Undercurrents Before the War

The cooperation between Amegakure and the Saudi Federation was flourishing, and the other Ninja Villages had received intelligence on it long ago. Iwagakure and Konoha in particular were fully on guard against Amegakure and the Saudi Federation, both of which had ties to them.

The Saudi Federation had already annexed the territories of many Small countries and nobles, but they had voluntarily joined under the lead of the Yasunori Trading Company. Even the Land of Fire and Earth Country could not say much about it.

It was a matter of willing combatants and willing sufferers. What reason did anyone have to step in and stop it?

Moreover, Iwagakure had suffered considerable losses in the Third Shinobi World War. Even though Konoha had not demanded reparations as the victor, Iwagakure still needed time to recover. They had first buried the Third Raikage beneath a Ninja troop, then been held back by Hyuga Mirai leading the Medical Department, and finally had many elites assassinated by Namikaze Minato.

Even when Iwagakure learned that the Land of Birds and the Land of Demons had joined the Saudi Federation, they had no energy left to stop it.

But the cooperation between Amegakure and the Saudi Federation was different. Five or six years had already passed since the Third Shinobi World War, and every Ninja Village had long since recovered its strength. Even Konoha, which had suffered heavy losses during the war, had gradually replenished the numbers of its Ninja troop.

If Sarutobi Hiruzen had chosen war when the Kumo-nin caused trouble a few years ago, Konoha’s military strength certainly would not have recovered. But the Ninja Hero had endured it, then vigorously developed their strength afterward, creating Konoha’s current situation.

Now, the military strength of the major Ninja Villages was gradually returning to prewar levels. Ninja were products of war, and with so many Ninja, ordinary missions could not satisfy their ever-growing numbers without war.

It was just like when the Daimyo of the Land of Wind transferred his country’s missions to Konoha, and Sunagakure could not wait to start a war.

Without missions, Ninja would have no future, and destruction would inevitably follow.

At the call of the Yasunori Trading Company, many merchants and the company’s partners chose to entrust their Mission Commissions to the Saudi Federation.

This included not only Jonin from the Land of Fire. Even merchants and nobles from Earth Country, because of the Yasunori Trading Company and the Uzumaki Company, chose to hand their missions to the Saudi Federation rather than Iwagakure.

If that had already pushed Iwagakure to the brink of endurance, then the cooperation with Amegakure was the final straw they could not bear.

The Saudi Federation, where political power was unified, had always been disliked by the Daimyo of various countries. Now that it had begun cooperating with Amegakure, if the Saudi Federation annexed Amegakure, it would become dangerous for Iwagakure.

Ōnoki was extremely wary of the Saudi Federation. If it had only been Sunagakure, he truly would not have taken them seriously. Though Sunagakure had once been one of the Five Great Ninja Villages, it had been weaker than even Kirigakure, an island nation.

But the Saudi Federation was different. Just the fact that fiscal authority belonged to the village told Ōnoki how beneficial that was to a village.

"As for the cooperation between Amegakure and the Saudi Federation, I have decided to join forces with Konoha and test them."

Ōnoki gathered Iwagakure’s higher-ups and announced the matter to them.

"Lord of Earth, isn’t this too rash?" one Iwa-nin Higher-up said after hesitating.

Another refuted him. "The Saudi Federation has great ambitions. If they cooperate with Amegakure, then more than half of Iwagakure’s routes outward will practically be blocked by the Saudi Federation. Our external missions will suffer another major loss then. Lord of Earth, I support your decision."

"But attacking two Ninja Villages at once… Iwagakure has only just recovered. This will definitely drag us into the quagmire of war. Lord of Earth, please consider this carefully."

Ōnoki waved at him. "There is no need to worry about that. This old man is not someone who acts impulsively. Konoha will not sit by and do nothing this time either. Compared to Iwagakure, the alliance between the Saudi Federation and the Cloud Ninja Village poses a greater threat to Konoha. Besides, several nobles in River Country who pledged allegiance to the Saudi Federation had their clans exterminated. The Saudi Federation probably still remembers that."

