A butterfly's gentle flutter across the ocean can spark a hurricane.
The influence Sōmi had exerted in this world over the past decade was undoubtedly far greater than that of a mere butterfly.
The fact that the Third Kazekage and Sasori still remained peacefully within Sunagakure was the clearest testament to this.
However, the calm in the shinobi world was destined to be a fleeting facade. As time passed, even without the disappearance of the Third Kazekage, friction and conflicts among the great nations inevitably began to surface.
Assassinations of key figures and raids on resources became increasingly common. Minor disputes accumulated until they finally erupted into massive waves of turmoil.
The Land of Lightning, known for its aggressive culture, was the first to ignite the flames of war, launching a bold offensive against both the Land of Earth and the Land of Fire.
The Lands of Earth, Fire, and Water swiftly responded, engaging in defense, counterattacks, and plundering in an unending cycle.
Surprisingly, the Land of Wind refrained from provoking any conflicts. Instead, it withdrew its forces within its borders, making every effort to avoid contact with other nations.
As the Land of Fire faced mounting pressure on three fronts, the Third Hokage made a strategic decision. To avoid the worst-case scenario of being attacked on all sides, he dispatched envoys to negotiate with the Land of Wind, aiming to establish a non-aggression pact between the two nations.
After all, the Land of Wind had long coveted the fertile lands of the Land of Fire. The Third Hokage believed that such a potential threat could not be ignored and required proactive measures.
The Land of Wind, however, seized this opportunity to propose annexing the Land of Rivers.
The Land of Rivers was home to the small and weak Hidden Valley Village, but its resources were far superior to the endless deserts of the Land of Wind.
The Land of Wind had long harbored ambitions to annex this nation, but as it was under the protection of Konohagakure, any unprovoked attack would have been tantamount to declaring war on Konoha. In the past, Konoha's strength far surpassed that of the Land of Wind, rendering this ambition unattainable.
As for the Land of Rivers serving as a buffer zone during conflicts, its value paled in comparison to the benefits of incorporating it as part of their own territory.
Negotiations became a drawn-out tug-of-war. The Land of Wind had little to fear from invasion; after all, its vast deserts held little strategic value for others.
The Land of Fire, however, was deeply concerned that the Land of Wind, lying in wait, might suddenly bare its fangs and launch a surprise attack on their rear.
Yet, the Third Hokage hesitated to relinquish control of the Land of Rivers. If the Land of Rivers were annexed by the Land of Wind, the two nations' borders would directly adjoin. Should the Land of Wind later betray the pact, it would pose an even greater threat to the Land of Fire. Having a great nation as a neighbor would be like a thorn in their side, forcing them to bolster border defenses significantly.
During these negotiations, other nations naturally caught wind of the developments. The Land of Lightning reacted most directly, with its delegation openly stating that if the Land of Wind attacked the Land of Fire, they would not only provide financial support but also form an alliance to jointly plan military operations.
Meanwhile, reports from the frontlines indicated that Iwagakure and Kirigakure shinobi had begun harassing the borders of the Land of Wind.
Over the past five years, under the sweeping reforms implemented by the Third Kazekage, Sunagakure had undergone significant transformations, with its strength improving by several levels compared to before.
One shocking piece of news after another reached Sunagakure.
In the Kazekage's office, a group of Jōnin had gathered for a discussion. Most of them were men, but there were a few striking female figures among them.
"That's the current situation. What do you think our next steps should be?" The Kazekage sat to the left of his desk, angled toward the group. His gaze was fixed on the map of the shinobi world behind him, where red circles and crosses marked various locations.
"Lord Kazekage, those Kirigakure scoundrels dare to provoke us? We should retaliate immediately and crush these invaders!" A middle-aged Jōnin with a fearsome scar across his face spoke up, his fiery temper evident.
The Kazekage did not respond, his eyes still lingering between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rivers on the map.
"Lord Kazekage, we've been lying low for years. It's unwise to reveal our strength prematurely. Kirigakure's actions are clearly an attempt to probe our village's capabilities. They might not even realize they're being used as pawns by other nations," said Baki, whose face was partially covered by a white cloth.
"The Third Raikage is dead, and Iwagakure has suffered significant losses in manpower!"
"Konohagakure is stretched thin, its national power gradually declining. If we don't strike now, when will we?" the scar-faced Jōnin retorted.
"The Third Raikage may be dead, but the AB Brothers' reputation is no less formidable than his!"
"One of them is the perfect Jinchūriki of the Eight-Tails!"
"If the Eight-Tails rampages through our village, do we have a shinobi like the Yellow Flash to counter it?" Baki replied without hesitation.
The underlying strength of great nations was indeed formidable. While wars claimed many lives, they also gave rise to new stars.
Among the most prominent were the AB Brothers from the Land of Lightning and the Yellow Flash from the Land of Fire.
The Third Kazekage couldn't help but sigh. Was Konoha truly blessed by the heavens? Every war seemed to produce shinobi who could turn the tide of battle. In the last war, it had been the "Legendary Sannin" and White Fang.
This time, an even more extraordinary shinobi had emerged—someone who had mastered the most challenging space-time ninjutsu in the shinobi world, allowing him to rapidly traverse battlefields and provide support.
This was why the Land of Fire, despite being besieged on three fronts, still stood strong.
"So, are we just going to continue hiding in the village like turtles, living in comfort and safety?" The scar-faced man's face turned red with frustration as he resorted to provocative rhetoric.
Some of the other shinobi seemed moved by his words, quietly clenching their fists.
The Kazekage's gaze finally shifted away from the map. He turned to scan the room, observing the reactions of everyone present.
Finally, his eyes settled on a young man who had only recently come of age.
The youth's tall, slender frame, disheveled black hair hanging over his forehead, and handsome yet slightly immature face exuded a unique charm. His deep eyes seemed to absorb all the light around him, while his thick brows added an air of vigor.
He wore a black-and-red combat outfit, but unlike most shinobi, he carried no blades. Instead, a staff as thick as a walnut branch was slung across his back. The staff was densely inscribed with black runes, and in the areas where the runes didn't cover, its golden surface gleamed brightly, giving it an unusual and striking appearance.
The other shinobi in the room followed the Kazekage's gaze, turning their attention to the young man in unison.
After all, among the two rising prodigies of Sunagakure in recent years, this one's name was the most resounding.
It was well-known that many of the village's recent reforms had been proposed by him in their earliest stages.
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