Now, Rasa is no better than his teacher, the Third Kazekage. If he were to go and negotiate with Ōnoki, he might get tricked into losing everything. It's better for me to go myself.
After a month-long tug-of-war, Chiyo finally persuaded the cunning old man, Ōnoki, Ōnoki then decided to make his move.
After all, he knew that if he didn't intervene, Sunagakure wouldn't exert too much effort, and they might even let Konoha off the hook.
So now he's preparing to make a move, on the condition that Sunagakure pays Iwagakure with supplies, and Chiyo has no choice but to agree.
After obtaining the supplies, Ōnoki personally led an army of 6,000 Iwagakure ninja to launch an attack on Konoha.
"Damn Iwagakure, they've actually joined forces with Sunagakure!"
Upon learning of Iwagakure's fate, Hiruzen Sarutobi filled with panic.
The number of Konoha Ninja was already insufficient against Sunagakure, and now they have to face Iwagakure as well. Even though Iwagakure doesn't have many Kage Level ninjas, it has a large number of ninjas.
This is sufficient to achieve a qualitative change from a quantitative one!
" Ōnoki is a shameless scoundrel! He finally couldn't resist stretching out his evil claws."
The news that Sunagakure and Iwagakure had joined forces again and were heading towards Konoha was like a bolt from the blue for Konoha village.
Now Konoha was once again besieged by the Three Great Shinobi Villages.
Jiraiya was so angry that he started cursing.
In fact, the Konoha High Command all knew that with the war progressing to this point, Iwagakure's fate was inevitable, and they couldn't just sit idly by.
Coming now is actually better than Konoha and the other ninja villages fighting to the death.
At this time, Kirigakure suddenly reduced its troop deployment for the Third Shinobi World War, which surprised Konoha, Sunagakure, and Iwagakure.
Rasa and Ōnoki, in particular, were very dissatisfied with Kirigakure's move.
After all, you were the one who ordered us to attack Konoha. Now that everyone's involved, you're suddenly backing out. Isn't that a breach of contract?
"That damned Third Mizukage! I'll remember this! I'll pay for it next time!"
Rasa gritted his teeth and said, while Ōnoki also secretly marked the Third Mizukage in his heart.
However, Kirigakure's strength is really too weak. It doesn't really matter whether they are there or not. In fact, it doesn't matter much Kirigakure is there or not, since Kirigakure is not very useful anyway.
Little did they know, the Third Mizukage was merely a puppet, and a secondhand one at that.
After being controlled by Ziyun, he is now controlled by Madara Uchiha. It's so tragic.
Not only has Kirigakure been ruined, but the Third Mizukage Kirigakure likely have a tarnished reputation there.
"That old bastard Madara Uchiha is up to his old tricks again."
Ziyun, however, saw it quite clearly; Madara Uchiha was definitely hiding some kind of conspiracy in this move.
Most likely it's because Kirigakure is too weak and is currently conserving its strength in order to seize his pawns.
As for who Madara Uchiha's pawn was, Ziyun doesn't know anymore, since the plot has been completely disrupted.
However, no matter who it was, Ziyun couldn't be bothered to care, Ziyun also couldn't be bothered with Madara Uchiha's Eye of the Moon Plan.
Maybe a super mission will be refreshed then.
Ziyun has now figured out the system's pattern: whenever such a major event occurs, the system will assign a super S-level task.
I believe that when Madara Uchiha resurrected, I will also receive this kind of mission.
" Ziyun, the war is getting more and more intense now. Do you think Konoha will be destroyed?"
"If Konoha is destroyed, who will provide for our 20% annual income?"
At the same time, Mikoto came to Ziyun's side, leaned against Ziyun's chest, and asked.
Although the main force of the Kumogakure had retreated back to the village, half of the ninja remained in the Land of Land of Fire.
No, it can't be said to be within the Land of Fire, but rather within the Land of Fire that has already been ceded to Kumogakure.
This area now needs to be heavily guarded, since it's now part of Kumogakure's territory.
Fortunately, the Kumogakure is already very strong and solid, with more Kage Level shikigami than Konoha, almost overflowing, so there is no shortage of manpower to manage and suppress them.
Ziyun then entrusted this vast territory to his capable assistant Yotsuki A.
In the original work, Yotsuki A, the Fourth Raikage, was also a skilled individual, so managing this place shouldn't be a problem.
Ziyun wasn't worried about betrayal either. Yotsuki A was completely convinced of her abilities, and there was no possibility of her betraying or usurping power.
" Konoha shouldn't be destroyed. After all, Konoha's high-end combat power can still overwhelm Iwagakure and Sunagakure combined. Besides, even if they are destroyed, we won't be shortchanged on that 20% revenue; someone will help Konoha cover it."
Ziyun wasn't worried about Konoha being destroyed.
Furthermore, if Konoha is destroyed, would Sunagakure Iwagakure dare to refuse to pay protection money to Kumogakure after they occupy Konoha?
If you dare not give it to me, I'll beat you to death.
