I founded the "Bragging Cult" in Naruto.

Chapter 124 Putting aside the facts, aren't you also right?

"Hokage-sama!"

Sakumo Hatake appeared in the Hokage's office without announcing himself, and Hiruzen Sarutobi, sitting in his seat, didn't mind, after all, Sakumo Hatake deserved this privilege and trust.

At this moment, the Hokage's office was filled with smoke. Hiruzen Sarutobi had a worried look on his face. He stood up and said, "More than three thousand ninjas from the Land of Lightning have suddenly gathered at the port. I don't know why."

Within the Land of Rain, Tsunade sent out a distress signal. The hidden support team has already mobilized, and a large-scale battle with the Iwa ninja is inevitable. It's likely that the Land of Rain has already discovered this.

After listening to Hiruzen Sarutobi's explanation, Sakumo Hatake asked, "Hokage-sama, what do you need me to do?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi paced back and forth in his office for a while before saying, "I need you to lead a team to the northern border to investigate why the Land of Lightning is gathering ninjas. If they intend to participate in the war, stop them!"

The ninjas of Kumogakure are known for their unruly and impulsive nature, but their leadership is not lacking in wise individuals. Therefore, their actions may not necessarily be aimed at participating in the war, but rather at drawing the attention of various nations and seeking opportunities.

Therefore, it would be best to avoid war with them to prevent giving the Land of Lightning a pretext for conflict.

Sakumo Hatake nodded, then said worriedly, "Then the southeastern defense line will be short-staffed, and the Land of Water is still there."

"The Land of Water is located overseas, and the various ninja clans within it have never had a Mizukage who has been able to manage them properly. It is chaotic and impoverished, and not worth worrying about. In addition, with the recent implementation of that policy, it is almost ready to be alienated and disloyal."

Under these circumstances, it would be virtually impossible for the Third Mizukage to participate in the Ninja War, even if they reached an internal consensus and wanted to seize the opportunity to join the war. "My two advisors and I are also ready to go to the battlefield at any time!"

As Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke, the worry on his face lessened somewhat. Sitting in this office for so long, he would occasionally forget that he was also a ninja, a ninja who could go to the battlefield at any time.

Recalling his past as a ninja and his formidable strength, Hiruzen Sarutobi's words were filled with confidence.

As the Third Hokage, his strength may not have been as great as that of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, and his influence in governing the village, diplomacy, and war may not have been as great as that of his teacher, the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju.

However, if we're talking about the impact of a single battle, Hiruzen Sarutobi was confident that he had surpassed his teacher, Tobirama Senju.

A ninja's strength should not be determined by a single, narrow dimension; each ninja has their own area of ​​expertise.

Just like the Sharingan of the Uchiha clan and the Byakugan of the Hyuga clan, it's hard to say which is better. Perhaps an Uchiha Jonin with a three-tomoe Sharingan would have a better chance of winning against a Hyuga Jonin, but that doesn't mean the Hyuga Byakugan is inferior to the Sharingan.

The Sharingan might be able to influence a single battle, but the Byakugan could influence an entire campaign. Multiple Uchiha ninjas with the Sharingan might influence a single battle, but multiple Byakugan ninjas might influence an entire war.

The same applies to Hiruzen Sarutobi and Tobirama Senju. In a battle, Hiruzen Sarutobi had absolutely no confidence in defeating his teacher, whose methods were endless.

However, if they were to lead their respective legions and fight against each other, Hiruzen Sarutobi was confident that he could do better than his teacher. After all, even his teacher didn't have a good way to deal with his Five Elements Great Combo.

Seeing that Hiruzen Sarutobi had become so spirited, Sakumo Hatake nodded, then frowned and said, "What about Tsunade and the others?"

"Hanzo is not an impulsive person. Even if this makes him furious and gives him the determination to join the war, he will not explode today."

His ambition is too great, so he is extremely cautious in everything he does. As long as our forces in various regions do not suffer large-scale defeats, even if he captures my three disciples, he won't dare to make a move!

Hiruzen Sarutobi's words were resolute, as if he had seen through Hanzo from a thousand miles away. Sakumo Hatake showed a hint of confusion, but did not press for details. He simply nodded and said:

"Then I will lead my troops to the northern border as soon as possible."

"You are fully in charge. Who to deploy, and how many to deploy, is up to you. I have only one request: the Land of Lightning cannot participate in the war!"

"Yes, Lord Hokage."

Meanwhile, information about the battle between the Konoha ninja and the Iwagakure ninja was also relayed to Iwagakure in the Land of Earth. Inside the meeting room, a small old man with a receding hairline and a bulbous nose couldn't help but smile upon hearing the news.

"So, the battle has finally begun? Be sure to heed my instructions and make the conflict as big as possible!"

Inside the meeting room, the high-ranking members of Iwagakure were speechless upon hearing the old man's words, but no one dared to refute him, after all, this was their Third Tsuchikage, Onoki.

A young boy distributing documents to the higher-ups asked, puzzled, "Father, why are you so happy that we Iwa ninja are fighting Konoha? Do you think we're guaranteed to win this battle?"

"Victory? No, no, no. We are doomed to defeat! I've even prepared an apology letter."

Onoki shook his head excitedly and stood up from his seat. Although he was about the same height as the other seated people and did not look like a Tsuchikage at all, no one dared to underestimate him.

