War Breaks Out

After much effort, Yichen finally managed to bring the Akatsuki Organization onto his side.

After the first two rounds of the Joint Chunin Exams are completed, there will be a one-month gap.

Under Yichen's coordination, the Land of Earth, the Land of Water, the Land of Rivers, and the Land of Rain sat down together and began alliance negotiations.

The Land of Earth was the proposer and leader of this negotiation. The Land of Rivers and the Land of Rain were tricked into coming by Yichen, and the Land of Water only came because they were being pressured by the Seven Ninja Swords.

However, the most active negotiators were the Land of Rivers and the Land of Rain.

After Yichen expressed his intention to upgrade the River Ninja Village after the war, the Land of Rivers and the Land of Rain became uneasy.

The rise of River Ninja Village to become the Sixth Great Ninja Village is a good thing, but who will become the sixth largest country?

And so the representatives of the Land of Rivers and the Land of Rain started fighting.

Yichen had not anticipated this, as Yichen did not value the national strength of the Land of Rivers and the Land of Rain.

Even Yichen didn't value the ordinary ninjas from both countries, apart from the five Yahiko.

Therefore, Yichen was able to think of upgrading the River Ninja Village, but he forgot whether the Land of Rivers or the Land of Rain should be upgraded to the sixth largest country.

As a result, during the alliance negotiations, the representatives of the two countries argued fiercely in front of the Land of Earth, the Land of Water, and the representatives of the three ninja villages.

The envoy of the Daimyo of the Land of Rivers said, "The River Ninja Village is located in the Land of Rivers. Since the River Ninja Village has been upgraded to the Sixth Great Ninja Village, the Land of Rivers must follow suit."

"There's no reason to locate a Great Ninja Village in a small or medium-sized country."

However, the envoy of the Daimyo of the Land of Rain said, "The former River Ninja Village was naturally a ninja village of the Land of Rivers. But the newly built River Ninja Village was established after the Akatsuki Organization killed Hanzo and their sphere of influence encompassed Kawa and Ame Countries."

"The new River Ninja Village is actually just using the name of the original ninja village. From its personnel to its ideology, it has nothing to do with the original ninja village at all."

"Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan are all from the Land of Rain. Most of the other core ninjas of River Ninja Village were also early members recruited by Akatsuki Organization when they were in the Land of Rain. They all belong to the Land of Rain."

Both sides had their own arguments, and both were reasonable. As an outsider, Yichen was not in a position to get involved, Yahiko was also finding it difficult to make a decision.

Therefore, the negotiations did not go smoothly.

Although many treaties unrelated to this matter were reached through Yichen's coordination, the formal alliance between the three parties could not be confirmed in the end.

Finally, with the third exam approaching, Yichen gave Yahiko an idea.

Let the Kawa and Ame Countries form an alliance, a comprehensive alliance. Then, under the name of the alliance, they will become the sixth largest power in the Ninja World.

The alliance Kawa and Ame Countries enjoys the same power as the Five Great Nations.

Yahiko agreed.

The envoys from both countries were reluctant to agree, but neither wanted to offend Yahiko at this time, so after some hesitation, they reluctantly accepted.

Finally, the three ninja villages and four countries signed the final alliance.

The alliance stipulated that the three parties would advance or retreat together. If one party was attacked, the other two parties would need to provide support.

The alliance also stipulated that neither party may initiate war against other Great Ninja Village without the consent of the other two parties.

The first clause is advantageous to Yichen, and it is in preparation for the impending war.

The second point was meant to reassure Yichen Yahiko the others, indicating that he loved peace and would not initiate war.

The Kirigakure was very satisfied with both of these points.

It was only after much effort that the other ninja villages regained their recognition as one of the Five Great Ninja Villages. At present, Kirigakure lacks both the strength and ambition to contend for supremacy.

The first principle can protect Kirigakure, which is still recovering its strength, and the second principle can limit Iwagakure's excessive expansion of power after the war.

Therefore, all parties are satisfied with this agreement.

Yichen breathed a sigh of relief; after two months, the most difficult pre-battle preparations were finally completed.

The matter in River Ninja Village is finally over.

"I haven't contacted my family in a long time. I wonder if Ōnoki and his men's preparations for war, which they've been carrying out in secret, are going smoothly," Yichen thought to himself.