Moreover, destroying Konoha wouldn't be so easy. Without Super Kage Level expert to oversee it, and without the ability to crush Konoha, it's impossible to destroy Konoha.
After all, Konoha still has considerable strength; its Kage Level ninja can completely overwhelm the two major ninja villages, preventing its annihilation.
But defeat is not impossible.
After all, the number of Konoha Ninja is already too small. Too many have been slaughtered by the Kumogakure ninjas. In terms of sheer numbers, Konoha is probably several times smaller than the combined numbers of Iwagakure and Sunagakure!
What's more, there's also Madara Uchiha behind the scenes, eyeing Konoha with hostility.
Although Kirigakure is now just a weak ninja village, it still possesses the foundation of the Five Great Shinobi Villages.
While there aren't many truly powerful individuals, there are still tens of thousands of ninjas to choose from. Moreover, Madara Uchiha will definitely attack Konoha; he needs to find a successor.
Therefore, Konoha's chances of defeat are very high.
" Lord Raikage is truly amazing; you were absolutely right."
Half a month later, Mei Terumi looked at Ziyun with admiration. Konoha had indeed lost the battle between Iwagakure and Sunagakure.
After all, Ōnoki has brought out all the resources of Iwagakure this time.
The Five-Tails and the Seven-Tails —both Tailed Beast from Iwagakure have been mobilized.
That's right. Although Ziyun has already turned the Four-Tails into his own summoned beast, Ōnoki has captured the Seven-Tails, the only Tailed Beast that does not belong to the Five Great Shinobi Villages.
Therefore, Iwagakure maintained its configuration of two Tailed Beast.
With the addition of Shukaku, the One-Tail Shukaku from Sunagakure, the high-end combat power of these two ninja villages is comparable to that of Konoha.
Not to mention that their forces outnumbered Konoha Ninja by several times, Konoha suffered a series of defeats within a month.
"Damn it, if we keep losing like this, the Iwagakure and the Sunagakure will have to extend their battle lines into the Land of Land of Fire."
Upon hearing the successive reports of defeats, Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed heavily.
If it weren't for the fact that Kumogakure had massacred so many Konoha ninjas, Sunagakure and Iwagakure would have been no threat at all.
"We absolutely must not extend the battle line into the Land of Fire's territory, otherwise it will be difficult to take it back later."
Jiraiya analyzed the situation from the sidelines, weighing the pros and cons.
The cession of half of the Land of Land of Fire's territory had already displeased the Land of Fire's daimyo, and now the threat of bringing war into the Land of Fire's borders could very well lead the Land of Fire to cut off Konoha's economic lifeline in a fit of rage.
"But what can we do now? We can't win a fight. If this drags on, it's only a matter of time before the Iwagakure and the Sunagakure invade the Land of Fire."
Danzo said coldly from the side.
In his view, all of this was caused by Hiruzen Sarutobi's indecisive methods; if he were the Hokage, the situation today would certainly not have occurred.
"Now that things have come to this, we have no choice but to ask Kumogakure for help."
After thinking for a while, Hiruzen Sarutobi realized that only the Kumogakure could save Konoha.
" Teacher Sarutobi, have you thought this through? Do you really want to ask Kumogakure for help?"
Jiraiya's eyes widened.
The hatred between Konoha and Kumogakure can be described as irreconcilable.
The Raikage Kumogakure, Yeyue Ziyun, robbed so many people from Konoha, stole the Nine-Tails, and killed countless Konoha Ninja.
The Konoha Ninja dreamed of killing Yeyue Ziyun Zikumo, so why would they possibly ask Kumogakure for help?
" Lord Hokage, please reconsider! The Kumogakure just made an outrageous demand for so much land from us, and now we're actively seeking their help. Who knows what kind of unreasonable requests they'll make?"
Hatake Sakumo also spoke up with concern.
Given Yeyue Ziyun's personality, if Konoha dares to ask, Kumogakure will shamelessly demand money and supplies from Konoha again.
Where in Konoha would they find so much money to give to Kumogakure right now?
"Now, apart from Kumogakure, no other village can save us."
Kumogakure Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed. He didn't want to ask Kumogakure for help, but what else could he do?
Of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, Sunagakure and Iwagakure were determined to attack Konoha, and their attempts to sue for peace were quickly rejected.
Let's not even talk about Kirigakure; it's too weak, Hiruzen Sarutobi really wouldn't even look at that village.
Currently, only the Kumogakure is the strongest. If they are willing to intervene, Konoha will definitely be able to overcome this crisis.
Otherwise, if this fight continues, Konoha Ninja will be wiped out, and Konoha will cease to exist.
"Hmph, Sarutobi, just wait until you're out of power after this big battle."
Danzo knew deep down that this was the only way, but this time he wasn't sarcastic at all; instead, he actually hoped that Hiruzen Sarutobi ask Kumogakure for help.
Many of Konoha ninja's relatives and friends were killed by Kumogakure. If Hiruzen Sarutobi went to Kumogakure for help, his prestige would definitely be greatly reduced, and he would definitely not be able to take the Hokage Position.