After eliminating the Sand Ninja controlled by genjutsu, Asuma Sarutobi and the other two emerged from the cave.
"What do we do now?" Kurenai Yūhi asked.
"Sasori isn't in Sunagakure. Could he have assassinated the Third Kazekage?"
Shizune's expression turned serious. "I heard Lady Tsunade mention that Sunagakure's Puppet Technique has a secret art that can turn people into puppets. What if that guy turned the Third Kazekage into a puppet?"
Asuma Sarutobi couldn't help but glance at Shizune.
He had only guided them a little, and the truth had already come out.
So, next...
"Let's find a Bounty Office and put out a bounty!" Asuma Sarutobi said with a smile.
"A bounty?"
Kurenai Yūhi and Shizune looked at him, puzzled.
Asuma Sarutobi explained, "We're only speculating. To confirm this speculation, the three of us alone absolutely cannot do it."
"Since that's the case, we should naturally let the Sand Ninja verify it."
"By placing a bounty on Sasori at the Bounty Office, we can first spread the news that Sasori assassinated the Third Kazekage."
Kurenai Yūhi and Shizune were still a bit confused.
Asuma Sarutobi elaborated, "No matter who harmed the Third Kazekage, it absolutely cannot be us from Konoha, or someone from the Land of Fire. Even if Sunagakure won't give up their idea of war because of this!"
"If we harmed the Third Kazekage, Sunagakure attacks us; if someone from Sunagakure harmed the Third Kazekage, Sunagakure attacks us. These are two completely different situations."
With that explanation, Kurenai Yūhi and Shizune understood.
The three then set off to find a Bounty Office.
The Land of Rain had one, and it wasn't difficult to find.
Upon arriving at the Bounty Office, Asuma Sarutobi concealed his identity, and without impersonating a Sand Ninja, he entered alone to place a bounty on Sasori and paid the reward.
Afterward, the three found a nearby place to lie in wait, quietly anticipating how things would unfold.
The Bounty Office had considerable influence. Before nightfall, news of the bounty placed on Sasori for assassinating the Third Kazekage had already reached the desks of the Kage of the major ninja villages.
Meanwhile, within Sunagakure, a high-level meeting was urgently convened, erupting into heated arguments.
Chiyo remained silent. When the arguments subsided, she finally spoke, "Regardless of which ninja village leaked this news, let's investigate Sasori first!"
Everyone present was startled to hear this.
Everyone knew that Sasori was Chiyo's beloved grandson.
Chiyo, however, showed no emotion and continued, "But, no matter who harmed the Third Kazekage, the position of Fourth Kazekage cannot remain vacant."
"If you continue to argue, the only ones who will benefit are the other four great ninja villages!"
As she spoke, she raised her eyelids, her gaze sweeping across each person present.
...
The next day, after learning that the Sand Ninja were searching for the whereabouts of the Third Kazekage and Sasori, Asuma Sarutobi knew their plan had succeeded.
"Let's return to the village!"
Asuma Sarutobi decisively made his decision.
The mission was complete.
Furthermore, he could sense the scent of war.
July 22nd, Konoha Year 43, slightly past 8 PM.
Asuma Sarutobi and the other two rushed back to Konohagakure.
July 25th, Konoha Year 43.
Asuma Sarutobi learned that an elite force from Iwagakure had launched a southward surprise attack on the Land of Wind.
The Third Great Ninja War had begun!
"I didn't expect the Stone Ninja to make the first move!" Kurenai Yūhi exclaimed in surprise.
According to their previous analysis, Sunagakure should have been the one to start the war to divert internal conflicts.
Asuma Sarutobi put on his clothes and said with a smile, "Because there were profits to be made."
"Sunagakure is in chaos due to the Third Kazekage incident, so it's not strange for them to take advantage of the situation."
"Although the Land of Wind is mostly sand, it also has many mineral resources."
Fifteen minutes later.
Asuma Sarutobi and the other two arrived at the Hokage's office to accept their latest mission.
They were to patrol the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rivers.
It was clear they were guarding against Sunagakure.
Although Sunagakure was currently dealing with Iwagakure.
After packing their things, at 11 AM, the trio of Sarutobi Asuma left Konoha.
