agagaf

Takuya Yagami, who had prepared in advance, donned his raincoat as he patrolled his assigned area.

This night, he was destined to have very little rest, either patrolling on the move or being on guard during his rounds.

"Mizukage-sama, we should launch an all-out attack. Konoha's losses are immense; if we launch the offensive now, we can definitely breach the borders of the Fire Country."

"And then what?"

The Third Mizukage looked completely uninterested, even yawning right in front of the gathered Jonin.

Yagura was so frustrated he almost lost his cool, but he kept his composure and continued, "Mizukage-sama, Konoha's forces have taken significant losses. There's no way they can hold their long coastal defense lines. Before Konoha's reinforcements arrive, this is an excellent opportunity."

What has gotten into Mizukage-sama?

He randomly showed up at the frontline, claiming to oversee the battle, even bringing along the Jinchūriki, sacrificing them to unleash the two tailed beasts upon Konoha, which had dealt them a heavy blow.

But no matter how much Yagura tried, he couldn't convince the Third Mizukage, who seemed intent on his own plans.

To everyone's surprise, the results were actually favorable. Konoha had been caught off guard and suffered major losses, forcing them to retreat and establish defensive lines deeper inland. The harsh weather played to the advantage of the Mist Ninjas, perfect for launching an invasion of the Fire Country.

Yet, at this crucial juncture, the Third Mizukage decided to back off.

The invasion could proceed, but only in a limited scope.

"Are you questioning my decision?"

The once yawning Third Mizukage's aura suddenly shifted, as if he were a fierce beast staring Yagura down.

"I wouldn't dare!"

Yagura bowed his head and offered a resigned apology.

"Hmph!"

Due to Yagura's repeated persuasion, the Third Mizukage seemed to grow impatient.

"I know what you're thinking, Yagura, but you are still too young. Even if we breached the borders of the Fire Country, what then? When Konoha's reinforcements arrive, do you really think we could withstand their counterattack?"

"Now is the time to wait. I am confident that Sunagakure has seen our sincerity. The Third Kazekage will surely declare war on Konoha."

Invade the Fire Country?

What would be the point of that?

To the Third Mizukage, whether Mist Village's shinobi set foot in the Fire Country wasn't the priority. What mattered more was dragging other villages into the fray.

The Sand Village would undoubtedly join the fight, and ideally, both the Stone and Cloud Villages would get involved to make things truly chaotic.

If Sunagakure declared war on Konoha, it would force Konoha into a two-front battle, which would be the ideal outcome. For now, though, Yagura was convinced that pressing the attack was more important and protested, "Mizukage-sama, even if Sunagakure agrees to fight, it won't necessarily benefit us. Mist Village needs to invade the Fire Country."

"Enough!"

The Third Mizukage snapped.

"Yagura, I am the Mizukage. Are you suggesting that you wish to override my command?"

"I wouldn't dare."

Faced with such accusations, Yagura backed down.

"I will make the decisions here. You seem tired, Yagura. Perhaps it's best for you to return to the village with a contingent and protect it, in case of another invasion."

Yagura just wasn't getting it.

The Third Mizukage had made up his mind to send him back to the village so this shorty wouldn't keep getting in the way of his plans.

"Uh..."

Yagura was stunned, unable to believe that he had essentially been relieved of his position.

The rest of the command unit were equally shocked. No one had expected that Yagura's persistence would lead to the Third Mizukage's irritation, resulting in him being reassigned to the village.

It seemed rather rash to casually strip someone of their command like this.

Many wondered, but no one dared to speak up for Yagura.

The war had been dragging on for so long, and Mist Village had been stuck in a cycle of frustration, with more and more people becoming dissatisfied with Yagura. Under such circumstances, no one wanted to intercede on his behalf.

"I'm tired. Carry out the plan as I have stated. Yagura, gather your belongings and return."

Waving his hand dismissively, the Third Mizukage had no interest in any further discussion and left the command center.

The others began to disperse, leaving Yagura standing there, dumbfounded.

"Hahaha, I knew Yagura would end up like this!"

"All those so-called attrition tactics, those invasion plans—all useless!"

"Shh, keep your voice down. Yagura won't hesitate to kill you if he hears."

"Afraid of what? He's lost the Mizukage's favor. Do you think Yagura still holds the same authority he once had?"

Wherever there are people, there is conflict. Where there's conflict, there's strife.

Even in the relatively stable environment of Konoha, there are all kinds of intrigues and rivalries. If that's true for Konoha, imagine how it is for the Mist Village, where bloodline conflicts are intense.

Many were already dissatisfied with Yagura, who had acted as the Mizukage's executioner for so long. He had become the blade in the Mizukage's hand, gaining absolute authority at the cost of losing popularity, alienating many in the process.

Few, if any, lamented Yagura's removal. Some even openly laughed at him.

With his enthusiasm extinguished by the Third Mizukage's cold response, Yagura departed from the battlefield, disheartened, making his way back to the Mist Village.

Despite Yagura's forced departure, Mist Village's invasion plan was set into motion. However, the Third Mizukage opted against the large-scale offensive Yagura had recommended, instead deciding on a limited incursion.

