Chapter 459: Kirigakure Faces the Enemy on Three Fronts
Land of Fire, Konoha Village.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzō Shimura stood before an army of 3,000, also waiting for the situation to develop.
Danzō said, "Hiruzen, isn't it too rash to hand command of the army over to two young men?"
"Kakashi's loyalty is still uncertain, and Might Guy is hardly commander material."
He was referring to the 1,500-strong army sent to attack Kirigakure. Its commanders were indeed Kakashi and Might Guy.
Hiruzen Sarutobi replied, "Kakashi and Guy's strength has been affirmed by everyone in several battles."
"Especially Kakashi. In the last battle, he used his Mangekyo Sharingan against the Tsuchikage. That's enough to prove his heart is with the village."
"Besides, Kakashi and Guy are only responsible for the high-end combat. The true commander of the army is Homura Mitokado."
"Making them commanders is just a way to boost troop morale. With Homura watching them, what are you worried about?"
Danzō thought: I'm not worried about whether they're competent! I just wanted to say, I don't want to be partnered with you! I want to go alone!
Every time I lead an army alone, it's a chance to expand Root. How can I make any moves with you around?
Danzō had hoped to lead the army out himself, then convert the troops into Root members.
Danzō had also wished Tsunade and Hiruzen had left, leaving him and Shisui Uchiha in the village.
Because Shisui Uchiha had already confessed his Mangekyo Sharingan's dōjutsu to the high command.
How could a dōjutsu like that be left in the hands of an Uchiha? What if one day he used it on the village leadership? Would the village be named Shimura or Uchiha in the future?
A dōjutsu like that is only logical for it to be in the hands of a village elder who does everything for the village—me.
Danzō didn't feel like speaking to Hiruzen anymore.
Hiruzen knew his old partner was in a bad mood, so he didn't provoke him.
The two waited quietly for the situation to change.
Soon, an intelligence ninja ran up. "Lord Third, Lord Danzō, we have intel from the Land of Rivers border! The six clones of Akatsuki's Nagato have entered the Land of Fire!"
Hiruzen sighed. The thing he feared most had happened. The current situation was not favorable for Konoha. With their internal conflicts unresolved, Konoha had little desire to participate in a war for hegemony.
Konoha had been dragged into this war by Kumo and Suna.
If the Akatsuki didn't interfere, allowing Hiruzen to lead the army and tie down Iwagakure's forces, Konoha could accept that. A 3-v-2 fight was winnable.
But if the Akatsuki actively intervened, tying them down... then Iwagakure and Kirigakure, with their hands freed, were not something Suna and Kumo could handle alone.
Unfortunately, the initiative was not in Hiruzen's hands. He absolutely could not ignore Nagato's six clones.
After the battle in the Land of Rain, Hiruzen had to admit that Nagato's Six Paths of Pain were equivalent to two Kage-level fighters.
He had just been hoping the Akatsuki would stick to their policy of peace and not actively send an army to attack the Land of Fire.
Once the Akatsuki mobilized their main force, it would be an all-out war. An organization with five Kage-level members would not concede easily.
If the war dragged on, with enemies both inside and out, Konoha's future would be uncertain.
Perhaps... perhaps attacking the Akatsuki back then was a mistake, Hiruzen thought.
But his will only wavered for a moment. He quickly regained his fighting spirit and said to Danzō, "Danzō, let's go to the Land of Rivers border."
Danzō's expression turned ugly. The enemy he wanted to face least in the world was Nagato.
The first time he'd fallen from the peak of his life, it was because of Nagato.
Danzō knew Nagato's strength. Fighting an opponent of that caliber was too dangerous.
If Tsunade were standing in front of him, Danzō would have refused. But now, he had no choice. Danzō could only reluctantly follow Hiruzen to battle.
I just hope Nagato isn't serious and is only here to stall us, Danzō prayed.
Hiruzen and Danzō did not take the full 3,000 troops, as the intel stated Nagato's Six Paths of Pain were not accompanied by an army. Against a powerhouse like Nagato, a large army wasn't useless, but it wasn't worth the cost.
In the end, Hiruzen took only 1,000, leaving Tsunade 2,000 to defend the village.
On the roof of the Hokage Tower, Tsunade watched the 1,000 troops depart, her mood complex.
She was now the only non-Uchiha Kage in the village. Thank goodness Shisui was on their side.
Otherwise, if the Uchiha clan launched a coup d'état right now, the village leadership no longer had the strength to stop them.
Tsunade was not the only one who saw this.
The Uchiha clan members also saw this, and they were ecstatic.
They went in droves to Shisui Uchiha's house to persuade him, hoping to convince Shisui to return to the correct path. Many even proposed that if Shisui led a successful coup, they would make him the Sixth Hokage.
What they didn't know was that just the day before, Shisui Uchiha had been in a high-level meeting with Tsunade and Danzō, where he told them about his unique Mangekyo Sharingan dōjutsu: Kotoamatsukami.
