Chapter 618: Thoughts of the Villages
Chapter 618: Thoughts of the Villages
In the Land of Earth, hidden within the confines of Iwagakure, the Tsuchikage's office stood tall. Within its walls, Onoki perused an intelligence report, his visage betraying a hint of surprise.
"Danzo Shimura is dead, slain by Souyu at this time."
This turn of events caught Onoki somewhat off guard.
While his plan entailed weakening Konoha by pitting them against the Ninja Sect, he hadn't anticipated their clash to unfold so soon, much less the demise of a Konoha high-ranking official.
Onoki felt a surge of delight, akin to waking from a slumber to discover that a fruit tree he had planted the day before had blossomed and borne fruit overnight.
"This simplifies matters considerably," Onoki remarked with a pleased expression.
His original plan had a significant drawback—the necessity to keep the Ninja Sect in the dark about Iwagakure's involvement. Exposure would inevitably lead to backlash.
Now, however, with the irreconcilable conflict between the Ninja Sect and Konoha, Iwagakure's participation might even earn them gratitude from the Ninja Sect.
Should the Ninja Sect withstand Konoha's pressure, Iwagakure could provide them with long-term support, vexing Konoha endlessly.
Onoki lifted the teacup from his desk with a smile, savoring the imported tea leaves from the Fire Country.
This was the only piece of good news he had heard in a while.
After setting down his teacup, Onoki felt a palpable sense of relief wash over him.
The stress of locating Elder Purple had been weighing heavily on him lately.
While Elder Purple himself was dispensable to Iwagakure, the Four-Tails within him was of paramount importance.
A tailed beast signified a top-tier powerhouse, an immortal legacy that no genius could rival.
Humans were mortal, but tailed beasts were truly eternal. They did not succumb to old age, and even if slain, they could be resurrected.
With the ongoing war heightening the need for powerful allies, Elder Purple's disappearance dealt a severe blow to Iwagakure.
At this moment, Onoki felt grateful to the Ninja Sect and Konoha. Seeing his glum mood, they had presented him with a stimulating diversion.
Ordinarily, the negative impact of a jinchuriki's desertion would outweigh the death of a high-ranking official.
However, Elder Purple's quiet departure and subsequent low-key movements had mitigated the fallout significantly. He had refrained from exposing himself, lessening the consequences of his departure.
The death of Danzo Shimura, on the other hand, had swiftly spread throughout the ninja world.
As a result, the actual impact on Konoha was more pronounced than that of Elder Purple's desertion.
"Was it Kumogakure or Sunagakure?" Onoki wondered, curious about the orchestrator behind the scenes.
The speed at which the news had spread indicated the involvement of a major power.
Although Sunagakure hadn't declared war on Konoha, its proximity to the Land of Wind and the Rain Country meant they were likely the first ninja village to receive the intelligence. Onoki suspected that Sunagakure might have had a hand in this.
Sunagakure and Konoha were not far from each other, and even if Sunagakure had no intentions of waging war, they would undoubtedly relish seeing their neighbors at a disadvantage.
Take Onoki, for instance. Despite his recent lack of interest in engaging Konoha in battle, upon receiving the news, he had immediately ordered the mobilization of Iwagakure's forces to aid in spreading the word.
He had no desire to fight, but what if others did?
Indeed, Onoki's suspicions proved correct, as a ninja village soon expressed interest in the unfolding events.
Meanwhile, upon learning of the development, the Third Mizukage hastily convened a high-level meeting.
Having suffered defeat at Konoha's hands, they harbored no sentiments of acquiescence and had been biding their time for an opportunity to exact revenge and reclaim their honor.
"Let's hear your thoughts on this matter," the Third Mizukage said, a sly smile playing at the corners of his eyes.
While Konoha was not Kirigakure's sole enemy, it was undoubtedly their greatest foe. The upheaval in Konoha presented an advantageous opportunity for Kirigakure.
The high-ranking officials exchanged glances before the leader of Kirigakure's Jonin class finally spoke up.
"This is a favorable opportunity for our village. Danzo Shimura's death not only deprives Konoha of a powerful ninja, but it also deals a blow to their morale.
Moreover, Konoha now has a new adversary. Although the Ninja Sect is a nascent organization, its leader and deputy are not to be underestimated. Konoha will have to expend resources if they wish to retaliate."
"Such aggression is amiss," the Kirigakure advisor, his lower face wrapped in bandages, remarked as he regarded the Third Mizukage with an unreadable expression.
He was a staunch advocate of war within Kirigakure's leadership, always supportive of reopening hostilities with Konoha.
The Jonin class leader usually maintained a neutral stance, but today, he espoused a radically hawkish attitude. The advisor suspected that the Third Mizukage was inclined to resume warfare with Konoha.