With ease, Takuya Yagami's Kusanagi Sword pierced the enemy's heart. He didn't even bother looking at his fallen opponent, simply shaking the blood off his weapon as he muttered to himself, puzzled, "What are the Mist Ninjas plotting? Only three squads showed up all night."

Something was definitely off.

Takuya's assigned area was vast, but his sensory abilities were strong. As long as he kept up his rounds without slacking, any enemies entering his domain would fall, unable to infiltrate the Fire Country. All who attempted were slain by his sword.

Yet despite all these successes, Takuya felt no sense of satisfaction.

There were simply too few enemies.

It made no sense.

Konoha had suffered a major defeat, their losses severe, with barely half their forces capable of fighting.

Including those guarding the camp, the number of ninja available for defense was pitifully small.

Otherwise, why else would someone like Takuya be left in charge of such a large area?

Under these circumstances, if the Mist Ninjas had even a shred of tactical sense, they would have launched an all-out invasion, breaching Konoha's defenses and marching straight into the Fire Country.

Even if the supplies looted couldn't be taken back, causing widespread destruction would still be effective. If the losses were too great, the Daimyo of the Fire Country would surely hold Konoha's leadership accountable.

Mist Village wouldn't waste such a golden opportunity.

Yet here they were...

Patrolling for most of the night, Takuya had encountered only three squads, and none of them were anything special. It felt strange.

"Are they focusing their forces on another region?"

Takuya Yagami sheathed his weapon, not even bothering to deal with the enemy's corpse. Someone else would take care of that when dawn arrived.

He was contemplating where exactly the Mist Village's attack point might be.

"Deliver the scroll to Orochimaru."

He wrote a report of the situation in his assigned area, placed it in a scroll, and let the small white snake, which had been slithering alongside him, carry it to Orochimaru.

Takuya jumped into a tree, settled into a hollow, and pulled out a meat pie he had made earlier, munching on it as he kept watch.

What Takuya didn't know was that it wasn't just his area that had encountered only a few enemies; similar situations were reported from all other areas.

The small white snake obediently returned to Orochimaru's side, spat out the scroll, and then disappeared out of the tent without a trace.

Upon opening the scroll, Orochimaru could no longer keep his usual smile.

It wasn't just Takuya's scroll; he had received several like it.

"This scroll is from Takuya. In his area, only three squads of Chunin appeared throughout the night, without a single Jonin leading them," said Orochimaru, handing the scroll to Jiraiya.

Jiraiya's brows furrowed.

"This doesn't add up. With Yagura's skills, there's no way he'd let an opportunity like this slip by. But each area hardly faced any significant enemy attacks or incursions. Could it be that the Mist Village has abandoned a full-scale invasion?"

Originally, Jiraiya had his own mission, but due to the strange circumstances, Orochimaru had no choice but to call him back.

"If you were Yagura, would you let this opportunity go?"

"Absolutely not."

Jiraiya shook his head decisively.

If he were Yagura, he wouldn't just launch a full invasion under cover of night; he'd attack before the tailed beasts could be handled and when Konoha's morale was at its lowest, striking deep into the Fire Country's heartland.

Mist Village had held back during the day, but even at night, they made no major moves. It made it easy to suspect that they were planning something far more sinister.

"If it were me," Orochimaru said, with a cold smile, "I would attack when morale is shaken, when there's no defense in place! At the very least, with the weather on our side tonight, I would launch a full-scale assault on the enemy's defensive lines. Yet the Mist Village has not. This is not like Yagura at all."

After numerous exchanges and confrontations over the years, Orochimaru had come to understand Yagura fairly well.

Despite his innocent-looking baby face and short stature, Yagura possessed a ruthlessness few could match, and his strategic mind was remarkable.

So, the question was: what was keeping Yagura from making a move?

Was it part of a bigger plot, or had something unexpected happened within Mist Village?

Orochimaru and Jiraiya both believed it was the former—that the Mist Village was hatching some sort of conspiracy.

"Have the captives revealed any useful information?"

"Nothing of value," Orochimaru replied.

"The Yamanaka clan has already begun digging through the minds of the captives, but unfortunately, these individuals are too low-ranking to have access to higher-level information."

"In that case, I'm out of ideas. You're in charge here, after all," Jiraiya said with a shrug, indicating his helplessness.

With the strange turn of events, even Jiraiya dared not leave the camp to gather information.

He feared that Mist Village might be attempting to divert their attention to launch a surprise attack on the camp, which was precisely why Orochimaru had urgently summoned him back.

Time ticked on, and dawn eventually broke.

With his mission complete, Takuya returned to the camp. Many of the shinobi there had smiles on their faces—the brutal battle they had anticipated had not come, and everyone was relieved to have made it through a difficult night.

The village's reinforcements would arrive at the camp by dusk, and with their support, Konoha would have enough strength to face any assault from Mist Village head-on.

Orochimaru was very busy, so Takuya asked Shikaku Nara to submit his mission report and then returned to his tent to rest.

Far away, in the Wind Country, Sunagakure.

The Third Kazekage saw an opportunity—the sincerity of Mist Village was evident.

