"It is an urgent matter," Hiruzen Sarutobi said hurriedly. "Come in."
"Yes, Lord Hokage." The door was pushed open, and a masked ANBU ninja knelt. "Lord Hokage, urgent intelligence has been sent from the battlefield between Konoha and Kumogakure."
"Konoha and Kumogakure," Hiruzen Sarutobi repeated. "Give the letter to me."
"Yes, Lord Hokage." The ANBU handed the correspondence directly to Hiruzen and then left the room.
"What exactly happened over there?" Hiruzen Sarutobi opened the letter. As he read the contents, his expression grew increasingly grim, and his earlier joy vanished entirely.
The news from that battlefield was dire.
Under the assault of the main Cloud force, the Konoha troops were retreating step by step and were already nearing the border of the Land of Fire.
The letter detailed the brutality of the conflict and concluded with a desperate request for reinforcements from Konoha.
"We need support." Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath, considering the situation of the three battlefields and what arrangements were necessary to keep Konoha in the best possible state.
"The battlefield with the Sand Ninjas is currently in a stable phase. We can draw personnel from there; there is no need for both Orochimaru and Jiraiya to remain at that post."
"As for Iwagakure, they have just suffered a crushing defeat. We only need to send someone to stabilize our positions there."
"The most critical area now is the front against the Cloud Ninjas; they are in dire need of strength." Hiruzen Sarutobi thought for a moment and then wrote three letters.
A moment later.
"Someone come in," Hiruzen Sarutobi called out.
"Yes, Lord Hokage." The door opened, and an ANBU ninja answered immediately.
"Deliver these three letters directly to the three battlefields," Hiruzen Sarutobi commanded. "Move quickly. Send them out at once."
"Yes, Lord Hokage." The ANBU nodded.
"Also, summon the Konoha ninjas. We have a battlefield in need of reinforcements," Hiruzen continued.
"Yes..." The ANBU quickly left the scene.
"I hope it's not too late," Hiruzen Sarutobi said, looking up at the pitch-black sky.
While Hiruzen Sarutobi was arranging these actions, over at the Root headquarters:
Danzō looked at the letter in his hand, his body trembling slightly. "I didn't expect... I never expected this brat would actually know Wood Release. This is truly beyond belief."
Danzō's eyes flickered with a light of utter disbelief. He paid little mind to the fact that Tianyuan had crushed nearly a thousand Stone Ninjas.
"Kinoe." Danzō thought of the experimental subject who had survived Orochimaru's teststhe subject Danzō treasured. Though that subject could also use Wood Release, compared to the reports of Tianyuan's terrifying Deep Forest Emergence, it was like comparing a small wizard to a grand master. They weren't even in the same league.
"The First Hokage's Wood Release." Danzō's eyes flashed with a cold light. "Tianyuan... it's Tianyuan again."
Danzō's heart felt very heavy.
Tianyuan's strength seemed to be growing ever greater, and finding a way to restrain him was becoming increasingly difficult.
"There must be a way. Besides, Hanzo will soon be wavering." Danzō grinned.
Konoha, Uchiha Clan Compound.
It was very quiet here now, as most of the Uchiha clan members had joined the war. With three ninja villages besieging Konoha, the village truly felt as if it were caught in a violent storm.
Inside a somewhat grand building, a very small child sat on the steps, looking up at the stars. His eyes held a depth of thought uncommon for a child.
"Itachi, why have you come out alone again? The weather is cold, come inside." A gentle-looking woman walked up to the child.
"Mother, I understand," the child, Itachi Uchiha, replied with a nod. "Father and Big Brother Shisui have both gone to fight in the war. Why must there be war?"
"Why is there war?" The woman paused. How could she explain the cruelty of war to Itachithat it was fought for resources, land, and power?
"Itachi, you will understand when you grow up." The woman stroked Itachi's head. "Besides, that Tianyuan is very powerful. Perhaps if one possesses such strength, the war will end quickly..."
"Tianyuan." Itachi thought of the smiling Tianyuan, who seemed somewhat loathsome in his eyes.
"I know, Mother. Tianyuan has the power of the Mangekyō. I will possess the Mangekyō as well, definitely," Itachi said hurriedly.
"I believe you can do it, Itachi. Come, let's go back inside now," the woman smiled.
"I understand, Mother." Itachi stood up from the steps. "As long as my strength is great enough, I can definitely stop the war."
At that moment, the light in Itachi's eyes was exceptionally bright.
"I don't want too many people to die."
While the Konoha ninjas continued their preparations, the three letters flew toward their distant destinations.
Several hours later.
The sky began to brighten with a faint, hazy glow.
At the Kikyo Pass battlefield, a rare gathering of most of the Sunagakure jonin had been called.
Orochimaru and Jiraiya glanced at each other. Jiraiya stepped forward and spoke. "We have received news from Konoha. Kumogakure has also launched an attack against our Land of Fire."
"How can this be?" the ninjas present cried out in shock. Two villages were already besieging Konoha, and now there was a third.
Konoha was standing alone against three ninja villages.
"It is true. Furthermore, on the Kumogakure front, Konoha's reinforcements are being routed," Jiraiya said.
His words caused the expressions of the Konoha ninjas to turn grim.
"Therefore, the Lord Hokage has made several arrangements for us," Jiraiya continued. "Minato, take your team and go to assist the battlefield near the Land of Earth."
"Orochimaru, take your subordinates and reinforce the front against Kumogakure," Jiraiya said solemnly.
"At the same time, I have good news for everyone," Jiraiya added. "Tianyuan achieved a great victory at Iwagakure, crushing over a thousand Stone Ninjas. Moreover, the power he used is something you likely wouldn't expect."
"It was the power of Wood Releasethe ability of the First Hokage." As he spoke, Jiraiya looked incredibly proud.
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