Konoha: Who's the good guy?

Not long after everyone entered the conference room.

Wearing the Hokage's robes, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, walked into the conference room with a solemn expression.

He glanced around at the two advisors and the Hokage's assistant seated on either side of the main seat.

He silently counted the remaining department heads and core Jonin.

Most of the people had already arrived.

He immediately walked to the head seat and sat down, speaking to everyone with a serious expression.

"Gentlemen, war is coming!"

The Konoha high-ranking officials and department heads present had anticipated the situation in the ninja world and were not surprised by what they heard.

However, everyone's expression, like that of the Third Generation, became solemn.

Nobody likes war.

Once war breaks out, their relatives, friends, and children could all lose their lives due to being drawn into the war.

Who would want to see something like this?

"According to intelligence, Kumogakure has dispatched two thousand elite ninjas to wage a full-scale war against Kirigakure within the Land of the Sea. Kirigakure also has more than two thousand ninjas participating in the battle. The Land of the Sea has a unique environment..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi began by recounting the battle between Kumogakure and Kirigakure.

Both ninja village operations were extremely swift, taking less than twenty days from material preparation to direct combat.

Even if this war was secretly instigated by Konoha.

They had the advantage of being prescient, but the speed at which the war was launched clearly showed that both sides had actually been secretly preparing for the war for a long time!

More importantly...

Two thousand ninja soldiers may seem like a lot, but for both sides, this is far from the real fight!

Unlike Kirigakure, which always pursues secrecy and keeps its intelligence extremely secret, Hiruzen Sarutobi is very familiar with the development of Kumogakure over the years.

They still have a large number of available combat forces that have not been deployed to the battlefield. What are they planning to do?

To guard against surprise attacks from other ninja villages?

Or is there another plan?

The Hidden Mist Village has very little information, but they are clearly also plotting something else.

Otherwise, why would they have attacked Hanzo the Salamander from Amegakure?

"Sunagakure has currently suspended all mission assignments, and a large amount of war supplies have been mobilized. All ninjas are on standby within the village..."

"While there doesn't seem to be any large-scale movement in Iwagakure, intelligence indicates they've recently taken on many more escort missions for merchant caravans. The intelligence department suspects they might be secretly transporting supplies to the border..."

"News has just arrived from the Land of Rain that Hanzo, the Salamander of Amegakure, was assassinated by the Hidden Mist Anbu. Amegakure is now in turmoil, with Hanzo's subordinates vying for control of the village. Meanwhile, the Daimyo of the Land of Rain is preparing to seek refuge in the Daimyo's mansion in the Land of Fire."

After recounting all the information in one breath, Hiruzen Sarutobi first looked at his three old buddies.

"Did the assassination of Hanzo the Salamander remove the last line of defense for the Land of Rain, which borders the three great nations, and put us, Iwagakure, and Sunagakure in a state of high tension? Kirigakure?"

Danzo, played by White Zetsu, spoke in a sinister tone at the prompting of Yamanaka Kei.

Instead of completely pinning the blame on Kirigakure, they subtly hinted that Kumogakure was also a suspect.

This perfectly showcases Danzo's suspicious nature.

In any case, the summoning beasts of the Salamander clan have remained unknown to anyone, thanks to the protection of the Root ninjas.

This is a problem that can be shifted however one wants.

"Regardless of whether it was Kirigakure's doing or not, Sunagakure's progress has been stalled, and the main focus should be on guarding against Iwagakure!"

Xiaochun, who was turning over to her room, then spoke up.

Previously, Sunagakure and Kirigakure were locked in a fierce battle.

Logically speaking, if Kirigakure and Kumogakure go to war, and the Sunagakure leadership still harbors resentment over past events, they would definitely launch a direct attack on Kirigakure from the sea.

But now that Hanzo of Amegakure has been suddenly attacked and killed, even if Sunagakure acts impulsively, they still have to consider whether Iwagakure and Konoha will stab them in the back.

