Chapter 585: Reactions in the Ninja World
Chapter 585: Reactions in the Ninja World
In the Land of Lightning, within the Raikage's Tower, a meeting was underway in one of its conference rooms.
The Third Raikage, with his imposing figure, sat at the head of the table, his usually stern face now creased in deep thought. The Kumo shinobi seated on either side of him, members of the village's upper echelon, mirrored his furrowed brows and contemplative expressions.
"Torii, what are your thoughts on the recent crushing defeat of Iwagakure by Konohagakure in the Land of Grass?" The Third Raikage directed his question to a bespectacled Kumo ninja seated to his right, one of his trusted aides.
Torii was the assistant to the Raikage and one of the people he trusted most.
"My thoughts..." Torii adjusted his glasses, "According to the intelligence we've gathered, before their crushing defeat, Iwagakure actually won a significant battle, forcing Jiraiya's forces to flee."
"From this piece of intelligence, we can glean two pieces of information. First, Iwagakure is not as weak as they've previously appeared. Second, Konohagakure's true strength may not be as formidable as it used to be."
"If Iwagakure were truly weak, they wouldn't have been able to defeat Jiraiya's ninja forces so swiftly. And if Konohagakure were still as powerful as they once were, they wouldn't have suffered such a devastating loss before turning the tables."
The Third Raikage and the other Kumo elders nodded in agreement.
"While both sides have had their victories and defeats, it's clear that Iwagakure has suffered the greater loss this time, with their ninja forces taking heavy casualties and being forced to withdraw from the Land of Grass," Torii added with a hint of regret.
The war between Konohagakure and Iwagakure had begun suddenly and ended just as abruptly.
If Kumogakure had received this intelligence earlier, they could have taken advantage of the situation and struck, causing significant damage to both villages while they were weakened.
"So, you think this is a good opportunity to attack Iwagakure?" the Third Raikage asked after a moment's thought.
Kumo rarely let opportunities for aggression pass them by, especially when it came to the other Great Ninja Villages.
Torii shook his head, "Now is indeed an opportune time to take action against Iwagakure, but it's even more so against Konohagakure."
The Third Raikage looked at Torii with a puzzled expression. Hadn't he just said that Iwagakure suffered the greater loss?
"While Iwagakure has sustained losses, they are not crippling. Both of their jinchuriki are safe and have returned to the Land of Earth, and their village, nestled deep in the mountains, is difficult to invade," Torii explained.
Attacking Iwagakure would be a logistical challenge for Kumogakure, unlike a campaign against the Fire Country.
"If that's the case, shouldn't we consider the advantages and disadvantages of both options instead of favoring one over the other?" one of the elders, Todai, asked.
He wasn't approaching this from his own biases but was genuinely trying to understand Torii's perspective. However, he couldn't quite grasp the so-called "good opportunity."
"Because if we don't take action against Konohagakure now, we may never get another chance," Torii said, his expression turning solemn.
"Konohagakure first thwarted Kirigakure's invasion and has now defeated Iwagakure. In the eyes of their clients, Konohagakure is still the strongest ninja village. As the situation stabilizes, Konohagakure will undoubtedly receive more commissions."
"With greater financial resources, Konohagakure will be able to develop more ninjas. Coupled with the genius ninjas that emerged during the war, if they continue to develop in tandem, Kumogakure will never be able to match Konohagakure."
Todai's eyes widened as he listened to Torii, impressed by his boldness in stating that Kumogakure's potential for growth fell short of Konohagakure's.
While it was the truth, some things were better left unsaid.
Todai glanced at the Third Raikage, curious about his reaction.
The Third Raikage's expression remained largely unchanged from before.
"The frequent wars have not only depleted Konohagakure's ninja forces but also fostered enmity with the other ninja villages," Torii continued. "If we make a move, the other ninja villages will likely join us in attacking Konohagakure. They won't be able to ignore the threat Konohagakure poses."
This was the real reason why Torii believed that now was the ideal time to strike Konohagakure.
Since the start of the war, Kumogakure had clashed with three of the other Great Ninja Villages, but their engagements with Konohagakure and Iwagakure had only been probing attacks. It was only with Sunagakure that they had truly exchanged blows.
However, if Kumogakure were to attack Konohagakure, Sunagakure would be hard-pressed to interfere, regardless of whether they traveled through the Land of Water or the Land of Grass.
As for Konohagakure, they had truly given Kirigakure and Iwagakure a beating. Kirigakure had lost numerous ninjas and a jinchuriki, while Iwagakure had lost nearly a thousand-strong unit.
Torii was certain that if Konohagakure showed any signs of weakness, Kirigakure and Iwagakure would be eager for revenge.
