Revitalizing the Uchiha clan starts with becoming a Kage.

"You'll need to keep an eye on Danzo, Koharu. As for Iwagakure, if nothing unexpected happens, the Iwagakure delegation will likely arrive next week. Make sure you're prepared before then, especially at the front lines. We absolutely cannot let them find out too much information!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane beside him and said.

"Yes, we understand. Don't worry, Hiruzen!"

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu nodded in agreement and then left the Hokage's office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi returned to his position to write a reply, as this involved the relationship between the two great nations, and more importantly, the existence of the Uchiha clan. The relationship between Konoha and Iwagakure was more delicate than that between any other nation.

We also need to take into account the current situation in the ninja world.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had to carefully choose the wording of the palindrome.

Even though the focus should be on the development and final outcome after the Iwagakure delegation's visit, the initial superficial work should not be overlooked.

Moreover, this can be considered another way for Hiruzen Sarutobi to respond.

331. Developments in Various Countries

P.S.: I can't finish writing this, so I'll upload a bit while I'm eating. I have to go back to work later, and I'll finish the rest when I get back tonight. It might be very late. If I really don't have time, I'll definitely finish it later. Please forgive me.

He was writing a palindrome at the same time.

On the one hand, they also need to arrange for the corresponding personnel to be sent to the northwestern border region of the Land of Fire, which is close to the Land of Grass. Although the Third Hokage did not think that the Hidden Stone Village would launch a war against their Leaf Village in a moment of impulsiveness, they could not be too careful. The war between the Hidden Stone Village and the Sand Village last year was still fresh in their minds, as if it were yesterday. How could Hiruzen Sarutobi not take precautions?

If someone sees that our border defenses are weak and launches a large-scale invasion, causing the Land of Grass to fall completely under the control of Iwagakure, it would be a very serious blow to Konoha!

Just like now, after losing the northern fortress that had been meticulously built over two or three decades, Sunagakure has to spend huge sums of money to rebuild a defensive line behind it, and this will take a lot of time and may not even be effective in the future. The defensive pressure that Sunagakure faces is far greater than ever before.

If Iwagakure shows any further signs of increasing pressure, Sunagakure will be left running around in circles. Konoha is already showing a similar trend in the northeast. Kumogakure's aggressive stance is already giving Hiruzen Sarutobi a headache. If the same situation occurs on the northwest border, the defensive pressure Konoha will have to bear in the future will become unprecedentedly terrifying!

This is something Hiruzen Sarutobi would never accept!

We must respond and adjust swiftly.

As this reply was sent to Iwagakure, Konohagakure also experienced a large-scale personnel change. The first batch of several hundred elite troops, carrying the Third Hokage's orders, headed towards the northwest border region to provide reinforcements in the shortest possible time.

The mobilization of personnel was an obvious and undeniable event. It could be said that the actions of Iwagakure and Konohagakure in deploying their troops were quickly learned by the ninja villages of the higher realms of the ninja world. The smaller ninja villages such as Amegakure, Kusagakure, Takigakure, and Yugakure were on edge the moment they received the news. They had barely caught their breath in less than a year before the situation was thrown into turmoil again.

It's fair to say that they were anything but friendly to these small ninja villages.

Especially Kusagakure!

It can be said that when he learned of the personnel changes in the two major ninja villages of Iwagakure and Konoha from his subordinates stationed on the northern and southern borders, the leader, Uryu, was completely distraught. Like other small countries in the ninja world, the Land of Grass was sandwiched between the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth. If the two major countries went to war, the best battlefield would be the Land of Grass. During the Third Shinobi World War, the elite troops led by Higashi Shijin, a Jonin from Iwagakure, marched south through the Land of Grass to invade the Land of Fire!

Puru was well aware of how difficult it was for his ninja village to be caught between two great powers, so over the years he had been very careful to adopt a balanced approach, trying his best not to offend either side while also trying every means to strengthen his own power.

However, the changing times can never go as one wishes.

