An hour later.
"Ding. Deidara's fate has completely changed. He has no possibility of becoming a ninja. Reward: 2000 Skill Points!"
"Kurotsuchi's fate slightly changed. Reward: 300 Skill Points!"
"Eliminated the Five-Tails Jinchūriki Han in advance, ending his life more than ten years early. Reward: 1 Skill Upgrade Point."
"Slightly changed the future of the ninja world. Reward: 3000 Skill Points!"
Rasa, who was reaching into Karuman's clothes and kneading constantly, enjoying Karuman's beautiful voice, heard the voice in his mind.
The smile on his face became even brighter.
At around 4 PM the next day.
The taijutsu Jonin messenger sent by the Land of Earth overnight, moving at full speed...
Finally arrived in the Land of Fire and issued a notice.
Konoha conspired to send members of the Uchiha clan to invade the Stone Village illegally.
The Uchiha people used the Mangekyō Sharingan to secretly control the Five-Tails Jinchūriki Han, causing him to lose control completely and destroy the Stone Village in Tailed Beast form.
As a result, thousands of ninjas and civilians in the Stone Village died, and thousands more civilians were injured or disabled.
And thousands of houses were destroyed.
Direct or indirect economic losses reached hundreds of millions of ryo.
Moreover, Deidara, the disciple of the Third Tsuchikage, was also induced to commit suicide by the Konoha Uchiha using genjutsu.
Although the rescue was timely...
He had completely lost the possibility of becoming a ninja in the future.
A genius ninja with a promising future lost his future just like that.
In addition, half of the Stone Village's reserve supplies mysteriously disappeared, worth about 100 million ryo.
Therefore, the Land of Earth demanded compensation from the Land of Fire for various losses, totaling 550 million ryo.
And demanded the Third Hokage to apologize personally and ask for forgiveness from the Third Tsuchikage.
And to form an alliance with the Land of Earth to advance and retreat together.
Hearing these things, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, who was having afternoon tea...
Didn't even care about eating, or even the routine travel pomp.
He discarded his face directly, let the fastest imperial ninja carry him, and moved at full speed.
Rushed to Konoha angrily within two hours.
Scolded the Third Hokage severely!
"Can't we just watch from the sidelines honestly? Why do you have to enter the arena to do this kind of thing, and do it so obviously?"
"Isn't being beaten up by everyone in the previous Ninja World Wars enough?"
In the Hokage's office.
The thin, horse-faced Daimyo of the Land of Fire stood up, ignoring noble etiquette, and said angrily.
The Third Hokage looked innocent. He was silent for a while, the corner of his mouth twitching:
"Lord Daimyo, we really didn't do it."
"You have to believe us!"
The Daimyo took out a fan to cover his face, narrowed his slender eyes, and said coldly:
"I don't care if you really did it or if you were framed."
"Anyway, the Stone Village has conclusive evidence. Even if it was forged by them, the evidence is there."
"Now I give you two choices. You honestly pay 550 million ryo, and then you personally apologize to the Tsuchikage, form a so-called offensive and defensive alliance, and play along with them."
"Or deny it and go to war directly!"
The Daimyo looked at the Third Hokage coldly. He only felt anger and embarrassment in his heart now.
It was fine if Konoha sneak attacked other ninja villages. Sneak attack was sneak attack.
But they didn't tell him in advance, and were discovered by others, and still put on an innocent look of being wronged?
Did they really think he, the Daimyo, was a fool?
Hearing these two conditions, the Third Hokage lowered his head slightly, constantly weighing various gains and losses.
In the end, the idea of stabilizing everything occupied the Third Hokage's heart.
If war started now, maybe it would really evolve into a situation of being besieged by major ninja villages.
At that time, unknown numbers of people would die, and victory wasn't guaranteed.
Instead of this, he might as well grit his teeth and pay 550 million ryo, actively apologizing and seeking peace.
