Since war had already been decided upon, the next step was pre-war mobilization and strategic preparation.
And because it was going to be a lightning war, Kumogakure's preparations were done with extreme secrecy — and incredible speed.
Within half a day, the troops were assembled. Within three days, a rapid forced march had been completed. While the rest of the shinobi world was still fixated on the media war between Konoha and Kumogakure, the Fourth Raikage A had already led his elite forces into the Land of Rivers, now facing the border of the Land of Fire.
"Lord Fourth!"
"Big Bro!"
Under the cover of a hazy moon, the Fourth Raikage A stood atop a towering tree, silently surveying the endless forest of the Land of Fire ahead, a strange look on his face.
Behind him stood the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki, Killer B, and the Two-Tails Jinchūriki, Yugito Nii — as well as a Kumo jōnin with short purple hair and distinct lower lashes.
This was none other than Tōdai, the frontline commander from Kumogakure's last war against Konoha.
"How's the recon?"
The Fourth Raikage's tone was grim as he tightened the heavy gauntlet on his right wrist. Blue-white arcs of lightning crackled around his body — he was fully charged, ready to strike.
"The Byakugan's vision can pierce through obstacles up to a kilometer away, but when focused, they can see even ten kilometers in the distance."
(Reference: During the canon brotherly battle, Hinata used the Byakugan to spot Amaterasu flames ten kilometers away.)
"Our current distance from Konoha's border patrol is twenty kilometers. A full-speed assault will take only minutes to reach them."
"What about Kirigakure?"
"No movement detected," Tōdai replied in a low, heavy voice, clearly uneasy. "But according to intel from Iwagakure and previous operations, Kiri's shinobi are extremely fast. Especially those Shinigami — we estimate they possess flight, or even large-scale teleportation space-time ninjutsu similar to the Heavenly Transfer Jutsu."
"As long as our strike is like thunder and swift as the wind, Kiri won't be fast enough to respond!"
The Fourth Raikage's voice cut through the night. He clenched his fists tighter as he gazed into the pitch-black sea of forest ahead.
"Listen up, Tōdai — half an hour from now, you lead the main army forward. B, Yugito, you're coming with me for the initial strike!"
"Yes, sir!"
This was a lightning war. Naturally, speed and aggression were key. With the Fourth Raikage and two perfect Jinchūriki leading the charge, they formed an unstoppable spearhead that could pierce through any defense. The main force would follow behind to clean up.
A dark night with a chill wind — the perfect time to kill.
Electric arcs danced violently over the Raikage's body. This man — ambitious and brutal, yet until now largely ineffective — was finally ready to bare his sharpest fangs to the world!
"This battle… will show the shinobi world the power of Kumogakure!"
Lightning erupted. Chakra surged. Three figures vanished without a trace.
Meanwhile, at the Fire Country's border…
Atop a watchtower.
A few Konoha shinobi were chatting and laughing. Only Aburame Shiyū, a jōnin in dark shades, stood silently against the wall.
"We're guarding the border — shouldn't we take this a bit more seriously?"
"C'mon, Shiyū, don't be so uptight. Haven't you been watching the news? Kiri already made their stance clear!" said Inuzuka Ao from below with a grin. "I hate those guys, but they're strong as hell. With Kiri backing us up, Kumo doesn't even dare fart in our direction. What're you still worried about?"
"Don't be too optimistic, Ao," Shiyū replied, adjusting his glasses. "Between great nations, a few harsh words don't mean much."
"Pfft, watch — in two days, forget war, Kumo's gonna be the one apologizing to us!"
"Haha, can't deny it — even though the Fifth Hokage's a Uchiha, this alliance with Kirigakure really was a brilliant move!"
"No joke — have you seen that infrastructure project? My cousin's working on it. The pay and benefits? Insane! Way better than what we get out here."
"What can we do? They're the ones with the money. We just get stuck here freezing our butts off."
Bzzz… bzzz…
Ignoring his companions' chatter, Shiyū quietly channeled chakra to sense the swarm of bugs he had deployed earlier.
All clear. No enemies.
"No enemies nearby." He relayed the info with cold efficiency, then returned to leaning against the wall. The others just laughed, thinking Shiyū was being overly paranoid.
But Shiyū remained silent.
Back in the Third Great Ninja War, Konoha had suffered heavy losses due to poor intel management. Their enemy back then? None other than the phantom-like Mizunotsuki Yoru.
After the war, the Aburame clan head, Shikai, had issued a harsh reminder:
A shinobi's war is a war of information. Knowing the enemy's position is the foundation of intelligence. That is the Aburame's duty.
If you hold the position — fulfill the responsibility. Reconnaissance could not fail.
Zzzzt…
Just as the sentries let their guard down, a flash of blue-white lightning streaked through the darkness.
The Hyūga branch family jōnin barely had time to activate his Byakugan before a massive lightning-charged fist punched clean through the skull of the Inuzuka beside him. In a flash, that same hand grabbed the Hyūga's face.
The man's forehead protector was ripped off, revealing the cursed seal of the Caged Bird.
"So it's a branch member, huh…"
A flicker of disappointment passed through the Fourth Raikage's eyes. His chakra flared again — and in the next instant, the Hyūga jōnin's brain was fried into paste.
Aburame Shiyū's ever-blank expression finally twisted in horror.
He stared at the muscular figure cloaked in lightning — and the two figures who appeared behind him.
His heart clenched.
"T-The Fourth Raikage… No way…"
For a Kage to appear here — the implication was obvious.