"Heh, the work of that Shadow of the Ninja World? As ruthless as ever."

Someone recalled the matter and sneered. His words were filled with contempt for Danzo’s actions, but his eyes still held deep wariness toward him.

It was precisely because he was ruthless and had no bottom line that Danzo was called the Shadow of the Ninja World. Ninja could hardly avoid targeting Civilians in wartime, but in ordinary times, they all adhered to the principle of not harming Civilians.

Only Danzo never showed the slightest mercy when slaughtering. Whether the target was an ordinary person or a Ninja, as long as he believed they posed a threat to Konoha, he would raise his butcher’s blade without hesitation.

Ōnoki continued, "Konoha is also somewhat concerned about the alliance between Amegakure and the Saudi Federation, so they have chosen to join forces with us in secret."

"And then reenact the Second Shinobi World War in Amegakure?" Kitsuchi said slowly, his arms crossed over his chest.

This was the method Sunagakure and Konoha had once used against Hanzo. Now, they were going to do the same.

The territories of Earth Country and the Land of Fire did not border each other. The Land of Waterfall, Grass Country, and Rain Country lay between them. If Iwagakure and Konoha went to war, they would definitely choose one of those three countries as the battlefield.

They had chosen Grass Country during the Third Shinobi World War. Now, with both Great Ninja Villages targeting Amegakure and the Saudi Federation, they would naturally place the battlefield on Rain Country’s territory.

Ōnoki nodded approvingly. "Exactly. And Konoha has also promised that they will dispatch troops first."

"In that case, we need not worry about Konoha playing tricks, and we can effectively restrain Amegakure and the Saudi Federation. Lord of Earth, I agree with this."

"I agree as well, Lord of Earth."

Soon, Iwagakure’s high-level meeting unanimously approved the matter. The threat posed by the Saudi Federation was growing by the day. The Iwa-nin Higher-up who had opposed it earlier had only feared that facing two enemies at once with the strength of one village would bring excessive losses. With Konoha joining them now, they were no longer so worried.

Konoha

Targeting the Saudi Federation was both the wish of Konoha’s higher-ups and the intention of the Land of Fire Daimyo.

Although many nobles within the Land of Fire stood with the Yasunori Family, the Daimyo was no fool. He deeply understood the impact a Ninja organization with unified political power would have on the Daimyo Manor. Any sign of such a thing had to be extinguished. The destruction of Whirlpool Country had also been caused in part by this.

Regarding the dispatch of troops to Rain Country, Sarutobi Hiruzen decided to first gather the various Ninja Clans for discussion. After determining the main force, they would then draw personnel from the civilian Ninja.

The Hyūga Clan had also received an invitation to the meeting. Whenever war began, the Byakugan was an indispensable strategic asset for Konoha.

Before sending representatives to the Ninja Clan meeting, the Hyūga Clan would always hold internal discussions first. Only after reaching a unified opinion would they attend the Ninja Clan meeting.

But this time, the Hyūga Clan’s clan meeting was somewhat turbulent.

"Where are the Branch Family’s representatives?"

Before the clan meeting began, Hyuga Kiyomi suddenly spoke.

"In the past, Branch Family Jonin always attended the clan meetings. Why is there not a single one this time? Or does the Branch Family no longer count as Hyūga Clan members?"

The Hyuga Second Elder said coldly, "Hyuga Kiyomi, this is a prewar clan meeting. Discussion among the Main Family alone is sufficient."

"You should call me Fourth Elder, Hyuga Sōun. I see not even a trace of the etiquette the Hyūga Clan has passed down for a thousand years in you."

Hyuga Kiyomi’s voice was cold yet filled with authority. Her pure white pupils had not activated the Byakugan, yet they seemed able to see through everything. When she looked at Hyuga Sōun, he actually felt somewhat uneasy.

The weekday updates really have been a little sparse. There will definitely be more updates on weekends!

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