The Eastern Front
Land of Fire
East Coast Outpost
In the central command tent of the ninja force, Naraku in the middle, flanked by Uchiha Fugaku, the Second Elder Uchiha Kyo, Uchiha Zen, Hatake Sakumo Garrison Commander Fukushima Yuki.
After Naraku led his ninja forces to reinforce the Eastern Stronghold, only 500 of Hidden Mist's 3,000 ninja were killed and escaped back to Kumogakure.
After this battle, the tens of thousands of ninja troops that Kirigakure had gathered did not speed up their march to avenge the vanguard; instead, they remained holed up in Hidden Mist further moves.
Naraku and his three thousand ninja waited on the East Coast for three whole months for the Kirigakure Ninja, but the Hidden Mist did not retaliate.
Uchiha Nara couldn't wait any longer and sent a letter to the Hokage Building requesting a direct attack on Hidden Mist. When they didn't come, Naraku decided to go find them.
However, the Hokage Building's response did not offer Naraku any support.
The letter contained some nonsense about Hidden Mist not declaring war, but basically it just meant to keep these three thousand troops stationed here to guard against Hidden Mist.
Naraku has recaptured all sixty-five outposts Eastern Stronghold defense line and stationed troops there. With the defense line secure, as long as Hidden Mist doesn't attack, Naraku and his group will essentially be sidelined again.
"Gentlemen, nothing has happened at the Eastern Stronghold for three months. Hidden Mist fears the reputation of the Uchiha and dares not provoke us. How should we eliminate the threat from Hidden Mist?"
Naraku asked casually by several people in the court why Hidden Mist dared not invade, Naraku directly attributed it to the Uchiha's reputation, thus glorifying himself.
"The Hidden Mist hasn't declared war, yet it's amassing a large army; this is rather complicated. What's your opinion, Lord Hokage?"
"Uchiha Elder Uchiha Zen asked softly."
"See for yourself."
Naraku tossed the reply from the Hokage Building directly to Uchiha Zen, letting them read it themselves, and then said:
"The situation in Kumogakure has changed. Kumogakure is challenging Konoha, Iwagakure, Hidden Sand simultaneously. I've heard that Kumogakure wants to take advantage of the disappearance of the Third Kazekage of Hidden Sand to subjugate Sunagakure. I wonder if that's true or not."
Konoha's intelligence capabilities are beyond doubt. This kind of chaotic battle can be called the Shinobi World War. After Kumogakure intervened, Konoha's strongholds remained untouched.
Naraku didn't quite understand Kumogakure's decision to bypass the Kumogakure village and attack Hidden Sand directly. Could there be something valuable in the desert of the Land of Wind?
After reading the letter, Uchiha Zen handed it to the person next to him.
"Kumogakure has always wanted to claim the title of the strongest ninja village in the Shinobi World, perhaps to demonstrate its military strength."
The Second Elder Uchiha Kyo, appeared perfectly normal at the moment. After a moment's thought, he spoke softly.
"If we can defeat Kirigakure and relieve the pressure in the east, we can then provide support to other battlefields."
After reading the letter, Hatake Sakumo White Fang, said calmly that he somewhat agreed with Naraku's idea of launching a Hidden Mist. He believed that the best course of action would be to directly defeat Hidden Mist, return home in triumph, or provide support to other battlefields.
Sakumo Hatake was very confident in his fighting ability, and with so many ninja troops and strong individuals around him, he believed that defeating 10,000 with only 3,000 men was not an impossible task.
"Maintaining stability is the best course of action. I believe the Lord Hokage will devise a good strategy."
After reading the letter, Fukushima Yuki, the Garrison Commander of the Eastern Stronghold, spoke solemnly.
"Our Uchiha clan members are active on various battlefields, which has reduced the defensive pressure on the northeastern Kumogakure region. Many ninjas have been reassigned to the northwestern Land of Earth. Konoha is in crisis, so I think we should refrain from causing trouble and await the Hokage's orders."
Uchiha Fugaku was mature and composed, and he kept referring to himself as the Hokage.
Naraku rubbed his forehead, remaining silent. Waiting for the Hidden Mist to invade for months had left him in a terrible mood.
Land of Water
Kirigakure
The Fourth Mizukage, Karatachi Yagura, was handling numerous letters and missions in the Mizukage Building. The Kirigakure Ninja forces had been assembled for several months, but the Fourth Mizukage had yet to issue the order to set out.
Regarding the situation in the Shinobi World, Karatachi Yagura had some of his own opinions. With the Third Kazekage of the Land of Wind missing, Yagura believed it was a good opportunity to subdue Sunagakure.
If Naraku knew about Karatachi Yagura's ideas, Naraku would definitely admire these people and go to subdue the desert.
Yagura halted the brutal Blood Mist Policy of Kirigakure and, at the same time, integrated with many ninja clans, improving relations with them. Under Yagura's governance for only a few years, the new generation of ninjas experienced significant development.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen played a crucial role in Hidden Mist Yagura, which also made their name widely known.
Like Kirigakure, Konoha is a village with many factions and a history of bloodshed. However, in some aspects, Hidden Mist is even worse off than Konoha.
Despite the outward support of the Daimyo for Kirigakure's formidable military strength, the Daimyo secretly developed his own ninja power.
The Snow Clan, a powerful clan with Kekkei Genkai Hidden Mist, is very close to the Daimyo and receives Daimyo support. Although the Yuki Clan is nominally under the jurisdiction of Kirigakure, their Yuki Clan territory is not located within Kirigakure.
The same applies to the Hidden Mist Kaguya Clan. Their clan territory is not located within Kirigakure; nominally, they are subordinate to Kirigakure in the Land of Water, but in reality, these two major clans form their own independent lineage.
This brought many negative effects to Kirigakure, and the smaller ninja clans in Kirigakure also wanted to emulate these two major clans.
"Ugh, haven't the Yuki Clan and Kaguya Clan ninja forces arrived at Kirigakure yet?"
Mizukage Karatachi Yagura asked the ANBU Anbu on duty, codenamed "Ushi".
"Mizukage, the ninja forces of the Yuki Clan and Kaguya Clan have arrived. Each clan has conscripted eight hundred ninjas, and they just arrived at Kirigakure this morning."
Why wasn't this news reported sooner?
Karatachi Yagura, the Hidden Mist, looked displeased. The Kirigakure's Anbu were very skilled in assassination, but they were truly terrible at other matters of politics and administration.
"I apologize, Lord Mizukage, but seeing that you were busy with work, I dared not disturb you."
"Remember to report this immediately next time something like this happens."
Yagura said calmly. The Fourth Mizukage's face looked somewhat youthful, but those who underestimated him were already buried in the ground.
"Is the Three-Tails Jinchuriki still unconscious?"
"Yes, the Three-Tails Jinchuriki is still unconscious."
Yagura nodded, remaining silent and lost in thought.
A moment later, Yagura stood up from his seat and said:
"Now that the Yuki Clan and Kaguya Clan ninjas have arrived, let's set off. Our Land of Water has been dormant for too long."
People from those countries may have forgotten that our Kirigakure in the Land of Water is also one of the Five Great Ninja Villages.
This campaign against Konoha will let the world know the power of Kirigakure of the Land of Water.
"Hi!" X12
The numerous members of the Hidden Mist Anbu responded in unison.
"Transmit my orders to all commanders: depart by ship in two hours to conquer Konoha!"
"Hi!" X12
The Hidden Mist Anbu responded and then vanished in Body Flicker Technique, relaying the Mizukage's orders.