Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, spoke for more than half an hour. He truly deserved to be called an outstanding politician. His speech downplayed the flaws in his own decisions while stirring everyone into a shared hatred of the enemy, fanning the resentment and fury in their hearts and igniting every person's fighting spirit.
"Now, in the name of the Third Hokage of Konoha, I hereby declare that Konoha shall enter a state of total war, effective immediately. Every resident of Konoha—for yourselves, for your loved ones, for your homes—from this moment onward, devote every ounce of your strength to the village, to this war provoked by our enemies, and to our final victory! The horn of battle has sounded. Beat our war drums, don our armor, take up our ninja blades—we will fight the enemy to the very end and never yield! Wherever Konoha's leaves dance, the fire burns on. Its light will continue to illuminate the village and bring forth new leaves!" Hiruzen Sarutobi concluded with this widely circulated declaration of the Will of Fire, once again prompting a wave of cheers.
Everyone listening to the speech grew excited. Even some of the older ninja recalled the impassioned days of the last Great Shinobi War.
Though Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was not particularly booming, its firm, impassioned tone told every person in Konoha that, at this critical moment of life and death, Konoha would exhaust all of its strength, carry this war through to the end, defeat every enemy, and claim final victory.
The year-end soon arrived. Over the course of nearly three months, Sunagakure and Amegakure, as well as Konoha and Amegakure, had repeatedly clashed in battles involving over a thousand ninja. The front lines had gradually been pushed back from their respective countries into the Land