After signing the alliance agreement, Yichen returned to his residence and contacted the village through intelligence ninjas.

They informed the village about their situation and also learned about the village's war preparedness progress.

The next day, Yichen bid farewell to Yahiko and the other two. "Yahiko, Nagato, Konan, the third exam is tomorrow, and I plan to go back to the village today."

Yahiko said, "Alright then, Yichen, be careful in this battle. If anything happens, contact Nagato directly using the Phantasm Body Technique."

Nagato also said, "That's right, Yichen, you can just tell us what you need from us. You're being too formal."

Konan also said, "In this alliance, you helped us handle many things and came up with solutions."

"You must have been under a lot of pressure in your village. We haven't thanked you yet."

Yichen smiled wryly, thinking to himself, "If I don't speak up for you three political novices and give you advice, you'll probably be sold out and still be counting the money for them."

Yahiko is just like Hashirama Senju then.

Hashirama Senju clearly had a winning hand, yet he chose to play the game of mutual understanding.

As a result, he left his younger brother, Senju Tobirama a mess.

Yichen followed Konan's words and said, "Konan, since you want to thank me, then show me around your village again. I haven't been there since Yahiko finished renovating the village."

Upon hearing this, Yahiko and Nagato turned to look out the window, as if something outside was attracting their attention and making them unable to Awakening Eyes.

Konan noticed that Yahiko's shoulders were shaking incessantly.

However, Konan had some experience now. She just blushed a little, glared at Yichen, and didn't say anything.

Seeing no movement, Yahiko stood up and said, "Nagato, didn't you say something happened at the Ninja Academy? Let's go check it out."

Nagato reacted quickly, saying, "Okay, let's go now."

The two then quickly disappeared from the office.

In the blink of an eye, only Konan and Yichen remained in the office.

Seeing this, Yichen said, "Konan, let's go shopping."

Then Yichen got up, took Konan's arm, and walked out.

The first time, I didn't dare to hold hands!

Before Konan could react, Yichen pulled her out of the office building.

Once on the street, Konan belatedly realized what was happening and managed to pull her arm free from Yichen's grasp.

Yichen pretended not to notice and pointed to a place in the distance, saying, "Let's go over there!"

There was a large crowd gathered there to watch the Joint Chunin Exams. This was a newly built entertainment area by Yahiko.

Next, Yichen led Konan, who was half-heartedly resisting, to tour all the various entertainment facilities that Yahiko and his men had built during this period.

Half a day later, Yichen was taking a walk with Konan.

Suddenly, an intelligence ninja who had come to the Land of Rivers with Yichen rushed over and Yichen said, "Lord Tsuchikage, news has come from the village that the Sunagakure and Konoha have joined forces to attack the Kirigakure."

Yichen sighed. This damned Ninja World is just not a place for romance.

Yichen gave Konan an apologetic smile, then looked at the intelligence ninja and asked, "What about the Cloud ninja? Have they sent out any troops?"

The intelligence ninja immediately replied, "The Third Lord said that the Cloud ninja might be traveling by water, which we cannot detect."

Yichen nodded and said, "I understand."

Then Yichen looked at Konan and said, "Konan, let's go back. I might need Nagato's help."

Konan nodded solemnly and said, "Okay. Don't worry, you've helped us so much, we'll do our part too."

Soon, the two returned to Yahiko's office. Yahiko and Nagato, who had originally planned to go to the Ninja Academy, were both there.

Seeing Yichen and Konan return together, Yahiko was about to make a few cheeky jokes when he suddenly noticed that Yichen's expression was very serious.

He and Nagato exchanged a glance, both understanding each other's meaning: something must have happened.

Sure enough, before Yahiko could ask, Yichen immediately said, "Yahiko, Nagato, something's happened. Konoha and Sunagakure have sent troops to Kirigakure, and it's likely that Cloud ninja has also mobilized."

"The Mist ninja is our Iwa ninja's ally. I can't stand by and watch them be attacked by the Three Great Ninja Villages. I must support them. But Iwa ninja Village alone isn't enough; I need Nagato's help."

Nagato immediately said, "Yichen, just tell me what you want me to do."

