In the Hokage Building's conference room, Konoha's council of elders, the heads of the major ninja clans, and all members of the Jonin Commander were seated, waiting for the meeting to begin.
"Since everyone is here, I'll get straight to the point. Sunagakure has now dispatched 3,000 ninja toward our border. They are expected to reach the Land of Fire's border in three days."
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked around before continuing to address everyone present.
"And their justification for starting this war is that Konoha is suspected of killing their Third Kazekage. They demand an explanation from us."
"In addition, the Anbu previously obtained some differing reports. The Intelligence Division has already decrypted and compiled them. Now, let someone from the Intelligence Division explain the intelligence we've gathered on Sunagakure over the past few months."
After Hiruzen Sarutobi finished speaking, a ninja wearing a green Jonin flak jacket saw his signal, stood up, and spoke.
"According to the intelligence our division obtained, major changes occurred within Sunagakure two months ago."
"They increased the number of ninja along their borders and began strictly inspecting passing merchants and travelers. Their internal screening became even tighter, and we lost quite a few covert contacts."
"Also, although we don't know exactly what happened within the village, the messages our undercover ninja sent before disappearing suggest that something may have happened to their Third Kazekage, leaving Sunagakure leaderless."
"Moreover, the Kazekage's disappearance caused a degree of upheaval among their leadership. Chiyo and her younger brother Ebizo came out of retirement and returned to power, while quite a few figures with real authority were forced out. That concludes our division's intelligence analysis."
Upon hearing the intelligence announced by the Intelligence Division ninja, everyone seated began discussing it.
At that moment, a young ninja with pineapple-shaped hair rested his chin on both hands and spoke with a serious look in his eyes.
"Lord Hokage, we already held a meeting when we first received the initial reports of an upheaval in Sunagakure."
"At the time, we considered the possibility that they might start a war. However, there was little movement of supplies within Sunagakure then, and they didn't seem to have reached an internal consensus. So we dismissed that suspicion and merely continued gathering intelligence."
"Now that Sunagakure has deployed troops, it seems they intend to redirect their internal conflicts outward. They also appear to have reached a consensus internally. In other words, they may have a new Kage."
Shikaku Nara's cautious analysis won Hiruzen Sarutobi's agreement.
"Yes, Shikaku is right."
"The ninja leading Sunagakure's forces now is named Rasa. He possesses the Magnet Release Kekkei Genkai, is one of the finest of Sunagakure's younger generation, and leads the village's militant faction."
"According to the intelligence we received, he is already regarded as the successor to the position of Fourth Kazekage. By personally participating in the war, he intends to earn enough military merit to truly become the Fourth Kazekage with full legitimacy."
With every detail Hiruzen Sarutobi shared about Rasa, everyone's mood grew heavier. After learning Rasa's identity, everyone present felt that the war would be difficult to handle.
Someone seeking military merit on the battlefield to become Kazekage meant that this war would only stop once sufficient gains had been secured. In other words, Konoha would have to pay a considerable price to drive Sunagakure back.
"Hmph, Hiruzen. He's just a young man, yet he has you this worried. Don't forget that Konoha is the foremost village in the Shinobi World. We have never feared any war."
"Since Sunagakure dares to start a war, there's no need for us to show mercy. Only by making them hurt can we deter the other ninja villages."
"Besides, now is no time to hesitate. Root ninja have received intelligence that the other ninja villages have also made significant moves since Sunagakure began taking action."
"They all seem to have designs on this war as well. Kirigakure alone is farther away from us, so my Root ninja haven't gathered any useful intelligence there. But I believe Kirigakure must also be making preparations."
The speaker was Shimura Danzō, an old man with white bandages wrapped around his right eye and right arm and an X-shaped scar on his chin. His expression was solemn.
Hearing Danzo's words, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression grew even graver. He understood the reasoning too, but once war began, how many more families would be torn apart?
Seeing that Hiruzen Sarutobi was still hesitating, Danzo felt a surge of irritation and spoke bluntly.
"Hiruzen, there's no time to hesitate now. If you're afraid of losing, give me 1,500 ninja, and let me lead them to defeat Sunagakure."
At that moment, Danzo revealed his objective. He was pushing so actively for war because he hoped to become its commander.
Then he could use a splendid victory to raise his own prestige while undermining Hiruzen Sarutobi's reputation along the way, laying a favorable foundation for a future bid to become Hokage. After all, hesitating when Sunagakure was already about to attack was not the attitude a qualified Kage should have.
But Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had grown up with Danzo, knew exactly what he was thinking and immediately turned him down.
"Enough, Danzo. Since Sunagakure dares to start a war, Konoha certainly isn't afraid of one. However, I've already made arrangements for the commander of this war."
"Danzo, you have a more important task. I need you to direct your Root ninja to gather intelligence on the other ninja villages and monitor their every move."
Hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi say this, Danzo was furious, but there was nothing he could do. Hiruzen Sarutobi was the Hokage, after all. He could only seethe inwardly. Hiruzen, you've grown old. Konoha has no future under your leadership. Only I can truly save Konoha.
"Jiraiya, Jiraiya?"
Only after Hiruzen Sarutobi called his name two or three times did Jiraiya, who stood in a corner with his mind wandering, come back to his senses.
"Huh? Old man, what do you want?" Having only just snapped out of his thoughts, Jiraiya still looked somewhat dazed, unsure what Old Man Sarutobi wanted him for.
"You bastard, Jiraiya! What are you doing during a meeting?" Seeing Jiraiya's reaction, Hiruzen Sarutobi flew into a rage and roared at him.
"I'm planning to make you the commander. Did you hear me?"
"What? Why not have Orochimaru do it? Isn't he better suited to facing Sunagakure?"
Jiraiya immediately objected loudly. He had let his mind wander because he knew that commanding this operation against Sunagakure had nothing to do with him, which was why he had been so relaxed. Who would have thought the old man would pass over the suitable Orochimaru and put him in instead?
Jiraiya had a very good point. What the villages of the Shinobi World feared most about Sunagakure were its Puppet Technique and its skill with poison. Poison posed an even greater threat than the Puppet Technique; countless ninja died from poison whenever war broke out with Sunagakure. Orochimaru, meanwhile, was an expert with snakes and frequently dealt with poisons.
But in truth, the best choice to face Sunagakure should have been Tsunade. Unfortunately, she had left Konoha over certain matters and gone wandering.