Traveling through three generations: Making Konoha great again!

Hidden Mist Village.

Nakamaro stood loyally before the Third Mizukage, his expression neither sad nor happy.

He was like a tool, waiting for the user's command; the direction the Third Mizukage pointed was the target of his battle.

Master Yuan pondered for a moment before saying, "Given the current situation in the village, launching a war, as you suggested, is indeed a good option..."

"The training of ninjas in the Village of Blood Mist has achieved its intended effect. As you know, the Ninja Academy caused a minor incident this year, and the public outcry hasn't subsided yet..."

This refers to Zabuza's creation of a major incident in order to rebel against the Blood Mist Village of Kirigakure.

During the practical assessment, he not only killed many of his peers, but also offended some examiners, and refused to apologize.

Zabuza's actions shocked many Hidden Mist ninja.

The nerves, which had gradually become numb under high pressure, were stimulated and became active again, making it increasingly difficult to endure the Blood Mist.

No one agrees with Zabuza's extreme views.

However, most of the Hidden Mist ninja saw the true extent of the village's corruption through this forced madness.

Is this still a village?

This is a gladiatorial arena devoid of humanity!

If things continue like this, going back to the Warring States period might be considered progress...

The tragedy that arose in the Village of Blood Mist, coupled with the fact that Ah-Huo and Black Zetsu broke the prisoner's dilemma where everyone was in danger, caused the voices against the Third Mizukage to expand rapidly in an instant!

The Third Mizukage, panting heavily, silently murmured the name Zabuza.

"These ninjas don't understand anything!"

"I'm doing this for the good of Kirigakure, so why are they opposing me?"

"Only war... only war can make the Hidden Mist ninjas understand that the Blood Mist Village has made them far ahead of the rest of the ninja world in terms of combat power. I will lead them to seize the most fertile resources!"

"That way, they'll understand my good intentions and know that I'm right!"

Master Yuan nodded: "Is that so, Lord Mizukage..."

In fact, even Master Gendo believed that the Third Mizukage had gone too far.

However, he remained steadfast in his belief that "whoever becomes Mizukage, I will support," and thus never made a statement.

From the perspective of the master, Konoha was already so weak that it couldn't even control the lower-level ninjas, making it even weaker than the ninja clans of the Warring States period... Even if it was lucky enough to obtain some aerial ninja technology, such as the integrated sea and air cruiser, it was completely useless.

Yuan Shi, a master from the Warring States period, understood a principle.

If a group cannot unite as one, no matter how abundant its resources may seem, its strength will be reduced to less than one-tenth when a fight breaks out!

"Konoha may appear to have become stronger on the surface, but the arrogance of its ninjas and the advanced equipment require an extremely high degree of organization and obedience to translate into real military strength on the battlefield..."

Master Yuan squinted and analyzed:

"These arrogant and fierce soldiers who refused to submit to Hiruzen Sarutobi would fight individually on the battlefield, and even exploit the backdrop of war to eliminate each other, thus revealing numerous weaknesses..."

"It can be said that the stronger Konoha is, the weaker Konoha becomes!"

"Lord Mizukage, congratulations on leading Kirigakure to victory in the war!" Genji said decisively, his tone extremely certain. Nakamaro, standing to the side, maintained his composure, but inwardly nodded slightly.

In fact, Master Yuan's logic was not wrong.

Whether it's the Uchiha clan, Kaguya, or any other ninja clan that produces multiple powerful ninjas, similar situations have occurred. And the Hidden Village can also be roughly viewed as a large ninja clan.

The so-called "death by strength".

"Master Yuan is indeed not a fool; he has some real skills. No wonder he was able to serve as the strategist for three Mizukage."

"But unfortunately, the logic is correct, but the starting point is wrong..." Nakamaro said with a tense expression. He wanted to laugh when he thought of the Hokage's lofty prestige in Konoha.

What kind of heroic figure was Uncle Tianzang?

Sitting in the Hyuga main family compound without ever leaving the house, one can observe all the major and minor events in the ninja world.

The three brilliant strategies left to him were only slightly modified by Nakamaro, who quickly rose to a high position in Kirigakure and became the Third Mizukage's most trusted confidant.

Even such a hero as Hyuga Tenzo never showed any disloyalty towards Hiruzen Sarutobi, and when teaching Nakamaro, he held the Hokage in high esteem. Nakamaro was no fool either; he could discern whether Tenzo was truly sincere.

