Stop Pretending

Although the Sarutobi Clan's losses had been somewhat unexpected, amid everyone's repeated appeals to the bigger picture—

Hiruzen Sarutobi fell silent and could only choose to accept it.

After all, this war was a crucial battle concerning the survival of the Four Great Ninja Villages!

How could they rashly alter their strategy just because of the Sarutobi Clan's losses?

Besides, the other ninja had a point...

These numbers had to be a fluke!

Perhaps the Sarutobi Clan had simply been unlucky today, which was why they had suffered such heavy losses.

Tomorrow, it might be another clan's turn. If they changed the plan every time because of one clan, would there even be any point in fighting this war?

Besides, over the past few years, the Sarutobi Clan had not really provoked Kusagakure.

As for this war...

It was a war jointly started by the Four Great Ninja Villages!

Why would the Land of Grass target the Sarutobi Clan for no reason?

It made no sense~

This was definitely just an accident!

Thus, in the end... the meeting decided to continue following the original strategy!

They would wait for the First Hokage and Second Hokage to arrive, dismantle the Land of Grass's forces together, then swarm in and completely deal with the Land of Grass's powerful fighters!

After the meeting ended.

The Kage all went off to carry out their own plans!

Likewise...

The Fourth Mizukage—Karatachi Yagura—led the ninja from his village toward Kirigakure's camp.

However.

Unlike the other three Kage, whose faces were solemn, his expression was filled with melancholy and conflict.

After all, back then... because of Kirigakure's many problems, he had secretly considered whether he should follow Sunagakure's example and defect to the Land of Grass.

Just look at Sunagakure now. It had been besieged by the