Naruto: Nara's skill set is incredibly sneaky.

Inside the meeting room in Yunyin Village.

"Father, the detailed information from Sunagakure has come back: the Third Kazekage has gone missing." Ai's expression was somewhat grave.

"Who did this?"

"I don't know. The large-scale mobilization of ninjas by Sunagakure is to find the Third Kazekage and also to investigate who did it."

The Third Raikage tapped the table lightly with his right hand.

A moment later.

"A, gather the available ninjas, we're going to launch a surprise attack on Sunagakure."

The Third Raikage's words caused everyone's expression to change drastically.

Brubi immediately stepped forward, "Third Hokage, isn't this too risky? What if Sunagakure did this on purpose?"

"Yes, Third Hokage, and it wouldn't be morally right for us to strike first. Besides, Konoha and Iwagakure won't stand by and watch us attack Sunagakure." Troy was also somewhat worried.

"No need for words. We can ignore Iwagakure and declare war on Konoha immediately after the raid on Sunagakure."

The Third Raikage's single sentence shocked everyone.

Ai immediately spoke up, "Dad, are you crazy? Don't you know the strength of Konoha?"

The Third Raikage snorted coldly and looked at the Raikage's bodyguard beside him. "Give me the latest information about Konoha."

"yes!"

The Raikage's bodyguard took out a scroll. "Currently, all three of the legendary Sannin are not in Konoha Village. Their whereabouts are unknown. Hatake Sakumo has not taken on any missions for more than two years and has been confirmed to be retired. Nara Shikatoki has disappeared, and Namikaze Minato has been in seclusion and has not emerged yet."

"But what if they come back? We'll still be at a disadvantage!" Brubi said with some worry.

"We only declare war, without launching an attack. This is partly to test the situation in Konoha, and partly to drag Konoha into the conflict."

After the Third Raikage finished speaking, he stood up immediately.

"Alright, do as I say. Go and prepare. We'll launch a surprise attack on Sunagakure first thing tomorrow morning!"

Now that the Third Raikage has ordered Kumogakure to enter a state of high alert.

The village of Iwagakure also received it.

However, compared to the radicalism of the Cloud Hidden Sect.

Onoki was relatively conservative.

"Yellow Earth, investigate the situation in Sunagakure more thoroughly. Also, keep a close eye on those barbarians in Kumogakure. The Third Raikage won't let this opportunity pass him by!" Onoki turned his gaze to Oishi.

"Oishi, assemble the troops of Iwagakure Village, just in case."

"yes!"

Under Onoki's orders, the Iwagakure ninjas also took action.

Onoki sat in his office reviewing intelligence reports, rubbing his head. "These are turbulent times!"

After receiving the message, things quieted down considerably in Wuyin.

Since Nara Shikatoki killed the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and took all seven swords with him, Kirigakure has experienced a generational gap.

The Third Mizukage had no choice but to rely heavily on the Bloodline Clan.

This makes the interior of the Fog Hideout unstable as well.

The most troublesome one is Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Upon discovering the Third Kazekage's disappearance, Hiruzen Sarutobi keenly sensed something was amiss.

This is the prelude to a storm!

"No! I have to go to the Senju clan!" Hiruzen Sarutobi thought for a long time.

The Three Legendary Sannin cannot be found, Shikatoki Nara cannot be found, and Sakumo Hatake is unwilling to come out of seclusion.

The only one who is usable and willing to obey is Minato Namikaze, and Minato is currently in seclusion in the village.

When Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived at the Senju clan, he was received by Nawaki, the clan leader.

"Third Generation, what brings you here today?" Nawaki asked, puzzled.

"Breaking news: the Third Kazekage is missing. I'm here to find Minato." Hiruzen Sarutobi said gravely.

Nawaki nodded. "I'll take you there, but there's a sealing technique at the place where Minato is in seclusion, which I don't understand."

"It's alright."

The two arrived at the entrance of a cave in the back mountain of the Senju clan.

There was a sealing spell cast at the entrance.

Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at it, then unleashed a burst of chakra. Instead of breaking the seal, he pierced through it. "Minato, I am Hiruzen Sarutobi. What's your situation? Have you finished your seclusion?"

The cave was completely quiet, without a sound.

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned slightly; something was very wrong.

"Rope Tree, stand back!"

Upon hearing this, Rope Tree quickly retreated a distance.

Hiruzen Sarutobi formed hand seals, unleashing "Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"

The powerful fire jutsu broke through the sealing technique, and Hiruzen Sarutobi quickly ran inside. There was no one in the cave.

"Where... are the Watergate people?"

Rope Tree followed them in, looking at the empty cave with some confusion.

