Totem of Undying

The card showed a small blocky figure, dark gold all over, with a pair of emerald-green eyes.

"Totem of Undying!?"

Holding the card, Uchiha Gen cried out in shock. Anyone who had ever played Minecraft would recognize the image.

Epic: Totem of Undying

World of Origin: Game—Minecraft

Card Type: One-time-use item.

Description: When the holder suffers a fatal injury, it shatters and alters the reality in which the holder is about to die. After shattering, it grants three buffs. No one can interfere with the life of the person holding this item.

"Isn't this just an enhanced version of Izanagi..."

Holding the card, Uchiha Gen felt his heart beat a little faster. A chance to avoid death once... combined with his pair of Sharingan, that gave him three chances to cheat death.

"Now that I have the Totem of Undying, I just need to master the Flying Thunder God Technique. Then I can go all out and find more people to earn card draws."

Uchiha Gen squeezed his hand, materializing the Totem of Undying. As he looked at the badge-like object in his hand, anticipation filled his eyes.

As long as he mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique, no matter how he looked at it, he couldn't die unless someone could kill him four times in an instant.

In a land blanketed by swirling sand, inside the meeting room of Sunagakure.

The Third Kazekage sat at the head of the table, his expression grave as he studied the note in his hand. After a moment, he had the person behind him show it to everyone present.

"Latest intelligence: Konoha reacted quickly and has already sent a force of shinobi to the front lines. Their advance force also arrived last night and wiped out a third of the defensive line we'd set up in a single night. Konoha... is still as powerful as ever."

The Third Kazekage spoke quietly, his face dark.

"Konoha may still be as powerful as ever, but Sunagakure isn't what it used to be either. Lord Kazekage, this time, we'll win."

As soon as the Third Kazekage finished speaking, Rasa, standing behind him, spoke up loudly.

Looking at the strongest Kazekage in history—and his teacher—Rasa's eyes were full of respect.

"That's right. This time, we'll win for sure! Amegakure suddenly declared war on two countries. They may be nothing but clowns, but with Hanzo involved, we can't afford to ignore them.

"Chiyo! I'll leave Amegakure to you. Take three thousand Sunagakure shinobi and a puppet unit to the front. Hanzo won't be easy to deal with. Unless necessary, don't attack first. Amegakure is ultimately just a bunch of clowns. Preserve our strength so we can focus on fighting Konoha.

"As for Konoha, Ebizo, I'll leave the front lines to you. I'll give you all the manpower you need, including myself and... the Jinchūriki.

"Everyone should know the state Sunagakure is in. To give the children who haven't yet come of age more land to grow on, this time... it will be an all-out war! It will also be Sunagakure's chance to turn things around! So, everyone, I'm counting on you! Bring victory back to Sunagakure, no matter what!"

As he spoke, the Third Kazekage rose to his feet and bowed deeply to everyone, visibly moved.

Everyone in the meeting room bowed in return.

"Leave Hanzo to me. I'm curious to see whose poison is stronger, his or mine. For the sake of Sunagakure's children, it's time for the Flower of the Sand to bloom again."

Chiyo stepped forward, gently helped the Third Kazekage up, and spoke with determination.

Though she would rather be at home with her young grandson, just as the Third Kazekage had said, Sunagakure's children needed more land.

"Sasori, Grandma will bring you a better life."

"Then let it be known throughout the Shinobi World! Sunagakure formally declares war on Konoha!"

The day after Uchiha Gen and the others arrived at the front lines, news that Sunagakure had formally declared war on Konoha spread throughout the Shinobi World.

The Land of Lightning, Kumogakure.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Sunagakure hasn't changed at all. Whenever war breaks out, they go after Konoha. Dodai, do you think we should get involved in this war?"

The Third Raikage A glanced at the intelligence in his hand with a disdainful smile. He crumpled it into a ball and tossed it into the nearby trash can, then looked up at Dodai, who stood to one side.

When it came to matters like this, he made a habit of asking the one with brains.

"This war was started by Hanzo of the Salamander of Amegakure. I knew he wouldn't be able to hold back, but I didn't expect him to start a war.

"The main conflict will inevitably revolve around the three countries of Wind, Fire, and Rain. There's no need for Kumogakure to get involved in their war. There's little to be gained from fighting them."

Dodai shook his head slightly as he spoke. Hanzo's move didn't surprise him. After all, though the Five Great Shinobi Villages didn't get along, they shared an unspoken understanding.

That understanding was that the Shinobi World needed only five great shinobi villages. Hanzo's strength and ambition meant that Amegakure would inevitably be targeted.

Everyone knew it, but no one would say it out loud.

"Stay out of it?"

The Third Raikage A frowned. He quite wanted to enjoy a good fight on the battlefield.

"Yes. Although Kumogakure is powerful, we have to admit that in terms of raw strength, we still can't match Konoha. The Kinkaku brothers' rebellion back then left our village severely weakened.

"So we don't need to get involved in Konoha's war—not yet, at least. But I think we could test the waters with Iwagakure.

"According to intelligence, Iwagakure shinobi have been appearing frequently within the Land of Rain. Our village's spies have even spotted the Four-Tails Jinchūriki.

"From that, we can infer that Iwagakure also wants to get involved in this war. Unlike us, the Land of Earth is poor in land and short on funds. On top of that, Iwagakure's policies mean they're desperate for war. Once Iwagakure joins the conflict, we can enter the fray as well."

Dodai spread a map across the Third Raikage A's desk and carefully explained why they shouldn't get involved just yet, while also pointing out the best target for them to strike.