After returning to Kirigakure, he focused on building his own small group while studying various cultural knowledge to analyze Konoha.

It was discovered that the Hyuga main family and branch family were deeply intertwined with Konoha, forming a delicate and solid balance...

Starting with Hyuga Hizashi, then moving on to the Konoha committee system, joining the Anbu, the main clan diplomacy, and the complete reform of the next generation of the Hyuga clan... it can be said that through this series of operations, Nakamaro seemed to see Hiruzen Sarutobi himself sitting opposite Tenzo with a smile, gradually infiltrating the Hyuga with the power of the Hokage and imbuing it with the color of the Will of Fire.

It was as if they pacified the Hyuga clan while enjoying tea and cigarettes...

Most importantly, both sides were happy.

The Hyuga main family lost its so-called status, but gained the advantage of a lucrative diplomatic position and eliminated the resentment that had accumulated over a thousand years in the branch family.

Needless to say, the Hyuga branching out was a move that won over many people, and releasing the Caged Bird Seal was the most popular action.

When Nakamaro thought of this, he was filled with emotion.

Throughout the ninja world, cooperation is already rare, and examples of both parties benefiting are even rarer.

But ironically, all the cases involving the Hokage are like this…

"Nakamaro, what do you think?"

The Third Mizukage was very satisfied with the Master's opinion.

He was like a drowning person, clinging to a straw as if it were a life raft.

Moreover, Master Yuan's analysis was not without basis; it was indeed a wise and experienced strategy for governing the country.

"Master Yuan's analysis is truly insightful. I am still just a young man, and I feel that the gap between myself and experienced elders like you is simply too vast..."

"As you know, our Kaguya clan has never been good at 'strategy,' although I've tried my best to make up for it and keep up with your pace..."

Nakamaro smiled somewhat naively: "But I still can't do it, so I thought I'd just follow your orders, that way it'll be more efficient." The Third Mizukage smiled for the first time in a long time.

"Don't belittle yourself like that!"

"The Kaguya clan, when it comes to intellect, well, how should I put it..." The Third Mizukage thought for a moment, but couldn't help but laugh. This was a classic Kirigakure joke:

"It certainly has a great reputation, but you're different!"

Even Master Yuan smiled. The Kaguya clan's intellect has been tested over a thousand years, and it's already remarkable that they can produce someone as obedient as Nakamaro.

They're not from the Hyuga clan, so what kind of smart people do you expect them to produce?

It's not that cooperating with the Hyuga clan for a long time will make the Kaguya clan smarter; history has proven that...

However, what Master Yuan didn't know was...

In the past, the cooperation between Hyuga and Kaguya also had its limits, but Nakamaro received Uchiha mind correction, Konoha's comprehensive influence, and Tenzo's complete teachings...

"I have high hopes for you, kid. Follow me and learn from me!"

The Third Mizukage nodded in satisfaction.

Nakamaro's heart skipped a beat; this was actually an implication that he should be the successor...

However, Nakamaro simply nodded honestly without saying another word.

The Third Mizukage and Genji exchanged a glance, then burst into laughter, shaking their heads in a gesture of reminiscence.

Can't you understand what I'm saying?

They're so adorably silly...

"Master, immediately inform all the village ninjas that it's time to verify the results of the Blood Mist Village!"

The Third Mizukage smiled and glanced at Nakamaro, then said seriously:

"Send messengers to Iwagakure, Sunagakure, and Kumogakure! Tell them Kirigakure is coming to Konoha for a meat feast; those who want soup can follow us!"

"This time, to show our sincerity, we will launch a surprise attack on Konoha from the coast, with our entire army deployed!"

"Make them understand this: even if they want to fight amongst themselves after they've each gotten their share, they need to hold their nerve and destroy Konoha first. Don't be like in the First Shinobi World War, where they retreat at the first sign of trouble and then start fighting each other!"

The Third Mizukage, a veteran of the ninja world, once served as the bodyguard of the First Mizukage.

Having spanned the Warring States period and two complete Shinobi World Wars…

The Third Mizukage still vividly remembered the collapse of the alliance of the four hidden villages during the First Shinobi World War.

Even though the Third Mizukage still remembers Tobirama Senju's tactics, Konoha at that time, without Hashirama and Madara, still had exceptionally talented individuals among the other four great hidden villages...

We can win if we unite!

However, it is indeed unlikely that they can unite as one.

Konoha is indeed a place to be wary of.

However, the hatred between the various hidden villages is no joke, and there is a natural chain of suspicion between them.

