Uzumaki's Dead End

Hiruzen Sarutobi left the Root base and began coordinating arrangements, secretly mobilizing Jonin from his clan and some trusted Anbu ninja to head to Shimura Danzō's Root.

Shimura Danzō also brought out all the ninja from his clan who had reached the Jonin level. Combined with the elites cultivated and recruited by Root, the total number reached over a hundred.

The emphasis of this operation was secrecy; too many people would make it difficult to hide, so a hundred was the absolute limit.

At the same time, Hiruzen Sarutobi forged some intelligence and summoned the Clan Heads of the major ninja clans for a meeting.

"Everyone, please take a look at this intelligence."

Once everyone had arrived, Hiruzen Sarutobi had Anbu ninja distribute the fabricated intelligence.

As they perused the intelligence, everyone's expression grew solemn.

"Traces of a large number of ninja have been found on several borders. Have they joined forces?"

The Senju Clan Head put down the intelligence and looked gravely at Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"That possibility cannot be ruled out."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression was also serious. Although some of the intelligence was fabricated, a significant portion of it was also true.

The Four Great Shinobi Villages had long been prepared to start a war, and their Konoha would be the primary target, just like during the last Great Ninja War.

Upon receiving Hiruzen Sarutobi's response, everyone fell silent.

They disliked war because it meant death. Even if most of the casualties were ordinary civilians, their ninja clans would inevitably suffer significant losses.

However, with the enemy already mobilizing, they had no choice but to respond.

"We absolutely cannot let the flames of war spread into the Land of Fire. We must intercept the enemy outside, otherwise, it will be difficult to explain to the Daimyo."

Seeing that no one spoke, Hiruzen Sarutobi laid down a strict directive for the upcoming war strategy: they absolutely could not let the enemy break through.

Everyone had no objections and couldn't say anything. This was the very purpose of a ninja village's existence, established when the one village, one country system was created, and no one could change it.

"Next, we will make operational assignments. We need to dispatch elite troops as quickly as possible to the front lines to seize advantageous terrain and establish defensive lines, preventing the enemy from advancing into the Land of Fire, and buying time for our Ninja Army to arrive at the front.

The battlefield with the Land of Earth will likely be in the Land of Rain and the Land of Grass. Those areas are suitable for the Senju Clan, who primarily use Earth and Water Release."

Hiruzen Sarutobi continued, his gaze falling upon the Senju Clan Head.

The Senju Clan Head did not refuse and nodded.

Even though the opponent was a Great Ninja Village, they, the Senju Clan, had nothing to fear fighting in such a place, especially with Mother here.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the Uchiha Clan Head and continued, "Next is the Kumogakure front. Kumogakure ninja are skilled in Nintaijutsu, especially the speed of Lightning Release Nintaijutsu. The Uchiha's Sharingan can greatly counter it."

The Uchiha Clan Head nodded to Hiruzen Sarutobi in acknowledgment. It was indeed most suitable for them to confront the Kumogakure ninja who excelled in Nintaijutsu; there was nothing to argue about.

He then looked at the Hyuga Clan Head, and Hiruzen Sarutobi continued, "Next is the battlefield against Kirigakure. Their most skilled attack method is assassination under the cover of the Hidden Mist Technique. The Hyuga Clan's Byakugan can effectively counter and target them. Additionally, for the sake of the war, Hyuga ninja will need to be deployed to other fronts for support."

The Hyuga Clan Head nodded and accepted the assignment.

"The frontline against Sunagakure will be handled by the Sarutobi Clan and the Shimura Clan. Furthermore, depending on the situation, varying numbers of Ninja Army will be dispatched to support each front."

Finally, Hiruzen Sarutobi took responsibility for Sunagakure on behalf of the Sarutobi and Shimura clans. As Hokage, he had to lead by example; if he didn't contribute, the other ninja clans wouldn't agree.

As expected, upon hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi finally declare the Sarutobi Clan's participation, the faces of the other Clan Heads softened slightly.