Mist Village was willing to sacrifice two Jinchūriki, even let the tailed beasts escape, all to strike Konoha a devastating blow.

And they had succeeded. Konoha's losses were indeed substantial, and Mist Village wasn't just blowing smoke; they genuinely wanted Sunagakure involved.

It turned out that the Third Mizukage still had a sense of honor.

Shaking his head, the Third Kazekage turned around, his face serious as he addressed those gathered in the Kazekage's office. "Everyone, the war is about to begin."

A golden opportunity was presented to them. The Third Kazekage, who had long been tired of the indemnities and the disdain, was eager to wipe away the shame brought upon them by Konoha.

Now the chance had come.

"Rasa, as my student, I need you to lead the vanguard and capture Konoha's outposts along the Fire Country border."

"Ebizo, I need you to command the Anbu, gather useful intelligence for the village, and eliminate key threats."

"Chiyo, the puppet brigade will be under your command."

Order after order was given, and soon all of Sunagakure was mobilized for war. A large number of shinobi began gathering, heading for the border.

Due to the sneak attack during the Second Great Ninja War, Konoha had prepared for such tactics, making a repeat surprise attack by Sunagakure impossible.

Fortunately, the Third Kazekage had no need for stealth this time. A straightforward attack was all that was necessary.

With Mist Village, one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, launching their offensive, Sunagakure's pressure on Konoha from a second front would be enough to shake the Leaf Village's defenses.

As long as Mist Village didn't fall short, the Third Kazekage was convinced that Konoha would eventually be defeated.

He had waited a long time to erase this stain of dishonor.

"Sakumo Hatake!"

"Are you ready, or have you lost even the right to stand on the battlefield?"

The various happenings in Konoha were no secret, as spies had long relayed such information back to Sunagakure. Even an ordinary person could gather such intelligence.

The Third Kazekage was curious if Sakumo Hatake could still come out and face him.

Meanwhile, in Mist Village, their actions felt almost like child's play. By now, Konoha's reinforcements had successfully reached the camp.

With reinforcements in place, Orochimaru, who had been on edge, finally breathed a sigh of relief. Now he could handle any further attacks from Mist Village more calmly.

Even if Mist Village launched a full-scale assault, he no longer feared that the enemy would penetrate into the Fire Country's interior.

To prevent such a scenario, the Third Hokage had suggested reminding Orochimaru that while losses were acceptable, chaos within the Fire Country was not. Otherwise, they would have no way of explaining themselves to the Daimyo.

"Tell the old man I won't fail," Orochimaru said.

Orochimaru was confident in his abilities. As long as he had sufficient manpower and avoided a direct collapse on the front lines, Mist Village would not be able to defeat Konoha. If the battle dragged on, it would be Mist Village that suffered.

First, Mist Village lacked Konoha's depth of resources. Secondly, their logistics and personnel transport were far less efficient compared to Konoha's.

Sea routes simply couldn't compete with overland transport.

Orochimaru planned to send people to disrupt Mist Village's supply lines at sea. If supply lines that were already challenging were further harassed, Mist Village would surely struggle.

This was Orochimaru's confidence.

As long as the front lines remained intact, Mist Village would ultimately face defeat.

What Orochimaru didn't know was that Mist Village hadn't yet reached a desperate state. Instead, Konoha would soon find itself in dire straits.

"Master, I have returned."

After a respectful bow, Yagura stepped forward to stand beside the Master without sitting down.

"You've worked hard."

The elderly Master's face seemed to have gained a few more wrinkles, and his voice carried a weariness.

"Don't take being recalled to heart. I'm sure you've noticed it as well—our Mizukage-sama has changed."

"Master..."

Yagura's eyes widened in surprise as he looked at the Master.

"Master, do you mean... you're with the others... as well?"

The Elder sighed.

"We don't have enough evidence at the moment, we need to investigate further. Yagura, I need your help with this."

As one of the village's elders, almost as senior as the Third Mizukage, the Elder Genji had no interest in fighting for power, nor did he see any need to do so. What he wanted was simple—for the Mist Village to flourish.

"Master, please, tell me what to do."

"I want you to go and meet that old Hōzuki. Convey my intentions to him—he'll cooperate. Other clans will support you too. We need to bring some of the frontline forces back."

Whether or not the Third Mizukage was truly being controlled, the Mist Village still needed some of the military power to be under the village's control.

Was this possible?

Yagura felt that the Third Mizukage wouldn't relinquish control so easily. Trying to take away some of his power would be an uphill battle.

"The Kaguya clan is becoming increasingly restless. I trust that you can manage."

If there wasn't a reason, then they would create one. If there wasn't an excuse, they would fabricate one. Besides, the Kaguya clan had been acting up for a while now.

Not only the Kaguya, even the Yuki clan had become more active and unpredictable. The Elder could never truly understand what these bloodline clans, so frequently pushed out of the center of power, hoped to achieve.

Overthrow the government? They lacked the capacity and the means.

Seek a place at the core of power? They stood no chance.

If they had no hope and no ability to rebel, why stir things up at all?

One misstep and their entire clan could face annihilation.

