Year 31 of Konoha — Border of the Land of Rain.
"This damn weather… it rains every day!"
"Yeah, and it's been getting worse lately. We barely even see the sun anymore."
"Shh! The captain's here!"
As the border captain arrived, the Rain ninja quickly fell silent.
"Stay alert at all times!"
The Rain captain, a middle-aged man with a small mustache, shouted loudly.
"This is the border of the Land of Rain!"
"Not even a fly is allowed to pass! Understood?!"
"Understood!"
"C-Captain!"
Just as he was satisfied with their discipline, one Rain ninja stammered, pointing ahead with a trembling hand.
"What is it?!"
The captain turned impatiently—
Then froze.
"K-Konoha…!"
A vast army of Konoha ninja surged forward like a tide—
Rushing straight toward the border.
…
"I am a Jonin of Konoha—Senju Senra!"
A burly man in Jonin attire stepped forward and shouted.
The Rain captain's face turned pale.
"The Senju clan…"
A powerhouse family of Konoha—
Both the First and Second Hokage came from them.
"I… I am the border commander of the Rain Village—Kobayashi Kazuki!"
He forced himself to remain calm.
"What business do Konoha ninja have here?!"
"We have a ten-year-old ninja who went missing within your territory."
Senju Senra's voice was cold.
"Return him immediately."
"…A missing ninja?"
Cold sweat streamed down Kobayashi's face.
This excuse—
Was full of holes.
What kind of "child ninja" would justify sending an entire army?
"The Land of Rain has not harbored any Konoha ninja!"
"Is that so?"
A sharp glint flashed in Senra's eyes.
"Then we'll search for him ourselves."
"You—are you trying to start a war—AAH!"
Before he could finish—
A kunai pierced straight through his chest.
"Kill!"
The Konoha army erupted instantly!
Countless kunai and shuriken rained down.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Explosive tags detonated—
Destroying the entire defensive line.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet!"
"Lightning Release: Ground Flow!"
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"
…
Konoha's Jonin unleashed their full power.
Fire—
Wind—
Earth—
Lightning—
Water—
A storm of ninjutsu crashed down upon the Rain forces.
The Rain ninja—
Had no chance to resist.
They were annihilated.
…
"Senra-sama! The entire border force has been eliminated!"
A Konoha ninja reported.
"Good."
Senju Senra nodded.
"Advance ten kilometers into the Land of Rain immediately!"
"Establish forward bases and supply lines!"
"If you encounter Rain ninja—kill them."
"And civilians—eliminate them on the spot."
"Yes, Senra-sama!"
Orders spread quickly through the ranks.
…
Amegakure.
Bang!
"You useless fools!"
A man wearing a respirator mask slammed the table in fury.
Hanzo.
"Konoha has already advanced ten kilometers into our territory—and only now you report it?!"
"H-Hanzo-sama…"
A Rain ninja trembled.
"They moved too fast—and killed everyone they encountered—we—"
"Enough!"
Hanzo roared.
"I don't want excuses!"
"Konoha has already declared war!"
"What do we do now?!"
"This… this is Konoha…"
"How can we possibly win?"
"We should protest! Demand they withdraw!"
"Yes, yes—"
Bang!
Hanzo slammed the table again, veins bulging.
"You idiots!"
"Konoha has already made its move!"
"Do you really think protests will work?!"
"Mobilize all forces!"
"Gather ten kilometers from Konoha's forward base!"
"No one is to engage without my order!"
"And—"
His eyes flickered.
"Form two additional units."
"Strengthen defenses against the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind."
"W-What?! Are they joining as well?!"
"We can't even handle Konoha—let alone three nations!"
"Silence!"
Hanzo's voice cut through the panic.
"Do you think these three villages will truly cooperate?!"
"Send envoys immediately to Iwagakure and Sunagakure!"
"If the Land of Rain falls—"
"Their borders will be exposed to Konoha's blades!"
"Yes, Hanzo-sama!"
Hanzo's gaze sharpened.
At this point—
He could only stall.
The great nations would inevitably clash.
And when they did—
That would be Rain's chance.
Perhaps—
Amegakure could rise—
As the sixth great hidden village.
After all—
War…
Also brought opportunity.
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