The Unseen Hands

Two weeks after the shocking death of the first Kazekage, Reto, the entire Sunagakure was in an uproar. The streets buzzed with tension as the villagers mourned the loss of their former leader, while whispers of vengeance and war circulated among the shinobi ranks. The shock of the assassination had sent waves of uncertainty through the village, and the Second Kazekage, Shamon, wasted no time in issuing orders to track down the killers. Sunagakure was now in a state of war readiness, preparing to unleash its fury on anyone they believed was responsible for Reto's death.

Shamon, ever the tactician, moved swiftly to control the narrative. His spies quickly circulated information about the Ginkaku Force—an elite team of Kumogakure shinobi known for their ruthlessness. The Ginkaku Force had long been suspected of meddling in various political affairs, and their ruthless reputation made them a convenient target for blame. It wasn't long before rumors spread that they had been hired to assassinate Reto on behalf of some unknown faction, possibly to destabilize Sunagakure and provoke a larger conflict.

As tensions rose, the Sunagakure military began to mobilize. The village's forces were placed on high alert, ready to strike at Kumogakure at a moment's notice. Sunagakure's elite shinobi—who had previously been tasked with protecting their borders—were now gearing up for a full-scale assault, their eyes focused on the rumored involvement of Kumogakure's Ginkaku Force.

The atmosphere was thick with anticipation as Sunagakure's forces prepared to retaliate. The villagers whispered that this was the moment the world would feel the wrath of the Sand. Even though there was no concrete evidence to directly link the Ginkaku Force to Reto's assassination, the political climate demanded someone to blame. Shamon, however, knew the truth: this was a carefully orchestrated move to keep Sunagakure occupied, distracted, and divided.

Meanwhile, back in Konoha, Tetsuma watched the events unfold with a cold and calculating demeanor. The situation in Sunagakure was progressing exactly as planned. The death of Reto had served its purpose, sowing chaos in their ranks, and the Kazekage's anger would only cloud his judgment. It was the perfect opportunity for Konoha to gain the upper hand in this rapidly escalating war.

Tetsuma knew that Sunagakure would soon launch an attack on Kumogakure, but the true players behind the scenes—those who had orchestrated this chain of events—remained hidden. He had been part of this plan, and now the next steps would unfold as carefully crafted as his earlier moves.

In the shadows of war, every move was calculated. Tetsuma's role was to control the flow of information, ensure that the war continued on its predetermined path, and most importantly, keep his own clan's influence intact. For now, Konoha needed to remain in the background while the flames of conflict spread across the shinobi world.

As Sunagakure sharpened its swords in preparation for war, Tetsuma silently prepared for the next phase of his plan—one that would continue to tip the balance of power in Konoha's favor, and bring his clan closer to the goal that had always eluded them: supremacy in the shinobi world.