War Breaks Out!

After taking out the Sand Ninja controlled by illusion techniques, Asuma and the other two left the cave.

Kurenai asked, "What do we do now?"

"Sasori isn't in Sunagakure anymore. Could he have murdered the Third Kazekage?"

Shizune's expression turned grave. "Lady Tsunade once told me that Sunagakure's Puppet Technique has secret arts that can turn people into puppets. Could that guy have turned the Third Kazekage into a puppet?"

Asuma could not help glancing at Shizune.

He had merely nudged them a little, and the truth had been spoken.

So next...

"Let's find a Bounty Office and put out a bounty!"

Asuma said with a smile.

"A bounty?"

Both Kurenai and Shizune looked confused.

Asuma said, "We're only making a guess. If we want to confirm it, the three of us absolutely can't do it alone."

"In that case, we should naturally let the Sand Ninja verify it."

"Put a bounty on Sasori at the Bounty Office and spread the news that he murdered the Third Kazekage."

Kurenai and Shizune were still somewhat puzzled.

Asuma explained, "No matter who killed the Third Kazekage, it absolutely cannot have been us Konoha ninja, or anyone from the Land of Fire, even if Sunagakure won't abandon its plans to start a war because of it!"

"If we killed the Third Kazekage and Sunagakure attacks us, or if one of Sunagakure's own killed the Third Kazekage and Sunagakure attacks us, those are two completely different situations."

With that explanation, Kurenai and Shizune understood.

The three immediately set out to find a Bounty Office.

There was one in the Land of Rain, and it was not difficult to locate.

When they arrived at the Bounty Office, Asuma concealed his identity. He did not disguise himself as a Sand Ninja either. He entered alone, placed a bounty on Sasori, and paid the reward.

Afterward, the three found a nearby place to lie low and quietly waited for events to unfold.

The Bounty Office's influence was considerable. Before nightfall, news of the bounty on Sasori for murdering the Third Kazekage had already been placed on the desks of the Kage of every major shinobi village.

Within Sunagakure, an emergency high-level meeting was convened, and a fierce argument erupted.

Chiyo remained silent throughout. Only after the argument had settled somewhat did she speak. "No matter which shinobi village leaked this information, investigate Sasori first!"

Everyone present was startled.

Who did not know that Sasori was Chiyo's beloved grandson?

Yet Chiyo showed neither joy nor sorrow as she continued, "However, no matter who murdered the Third Kazekage, the position of the Fourth Generation cannot remain vacant."

"If you keep arguing, the only ones who will benefit will be the other four Great Shinobi Villages!"

As she spoke, she lifted her eyelids and swept her gaze across everyone present.

The next day, after learning that the Sand Ninja were searching for the Third Kazekage and Sasori, Asuma knew it had worked.

"Back to the village!"

Asuma made the decision without hesitation.

The mission was already complete.

And he could smell war in the air.

Konoha Year 43, July 22, just after eight in the evening.

Asuma and the other two returned to Konoha.

Konoha Year 43, July 25.

Asuma learned that Iwagakure's elite forces had marched south and launched a surprise attack on the Land of Wind.

The Third Great Ninja War had begun!

"I didn't expect the Iwa Ninja to make the first move!"

Kurenai was quite surprised.

According to their earlier analysis, Sunagakure should have started the war first in order to divert its internal conflicts.

Asuma put on his clothes and smiled. "Because there's profit to be made."

"Sunagakure is in chaos because of the Third Kazekage. It's not surprising for someone to take advantage of the situation."

"The Land of Wind may be covered in sand, but it also has plenty of mineral deposits."

Fifteen minutes later.

Asuma and the other two arrived at the Hokage Office and received their latest mission.

They were to patrol the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rivers.

Clearly, this was a precaution against Sunagakure.

Although Sunagakure currently had to deal with Iwagakure.

After packing their things, Asuma and the other two left Konoha at eleven in the morning.

However, when they reached the border that evening, Asuma discovered that both the border defense forces and the squads sent ahead into the Land of Rivers to gather intelligence were relaxed. No one seemed to feel the atmosphere of war.

