Extraordinary Measures in Extraordinary Times

Sunagakure had once been very powerful. When it was founded, its strength had been second only to Konoha, making it the second strongest among the Five Great Ninja Villages.

After all, aside from Konoha, the other three villages each had two Tailed Beasts.

Although purchasing Tailed Beasts required money and resources, as strategic weapons, if Sunagakure had not been strong enough, it would have sold everything it owned to buy two. The Seven-Tails Chomei would never have ended up belonging to Takigakure.

But after the First and Second Great Ninja Wars, the internal turmoil caused by the Third Kazekage's disappearance, and the prolonged drain of the Third Great Ninja War, Sunagakure's strength had fallen again and again.

They could not even gain an advantage against the Konoha forces led by Tsunade, much less withstand the joint assault of two Konoha forces—especially when it was a dishonorable sneak attack.

The result was Sunagakure's crushing defeat. The Sunagakure higher-ups led by Chiyo and Ebizo had no choice but to seek peace and grit their teeth as they signed a humiliating treaty.

The most important clause was that Sunagakure would transfer thirty percent of its mission share to Konoha.

This greatly affected Sunagakure's financial income.

Afterward, seeing Sunagakure lose every Great Ninja War, the Land of Wind's daimyo could no longer tolerate it and reduced the funding allocated to Sunagakure.

With matters made even worse, Sunagakure had no choice but to adopt an elite policy, and its strength fell directly to last place among the Five Great Ninja Villages.

Sunagakure hated Konoha, but they hated Rock even more.

Chiyo, Ebizo, and the other Sunagakure higher-ups were not fools. How could they fail to guess what Ōnoki was plotting?

Unfortunately, it was already too late. What was done was done. What could Sunagakure possibly do to Iwagakure?

They could only tuck their tails between their legs.

Furthermore, someone had to take the blame for Sunagakure's crushing defeat. After the Fourth Kazekage took office, Chiyo and Ebizo resigned from their positions as elders.

Although they had not retired into seclusion as they had in the original story, they were still in a semi-retired state.

Within half a month, Iwagakure and Sunagakure withdrew from the Third Great Ninja War one after another. The situation in the ninja world shifted so rapidly that it left people dizzy and caught off guard.

Land of Water, Kirigakure, Mizukage Tower, Mizukage's office.

Yagura, with green hair, purple eyes, a stitch-like scar beneath his left eye, and a naturally youthful face, sat in his office chair reading the latest intelligence on the situation in the ninja world.

"Rock and Sand are truly a bunch of trash!"

Slap. Yagura casually tossed the document onto the desk, his face dark as he spoke angrily.

With Rock and Sand withdrawing, only Cloud and Mist remained, one in the north and one in the south, besieging Konoha. The two battlefields would receive fresh reinforcements, drastically lowering their chances of victory.

Once they were defeated, they would definitely have to surrender the Land of Fire territory they had worked so hard to occupy. Even the Land of Whirlpools would most likely return to the previous situation, with each side holding one end.

The Land of Whirlpools was far too strategically located. If Konoha obtained it, it could serve as a base for attacking Mist. If Mist obtained it, it could serve as a base for attacking Konoha.

Neither side would allow the other to monopolize it. Even the other ninja villages would not be pleased to see one side claim it all.

To have all their efforts go to waste was simply unbearable!

"Mizukage-sama, I have another important piece of intelligence here. Please review it."

Before the desk, a Hidden Mist Ninja wearing a mask and Hidden Mist ANBU attire took out a scroll from his ninja tool pouch and respectfully presented it with both hands.

Yagura took it and opened it, surprise appearing on his face. "So you've found traces of the Three-Tails. This really is good news. Well done."

"Mizukage-sama, the situation in the ninja world has changed drastically. This subordinate believes extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures."

"The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist suffered severe losses, and the heads of the major Bloodline Limit clans have also been held back by the heads of Konoha's Bloodline Limit clans. We have gained little on the front lines."

"If we wait for Konoha's reinforcements to arrive, our chances of victory will become exceedingly slim."

Yagura interlaced his fingers beneath his chin. "Well said. What extraordinary measure do you mean?"

"Mizukage-sama, this subordinate believes we can first seal the Three-Tails, then find an opportunity to seal it inside a Konoha Ninja."

