Chapter 17: Declaration of War
A crucial piece of information was quickly relayed back to Konoha through a summoning beast.
The Third Raikage was dead.
The very same Raikage who never even considered Konoha a real threat had perished after pillaging the Land of Wind. On his way back, he was surrounded by Iwa-nin and ultimately fell in battle, exhausted.
This unexpected event left Konoha's leadership momentarily stunned.
The Raikage—who had been provoking Konoha's dominance for years—was just… gone.
Within two days, the news had spread through the village via various channels.
Both shinobi and civilians alike celebrated as if it were a festival.
After all, nothing was more satisfying than an enemy dying unexpectedly.
At the same time, two differing opinions emerged in Konoha.
One side believed that with the Third Raikage dead, Konoha should seek reconciliation with the Land of Lightning to avoid war.
The other side argued that Kumogakure needed to pay for its provocations. With their leader gone, this was the perfect time to strike.
The latter view was mostly held by Uchiha clan members and smaller allied families.
But this sentiment wasn't limited to them—many shinobi and even civilians supported the idea, believing that Kumogakure had gone too far and deserved to be punished.
Unlike the Uchiha, who openly voiced their stance, the other major clans remained notably quiet.
They knew that, ultimately, only the Hokage and the three village elders had the power to make such decisions.
And if past patterns were any indication...
Sure enough, an order soon came from the Hokage's office—Konoha would send envoys to the Land of Lightning to de-escalate the situation.
This outcome left the battle-hungry Uchiha clan frustrated.
Dissenting voices also surfaced within the village.
In response, the Third Hokage personally gathered clan leaders and high-ranking jōnin, working to ease tensions.
He even made multiple appearances at the Konoha Ninja Academy, delivering speeches about peace.
Slowly, the voices advocating for diplomacy gained traction throughout Konoha.
With internal disputes seemingly under control, it looked as though Konoha had managed to escape the pull of war.
But fate had other plans.
Before a diplomatic team to Kumogakure could even be finalized, Iwagakure abruptly declared war on the Land of Fire.
A force of 4,000 Iwa-nin crossed into the Land of Grass.
At the same time, sleeper agents hidden near key outposts in the Land of Grass launched surprise attacks on Konoha's defensive positions.
Fortunately, Orochimaru had anticipated such a move, preventing Iwagakure from breaking through into the Land of Fire.
...
Inside the Hokage's office,
The Third Hokage sat with a grave expression, tapping his old tobacco pipe against the round table.
Seated with him were Danzō and the two village elders.
Danzō knew that war was now unavoidable.
Not just because of external pressure—internal tensions were boiling over as well.
The Third Hokage's recent decisions had stirred dissatisfaction among many.
In particular, the younger generation of shinobi was beginning to voice their discontent.
"…When news of our fallen shinobi reaches the village, I fear the reaction will be…" Koharu Utatane spoke up hesitantly.
A heavy silence fell over the room.
Danzō was beyond frustrated with this council of elders.
The enemy had already slapped them in the face, yet they were still trying to play nice.
"Sarutobi, since war is now inevitable, we should embrace it. Konoha may value peace, but we do not fear battle."
Danzō's calm but firm words shattered the stifling atmosphere.
"Danzō…"
The Third Hokage looked at his old comrade in surprise.
"It's not just the village. If we continue hesitating, we risk losing the Daimyō's support." Danzō continued, his tone unwavering.
"That's right," Homura Mitokado, who handled communication with the Fire Daimyō, added. "The Daimyō is already displeased over the situation with the Land of Lightning."
The Third Hokage fell silent, taking two deep puffs from his pipe.
"…It seems there's no avoiding it."
The hesitation in his gaze faded, replaced by firm resolve.
Seeing this, Danzō finally exhaled in relief.
He didn't interfere with the Hokage and the elders as they finalized their war plans. Instead, he merely closed his eyes and rested.
"Danzō, about Root's involvement in this war…"
Despite Danzō's minimal presence in the discussions, Sarutobi knew the value of his forces.
"Don't worry—I will provide full support."
Returning to Root's underground base, Danzō immediately summoned Aburame Ryōma.
Seated at the head of the room, Danzō carefully reviewed the upcoming war strategy.
The battlefront in the Land of Earth wasn't suited to his style—there was no role for him there.
"Lord Danzō."
Kneeling on one knee before him, Aburame Ryōma awaited orders.
Danzō spoke in an indifferent tone.
"The war has begun. You will oversee intelligence operations in the Land of Earth. Lead the team personally and coordinate with Orochimaru."
This was no simple task.
Ryōma and his unit would need to infiltrate enemy territory, support the main forces with intelligence, and execute strategic strikes. It was a mission that demanded both leadership and precision.
Few in Root were capable of handling such an operation.
Aburame Ryōma was one of them.
"Yes, Lord Danzō… I will complete my mission."
"I trust you."
As Ryōma departed, his figure gradually disappeared into the darkness.
From the shadows, a woman in a nun's habit silently stepped forward.
It was Nonō Yakushi.
She stood quietly behind Danzō, waiting for permission to speak.
"The trainees in our facility are ready. They await your command."
Her voice was respectful and soothing—almost indulgent to the ear.
A faint fragrance drifted from behind him, a subtle but pleasant scent.
These trainees were Danzō's carefully cultivated assets.
They were meant to operate in the open, to serve as the public face of his growing influence.
Through years of training, the ideals of the new Will of Fire had been deeply ingrained in them.
They were his legacy, the seeds of his vision—ready to take root in Konoha and, eventually, the entire shinobi world.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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