Chapter 191: Undercurrents

Hokage Tower

Inside of the Hokage building, Hiruzen sat at his desk, with him staring at both his students and his ANBU Commander, with them both standing before him with information that was about to alter the landscape of the entire world.

"Are you sure that it has been confirmed?" Hiruzen asked as he smoked once more from his pipe, hoping that somehow, the herbs inside of it had merely made him hallucinate what he had just heard.

"Yes. According to our information, the General of Kumo, Asuka, has begun recalling her troops back to Kumo, with her also doing her absolute best to keep the information hidden. It is likely that they are planning a surprise assault on someone, most likely us. And based on how many spies of ours were killed while trying to send this information, it is likely that we are the group who they plan to assault." Sakumo said.

Hiruzen merely stood up, with him looking out of his window at the grand Village that laid before his eyes.

With a sigh, he turned back to the two in the room.

"It's likely that we may face the attack of the Land of Lightning. However, I would rather force the war to wait a bit longer. It seems that we must take preemptive measures and attack first." Hiruzen said, surprising both Orochimaru and Sakumo.

Konohagakure had never launched the first attack in a war, with the leading many to believe that as long as Hiruzen was the Hokage, they wouldn't have to worry about Konoha wishing to go on a war for expansion.

However, it seems that even Hiruzen had his breaking point. If the Shinobi World had merely continued it's peaceful state of development, Hiruzen would never take the step in sparking a conflict.

But knowing that a fight is inevitable, Hiruzen will do whatever it takes to ensure more of his shinobi survive.

"Orochimaru, how confident are you in eliminating the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki?"

~

Inside of the Tsuchikage office, Onoki sat with a pensive look on his face, his appearance already seeming reminiscent to his elderly appearance many years late.

However, even though his appearance had seemed to represent him being weaker, his power was still at it's peak.

"Are we still unable to gain any more resources from the Land of Birds?" Onoki asked one of his advisors.

While the Land of Earth had always been a rough environment, they were able to rely on trade with neighboring nations to support themselves, with the Daimyo then appointing these funds and resources to their Village.

But the surrounding Lands have been struggling to produce the same amount of goods as they were before, causing the Earth to be forced into a horrible position.

"Yes. They still keep the same stance that they had before. If they were to trade any more with us, they wouldn't be able to support their own people." The Advisor spoke.

"I see." Onoki stated.

Countless scenarios passed through Onoki's mind, yet none of them seemed fully plausible or led to the prosperity of his nation.

They only led to it's destruction or their subservience to another nation, two things that the Tsuchikage would never want to see.

'It seems war may be our only option.' Onoki thought.

While many seem to think Onoki loved war, the man actually despised it.

The dangers that come from it, the loss that his people incurred, the cruelty of having to leave a comrade to die just to save yourself, it was something that any leader would refrain from doing unless they were extremely ambitious.

And Onoki didn't get called the Fence-sitter for jumping at every chance of war, but for taking advantage of every opportunity that came his way.

And right now, Onoki only saw one opportunity that could result in him helping his people, so that his nation didn't fall into the same dire straits that the Sand did.

"Call Roshi to my office. And send a message to Kumo that I'll be sending him on my behalf to accept their offer."

Read chapters ahead on P@treon.com/KillerDJ2023