The Main World.
Winter, Year 29 of Konoha.
Land of Lightning, Kumogakure.
Kinkaku stood before the map in the Raikage's Office, his silver-white hair gleaming cold and hard under the light. Before him was an enormous map of the Shinobi World.
The map marked the territories of the Five Great Nations and dozens of smaller countries-the Land of the Moon, Land of Hot Water, Land of Waves, Land of Sound, Land of Rainbows, Land of Tea, Land of Grass, Land of Waterfalls, Land of Whirlpools... They crowded together like pieces on a game board. His finger moved slowly across the map, from the Land of Lightning to the Land of the Moon, from the Land of the Moon to the Land of Hot Water, from the Land of Hot Water to the Land of Waves, and from the Land of Waves to the Land of Sound.
Ginkaku stood behind him, holding a freshly drafted battle plan.
"Big brother, the Land of the Moon, Land of Hot Water, Land of Waves, Land of Sound-four small countries. Taking them will be easy. Holding them... will take time."
Kinkaku did not turn around.
"Easy? All the more reason to attack. Can't hold them? Then kill. Kill until no one dares resist, and we'll have our hold."
He paused.
"This time, we eat one bite at a time. Eat the small ones first, then the big ones. Digest one, then eat the next."
Ginkaku's brow furrowed slightly.
"Big brother, these small countries have survived this long not because they can fight, but because both the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning need them as buffers. The Land of the Moon lies between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning, and so does the Land of Hot Water. The Land of