War Preparations

These two small countries were actually closer to the mainland geographically. The Land of the Sea in particular was considerably closer to the Land of Fire than the Land of Snow was. But the Land of Fire, which didn't even have the time or inclination to deal with the Land of Waves, couldn't spare any attention for the Land of the Sea, let alone the more southerly countries like the Land of Tea and the Land of Bears. Those areas had always fallen within the Land of Water's sphere of influence. But now, with a powerful challenger like the Snow Ninja Village on the scene, the existence of these small countries—largely as buffer zones between the great nations, and as potential battlefields when needed—took on new importance.

These "important buffer zones"...

Had been invaded by another country.

And could even be declared part of another nation's sphere of influence.

This was something the Land of Water and Kirigakure simply couldn't tolerate.

The nation provided the funds.

The village provided the force.

That was the most common model of warfare in this world.

And this time was no different.

Kirigakure and the Snow Ninja Village had not communicated.

But the Land of Water and the Land of Snow had held talks.

They had even discussed the division of certain spheres of influence.

However, just like Mei Terumi, the Daimyo of the Land of Water, Asada Masashi, had also failed to understand the situation. He had been fooled before, and later the talks had nearly fallen apart entirely. The two sides had maintained only the last veneer of diplomatic harmony. But with Kirigakure's forces now advancing in full, that final scrap of so-called peaceful decorum was about to be torn away.

On this point,

the Snow Ninja Village—in fact, the entire Land