Anyway, Konoha had a big business and was the richest among the five major ninja villages.
At worst, tighten belts and live frugally for a few years.
Make civilians suffer a bit; moreover, the Will of Fire could solve all difficulties.
As for apologizing, as long as it wasn't mentioned deliberately, people would forget it in a few years.
And even if they formed a so-called offensive and defensive alliance, if the Stone Village really went crazy and attacked other ninja villages later...
He had a pile of excuses to evade, block, and wrangle with each other. The Stone Village was so far from Konoha.
If they just sent messengers to pass letters back and forth a dozen times, as long as he deliberately slowed down the speed a little, he could easily drag on for a month or two.
Even if he couldn't block it in the end, after a few months, the situation would be more or less clear.
The Third Hokage just prepared to open his mouth when the closed wooden door opened abruptly, and a gloomy and tough voice came out:
"Lord Daimyo, we choose the last one!"
"Konoha will absolutely not submit to any ninja village, let alone let the Hokage apologize to the Kage of other hidden villages. We will absolutely not do such a thing that loses dignity!"
Hearing this, the Daimyo turned around abruptly and looked at the old man wrapped in bandages walking over.
His eyes showed an expression unknown whether it was anger or appreciation.
"Very good, have backbone!"
"Then you get ready for war immediately. Three days later, I will declare war on the Land of Earth!"
After saying this, the Daimyo walked directly out the door, ignoring the Third Hokage's retention behind him.
Danzo stood at the door, bowing slightly to watch the Daimyo leave.
He stood up directly, walked into the office, and closed the door.
"Danzo, did you really do this?"
The Third Hokage sat on the chair, looking at Danzo with a headache, asking tentatively.
Danzo snorted unhappily.
"Hiruzen, you overestimate me."
"Although there are a few Uchiha clansmen in the Root in my hands, they are only Three Tomoe Sharingan. How could something like Mangekyō Sharingan appear?"
"And if it really appeared, would I not tell you?"
"Besides, how could I use it on such a small matter as sneaking attacking the Stone Village? If I want to launch a surprise attack, I would directly attack the Sand Village. Wouldn't that be more convenient?"
After saying these words in one breath, Danzo narrowed his eyes at the Third Hokage and asked back:
"On the contrary, Hiruzen, was this really not done by the Anbu under you?"
The Third Hokage pulled out the drawer under the desk, took out the pipe inside, frowned, and smoked.
The Third Hokage gently exhaled the smoke from his mouth, white thick smoke drifting in mid-air.
His wrinkled face appeared and disappeared in the thick smoke.
"None of the Anbu under me has the Mangekyō Sharingan."
Hearing this, Danzo didn't doubt the possibility of the Third Hokage lying at all.
He knew the character of his old comrade-in-arms too well.
Thus, Danzo's expression became even gloomier, gloomy enough to drip water.
"Then is it that someone in the Uchiha clan awakened the Mangekyō but deliberately hid it without reporting?"
"And he did this kind of thing privately just to make Konoha go to war with the Stone Village so that the Uchiha clan can take the opportunity to do something?"
The Third Hokage took another puff of dry tobacco, exhaled it forcefully, watching the thick smoke form white circles.
"It's better to be cautious in everything. What if this is just a means of framing and provocation by the Stone Village?"
"Maybe Onoki would rather sacrifice the life of a Jinchūriki, hundreds of ninjas, and thousands of civilians, as well as his disciple's future, to play the bitter trick, just to split our Konoha internally."
"We'd better invite the Uchiha clan leader over and ask him."
Danzo closed his eyes and nodded, but a crazy idea surged from his heart.
Deeply influenced by his teacher, the Second Hokage, Danzo had always had deep prejudices against the Uchiha clan.
Now that this happened, the prejudice in his heart slowly turned into hatred.
Uchiha, an existence that relied on hatred to awaken eyes, shouldn't appear in Konoha at all.