But it doesn't mean we should fall into complete chaos when we encounter difficulties, does it?

The Third Mizukage sighed. In reality, it was difficult enough to establish a cohesive organization within one's own village, let alone form a stable alliance with several other villages.

"Konoha's Will of Fire is actually somewhat useful in this regard..."

The Third Mizukage snorted coldly:

"If it weren't for the reputation of the God of Shinobi, Hiruzen Sarutobi's foolish kindness, and if Konoha were a bit stronger, it might actually have become a point of conflict, bringing the other four great hidden villages together."

But now, in order to mobilize the other four hidden villages, the Third Mizukage can only lead Kirigakure to be the first to charge forward.

Although this would certainly draw the brunt of Konoha's attacks, it's a potentially costly endeavor that only generates buzz.

But now, even the Third Mizukage can't do anything about it.

If this drags on any longer, internal strife may break out in Kirigakure!

Master Yuan nodded: "There are always two sides to everything. The Will of Fire has emboldened the lower-ranking ninjas, but it has also made other hidden villages feel that Konoha is not a big threat..."

"No need to worry, Lord Mizukage. As long as we land in the Land of Fire, they will definitely follow suit. Our sincerity this time is unprecedented in the ninja world."

The Third Mizukage nodded.

After all, Hiruzen Sarutobi was using the "Hashirama" name, not the "Madara" name...

Thinking about this, the Third Mizukage felt a little regretful.

How did the Asura of the Ninja World lose the battle at the Valley of the End?

It would be fantastic if I were seriously injured after defeating the God of Ninjas…

Nakamaro blinked but didn't say anything.

He had seen Hiruzen Sarutobi demonstrate Ice Release at the Ninja Academy...

Such power is probably difficult for even the strongest member of the Ice Release clan to replicate...

"I wonder if the Hokage's strength has improved in the two or three years since I left Konoha?"

"Like a ninja world demon? That's impossible. I've never heard Uncle Tenzo mention it..." Thinking of this, Nakamaro felt a pang of nostalgia for his days in Konoha.

Even though he held a high position of power in the Hidden Mist, he still walked on thin ice with every step he took. One wrong move could attract suspicion and doubt, and he could hardly get a good night's sleep.

During his stay with the Uchiha clan, Nakamaro slept soundly every night, as if the air itself was sweet.

In an extremely unstable environment like Kirigakure, let alone Nakamaro, even the Genji and the Third Mizukage would find it difficult to have a good night's sleep. Everyone was wary of each other, and tension was transmitted from the bottom up, constantly clashing with one another.

"Go, and inform the village ninjas of my decision!"

The Third Mizukage waved his hand, stretching his limbs.

A fierce glint flashed in his eyes; compared to the shadows of other hidden villages, he had a hidden trump card.

He can communicate with the Three-Tails!

Through a special technique, one can obtain chakra from the Three-Tails even without becoming a Jinchūriki…

With the combined strength of a Kage and the assistance of a Tailed Beast, the Third Mizukage was confident that he was invincible near water...

"If only I could have controlled the Three-Tails back then..."

"That madman could never beat me! I really want to dig him out of his grave and fight him again..." the Third Mizukage muttered to himself. Even after so many years, he still couldn't forget the humiliation of losing to Hozuki Gengetsu.

#

The fog obscures the view.

Ministry of the Interior.

A secluded room.

Nakamaro, Yuki, and Kisame gathered together.

The three Konoha exchange students had already established a certain foundation in Kirigakure. Leveraging Nakamaro's position, they exploited loopholes in the Blood Mist Village and built a vibrant underground group.

"The Third Mizukage is finally going to declare war on Konoha!"

Nakamaro said with a serious expression:

"You two and the brothers have made sure they stay back when they encounter Konoha ninja. I'll assign you some avoidance missions. If your hands get stained with blood, it'll be troublesome later..."

"Tell them this is for their own good. You and I both know the quality of Konoha ninjas; their training intensity and organization are unmatched by Kirigakure ninjas."

"Moreover, Kirigakure and Konoha are currently on friendly cooperative terms. If they suddenly break their promise, Konoha's anger is foreseeable. It would be terrible if they got too close and killed our people."

"We came to the ninja world to live, not to be cannon fodder for that idiot Kirigori!"

Kisame and Yuki nodded naturally: "We understand!"

During their time in Kirigakure, they all established that Nakamaro was the mastermind behind their group…

They are indeed clever and resourceful!