If they succeeded in defeating Konohagakure, they would gain not only the satisfaction of retribution but also enhance their reputation and wealth.
"In an ideal scenario, that is indeed the case," Todai acknowledged, "But Konohagakure's strength cannot be underestimated. If Kumogakure were to commit all its forces in a war against Konohagakure, we cannot guarantee that the other Great Ninja Villages won't view us as their next target."
Enmity was indeed a powerful motivator, but it paled in comparison to the allure of profit.
By launching an all-out offensive against Konohagakure, Kumogakure would be putting itself at considerable risk.
"That's why we can't start by launching a full-scale invasion of Konohagakure," Torii explained. "We need to show our strength first and give the impression that we're preparing for a full-scale war against them. Then, we can observe the reactions of the other ninja villages and make our next move accordingly."
Kumo was bold, but not reckless.
At the moment, they didn't have all the details of Iwagakure's defeat, only knowing that Konohagakure's victory had resulted in an astonishing number of casualties for their enemies.
"That Ninja Academy's Young Ninja Tournament... While we didn't send many ninjas from Kumogakure, Iwagakure and Kirigakure sent quite a few of their elites, and yet..."
Seeing that the Kumo elders were still deep in thought, Torii continued to emphasize the threat posed by Konohagakure, as if suggesting that if they didn't take action soon, Konohagakure would regain its unstoppable momentum from the early days of its founding.
"Now, let's hear your thoughts," the Third Raikage said, his gaze sweeping across the other Kumo elders after Torii had finished speaking.
"I agree with Assistant Torii," a tanned, muscular man said, his arms folded across his chest. "We should attack Konohagakure. Invading Iwagakure would be troublesome and wouldn't yield as much benefit."
"I disagree," an elder with a white beard shook his head. "We should wait and continue to observe the situation, especially Kirigakure's next move."
After everyone had spoken, the Third Raikage noted that the council was evenly split. Two elders favored attacking Konohagakure, while the other two disagreed.
Of course, the two who disagreed simply felt that the timing wasn't right for an attack on Konohagakure; they weren't opposed to the idea of war itself.
"I find Torii's argument quite persuasive," the Third Raikage said after a moment of thought. "Please elaborate on your plan."
It was clear that he had chosen to go to war with Konohagakure.
While the plan carried risks, the Third Raikage believed it was worth attempting.
...
Meanwhile, Kirigakure, the subject of much discussion among Kumogakure's elders, was also holding a meeting of its own high-ranking members.
Ever since they had been driven out of the Fire Country by Konohagakure, Kirigakure had retracted its forces but remained closely attuned to the developments in the ninja world.
"Indeed, an unexpected development," Yuan Shi nodded, understanding that the Third Mizukage was determined to have Yakura Koizumi succeed him.
More than a year had passed since Yakura Koizumi's defeat, and the Third Mizukage was still quick to defend him, demonstrating the importance he placed on this protege.
The other high-ranking members of the Mist voiced their agreement.
"Although Iwagakure suffered a crushing defeat, they did manage to deal a significant blow to Konoha. I suggest we dispatch an assassination squad to exacerbate the tensions between Iwagakure and Konoha. If we can instigate a full-scale war between them, it would provide us with an excellent opportunity to make our move," suggested the captain of the Mist Village's jounin squad, expressing his thoughts.
They knew their own village's capabilities better than anyone else. The idea of directly engaging Konoha in battle was not on their minds. However, the notion of provoking other ninja villages to fight Konoha was not only present but also appealing to them.
"Iwagakure has lost so many lives; they must harbor intense hatred towards Konoha now."
"However, with Iwagakure's forces currently in retreat, it will be challenging to carry out such a plan. Whether we disguise our ninjas as Iwagakure ninjas to kill Konoha ninjas or vice versa, it will easily arouse suspicion," a Mist Village advisor pointed out the difficulties.
"Then we wait. Unless Iwagakure and Konoha sign a peace treaty, they are bound to clash again sooner or later," replied the captain of the Mist jounin squad.
"In fact, we don't have to limit ourselves to Iwagakure. There are other ninja villages that have clashed with Konoha besides them," he added.
"Wu Ren has an excellent idea. We, the Mist Village, must indeed take action," the Third Mizukage praised Wu Ren, singling him out by name.
Although he might not necessarily adopt Wu Ren's plan, the Mist Village could not afford to remain idle any longer.
If they waited any longer, and Konoha defeated both Iwagakure and Kumogakure, emerging as the ultimate victor, the Mist Village's hopes for revenge would be truly dashed.