No matter how weakened, a major Hidden Village was not something that a few small bloodline clans could challenge.

"Understood."

Yagura's expression was conflicted. He hesitated for a long time before finally agreeing.

"Master, I will continue investigating the evidence. But if I ultimately find no crime has been committed, I will not stand against Mizukage-sama."

After bowing apologetically, Yagura left the Elder's home.

Two hours later, the Third Mizukage, still on the frontlines, received Yagura's message.

"The Kaguya and Yuki clans want to rebel?"

What nonsense. The Third Mizukage, visibly irritated, said:

"Tell Yagura I'll send a unit back, and he should deal with those clans as soon as possible."

Seriously, of all times for this nonsense!

No wonder the Mist Village had struggled to grow. They'd been under Madara's control for so long, and no one had noticed.

Indeed, only Konoha had ever truly piqued Madara's interest.

The Third Mizukage didn't care whether the accusations against the Kaguya and Yuki clans were true.

What he cared about was how to bring Iwagakure and Kumogakure into the conflict, making the Third Great Ninja War even more chaotic.

If it weren't for the need to avoid drawing attention, the Third Mizukage wouldn't even bother with Yagura.

Let them rebel if they want—what do I care? I'm not really the Third Mizukage anyway.

The more chaos, the better. Ideally, everyone would end up dead.

In the following days, Mist Village showed no signs of preparing for an attack, leaving all of Orochimaru's defensive measures aimed at empty air.

Throwing punches that failed to land, Orochimaru only ended up hurting himself.

After days of non-stop work, with no sleep, Orochimaru had finally managed to set everything in place, just waiting for the enemy to strike. Yet no enemy appeared—the feeling of throwing a punch into thin air was immensely frustrating.

Having run himself ragged for nothing, Orochimaru felt like a fool.

With no sign of an impending attack, the squad had a few peaceful days to rest—a pleasant little break for Takuya Yagami.

As for what Orochimaru thought of it all, that was none of Takuya's concern.

At that moment, Takuya's squad was gathered, with Minato eyeing Takuya pulling out his Kusanagi Sword, clearly intending to use it to slice some meat. Minato's forehead creased with a few lines of exasperation, and he hurriedly handed over an unused kunai.

"Takuya, I know the Kusanagi Sword is sharp, but using a sword meant for killing to slice meat seems a bit much, don't you think?"

"Go play with your eggs!"

Takuya shoved Minato aside with a bit of annoyance and grabbed a bandage, wiping down the Kusanagi Sword. "Slicing meat is Nawaki's job, I'm just maintaining my weapon. Relax."

Using a weapon meant for killing to slice meat was like using a watermelon cleaver to grind meat—Takuya wasn't that careless.

The Kusanagi Sword was indeed one of the rare treasures in the shinobi world, far surpassing the Thunder God Sword.

Sharp, durable, with good flexibility, it wouldn't easily get stuck during cuts or thrusts, and breaking it would be a challenge.

Scoring this weapon from Orochimaru had been totally worth it, in Takuya's eyes.

As for the near-broken Thunder God Sword, Takuya planned to take it back home and hang it as a memento.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the renamed Thunder Kusanagi Sword would be by his side for a long time.

After cleaning the blade, Takuya applied maintenance oil, commenting, "I was just making a point; no way would I use a killing tool to cut meat. Speaking of which, can't you change the design of this kunai? It looks like a dung fork."

Minato's specially designed kunai for the Flying Thunder God Technique still had the original three-pronged design—heavier and longer than regular kunai, almost like a short sword. Too bad the prongs weren't sharpened.

"Pfft~~~"

Nawaki, who was slicing meat, couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"I always thought it looked like a dung fork too. I've told him several times that the triple-prong design makes it bad for stabbing and slashing, but he won't believe me—he thinks it makes the Flying Thunder God cut more powerful."

Minato had spent quite a bit of money on those kunai. After all, they were specially crafted, designed to work with the Flying Thunder God Technique.

But the shape of the kunai had always been a subject of teasing.

"Don't you think it looks pretty cool, though? Like a maple leaf? Besides, I find this shape really comfortable to use."

With Takuya and Nawaki criticizing his design, Minato felt compelled to defend himself.

"Alright, as long as you're happy."

Takuya shook his head, unwilling to argue further. He had already offered his advice—if Minato didn't take it, there was nothing more he could do.

Minato spun the kunai in his hand, a gleam in his eye. Suddenly, he lunged toward Nawaki, who was still slicing meat.

"Whoa! Are you insane?"

Hearing the sound of the kunai slicing through the air behind him, Nawaki instinctively raised his own kunai in defense.

"Clang!"

The two different kunai clashed, and Nawaki's kunai immediately broke.

Ordinary kunai stood no chance against Minato's specially crafted one. Not everyone could afford to forge kunai with rare metals like Minato.

Though his kunai had broken, the remnants got caught between the three prongs of Minato's kunai, making it difficult for Minato to advance further.

Nawaki almost had a heart attack, while Takuya burst out laughing. It was rare to see "Little Sunshine" show such a dark side, using Nawaki as a guinea pig for his experiments.