They had truly feared that the Sarutobi Clan would stay in the rear and not contribute, which would have been too infuriating and unsettling.

After the Clan Heads of each ninja clan returned to convene their respective clan meetings and discuss matters, they began preparing supplies. The next day, the elites of their clans departed for the various borders to begin establishing defensive lines.

The war had not officially begun yet. Their current mission was primarily to occupy strategic locations, establish defensive lines, and eliminate any enemy scouts who had infiltrated. The danger was not significant.

This was also the main reason the major ninja clans readily agreed. Moreover, the village would dispatch large forces to follow up; they were not being sent to confront the Great Ninja Villages alone.

They could not take the initiative to attack, but simple defense was much easier.

Konoha's significant mobilization alerted the entire Ninja World, and the Four Great Shinobi Villages were bewildered.

"What is Konoha up to?"

In the council hall of the Tsuchikage's office in Iwagakure, everyone was confused. Although they had dispatched troops to pressure the Land of Fire and tie down Konoha, preparing for their plan to attack the Land of Whirlpools, it hadn't even started yet.

"Perhaps our plan regarding the Uzumaki clan has been exposed."

Ōnoki, after much thought, voiced a suspicion.

"But if it were exposed, shouldn't Konoha concentrate its forces at the Land of Whirlpools to confront us? Konoha and Uzushio Hidden Village have been allies for years, and the First Hokage's wife was from the Uzumaki clan."

Rōshi did not understand and disagreed with Ōnoki's speculation.

Ōnoki, ignoring the fool, glanced at the others present and said gravely, "The war in the Land of Whirlpools might have variables. Konoha could be our enemy, or they could be our friend. Gari, you will have to adapt to the situation when the time comes."

He said this as he looked at the middle-aged man to his left, who was one of his trusted confidants and the commander of the war in the Land of Whirlpools.

"Yes, Lord Tsuchikage, I understand."

Gari quickly stood up and responded, a smile appearing on his face.

This was truly unexpected!

The others present also realized and wore smiles.

"It seems our Strongest Hokage is not having an easy time in Konoha!"

"The strongest my ass. The current Thirds of the Five Great Ninja Villages are all the strongest of their respective generations, but his claim, Hiruzen Sarutobi's, is full of hot air."

"No wonder they dispatched the Senju Clan to our side. We are indeed quite far from the Land of Whirlpools. By the time the Senju Clan wants to provide support, it'll be too late."

The few of them chuckled, their faces filled with mockery. What a fine Hokage he was!

"Rōshi, you go along with them just in case."

Ōnoki remained calm, pondered for a moment, and looked at Rōshi. Although he didn't think highly of the man's intellect, his strength was formidable.

Even though the Tailed Beast seal wasn't perfect, he could already control it well. Furthermore, he had fused his own Lava Release with the Four-Tails' chakra. If Ōnoki didn't use Dust Release, he wouldn't even be able to defeat the current Rōshi. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him the second strongest in the village.

With Rōshi there to oversee things, he could feel a bit more at ease.

Although Rōshi was still confused, seeing Ōnoki's order, he could only nod in agreement.

While he disliked Ōnoki's philosophy, he was equally passionate about the village. Moreover, this plan for the Land of Whirlpools also concerned him.

If he could obtain a stronger and more suitable Sealing Technique, he could better suppress the Four-Tails.

That big guy was difficult to get along with; one wrong move and its chakra could erode him, causing him to go berserk and lose control. Each time, it caused considerable losses for the village.

Sunagakure and Kirigakure had also made similar arrangements, increasing their investment in the Land of Whirlpools War.

Although it was just a guess, it was better to believe it might be true than to dismiss it. They had to obtain the Uzumaki clan's Sealing Technique. Only then could they create a perfect Jinchuriki like the First Hokage's wife, one who could perfectly wield the power of a Tailed Beast.

Konoha already had a perfect Jinchuriki, and it was the strongest, the Nine-Tails. They also needed to possess their own perfect Jinchuriki.