Shisui had stated that at the critical moment, he would use his strongest genjutsu on Fugaku Uchiha to align Fugaku's heart with the village leadership.
Wave after wave of clansmen came to persuade Shisui. But Shisui was an Uchiha who had inherited the Will of Fire. He patiently tried to persuade his clansmen not to be rash.
The clansmen, who had arrived full of hope, left full of disappointment. Their excitement turned to anger.
These Uchiha gathered and cursed Shisui as a traitor, a white-eyed wolf. If they didn't fear his Mangekyo Sharingan, they would have already rushed him and gouged his eyes out.
The first battle erupted in the Land of Water.
Although the war had just begun, the Five Great Nations had been preparing for over a month. Kirigakure was no exception. All war preparations, personnel mobilization, and material stockpiling were complete.
Now, an army of 7,000 Kiri ninja stood at the village gate, facing their home.
Hoshigaki Kisame stood on a high platform, addressing all of Kiri. "Everyone! Kirigakure has reached the moment of life and death!"
"Ever since the Third's death in battle, our village has been targeted by Konoha and Kumo."
"First, the Fourth Mizukage was controlled by an Uchiha. Later, Kumo used the Chunin Exams as a pretext for a sneak attack."
"We paid such a heavy price to get to this point. We just want to develop in peace, but they still refuse to let us go!"
"This time, it's not just Konoha and Kumo. Even Suna is participating! Everyone thinks we are a soft target, everyone wants to destroy Kirigakure!"
"Tell me, will you accept this?"
All the Kiri ninja below roared in unison: "NO!"
"Good. Then follow me, and we will drive them from our country."
"We await the Mizukage's command!"
"We await the Mizukage's command!"
"We await the Mizukage's command!"
A unified chant rose from the army.
Kisame scanned the crowd. "I order: The army will divide into three units. Mei Terumī, you will command the Second Unit, leading 2,500 troops to engage Suna."
"Mangetsu Hōzuki, you will command the Third Unit, leading 2,000 troops to engage Konoha."
"I will personally command the First Unit, leading 2,500 troops to engage Kumo."
Soon, the Kiri army was divided. Mei Terumī and Mangetsu Hōzuki immediately departed.
Kisame, however, stepped down from the platform and spoke to the Iwa ninja sent to assist. "You are Shinya Matsutani, correct? Please divide your Iwa forces into two groups. One will assist the Second Unit, one will assist the Third Unit."
Shinya Matsutani nodded. "No problem. Before we left, Teacher Ishiro told me to cooperate with you fully."
He turned to Takuhiro Uchiyama, Akio Wada, and Himeki Suda, who had been temporarily assigned from Anbu. "You three take five Anbu squads to the Third Unit. I will take the remaining five squads to the Second Unit."
The three acknowledged the order and led their people to catch up with Mangetsu Hōzuki's unit.
Shinya Matsutani bowed to Kisame, then led his own men toward Mei Terumī's position.
Ishiro had not sent a Kage-level expert to Kiri this time, as he wasn't sure where Konoha and its allies would focus their attack.
But Kirigakure was the weak link in their alliance, so Ishiro still sent support. He had Shinya Matsutani, a disciple who had mastered Sage Art, lead a group of elites to reinforce them.
Ishiro knew Kiri's situation. Kisame, Mei, and Mangetsu had matured, and their high-end combat power was no longer inferior to Suna or Kumo.
But Kirigakure had lost too many of its elite forces. The battle against the former Mizukage alone had cost them more than half their regulars.
So, as an ally, Ishiro didn't dare send a Kage, but sending some elites was fine.
Kisame finally turned to Elder Genshi, who had come to see them off. "Elder Genshi, the village is in your hands."
Genshi looked at this Mizukage—one he had not chosen—and nodded in satisfaction. "Fifth, go and fight without worry."
"Remember: when you are giving orders, you are the Mizukage, and you must see the bigger picture. But when you are fighting, you are just a regular ninja. Do not be distracted."
Kisame replied, "Thank you for your guidance, Elder Genshi."
With that, Kisame led the First Unit and departed from Kirigakure.
Kiri desperately wanted to fight the enemy outside their borders, but they lacked the strength.
So, once again, Kiri let the three armies—Konoha, Kumo, and Suna—enter the Land of Water, choosing to fight them in a location not far from the village.
The first to make contact was the Third Unit.
Mangetsu Hōzuki's army faced Kakashi.
Seeing the man with one eye covered in the enemy ranks, Mangetsu Hōzuki sighed. "So, it's Kakashi Hatake. I knew I should have switched with Mei."
Kakashi was a ninja skilled in Lightning Release, and Lightning Release was the ultimate counter to the Hōzuki clan.
Fortunately, Kakashi wasn't just a Lightning specialist. He was balanced in multiple natures. He was an all-rounder, proficient in ninjutsu, taijutsu, genjutsu, and swordsmanship. Even his tactics were excellent.
Oh, wait, he's missing one thing: chakra. He has low reserves and no stamina.
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