Begining Of The Storm

Few days passed, making it a full week of Satei's death.

In Iwagakure, Land of Earth.

In the cone-shaped roof of the Tsuchikage's office, built by stone and rocks, seamlessly blending with the natural environment, the room was neither decorative nor flashy, just simple, brown walls.

A large brown rectangular table centered the room, with a high-backed chair for the Tsuchikage.

Ōnoki was at the front, flying in the air, crossing his arms, a small grin ever-present on his lips.

Ōnoki wore a split-apart green coat divided into four sections with yellow trimmings, and a red collar.

His nose was red.

A few older figures sat to his left and right.

A very tall and brawny-looking shinobi stood behind the flying Ōnoki.

He had dark eyes and short, dark-grey-colored hair, but a clean face, no beard, and a bulbous nose.

This was Kitsuchi, Ōnoki's son.

"Sandaime-sama, please take a seat..."

Kitsuchi sighed, speaking respectfully to his father.

Ōnoki scoffed, "I am too happy to sit. Despite twice rechecking, the report was the same as the initial — Sunagakure's Third Kazekage is really no more."

"Ōnoki, what are we going to do now?" One elder asked.

"Obviously, it's not time to waste. We are going to strike. This is the moment I have been waiting for, deploying my forces, ready for a long time."

Ōnoki's smirk widened.

Another elder, named Hana Kamizuru, pulled out the report and said, "Who have you decided to strike first?"

Ōnoki snorted with his red nose, "Konoha, of course. But it's a good opportunity to mooch off Sunagakure as well."

Ōnoki signaled, and an Anbu entered the room, kneeling, head bowed down.

"Send the message to Kōzō, commander of the Explosion Corps, and Clan Head Dairoku Kamizuru. We are deploying our forces very soon; get ready."

The kneeling Anbu nodded and vanished with a flicker.

Elder Hana asked, "Don't worry, I myself will talk to Dairoku. But what about Kusagakure? Are we going to ask them for support?"

Ōnoki snorted, interjecting, "Who needs their support? We will invade the Land of Grass; that will be our battlefield against Konoha."

Kitsuchi asked, "About Rōshi and..."

"I will have a talk with him myself later!"

Ōnoki immediately replied, but the grin still plastered on his face.

—

From thousands of miles away from this rocky place, to directly in large imposing mountains.

In Kumogakure, Land of Lightning.

The Raikage's office was in the large blue structure built into the tallest mountain of the village.

It was in the Tallest Tower of the Village, and had the Kanji for Lightning on the front circular blue board.

Inside, on an imposing, high-backed, wide chair, sat a very tall, dark-skinned man with a largely muscular and well-defined build.

He had a full head of white hair which flowed into his back along with a long beard.

This was the Third Raikage A.

Behind him stood two equally dark-skinned figures.

One had a similar tall, muscular, and athletic build to the Raikage, wearing a white cloth headband of Kumogakure, short blonde hair and goatee, tribal style tattoos similar to the Raikage, a high-collar jacket, and blue pants.

This was the Raikage's Son.

To his right was another dark-skinned, muscular man, with owl-shaped glasses, carrying swords behind his back.

This was the current Jinchūriki of the Eight-Tails, young Killer B.

In front of them sat two elders of the Village, Elder Raiden Yotsuki and Kira Yotsuki, centered around a large brown rectangular table, which was circular at the corners.

If the Tsuchikage's office was simple, this was even more minimalist, having little to no useless stuff, aside from a huge sandy punching bag with other workout equipment.

Raiden, a bald, white-bearded, wrinkled old man, spoke, "Raikage, what are your thoughts? What should we do about this?"

The Third Raikage laughed, "Ha! I don't think we need to do anything. Ōnoki was quite eager than us. He will attack first; we just need to wait a little."

"Father, I suggest we should also take this opportunity and strike Konoha first," his Son said. "If we waste any more time, maybe we can't surprise attack them."

The Third Raikage chuckled, "Calm down your boiling young blood. I know Ōnoki. He would sieged the borders of the Land of Fire, even if Konoha plans to deploy their forces to shield the border."

"Ya Fool, Konoha's Fool! Haha!"

Killer B rapped and laughed, stood behind Raikage.

