The Spark

Inside the conference hall!

The incident was just a minor episode, and Yemo and the others didn't have to wait long before the Third Hokage appeared in the conference hall. The noisy hall instantly quieted down upon the Third's arrival.

The ninjas gathered in the hall looked at the Third with a belly full of questions. Everyone was curious about what had happened that made the Third so anxious to Chunin and Jonin.

The Third stepped forward, glanced at the numerous ninja below, and said calmly, "I'm sure you're all very curious as to why I've suddenly summoned you all. It's because earth-shattering events have occurred in the Shinobi World these past two days. As you all know, our Konoha Genin Might Duy nearly wiped out the renowned Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist of the Kirigakure in a battle the night before last. Four of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist died on the spot, and three escaped with serious injuries, their fates unknown."

This matter spread like wildfire throughout the village last night, and by today, almost all the ninjas know about it.

This is the most talked-about topic in the village right now. Might Duy is a well-known figure in Konoha, but unfortunately, not in a good way. He has trained for twenty years and is Genin. Everyone says he is not cut out to be a ninja.

The sudden emergence of such a terrifying achievement shocked a large number of people. Basically, all the ninjas were stunned and incredulous when they heard the news.

It's important to understand that the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist Kirigakure are no ordinary Genin; they are the most renowned members of Elite Jonin with formidable strength. Even the kage of the five great villages would be easily defeated if these seven joined forces. Yet, these seven Elite Jonin were actually killed by a Genin. How can anyone believe it?

However, this news was confirmed by higher-ups and was undoubtedly correct. Even if people didn't believe it, they had to believe it, especially many of those who had previously mocked Might Duy felt ashamed after hearing the news.

"The Third summoned them here, probably just to promote Might Duy's achievements," Yemo thought jokingly.

After a brief pause, the Third continued, "Might Duy is a hero of Konoha, that's true. But I didn't call you here today to discuss that. There's a matter concerning the safety of Konoha before us. Because Might Duy killed Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist of the Mist, Kirigakure is greatly shaken. According to information obtained by the Anbu, Kirigakure has already dispatched ninjas into the Land of Whirlpools."

"What!"

The quiet crowd below gasped in shock, and every ninja present paled. The entry of a powerful nation's ninja into a small ninja village was a signal of war.

It's important to know that the Five Great Nations of the Hokage world possess the largest territories and the best resources, while many smaller Five Great Nations exist in the gaps between them.

Logically speaking, these small countries should have no power to fight back against corrupt large countries. However, these countries have existed for many years, with the purpose of serving as buffer zones between large countries to prevent their territories from intersecting and causing Tenten wars. They also serve as battlefields.

In ordinary times, small countries can manage to navigate the complexities of the situation, but during times of war, major powers will use these small countries as battlefields.

The Five Great Nations and the Five Great Shinobi Villages all know that although there are differences between nations and villages, the gap between them is not that big. The Land of Fire is the strongest. To give an example, if the Land of Fire could destroy the Land of Wind, the Land of Fire would also suffer heavy losses. It would be like killing a thousand enemies while losing eight hundred of your own. The other three greedy nations would join forces to destroy the Land of Fire, which would suffer heavy losses, and then divide up the territories of the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire. No one wants to be a stepping stone for them.

It is precisely under this tacit balance that the Five Great Nations, despite frequent wars, have at most paid some resources and war reparations, and none of them have been destroyed.

Conflicts between major powers are increasing, and there will always be a critical point. War is needed to break through this critical point. However, none of the Five Great Nations want the flames of war to burn on their own territory. Naturally, the war has tacitly spread to the territories of those major powers.

Faced with the impending war, these small countries had no power to resist and could only watch helplessly as others fought a great war on their territory. They could only watch, and if they did anything, their small countries would probably be wiped out by the big countries in no time, and a more obedient king would take the throne. The world is a dog-eat-dog world, and if you are not strong, you can only grit your teeth and endure being bullied by others.

However, precisely because small countries serve as buffer zones between large countries, a tacit understanding has been formed among the major powers over the decades: in times of peace, no large country can send any ninjas into small countries on a large scale; but if they do, it means war has begun.

The Land of Whirlpools is a small country that serves as a buffer between the Land of Fire and the Land of Water. Now that the Kirigakure Ninja have entered the Land of Whirlpools, it means that the Land of Water is about to go to war with the Land of Fire. No wonder even the Third Hokage is so serious, Shikaku's father is on high alert.

The Land of Water and the Land of Fire have gone to war, which sounds like the Third Shinobi World War is about to break out.

"That's not right," Yemo said, completely bewildered, his mind a jumble. The manga only briefly touched on the Third Shinobi World War, but the war was mainly fought between the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth. Although the other three countries also participated, they didn't use their full national strength; they just wanted to gain some benefits from the war. But now, how did the trigger for the Third Shinobi World War become the Land of Water invading the Land of Whirlpools and declaring war on the Land of Fire?

"Could it be that... my butterfly is too powerful, actually changing the entire Third Shinobi World War?" Yemo thought to himself speechlessly, but Yemo he realized something was wrong. "This has nothing to do with me. The trigger for the Land of Water's invasion of the Land of Whirlpools was that Might Duy almost wiped out the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist of the Mist, expelling the entire Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist from the Shinobi World, with four dead and three seriously injured."

At this moment, Yemo felt like a blade of grass in a storm, completely disoriented, as this was not going according to plan at all.

After a brief moment of shock and discussion, the Third waved for everyone to stop and continued, "As you all know, Kirigakure has dispatched the Allied Shinobi Forces into the Land of Whirlpools. This is a declaration of war against Konoha. Can we back down?"

"No, no, no!"

Before the Third's words had even faded, many ninjas in the meeting room raised their arms and shouted, creating a very exciting scene. Even the usually composed Shikaku in, raising his hand and shouting.

They are the ninjas of Konoha number one village in the Shinobi World. Over the decades, Konoha has survived two major Shinobi World War and even faced the threat of annihilation. They have persevered and, step by step, built upon the shoulders of the other four great ninja villages to reach their current position.

Even Kirigakure, one of the Five Great Villages, cannot challenge Konoha's position. As Konoha ninjas, they will use their strongest fists to beat Kirigakure back hard.

The Third raised his hand again, signaling everyone to stop. Once the meeting hall was quiet again, the Third said, "Yes, we cannot back down. I will send back any village that dares to challenge Konoha. Konoha's position cannot be challenged by any village."

Hearing the Third's words, Yemo couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. The Third now was vastly different from the future Third. Come to think of it, at this time, the Third had led Konoha to victory in the Second Shinobi World War, governed Konoha, and brought Konoha to its peak. He was in his prime, and his blood was still boiling with passion.

Years later, the Third grew old, his passion exhausted, and he became all about compromise, losing his former domineering presence.

After Minato's death, Konoha experienced a talent gap. Although two powerful geniuses Shisui Uchiha and Uchiha Itachi, emerged in Konoha over the next ten years, one died at the hands of the ambitious Danzo, and the other was forced by them to destroy the Uchiha Clan. Apart from the Third, Konoha's only notable talents were Kakashi Hatake and Might Guy, and these were not the geniuses born during that period.

As for Shimura Danzō, needless to say, this guy only cares about the position of Hokage. In his view, if he could exchange half of Konoha for the Hokage Position, he would not hesitate.

P. S.: I'll make up for what was missing yesterday.