The Raikage cast a disdainful glance at the scorched Hyūga corpse, then flicked his gaze toward Shiyū. Lightning surged from his body again.
Lightning Release: Liger Bomb!
The Raikage's body shot forward like a cannonball. The escaping chakra fried the Aburame's bugs on the spot. His hand cleaved through the air with thunderous force.
A clean decapitation.
The pale moonlight shone on the ground. The corpses of all three Konoha shinobi still sizzled from the residual heat.
"Keep moving!"
"Yes, sir!"
Like a spear driving through the night, the three tore deep into the Land of Fire's territory...
It had to be said — the Raikage's speed was terrifying.
From the border of the Land of Rivers, he pushed all the way into the heart of the Land of Fire in just one night. With his Lightning Release chakra cloak, he cut down every outpost and guard station in his path.
By the time Fugaku received word of the invasion, the Fourth Raikage was already at the gates — deep in the Land of Fire's interior.
"Hmph. Since you're so eager to die, let me grant your wish."
Fresh from completing a successful experiment, Fugaku was riding a massive surge in power — and with no more worries about ocular degeneration, his confidence was unshakable. He immediately called an emergency Jōnin council meeting.
Within moments, the jōnin stationed in Konoha rushed to the Hokage building.
Looking over the gathered leaders of the Uchiha, Hyūga, Ino-Shika-Chō, and Aburame clans — plus the other elite jōnin — Fugaku showed no sign of stress. Instead, he stood tall, his voice sharp, clutching the intel report.
His eyes swept across the room. Among all the jōnin present, only the Uchiha wore expressions of excitement.
No one wanted war. But right now, war was unavoidable.
"This is the latest report. The Fourth Raikage and two Jinchūriki have broken deep into Fire Country. They're just a few miles from Konoha. Behind them is an elite Kumo force numbering in the thousands."
"Since taking office, I've led Konoha into a golden age — defeating Kumogakure, allying with Kirigakure, and intimidating Iwagakure. The Three Nation Infrastructure Pact has created countless jobs for our citizens."
"We're finally rising again. But now, Kumogakure seeks not only our kekkei genkai— they want to destroy the peace we've worked so hard for."
"Tell me… what should we do?!"
"We fight!" shouted Uchiha Inabi, raising his arm.
"Exactly! Only war can put down these snakes! Only war will protect what's ours!"
"Uchiha Setsuna!"
"Lord Fifth!"
Setsuna, present not as a shinobi but as an Uchiha elder, spoke coldly:
"Deploy 500 shinobi. Intercept Kumo's forces from the Kawazu Pass!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Elder Danzō!"
Danzō, silent until now, stiffened as Fugaku called his name. For a moment, he looked stunned.
"Deploy 500. Move in from Miki City and cut off their rear!"
Danzō inhaled deeply, his exposed eye flashing with resolve.
"Leave it to me, Lord Fifth."
"Elder Torifu!"
"Here!"
Akimichi Torifu stood tall, his expression solemn.
Despite once being a political rival and close ally of Hiruzen Sarutobi, neither he nor Danzō hesitated now that Konoha was in peril.
You're willing to use us? We're willing to fight.
"Deploy 500. Move to the Fire-Earth border. Reinforce defenses — Iwa may seize this chance."
"Understood!"
"Mitokado Homura!"
Homura furrowed his brows but still stepped forward.
"The enemy is at our doorstep. We need all defensive barriers replaced within three days. We cannot repeat the same security lapses that the Hyūga once suffered."
"...Understood."
Homura exhaled heavily. With Minato gone, he was now the most proficient in space-time jutsu. Overhauling the barrier network was his burden to bear.
Fugaku assigned each task in rapid succession. Every shinobi in the room wore a solemn face.
Despite the precise division of labor, the forces being deployed were relatively limited — just 1,000 from Danzō and Setsuna combined — against 3,000 to 4,000 elite Kumo shinobi.
But this was all Konoha could spare.
"And lastly…"
Fugaku turned to Hyūga Hiashi — and a silent jōnin standing quietly in the corner.
"Hyūga Hiashi. Kazematsuri. You'll come with me. We're confronting the Fourth Raikage head-on."
"This battle — Konoha must win!"
Hiashi nodded slightly. The jōnin beside him exhaled slowly, then gave a firm nod.
Some readers may wonder — who is this "Kazematsuri" who got personally selected to fight alongside Fugaku and Hiashi?
He is Kazematsuri— or rather, Senju Fūsai!
After the First Shinobi War, the Senju clan withdrew from the spotlight and relinquished their clan name. But a few refused to abandon the glory of their lineage.
Unfortunately, this sentiment wasn't widely accepted. The mainstream Senju believed they had already fully merged with Konoha and saw no reason to maintain a separate clan identity.
Yet some, like Fūsai, remained stubborn.
When Tsunade left Konoha, Fūsai could no longer hold back. Gathering a small number of supporters, he adopted "Kazematsuri" as a new surname and quietly reestablished a clan.
Fun fact: In the Boruto era, a descendant of the Kazematsuri clan — Kazematsuri Moegi — awakened Wood Release, becoming the first Senju since Hashirama to do so naturally.
Inside the Hokage office, Fugaku looked at Fūsai and Hiashi — as if three beams of light were shining on the three of them.
Hyūga. Senju. Uchiha.
The three founding clans of Konoha — reunited once more.
But this time, the one leading them...
Was Uchiha.