The War

"Lord Third, Sand Village has assembled its army. It looks like they're planning to attack our border directly!"

Inside the Hokage Building, an ANBU member wearing an animal mask knelt on one knee and reported to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"I didn't expect it to happen this soon. Mobilize the troops immediately and hold the border. We cannot let them enter the Land of Fire!"

"Report, Lord Third!"

Before the previous matter had even been settled, another ANBU arrived with a report.

"There have been movements on the eastern front. Hidden Mist ANBU have been spotted frequently!"

"What? Have they made any other moves?"

At that moment, the Third could no longer maintain a relaxed expression. His aged face twisted into an ugly frown.

"For now, they've only been appearing more frequently, but... they most likely received news from Sand Village and intend to launch a surprise attack from behind us."

Hearing this, the Third's expression grew even uglier. He could not help recalling the previous two Shinobi World Wars—Konoha had always been under siege.

Yet among the Three Sannin he had raised, only Orochimaru remained in the village. Tsunade had developed hemophobia, while Jiraiya was nowhere to be found.

"Send Orochimaru here. Have him take command at Konoha's border. Give him full command authority. Then have the Uchiha Clan and Hyuga Clan send shinobi to the eastern front to guard against Hidden Mist. If they advance, engage them immediately."

With enemies before and behind them, it would be far too late if either Sand Village or Hidden Mist entered the borders of the Land of Fire.

Just as Hiruzen finally sat down and took out his pipe to ease his strained nerves, another shinobi entered.

This time, it was Sakumo Hatake.

"Lord Third, Stone Village and Cloud Village appear to have clashed, though it was only a minor skirmish on both sides. News of Sand Village mobilizing against us due to the Kazekage's disappearance has reached Cloud Village, and the two sides have made contact."

"Sand Village and Cloud Village made contact? What are Cloud Village trying to do? Do they want to throw the Shinobi World into chaos?" Hiruzen rarely lost his temper. He slammed the table, crushing even his pipe in his grip.

"They likely want to profit from the chaos. They'll incite Sand Village into a direct war with us, openly presenting it as an alliance between their two villages against us. Then, once we are deadlocked, they will wipe us out in one stroke. Stone Village has an even greater appetite—they may want to swallow all three of us at once, but they encountered Cloud Village first."

He had only just learned that Sand Village was advancing on the border when bad news arrived from the eastern front, followed by word that Cloud Village and Stone Village were also eyeing them hungrily.

"Teacher Tobirama, what should I do..." Hiruzen murmured.

Faced with the fangs of all four great shinobi villages at once, even Hiruzen Sarutobi, hailed by all as the strongest Hokage, was at a loss.

Fortunately, Sakumo was still here this time.

"Bring the head of the Nara Clan to me. We will begin analyzing the situation immediately. Sakumo, I have an important task for you. You must complete it."

Hearing Hiruzen's grave tone, Sakumo immediately focused.

"I'm listening, Lord Third."

"I will have Orochimaru extend the front on Sand Village's side, forcing their supply lines to stretch farther. Sakumo, when the time comes, I need you to sabotage their supplies. Destroy their supply depots and transport camps, and end the war with them as quickly as possible."

It was a clear judgment. With Sand Village's limited national strength, their only option in facing Konoha was an all-or-nothing gamble. They would certainly seek victory as quickly as possible.

Thus, once the front lines stretched out, Sand Village's supplies would slow down. Konoha, on the other hand, would not need to worry about that problem at all.

Once Sand Village's transport points were destroyed, they would lose their ability to sustain the war and be defeated.

They would not dare to retaliate with all their strength. Unless they were a pack of lunatics, the only thing awaiting them would be the Land of Fire formally annexing the Land of Wind.

"Understood, Lord Third. Leave it to Qingyue and me when the time comes. The two of us will be enough to 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 Uchiha Clan.

For now, Hidden Mist was merely displaying unusual activity on the eastern front, and its military strength was not particularly great. The only threat, their tailed beast, could be restrained through the Sharingan.

As long as they stayed away from the coastline, Konoha's two strongest clans could hold them off, allowing more forces to be deployed to the other battlefields.

"That is the situation. So, Fugaku, Hiashi, I am counting on you. Fugaku especially—I know your child was just born, but the village's fate rests on this, so..."

"Understood, Lord Third. The Uchiha Clan will defend the eastern front with all our strength, staking the honor of our clan on it!"

"The Hyuga Clan will also defend the eastern front to the death. Please rest assured, Lord Hokage."

With the eastern front and the border front arranged, all that remained were Cloud Village and Stone Village.

Unfortunately, Konoha sat at the center of the map, with the four great shinobi villages positioned around it in every direction.

Fortunately, Cloud Village and Stone Village were currently in the midst of a skirmish. Given those brutes in Cloud Village, they would absolutely follow the rule of, whoever provoked them, they would fight. They certainly would not let Stone Village off so easily.

And Onoki was a thorough schemer. Stone Village would never give up such a perfect chance to attack Konoha and claim a share of the spoils.

The war had begun. Konoha's streets, once always filled with laughter and cheer, had become much quieter.

It was said that Sand Village had launched a full-scale attack on the Land of Fire's border. Even if they wanted to hide the news, they could not. The matter was being discussed everywhere in the streets.

I had no idea when I would be sent to the battlefield. A week had passed since the news broke, yet I had received no notification.

I had always found it strange. The Third Shinobi World War erupted in Year 47, and Konoha was soon besieged by all four great shinobi villages at once.

The war lasted a full three years and did not end until late Year 50.

So why was Minato Namikaze, one of the village's top combat forces, kept in the village as a mere Jonin during this period, only being sent out once the war reached its most intense stage?

[The likely reason is Minato Namikaze's special ability. They chose to keep him in the village so he could provide support to every battlefield at any time. After all, Kushina, the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki, is also in the village, and Minato is the only one who can keep her stable.]

I see. I had nearly forgotten about the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki.

[Teacher Hill, which battlefield do you think I'll be sent to?]

Kannabi Bridge was the battlefield against Stone Village. If I were assigned there, I could make it in time to help Rin and the others during the Kannabi Bridge Battle.

There should be no need to worry too much about the Sand Village battlefield. So long as I did not face the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, I should be able to handle anyone. Hidden Mist's most troublesome force was the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.

But if I knew the specialties of every sword, it would not be too bad.

The Cloud Village battlefield might be troublesome. If I ran into the A-B Combo, I could not guarantee that my sword could break through their Lightning Armor now.

Suddenly, someone's presence entered the range of my Observation Haki.

"Jonin Qingyue, there is a mission for you."