Time flew by, and the seasons passed. Before long, it was the beginning of the thirty-seventh year of Konoha.
Just then, something unexpected happened. Hanzo the Salamander, the leader of the Land of Rain, openly declared war on the entire Shinobi World!
His first targets were the three great nations that hemmed in the Land of Rain.
Like a boulder dropped into water, this move sent ripples far and wide, instantly shattering the delicate balance that had existed.
The entire Shinobi World was stunned. Countries and factions everywhere went on high alert, bracing themselves for what was to come.
Sunagakure, which had already been trying to enter the Land of Rain, no longer held back.
With the full support of the Daimyo of the Land of Wind, the Third Kazekage acted decisively and ordered Chiyo and her younger brother Ebizo to lead Sunagakure's forces in an invasion of the Land of Rain.
At that moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen of Konoha was still hesitating. There was no other reason: he simply didn't want to get involved in the war.
But the Land of Rain had actually declared war on the Land of Fire, and the more hardline daimyo of the Land of Fire couldn't tolerate it.
After all, the Land of Rain had always served as a buffer between the great nations. Now it dared to challenge the mighty Land of Fire!
To the daimyo of the Land of Fire, such behavior was utterly audacious and lawless!
When they learned that the Land of Wind had already sent Sunagakure to attack the Land of Rain, the daimyo of the Land of Fire grew even more restless and put pressure on Konoha.
Faced with the situation, Sarutobi Hiruzen ultimately chose to yield.
He understood that the only way to stop the war from