Hidden Stone Village - 6 p.m.
In a large stone-built chamber adorned with carvings and filled with scrolls, an authoritative figure sat at the head of a massive long table. Around him were the council members, each bearing the insignia of the Hidden Stone Village.
All of them were engaged in a serious discussion. Multiple reports from the Hidden Leaf Village and Land of Fire lay open on the table.
One of the older council members read the reports and then leaned back in his chair crossing his arms. "For some reason the Leaf village is suddenly on high alert. They've increased patrols and are reinforcing their borders."
"And it's something they're not even trying to hide from our intelligence network." Another member noted.
The Tsuchikage narrowed his eyes and subconsciously rubbed his chin as he thought about the situation. 'What is happening over there? They're making such a big show. What the heck happened?'
Silence filled the room as everyone turned their attention to the old leader who was in deep thought.
After a few moments Onoki raised his head and looked around. "Hiruzen won't act without a good reason. If they're suddenly increasing security around the country then something significant must have happened. What's concerning is that they haven't had such a large deployment in several years."
Onoki glanced at the Chunin shinobi standing nearby and gave him a small nod.
Seeing that he was given permission to speak, the Chunin gave his report. "This is the latest intelligence we received from our people in the bordering small nations. The Leaf Village has nearly doubled the number of patrols near the border. Supply lines are moving faster. But no public announcement has been made."
The councilors exchanged worried glances. They were concerned and wary about this new development.
One of the senior council members, a seasoned strategist, spoke up. "Lord Tsuchikage, could this be a show of strength? The Leaf might be flexing its muscles to deter any potential threat."
Onoki was silent. He crossed his arms and after several seconds slowly shook his head. "I told you, that old monkey won't act without any cause. That isn't his style."
"But Lord Tsuchikage, regardless of the reason, we now have to be vigilant and ready for any possibilities." One of the members gave his thoughts.
The leader of the Stone Village nodded. "I know. Send word to our scouts in the Stone-Grass crossings first. I want detailed reports on their movements, their recent missions, and any unusual activities."
Another councilor who was younger and more impulsive, spoke up. "Lord Tsuchikage. Shouldn't we respond in kind? Maybe increase our own patrol squads around the borders?"
"For what? We don't even know what's going on with them?"
"Yeah. Increasing border patrol means fewer ninjas carrying out the necessary missions and an increase in consumption of resources. And if this was all just a stunt or something that's solved within their own borders, then we'd have burned money for nothing."
Two experienced veterans on the council disagreed with the younger man's aggressive approach.
The Tsuchikage leaned forward and nodded his head. He looked at the younger man and spoke with a calm tone. "They're right, you know. Besides, at the moment I don't want to escalate tensions unnecessarily."
He became silent for a second and then glanced at everyone. "However, that being said, we have to be prepared for any eventuality. Order our shinobi to remain vigilant, but refrain from aggressive actions unless absolutely necessary. That means not provoking them unless they cross the line first."
The council nodded in agreement. They saw the wisdom in the Tsuchikage's words.
Several plans were laid out to gather more intelligence on their rival village and to secure their own home.
"Tighten the defenses around the country. I want daily reports from our assets in the neighboring small villages. We have to know the movements of the Leaf ninjas at all times. If they begin crossing the borders…" Onoki gave the orders and sighed at the possibility. 'What are you up to Hiruzen?'
Akatsuchi who was standing near the kage nodded. "I'll send word and make sure we get the necessary information as soon as possible."
The people in the room discussed several strategies and soon a viable defense plan was created.
The councilors soon dispersed. All of them walked with a sense of urgency as each of them was tasked with specific responsibilities to ensure their village's safety.
As the chamber emptied only the kage and his son remained. Onoki remained deep in thought. His body slowly floated from his seat and he flew to the nearby window overlooking the village. 'What is that old monkey thinking? Something definitely must have happened for him to take such drastic measures. Were there any threats or attacks from the Cloud or Mist village I didn't know about?'
