"I suggest we teach Sunagakure a lesson and remind them that Konoha is still the strongest of the Five Great Shinobi Villages! We must never let them insult us!"
Danzo was a typical hardliner. Sunagakure had no Kazekage at the moment and was in disarray, without anyone to lead it. This was the perfect opportunity to invade. Eliminating a potential rival would greatly ease the pressure on Konoha, and if they won a decisive victory, he would become the Fourth Hokage!
"I don't support this decision. The risks are too great. We can't afford to gamble."
Utatane Koharu rarely disagreed with Danzo, but she did this time. Though Sunagakure had lost its Kazekage, it still had many powerful shinobi, not to mention the One-Tail jinchūriki. Konoha had the strength to take Sunagakure, but doing so would cost them too many capable fighters. They would be weakened if other villages targeted them afterward.
More importantly, most of Sunagakure was made up of barren desert. Its harsh conditions would bring Konoha no wealth, and the long front would only become a burden.
"Koharu is right. I don't support this decision either."
The Third Hokage's word would determine whether Konoha attacked Sunagakure. Konoha had always favored peaceful coexistence; if they started a war, they would be fighting four villages at once. Without Tsunade and Jiraiya, the pressure would be immense.
"You'll regret this decision! The Sand Ninja's ambition can never be sated."
After everyone rejected his proposal, Danzo gave a cold snort and returned to his shadowy seat.
Sunlight streamed into the Hokage's office, dividing it into light and shadow. Danzo remained a rat lurking in the darkness.
"Have Orochimaru take charge of the border with Sunagakure. Sakumo will deal with Kumogakure. Minato has grown stronger, too. His Flying Thunder God will give him tremendous mobility on the battlefield. If the war becomes a quagmire, he'll be able to reinforce any front."
The Third Hokage had considered the matter from every angle. If Sakumo guarded the border with Sunagakure, he might draw Chiyo out. During the last war, Hatake Sakumo had personally killed Chiyo's son and daughter-in-law.
Shinobi put their missions first, but Konoha couldn't risk Chiyo using the conflict to settle a personal score. Having Orochimaru handle Sunagakure was the best choice.
Things were a little different from the original story. This time, Sakumo hadn't taken his own life. A top-tier shinobi was more than capable of holding down a front. Kumogakure wouldn't send all its powerful fighters straight at Konoha, and Ōnoki wasn't someone to underestimate, either.
Once the Hokage's orders went out, Konoha's shinobi began deploying in an orderly fashion.
Sakumo didn't refuse his assignment. Only a handful of shinobi could take on Kumogakure's strongest fighters, and Sakumo was clearly the best choice. His Hatake Sword Technique relied on skillful application, making it especially effective against Cloud Ninja who only knew how to attack head-on.
"I'll be away for quite a while. Kakashi hasn't come back yet. If you take a mission, try to stay away from the battlefield."
What worried Sakumo most was his two children. The coming war might mean even Genin would be sent into battle.
"Don't worry about me, Father. I can handle an ordinary Elite Chunin now. And as for Kakashi, don't forget who his team leader is."
Konoha's Yellow Flash had mastered the Flying Thunder God, earning a reputation as the most mobile shinobi around.
Besides, Kakashi was part of the protagonist's team. He wouldn't die that easily.
Sakumo's departure meant Konoha had a Kage Level shinobi guarding a front. If war broke out, Konoha wouldn't be at a disadvantage. Of course, there would be no more time to prepare—Kage Level shinobi would be entering the fight right away.
"Time to take care of our business. Anko, Mari! Are you ready?"
"Ready!"
Before the great war began, the profits from weapons were staggering. Explosive Tags were going up in price by the day, and Muzan had spent this whole time scraping together every last bit of money to buy them.
He was going to sell them in bulk and make a killing!
"Can we really make money from this?"
Anko was only eight or nine this year and didn't yet know how gifted Muzan was at business. Once they sold these supplies,
they'd be able to boast: "I, Anko, made a hundred million at eight!"
"So many Explosive Tags! What if someone steals them? My mother always steals my New Year's money."
Mari clutched the Explosive Tags on the ground. Unlike Anko, Mari wasn't interested in money, but she was a little genius at the Ninja Academy and knew how much the Explosive Tags were worth.
That was why she was worried someone would find them and steal their things.
"Steal them?"
Muzan could beat a Chunin without breaking a sweat. And any Jōnin thinking of stealing from him would have to consider who was backing him—and whether they could leave Konoha alive afterward!
"Don't worry. Let's sell the Explosive Tags as soon as possible."
Money only counted once it was in hand. Muzan needed a lot of funds for his research. So far, he'd only managed to work through the theory and carry out a handful of experiments. He couldn't take the next step without more money!
Getting started was always the hardest part. Without money, you'd be strangled in the cradle.
Muzan packed the Explosive Tags on the ground into a Sealing Scroll. This was his first time dealing in weapons. To buy so many Explosive Tags, he'd borrowed a huge sum from his father—and even secretly ransacked the place where Kakashi stashed his private savings.
Far away at the border, Kakashi suddenly sneezed.
"Are you coming down with a cold?"
Rin noticed Kakashi looked unwell and reached out to feel his forehead, but Obito cut in.
"I think he's just got kidney deficiency. He can't even last a few days."
"Shut up, Obito! Someone's probably talking about me. But why do I have a bad feeling? Like I've lost something."
Muzan arrived at a weapons shop with "Konoha Ninja Tool Shop" written above the door, and caused quite a stir as soon as he showed up.
He was carrying far too many Explosive Tags. If they all went off at once, they'd level the whole area.
"Two crates of Explosive Tags? Does his family make them or something?"
"Idiot! That's Hatake Muzan, Lord Sakumo's son. The Sakumo family is famous for its swordsmanship, though. I wonder if they've branched out into something else."
"Who cares? We'd better buy more Explosive Tags. Who knows when we'll be sent to the battlefield?"
Only the shopkeeper knew that Muzan had bought the two crates from him just a few days earlier. He hadn't expected the boy to come back and sell them.
"Shame Muzan's a shinobi. If he were a merchant, he'd become a giant of the business world doing deals in weapons like this."
In the end, he sold the Explosive Tags for fifty percent more than he'd paid. It had only been a few days. If the war really broke out, who knew what a single Explosive Tag would go for!
But Muzan couldn't afford to gamble. The thrill of going all in could drive anyone mad. If Konoha started regulating weapons, the ninja tool shops wouldn't lose anything, but little Muzan would be ruined.
Better to quit while he was ahead. Making half again what he'd paid was already a very good return.
Brothers, are you ready for some hot-blooded action? The great war is about to begin!
Before you continue