However, the advisor couldn't discern the Third Mizukage's true intentions from his perpetually smiling visage.
"It is an opportunity, but the risks are also significant," Genjin commented.
"Danzo Shimura's death is a loss for Konoha, but not an overly severe one," he added, expressing his disagreement with attacking Konoha at this time.
In his opinion, Shimura's death dealt more of a blow to Konoha's reputation than their actual strength. Rushing into a battle now might only provoke a furious response from Konoha.
If it had been Hiruzen Sarutobi who had perished, Genjin would have been more inclined to agree with the plan. The sudden death of the Hokage would not only mean the loss of a top-tier fighter but could also potentially lead to internal strife within Konoha as they scrambled for power.
"Konoha has not yet experienced a major defeat, and their strength is formidable. We must carefully consider our strategy before taking any offensive action," Genjin concluded, and a fellow high-ranking official immediately voiced their agreement.
With two opposing opinions expressed, the atmosphere in the meeting room turned somewhat delicate.
"Elder Genjin's words are reasonable, but there is no such thing as a risk-free war. The other four great ninja villages will certainly not be willing to cede any of their interests on the continent to us willingly," the Jonin class leader added, continuing the discussion.
A hint of surprise flitted across the Kirigakure advisor's face as he silently confirmed his suspicions.
Although they were all high-ranking officials of Kirigakure, their statuses were not entirely equal due to differences in strength, influence, and seniority.
Among them, Genjin held the highest position and authority in the village, and normally, the Jonin class leader would never dare to directly oppose him.
A slight shift in the meeting's dynamics occurred as those who had previously supported Genjin fell silent, while the war hawks continued to emphasize the necessity of war.
"Kirigakure and Konoha are destined for battle, but there's no need to rush into it. We can observe the situation in the ninja world and make our move later," Genjin said thoughtfully, indicating his openness to the idea of war but believing the timing was not right.
He wasn't opposed to the concept of war itself; he just felt the timing wasn't strategic.
"Indeed, we must not act rashly," the Third Mizukage agreed. "Let's start by deploying a portion of our ninja forces to the Land of Waves."
The Third Mizukage desired war with Konoha, and he yearned to defeat them.
Not only would it erase the shame of their previous defeat, but it would also bring him glory that no other Mizukage in Kirigakure had ever achieved.
If they could thoroughly crush Konoha, perhaps he would even be remembered as the strongest Mizukage in the village's history.
The prospect of defeating Konoha was enticing, but the Third Mizukage maintained a clear head. He was well aware that with Kirigakure's current strength, it would be challenging to defeat Konoha on their own. They needed to bide their time and wait for the right opportunity.
Genjin nodded, indicating his approval.
The Land of Waves was the island country closest to the Fire Country. By boat, one could quickly travel from the Land of Waves to the Fire Country.
Moreover, the Land of Waves had no ninja presence, making it a weak and easily manipulated nation by Kirigakure's standards.
...
In the Land of Wind, within the Sand Hidden Village, the Kazekage's office in the Sand Tower...
"This Ninja Sect is indeed a hidden danger," the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, thought to himself as he put down the intelligence report in his hand.
Previously, as the Ninja Sect continued to grow and Souyu's influence became more exaggerated, Rasa had a feeling that they might become a threat.
However, he hadn't anticipated that the Ninja Sect would clash with a neighboring country so soon, and that country being one of the five great ninja villages—Konoha.
"But with Danzo Shimura's death at this juncture, the ninja world will likely be in turmoil once again," Rasa mused, a smile playing on his face as he anticipated the spectacle.
There was no absolute hatred among the ninja villages, only the pursuit of absolute interests.
Since the start of the war, Konoha had been victorious time and again. If this continued until the end, Konoha's prestige in the ninja world would greatly increase, and they would attract numerous clients and sponsors.
The other great ninja villages would certainly not sit idly by and allow this hypothesis to become reality.
In such a situation, should Konoha encounter any troubles, it would be like dangling bait in front of the other ninja villages.
Whether the other Kage were tempted or not, Rasa certainly was.
Ever since the war began, Sunagakure had first experienced internal strife and then been invaded by Kumogakure. They were either constantly under attack or on the verge of it, and their performance had been less than impressive. The Wind Country's feudal lord was growing increasingly dissatisfied with Sunagakure's shortcomings.
For the development of Sunagakure, Rasa was eager to take a bite out of Konoha, the village dripping with fat and oil.
After some thought, Rasa summoned the Sunagakure ANBU and ordered, "Strengthen our spy network in the Fire Country. Deploy more spies to gather intelligence."