Peaceful days are few and far between. With his own village's strength yet to increase and having offended the Uchiha clan, Iwagakure and Konohagakure are about to face a time when war is highly likely. This makes Uryu very upset!

However troublesome it may be, we must face this situation.

Pura immediately ordered everyone to retreat. If we can't afford to offend them, can't we at least avoid them? Although this would be tantamount to surrendering the border completely, it was still better than our own Kusagakure ninja dying meaninglessly, like the Hidden Hot Spring Village in the Land of Hot Springs, which was an even weaker ninja village than the Hidden Grass Village.

The Cloud Ninja and the Leaf Village were already locked in a fierce battle in the Land of Hot Springs.

The leader of Yugakure (Hidden Hot Springs) strictly forbade his village's ninjas from moving around freely, essentially leaving the battlefield to the ninjas of both nations. His clear stance was, "We'll only go out when you're done fighting!"

During the Third Shinobi World War, Uryu did exactly that, and this time it's just a classic repetition of the past.

The small countries lived in constant fear.

The major powers, on the other hand, were immediately impressed.

Even Sunagakure, who had been badly beaten last year, couldn't suppress the restless desire in Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage, upon hearing this news. In his view, if Konoha and Iwagakure were to engage in a full-scale war, it would be the best opportunity for Sunagakure to retake the northern fortress!

Even if it comes at a price, it will be worth it as long as the northern fortress can be recaptured and a solid defensive line can be built!

Risks and rewards.

These two things were originally meant to coexist.

Of course, after experiencing so many "beatings" from the ninja world, Rasa had also become much more restrained.

Rasa would never act rashly unless Konoha and Iwagakure truly engaged in a battle involving thousands of ninja. Otherwise, if it were merely a minor skirmish between the two sides, Rasa would absolutely not intervene, especially if Sunagakure suffered another defeat.

The entire ninja village will inevitably face catastrophic consequences. At that time, it will no longer be a question of whether or not I abdicate, but rather a question of whether the entire Sand Village will collapse.

"Immediately send more personnel to closely monitor the situation between Iwagakure and Konoha in the Land of Grass. Report any outbreak of conflict immediately!"

"Yes, Lord Kazekage!"

Therefore, Luo Sha must be more cautious than ever before.

Compared to Sunagakure, which had to carefully verify information and could not act rashly, Kumogakure, located in the northeastern corner of the ninja world, was overjoyed when the Fourth Raikage, A, learned of the movements of Iwagakure and Konoha!

In his view, this was the best opportunity for his own ninja village to gain more leverage!

"Quickly! Mobilize the village's forces immediately and seize this opportunity to launch a direct assault. I, the Raikage, want to see the Land of Hot Springs completely under the control of Kumogakure by the end of the year, and to eliminate all of Konoha's strongholds in the Land of Hot Springs!"

The Fourth Raikage, A, immediately convened his decision-making team and issued the order in a very loud tone.

However, the Fourth Raikage, A, had barely finished speaking when...

"Please wait a moment, Lord Raikage!"

The person on the earthen platform opposite them spoke up.

"What? Tu Tai, do you think now is not the right time?"

When the Fourth Raikage, A, heard someone stopping him, he subconsciously revealed a hint of displeasure. It was only when he saw that the person speaking was Tsuchida, a 'senior' who had advised on the highest military operations of Kumogakure during his father's reign as Raikage that the Fourth Raikage, A, barely managed to suppress his emotions, but his expression was enough to say everything.

"Yes, Lord Raikage, I don't think now is the best time to launch an attack. Although sending reinforcements now would likely force Konoha to submit and withdraw from the Land of Hot Waters, we would suffer heavy losses and potentially let Iwagakure benefit from it. Moreover, we have to consider the unpredictable consequences if Konoha goes against its usual behavior and insists on resisting in the Land of Hot Waters. In that case, Iwagakure would truly reap the benefits, which is an outcome we absolutely cannot accept!"

