It seemed the Hokage still favored Homura. Guarding the coastline was not particularly dangerous.
Besides, Yamanaka Keichi would be there to assist him. Keichi was now the strongest sensory ninja in Konoha.
Add a few Hyuga ninja to the team, and the enemy would have to attack head-on. A sneak attack would be all but impossible.
"Take Hatake Sakumo with you."
Homura nodded. Sakumo's swordsmanship was fierce; few in all of Konoha could defeat him for certain.
"As for joining forces with Iwagakure, Nara Shikaku, you'll be the commander this time. Fugaku, notify Orochimaru and Jiraiya to accompany the force as well.
"It seems the Shinobi World is headed for troubled times again. Konoha has only just enjoyed a brief period of peace. The village has barely recovered some of its strength, and already we're facing another large-scale campaign.
"Our forces are still far from their peak. We can only give you four thousand ninja this time. We'll also draw some ninja from the Ninja Academy to station in the village in case anything happens.
"Keep these orders to yourselves for now. We'll wait until Kumogakure makes its move before we make ours.
"We can't let Kumogakure infer our intentions—or Iwagakure's—from Konoha's movements.
"Secretly recall the ninja currently away on missions in batches, using whatever pretexts you need."
Land of Lightning, Kumogakure.
In the Raikage's Office, the Third Raikage had received replies from the other three Great Ninja Villages. He could see from Kirigakure's and Sunagakure's letters that both were making excuses.
Neither wanted to move against Konoha. The Raikage had already experienced the Third Mizukage's cautious ways.
Sunagakure's position was ambiguous, but the Third Raikage sensed deep malice behind it. Sunagakure had paid a terrible price in the previous war.
They probably wished every Ninja Village would suffer heavy