The internal strife and the war with Kumogakure had depleted Sunagakure's ninja forces, and they currently lacked the capability to directly challenge Konoha.
In the Land of Lightning, within the Hidden Cloud Village, high above the village in the towering building known as the Raikage's Office, a meeting was underway.
While both Cloud and Mist villages were holding meetings, the content of their discussions differed greatly.
"Leaf has been wary of us, frequently deploying large numbers of ninjas to guard the borders of Fire Country and Hot Water Country. This time, we can take a different route by sea, entering Fire Country through Rice Country," Tori Yi explained excitedly, outlining his plan for a surprise attack.
Indeed, Cloud had not only decided to take action but was also already in the process of finalizing their battle strategy.
"That's true. While it will take more time to travel, it will be harder for us to be detected," Do Mei added, nodding in agreement.
Grass Country shared its border with Hot Water Country, and entering Grass Country through Hot Water Country would likely alert the Leaf ninjas stationed there.
"Before our main force from Rice Country launches the offensive, we can send out smaller squads to operate within Hot Water Country, giving the Leaf ninjas the impression that we're still planning to invade from there," Do Mei continued, elaborating on the strategy.
The Cloud ninjas in the meeting room enthusiastically shared their ideas, and soon, they had a solid framework for their attack plan.
"You will lead this mission," the Third Raikage said, addressing the Fourth Aye, who was seated to his left.
The battlefield was a dangerous place but also an excellent training ground for a ninja's growth.
"Yes, Sandaime-sama," the Fourth Aye replied solemnly, acknowledging the weight of his responsibility.
Although they were father and son, this was an official meeting, and it was important to maintain professionalism by using their titles.
"Should I have him continue his training in the village or join me on this mission?" The Fourth Aye asked, his thoughts turning to a particular concern.
While he was accustomed to the dangers of the battlefield, having grown up without any pampering despite being the son of the Third Raikage, he was unsure about how to handle Killer B's unique situation.
"Take him with you, and remember to protect your brother," the Third Raikage said in a grave tone.
Killer B had not yet fully mastered the power of the Eight-Tails, and it would typically be more beneficial for him to continue his training within the confines of the Cloud village.
However, the Third Raikage believed that the trials of the battlefield would forge his son's abilities more effectively than solitary training.
Moreover, if any unforeseen dangers arose, he was confident in his ability to step in and ensure their safety, even if it meant taking the field himself.
"I will," the Fourth Aye affirmed with a determined nod.
Although Killer B was not his biological brother, the bond they had forged over the years was stronger than that of most siblings connected by blood.
...
Fire Country, Konoha Village.
"Teacher, Danzo..."
Mito Uzumaki suddenly opened his eyes wide, his gaze fixing on the familiar ceiling of his bedroom. He let out a sigh of relief, realizing it had all been a dream.
He must have been thinking about Danzo Shimura too much lately, as his old friend had dominated his thoughts even in his sleep. It was rare for him to dream, and even rarer for Danzo to feature so prominently in his dreams.
In the dream, Danzo had volunteered to be the decoy, and Tobirama Senju had readily agreed.
Unable to bear the thought of his brother facing danger alone, Mito had also offered himself as a decoy, only to be rejected by Tobirama.
In the end, Tobirama had insisted that Danzo lacked the necessary strength and had gone with him to serve as the decoy...
"It must be because both Teacher and Danzo sacrificed themselves," Mito thought, shaking his head to dispel the strange dream from his mind.
Mito began his day as he usually did, attending to his morning routine of washing up and having breakfast before heading to the Hokage Office to tackle the village's affairs.
He had already tasked the ANBU with investigating Danzo's death, and there was no need for him to personally involve himself in the matter by visiting the Root Organization's office. Doing so would be an irresponsible neglect of his duties as the leader of Konoha.
However, as Mito went about his work, his thoughts would occasionally drift back to Danzo's demise.
After all, Danzo had been his friend for several decades, and their bond ran deep.
"I hope the ANBU can uncover some clues soon," Mito sighed inwardly, feeling the weight of his friend's death.
If it weren't for the involvement of "Uchiha Madara," Mito might have disregarded the potential consequences and sent ninjas to assassinate Souyu to avenge his friend.
But with Madara's name now in the mix, Mito felt that acting impulsively could lead to him being manipulated by unseen forces.
The safety of the village always came first, and in the face of uncertain circumstances, Mito chose to bide his time rather than make any hasty decisions.
"Sandaime-sama, we have finished organizing the intelligence, and there are some new discoveries in several secret chambers," an ANBU member reported to the Hokage later that afternoon.
Mito's spirits lifted at the prospect of finally getting some answers.
(End of Chapter)
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