After all, this was a powerful ninja who fought and survived against that legendary ninja.

"Click~"

However, when Onoki turned to take something out of his ninja tool pouch at his back, he twisted his back. Clutching his waist in pain, he called out to his son:

"Akatsuchi! Akatsuchi! Come here and help me get the letter out."

Akatsuchi reluctantly ran to his father's side, took out a crumpled letter from his ninja tool pouch, and Onoki, clutching his lower back with one hand and holding onto the back of his chair with the other, addressed the higher-ups in the conference room:

"Take a look at the contents of this letter. I've studied it for a long time. If you think it's okay, we'll send it out according to its contents."

At this moment, the letter began to be circulated, and Akatsuchi, who was the messenger boy, also saw the contents of the letter.

The gist is that the Land of Earth discovered the war between the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire. In order to prevent further war, the Land of Earth sent out some ninjas to investigate. Due to geographical limitations, and the fact that the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire had turned their attention to the Land of Rain, the Land of Earth could only investigate the war by passing through the Land of Rain.

However, after entering the Land of Rain, they encountered Konoha ninjas who were maliciously lurking there, and were forced into battle. The Land of Earth acknowledged the facts of "borrowing passage" and "fighting" within the Land of Rain and sincerely apologized.

They also pledged that all ninjas from the Land of Earth would withdraw from the Land of Rain's borders, and that no ninjas would be sent into the Land of Rain until a new diplomatic agreement was signed between the two sides.

At first, Akatsuchi seemed a bit confused, but when he saw the higher-ups all gasping in shock, he pondered for a moment, and then...

"Hiss~"

Akatsuki also gasped and began to read the contents of the letter in his hand again. After reading it carefully for a long time, he finally saw the words between the lines: throughout the entire apology letter, the two words "passing the buck" were written everywhere!

Why would our Hidden Stone Village send people to get involved in this? It's all Konoha's fault! Who told Konoha to start the war against the Hidden Sand Village?

Why did our Hidden Stone Village send people into the Land of Rain? It was Konoha's fault! Who told Konoha to drag the battlefield into the Land of Rain?

Why is our Iwagakure village fighting in the Land of Rain? It's Konoha's fault! Who told Konoha's ninjas to attack our Iwagakure ninjas?

We, the Hidden Stone Village, have admitted our mistake and know we will not repeat it. If the Land of Rain is still not satisfied, go and settle accounts with the Hidden Leaf Village. They are the real culprits!

Akatsuchi's gaze toward his father became strange, because the Iwa ninja's operation had been planned for half a year, meaning that his father had completely calculated Konoha's reaction and countermeasures.

Six months ago, Akatsuchi heard his father suddenly announce that he would send ninjas across the Land of Rain to the Land of Rivers to investigate. It was those Iwa ninjas who participated in the investigation that provoked Konoha's counter-investigation.

Akatsuchi could guess how his father would respond if Konoha brought this matter to the forefront.

That requires evidence. If Konoha has no evidence, then it's a baseless accusation. Even if Konoha has evidence, the Iwa ninja were arrested while investigating the war, but they were arrested in the Land of Rivers. What evidence is there to prove that they ever came from the Land of Rain?

Having figured all this out, Akatsuki suddenly shuddered. He suddenly felt that his father's actions were somewhat lacking in the Will of Stone.

Throughout this whole affair, Iwagakure has maintained one stance: although I did something wrong, the fault does not lie with me!

If even a teenager like Akatsuchi could understand this, the high-ranking members of Iwagakure sitting in the conference room could naturally see it too. At this moment, their gazes toward the Tsuchikage were even more reverent.

The old man, with one hand on his waist and the other on the chair, exuded the air of a profound and dignified master.

Having understood the reason behind the Tsuchikage's recent strange behavior, they naturally had no objections, and besides, objections would be useless; Onoki could completely turn Iwagakure into his own personal fiefdom.

"Lord Tsuchikage, when should we send out this letter of apology?"

A high-ranking officer asked, but Onoki, who had already returned to his seat, replied, "Wait, wait for Hanzo to come out and stop the fight. Then we'll stop, and immediately apologize and send an apology letter!"

Meanwhile, in the Land of Rain, the Konoha and Iwagakure ninjas who were fighting were surrounded by another ninja force. They all sensed the unusual atmosphere and began to hold back in their battle.

"boom!"

Just then, a figure broke through the rainforest barrier and arrived in the center of the arena. He was alone, facing thousands of ninjas from other countries. Hanzo, the leader of the Rain Country ninjas, roared in a low voice:

"Stop right there, all of you!"

As soon as the words were spoken, both the Iwa ninja and the Konoha ninja in charge quickly issued orders for their respective ninjas to stop fighting. Before Hanzo could react, an Iwa ninja shouted:

"Lord Hanzo! Our Iwagakure village is withdrawing from this unnecessary battle! We had no intention of fighting to begin with, but were forced into it! This is a letter personally written by our Tsuchikage; please take a look!"

"Ding~"

While everyone else, including Hanzo himself, was somewhat bewildered, a system announcement suddenly came from Tatsuma's mind. He paid attention to it and a look of surprise appeared on his face.

New stock has arrived in the system!

(End of this chapter)