The Third Kazekage is dying.
Carrying his plan to invade Konoha, he is about to die in some remote corner of the Land of Wind.
Having received a promise from the Kumogakure and having plotted for nearly two years, he could never have imagined that the target would be the young generation he trusted most.
"Scorpion, why...?"
The Third Kazekage, spitting out black blood, stared in disbelief at Sasori before him.
"Why..." Faced with the Third Kazekage's question, Sasori found it somewhat amusing, lowering his head and trying hard not to laugh out loud, "Because of you, the so-called Strongest Kazekage, my parents died, died in your immature plan. But to you, my parents were probably just pawns in your game."
Upon hearing this reason, the Third Kazekage coughed up another mouthful of blood. "Your parents died gloriously for the village, you—"
The Third Kazekage really wanted to rip out the boy's brain to see how it was structured.
Your parents were killed by Konoha Ninja, what do you want with me?!
However, the Third Kazekage clearly didn't have that opportunity.
Filled with confusion and grief, the Third Kazekage coughed up a large pool of blood, mixed with fragments of internal organs that had been completely necrotic from the poison. Unable to support his body any longer, he closed his eyes forever.
"Pretty capable, managing to withstand such toxins for so long." Looking at the completely dead Third Kazekage, Sasori was expressionless. He felt neither the satisfaction of avenging his great enemy nor the thrill of taking action against his own important figure. All he felt was greed for the Third Kazekage's body.
"Don't worry, I'll make you the most perfect piece of work."
The disappearance of the Third Kazekage has put the high-ranking officials of Sunagakure on edge.
It's hard to believe that a shadow could mysteriously disappear from its own country.
Unable to obtain any news of their own Kazekage Sunagakure leadership began mobilizing the village's ninja to search for the Third Kazekage throughout the country.
Until this point, they didn't realize that their Kazekage was in any danger.
After all, this was the Strongest Kazekage; how could he possibly die quietly in his own country?
The Sunagakure's undisguised search operation quickly alerted the entire Shinobi World, and all the hidden villages that had done their intelligence work well learned of the news.
The Third Kazekage has disappeared?
Kumogakure, upon hearing the news, the Third Raikage smashed the table in front of him in his excitement, staring at the Dodai before him with an incredulous expression.
"Yes, Lord Raikage."
Ignoring the broken pieces of the table scattered on the ground, Dodai nodded in approval.
Just as several Cloud Ninja had moved the new table over, they heard the Third Raikage's furious voice:
"Damn it, of all times, at this crucial moment!"
With a single strike, the new desk, before it could even be used, left the Shinobi World along with its predecessor.
The Kumogakure has already completed its mobilization and gained the support of the Daimyo, and is about to declare war on the Konoha. And now you're telling me that your trusted ally has suddenly vanished without a trace?
Is there any ally in the world more despicable than this?!
Wait, allies?
Yes, Sunagakure is in trouble, and as an ally, I can't just stand by and do nothing.
Since the mobilization order has already been issued, we can't just hold back anymore.
After careful consideration, the Third Raikage decided to extend a helping hand to the leaderless Sunagakure and send them a new Kage.
Of course, this "Kage" refers to the Raikage.
"Hiruzen! With Sunagakure leaderless now, it's the perfect opportunity to wipe them out completely!"
Upon learning of the Third Kazekage's disappearance, Danzo didn't hesitate for a moment and immediately found Hiruzen, who was inspecting the bathhouse in his office.
Hastily putting away the crystal ball, Hiruzen lightly, gave Danzo a reproachful look for not knocking, and slowly took out the Danzo from his pocket.
Exhaling a puff of smoke, Hiruzen looked at Danzo with a serious expression. "What's the reason for attacking Sunagakure?"
"Just say that ninjas have gone missing at the border, and besides, there must be some from Sunagakure among those nameless ninjas who have infiltrated—"
Danzo was interrupted by Hiruzen before he could finish speaking.
"What evidence do you have, Danzo? We still have no evidence to prove that the invaders were from Sunagakure. Besides, could the disappearance of the Third Kazekage be a trap to lure us into attacking?"
"Even if it's bait, with Konoha's current strength, we can swallow it whole and leave them unable to retaliate!" Danzo was still unwilling to give up his idea.
"Enough, Danzo, you're being too radical. Besides, shouldn't we have Yan and the others vote on matters like war together?!" Hiruzen was a bit annoyed looking at the stubborn Danzo. Why was this guy still so irritable after having a son, Fudō wanting to fight and kill?
In comparison, Kazashiro's personality is much better.
Kazashiro, who was shopping with Obito and Kakashi, sneezed.
"You're too weak, Hiruzen!"
Danzo nearly imitated the Raikage and smashed the table with a single blow.
"Enough, Danzo, I am the Hokage!" Hiruzen then uttered his all-purpose line.
"You... you'll regret this!" Upon hearing this line, Danzo down again, his face turning extremely ugly as he turned and left the room.
"Bang!"
Danzo and stormed out of the Hokage Building, intending to exchange his insights on Wind Release with Asuma.
As it turned out, even though Hiruzen did everything he could to prevent the outbreak of war, the other hidden villages' envy of Konoha was very real.
After the Kumogakure's relief team, personally led by the Third Raikage, was defeated by the mysterious, valuable man from Sunagakure Iwagakure Kumogakure Konoha.
Hearing of the Kumogakure's bravery, the Kirigakure, which had been idle for a long time, was not to be outdone. Just when everyone thought they might be dead, they joined the attack on Konoha.
The Third Shinobi World War thus began.
Due to the outbreak of war, some existing troops were reorganized.
Team Eleven, whose members had all been promoted to Chunin, was disbanded. Uchiha Obito, Hatake Kakashi, Rin Nohara, and Minato formed Team Seven, making people sigh at how unpredictable fate can be.
Kazashiro exchanged a glance with Asuma beside him and shrugged helplessly. "Obito got transferred, what about you?"
Asuma rolled his eyes. "I... I haven't received my transfer order yet, but I heard from my teacher that Ryoma has already been transferred back to Root. I guess we'll both be put into some kind of squad and follow the Jonin."
"Who knows..." Kazashiro's expression shifted between light and dark as he looked in the direction Obito had left.
Hopefully, this Kenji won't be targeted by Madara, otherwise things will get really messed up, and all his years of hard work will have been for nothing.
The higher-ups didn't keep Kazashiro waiting long. That evening, after finishing his meal and putting down his Danzo announced his orders to Kazashiro:
"You, go to the battlefield in Kumogakure."