Kirigakure.
Isolated overseas, it was also a village with numerous ninja clans.
They held a special meeting over Sarutobi Hiruzen's situation, hoping to warn themselves.
They must not become like Konoha, but the discussion only sparked an argument.
The conflicts between the clans in Kirigakure were even worse than those in Konoha.
The Hozuki Clan, the Kaguya Clan, and many other powerful Kekkei Genkai clans.
In the end, they reached a consensus.
They were still digesting the spoils from the Land of Whirlpools, so there was no need to join the war just yet.
They would wait until the other countries had weakened each other, then enter the fray and profit.
Iwagakure.
Ōnoki openly mocked Sarutobi Hiruzen.
He spread word of the outcome of his past battle with Sarutobi Hiruzen, claiming that he had defeated him with Dust Release.
This boosted his own reputation.
[Sarutobi Hiruzen is currently trying to fuse three, or even five, chakra natures to create a Kekkei Genkai that surpasses Dust Release.]
Iwagakure maintained military restraint as a whole.
No ninja forces appeared on the battlefield.
Yet those who could survive the Fourth Shinobi World War always managed to reap the benefits.
Over the past few years, the Third Raikage had put far more pressure on Iwagakure than Sarutobi Hiruzen, the loser of their previous battle.
He was also wary of Kirigakure.
His teacher, Mu, the Second, had died alongside the Second Mizukage Gengetsu Hozuki during the First Shinobi World War.
The two villages shared a grudge.
Three days later.
The Senju Clan arrived at the battlefield in the Land of Fields.
By then, the Senju Clan had grown stronger.
Senju Nawaki used the Bloodline Completion System's ability to separate out all the materials he had on hand and infuse them into the bodies of the Senju ninja, completing and improving their aptitude.
After his efforts, the Senju Clan had thirty Jonin and over a hundred Chunin.
Unfortunately, out of caution toward Uchiha Madara, he had stopped helping people awaken Wood Release. For now, this was enough.
This was the force the Senju Clan had brought to the Land of Fields.
The Senju Clan's encampment.
The buildings Senju Tojian had constructed with Wood Release were exceptionally useful.
At the very center was a large meeting room, just big enough to hold the Senju Clan's thirty-plus Jonin.
Senju Nawaki sat at the head of the table. Behind him hung two enormous maps.
One was a map of the Ninja World, and the other showed the Land of Fields in detail.
Everyone present wore grim expressions, as if they might erupt at any moment. Only Senju Nawaki tapped the table silently with an index finger conjured through the Wood Human Technique.
"Unbelievable! The Daimyo of the Land of Fields didn't even come in person. He sent some insignificant diplomat instead."
Senju Tojian's face was full of indignation, as though he had been insulted, but there was also a flicker of embarrassment.
In the past, whenever he came alone to deliver the Senju Clan's orders, the Daimyo of the Land of Fields had fawned over him and kept him company.
Now that their clan head, Senju Nawaki, had arrived, the Daimyo of the Land of Fields hadn't even come out to greet him.
They had already anticipated the Land of Fields' attitude, but they were still furious.
Under the agreement between the Land of Fields and the Senju Clan, the country would set aside half of its grain for the Senju Clan to dispose of as it saw fit.
This was payment for the Senju Clan's work improving the land and environment.
The Senju Clan would also give the Land of Fields half the profits from selling the grain.
In effect, the Senju Clan was taking nearly thirty percent of the grain.
Now, the Land of Fields had betrayed their pact.
"Clan head, according to the information we've gathered,
the Daimyo of the Land of Fields is currently entertaining envoys from Konoha. They're actually ninja from the Sarutobi Clan and the Ino-Shika-Cho clans.
They've already reached a deal. This year, seven-tenths of the grain will be sold to Konoha at a low price."
Senju Zuoren replied quietly, his eyes narrowed.
He, too, looked down on the Daimyo of the Land of Fields for what he had done.
In the past, the Land of Fields had only achieved what it had thanks to the Senju Clan's protection.
Now it had bitten the hand that fed it, denying the Senju Clan even the most basic courtesy. It had stabbed the Senju Clan in the back at a time like this, offering its loyalty to the Sarutobi Clan.
He had originally wanted to plead on the Land of Fields' behalf, but gave up on the idea.
"When a dog gets a new master, it turns on the old one."
Senju Nawaki shook his head, his eyes filled with cold fury.
A chill swept over everyone in the room.
They straightened up and fell silent, waiting for Senju Nawaki's orders.
"The Land of Fields has six major grain-producing regions. This isn't about the grain; it's about making an example of them.
Konoha ninja are stationed in all six areas. This time, focus on attacking ninja from the Ino-Shika-Cho clans."
Senju Nawaki straightened his expression and issued his orders.
On the large map of the Land of Fields, he marked the granaries and drew a huge cross over them.
His orders were somewhat unusual: the priority was to attack ninja from the Ino-Shika-Cho clans, not the Sarutobi Clan.
On one hand, this would drive a wedge between the two sides.
On the other, the bodies of Ino-Shika-Cho ninja could yield relatively pure and valuable chakra-nature clusters, which would help the Senju Clan grow stronger.
If they wanted to be the Sarutobi Clan's dogs, they would have to pay the price.
"Clan head, what about the grain? Should we bring it back?" Senju Tojian asked, glancing up.
In the eyes of the older generation, grain was the most important resource.
"No. Destroy it on the spot. The scarcer the grain, the more leverage the Senju Clan holds."
Senju Nawaki shook his head.
Scarcity was one of grain's most important qualities.
"Understood!"
"..."
Some of the ninja looked confused, but they carried out Senju Nawaki's orders without hesitation.
All the ninja at Senju Camp began preparing their gear, ready to show the Land of Fields the price of betraying the Senju Clan.
No one could protect the Land of Fields after it betrayed the Senju Clan, or take away the grain that belonged to the Senju Clan.
One day later.
The Land of Fields' six major grain-producing regions were attacked one after another.
The grain meant to be handed over to Konoha was burned in its entirety.
The Sarutobi Clan and the Ino-Shika-Cho clans reacted quickly, gathering the rest of the grain and preparing to transport it to Konoha.
This grain had originally been set aside for the Land of Fields' own use, but Konoha had seized it.
The Daimyo and people of the Land of Fields were left with only a small amount of grain. They would have to tighten their belts for the coming year. This was the price of siding with the Sarutobi Family, and they were bitter beyond words.
They regretted their decision, but it was too late to change anything. Having boarded a pirate ship, they could only sail straight to the bitter end.
They were still worried about the Senju Clan's retaliation. Could it really be this simple?
Before you continue