Chapter 149: The Kazekage's Disappearance, the Third Great Ninja War Begins
The war between Konoha and the Sand had been over for several months. The year was now Konoha 42.
During this time, most of the Southwestern Army had returned to Konoha to rest and recuperate, leaving only a small number of ninja at the border to continue monitoring the Sand.
Of course, others might not know, but Kyosuke knew in his heart that this long war was just about to enter its true climax.
So, using the excuse that he needed to stay and learn from Orochimaru, he chose to remain in the Southwestern Army.
This way, not only could he occasionally clear out some Sand ninja or spies from other villages to accumulate experience, but he could also respond at the first opportunity when the Sand attacked again.
This was much better than going home for a few days, only to have to rush back.
"Sigh, I've really worried myself to death for Konoha," Kyosuke thought, lounging in his tent.
At this time, in the Sand Village, a turmoil that would affect the entire ninja world was taking place.
"Report," a voice suddenly sounded outside the Kazekage's office.
Chiyo and the others, who had been anxiously waiting in the room, immediately called the person in.
"How is it? Is there any news of the Kazekage?" Chiyo asked eagerly.
"I'm sorry. We've searched the village and its surroundings, but we haven't found any trace of Lord Kazekage yet," the ninja said, his head bowed deeply, his voice trembling as he reported.
Hearing this, Chiyo turned and exchanged a look with her younger brother, the unease in her heart growing stronger.
She waved away the subordinate, then said with a worried tone, "Do you think the Kazekage might have..."
Ebizo wanted to comfort her, but after a moment's hesitation, he decided to tell the truth. "Logically speaking, as the supreme leader of the village, the Kazekage should have said something, no matter what happened. For him to disappear without a word for so many days... I'm afraid..."
Hearing this, Chiyo waved her hand to cut him off. She closed her eyes in pain for a moment, then said decisively, "Block the news. It must not be spread."
Ebizo silently nodded. However, he knew in his heart that such news could not be completely suppressed. But they could drag it out for as long as they could. What if things took a turn for the better?
But if the Kazekage had really met with a mishap, they had to prepare in advance. Otherwise, the world would be in chaos.
Suddenly, as if he had remembered something, Ebizo asked, "Sasori has also been missing for many days, right?"
Hearing this, Chiyo's face darkened, and she asked in a cold voice, "What are you trying to say?"
"...If you think about it, Sasori disappeared at almost the same time as the Kazekage. Then..." Seeing his sister's increasingly ugly expression, Ebizo felt that there was no need to say any more.
Although the timing was a coincidence, but... no matter how much of a genius Sasori was, he was still just a child. He wouldn't... he couldn't have done such a thing, Ebizo comforted himself.
"In short, block the news as much as possible. We'll wait until I've reported the matter to the Daimyo before we make any further plans," Chiyo said, then turned and left, leaving Ebizo to sigh alone.
Just as he was preparing to get up and leave, his eyes caught a document on the Kazekage's bookshelf.
Ebizo's heart stirred, and he couldn't help but walk over and pick up the letter from the Third Raikage, which he and the others had read before.
"...If things really do develop to the worst point, then I'll have to drag you all down with me. Only then can I avoid turmoil in my Sand Village."
In May of the same year, despite Chiyo and the others' best efforts to hide the news, the disappearance of a village's Kage was too big a matter to be suppressed.
Soon, the news spread among the upper echelons of the Sand Village, and eventually, all the Sand ninja and villagers learned of it. And once they knew, it meant that the various powers of the entire ninja world had also obtained this intelligence through their spies.
In an instant, almost all the villages' eyes were on the Sand Village. At the same time, some secret forces also began to stir. Since the Sand had just been defeated and their Kazekage was missing, it meant that they could find a way to gain some benefits.
So, at this time, Chiyo and the others had to be careful in dealing with the probing of the major ninja villages, while also preventing any small fry from taking advantage of the situation. For a time, they were in a state of utter chaos.
But this was not the biggest problem. Not to mention the other effects, just the sharp decline in the number of commissions within the village had made the Sand suffer greatly.
Now, not to mention the problem of post-war economic recovery, if this continued, the entire Land of Wind's finances would probably be severely affected.
Helpless, Chiyo could only accept Ebizo's suggestion and prepare to initiate a secret meeting that should have started long ago.
In June of the same year, the Sand Village quietly sent letters to the Cloud, Stone, and Mist villages, arranging for a secret meeting at the end of the same month.
What these people talked about during this period, and the results of the negotiations, were unknown. However, after Ebizo, who was in charge of the negotiations, returned to the Sand Village, this just-defeated village began another large-scale war mobilization.
Konoha, which had noticed this situation, quickly sent a message to the Sand, asking them why they were starting a war again. Unfortunately, the Sand had not yet replied.
Kyosuke, who was far away in the Southwestern Army, heard that the Third Hokage had been so angry about this that he had crushed several of his favorite pipes. But in the end, he could only helplessly accept this matter.
And so, the two armies once again gathered in the Land of Rivers, facing each other across a canyon.
In July of the same year, a declaration of war from the Sand Village was placed on the desks of the various powers.
This declaration clearly explained why the Sand was fighting Konoha for a second time.
"The Third Kazekage died in an assassination by Konoha ninja." These few simple words could completely summarize the central theme of this declaration.
To this, Konoha, of course, was not willing to take the blame.
The Third Hokage sent three consecutive letters to the Sand Village, trying to explain this matter, but in the end, there was no news.
With communication having failed, Konoha could only reluctantly prepare to meet the Sand.
At the end of July, the Sand directly launched a large-scale attack. With that, the war between Konoha and the Sand began again.
In August of the same year, the Cloud ninja, who had been watching like tigers, attacked without a declaration of war, directly launching a surprise attack on the camp set up by Konoha in the Land of Rice Fields. In an instant, Konoha's Northern Army suffered heavy casualties.
Fortunately, the support led by Minato Namikaze arrived in time, and they were able to barely repel the first wave of attacks from the Cloud Village.
Konoha, seeing that the Sand and Cloud had joined forces, was forced to restore Danzo's elder status and then order him to represent Konoha as an envoy to the Stone Village, trying to pull Onoki into this melee as well.
After all, during the Second Great Ninja War, the grudge between the Cloud and the Stone was well-known, so the Third Hokage and the others believed that this trip would definitely be a success.
But unfortunately, although Onoki had received Konoha's negotiation team with great ceremony, in the end, he had not sent out any troops.
Helpless, Danzo could only bid farewell to Onoki and hurry back to Konoha to assist Hiruzen Sarutobi in managing the overall situation.
In September of the same year, the Mist ninja, who were far away overseas, suddenly sent an army across the sea, directly attacking the station set up by Konoha in the Land of Whirlpools.
With that, besides the Stone ninja, who were holding back, Konoha was now fighting against the Sand, Cloud, and Mist villages with its own strength.
This also meant that the Third Great Ninja War had officially begun.
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