Onoki couldn't help but let out another sigh as he recalled the last time he saw the third Hokage.
'Right now there's a delicate balance of peace between all the nations. But one wrong move and everything will tip in the wrong direction and a new war could start.'
"Aarrg! Dammit! I wish there was someone I could pass my hat to."
"You say that, old man, but aren't you waiting for Kurotsuchi to grow up." Akatsuchi teased the old kage.
"By the time that happens I'll have one foot in the grave." The old Tsuchikage scoffed and replied with his hands waving in the air.
Crack!
"Oh my back! Oh that hurts. That hurts!"
Akatsuchi sighed and went to help his leader who had fallen down. Despite his relaxed appearance, the Stone Jonin had a heavy heart. He knew that uncertainty loomed over nations because of the recent incident. 'I just hope nothing bad happens.'
Onoki meanwhile rubbed his back to soothe the pain. But even then, his mind was on the faces of his enemies.
'Hiruzen, Rasa, Ay, Yagura... No matter what the situation or who it is, if this escalates into a war, then I won't show any of you mercy.'
—-
Hidden Sand Village
In the council room of the Hidden Sand Village, the Kazekage sat at the head of a long table with a calm stony facade.
Around him, the village's most esteemed council members had gathered. Their faces were filled with tension and curiosity.
The Kazekage's composed voice broke the silence. "We've received reports of increased activity in and around the Land of Fire. The Hidden Leaf has heightened patrols, stationed additional guards along their borders and there are rumors of a significant prison break accompanied by a large battle at the country's border. The reports are all in front of you."
Everyone was surprised and quickly began going through the information on the documents in front of them. Chiyo and Ebizo were also among the council and their faces showed no emotions as they read the reports their spies sent.
After a short while one of the council members with a keen eye, spoke, "This is indeed an unusual level of activity. It could mean they're expecting a significant threat. But should we be concerned?"
Another council member, a strategist known for her insight, suddenly spoke. "We should."
Seeing that everyone was looking at her she gave her reasons. "On paper at least, we're allied with them. There is the possibility that this turmoil is because of internal strife or maybe an external threat of considerable magnitude. In either scenario, it could weaken the Leaf Village and that might give us a unique opportunity considering our circumstances..."
Everyone knew what she was referring to when she spoke the last part.
"But we also have to consider the risks involved. Engaging with the Leaf village under the current circumstances might expose us to unforeseen dangers, especially if they're already on high alert." Another council member, a retired ninja, spoke.
The Kazekage nodded. He acknowledged each point. "You're right. Our primary objective is the safety and security of our village. But this chaos within their country could give us some strategic advantages if we move carefully."
A younger member, representing the village's tactical unit, gave his suggestion, "We can send scouts to gather more data. If we know what's really happening with them, we'll be able to make a more informed decision.
"He's right. If we can use this opportunity to expand our borders, it will significantly strengthen us and reduce the burden on our economy." Another member of the Sand Council also chimed in.
Ebizo disagreed with that strategy. "No. That's far too dangerous."
"Why do you think so, elder?" Rasa asked the old man.
"The Leaf village is strong. Despite the loss of the Uchiha clan or the Fourth Hokage, they're still one of the strongest nations in the world. So we have to be cautious. This might be something or it could also be nothing. Just a public response to reassure the people because of the recent prison break." Ebizo gave his reasoning with a soft calm tone.
"What if this is an internal strife?" The Kazekage asked after several seconds of silence.
"Hmm… If this is some sort of a civil strife… Then I have a feeling that Danzo Shimura would be involved… But if the Leaf village is facing an external threat…"
"Then we don't know who their enemy is and that lack of information could be costly for us if we make the wrong move." Kazekage quickly understood Ebizo's concern and breathed out a quiet sigh.
The room buzzed with murmurs after hearing those speculations. Everyone was weighing the situation and struggled to pick the next move.
