the lives of our Iwa ninja as lives at all. Do you think the same way?"
As he said this, Onoki stared coldly at the other high-ranking officials present.
"Of course not! Iwagakure is the most united hidden village."
"That's right! Our children are precious. How could we make them risk their lives just because of some order from the daimyo?"
Everyone hurried to express their loyalty.
"Then, Tsuchikage-sama, what should we do now?" asked a man from the diplomatic department.
"Announce to the outside world that Iwagakure has declared war on the Rain Village. Deploy five thousand Iwa ninja along the border under Kitsuchi's command. But remember—defense only. No attacking. After all, Konoha is the one suffering the greatest losses. If anyone makes the first move, it will definitely be them."
"After that, we'll decide based on how the situation develops."
Onoki smiled.
A shinobi world war was not something where the strongest side necessarily won in the end.
A small country like the Land of Rain might be strong for a moment, but not forever.
Hanzo… once you die, the Land of Rain will collapse on its own.
The poison sac of the salamander isn't so easy to endure.
Onoki recalled his previous encounter with Hanzo.
That overwhelming sea of poisonous mist.
For powerful ninja, it might not mean much.
But for the countless lower and mid-level ninja who made up the majority in war…
It was like the arrival of the Shinigami, harvesting everything.
Konoha…
I hope you can withstand this wave of poison.
Otherwise, don't blame me for showing no mercy.
After all, how much is the Land of Rain worth?
Konoha, on the other hand, is extremely wealthy.
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