"That triple-pronged design—it makes it easy to get things stuck in it. In a battle, it could leave you vulnerable if it catches on something. If you're fighting a heavily armored opponent or a large creature, this kunai design could become a liability."

"I'll consider it."

Minato wasn't eager to abandon his chosen design after putting so much effort into it.

Damn it!

Being used as a guinea pig left Nawaki visibly annoyed, his face turning red in frustration.

Support Naruto: I Traveled with a Max Level Account"You want to test it, huh? Why not test it on Takuya, who's just sitting there?"

Instead, you come after me, completely off guard!

This is simply dishonorable!

I tell you to drink some "rat tail juice!"

Nawaki silently pulled out a new kunai and lunged at Minato.

Minato, already prepared, just chuckled and raised his arm to block, and soon enough, the two were sparring in earnest.

Thankfully, they were both sensible enough that, while play-fighting was acceptable, tampering with food was not.

Especially messing with Takuya—it could easily lead to an impromptu dance session right where they stood.

By now, Takuya was used to Nawaki and Minato throwing hands at the drop of a hat.

He drew a kunai, cleaned it thoroughly, and continued slicing the meat.

By the time the meat was fully cooked, the sparring match was all but over.

Sure enough, as the aroma of the roasting meat spread, the two battling in the forest ended their match in perfect harmony.

With the delicious roasted meat in hand, Nawaki muttered, "Sensei Orochimaru seems to be in a bad mood."

"Probably because of the pressure. After all, we did just lose a battle. Jiraiya-sensei has also been running himself ragged these past few days," Minato replied, carefully blowing on his portion, his eating habits far more refined than Nawaki's.

"It'd be a miracle if he were in a good mood. I think he'll be stuck like this for a while."

Serves him right for acting like this! Takuya thought with a mischievous smile.

Not because of the lost battle, or because of all the stress?

Minato and Nawaki exchanged a glance, their eyes gleaming with curiosity.

Growing up together, Takuya knew exactly what these two idiots were thinking and explained, "It's because of the defeat that Orochimaru is being extra cautious. He's worried that Mist Village might seize this opportunity to attack us. This is their golden chance, so Orochimaru is on high alert. Too bad Mist Village hasn't played along—nothing's happened for days."

"Imagine all the preparations, all the fortifications, waiting for an enemy attack, eager to wipe out the stain of our defeat... only for the enemy to just not show up. How would you feel?"

Frustrated? Ready to cough up blood?

Nawaki and Minato shook their heads in unison—they realized that Orochimaru was indeed in a pitiful state.

"What is Mist Village planning?"

"They've been so quiet for days now. It doesn't seem like them."

"Exactly. It's strange. Yagura doesn't seem like the type to let such an opportunity pass, yet Mist Village remains inactive."

"Just eat your food and don't worry about it. Mist Village has its reasons for lying low—maybe even a scheme. We should just focus on our tasks and leave the rest to others."

If Mist Village wasn't up to something behind the scenes, Takuya would eat his own name backward.

As for what exactly they were plotting, Takuya had no clue. He wasn't omniscient.

The storyline from the original had already diverged when Mist Village inexplicably declared war on Konoha, and any reference points from there were minimal.

Luckily, Takuya wasn't the type to lose sleep over these things. If the sky was falling, there were taller people to hold it up—he didn't need to fret over every little detail.

In just a few days, Sunagakure had made all the necessary preparations for war. Personnel had been mobilized, and supplies had been gathered.

Under orders from the Third Kazekage, Rasa led the vanguard, heading directly for the borders of the Fire Country, aiming at the outposts stationed there.

If a sneak attack wasn't feasible, then Sunagakure would attack openly, letting Konoha know as soon as possible that war had arrived.

With Mist Village on one side and Sunagakure on the other, Konoha would be caught between two formidable foes. This wasn't going to be like fighting against Amegakure.

With two Great Shinobi Villages pressing in on them, the Third Kazekage had no doubt that victory would slip from Konoha's grasp.

So what if Konoha had powerful shinobi? So what if their reserves were deep? Two Great Villages attacking together was more than enough for them.

"What's that?"

On the watchtower of the outpost, a lookout suddenly noticed a group of small black dots rapidly approaching the border of the Fire Country—more accurately, heading straight for the outpost.

As the dots grew closer, the lookout gasped, "Enemy attack! Launch the signal flare! Request reinforcements from the village—Sunagakure's forces are attacking!!"

These weren't just small dots—they were a full assault force of Suna shinobi!

The Sand ninja had lost their minds!

Were they really intending to go to war with Konoha?

The alarms blared, and the outpost descended into chaos. Some shinobi readied themselves for battle, while others sent out communications.

"Prepare for battle!"

As the Konoha shinobi at the outpost barely readied themselves, the sky suddenly darkened. Looking up, they saw a golden layer of sand descending like an enormous dome, engulfing the entire outpost.

"Magnet Release: Gold Sand Burial!!"

Countless grains of golden sand blanketed the outpost, crushing it beneath their weight. Rasa clenched his fist, and amidst screams of agony, the Konoha shinobi were crushed to death.

"Aren't you afraid of a counterattack?"