Elder Kira asked, "And when will we strike?"

The Third Raikage smirked.

"Directly when Konoha and Iwa would have exhausted themselves! Plus, I will personally like to deal with Ōnoki if I get the chance."

—

Another similar meeting was going on, in the dark night, in the village that resided deep within a forest at the base of a mountain.

In Konohagakure, Land of Fire.

In the Hokage meeting room, sat four figures.

One was wearing a Hat with a Fire symbol on it, and a Hokage robe.

This was the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Smoking from his smoking pipe, sighing heavily.

With him sat three members of the Konoha Council — Homura Mitokado, Koharu Utatane...

And the last one was Danzō Shimura, who had an X-shaped scar on his chin, his right eye covered in a bandage, crossing his arms, glancing narrowly at Hiruzen.

"Hiruzen, it's not the time to be soft. Before any other nation tries to use the power vacuum created from the Kazekage's death, we should deploy our forces to attack!"

He said, his voice laced with a hint of annoyance.

After puffing the smoke, Hiruzen sighed, scratching his head, "I am not being soft, but directly attacking simply means initiating War..."

Koharu said, "But War is inevitable at this point, Hiruzen. Many Iwa ninjas have been wandering around the Land of Fire border for a long time. Ōnoki wouldn't sit still now."

Homura also chimed in, "I agree with Danzō. We should strike first before any attack could come from the Tsuchikage or Raikage's side."

Danzō's gaze turned icy, stating, "Hiruzen, you know how opportunistic Ōnoki is. A weakened Sunagakure is an invitation, knowing that we can't sit still."

Hiruzen admitted, "That's true, phew. I will have a talk with other Clan heads, Jiraiya and Orochimaru, and have a few forces camp at the border on the Iwagakure side and Kumogakure side."

Koharu asked, "And what about Kirigakure?"

Hiruzen, putting his smoking pipe down, his voice firm, as with serious look he muttered, "Kirigakure?"

—

To the east of Konoha, surrounded by thick mist and water, with several mountains in the background, was situated the Village Hidden in the Water.

In Kirigakure, Land of Water.

The Mizukage's Office was in the largest building in Kirigakure, located at the center of the village.

The inside of the office was decorated rather neatly with a blue rug and several cabinets lining both sides of the room.

The Mizukage's desk sat at the back of the room, overlooking the village.

And the Third Mizukage, Shirogane.

He was a tall man with naturally unique black sclerae, and long, black hair which reached down to his back with pearl-shaped objects encircling his head.

He wore the Mizukage attire: robe and hat with the water symbol, and a poncho-like scarf around his neck.

His eyes, half-closed, looked straight ahead, where several figures knelt, carrying swords on their backs.

They were the seven members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist—

Fuguki Suikazan, wielder of Samehada.

Kushimaru Kuriarare, wielder of Nuibari.

Jinin Akebino, wielder of Kabutowari.

Jinpachi Munashi, wielder of Shibuki.

Ameyuri Ringo, wielder of Kiba Blades.

Jūzō Biwa, wielder of Kubikiribōchō.

And the last, younger member, Shiro Terumi, wielder of Hiramekarei.

"Is the information accurate?"

The Third Mizukage asked, his voice firm.

Fuguki replied, "Yes, Mizukage-sama, we have rechecked twice. Sunagakure's Third Kazekage is dead; it's not a fake news."

Ameyuri chimed in, "By now, this news would have reached other nations! What are your orders for us, Mizukage-sama!!"

Shirogane turned his face towards Ameyuri, "You look quite eager!"

Ameyuri just smiled widely while kneeling; her bloodlust for battle was hard to conceal for her.

Other members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen were aware of this fact.

"For now, send this message to other Clan heads and Elders that I want to have a meeting with them, and of course, not to the Kaguya Clan head." Shirogane ordered.

"Yes, Mizukage-sama!"

All members spoke together in union and flickered away.

Once they were gone, the Third Mizukage turned his chair, looking out of the window towards the village.

He opened his eyes, and in his black eyes, a pattern took shape — A perfect circle with distinct red comma-like shapes symmetrically arranged around a central red pupil.

He muttered, "I have to talk with Madara-sama!"

•••