"If this is an external threat, we could be dragged into their mess." At this time, Lady Chiyo suddenly spoke. "Don't forget, right now we have an alliance with them. You're right! Even if it's just on paper for us, they might expect our help if there is a threat from one of the other nations. But right now it also works in our favor."
"How?" Rasa asked the old woman.
"We can use our alliance to figure out what's really happening over there."
The Kazekage immediately understood what she was implying. "I see. Yes, you're right. Gathering intelligence should be our first step. I'll send our most skilled scouts. Additionally, we'll have to increase our border patrols as a precautionary measure. Just to ensure we're ready for any scenario."
Turning to a council member skilled in diplomacy, the Kazekage began giving his instructions. "Begin drafting a message to the Hokage. Offer support in managing their border security. It'll serve as a gesture of goodwill from our side and it'll provide us with a closer insight into their current situation."
The room murmured with agreement.
"We should also shift a portion of our best patrol squads to the East. Quietly." Ebizo spoke. Seeing the questioning looks he explained. "Any caravan from the Fire country or with Leaf shinobi escorts should get extra eyes. But it has to be discreet."
"Agreed." The Kazekage nodded with the plan. "For now we'll have to proceed with caution. Our actions in this time could decide our village's future. So we have to be smart and stealthy in our approach." He concluded and gazed at everyone in the room.
The council members nodded and dispersed to enact the Kazekage's orders.
The room's oppressive atmosphere slowly began to disappear. Rasa left the chamber and soon came to a balcony overlooking the great village. 'Is this an opportunity for me… or a risk? I guess I'll find out soon.'
Hidden Cloud Village. 6:30 pm
The Raikage, a muscular and imposing figure, listened intently as the reports were presented. His councilors exchanged concerned glances as they realized the significance of the Leaf village's actions.
"Their sudden increase in patrols isn't a small matter," the Raikage spoke, his voice commanding attention. "We can't just afford to ignore it."
One of the council's elder members, a wise strategist, offered his perspective. "Lord Raikage, this could be a response to a foreign threat. So it's imperative that we assess the situation carefully before making any decisions."
"Are you telling me to do nothing and just wait?" The muscled Kage asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Of course not Lord Raikage. I'm simply suggesting that we need to find out more about what's going on before we make any big decisions." The council member gave a tactful reply.
"But shouldn't we reinforce our own defenses? Just in case?" One of the Jonin standing nearby asked his leader.
"Yes." The Raikage answered immediately. "Increase the patrols and make sure to have drills for the next few days."
"Um… Boss, aside from the larger patrol units, they haven't done anything. If we push too hard it might look like we're trying to pick a fight. So we have to avoid actions that might be perceived as too aggressive. We don't want to escalate tensions needlessly… right?" Darui spoke, scratching his cheek trying to pacify his leader.
"I'm not afraid of a fight, Darui. You know that." Ay replied unconcerned.
"Not my point, boss." The man sighed and murmured under his breath.
"I have to agree with Darui. Right now the other nations are also watching this spectacle and keeping a close eye on the situation. And besides, we don't even know what's going on over there. We shouldn't jump to any conclusions yet." C spoke as he came near his friend.
The Raikage sighed. "Fine. Then for now I'll send the elite scouting teams. I also want detailed reports on their activities and any signs of imminent conflict or instability within their borders. We need to grasp the full scope of this situation."
"We'll send teams to our border patrols." One of the higher ranked Jonins replied and bowed.
Ay heard their arguments and slowly nodded after giving it a minute of thought. 'They're right. That damn old Onoki is always looking for any opportunity to take advantage of everyone. I need to be careful.'
A council member spoke just then. "Lord Raikage, you should also consider sending a team to our bordering small nations."
"Why?"
"It's a good way to get faster intelligence. We should do it under the guise of maintaining peace and protecting them against Leaf ninjas if they attack. That way we could gather information faster and if those tree huggers decide to cross borders and act, we can even ambush them."
