Konoha's 43rd Year Turning Point

Happy times always passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, it was Konoha Year 43. Many major events took place across the shinobi world that year, bringing it to a crucial turning point. Nawaki had more and more matters to worry about, and the leisure he had enjoyed after his engagement came to an end.

First, border conflicts between the nations of the shinobi world gradually intensified. At first, the various countries had tacitly coordinated their attacks on Konoha, but as time passed, conflicts among them began to erupt. Battles along the borders evolved from a four-against-one siege into a chaotic melee between multiple sides.

For instance, aside from harassing Konoha's borders, the Sand Ninja also clashed with Kirigakure to the south. The conflict between the two sides grew deeper by the day.

After the western part of the Land of Wind was completely blockaded by the Land of Fire, Sunagakure gradually turned its attention toward Kirigakure in the south. Their strengths were roughly equal; both were bottom-ranked among the Five Great Nations. Moreover, the Land of Water had a relatively prosperous economy, making it the Land of Wind's preferred target.

The Land of Water, meanwhile, was already deeply dissatisfied with the Land of Wind over its heavy trade losses. Now that it learned Sunagakure—the nation ranked dead last—actually dared to covet its second-to-last position, old and new grudges alike exploded into open conflict.

Thus, the southern borders of the shinobi world had already devolved into a three-way brawl among the nations of Fire, Water, and Wind.

In the north, the Land of Earth and the Land of Lightning had accumulated even deeper hatred during the previous shinobi war. As a result, the northern conflict also became a three-way melee among the nations of Fire, Lightning, and Earth.

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