The Third Shinobi World War!

Missing?

Akiyama Shun glanced at the two of them without drawing attention to himself, then looked away.

He knew perfectly well that the Third Kazekage hadn't gone missing. He was dead, and his death would mark the beginning of the Third Shinobi World War.

"We're here."

As Akiyama Shun pondered this, Jiraiya knocked on the Hokage's office door. After Sarutobi Hiruzen gave them permission to enter, he led Akiyama Shun inside.

"Jiraiya. And Akiyama Shun? What can I do for you?"

The moment he saw Akiyama Shun, Sarutobi Hiruzen guessed that the young man had come to see him about something.

"Lord Hokage, I've awakened a new Kekkei Genkai, but I'm not sure whether I should use it."

Hearing that he had a new Kekkei Genkai, Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes brimmed with interest. "A new Kekkei Genkai?"

Akiyama Shun didn't waste time. He summoned [Hinata Hyuga (New Year Limited)], and his eyes transformed into the Byakugan.

"It's the Byakugan."

When he saw Akiyama Shun's eyes turn into the Byakugan, Sarutobi Hiruzen wasn't surprised. Instead, he felt a strange sense of accomplishment.

So the direction of their earlier experiments had been right!

"I told you, Konoha will always be your strongest ally. If you have a Kekkei Genkai, use it as you please." The more Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Akiyama Shun, the more he liked him. Not only was he powerful and possessed a formidable Kekkei Genkai, but he also knew how to conduct himself. After awakening a Kekkei Genkai from within the village, he had even made a point of reporting it to him.

"I understand. Thank you, Lord Hokage."

With Sarutobi Hiruzen's approval, Akiyama Shun felt much more at ease. He'd honestly been afraid that the old fossils in the Hyuga Clan would go berserk. Once they realized he met both conditions—"Byakugan" and "not a main-family member"—they might treat it like some kind of trigger and drag him back to have the Caged Bird seal placed on him.

But things were different now. The Hokage had told him he could use it freely. If the Hyuga Clan wanted to go berserk, they could take it up with the Hokage.

After thanking Sarutobi Hiruzen, Akiyama Shun left with Jiraiya.

At that moment, news of the Third Kazekage's disappearance was already sending shock waves throughout the Ninja World.

Kumogakure.

The Third Raikage was already indulging in one of his wild ideas.

"He's missing, and no one knows if he's alive or dead? Then he's dead!"

When the Third Raikage heard the news, he slammed his hand on the table and sprang to his feet, visibly riled up.

"Dodai! Strengthen the village's defenses and prepare for war! The Kazekage is missing, so Sunagakure must be leaderless! This is the perfect chance to attack! Get an elite unit ready, too! I'll lead them in an assault on Sunagakure myself!"

Dodai wasn't surprised by the first part of the Third Raikage's order. The Third Kazekage's death was a major event, and strengthening their defenses in case other villages made a move was only sensible.

But when he heard the second half, he completely lost it.

So Kumogakure was one of those "other villages" making a move!

Dodai looked up at the Third Raikage, who was now fired up and raring for a fight, and felt as though his brain was about to burn out.

He could've stuck his head in a toilet and still not come up with a reason to attack Sunagakure now. Especially since Kumogakure had no reason to attack Sunagakure at all.

One village was in the upper-right corner of the map, the other in the lower-left, with a dozen countries between them!

They'd even have to pass through the territory between Konoha in the Land of Fire and Iwagakure in the Land of Earth!

The route was beyond ridiculous!

Most importantly, Dodai just couldn't understand what they'd gain by attacking Sunagakure.

That place was already dirt-poor!

It had no land worth taking and no knowledge worth claiming!

Even if they managed to reach Sunagakure and win, what would be the point? They'd gain nothing!

"Dodai! Get moving!"

At the Third Raikage's impatient urging, Dodai's mouth twitched. He wanted to say something, but one look at the Third Raikage's expression told him it was pointless.

That was simply how the Third Raikage was. Once he got an idea, he put it into action immediately. No one could stop him.

"Understood. I'll take care of it, Lord Raikage."

After saying that, Dodai sighed. He was numb. Completely numb.

While Konoha, Iwagakure, and Kirigakure were still contemplating the impact of the Kazekage's disappearance and what effect the loss of a Kazekage might have on the Ninja World, another piece of major news reached them before long.

The Third Raikage of Kumogakure had taken a unit of elite shinobi through more than a dozen countries, charging straight through everything in their path until they reached the Land of Wind!

Once they arrived in the Land of Wind, they made a beeline for Sunagakure without a word and immediately began digging in!

The Third Raikage's unorthodox approach left the great shinobi villages stunned. They knew he was a man of decisive action, but they hadn't expected him to be this decisive.

More than anything, they were baffled. What was the point of attacking Sunagakure?

Sunagakure immediately launched a counteroffensive.

First, a shinobi named Rasa stepped forward. He not only demonstrated exceptional leadership, but also showed Kage Level strength, using Magnet Release to hold back the Third Raikage's lightning-fast assault.

Then Chiyo and Ebizo, who had been living in seclusion, both stepped onto the stage!

After the two sides clashed for a short while, the Third Raikage led his unit away, perhaps having had his fill of sand.

After the Third Raikage's departure, Rasa's reputation soared thanks to his defense against him. With Chiyo and Ebizo's support, he took office as the new Kazekage, becoming the Fourth Kazekage!

Sunagakure's turmoil finally came to an end!

The turmoil was over, but new problems had emerged.

How had the Third Kazekage gone missing?

The Third Raikage had led an entire unit all the way to the gates of Sunagakure without meeting any resistance. Wasn't that humiliating? Then, after the fighting, he'd simply dusted himself off and left. Wasn't that humiliating too?

The whole Ninja World knew about this!

The last problem was also the most important one: resources!

The battle had taken place in the Land of Wind. Sunagakure had spent a great deal of resources constructing defenses in a hurry, and the Third Raikage had looted what he could from a country that was already impoverished. Now they had even less.

Each of these problems was difficult to deal with on its own, let alone all at once.

Rasa saw that this wouldn't do. He'd only just become Kazekage, and so many disasters had already piled up. If he didn't resolve them, he wouldn't hold on to the position for long.

In the end, he decided to follow the basic logic of politicians: start a foreign war to divert attention from internal problems!

It had all started because the Third Kazekage had gone missing!

And how had the Third Kazekage gone missing?

He'd been assassinated by their good ally, Konoha!

It was all Konoha's fault!

Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had been watching from the sidelines, was left dumbfounded when he heard the news.

How could this possibly be Konoha's fault?

If you didn't wipe properly after taking a shit and got stains on your underwear, would you blame Konoha for that too?

And so the Third Shinobi World War, which would engulf the entire Ninja World, officially began.