It was only after engaging in battle that the Third Mizukage realized their village was relatively weaker among the five great ninja villages.
Now that they were aware of their shortcomings, the next step was to strive to catch up.
Even if they couldn't improve themselves, they had to hold Konoha back and prevent them from growing stronger.
After the meeting, Yuan Shi returned home.
While guiding Mei and Haku in their training, he reminded them, "You must make good use of your time to cultivate. It's only a matter of time before our village engages in another war, and the next one may be even more intense than the last."
Mei paused for a moment, realizing from Yuan Shi's words that the village elders had decided to go to war with another ninja village, although the timing remained uncertain.
She wanted to ask, "Could it be Konoha again?" but ultimately kept silent.
This was privileged information reserved for the village elders, and she, as an ordinary jounin of the Mist Village, had no right to know such matters.
However, Mei was worried. She felt that if Konoha became their opponent again, the Mist Village would find it genuinely challenging to emerge victorious.
Mei wasn't trying to belittle her own village; instead, she had gained a clear understanding of her abilities through the Chunin Exams and the Ninja Arts Tournament.
The Mist Village's top talents would only be considered slightly above average if placed in Konoha, and they couldn't compare to the likes of Might Guy and Kakashi Hatake.
...
In the Wind Country, within the Sand Village...
"Old man Onoki, so you've finally met your match."
Upon reading the intelligence report of Iwagakure's crushing defeat, the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Iwagakure and the Sand Village had been longtime rivals, with three small countries sandwiched between the Wind Country and the Earth Country.
If not for the unique geographical features on both sides, it would've been a constant headache for both villages.
Rasa hadn't forgotten about the Iwagakure ninja forces lurking near the Rain Country when Kumogakure launched its offensive against the Sand Village.
If the Sand Village hadn't withstood Kumogakure's assault, the battle between the three great ninja villages wouldn't have taken place in the Rain Country; it would've been in the Wind Country, in the Sand Village itself.
"Should we seize this opportunity to take action?" Rasa mused, a thoughtful look on his face.
If they could deliver a devastating blow to Iwagakure, the Sand Village would not only exact revenge but also reestablish their reputation as one of the five great ninja villages.
Rasa reflected on the current state of the Sand Village and ultimately shook his head.
Even if he wanted to engage in battle, the other Sand Village elders would never agree.
The Sand Village was currently in its weakest state since its establishment, having suffered greatly due to the disappearance of the Third Kazekage.
The loss of the Third Kazekage, a top-tier powerhouse, wasn't the only consequence the Sand Village had to bear.
In the aftermath of his disappearance, the Sand Village descended into severe internal strife as powerful ninja clans and village elders vied for the position of Kazekage, resorting to various underhanded tactics.
At the peak of the conflict, assassinations were commonplace, and the leaders of the factions openly led large groups of ninjas into battle.
In a sense, Rasa owed Kumogakure a debt of gratitude.
If not for the external pressure exerted by Kumogakure, Rasa wouldn't have ascended to the position of Fourth Kazekage so swiftly.
Compared to the long-established Sand Village elders and the influential ninja clans, Rasa's sole advantage was his status as a disciple of the Third Kazekage and the rightful heir to the magnetic release jutsu.
He was the most legitimate successor to the position of Kazekage.
Whether it was the village elders or the ninja clans, their entire lives and fortunes were tied to the Sand Village. Faced with the life-or-death crisis brought about by Kumogakure's aggression, they had no choice but to compromise and unite behind Rasa, the most legitimate candidate, to lead the village and counter the threat.
That was why Rasa was particularly annoyed by individuals like Yashamaru, who possessed the potential to become a Kazekage.
He feared that once the war was over, those compromising elders and ninja clans might join forces to overthrow him and install another ninja as the Kazekage.
After all, the circumstances surrounding his ascension to the position were rather unique, perhaps even unprecedented in the entire ninja world.
"It would be perfect if Iwagakure and Konoha could wear each other down," Rasa couldn't help but fantasize.
While the Sand Village had been weakened, if the other great ninja villages suffered similar fates, then the Sand Village would effectively be on equal footing with them.
Rasa yearned for a decisive victory, a triumph over another top-tier ninja village.
Only then would the village elders be unable to depose him as Kazekage.
PS:
Yesterday, a university classmate of Xiao Ju paid him a visit, and they ended up having a late-night snack together, falling asleep past four in the morning.
Perhaps due to the lack of all-nighters lately, Xiao Ju felt unusually sleepy today. If there are any issues, please leave a comment at the end of the chapter.
I considered taking a break today, but since I've managed to keep up with the daily updates so far, I want to persist until the end of the month.
(End of Chapter)
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