"Let's send an envoy to negotiate with Onoki and delay his progress."

Mitokado Yan pondered for a long time before offering his suggestion.

Iwagakure is also the leader of the martial arts faction.

Moreover, intelligence indicates that Iwagakure's finances are facing serious problems.

In the current chaotic situation, launching a war is the fastest way to shift the financial burden.

If war is unavoidable.

By using negotiations as a pretext to gather intelligence and delay the other side, Konoha might have more time to prepare.

"Unrealistic."

Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head.

He could already foresee that Iwagakure would lose patience and launch the war first.

Moreover, the target they're going to attack is definitely Konoha!

after all......

Sunagakure is too poor!

Sending a high-ranking Konoha official to negotiate at a time like this would be like sending intelligence to the other side.

Yamanaka Kei sat in the middle of the conference table, subtly giving Nara Shikaku and the others a look, and incidentally mentioning the Uchiha clan as well.

Danzo, played by White Zetsu, along with several militants inclined to initiate conflict, began to exert their influence during the meeting.

The meeting, which had initially made little progress over the course of half a day, began to move forward significantly.

After a heated argument between Danzo and Hiruzen Sarutobi, the main theme of this high-level meeting was basically set according to Yamanaka Kei's ideas.

We won't be the first to strike, but we'll retaliate swiftly against anyone who dares to make a move!

"We have already consolidated the logistical supplies once, and we will immediately allocate a portion to begin transporting them to the front lines."

"Nara Shikaku, Mimura Yomaki, start drafting the personnel list. The advance team... one thousand people."

"A thousand men? Hiruzen, unless you personally go to the front lines to oversee things, who can you possibly intimidate?"

"A thousand men is a statement, showing that we are not afraid of war, but if I go there in person, what will the other ninja villages think? They will probably have no choice but to fight."

"Ha~ I only see weakness."

"Danzo, you're going to extremes!"

The argument continued.

The high-level meeting, which lasted for several hours, finally came to a close close to midnight.

After Hiruzen Sarutobi inquired about the situation of various departments and ninja clans, orders began to be issued one after another.

A ninja force of a thousand is indeed not many.

But this is not a declaration of war; it's merely a demonstration of their stance to the surrounding ninja villages.

Troops were stationed on the border of the Land of Fire.

With Jiraiya, one of the Legendary Sannin, leading the team, along with elites drawn from various ninja clans, they could temporarily hold off the enemy's offensive even if they were ambushed.

At that time, Konoha, with its abundant war reserves, will be able to leave behind sufficient reserve forces.

A large force of more than 3,000 people was quickly dispatched to provide support.

Even if Sunagakure tries to take advantage of the situation, Konoha is not afraid of fighting on two fronts.

only......

A two-front war?

As Yamanaka Kei walked out of the conference room, he slightly pursed his lips.

During the Third Shinobi World War, Konoha fought against every other ninja village one by one. It would be good enough if they didn't have to fight on four fronts at the same time.

Fighting on two fronts? What a load of rubbish!

"But... it's the third generation..."

Out of the corner of his eye, Yamanaka Kei subtly glanced at the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Although he didn't completely transform into that kind of overly cautious, stability-obsessed old man like he did more than ten years later, when the original story began.

But I'm getting old after all!

Whether intentionally or unintentionally, they have already begun to suppress those ninja clans and powerful family ninjas who want to rise to prominence.

Let's give this guy a dignified exit.

A glimpse of a village.

How can someone live to be 69 and be killed by their own disciple?

It's so embarrassing to tell anyone!

Swish~!

A Root ninja appeared beside Yamanaka Kei using the Body Flicker Technique.

He bent down and handed over the intelligence scroll in his hand.

"Your favorite treatment is cupping?"

When Shan Zhongjing looked at the four large characters on the scroll cover, his mind went blank for a moment.

It was only then that I realized where this intelligence came from.