"That's right. The only reason they managed to raise such a large army so quickly was that they used food to recruit starving civilians.
Those starving people joined the army for a bite to eat.
But could an army like that really fight?"
Tetsuya said with a smile.
"Once war breaks out and the five nations' armies clash with the Federation's ninja army, a few crushing defeats will completely shatter their already fragile morale."
Kabuto picked up where he left off.
"When that happens, those villagers who only joined for enough food to stay alive will flee the battlefield.
At that point, the so-called army of the five nations will collapse completely!"
"Exactly."
Tetsuya nodded.
"So, as I see it, this world war should be over in about two days."
Kabuto Yakushi also found it rather amusing. A world war ending in roughly two days was quite a surprise.
War soon flared along several stretches of the Federation's borders. Everything went just as Tetsuya had predicted: the five nations' armies were utterly helpless against the Federation's ninja forces.
A single clash routed more than half their forces.
After the first battle, their morale plummeted.
After the second battle, the starving civilians who had gathered for a bite to eat began fleeing outright.
At first, some tried to stop them. But emotions were contagious.
Faced with death, even the soldiers trained by the regular armies began to think of retreating.
In the end, before the third battle could begin, the Land of Wind's army was the first to disintegrate. Some fled, while others surrendered.
Tetsuya sat in the Daimyo's Mansion, listening to one victory report after another from the front.
"Report! A great victory at the front! The Land of Wind's army has been routed!"
"**A great victory at the front!