Reactions from All Sides

Iwagakure, Tsuchikage's office.

Ōnoki sat behind his desk, legs planted wide and a hand on his sword. He slapped the desk and said to Kitsuchi below him, "Sarutobi Hiruzen is getting more shameless by the day. Look at this—does this sound like something a sane person would say?

A child with a few bodyguards managed to wear Tachibana Muneshige down until he died. Does that sound like something a sane person would say?

Was the kid perhaps the Sage of Six Paths' illegitimate son, with four peak Kage-level shinobi guarding him?

What utter nonsense."

Kitsuchi said with an earnest look, "Father, the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire are definitely going to war. We just don't know how far it'll go. What should we do?"

Ōnoki was still cursing Sarutobi Hiruzen. Hearing Kitsuchi's question, he tossed aside the intelligence report in his hand. "Kitsuchi, take a thousand men to the Land of Hot Water."

Kitsuchi asked, at a loss, "Father, what are we going to the Land of Hot Water for? Isn't that territory controlled by Konoha and the Cloud Ninja? Who are we fighting?"

Ōnoki glanced at Kitsuchi and sighed inwardly. His son was a fine man, both in character and strength, but he was far too straightforward. He had no political sense at all. If Ōnoki left the Rock Ninja in his hands, those old schemers would eat him alive.

Ōnoki said earnestly, "Kitsuchi, the main reason I'm sending you to the Land of Hot Water is to put on a show for everyone else.

"Once you get there, say you're going to avenge my teacher, the Second Hokage, and prepare to cross the Land of Waves to attack Kirigakure.

"In truth, I'm just having you station troops there. If Konoha wins, join forces with them to attack the Cloud Ninja.

"If Konoha loses, join forces with Sunagakure to attack Konoha. If neither side gains the upper hand, wait and see.

"I've already sent word to the Daimyo of the Land of Earth. He'll give you a blank declaration of war. Once you receive my orders, advance immediately.

"You don't need to understand anything about declaring war. Got it?"

Meanwhile, in Kumogakure, at the Raikage's Office.

"Hahaha! That's the funniest thing I've heard all year.

"Tachibana Muneshige was supposedly surrounded and killed by a child's bodyguards? That old man could fight me to a standstill. How could he have died of exhaustion?

"People at our level are supposed to fear being surrounded? What a joke." Third Raikage Ai burst into laughter. (And so the flag was planted.)

Blue B shook his head and continued using the short knife in his hand to flick beans across the desk.

"B, why aren't you laughing?" Ai asked pointedly when Blue B ignored him.

Blue B replied, "Everyone dies eventually. That old man was nearly seventy. It's perfectly normal for him to die of exhaustion.

"It's just a little ridiculous that he supposedly got surrounded and killed by a child's bodyguards."

Ai rubbed his stubbled chin. "But now that you mention it, shouldn't we send some people over to take a look? How can there be this much excitement without the Cloud Ninja joining in?

"Hmm, I've decided. We'll invade the Land of Rivers. Konoha and Sunagakure are too busy fighting to deal with us. I heard the Land of Rivers has so much food it's going moldy. We can help them eat some of it."

Blue B rolled his eyes. "You're the Raikage. Could you not say out loud that we're going to rob them? It's beneath you."

Ai said bluntly, "What good is dignity? Can you eat it? If not, then we'll go steal something we can eat.

"The Land of Lightning had another severe drought last year. The Daimyo's been complaining to me that there isn't enough food. Should I go steal some or buy it? Are you paying?"

Blue B's lips twitched. He swept the beans off the desk and onto the floor with a wave of his hand. "Fine, fine. You win. I'll go myself.

"But we're only robbing the Land of Rivers, then withdrawing. Don't go starting a war with Konoha. If Konoha and Iwagakure join forces, we'll be caught between two fronts."

Ai said, "Do I look like an idiot? Of course we'll just grab what we can while the owner's away, then run."

That night, in front of the Mizukage Building in Kirigakure.

A Water Country Anbu said to the Third Mizukage, "Mizukage, according to our informants, Tachibana Muneshige of the Land of Wind died in Konoha. Judging by the timing, the two countries should already be at war."

The Third Mizukage nodded. "I understand. You may go."

The Anbu bowed. "Yes, Mizukage." In a flash, he vanished using the Body Flicker Technique.

Then a shadow slowly rose from behind the Third Mizukage and spoke in a sinister tone. "They've started fighting before I even stirred things up. The younger generation these days—none of them know how to keep the peace.

"Good. The plan there should be brought forward, too. But who should I find to teach that child? This is a bit of a problem. Maybe I should try fooling that old Toad again. He's getting more and more absent-minded, always forgetting things. What a hassle."

At the Daimyo's Mansion in the Land of Wind.

The Daimyo of the Land of Wind said to the samurai commander kneeling before him, "Tokugawa, tell the Chiyo Siblings to behave. If they cause trouble again, I'll cut their funding further.

"And have Ryunosuke come see me. He thinks becoming Kazekage means he can escape my grasp? How naive."

The samurai bowed his head. "Yes, my lord. However, Ryunosuke doesn't seem to be avoiding you. He's actually gone missing.

"According to our informants, even the Sand Ninja leadership—including the Chiyo Siblings—is searching for him."

The Daimyo waved a hand. "You may go. Also, write a letter to the Daimyo of the Land of Fire and have that old man's body returned for burial."

The samurai bowed, then slowly withdrew.

The Daimyo of the Land of Wind turned and smashed the vase on the table, then kicked over the low table. He roared, "I am the Daimyo of the Land of Wind! I'm the one steering this country.

"Since when can a mere Chiyo declare war on someone in my name? Do they even respect me as their Daimyo? Huh?"

Still furious, he kicked over the folding screen beside him. The servants nearby heard the Daimyo's roars and stood frozen, not daring to make a sound.

In the Land of Fire, at the Daimyo's Mansion.

The Daimyo of the Land of Fire and his wife were admiring the spring scenery beneath a tree. A samurai entered, bowed, and said, "My lord, according to the latest battlefield reports, Konoha and the Sand Ninja have been fighting along the border for three days.

"Both sides have had their share of victories. Their strongest fighters are still holding back, but that probably won't last much longer.

"The Daimyo of the Land of Wind doesn't seem to approve of Sunagakure's actions. According to our informants, while the soldiers on the front lines are fighting for their lives, he's cutting their funding back home."

The Daimyo of the Land of Fire waved his fan. "Ah! I understand. Madam, there's no need to worry. I'm a reasonable man. I won't do anything rash."

The Daimyo of the Land of Fire thought for a moment, then sighed. "Mm, this is an era of competing to be the least awful. As long as I'm not as awful as those four, the Land of Fire is sure to win the war. I've always been certain of that."

After sighing, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire thought of something else and turned to his wife. "Where's little Tsunade? Why has she been unwilling to come home for so long?"

His wife gently waved her fan. "Tsun-chan's been in a bad mood lately."

The Daimyo said, "That child is getting wilder by the day. I regret sending her to Konoha to become a Ninja."

After speaking, the Daimyo waved for the samurai to leave. The samurai bowed and departed, leaving the Daimyo and his wife beneath the tree to continue admiring the spring scenery.