There was nothing Asuma could do to change that. He could only carry out his duties diligently while continuing his training without slackening.

All the effort he put in now would become the capital that allowed him to survive in the future.

And though one person's influence was limited, at least Kurenai and Shizune closely followed in Asuma's footsteps.

In the blink of an eye, a month passed.

After safely getting through the month, Asuma's team returned to Konoha to rest and recuperate.

They also finally learned that Rasa had succeeded to the position of Fourth Kazekage.

It was said that Rasa had once held off an Iwa Ninja force of over a thousand men by himself. He had single-handedly blocked the Iwa Ninja invasion, buying the Sand Ninja time to organize their forces and preventing catastrophic losses.

That was also why Rasa had succeeded as the Fourth Kazekage.

"Times create heroes!"

Asuma could not help sighing after hearing the news, but he quickly put it aside and immersed himself in training.

The clouds of war hanging overhead made him cherish the little time he had left even more.

Konoha Year 43, September 8.

Less than two months after the war between the Sand Ninja and Iwa Ninja had begun, the Mist Ninja suddenly attacked the coastal regions of the Land of Wind.

War between the Mist Ninja and Sand Ninja officially broke out.

Sunagakure now faced attacks from two major shinobi villages at once.

"Do we have a mission?"

Asuma asked Kurenai, who had brought the news.

"Not for now."

Kurenai shook her head, but then changed her tone. "However, quite a few ninja from the village have headed north. There may be movement from the Cloud Ninja."

"Cloud Ninja?"

Asuma raised an eyebrow. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Most likely a smokescreen."

"Still, it's impressive that those warlike maniacs have held back this long."

Kurenai could not help laughing, but then she realized something. "Asuma, are you saying the Cloud Ninja are deliberately making it seem like they intend to wage war against us, when they actually want to strike the Iwa Ninja?"

Asuma nodded and analyzed, "The Cloud Ninja are warlike, but they aren't stupid."

"If they start a war, naturally they'll use strength to crush weakness."

"Among the Five Great Shinobi Villages, Konoha is the strongest. The Cloud Ninja won't come fight us alone at a time like this."

"The best target is the Iwa Ninja, who are currently fighting the Sand Ninja."

Kurenai nodded in agreement. "That makes sense!"

Then she asked, "Asuma, have you completed your Scorch Release Chakra Mode?"

Asuma shook his head. "I'm still just a little short."

He had already mastered the Wind Release Chakra Mode, but Scorch Release was a newly formed Kekkei Genkai in itself, so it required even more time to master.

Hokage Office.

Sarutobi Hiruzen stared at two intelligence reports, his brows knitting together.

Hatake Sakumo and Namikaze Minato had only recently sent back these two reports.

One concerned a secret meeting between the Sand Ninja and Cloud Ninja.

The other concerned a secret meeting between the Cloud Ninja and Mist Ninja.

Sarutobi Hiruzen could guess the intentions of both sides in the meeting between the Sand Ninja and Cloud Ninja.

But what were the Mist Ninja and Cloud Ninja plotting?

Could they be conspiring to launch a surprise attack on Konoha?

Just then, the door was pushed open, and Danzo walked in.

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked up and asked, "Did Hanzō agree?"

Danzo shook his head and snorted coldly. "That guy has gotten old!"

"He can't even fully control the Land of Rain now. He wants to sit back and watch the other shinobi villages slaughter one another."

The alliance had failed!

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Since Hanzō doesn't want to ally with us, we absolutely cannot let the Iwa Ninja win him over."

Danzo nodded. "I've already made arrangements. Don't worry!"

"Good. I'll leave the Land of Rain to you."

As he spoke, Sarutobi Hiruzen handed the two intelligence reports on his desk to Danzo and asked, "What do you think?"

Danzo quickly scanned the two reports, then looked up. "Giving these two reports to the Iwa Ninja and Sand Ninja respectively would be a very good choice!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded slightly.