[Otogakure, Level 1, Council Room]
As soon as Danzo and Harumi joined the council room, tension rose. No one dared to talk, but everyone could feel the eerie chakra coming out of the newly wed couple.
They had grown stronger, again.
It was a good thing for Otogakure as a whole, but the gap between their leaders and the rest of the village had never ceased to widen. The Hebikaze matriarch, now a Shimura, hissed in satisfaction, seeing the look of envy in Yukiko's eyes. The trusted bodyguard had been close to her husband, but ultimately, she had been the one to become the Otokage's wife.
Seeing the two women's eye battle, Danzo had the urge to laugh, but cut them shortly, explaining the reason behind his summoning.
In the room, the 6 Shimura elders stood, answering Danzo's call as always. They had been the one to suggest the building of Otogakure, and they were the one to adhere to Danzo's policies until now. His political marriage, the betrayal of Konohagakure, they had done everything for the sake of the clan. The Shimura clan, was now at its pinnacle, but they all knew that it had yet to reach its potential.
The 3 clan leaders, Hitoro Kinzoku, Rin Kaonashi and Harumi Hebikaze were naturally all ears.
"Kumogakure has refused our invitation to Otogakure, refusing to acknowledge our strength. Iwagakure, in the meantime is targeting the country's southern farms", Danzo finally broke the silence, giving a detailed explanation of the events on the surface, "The main fighting force of the Shimura clan is the wind element. Naturally, we will take on the Kumogakure's settlement by ourselves. The Kaonashi Corps and Kinzoku Corps will be key elements in the ambush"
The Kaonashi clan possessed a hidden art allowing them to use transformation jutsu that could trick jonins, not to mention chunins or genins. As for the Kinzoku corps, they were adept at genjutsu. What Danzo planned to do was unreal, he wanted to trick a major hidden village.
"Iwagakure and Kumogakure have always been at odds. The only reason why they had allied against Konoha was their united hatred directed at Tobirama's expansion policies. Otogakure can never survive if those villages stay united, which is exactly why we will target their relationship"
Harumi smiled. The cunning, the ruthlessness, it matched her personality extremely well. As a kunoichi, she had no feelings, her heart completely cold. However, her brain could only approve of Danzo's analysis of the situation.
He continued: "We will annihilate the Kumogakure's settlement. The very same shinobi who plundered the north of the Land of Fire are now in the Land of Rice northern farms, and they never returned to their village. In other words, they are extremely wealthy. Besides, after regrouping in the North, military convoys have been supplying them with military gears over the past three months. The strategic resources they hold can be the foundations of Kumogakure. By reverse-engineering Kumogakure steel crafts, we can become independant in military gear, making this operation vital for the village's future"
Itoru nodded: "This is indeed a golden opportunity, but in the four previous meetings, you held off that thought to stabilize our forces. The union of the Shimura and Hebikaze clans brought political stability, but targeting the Kumogakure settlement will not be easy. After all, their commander is a kage-level figure, the two-tails jinchuriki Marui, who also possesses the black lightning bloodline release"
The Kinzoku patriarch Hitoro pressed further against the idea: "We all acknowledge your strength, Danzo-sama. However, even if we push Kumogakure back, they will strike back. Currently, we cannot defend against the Raikage and the 8-tails jinchuriki, if they join the battlefield. For now, they retreated to Kumogakure, so should we not strike Iwagakure instead?"
Harumi hissed: "Thisss isss not the way to look at it. Again, the Shimura clan possesses one of the finest wind jutsu mastery in the continent. The Kumogakure settlement does not stand a chance. Don't you get why the Otokage suggested the Kaonashi and Kinzoku clans to act?"
Rin had a flash of realization: "Don't tell me..."
Danzo nodded: "You must have gotten it. We will frame Iwagakure. In the Shimura Operation that earned me the nickname of 'Shimura Demon', we managed to steal a lot of military supplies, including iwagakure uniforms. This operation will be in three phases: We will ambush them, steal them, and let a few shinobi escape, so that they can rely the news to the Raikage. As much as Iwagakure denies, Kumogakure is not known for its political demeanour, but impatience and rashness. Both countries will enter war"
"This isss not all, iss it?", Harumi smiled
Danzo nodded, acknowledging Harumi's sharpness: "After plundering the Kumogakure settlement and interrogating the survivors, we will likely have enough information to reciprocate the same thing on Iwagakure's settlement in the south, in Kumo shinobi's uniforms. We will control the war as we see fit"
Hitoro realized the darkness in Danzo's words: "In other words, we will manipulate the battlefield to create a war between Iwagakure and Kumogakure, a war that will force Konohagakure to take a stance once they have dealt with the threat in the borders with the land of wind. This is genius..."
Danzo shook his head: "That's the gist of it but...You're wrong about onee thing. We won't manipulate the battlefield to create a war. We will manipulate the battlefield to train our clansmen. Shinobi grow from conflicts. Oto no Kami has many shinobi families. Most only know basic jutsu, but if trained, they could become a valuable addition to Otogakure. The seal will make sure to prevent any leaks, and I shared the strategy with you. Now, the execution rests on our shoulders. Unite, and Otogakure will become the sixth major hidden village. Fail, and Oto no Kami will be no more"
The stakes were unbelievably high.
For the first time in the history of shinobi, a soul was manipulating the flow of events beyond recognition. Chaos unfolded in the world, taking a direction that was unforeseen before.
Kumogakure and Iwagakure were never meant to enter Oto no Kami, much less raid and fight within its boundaries. Konohagakure was never meant to lose the Shimura clan, nor struggle so intensely against Sunagakure alone. The Nara clan was never meant to lose its patriarch. Geniuses of the western front died before having the opportunity to blossom, just like the Iwagakure forces who were annihilated mercilessly, turning into food for Danzo's Reverse Four Symbols Soul Seal.
But perhaps, the biggest event yet was the birth of Otogakure, a village which should not been built until Orochimaru's defection. At this point, Orochimaru was not even born.
Otogakure was now a force to behold, and its growth had just begun.
Chakra supplement injections were B-rank treasures that could increase the growth of shinobi's chakra vessels. In Konohagakure, Danzo possessed ties and funds to purchase its most important ingredient: shinobi blood.
However, here in Otogakure, he lacked the materials. Using his own shinobi to donate blood would be counter-productive too. As such, the Kumogakure had become an unbelievably appetizing target.
Harumi smiled at her husband, the Otokage, who had convinced the council with ease, his strategy unbelievably sharp. He had not specified the Hebikaze's role in the upcoming battle, but she had already been briefed. Otogakure could not be found out.
Iwagakure scouts were sharp, and it was her clan's role to take them out swiftly, leaving no trace whatsoever.