"Then we will control that Konoha Ninja and send them back to Konoha. Finally, we will undo the seal and let the Three-Tails wreak havoc in Konoha."

"If Konoha suffers heavy damage, it will not only be an opportunity for Mist. Cloud, and even Rock and Sand, who have withdrawn from the battlefield, will be highly likely to return."

"At that time, Konoha might be destroyed if they are not careful."

"The four great ninja villages can divide the Land of Fire among themselves, with Mist taking the largest share. Even if Konoha is not destroyed, we can at least preserve our current gains."

Yagura was immediately tempted upon hearing this. It was indeed a way to change the situation on the battlefield and stir up the ninja world.

"Hirotada, it was not easy for you to come up with such a good plan. If this succeeds, the position of Anbu Commander will be yours."

"Following Mizukage-sama, how could this subordinate fail to improve?"

"This subordinate is willing to die for Mizukage-sama!"

Hirotada, the Anbu squad captain, said as he dropped to one knee.

"Good. It is settled, then."

"Handle it as soon as possible. If necessary, I will act personally."

"Yes!"

Beneath the mask, where Yagura could not see, a pair of scarlet Sharingan flashed briefly.

Near the Land of Hot Water, at the Land of Fire border, a giant tent resembling a house stood in the center of Cloud's main camp. The sound of a table breaking rang out, followed by an enraged voice from within the tent.

"Rock and Sand are truly trash!"

"Oh yeah, stupid big brother, you... you broke another table. Can you... can you learn from me what... what calmness is? Oh yeah."

Bang! With a dull thud, a figure flew straight out of the tent, sliding more than ten meters across the ground and leaving behind a clear trail.

Dark-skinned, with light yellow hair, black sunglasses, a muscular build, and two swords on his back, he was none other than the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, Killer B.

The figure got to his feet, nonchalantly dusted himself off, and walked straight back into the tent.

The other man was also dark-skinned and light-haired, but even more heavily built. He wore a white cloak, with green Shuriken-shaped markings on both shoulders, along with a broad belt and heavy armor. He was none other than the future A, the Fourth Raikage.

"Big brother, what should Kumogakure do next?"

Killer B put away his usual frivolous demeanor and spoke seriously.

"I want to launch another surprise attack." A's expression was solemn.

"Another surprise attack?"

"We failed even when we reached Konoha's gates last time. It won't be so easy this time, will it?"

"Big brother, Konoha's sensory ninja aren't trash, and Konoha will definitely be on guard," Killer B reminded him.

"I know, but this time is different."

"This time, I plan to send out two forces. The main force will draw Konoha's attention, while us brothers and the sensory ninja will be the real assault team."

"If we can infiltrate near Konoha, you will transform into the Eight-Tails and give the Hokage Building a Tailed Beast Ball."

"If we cannot get near Konoha, then we will circle behind Konoha's frontline camp and give Konoha a Tailed Beast Ball."

"Hiss... Big brother, isn't that too ruthless?"

"If Konoha flies into a rage and sends out the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki to go berserk without restraint, Little Eight, Yugito Nii, and I still won't be able to stop it."

Killer B felt that this was a little too crazy.

"It doesn't matter. If you cannot stop it, you still have me, as well as countless Cloud Ninja. Could one Nine-Tails really overturn all of Kumogakure?"

"Besides, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is different from you. I refuse to believe Hiruzen Sarutobi would dare risk the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki losing control, or even losing the Nine-Tails..."

"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. If we don't take risks and wait for Konoha's reinforcements to arrive, defeating Konoha will basically become impossible."

"Orochimaru is truly difficult to deal with. The war has dragged on for years, and we only found one opening."

"Big brother, what if we fail?"

"If we fail, we withdraw our troops—but not all of them."

"Leave behind a force of around a thousand men to continually harass Konoha, delay the time Konoha needs to recover, and serve as a training ground for the village."

Among the Five Great Ninja Villages, Kumogakure had suffered relatively light losses in the Third Great Ninja War. This had been bought with the life of the Third Raikage, one of the ninja world's top combatants.

"Alright, I'll listen to you, big brother."

Readers, please don't stockpile chapters. The editor said Naruto fanfics need either the potential for a major premium recommendation or one to two hundred readers following without a contract before they can be signed. You don't want your favorites, recommendation votes, investments, and time to go to waste either, right? (sniffle)