Nearly three months had passed since the mysterious disappearance of the Third Kazekage, and the major hidden villages had finally taken notice of the situation.
Konoha.
"According to the latest intelligence from our informants, the Third Kazekage hasn't made a public appearance in over two months. It's highly probable that something has happened to him."
Reading the confidential report from Danzo, Hiruzen Sarutobi—the Third Hokage—took a deep breath and fell into deep contemplation.
He was fully aware of what Danzo intended by presenting this information now. The veteran advisor had actually submitted a similar report when the Kazekage had only been missing for a month, suggesting the need for action. At that time, Hiruzen had suppressed Danzo's proposition, prioritizing peace and caution. But now—with nearly three months of silence from a Kage—there was no denying the weight of the situation. The disappearance of a village's shadow was no trivial matter; the likelihood of an accident was now overwhelming.
"Rijū, the Kazekage's disappearance is a golden opportunity. This is the time to strike Sand Village!"
Although the Land of Wind was mostly barren and devoid of natural resources, Konoha's military strength and political maneuvering were not always governed by compassion. Danzo—eager to cement his ambition for the Hokage seat—had no qualms about exploiting this moment. A successful strike against Sunagakure would secure him prestige and potentially a direct path to power.
Hiruzen, however, knew Danzo far too well to be deceived by patriotic rhetoric. He recognized Danzo's ambitions and the threat he posed. If Danzo were ever to become Hokage, Konoha would walk a dangerous path toward darkness and oppression.
"Konoha stands for peace. We do not initiate war," Hiruzen declared with solemn authority.
Danzo's eyes narrowed, his voice laced with contempt. "Heh, Hiruzen, must you keep playing this role? I know you better than anyone."
"I won't allow Konoha to be the aggressor in another war!"
"You're a fool, Hiruzen! Sand Village is weak. Their Kazekage is missing. If we don't act now, they'll stabilize and retaliate! Do you know what kind of damage that'll cause Konoha?"
Danzo's words were calculated and targeted. He framed his argument around Konoha's long-term survival, avoiding any mention of his own political designs.
"Enough, Danzo! Remember—I am still the Hokage!"
"You'll regret this, Hiruzen!" Danzo spat, turning on his heels and storming out.
This kind of confrontation was nothing new. In recent weeks, Danzo had made repeated visits, each time pushing for preemptive war, especially in light of the Kazekage's disappearance.
Outside the Hokage's office, Jiraiya had just returned from Mount Myoboku and passed Danzo storming out. He didn't give the man a second glance—such tantrums were normal for him.
"Sensei," Jiraiya greeted.
"Jiraiya, you've returned. How is Minato's progress in Senjutsu training?"
Hiruzen was genuinely hopeful about this. He had high expectations for Minato's mastery of Sage Mode, but Jiraiya's shaking head dimmed his expression.
"Minato has talent for Sage Mode, Sensei, but it's like mine—it takes time to enter. He's just getting started, so it's going to be a while."
"Also, Sensei, I came back to check some intel from two years ago."
"Two years ago?"
Jiraiya intended to explain the Great Toad Sage's prophecy, but his rational approach contrasted with the Third Hokage's emotional response. Upon hearing about eyes of great power, Hiruzen's first thought was of the Uchiha Clan—and worse, Uchiha Madara.
That fleeting fear began to color his perceptions of the Uchiha. Hiruzen himself didn't notice the subtle shift in attitude—a natural human fear of unpredictable, overwhelming power.
He ordered Anbu to retrieve records from two years prior and, taking the opportunity, briefed Jiraiya on the Kazekage's disappearance.
"What?! The Third Kazekage has been missing for three months? That means…"
Meeting his teacher's grim gaze, Jiraiya immediately understood—war was inevitable.
Even if Konoha restrained itself, other villages wouldn't.
And indeed, in another part of the world, the gears of war had already turned.
---
Land of Lightning
A massive contingent of Kumogakure shinobi, under the direct leadership of the Third Raikage, was moving rapidly toward the border with the Land of Wind.
"Raikage-sama, the troops are ready."
The Third Raikage stood at the front, crackling with lightning chakra. Behind him, nearly a thousand elite ninjas surged with power, activating their chakra in unison to prepare for battle.
"Charge!" the Raikage bellowed.
Suna never anticipated such a bold move. Nearly a thousand Kumo shinobi had crossed into Wind Country undetected, and now they were at the doorstep of Sunagakure.
The Raikage led the charge.
"Four-Fingered Hell Thrust!"
Lightning erupted from his hand as he launched himself forward, stabbing into the barrier that protected Suna.
The defensive barrier shattered. High-ranking shinobi like Chiyo and Ebizō immediately realized the gravity of the situation.
"Ai!"
Chiyo activated her treasured puppet—Kinmatsu Shirenwei—to intercept the Raikage. Ebizō summoned his own puppets, mobilizing a defense line to stall the Kumo army.
---
"Gold Dust Release!"
Rasa, the future Fourth Kazekage, unleashed an ocean of gold dust upon the battlefield.
"Gold Dust Burial!"
His techniques buried scores of Kumo shinobi alive before detonating the terrain with a violent explosion. Cries of anguish echoed as shinobi were obliterated under the weight and pressure of Rasa's assault.
The Raikage was stunned by Rasa's power. He had underestimated the young shinobi. Rasa had been secretly training for years, and his strength had surpassed outside expectations.
Even elite forces like those Raikage brought were not immune—dozens of Kumo elite perished in a single technique. Though the force was elite, the majority were only Chūnin level and couldn't survive such overwhelming power.
"Damn it!"
The Third Raikage was not a cold commander—he deeply valued his subordinates. The same man who had once fought an entire Iwa battalion to allow his troops to retreat was now watching them die in droves.
His fury boiled over.
"Hell Stab – One-Fingered Version!"
Condensing his chakra into one point, the Raikage used his most lethal attack and targeted Chiyo's puppet barrier. The puppet, despite being one of Suna's most resource-intensive constructs, was obliterated—five puppets were pierced through their cores in an instant.
---
"Wind Style: Wind Blade!"
Maga had already arrived on the battlefield. He and Rasa had been systematically decimating the Kumo forces.
Maga, however, wasn't there merely to kill—he was also controlling the battlefield. He intentionally limited Rasa's bloodlust to prevent complete annihilation. If they slaughtered the entire force, the Raikage himself would become a much bigger threat.
"Damn you, Maga! What are you doing?!"
Rasa noticed that Maga was intentionally stalling. To him, it felt like sabotage. Rasa thought Maga was trying to diminish his contribution to the war.
But Maga wasn't concerned with glory. His real goal was tactical. If too many Kumo ninjas were killed, the Raikage would go berserk, and the situation could spiral out of control.
He needed to leave enough survivors for them to retreat—not out of mercy, but to force a strategic withdrawal.
---
"Wind Style: Vacuum Disc!"
Maga raised his hand. Chakra spun into a razor-sharp disc, slicing through the air. The Raikage's eyes widened in recognition.
"That technique—what is your connection to Tōshi?!"
His son had once faced an opponent named Tōshi and was nearly cleaved in two by this same technique. Despite its slightly different color, the Raikage remembered it well.
"Lightning Armor!"
The Raikage instantly activated his full-body armor, forming a blazing cloak of chakra around him. He wouldn't underestimate this attack—not again. He remembered all too well the scars it could leave.
And thus, the true clash began.