Kisame even asked Nakamaro, "Brother, I am a half-merman, I don't mean any offense, but I'd like to ask if you are a half-merman of Kaguya?" Nakamaro laughed when he heard this.

"Mei Terumi's side..."

Nakamaro pondered for a moment: "Kisame, go and give her a subtle hint, let her understand what we mean. After all, we studied together in Konoha, so it can be considered as fulfilling our friendship."

Mei Terumi, due to her family's status, was also dissatisfied with the Blood Mist Village.

However, his rebellious spirit wasn't as strong as that of Nakamaro and others, so he wasn't brought into the inner circle.

The cooperation between Nakamaro and her was tacit; neither of them explicitly stated their attitude towards Konoha.

"The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, Yagura Karatachi, Genshi, and the Three-Tails will all be mobilized this time..."

"Let them hold the line. We'll preserve our forces and wait for Uncle Tianzang and me to make contact. Then, await my orders." Kisame nodded, deep in thought.

"This shouldn't be difficult. The village is now divided into various factions. Even if we deliberately avoid war, there will be conflicts between the orders of each faction if a real war breaks out. The Konoha that Master Yuan analyzed is actually more like the true situation of Kirigakure."

Once a battle breaks out, the low level of organization in the Mist Shadow faction will disrupt the battlefield's orders, making it easy for them to blend in with the enemy.

Especially since the supervisory team was under the command of Nakamaro.

"The situation on the battlefield can change in an instant, but this time we'll try our best to kill the Third Mizukage, and preferably take down that troublesome old man, Genji, too, so that no one from Kirigakure can stop us..."

Kisame said in a deep voice. He had been deeply hurt by the Blood Mist Village and was beginning to show signs of turning to the dark side.

Managing Fog Shadows alongside these insects? You'll never have a good life in your next life!

Yuki added, "If we have the chance, we'll also take down Suigetsu Hozuki, Jinpachi Murashi, and Kushimaru Kurihara. Those three are mentally unstable; they're obsessed with killing..."

A flash of anger crossed Kisame's eyes.

The ruthless duo are extremely cruel even to their own ninjas, and Suigetsu Hozuki is someone who only knows how to fawn over the Third Mizukage... "I will find a chance to kill them!! It's a disgrace to our reputation to have Samehada and the other two ninja swords in their hands."

Nakamaro nodded and solemnly said:

"Comrades, let's end the Blood Mist Village together!"

Kisame and Yuki exchanged a glance, then extended their hands to Nakamaro, their three hands pressing heavily together.

"For peace and for Kirigakure!"

This is their group's slogan.

Nakamaro took a deep breath and silently vowed, "To become a member of the Konoha committee as soon as possible!"

#

a few days later.

The envoys from Kirigakure arrived at various villages, bringing with them the sincerity of the Third Mizukage being the first to send troops.

Hidden Rock Village.

A few days ago, after returning to the village, Lao Zi handed over information about Amegakure and Konoha to Onoki, and also brought a copy of Jiraiya's masterpiece, "Saving the Eighth Jonin".

After reading the intelligence, Onoki felt a great sense of urgency. He hadn't expected that even Amegakure would be equipped with aerial ninja technology...

That means the Konoha ninjas must have had better equipment.

For both Iwagakure and the Land of Earth, aerial power is something they both covet and fear.

Because the Land of Earth is mostly barren deserts and mountains, its natural environment is only slightly better than that of the Sand Village, resulting in very underdeveloped transportation. If they could acquire a large amount of air power...

This means that most of the problems in the Land of Earth's transportation industry can be solved, but if the enemy gains control of it, it also means that the strategic significance of the natural defenses brought by the terrain will be largely lost.

After reading Jiraiya's book, Ōnoki angrily denounced Hiruzen Sarutobi's cunning: "To actually try this kind of propaganda, they're playing the Will of Fire card!"

"Why is a ninjutsu professor using genjutsu instead of researching the Five Elements?!"

"And you call yourself a kind person! Is this how he's supposed to use the Will of Fire left behind by the God of Ninjas?"

Despite his complaints, Onoki still read it several times. As he calculated the economic benefits that the "Holy Land Pill" could bring, his expression grew increasingly grim... There might be a 50% chance that it was true!

That would be terrifying...

Therefore, Onoki immediately consulted with the daimyo and ordered that it be listed as a forbidden book throughout the Land of Earth, strictly prohibiting its sale and circulation within the country, with violators to be severely punished.