This reckless expenditure of chakra was something that Pakura couldn't stand.

Rasa, possessing Magnet Release and command over Gold Sand, always liked using high-consumption techniques in battle.

As another shinobi with a Kekkei Genkai, Pakura found Rasa's behavior distasteful.

"Hmph."

After annihilating all the enemies, Rasa raised his hand, summoning the Gold Sand back to him, and scoffed, "If it means defeating the enemy quickly, any price is worth paying."

Just keep being smug—let's see how you fare against Konoha's elite.

The mere thought of the Third Kazekage's orders left Pakura bitter.

Both of them were elite Jonin of the village, both possessing Kekkei Genkai, and yet Pakura believed her strength was no less than Rasa's.

So why was the village always favoring Rasa, always supporting him?

Was it just because he was the Kazekage's disciple, just because he possessed the same Magnet Release as the Kazekage?

It left Pakura deeply unsatisfied.

With the outpost completely destroyed, the Konoha shinobi crushed under the relentless Gold Sand, the message still managed to get out. A messenger hawk had taken flight just before the battle began, heading towards Konoha.

In less than two hours, Konoha would be aware of Sunagakure's declaration of war and the destruction of the border outpost.

"Destroy the surrounding outposts, eliminate all the hidden observation posts Konoha has set up, and build a camp with available resources while we wait for the main forces to arrive."

Though he wanted to lead his men straight into the Fire Country and teach Konoha a lesson, Rasa couldn't disobey the orders of the Third Kazekage. He had to obediently remain at the border, building a camp and waiting for reinforcements.

After being deceived once and suffering a painful setback, the Third Kazekage had learned his lesson.

He had no interest in terrorizing the civilians of the Fire Country—what he wanted was to gather his forces, defeat Konoha head-on, and carve up their rich territory.

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Sending forces out to strike in different places—one hit to the east, another pit dug in the west—would only benefit Konoha.

It could even turn the war into something akin to the Second Great Ninja War, where Konoha gradually managed to bury large portions of enemy forces within the Fire Country.

Even if those who perished caused significant losses to the Fire Country.

"Pakura, take a team and set up patrols around the area, lay traps, and make sure Konoha's forces can't gather any information."

"Hmph!"

Everything Rasa was doing seemed designed to push her aside.

Pakura might have been dissatisfied, but there was nothing she could do to resist.

After all, Rasa was the vanguard commander. She could only follow orders.

Like Konoha, Sunagakure wasn't entirely unified either. As the Third Kazekage grew older, the competition for the next Kazekage intensified.

Both Rasa and Pakura were strong candidates for the position.

On top of that, their relationship had been rocky since childhood, only becoming more fierce as they grew older.

What began as a rivalry in strength had now turned into a rivalry for power.

Konoha.

The Third Hokage, who had only recently enjoyed a few days of stability, suddenly lost his composure once again. Standing up too quickly in his anxiety, he slammed into his desk, causing a loud crash as documents scattered to the floor.

Yet, the Third Hokage had no mind for any of that. He clutched the scroll in his hands, his expression shifting rapidly.

Sunagakure had declared war on Konoha!

They had already attacked the border outpost. No further messages had come, meaning the outpost had likely been wiped out.

The shinobi stationed there had probably all gone to meet the Sage of Six Paths in the Pure Land.

"Immediately summon the Elder Council for a meeting. And the Hokage Advisors—no, forget that, just the Elder Council and Tsunade from the Logistics Department!"

Though the Elder Council was large, only Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado usually participated in high-level discussions.

In his frenzy, the Third Hokage even called for the Hokage Advisors.

But those positions had long since been abolished, and their former holders were now just at home, retired.

Sunagakure declaring war on Konoha was an earthquake for the village—an even bigger shock than the declaration from Mist Village.

The Anbu moved with the fastest speed possible to notify the Elder Council and Tsunade.

Those summoned set aside everything else and rushed to the Hokage's office.

Tsunade, as usual, arrived first. Though Koharu and Homura weren't exactly weak, they were much older and couldn't match Tsunade's pace.

"Old man, don't call me unless it's really urgent. There's a mountain of work waiting for me in Logistics."

Entering the Hokage's office, Tsunade started complaining right away.

Because of the defeat on the frontlines, village matters had piled up, keeping Tsunade on her toes.

Being called to the Hokage's office in the midst of that workload, it was natural for someone like Tsunade to voice her complaints.

"Sunagakure has declared war on us."

The Third Hokage said it without preamble, raising his head.

At those words, Tsunade's face turned serious. She moved to her seat, crossing her arms and furrowing her brow in thought.

"Sunagakure has declared war on us."

When Koharu and Homura arrived, the Third Hokage wasted no time, dropping the bombshell as soon as they entered.

The two paused for a moment before quickly taking their seats and asking, "What's the situation?"

"Has the Third Kazekage lost his mind? It's only been three years since the last war with Sunagakure. How dare they?"

They're already at our doorstep—what's there to be afraid of?

Tsunade rolled her eyes.

Considering that it wasn't the time for arguments, she let Koharu's foolish comment slide.

Instead of wasting energy complaining, it was better to think about how to face the upcoming battle.

