Inside the Hokage Building, in a small conference room, Hiruzen Sarutobi once again gathered his old comrades.
The Third Hokage still wore his robes of office and puffed calmly on his pipe, but his lined face carried a shadow of worry.
"Kumogakure has been fighting us for nearly a year and a half," he began, voice steady but heavy. "And Iwagakure for half a year.
"Before that, the war in Uzushio drained our coffers. Konoha has spent an unfathomable amount of money. Our ability to recover, militarily and economically, has been slowed.
"If things continue as they are, Konoha will inevitably fall from its place as the strongest village. This situation must change."
He looked around the table. "What are your thoughts?"
Danzo Shimura, Homura Mitokado, and Utatane Koharu exchanged glances before Homura spoke first.
"Perhaps we secretly send more forces to the front against Kumogakure?"
Hiruzen shook his head. "Their main army is entrenched in the Land of Hot Water. Even if we take them by surprise, they have the strength to hold. If we send more, they'll send more. We'd both sink deeper into the mire—that's exactly what they want."
Koharu tried next. "Then we should reinforce the Land of Grass. Orochimaru's still made some gains there."
"Theoretically, yes," Hiruzen admitted. "But in practice… no. I've been studying the war reports and intelligence. Orochimaru's battle style has shifted drastically. He's deliberately slowing the campaign."
That revelation startled the others.
"What?"
"Impossible!" Homura and Koharu exclaimed.
Danzo's eyes flickered with surprise, then a spark of satisfaction. He forced his expression back to sternness. "Hiruzen… Orochimaru is expressing dissatisfaction with you."
If the master–disciple bond frayed, Orochimaru's chances of becoming Hokage dimmed. That suited Danzo just fine.
"I know," Hiruzen said grimly. "There are countless ways to express discontent, but he chose the one that most harms Konoha. Excessive doesn't even begin to cover it."
He pulled the pipe from his lips, smoke flaring from his nostrils like an angry dragon.
Danzo smiled faintly, twisting the knife. "Excessive indeed. But judging by your reaction, the method is working."
"Enough sarcasm," Hiruzen cut in. "Homura, Koharu—you've spoken. Danzo, what's your view?"
Danzo straightened. "Root can deploy. Send my operatives into Iwagakure. Coordinate with our spies already there. A single decisive strike could destabilize the village. An assassination perhaps even of Ōnoki himself."
Hiruzen shook his head. "Too great a risk. If it fails, we invite escalation. Such gambles must remain last resorts."
Danzo's voice went cold. "Then enlighten us, Hiruzen. What is your brilliant plan?"
A thin smile crossed the Hokage's lips. "We'll send an envoy to Sunagakure."
That drew startled looks.
"Sunagakure?" Homura and Koharu's eyes lit up. Danzo's expression darkened.
"Yes," Hiruzen continued. "They may have been forced into our alliance, but they are still allies. The Land of Earth and the Land of Wind share a border. Their villages have clashed for generations. The enemy of our enemy… is our friend.
"Rasa is newly Kazekage. He needs achievements to secure his power. If we offer proper incentives, he will not ignore such an opportunity. With Sunagakure's aid, Iwagakure will be forced onto the back foot. And if Orochimaru still delays, I'll cut his research funding and bar him from the Scroll of Seals."
The advisors exchanged glances.
"Feasible," Homura said with a smile.
"Excellent," Koharu agreed.
"Then so be it," Danzo muttered.
"Good," Hiruzen said, ignoring Danzo's sour tone. "Next, we decide who to send and what price is worth paying."
That same afternoon, Konoha dispatched an envoy under deep secrecy.
Three days later, after crossing the deserts of the Wind Country, they met with Rasa, Chiyo, Ebizo, and Sunagakure's council.
After fierce negotiation, an agreement was struck. Sunagakure would send a thousand shinobi, commanded by Maki and Pakura, to join Konoha's forces in the Land of Grass.
Despite efforts to keep things quiet, Iwagakure's spies in Sunagakure caught wind of the envoy's arrival. Though they lacked the details, they sensed danger and transmitted the intelligence with highest urgency.
Within half a day, the report reached Ōnoki.
His expression flickered, but he quickly recovered, issuing immediate warnings to the front. Then he sat on the Tsuchikage's throne, mind sharpening.
Sunagakure's troops were already marching. At normal pace, they'd arrive within a day; forced, half that. Either way, they would reach the battlefield rested and ready to strike.
If nothing changed, Iwagakure's forces would be crushed.
But Ōnoki was no ordinary Kage. Within moments, a countermeasure formed. Relieved, he summoned his council.
Inside Iwagakure's council chamber, grim-faced officials gathered. Anbu sealed the doors, ensuring no word slipped out.
Ōnoki laid out the situation. The news shocked the room, leaving some rattled, others silent, and a few scrambling for half-baked solutions.
He sighed inwardly. No successors worth trusting.
"Ahem. Quiet." His cough silenced them.
"I've already warned the front. But that alone changes nothing. Therefore, I've made four deployments."
He raised a finger. "First, Kitsuchi will send Grass shinobi into the Land of Rain to intercept.
"Second, we'll approach Hanzo. Give him benefits, and he'll dispatch Amegakure's shinobi to help stall Sunagakure.
"Third, I've hired mercenary organizations. Small, disorganized, but they'll buy us time.
"These three measures delay the enemy. The fourth is reinforcements, nine hundred, enough to balance numbers without risking escalation. With returning Grass shinobi and the forces already in place, we'll at least match the Konoha–Suna coalition."
The room eased, relief softening faces. Respect gleamed in some eyes, smugness in others, as if to say See? With Ōnoki, there's nothing to fear.
"However," the Tsuchikage continued, "Grass shinobi are no match for Sunagakure. We need a longer-term counter. Suggestions?"
One official offered, "We should use Lord Tsuchikage's renowned art of sowing discord to break their alliance."
Ōnoki's face darkened. "…Are you praising me or insulting me?"
Still, many nodded in agreement.
"Fools," Ōnoki snapped. "At this stage, any trick will be pinned squarely on Iwagakure. It won't work. Think! Konoha already showed us the path, and you still can't see it?"
The council bowed their heads under his rebuke.
Finally, one ventured, "Do you mean… to ally with the Hidden Mist?"
"At least you didn't say Kumogakure," Ōnoki muttered. "Yes. Send an envoy to Kirigakure. Yagura won't sit idle forever. If persuasion fails, use bribes. The Mist may not dare strike Konoha yet, but Sunagakure? That's another matter. Even a border raid will force Suna to divide its strength. With luck, the scales will tilt in our favor."
The council nodded. Plans were drawn. Within half an hour, Iwagakure's envoy departed into the night.