Yahiko also said, "The Mist ninja are now our allies, so we should do our part."

Yichen nodded and said, "I hope your Six Paths of Pain can enter the Land of Fire and hold back the two Kage Level from Konoha for me."

Yahiko said, "Is it really that simple? What about me and Konan? What do we need to do?"

Yichen shook his head and said, "That's enough. Nagato already sent Sasori of the Red Sands and Kakuzu to Land of Whirlpools to cause trouble for Orochimaru."

"If we can hold back two more Kage Level from Konoha this time, that makes a total of three."

"In terms of numbers, you've already tied down the high-end combat power of an entire Great Ninja Village."

"The final round of the Chunin Ninja Exams is about to begin. You absolutely cannot leave now, or all your previous efforts will be wasted."

Yahiko and the other two were somewhat moved; even at this moment, Yichen was still thinking of their Akatsuki Organization.

Meanwhile, Yichen was thinking, "Konoha has indeed taken the initiative to start the war. Given the relationship between Tsunade and Orochimaru, there's still a possibility that she might contact Orochimaru to join the attack."

"Fortunately, we had already sent Kakuzu and Sasori to distract Orochimaru beforehand."

Despite the chaos of the last incident, Yichen and Orochimaru had always cooperated well, and their collaboration had been quite pleasant.

However, Yichen could never fathom what Orochimaru was thinking.

Putting everything else aside, in the original story, he launched the so-called Konoha Collapse Plan, but then made the bizarre move of attacking his allies first. This is something Yichen's thought process simply cannot comprehend.

Therefore, if resources permit, it is essential to limit this uncontrollable factor.

Moreover, neither Sasori of the Red Sands nor Kakuzu are fighters who can be completely trusted.

Iwa ninja killed Chiyo. Although Sasori of the Red Sands had severed ties with Sunagakure, who knows what he was really thinking?

As for Kakuzu, a bounty hunter who only does jobs for money, can Yichen trust him?

Therefore, having Nagato give the order to get these three involved and check each other is a good method.

Nagato nodded and immediately used the Phantasm Body Technique to order Sasori of the Red Sands and Kakuzu, who were far away in the Land of Whirlpools: Act immediately and kill Orochimaru.

Then his Six Paths of Pain quickly left the Land of Rain and headed towards the borders of the Land of Rivers and the Land of Fire.

Nagato's control over the Six Paths of Pain has a limit; his Six Paths of Pain cannot directly reach the border between the Land of Rain and the Land of Fire.

That's too far; it's beyond the limit of Nagato's ability to control the puppets.

Seeing this, Yichen thanked Yahiko and the other two and returned to his residence.

Yichen said to Kanako, "Kanako, the Joint Chunin Exams in River Ninja Village are in your hands. War is about to break out, and your mission is to protect the team that makes it to the finals."

"You stay here. Konan and the others will protect you. Leave River Ninja Village after the war is over."

"I'm leaving you an intelligence ninja. Contact me if anything happens in River Ninja Village."

Next, Yichen began issuing orders to Iwagakure through intelligence ninjas.

Yichen did not choose to go to the rescue of Kirigakure; setting off now would be too late.

If we go back now and wait for Yichen to arrive, Kirigakure will have already been defeated by the Three Great Ninja Villages if they couldn't hold them off.

If the Mist ninja can block it, then it's useless for Yichen to go.

Yichen's order was: Attack the Land of Wind.

As soon as Yichen gave the order, Ōnoki and Kawakita, who were in Iwagakure, immediately led their Two Thousand Army, which had been assembled beforehand, toward the Land of Wind.

Two thousand ninjas are certainly not enough to attack a Great Ninja Village.

At the same time, Iwa ninja dispatched 1,500 ninja from each of its two branches in the Land of Snow and the Land of Demons.

For both divisions, this was almost all their manpower; only a few ninjas were left behind to guard the premises.

The three armies converged within the territory of the Land of Bears, forming an army of five thousand men.

Yichen then summoned his three disciples and forbade them from participating in the remaining exams. He then led the three disciples and an intelligence ninja to the Land of Bears.

Even the fastest mobilization of a large army has its limitations. Among Yichen's countermeasures, the fastest was the Six Paths of Pain.

The pandemic has worsened; there will be another update later.