"Lord Third Hokage, Sunagakure has finished mobilizing its troops. From the looks of it, they intend to attack our border directly!"
Inside the Hokage Building, an ANBU member wearing an animal mask knelt on one knee as he reported to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"I didn't expect it to happen this quickly. Mobilize our forces at once and hold the border. We cannot let them enter the Land of Fire!"
"Report, Lord Third Hokage!"
Before the previous matter had even been settled, another ANBU arrived with a report.
"There has been activity on the eastern front. Kirigakure ANBU have been sighted frequently!"
"What? Have they made any other moves?"
The Third Hokage could no longer maintain a relaxed expression. His aged face twisted into a grim scowl.
"For now, their appearances have merely become more frequent, but... they most likely received news from Sunagakure and intend to attack us from behind."
Hearing this, the Third Hokage's expression darkened further. He could not help recalling the previous two great wars of the Shinobi World. Konoha had always been under siege.
Yet of the Legendary Sannin he had raised, only Orochimaru remained in the village. Tsunade had developed hemophobia, while Jiraiya was nowhere to be found.
"Send for Orochimaru. Have him take command at Konoha's border. Give him full authority over the operation. Then have the Uchiha Clan and the Hyuga Clan lead ninja to the eastern front and guard against Kirigakure. If they advance, engage them immediately."
Attacked from both front and rear, it would be far too late if Sunagakure or Kirigakure were allowed to enter the Land of Fire.
Just as Hiruzen finally sat down and took out his pipe to ease his strained nerves, another ninja entered.
This time, it was Hatake Sakumo.
"Lord Third Hokage, Iwagakure and Kumogakure appear to have had an encounter, though it was only a minor clash on both sides. News of Sunagakure moving troops against us over the Kazekage's disappearance has already reached Kumogakure, and the two sides have made contact."
"Sunagakure and Kumogakure have made contact? What is Kumogakure trying to do? Stir up the Shinobi World again?" Hiruzen slammed the table in rare anger, crushing even his pipe in his grip.
"They likely intend to profit from the chaos. They will incite Sunagakure into fighting us head-on, while openly claiming their two villages are joining forces against us. Then, once we are locked in a stalemate, they will wipe us out in one stroke. Iwagakure has an even bigger appetite. They may want to swallow all three of us at once, but they encountered Kumogakure first."
He had only just learned that Sunagakure was advancing on the border when bad news came from the eastern front, followed by word that Kumogakure and Iwagakure were eyeing them greedily as well.
"Teacher Tobirama, what should I do..." Hiruzen murmured.
Faced with the fangs of four great ninja villages at once, even Hiruzen Sarutobi, hailed by all as the strongest Hokage, was at a loss.
But fortunately, Sakumo was still here this time.
"Bring the head of the Nara Clan to me. We will analyze the situation immediately. Sakumo, I have an important task for you. You must complete it."
Hearing the gravity in Hiruzen's voice, Sakumo immediately straightened up.
"I'm listening, Lord Third Hokage."
"I will have Orochimaru stretch out Sunagakure's front line and force their supply routes to lengthen. Sakumo, when the time comes, I need you to destroy their supply lines. Wipe out their logistics camps and other such locations, and end the war with them as soon as possible."
It was a clear judgment. With Sunagakure's limited national strength, the only way they could confront Konoha was by staking everything on a single gamble. They would certainly want to win as quickly as possible.
So once the front line was stretched out, Sunagakure's supplies would slow down. Konoha, on the other hand, would have no need to worry about such a problem.
Once their transport depots were destroyed, Sunagakure would lose its ability to sustain the war and inevitably be defeated.
They would not dare to launch a full counterattack. Unless they were all madmen, the only thing awaiting them would be the Land of Fire formally annexing the Land of Wind.
"Understood, Lord Third Hokage. Leave it to Qingyue and me when the time comes. The two of us can complete this mission."
"I'm counting on you, Sakumo."
After giving Sakumo his orders, Hiruzen quickly summoned the clan heads of the Hyuga Clan and the Uchiha Clan.
For now, Kirigakure was merely making unusual moves on the eastern front. Their forces were not particularly strong, and the only threat posed by their tailed beast could be restrained with the Sharingan.
As long as they stayed away from the coastline, Konoha's two strongest clans could keep them tied down, allowing the other fronts to have more combat power.
"That is the situation. So, Fugaku, Hiashi, I'm counting on you. Fugaku especially—I know your child was just born, but the village's fate rests on this, so..."
"Understood, Lord Third Hokage. Our Uchiha Clan will defend the eastern front with everything we have, staking the honor of our entire clan on it!"
"The Hyuga Clan will also defend the eastern front to the death. Please rest assured, Lord Hokage."
With that, the eastern front and the border front had both been arranged. Next came Kumogakure and Iwagakure.
Unfortunately, Konoha was located at the center of the map, with the four great ninja villages surrounding it from all directions.
Fortunately, Kumogakure and Iwagakure were currently in the middle of an encounter. Given the temperament of those Kumogakure brutes, they would absolutely strike back at whoever provoked them. They certainly would not let Iwagakure off so easily.
And Ōnoki was a thorough schemer. They would never give up such a perfect opportunity to attack Konoha and seize a share of the spoils.
The war had begun. Konoha's streets had once always been filled with laughter and cheer, but now they were noticeably quieter.
It was said that Sunagakure had launched a full-scale attack on the Land of Fire's border. Even if they wanted to keep it hidden, they could not. Everyone in the streets and alleys was discussing it.
I wonder when I'll be sent to the battlefield. A week had passed since the news broke, yet I had not received any notice.
I had actually always found it strange. The Third Shinobi World War broke out in Year 47, and Konoha was soon besieged by the four great ninja villages at once.
The war lasted a full three years, only ending near the end of Year 50.
Then why had Minato Namikaze, one of the village's top combat forces, been kept in the village as an ordinary Jonin until the war reached its most intense stage before being sent out?
[It is presumed that Minato Namikaze's special ability was why he was kept in the village, allowing him to provide support to each battlefield at any time. After all, Nine-Tails jinchuriki Uzumaki Kushina was also in the village, and Minato was the only person capable of keeping her stable.]
I see. I almost forgot about the Nine-Tails jinchuriki.
[Teacher Hill, which battlefield do you think I'll be assigned to?]
Kannabi Bridge was the battlefield against Iwagakure. If I were assigned there, I could rush over during the Kannabi Bridge Battle and help Rin and the others.
There should be no need to worry too much about the Sunagakure battlefield. As long as I did not face the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, I should be able to handle anyone. Kirigakure's most troublesome force was the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
But if I knew the specialties of every ninja sword, it would not be too bad.
If I went to the Kumogakure battlefield, though, things might get troublesome. If I ran into the A-B Duo, I could not guarantee that my current sword could break through the Lightning Armor.
Suddenly, someone's aura entered the range of my Observation Haki.
"Jonin Qingyue, you have a mission."
Before you continue