Cicada Shell Escape Plan

Not long after Konoha received the intelligence, Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Kirigakure received notices from Konoha in turn.

Sitting in his office in the Tsuchikage Building, Ōnoki looked at his son, Kitsuchi. "You're saying one of our border squads crossed the border, passed through the Land of Grass, entered the Land of Fire, and attacked one of Konoha's border outposts?"

"That's right, Father. We've already lost track of that squad," Kitsuchi said with a nod.

"Three Chunin attacked two Jonin and two Chunin..." Ōnoki laughed. "I had no idea our Iwagakure shinobi were so capable."

"Tell Konoha that the three Iwagakure shinobi who attacked their border outpost had already become rogue shinobi before the attack," Ōnoki ordered.

Kumogakure handled it much the same way as Iwagakure, simply declaring that rogue shinobi from their village were responsible.

It was obvious that someone was stirring up trouble behind the scenes. They had no reason to take the bait.

A powerful figure coveting the tailed beasts now lurked in the shinobi world. Going to war now would only play into the enemy's scheme.

The notice Konoha sent to Kirigakure, however, was completely different from those sent to Iwagakure and Kumogakure. First, Konoha harshly condemned Kirigakure's attempts to start a war and seize the Byakugan. Then it issued a stern warning: stop all underhanded moves immediately, or Konoha would strike with overwhelming force.

"Lady Mizukage, what should we do?" The Mizukage's secretary was now a young-looking kunoichi.

In the Mizukage's Office, Mei Terumi, who had officially taken office as Mizukage, sank into thought as she read Konoha's report.

"Withdraw the personnel stationed at the docks and harbors. As for Konoha, just pretend we never heard anything. Ignore them," Mei Terumi ordered.

Mei Terumi paid no mind to Konoha's threat of war. There was no way