"What's going on? Where's the water gate?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Nawaki, "You didn't know about this?"

Nawaki's expression was also somewhat grave. "We bring Minato food every day, and after he finishes eating, he puts the plate outside the sealing jutsu. He just ate breakfast this morning. Could it be that Minato has finished his training?"

"Owl!"

"Lord Hokage."

"Take some men and search Konoha Village. Is Minato there?"

"yes!"

The search took a whole day.

The next morning.

Hiruzen Sarutobi convened another meeting of Jonin.

Minato Namikaze has gone missing!

Hiruzen Sarutobi's words stirred up a huge wave of controversy.

"What?!"

Everyone present was somewhat shocked.

Even Shimura Danzo was somewhat shocked, though he didn't show it.

"When did this happen?" Nara Shikaomi asked, puzzled.

"Yesterday morning I went to the Senju clan to look for Minato, only to find that Minato was no longer there, but there were still people impersonating Minato, eating every day and deceiving the Senju clan's food delivery people."

Hiruzen Sarutobi has already sent people to investigate thoroughly.

That cave has probably been uninhabited for about a month.

This means that the Watergate disappeared a month ago.

"Lord Hokage, is it possible that Minato left on his own? After all, Minato has the Flying Thunder God Technique, so he should be the least likely person to get into trouble!" Shikano asked with a solemn expression.

"I'm not sure, but we've already searched Konoha Village, and we haven't found it."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's thoughts were also somewhat confused. He looked at Kushina and said, "Besides, given Minato's personality, even if he's going out, he'll definitely tell Kushina first."

Kushina's face also looked terrible.

The atmosphere at the meeting was somewhat somber.

"Currently, there is no news about Nara Shikatoki, Namikaze Minato, Tsunade, and the Third Kazekage has also gone missing. Something is not right." Hiruzen Sarutobi's words made the atmosphere even heavier.

It was just too sudden.

"Lord Hokage! Important information!"

The owl suddenly appeared, holding a scroll in its hand.

Hiruzen Sarutobi picked up the scroll, opened it, and his expression changed drastically.

"Kumogakure has launched a surprise attack on Sunagakure and declared war on Konoha!"

"What?!"

Danzo Shimura was the first to stand up, exclaiming, "These barbarians are insane! They dare to declare war on Konoha!"

"The situation is dire. If we're not careful, we could trigger the Third Shinobi World War. We must be cautious!" Nara Shikaomi said.

"Regardless of the circumstances, we must take action."

Hiruzen Sarutobi made a decisive move.

"Danzo, you will lead a group of people to guard the border between the Land of Lightning and the Land of Fire, mainly to block their advance."

"Mimura Yomaki, you're going to Iwagakure, mainly for defense."

"Shikashin, you will lead a group of ninjas to Sunagakure. They will not engage in combat; their main task is to gather intelligence."

"Uchiha clan leader, Hyuga clan leader, please keep an eye on Kirigakure's movements."

Hiruzen Sarutobi is really having a headache right now. He didn't realize it when Shikatoki and the others were around, but now that they're nowhere to be found, he's discovered that once a war breaks out, he won't have a single person he can use.

Or rather, these people sent out are actually quite capable.

But it can only defend; if you want to attack, you still need top-tier ninjas!

"Meeting adjourned!"

After the meeting, Hiruzen Sarutobi went straight to the Hatake clan.

Upon entering the Hatake clan, Hatake Sakumo greeted us at the door; he was in incredibly good spirits.

"Sakumo, I'm here to apologize! What happened back then was definitely my fault!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's words startled Sakumo Hatake.

When Shikatoki left, he told him that as long as he stopped being a ninja, Hiruzen Sarutobi would definitely come to apologize in a few years.

He initially thought it was a joke when he thought it was a deer.

I didn't expect it to come.

In recent years, Sakumo Hatake has actually come to terms with things. He's no longer a ninja, and instead has more time to accompany Kakashi as he grows up.

"Lord Hokage, there's no need for that. I'm perfectly fine now."

"Sakumo, the Third Kazekage has disappeared, Kumogakure has launched a surprise attack on Sunagakure and declared war on Konoha. At the same time, Minato has also disappeared, and Shikatoki and Tsunade are currently nowhere to be found! I hope you can come out of seclusion and stabilize the situation for now."

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke very seriously.

Hatake Sakumo's aura surged; he had only retired in recent years, but he had not slacked off in his cultivation.

"Where have Minato and Shika gone?"

"That's right. Shikatoki is alright, since he wrote a letter beforehand. But Minato and Tsunade are truly missing. And now, the Third Kazekage has also disappeared. I'm afraid something might have happened to the three of them too!"