Although Sarutobi Hiruzen still adhered to a stance of peace, he understood the danger of the situation all too well.
To prevent war from descending without warning, he began secretly preparing Konoha for battle.
He ordered the border defenses strengthened, mobilized the village's elite ninja teams for combat training, and closely monitored the movements of the other great nations.
At the same time, Sarutobi Hiruzen increased stockpiles of supplies and logistical preparations, ensuring that if Konoha became embroiled in war, it could swiftly deploy its forces in response.
He also convened the advisory council and clan representatives to discuss how to protect Konoha's interests without taking the initiative to provoke a war.
Konoha's Police Force, led by Uchiha Ying Yue, was responsible for maintaining public order and gathering intelligence within the village, ensuring that hostile ninja villages could not easily infiltrate it.
Konoha's ninja also began to sense the increasingly heavy atmosphere of impending battle.
Though Sarutobi Hiruzen strove to preserve peace, the village's genin and chunin began undergoing stricter training, while the medical corps also started strengthening its wartime contingency plans.
Although Sarutobi Hiruzen hoped to maintain the status quo, he knew Konoha had to prepare for the worst.
Recently, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire had gradually grown dissatisfied with Konoha's peaceful stance.
As the supreme ruler of the Land of Fire, he not only concerned himself with domestic affairs but also remained in frequent contact with the daimyos of other great nations.
The daimyos of the various nations often exchanged letters and held banquets. In these interactions, the most frequently discussed topic lately had been the expansion campaigns of the Land of Lightning, Land of Wind, Land of Earth, and Land of Water.
At the banquets hosted by these great nations, the daimyos of the Land