After making some plans, the Third Raikage led his ninja forces on the journey home. However, the Ninja World was thrown into an uproar. When news of the Land of Whirlpools War reached the various great shinobi villages, they were stunned and furious.
Just as Tamura Hiroshi and Dodai had predicted, Kirigakure descended into internal strife. The Ninja Clans and the Third Mizukage had become completely opposed to each other and openly turned against one another.
Although they had not yet started fighting openly, they had already begun battling in secret. In particular, both sides were fighting over the two Tailed Beasts, each wanting to bring them under their own control.
Sunagakure was also enraged. The elite ninja force of more than a thousand men that it had sent out had not obtained a suitable Sealing Technique, and all of them had been lost. Only four had escaped back, and even Chiyo and Ebizo, who had made it back, were crippled. They would need at least several years of recovery.
Without wasting any more words, the Third Kazekage personally led his ninja forces toward the border, preparing to give Konoha's forces there a harsh blow.
Iwagakure was no different. Upon learning that their trusted subordinate, Gari, had died in the Land of Whirlpools—and that Konoha had poisoned him to death—they were furious.
Although he did not personally lead troops out, he still dispatched a great army to apply pressure along the Land of Fire's border.
Kumogakure naturally sent troops as well. In fact, when Konoha sent its Uchiha elites over, the Third Raikage had already dispatched ninja forces to the Land of Hot Water and established defensive lines using its favorable terrain.
At the same time, Hanzo of the Salamander of Amegakure declared war on Konoha, joining Iwagakure and Sunagakure