The Raikage nodded, pondering the suggestions. "That's not a bad plan. Send a team of our best stealth ninjas to monitor the situation."
"Darui, ensure the teams are assembled and deployed by midnight. Inform them their mission is of the highest priority and secrecy."
"Understood boss. I'll make the arrangements."
The highest command structure of the Hidden Cloud village agreed to discreetly gather intelligence and fortify their defenses.
As C and Darui were about to leave the room the Raikage turned to them. "Make sure my idiot brother doesn't leave the village and assign additional security to Yugito. We can't have any mishaps during this time."
"Yes. Leave it to us." The two trusted ninjas nodded and soon left the kage to his thoughts.
Land of Water - Around 9 p.m.
Under the veil of night, the Hidden Village of the Mist was embroiled in its own turmoil. The civil war was reaching a pivotal moment.
Mei Terumi was leading the rebellion against the Fourth Mizukage Yagura's tyrannical rule.
That night she convened with her closest confidants in a secluded safe house.
Mei sighed as she spoke. "The Hidden Leaf is on high emergency alert. This development is unusual."
One of her advisers was unconcerned. "But this news won't affect us, right? I mean we're far from their lands."
"True. But if a war breaks out, our divided village stands to lose the most. We're already weakened by this civil war." Another had an entirely different point of view.
"Don't be too paranoid. It's not an easy thing for a village to start a war. They won't do it unless it's absolutely necessary or the odds are heavily in their favor." Mei gave them all calming reassurances.
"Still, since the Leaf Village has increased their activities, is it possible for us to make an alliance with any other nation?" One of the newer members asked.
Ao, who was standing near them, disagreed. "No. They won't agree."
Everyone turned to the one eyed man and he quickly began to explain.
"Agreeing to an alliance means it's almost an equivalent exchange. They'd want something from us just as we'd want something from them. And in case you haven't noticed, we don't have much at the moment. So right now, we're alone. Our resources are scarce. And if this civil war goes on for much longer then the village will be further weakened as a whole. At that time, no great nation will want an alliance even if we want to."
"No one allies with a house on fire."
"Yeah. In fact we'd be lucky if they didn't take advantage of our desperate state."
The murmurs agreed with that sentiment. Everyone nodded somberly as they listened to Ao's insights.
But Mei had different thoughts.
'Alone(Me)… Much longer(Older)... No alliance(Single forever)'
The rebel leader Mei suddenly had a vein bulge in her forehead and exuded an ominous aura. "Ao. Shut up! Say 'we're alone again and I'll boil you'."
"Ehh!" The one eyed ninja was taken aback by Mei's hostile look and shivered. 'What did I say?'
"Should we send any troops into the Fire country to gather intelligence?" A ninja quickly asked, trying to distract their leader.
And the tactic worked. Mei forgot her hostility and was considering the situation. A few seconds later she replied. "No. We're stretched thin as it is. We don't have the manpower to send any troops to investigate this matter. Right now, their actions shouldn't be that much of a concern to us."
"But I'm sure Yagura wouldn't be in the same situation as us." Ao spoke up.
Mei nodded. "Yes, unlike us, he can't afford to sit back and do nothing." The redheaded ninja was silent for a few moments before a smile came to her face. "Hmm… Maybe we can use this opportunity to our advantage. No matter what, Yagura will be forced to send some troops to show strength to the other nations. We can use this time to attack and weaken him."
The ninjas present had their eyes lit up. "Yes. If we can force him to confront us, then we can finally defeat him and take control of the Mist village."
Ao quickly gave his thoughts. "Yagura could also be anticipating this move from us. So we should be careful about what route we're going to take into the village."
The future Mizukage nodded. "Don't worry. I have a plan. Gather the troops. I have a feeling it won't be long now. When the time is right, we'll launch our attack."
"Yes!"