Tsunade was already frustrated—just a few days ago, she'd warned the Third Hokage about Sunagakure, and now here they were, with Suna officially declaring war.

"This isn't the time to discuss why the Third Kazekage dared to declare war on Konoha. We need to focus on how we're going to repel Sunagakure's attack."

The Third Hokage was visibly irritated, puffing on his pipe as he said, "The ongoing conflict with Mist Village has already drained so many of our resources, which is precisely why Sunagakure felt emboldened to declare war."

Thinking of the never-ending struggle with Mist Village, which didn't seem likely to end anytime soon, the Third Hokage felt another headache coming on.

"We must send a large force to stop them. If the battle spills into the Fire Country, it will cause massive problems."

Everyone still vividly remembered the horrors of the Second Great Ninja War. Combined with the specific warnings from the Fire Daimyo, no one dared take the matter lightly.

If they upset the Daimyo, and he cut off funds and supplies, how could Konoha keep fighting?

Konoha could just about sustain itself during peacetime, but during war, they couldn't keep up without the Daimyo's support.

Now, another question arose: who would lead the defense against Sunagakure?

Konoha couldn't just casually send out thousands of shinobi, but they could still muster an appropriate force—how strong that force was would be the key.

The army wasn't the issue, but what about a commander and high-level fighters?

Orochimaru and Jiraiya were on the eastern front, deeply engaged in the war with Mist Village. They couldn't be recalled to lead the fight against Sunagakure.

Almost instinctively, the Third Hokage turned to look at Tsunade, and Koharu and Homura also followed suit.

It was obvious they thought Tsunade was the best candidate.

"What?"

Tsunade looked at them, bewildered. "Don't tell me you expect me to command the frontlines?"

Tsunade certainly had the capability, but she couldn't leave the village.

She feared that if she left, chaos would erupt, and she didn't trust Danzo not to sell out the village piece by piece.

If she was on the frontlines and things went awry in the village, she'd be stuck between two crises, pleasing no one.

"Forget it. I can't leave. There's too much going on in Logistics. If I leave, God knows if that department will be sold off. Moreover, I propose we bring the Finance Department under my control as well."

Tsunade not only rejected going to war but also wanted to take control of the Finance Department.

Everyone understood why Tsunade was doing this and who she was worried about.

Koharu and Homura looked a bit embarrassed, silently cursing Danzo under their breath.

After a few moments, the Third Hokage smiled wryly and said, "Tsunade, the frontlines need you."

"The village needs me more."

Tsunade was resolute. After seeing the Third Hokage repeatedly tolerate Danzo's actions, she knew she couldn't rely on him.

If she left, the Logistics and Finance Departments would undoubtedly face problems.

"I'm not leaving."

Tsunade stubbornly shook her head, dismissing the Hokage's appeals, and offered her suggestion.

"We still have qualified individuals in the village; it's just that past behavior drove them away."

Turn the page on this mess?

Not happening. If you make a mess, you better be ready to clean it up. Ignoring the displeased looks on the Third Hokage's and the elders' faces, Tsunade spread her hands.

"Is this so hard?

"Send Sakumo Hatake to lead. Pull Takuya from the eastern front as well. I refuse to believe that Sunagakure will stand a chance!"

"But do you even have the nerve to ask?"

"Would he even agree?"

The Third Hokage hesitated. Not long ago, Sakumo Hatake's reputation had been dragged through the mud, even leading him to submit a resignation letter.

The Third Hokage had tried to persuade him a few times, but Sakumo was set on stepping down, resolute in his decision to rest.

Would he agree to help now?

Support Naruto: I Traveled with a Max Level Account"....."

The Third Hokage's indecisiveness was driving Tsunade to the edge of frustration, making her want to slam her fist on the table.

Old man, since when did you become like this?

When did you start living as the very thing you despised?

Damn it.

If I were Hokage, would Danzo and Sunagakure even have a chance to make a move?

For the first time, Tsunade had a thought cross her mind—she herself becoming Hokage.

The Third Hokage wavered, and even the usually loud-mouthed and outspoken Elders were all silent.

"Enough!!!"

Tsunade, her anger fully ignited, couldn't hold back anymore. She slammed her hands on the table, though she held back enough strength not to shatter it completely:

"Look at yourselves! It's really disappointing. If you can't even muster this much resolve, old man, then step down and make way for someone who can!"

"It makes me furious just looking at you all!"

"Uh....."

The Third Hokage was stunned.

Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado were equally flabbergasted.

Was Tsunade trying to force him to abdicate?

Was she intending to take the position of Fourth Hokage for herself?

Though, having Tsunade take over might not be a bad idea... certainly more reliable than Orochimaru.

Though both were the Third Hokage's students, if one had to be chosen as Hokage, Tsunade was the obvious pick.

Even Koharu, who usually disagreed with Tsunade on everything, would instinctively pick Tsunade over Orochimaru.

"Mobilize the troops as soon as possible. I'll make sure that Takuya returns soon, and as for the elder, I'll persuade him myself.

Also, old man, go to the Nara household and get Shikashige to lend a hand. It's good for him to move around while he still can."