The arrival of the Hidden Mist Messenger greatly excited Onoki.

At this moment, the Third Tsuchikage initiated a meeting of all the village's high-ranking officials, looking around at everyone: "What do you all think?"

Old Purple, Han, Yellow Earth, and the others exchanged glances. Before they could speak, Onoki continued on his own:

"Konoha, we have no choice but to fight!"

"If Hiruzen Sarutobi continues like this, Konoha will likely make even greater progress. If this drags on for a few more years, Iwagakure will fall further and further behind. Now is the best time to start a war!"

"For the benefit of Iwagakure, we must initiate a 'preventive war,' even if we cannot profit from it, to halt Konoha's chaotic development..."

Onoki's eyes were fierce.

So-called preventative warfare is a war initiated proactively to avoid falling into a greater passive position in the future, when one side anticipates a predictable increase in the strength of the opponent and has not yet found a way to grow rapidly.

This is a classic product of geopolitics.

If Hiruzen Sarutobi knew what Onoki was thinking, he would tell him that it was called the "Thucydides Trap".

When a rising power rapidly impacts established interests and balances, other powers can easily fall into deep suspicion and misunderstanding, and this growing fear is very likely to ignite war.

Especially since Hiruzen Sarutobi used a two-pronged approach...

Not only did they target the hidden villages, but they also planted a major time bomb among the nobles of various countries.

The resources of the Land of Earth and the money of the nobles have been manageable in recent years, but they will definitely flow to Konoha in the future!

That would mean that Iwagakure was already severely weakened before the fighting even began.

Then what's the point of fighting?

Only after reviewing the situation today did Onoki realize how vicious Hiruzen Sarutobi's plan was!

"You're asking us questions, but you won't let us speak. What's the point of asking?"

Old Purple said with great dissatisfaction, "You, the Tsuchikage, have been trying to run the show for a long time. Stop pretending to listen to others' opinions!"

"If you want to attack Konoha, give the order. If not, adjourn the meeting. I don't have time to waste here..."

As war approached, Lao Zi became even more emboldened.

If you're so capable, use Dust Release to blast him to death?

To be fair, I think Onoki did a pretty good job as the Tsuchikage.

The Land of Earth, with its limited resources, has produced the largest ninja population, and it is generally fair in handling matters.

However, he was too autocratic. Even though he was a Jinchuriki with value in uniting people and could control the power of a Tailed Beast, he was still bossed around and not respected enough.

And this was not something Onoki intentionally wanted to do.

The scarcity of resources forced him to treat high-end combat forces equally or even deliberately suppress them.

This was done to give other ninjas a sense of psychological satisfaction, as a way to graft the cost of domination onto them.

The high cost of maintaining stability, which should have been borne by the village's finances, was instead borne by a very small number of ninjas in order to maintain the obedience of the vast majority of Iwagakure ninjas. "Old Purple, I hope your temper is the same on the battlefield."

Onoki narrowed his eyes, suppressing his anger: "If Kirigakure really goes to war as they say, then Iwagakure must follow suit..."

"This time, we must find a way to obtain Konoha's aerial ninja technology, and we must also break up the alliance between Amegakure and Konoha. A Hokage like Hiruzen Sarutobi controlling a central hub is too dangerous..."

"Pass on my order: all ninjas, immediately enter battle readiness!"

"Send messengers to Kirigakure and Sunagakure..."

Onoki thought to himself, "Tell the Third Mizukage that if he attacks Konoha, Iwagakure will definitely lend a hand!"

"Those hyenas from Sunagakure won't stay quiet either. The Daimyo of the Land of Wind and the geographical environment aren't giving them many more opportunities. If they keep going like this, they'll eventually fall out of the ranks of the Five Great Hidden Villages..."

Huang Tu raised his hand: "Lord Tsuchikage, what about Kumogakure?"

"Hmph, no need to tell that barbarian..."

Onoki waved his hand: "I originally wanted to talk to him, but given that guy's shrewdness, he'll surely understand the necessity of containing Konoha..."

"As for talking to him about maintaining the stability of the alliance in the early stages, it's pointless. The Hidden Cloud Village has always been quick to change its mind, so the Hidden Mist Village's envoy going is the same as ours going."

Huang Tu nodded thoughtfully.

He always felt that although his father and the Third Raikage were always cursing each other...

However, when faced with a problem, their thinking always unexpectedly aligns.

