After hearing this, everyone voiced their agreement. Forcing the enemy to retreat without deploying a single soldier was indeed more practical than any powerful ninja technique.
The Third Hokage said that the three key figures behind this incident were Mirai, Namikaze Minato, and Nara Shikaku. Without their timely intelligence and strategic preparations, Konoha would not have known what kind of blow it was about to suffer.
"Not necessarily!!!"
"Not necessarily!"
Though they were only four simple words, they were enough to silence everyone present.
Nara Shikaku had said them himself!
The Third Hokage asked, "What do you mean, Shikaku...?"
Shikaku said, "Lord Third, based on the previous intelligence, I believe this incident is only a small part of the ninja world's turmoil. By now, the other great nations may already have begun their wars!"
"War???"
The people below began whispering among themselves. They could hardly believe whether Shikaku's words were true or not. The Third Hokage gestured for everyone to quiet down and allowed Shikaku to continue.
Shikaku said, "The Land of Earth has been making preparations for two years. This was not merely for an attack on Konoha. I fear its neighboring Land of Wind is their first target, while our Land of Fire is their second. If I were the Land of Earth, after spending more than two years preparing for something, I would certainly choose to launch surprise attacks on the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire!"
Shikaku ordered someone to bring out a map and displayed it. "Above the Land of Fire is the Land of Lightning. To the left and right are the Land of Water and the Land of Earth, while the Land of Wind lies diagonally below. From our position, we are threatened from three sides. But if we formed an