"Rogue ninja and other ninja factions…"
Akashō narrowed his eyes. So aside from the five great villages, there were still quite a lot of other ninja scattered throughout the world.
"No matter what, ten thousand ninja—even if they're just cannon fodder—should still yield at least five hundred thousand reputation points at minimum."
"And that's not even counting the Cloud Village they're planning to attack. After this wave, forget an S-rank third template—there might even be hope for a higher fourth template."
Akashō quickly ran the numbers in his head, and greed welled up inside him. He unconsciously licked his lips.
All of them… were like lush, green crops just waiting for him to harvest.
"Whether this intelligence scroll was intentionally or unintentionally handed to me by Orochimaru, I'm definitely accepting this gift."
Taking out a map, Akashō calculated the distance based on the departure time of the Stone Village army mentioned in the intel.
"The Stone Village army will reach the borders of the Land of Lightning in a little over a day. Even if the Cloud Village hasn't noticed yet, an army of this scale won't stay hidden for long. I've got at most two days."
...
At the Leaf Village camp on the Lightning-Fire battlefield.
"Lord Minato, the main force that arrived has already been settled."
A Leaf ninja reported to Minato: "But due to an ambush by elite Mist Village ninja along the way, we suffered considerable losses."
"Elite Mist Village ninja?"
Minato frowned slightly. "How many casualties?"
"About three hundred…"
"That many?"
"The ones leading them were the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist…"
Minato slammed his hand on the table, anger flashing across his face.
"They actually sent the Seven Ninja Swordsmen to launch an ambush? Is the Wind-Water battlefield really that stable?"
"Over there, Chiyo seems to have returned to reinforce the Wind-Fire battlefield to deal with Jiraiya-sama. That's probably why the Mist Village had the spare capacity to interfere elsewhere."
The Leaf jonin explained.
"Hmph."
Minato snorted coldly. "Still, facing an elite force led by the Seven Ninja Swordsmen and only losing around three hundred… that's already fortunate."
"That's because of a genin named Might. If he hadn't been there, the death toll would've been much higher."
"A genin named Might?"
Minato was momentarily stunned. Hadn't Guy already been promoted to chūnin?
"I see… Duy, then."
Minato recalled that man known as the "eternal genin." But he understood that the man's true strength was no weaker than some quasi-Kage-level fighters.
"Yes."
Minato smiled faintly. "Looks like he's finally revealed his true talent."
War brought not only massive death, but also the rise of countless powerful figures.
Like Kokushibo, the Moon Sword Demon who had attacked three of the five great villages in succession. Like the God of Destruction, Bertholdt. Like himself—the Yellow Flash, Minato. And also the Gold Dust wielder Rasa, as well as A and Killer B.
And today, a new strong figure would be born—Might Duy, who repelled the Seven Ninja Swordsmen and protected the Leaf forces.
"Where's this great hero? Why hasn't he come to see me?"
For the first time in many days, a faint smile appeared on Minato's face. He immediately wanted to meet Might Duy.
The Leaf jonin fell silent for a moment. Only after Minato sensed something was wrong and his smile slowly faded did he speak:
"Duy… is dead."
Minato looked around blankly. Dead?
That scruffy, always-smiling man… dead?
After a long pause, Minato asked hoarsely, "Who killed him?"
Asking that question meant Minato's anger had truly ignited—he was already thinking of revenge.
"He didn't die at anyone's hands."
"Duy opened the Eighth Gate of the Eight Gates. He killed four of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. The remaining three escaped."
Minato froze, not knowing what to say for a moment.
"The Gate of Death…"
Just as grief began to settle in his heart, a Leaf ninja rushed into the main tent.
"Lord Minato, there's movement at the Cloud Village camp!"
Minato immediately suppressed his emotions and took a deep breath.
"What, are they launching a full-scale assault?"
"No… it looks like they're heading back toward their own territory."
A sharp glint flashed in Minato's eyes.
"Looks like the movement from the Stone Village has already been discovered by them."
"What do you plan to do, Lord Minato?"
The ninja looked at him.
Minato narrowed his eyes. "What else? Stop them. Don't let them return for reinforcements."
"Yes! I'll gather the troops immediately!"
Watching the hurriedly departing jonin, Minato began recalling the intelligence sent earlier by Nara Shikaku.
As the only battlefield close to the Stone Village, only the Leaf camp on the Earth-Fire front could detect the large-scale mobilization from the Stone Village.
But would a cunning old fox like Ōnoki not realize that such a massive operation would be noticed by Leaf scouts?
Of course he knew.
But he also knew that the Leaf Village wouldn't interfere—because the Cloud Village was attacking the Leaf. Who would tip off their own enemy?
On the contrary, if the Stone Village encountered resistance, the Leaf might even offer some degree of assistance. And in the intel Shikaku sent to Minato, that was indeed his suggestion.
This… was strategy. A silent understanding that existed only between schemers.
But in Minato's view, it wasn't about understanding or strategy at all.
It was simply war.
Just like how the Mist Village suddenly intervened in the battle between the Leaf and the Cloud—even though they had no direct conflict with either side, they still acted.
No reason was needed.
That was war.