On the fifth day after the Kirigakure forces led by Terumi Mei set out from the border between the Land of Hot Water and the Land of Fire, news that Kumogakure had made a thousand-mile raid on Sunagakure sent shockwaves through the Shinobi World.
It was an exceptionally brutal battle. Taking advantage of Sunagakure's lack of leadership, Kumogakure committed more than eighty percent of its elite forces to a surprise attack. The first clash left Sunagakure reeling, and the village nearly fell completely.
Fortunately, two retired Sunagakure elders, Chiyo and Ebizo, appeared in time to take charge. Meanwhile, Rasa, the Third Kazekage's apprentice, displayed astonishing strength in the defense against the invasion. With the three of them joining forces to turn the tide, Sunagakure finally managed to hold off Kumogakure's first assault—for the moment, and at a tremendous cost.
Kumogakure had grown stronger with each passing year, while Sunagakure had never recovered from its defeat in the Second Shinobi World War. The gap in strength between them was immense.
Without outside intervention, it was only a matter of time before the forces of Kumogakure, led by the Third Raikage, conquered Sunagakure!
Thanks to Kirigakure's preparations, the first intelligence about the war was sent straight to Terumi Mei, who was waiting at the Forest Fortress.
By then, the plans of Kumogakure and Kirigakure were officially underway. Terumi Mei no longer needed to keep them secret, so she immediately gathered her subordinates and announced the details of their mission: intercept the reinforcements Konoha sent to Sunagakure.
If Konoha didn't want to stand by while Kumogakure conquered Sunagakure, the forces it sent to help would inevitably be among its very best. Without a doubt, the Kirigakure shinobi at the Forest Fortress would soon face an incredibly grueling battle!
Konoha, the council chamber.
The Third Hokage had received a request for aid from Sunagakure, handwritten by Elder Chiyo. The people seated in the council chamber were Konoha's core leadership. They were about to decide whether to assist Sunagakure and, if so, how.
The Third Hokage sat at the head of the table, his expression grave. His concern was not just over Kumogakure's surprise attack on Sunagakure; he also foresaw that the war between the two villages could very well engulf the entire Shinobi World.
At that moment, however, Konoha's situation was far from ideal.
Of the Konoha Sannin, only Orochimaru remained in the village. Jiraiya and Tsunade had both left to wander the world, and no one knew where they were. The village had been unable to contact them for a long time.
Moreover, Hatake Sakumo, the White Fang of the Leaf, whose reputation surpassed even that of the Sannin, had recently taken his own life. Konoha, once at the height of its power, had suddenly lost three top-tier shinobi. Its high-end combat strength no longer gave it any advantage over the other great shinobi villages.
The Third Hokage's expression finally eased a little as his gaze fell on Namikaze Minato, whom he had personally promoted. The young man's strength had quietly surpassed his own, and for the past few years, he had been the Third Hokage's greatest support.
Most importantly, the young man understood the Third Hokage's intentions. He understood the Will of Fire.
It's a shame he's still so young. It'll be difficult to pave the way for him to become the Fourth Hokage.
Thinking of his three disobedient students and Danzo, who coveted his position, the Third Hokage found himself fretting over the choice of his successor.
Casting aside his distracting thoughts, the Third Hokage looked over all the Konoha High Command members present and slowly began, "After the Second Shinobi World War, the Land of Wind surrendered to our country. Over the years, Sunagakure and Konoha have worked together many times."
"Whether for the sake of stability in the Shinobi World or out of the friendship between our villages, which have always stood by each other, I've decided to dispatch elite forces at once to help. We must stamp out this spark of war before it spreads!"
After the Third Hokage finished speaking, the council chamber filled with murmured discussion. Most of the Konoha High Command supported his proposal.
Seeing that everyone discussing the matter seemed to agree with him, the Third Hokage nodded in satisfaction and prepared to move on to the next point: deciding who to send to Sunagakure.
But just then, a low, hoarse voice rang out at the wrong moment.
"Hiruzen, I disagree with your decision."
The speaker was the Third Hokage's longtime comrade, Shimura Danzō, one of the few people in Konoha who still had the standing to address the Third Hokage by name.
The Third Hokage turned to Danzo, seated beside him, and asked in a low voice, "What do you suggest?"
Danzo slowly rose to his feet. Half his body was wrapped in bandages, one eye hidden beneath them. An impenetrable shadow seemed to hang over his grim, sinister face. His whole bearing was so dark and oppressive that everyone near him felt deeply uncomfortable.
"We should wait and watch. Once the time is right, we can wipe out Kumogakure and Sunagakure together!" Danzo declared, stunning the room.
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