The Nine-Tails' rampage in Konoha quickly became known to the various powers through every possible channel. The Four Great Shinobi Villages were especially shocked.
Tailed Beast rampages had happened before, but they had mostly taken place outside villages. This was the first time one had erupted right inside a village, and this time it had nearly reduced all of Konoha to ruins.
What disappointed the Great Villages, though, was that Konoha had ultimately sealed the Nine-Tails. They simply didn't know whether it had been sealed inside its previous jinchuriki or whether Konoha had found a new one.
The incident stirred the Four Great Shinobi Villages into action. Even Sunagakure, Iwagakure, and Kirigakure, which had already signed peace treaties with Konoha, began to have ideas.
Konoha, however, responded forcefully. Jiraiya headed north to take charge in the Land of Hot Water, while Shimura Danzō went to the eastern Frontline.
Tsunade, who had been wandering the world, also appeared at Kikyō Mountain Fortress to take command, facing off against the people Sunagakure had sent.
Even Orochimaru, now a rogue ninja, had appeared in the Land of Grass, forcing the Four Great Shinobi Villages to act with caution.
Inside the Mizukage's Office in Kirigakure, the greatly aged Third Mizukage read the latest intelligence in hand, his brow furrowed into a deep knot.
"Don't go to the Land of Fire theater. Head to the Frontline in the Land of Wind instead."
After pondering for a long while, the Third Mizukage finally made his decision.
He had originally intended to take the opportunity to send his student, Karatachi Yagura, to open a theater in the Land of Fire. Who would have thought Shimura Danzō would be in charge there?
"Sensei, is that Shimura Danzō stronger than Jiraiya?"
Karatachi Yagura was confused. As far as he