Old Purple listened silently to Onoki's orders, then sighed softly, "I actually wanted to find a chance to visit Konoha in the book, but it seems that opportunity is now lost..."

"If you don't want to fight, then why participate in the war?" the four-tailed beast inside him asked, puzzled.

"I am, after all, a ninja from Iwagakure. Although I despise Onoki, I love the Land of Earth."

Old Zi shook his head: "My life has been unlucky, so this is all I can do. I hope to be born in a peaceful world and become a free monk."

Four-tailed Fox was taken aback.

These ideas of Old Purple are precisely why the Four-Tails is willing to cooperate with him.

This is not a bloodthirsty person...

"The old man, once a monk, wanted to create a peaceful world..."

"What a pity, you failed..."

"Do you even know if you're still alive? Even if you are, you're probably sleeping there..."

Four-tailed monkeys lowered their heads, their feelings complicated.

#

Hidden Cloud Village.

The Third Raikage gave a speech similar to that of Onoki.

The gist is that Konoha cannot be allowed to continue to develop. This time, with Kirigakure taking the lead, there's no reason not to follow suit.

"Rob!"

"The technology of the Sky Ninja, the bloodline limit and secret techniques of Konoha..."

"Not just Konoha's, but once the chaos begins, we must seize the resources of other hidden villages as quickly as possible..." The Third Raikage crossed his arms, his arm muscles bulging.

"We must realize that we have already fallen behind Konoha!"

"We didn't interrupt them before because if we rushed in, it would only let that shorty Onoki and the other hidden villages reap the rewards. Now that Kirigakure is willing to be the stepping stone, we can't miss this opportunity..."

"Since we've fallen behind, the fastest way to catch up is to seize the opportunity."

"But don't worry, everyone, I, the fourth generation A, Killer Bee, and I will stand at the very front of you..."

The Third Raikage said in a deep voice, "Just follow me!"

The Yun Ninja below erupted in thunderous applause, offering no objection whatsoever.

Compared to Iwagakure, the Third Raikage, with his superior resources and more outward charisma, transformed Kumogakure into a formidable village with an organizational structure second only to Konoha.

"Gentlemen, but you must also remember that whether it's Kirigakure, Iwagakure, or Sunagakure, if Konoha withstands the first wave of pressure, there's a good chance that some of the hidden villages will launch a surprise attack on their allies to recover their losses..."

Tsuchi added to the Third Raikage, "There is no such thing as true allies between villages, especially among the Five Great Hidden Villages!" The Third Raikage nodded; Tsuchi's words were exactly what he wanted to say.

If Konoha is exceptionally strong, it will not give Kumogakure any opportunity to profit.

Then the Third Raikage would find an opportunity to take a bite out of another village, and then simply turn around and go back to Kumogakure to hide...

Furthermore, the Third Raikage believed that Onoki must think the same way.

#

Sunagakure Village.

"This is Sunagakure's best chance yet!"

Rasa waved his hands wildly, his expression ferocious: "Kirigakure has taken the initiative to jump out! The other three great hidden villages will definitely follow suit. This is our destiny to obtain the fertile land!"

"Third Kazekage, please give the order!"

"I am willing to serve as the vanguard of the village, leading the elite troops to bring glory to Sunagakure!"

The Third Kazekage squinted, a slight upturn at the corners of his mouth.

Compared to Iwagakure and Kumogakure, which were able to reach a consensus with the Daimyo.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's dual offensive against the noble villages has made Sunagakure, whose relationship with the Daimyo of the Land of Wind has never been close, even more difficult in every aspect. The Daimyo's money isn't going to his own people, but instead flowing into Konoha?

This is absolutely outrageous!

Seeing the nobles of the Land of Wind making connections with Konoha through the transaction with Amegakure, the Third Kazekage was so anxious that he wanted to assassinate the Daimyo and replace him with a sensible person!

But he couldn't even do that, because the Hyuga main family, acting as diplomats and salesmen, maintained close ties with the free nobles of the Land of Wind. If the daimyo died under suspicious circumstances, it would definitely be discovered…

If the assassination attempt on the daimyo were exposed, it would be enough to make Sunagakure not only the target of accusations from the other major ninja villages, but also the target of a joint attack from the other four clans... But now things are different...

Once the war begins, even if the Daimyo and nobles of the Land of Wind are still flirting with Konoha, they will have to obediently support Sunagakure in fighting this war. Chiyo nodded slightly upon hearing this; she had always supported attacking Konoha.

