Time flew by, and three months passed in the blink of an eye.
Over those three months, the atmosphere in the Ninja World became exceptionally tense.
The war between the Land of Wind and the Land of Rain affected most countries, save for the distant Land of Lightning and Land of Water.
Even the Land of Fire had mobilized a large number of troops to the border. How could small nations such as the Land of Grass, Land of Waterfalls, Land of Birds, and Land of Bears, all situated between major powers, possibly remain at ease?
Moreover, according to intelligence reports, a large force had also gathered along the southern border of the Land of Earth. Who knew whether the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth would join the war?
The three great nations occupied most of the Ninja Continent. Their war and standoff not only put every small nation on high alert, but also affected nobles, civilians, and merchant caravans, who no longer dared travel freely or conduct business across national borders.
The sharp drop in mission commissions made the already severely economically imbalanced Sunagakure and Iwagakure suffer even more.
Within their meetings, the hawkish factions had gained an absolute upper hand.
Not every one of the Five Kage possessed the absolute strength and authority of the First Hokage and Second Hokage.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was the best example.
If not for the lingering prestige of the Senju of the Forest, as well as the restraint imposed by the Hyuga Clan, the Uchiha Clan would not have regarded this ninja clan, one they had never thought much of even during the Warring States Period, as anything noteworthy.
Sarutobi Hiruzen also could not suppress the Uchiha Clan as Senju Tobirama had. He could only cede part of the Anbu's