However, they only reached the border by evening.
Sarutobi Asuma found that neither the border defense forces nor the scouting teams sent ahead into the Land of Rivers seemed to feel any atmosphere of war.
There was nothing Sarutobi Asuma could do about this, so he could only work diligently and not slacken his training.
The effort he put in now would become the capital for his survival in the future.
And although one person's influence was limited, at least Yūhi Kurenai and Shizune followed closely in Sarutobi Asuma's footsteps.
A month passed in the blink of an eye.
Having safely passed the month, Sarutobi Asuma's team returned to Konoha for rest and refitting.
They finally learned that Rasa had succeeded the Fourth Kazekage.
It was said that Rasa had once single-handedly held off a thousand Iwa Ninja troops, essentially blocking the invasion of the Iwa Ninja by himself, which gave the Sand Ninja time to organize their forces, thus preventing heavy losses.
It was precisely because of this that Rasa had succeeded as the Fourth Kazekage.
"Circumstances create heroes!"
Sarutobi Asuma couldn't help but sigh when he heard this, but he immediately cast it aside and immersed himself in his training.
The looming clouds of war made him cherish the little time he had left even more.
Konoha Year 43, September 8th.
Less than two months after the war between Sunagakure and Iwagakure broke out, Kirigakure suddenly attacked the coastal areas of the Land of Wind.
The war between Kirigakure and Sunagakure officially began.
Sunagakure was now facing attacks from two great ninja villages simultaneously.
"Do we have a mission?"
Sarutobi Asuma asked Kurenai, who had come to deliver the news.
"Not yet."
Yūhi Kurenai shook her head, but then her tone shifted, "However, many ninja from the village have gone north. Perhaps Kumogakure is making a move."
"Kumogakure?"
Sarutobi Asuma raised an eyebrow and thought, "Most likely a smokescreen."
"But it's rare for those warmongers to have held back this long."
Yūhi Kurenai couldn't help but chuckle at this, but then she realized, "Asuma, are you saying that Kumogakure is intentionally acting like they want to start a war with us, but in reality, they want to attack Iwagakure?"
Sarutobi Asuma nodded and analyzed, "Kumogakure is warlike, but they aren't stupid."
"When starting a war, of course, you attack the weaker opponent."
"Of the Five Great Ninja Villages, our Konoha is the strongest. Kumogakure wouldn't attack us alone at this time."
"The best target would be Iwagakure, who is currently fighting Sunagakure."
Yūhi Kurenai nodded in agreement, "That makes sense!"
Then she asked, "Asuma, have you completed your Scorch Release Chakra Mode?"
Sarutobi Asuma shook his head, "Just a little bit more."
He had already mastered the Wind Release Chakra Mode, but for Scorch Release, it was a newly synthesized Kekkei Genkai, requiring even more time to become proficient.
...
Hokage's Office.
Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned as he looked at two pieces of intelligence.
These two pieces of intelligence had only been delivered by Hatake Sakumo and Namikaze Minato not long ago.
One was about the secret meeting between Sunagakure and Kumogakure.
The other was about the secret meeting between Kirigakure and Kumogakure.
Regarding the meeting between Sunagakure and Kumogakure, Sarutobi Hiruzen could guess their intentions.
But what were Kirigakure and Kumogakure up to?
Were they conspiring to launch a surprise attack on Konoha?
Just then, the door was pushed open, and Danzō walked in.
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked up and asked, "Did Hanzō agree?"
Danzō shook his head and let out a cold snort, "That guy is old now!"
"He can't even fully control the Land of Rain anymore. He wants to sit back and watch other ninja villages fight each other."
The alliance had failed!
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Since Hanzō doesn't want to ally with us, we absolutely cannot let the Stone Ninja win him over."
Danzō nodded. "I've already made arrangements, don't worry!"
"Good, I'll leave the Land of Rain to you."
As he spoke, Sarutobi Hiruzen handed two pieces of intelligence from the table to Danzō and asked, "What do you think?"
After quickly scanning the two intelligence reports, Danzō looked up and said, "Giving these two pieces of intelligence separately to the Stone Ninja and the Sand Ninja would be a very good choice!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded slightly.
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