While Konoha organized its ninja forces and made preparations for war, the other great nations of the Ninja World were secretly plotting their own moves.
First was Sunagakure in the Land of Wind. When the Third Kazekage learned that Hanzo of the Salamander had declared war on them, he was furious.
He brooded coldly. Though Sunagakure was not the strongest of the Five Great Nations, it was certainly no small Land of Rain that could be provoked with impunity.
He decided to teach Hanzo and the Land of Rain a lesson they would never forget.
To that end, the Third Kazekage summoned Chiyo, a veteran of the village skilled in the Puppet Technique and Medical Ninjutsu.
Chiyo commanded immense respect in Sunagakure.
She was not only proficient in all manner of secret techniques but also possessed extensive combat experience.
The Third Kazekage believed that Chiyo's expedition would surely make Hanzo understand that declaring war would only bring destruction to the Land of Rain.
He ordered Chiyo to lead Sunagakure's ninja forces straight into the Land of Rain.
Meanwhile, in Iwagakure in the Land of Earth, the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, was also considering how to take advantage of the war.
The Land of Earth was poor in resources, and its soil was barren. Compared with prosperous Konoha, Iwagakure had far harsher living conditions, surrounded by endless expanses of yellow earth and hard rock, with scarce resources.
To acquire more resources and improve the villagers' lives, while also curbing Konoha's expansion, Ōnoki decided to send ninjas into the war.
He hoped that the war would not only expand the Land of Earth's sphere of influence and secure more territory and resources, but also weaken Konoha, thereby maintaining the balance between the two nations.
The ninjas of Iwagakure began to assemble. Well equipped