She has a blood feud with Konoha. As an elder of the Warring States period, she is naturally wary of Konoha Village, which has the Senju and Uchiha clans.

"But didn't we sign a peace treaty with Konoha?"

Ye Cang frowned and raised his hand to speak.

Upon hearing this, the Sand Village ninja present all looked at her with the eyes of someone looking at an animal…

Has this woman been using all her brainpower for cultivation? How could she ask such a question…

Does anyone really think that the peace treaty of the ninja world is any different from a piece of waste paper?

"I did not mean that…"

Yekura felt a little uncomfortable under his gaze: "What I mean is, if we actively tear up the peace agreement, then regardless of its effectiveness, the anger of the Konoha ninja towards us will only intensify..."

"Konoha's military strength is considerable, as can be seen from both the border skirmishes and the attack on Kusagakure."

"How about we wait and see?"

Yekura carefully chose her words: "If Konoha can't hold out, it's not too late for us to enter the fray..."

"Furthermore, considering the situation in Amegakure, we might consider forming a new alliance with Konoha and Amegakure. That would have many advantages, don't you think?"

Before the Third Kazekage could speak, Rasa exchanged a glance with him, then immediately slammed his fist on the table and roared:

"Ye Cang, if you don't have a brain, don't try to demoralize the troops!"

"Do you think the other three hidden villages are fools? That they'd just sit and watch us reap the rewards? If we do what you suggest, the Sand Village will be caught in a pincer attack the moment they try to intervene!"

Chiyo nodded slightly; that was true.

Being on the fence is a highly skilled job; if you're not careful, you'll end up being the one caught in the middle.

"Cooperate with Konoha? How dare you even say that!"

Luo Sha's eyes were fierce:

"It's Hanzo's business that Amegakure is content with scraps from Konoha and willing to be a gatekeeper! Are you comparing Sunagakure, one of the Five Great Hidden Villages, to such a small, insignificant village?"

"If you can get Konoha to cede territory, then do it!"

Yekura was speechless for a moment after being choked by Rasa.

"I'm telling you, Yekura, don't forget the will of the First Kazekage!"

Rasa quoted historical precedent, saying, "During the first Five Kage Summit, Lord Retsuto and the other four Kage directly demanded land from each other, but they joined forces to refuse!"

"Land has been Lord Retsuto's obsession since the village was founded..."

"Yakura, are you going to betray the will of the First Kazekage?!"

With this serious accusation leveled against him, Ye Cang was clearly frightened and quickly shook his head.

The First Kazekage, Retsuto, was once a formidable figure who kept Tobirama on his toes.

During the first Five Kage Summit, Sunagakure, possessing the One-Tailed Beast, desired Konoha's fertile land instead of purchasing it. Crucially, Retsuto didn't just want to pay for the land; he insisted on having it!

They also want 30% of the funds from other hidden villages to buy tailed beasts, otherwise they will refuse to sign the peace agreement.

Tobirama laughed when he heard this. Did he really think his older brother was an idiot?

Fortunately, the other three First Kage spoke up and told Retsuto that if he kept thinking like that, he'd better be beaten up!

However, the bigger reason might be that they didn't want Madara and Tobirama to use this as an excuse to cause trouble...

But Tobirama remembered Retsuto deeply because of this, and he also remembered Sunagakure. He had warned Hiruzen Sarutobi many times when he was a child that cooperation with this village should never be taken seriously...

"Since no one has any objections..."

The Third Kazekage nodded, but at that moment Sasori lazily spoke:

"I support Yekura!"

Chiyo and Ebizo were both taken aback. Why didn't this grandson consult them before speaking?

Rasa and the Third Kazekage were also surprised; Sasori was never one to speak in meetings…

"I've already said that this is the will of the First Kazekage, do you still want to support Yekura?"

Luo Sha frowned deeply.

"What kind of willpower? Is it just wishful thinking that you could have bought another tailed beast but ended up with nothing?"

Sasori scoffed, "Don't try to intimidate us with your reputation for fierce fighting. Sunagakure was able to develop because of the puppetry techniques developed by the Second Kazekage, Lord Shamon, to make up for the village's lack of resources..."

"When it comes to puppetry, I am the strongest in Sunagakure, and none of you are..."

"The sand manipulation technique that you are good at was also invented by Lord Shamon, only it was combined with Magnet Release."

"I'd like to ask you, have you inherited the will of the Second Kazekage? Instead of always thinking about starting wars, why not try to consolidate existing resources first? Did Sunagakure benefit from the Second Shinobi World War?"

