A hawk let out a long, piercing cry as it dove swiftly into the Intelligence Division of Konohagakure.
Hiruzen Sarutobi received word from the frontlines shortly thereafter. After reading through Orochimaru's report, he was not only shocked but deeply troubled.
The intelligence included highly detailed accounts of the recent operation, specifically highlighting the contributions of Veigar Koshima.
Over 3,500 Sunagakure shinobi had been annihilated in a single sweep. The scale of this military feat was staggering, so much so that even Hiruzen wasn't sure how to reward Veigar appropriately.
Orochimaru had thrown quite the dilemma at Hiruzen, one that left the aging Hokage at a rare loss.
Taking a slow puff from his kiseru pipe, Hiruzen stared into the emptiness of his office, still uncertain how to deal with Veigar's merits.
"Fetch Danzō. We have urgent matters to discuss."
"Yes, sir."
A disembodied voice responded from the seemingly empty office before silence resumed once again.
Not long after, Shimura Danzō entered the Hokage's Office, standing before Hiruzen.
"You called, Hiruzen?"
Hiruzen looked up, meeting Danzō's gaze.
"There's a matter I'd like your opinion on."
…
In the Land of Rivers, Sunagakure's Forward Command Center.
Rasa was coordinating the withdrawal alongside Chiyo. Inside Bunpuku, Shukaku was growing restless, kicking up a storm. Despite Bunpuku's calm coaxing, the Tailed Beast was having none of it.
According to Shukaku, "You little monk! You dare deceive Lord Shukaku himself?"
What could Bunpuku do? He had promised to unleash Shukaku in battle, and didn't follow through.
Now, his spirit had retreated inward. Chanting sutras, tapping on a wooden fish drum, this was how he always calmed Shukaku down.
Suddenly, a Suna ANBU dropped to one knee before Rasa and Chiyo, visibly panicked.
"Fourth Kazekage, we've received urgent word from the village."
"Sunagakure was attacked by Iwagakure yesterday. The losses are devastating, dozens critically wounded. Jōnin Ken requests your immediate return."
Ken, still unaware of the frontlines' latest developments, had deliberately omitted one crucial fact: Akagi's entire Iwa force had been annihilated. Instead, he emphasized only the village's dire state, cleverly baiting Rasa to return posthaste.
A village under siege was no minor issue, and just as Ken had predicted, Rasa's composure shattered.
He stood up abruptly. "Did the report mention the number of casualties?"
The ANBU shook his head. "No specifics, only that your return is urgently requested."
Rasa waved his hand. "Issue the order. Prepare for return."
"Yes, sir."
Once the ANBU departed, Rasa turned to Chiyo.
"You heard him. The village was attacked. I must return immediately."
"I'm leaving the withdrawal operation in your hands."
Chiyo responded expressionlessly, "Understood. I'll complete the evacuation plan."
Rasa nodded. "I'm counting on you."
With that, Rasa and his Kazekage guard departed the command center. Shukaku, still raising a fuss inside Bunpuku, accompanied them, though Rasa had no idea that his departure would have major consequences.
For Chiyo, consumed by the word revenge, had no intention of retreating.
"…Rasa…" she muttered, watching his figure vanish into the distance.
"Relay my command: cancel the withdrawal. We hold our position and await further orders."
Her guards responded without hesitation, "Yes, ma'am."
Three days later.
A travel-worn Rasa arrived back in Sunagakure. He barely had time to catch his breath before news hit him like a thunderclap:
Iwagakure had declared war on Konohagakure.
And their reason?
To avenge Sunagakure.
Rasa nearly exploded on the spot.
"Ōnoki, you conniving old bastard…!"
"To use our village as an excuse to start a war…!"
Rasa hurled every curse he could think of at the Third Tsuchikage, watching the wreckage of his village and inwardly leaning toward surrender, for the sake of recovery.
But Iwagakure's sudden move threw everything into chaos. It was like they had thrown Sunagakure onto the pyre.
Rasa now found himself completely stuck.
Sunagakure couldn't handle another war. If they surrendered to Konoha, they'd offend Iwagakure. And though he knew Ōnoki had orchestrated this war for his own ends, surrender would put them in Iwa's crosshairs.
But if they didn't surrender… how could a weakened Sunagakure keep fighting?
No matter what he chose, Rasa was damned either way.
Just then, Ken arrived, informing him of the real outcome from the skirmish with Iwa: the enemy had been completely wiped out.
Rasa's return finally gave Ken room to breathe. With the ninja forces returning to their posts, Sunagakure's defenses could be secured.
...
Meanwhile, Jiraiya, stationed on the border in anticipation of Iwagakure's aggression, sent word to Konoha the moment he heard.
In just a single day, news swept through the shinobi world: Iwagakure and Sunagakure had allied, and were jointly declaring war on Konohagakure.
Whether true or not, the masses believed it. Rumor became fact, and even a false alliance took on a terrifying realism.
"Sigh…"
"So… the day has come after all."
Though Jiraiya had long expected Iwagakure to initiate conflict, he realized in that moment how deeply he yearned for peace.
Wasting no time, he relayed the information back to Konoha. Border defenses were quickly reinforced.
War was inevitable.
...
At Kikyō Pass, within Konoha's forward command post.
When Orochimaru learned that the Suna force in the Land of Rivers had been reduced to barely over a thousand troops, he made a cold decision:
It was time to strike.
The blade would no longer be sheathed.
After enduring so many ambushes and casualties, he was done playing defense.
Two things motivated Orochimaru's choice.
First: Veigar Koshima and Minato Namikaze, both wielding Kage-level strength, meant Konoha had a real shot at victory.
Second: his experiments had reached a crucial stage. He now needed large numbers of living and dead test subjects for his research.
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