Ōnoki watched everyone's reactions with satisfaction.
As the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki had always harbored the ambition of making Iwagakure the foremost of the Five Great Shinobi Villages.
Iwagakure had also consistently focused on developing its military strength, boasting more shinobi than the other villages.
He raised a hand and pressed it downward, signaling for everyone to quiet down.
Everyone turned to look at him.
Ōnoki said, "Since you all agree that we cannot allow Kusagakure to grow stronger, Iwagakure will launch an all-out war against Kusagakure!"
All-out war!
This would not be as simple as the previous surprise attack. Iwagakure would commit its full strength to the fight!
Everyone grew excited upon hearing Ōnoki's decision.
"Yes, Lord Third Tsuchikage! We'll make the arrangements right away!" the senior officials answered one after another.
After the meeting ended, Ōnoki summoned an ANBU shinobi and instructed him, "Contact the Akatsuki. Tell them we have work for them!"
"Yes!"
The Third Tsuchikage had maintained a long-standing arrangement hiring the Akatsuki.
"Also, tell Han to get ready!" Ōnoki added.
"Yes!" The ANBU shinobi departed with his orders.
The other powers in the shinobi world still knew nothing about Iwagakure's plans to wage war on Kusagakure.
A few days later, Uchiha Sora went to Kumogakure in the Land of Lightning to watch the finals of the Chunin Ninja Exams.
He sat beside the Fourth Raikage on a raised platform, watching the finals below.
This time, only one of Kusagakure's genin had made it to the finals.
He was a boy named Guiqing who possessed an extremely rare kekkei genkai. He could create clones of black energy, and anyone who touched them would instantly become weakened.
This technique was called Demon Release. It seemed to attack the mind through a physical medium.
Throughout its history, Kusagakure