Tsuchikage, completely unconcerned about the gloomy expression on his Fourth Raikage's face, still spoke with a solemn air.

"Hmph! So you're just going to watch the opportunity slip away!? Earthen platform, that's truly not in line with the style of the Cloud Ninja!?"

The Fourth Raikage snorted coldly and slammed his fist on his desk.

"Boom!"

That was accompanied by a loud thud as it fell.

A chilling aura spread throughout the Raikage's office at that moment, causing Samui, Darui, and the others sitting nearby to tense up.

Our Raikage's power is truly extraordinary!

"No, Lord Raikage misunderstood me. What I meant was that we can take over the entire Land of Hot Springs in another way!"

Tu Tai smiled slightly, and then spoke.

"Oh?"

This also caused the Fourth Raikage, A, to raise his eyebrows slightly, his gaze fixed on Tsuchikage, who remained calm.

After slowly exhaling a breath of stale air, the Fourth Raikage, A, calmed himself down, sat down, and placed his hands on the table with his arms crossed.

"Then tell me about it!"

"Yes, Lord Raikage, my opinion is..."

Every ninja village has its own plans. The relationships between countries in the ninja world are often such that a small change can have far-reaching consequences. If any of the five great nations has a problem, the other four nations will definitely pay attention, and even the surrounding smaller nations will tremble in fear!

The clash between Iwagakure and Konohagakure will undoubtedly create a tremendous upheaval in the ninja world.

Iwagakure itself was well aware of all this, since it was originally part of Onoki's plan. As the Kage of a village, he always had to consider the overall situation, not just a single point, when making a decision at a particular moment.

Konoha is the primary target, that's for sure!

However, the reactions of other countries should also be taken into account.

This is a basic quality that a filmmaker must possess; not a single change or detail should be missed!

For this reason, Ohnoki always considers all the details before making any decision in order to be fully prepared.

"Hmph, how pretentious!"

Onoki lightly flicked the reply from the Third Hokage sent from Konoha onto his palm, a faint look of disdain on his face as he spoke.

"This was to be expected, Third Hokage. This is exactly the style of that Konoha hero!"

The general standing directly opposite smiled and said.

"Fine, at least this serves as an excuse. Everything that needs to be prepared is ready, right? Yellow Earth!"

Onoki nodded first, then shifted his gaze to the tall and burly figure of Hiroto on the right, and asked with a very serious expression.

"Yes, Lord Tsuchikage, everything is ready!"

In this public setting.

Huang Tu also observed proper etiquette, bowing slightly in response.

332. The Curtain Is About to Be Raised

P.S.: Finally finished writing! Luckily I can get back a little earlier tonight. Considering how busy the author is at the end of the year, yet still manages to update, and how hard it is to write, please subscribe more! Thank you all, my dear readers!

"Very good. We must pay close attention to the situation on the front lines, especially the Sand Village in the south. We must keep a close eye on it. I don't want to see any unexpected incidents at this crucial moment. Do you understand?"

Onoki's eyes also revealed a sharp glint as he looked at Huang Tu, and then at Hoshino, Date, Iwaze, and the others sitting next to him.

"Yes, Lord Tsuchikage!"

At the same time, Huang Tu, Xing Ye, Yi Da, and Yan Jue, these soon-to-be high-ranking members of Iwagakure, straightened their postures and responded.

"The rest is up to you, Shoji. Remember, while the mission itself is important, your own safety is even more crucial. All you need to do is ascertain Konoha's stance!"

Onoki nodded in satisfaction, then turned his gaze to Shoji. His words made no attempt to hide his high regard and concern for Shoji. Although he had expected this, at this moment, it still caused subtle changes in the expressions of Hoshino, Date, Iwaze, and the others sitting next to him.

"Yes, Third Generation Lord, please rest assured, I will definitely complete the mission successfully!"

The general also stood tall and replied firmly.

"Alright! Then, let's all proceed according to the plan!"

Onoki nodded slightly.

"Yes!"

A necessary transition period.

This was a series of preparations made in advance.