"My parents were willing to die fighting for Sunagakure, but they cannot be killed by foolish decisions!"

Luo Sha's expression froze.

How did this scorpion, who usually appears as an autistic teenager, suddenly become so sharp-tongued?

Will they still use the same move of the Second Kazekage against the First Kazekage?

Scorpion smiled inwardly, marveling at the many talented individuals under Tobirama's command.

This kind of rhetoric was certainly not what he had in mind.

It was Ah-Huo and the other "Six Kage" who came up with this for him when they had nothing else to do; these guys were very knowledgeable about all the gossip in the ninja world.

Anyway, stirring up internal strife in Sunagakure has nothing to do with them...

Chiyo blinked hard, but didn't say anything.

For her, the most important thing was that her grandson could participate in the politics of Sunagakure and not be so withdrawn; everything else could be sacrificed for this.

As for going against the Third Kazekage, Chiyo didn't care.

Moreover, what Scorpion said wasn't entirely unreasonable...

In terms of seniority and background, Elders Chiyo and Ebizo are no less than the Third Kazekage!

"Let me make this clear from the start: I'm willing to participate in any war you decide to start, but I don't believe that Rasa and Kazekage, once you've left the desert environment of Sunagakure, will possess any significant fighting power..."

Scorpion shrugged:

"If we lose again this time, I hope to give the village an explanation. I've had enough of letting mediocre people make decisions and not paying the price for their mistakes."

After saying that, Scorpion left the meeting on his own.

"Chiyo, is this what you mean?" the Third Kazekage asked with a dark expression.

"As you know, my grandson has always been a loner, and he became depressed after losing his parents at a young age..."

Chiyo waved her hand, but her eyes remained fixed on him.

"Lord Kazekage, please don't take it to heart. Sasori was just saying it casually; he's probably thinking about his parents who sacrificed themselves for the village." "I'll definitely criticize him when I get back. You should think about how to lead Sunagakure to victory in this war!"

Ye Cang watched this scene and slightly opened his mouth.

Is this what a true battle of wits is all about?

She's practically a genin in that respect!

The Third Kazekage narrowed his eyes; sometimes he really wanted to ask…

Is he the master of Sunagakure, or is Chiyo the master?

"To become a fully-fledged Kazekage, you absolutely must win a battle!"

The Third Kazekage made this decision in his heart.

#

A month later.

Ichiraku Ramen.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Might Guy sat in chairs, enjoying the new food.

After eating countless bowls, he reluctantly wiped his mouth, still feeling unsatisfied.

"My typing and Ichiraku skills are getting better and better..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi sincerely praised:

"I heard others say that Ichiraku Ramen has the appearance of a 'Ramen Master,' and at first I thought it was a bit of an exaggeration, but after experiencing it myself, I realized it's no exaggeration!"

The Sage of Six Paths chuckled and said with a smile, "You flatter me, you flatter me. I'm not worthy of being called a sage. I'm just glad the Hokage enjoys his meal!" Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled and said, "You're too modest..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi genuinely admires people who work diligently and conscientiously with their skills.

The Sage of Six Paths' smile deepened.

After observing Hiruzen Sarutobi for some time, the Sage of Six Paths is currently quite satisfied.

He was friendly and kind to the village's ninjas, but he also didn't neglect his own training.

He's a promising talent who might be worth helping out a little...

However, the Sage of Six Paths hasn't yet decided whether to help or how to help.

Moreover, for the Sage of Six Paths, the most crucial thing was to observe Hiruzen Sarutobi's handling of the war.

Might Guy and Hiruzen Sarutobi stood up.

The two walked and talked.

"Hokage-sama, I've adapted to the serum from the combination of Yamato and the First Hokage, led by Orochimaru-sama!"

Matt Day raised his arm: "I've never felt so strong!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled and said, "That's good!"

He had dinner with Matt Day today, partly by chance, and partly to ask him about intercolumnar cell inoculation.

So far, it seems to be quite successful.

However, Might Guy possesses a unique non-attribute chakra constitution, and further experimentation is needed before it can be widely adopted in Konoha. But with the first case, the rest will be quick.

Upon arriving at the Hokage Building, Hiruzen Sarutobi intended to have another chat with Might Guy.

Danzo rushed in at that moment, his eyes filled with uncontrollable elation, and his tone slightly out of control:

"Hiruzen, the Third Mizukage has gone mad! He's actually declared war on Konoha!"