As Uchiha Ying Yue and Senju Tsunade enjoyed their newlywed life, a secret war council that would alter the balance of the shinobi world was taking place far away in Kumogakure of the Land of Lightning.
With the support of the Land of Lightning's Feudal Lord, Third Raikage A had gathered Kumogakure's senior shinobi and ultimately made a startling decision—to declare war on Konoha.
Third Raikage A had always been one of the most forceful Kage in the shinobi world. He revered strength and expansion, and for the resource-poor Land of Lightning, the fertile lands and abundant resources of the Land of Fire had always been a coveted prize.
Over the past few months, Kumogakure had successfully absorbed the surrounding small nations as vassals, accumulating sufficient troops and resources. They believed the time was ripe to advance toward an even greater target—Konoha, the strongest force in the shinobi world.
At the meeting, Kumogakure's senior shinobi all voiced their agreement and put forward detailed battle plans. They believed that Kumogakure's formidable military power and its warriors' ambition would allow them to claim rich spoils in this war.
Unlike the conflict-ridden relationship between the Land of Wind's Feudal Lord and the Third Kazekage, the Land of Lightning's Feudal Lord and Third Raikage A shared a very close relationship.
The Land of Lightning's Feudal Lord was an ambitious ruler who longed to expand his nation's territory through war and strengthen his own authority.
The Feudal Lord of the Land of Lightning also understood well that Kumogakure's shinobi culture was intensely militant. If military funding or resources ran short, the shinobi might very well rebel and even threaten his rule.
Therefore, the Feudal Lord of the Land of Lightning had to follow this militant tide and fully support the Raikage's decisions.
Without hesitation, he