"Ahem, I'll go prepare everything. We should be ready by tomorrow."

Homura glanced strangely at Tsunade before getting up and leaving.

Koharu, taken aback for a moment, also stood up:

"I'll go arrange for some medical-nin and prepare the necessary medical supplies."

Without waiting for the Third Hokage's approval, the two of them had already begun to take action.

"Tsunade, are you serious?"

After Koharu and Homura left, the Third Hokage gave Tsunade a stern look.

Still irritated, Tsunade responded impatiently:

"Serious or not, just look at what you've let the village become. And now even Orochimaru is making his own moves.

If none of you are capable, I'll step up. This village was built with my grandfather and granduncle's blood and sweat. I won't allow anyone to destroy it."

"....."

Having said her piece, Tsunade snorted, standing up and leaving without giving the Third Hokage any face.

If you can't do it, step aside, and don't whine to me about it. I'm tired of all this nonsense—I've had enough.

The Third Hokage stared blankly as Tsunade walked away, the sting of her words lingering.

The Anbu hidden in the shadows were left sweating nervously.

They weren't worried that Tsunade was plotting some coup; they were simply terrified by what had just transpired.

Who became Hokage wasn't their concern.

If the Elders and the Hokage himself didn't object, what could they, mere subordinates, possibly say?

As the war approached, the village began mobilizing its shinobi.

Supplies were gathered in haste, and teams were dispatched.

Orochimaru, stationed at the Eastern camp, stared at the scroll on his desk for what felt like an eternity. Jiraiya, sitting nearby, was in visible distress, pulling at his hair in frustration.

They hadn't even finished the current battle, and now Sunagakure had declared war on Konoha.

Konoha was facing a two-front war, against both Mist Village and Sunagakure. The pressure was unimaginable.

Was this a hammer blow for Orochimaru's ambitions to become Hokage?

Takuya guessed that Orochimaru must have been silently cursing his fate by now.

Confidently leading the forces, engaging in countless skirmishes with Yagura, ending up in a confusing defeat—and just as they were still recovering, Sunagakure declared war.

This had undoubtedly made Orochimaru's aspirations to become Hokage that much harder to achieve.

Luckily, Takuya wasn't directly affected by any of this.

He had come to the command center to get Orochimaru's signature. The village had sent a summons, instructing him to return.

Orochimaru had no reason to hold up Takuya's reassignment, and promptly stamped his approval.

"You've worked hard, Takuya-kun."

"Not too bad, really."

Compared to others, Takuya felt he had it pretty easy.

As long as he wasn't focused on glory or making a big name for himself, there wasn't much pressure.

"It's too bad. We wanted to go with you, but only you got the transfer orders."

Takuya was leaving, but Minato and Nawaki had to stay at the coastal frontlines. Neither of them was too happy about it.

They wanted to follow Takuya to the Land of Rivers to take on Sunagakure.

The fight against Mist Village had been frustrating and grating.

"You two just stay here and enjoy the sea breeze while I head back to the village for some good food."

With a chuckle, Takuya left, deliberately stoking their envy.

That's just low—totally unfair!!

You couldn't just leave, you had to rub it in our faces. You're impossible, Yagami Takuya.

With Minato and Nawaki glaring after him, Takuya departed.

Around the same time, Tsunade arrived at Sakumo Hatake's residence.

Sakumo wasn't surprised by her visit. The commotion in the village had been impossible to ignore.

Sakumo had guessed what was happening: a new war was coming.

Otherwise, Konoha wouldn't be mobilizing this many shinobi, especially just days after sending out reinforcements.

"I assume you've noticed the mobilization of the village's shinobi, elder. Sunagakure has broken the peace treaty and declared war on us."

Tsunade didn't beat around the bush or try to play on emotions. She got straight to the point.

"The old man is at a loss, the Elders can't be relied on, and so I, Tsunade, have come to seek your help. I have already recalled Takuya from the frontlines; he will arrive tonight. Troops and supplies are prepared. All that remains is your nod, and the forces can move out.

"And, by the way, the old man has managed to convince Shikashige Nara to join you at the border."

During the Second Great Ninja War, Sakumo and Shikashige had worked well together—one managing the camp, the other leading the charge.

That's why Tsunade had the Third Hokage personally request Shikashige to come out of retirement.

"The moment Sunagakure declared war on Konoha, a new Great Ninja War began. Who knows—we might soon be facing Iwagakure and Kumogakure as well.

"The Land of Fire is wealthy, and I wouldn't put it past them to take advantage of the situation."

"If anyone can do it, you can..."

Sakumo was tempted. Though he was determined to retire, he couldn't ignore his duty.

He couldn't stand by while his village and the Land of Fire were trampled by enemies.

Shaking her head, Tsunade spoke sternly:

"I do not trust Danzo. As long as he's around, problems will keep arising in the village. I don't even trust the Elder Council, and frankly, I can't fully rely on the old man either.

"I can't leave the village, but I can guarantee you won't be hindered in any way.

"Not by Danzo, not by the Elders, not even by the old man."

"....."

Sakumo was speechless for a moment, unsure how to respond to Tsunade's overwhelming assertiveness.

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