Ten minutes later, a middle-aged man in his fifties sweating on his face hurried in pushing the door open.
He looked at the Third Hokage and Danzo in the office.
Visible surprise appeared on his face:
"Lord Third and Lord Danzo, what is this?"
Danzo just looked at this middle-aged man coldly, then closed his eyes and didn't speak to him.
The Third Hokage looked at the current Uchiha clan leader in front of him, squeezed out a smile on his face, and said softly:
"Clan Leader, please sit."
After the Uchiha clan leader sat down, the Third pondered for a while and said gently:
"Clan Leader, last night the Five-Tails Jinchūriki of the Stone Village lost control. I heard them say he was controlled by Mangekyō..."
The more the Uchiha clan leader listened, the more sweat appeared on his face. Hearing the end, he stood up immediately and said hurriedly:
"Absolutely impossible!"
"Lord Hokage, please believe us!"
"Let alone that our Uchiha clan has no strong men with Mangekyō Sharingan now. If we did, we would definitely tell you, and it's absolutely impossible to do such a thing privately!"
The Third Hokage just kept smoking dry tobacco. His eyes hidden by thick smoke were full of scrutiny and various emotions.
The Uchiha clan leader's face was full of nervousness. He looked at the Third Hokage who didn't speak but just stared at him.
After a long silence.
The Third Hokage stopped smoking. He showed a professional kind smile on his face.
"The Uchiha clan has contributed greatly to Konoha and is loyal."
"This old man also believes that Uchiha would absolutely not do such a thing. It must be people from the Stone Village sowing discord!"
Before the Uchiha clan leader could breathe a sigh of relief, the Third Hokage continued:
"However, in a few days, we are going to war with the Stone Village."
The Uchiha clan leader hurriedly patted his chest to show loyalty:
"Don't worry, Lord Hokage. Uchiha is Konoha's Uchiha. We will definitely send all combat power to participate in the war!"
After the two exchanged pleasantries for a few more minutes, the Uchiha clan leader retreated carefully.
Watching the figure of the Uchiha clan leader walking out.
The Third turned to look at Danzo who had been silent all along.
"Old comrade-in-arms, what do you think?"
Danzo opened his eyes and said calmly with no expression on his face:
"What he said should be true, judging from his breathing frequency and heartbeat."
The Third nodded in agreement. From the observation of all the subtle movements of the Uchiha clan leader's body for more than ten minutes just now...
He also found that he indeed didn't lie.
Of course, there was also a possibility that the Uchiha clan leader was a very deep-acting movie king who could control various involuntary subtle movements and breathing frequency of the body well, deceiving these two old foxes.
But this possibility was too low to be considered.
The Third Hokage murmured with a complex expression:
"The current Uchiha clan leader is an old man who experienced the Madara Uchiha era in his childhood. His guts have long been frightened. Even if a genius with Mangekyō Sharingan appears in the clan, he will definitely report it."
The corner of Danzo's mouth curled up into a cold smile, his tone gloomy and cold:
"Let's assume this matter is directed and acted by the Stone Village itself for now."
"But now the Uchiha clan has talents emerging in large numbers. The young generation has Fugaku Uchiha, and the teenage generation has Shisui Uchiha."
The Third was silent for a while, but finally shook his head:
"No, the Uchiha clan has changed a lot over the years."
Danzo's eyes were full of mockery, and the bottom of his eyes was full of hostility.
"Changed a lot? As long as their way of awakening eyes hasn't changed, their nature will never change!"
"Now it's just that group of old people who experienced the Madara Uchiha era in their childhood are still in power."
"Wait a few more years, when these old people pass away one by one, and the middle-aged generation born after Madara Uchiha takes power, see if they will be dissatisfied!"
The Third Hokage's eyes flickered, and he said hesitantly:
"Let's wait and see."
"The most important thing now is to prepare for war."
...
"Immediately make all preparations for war!"
"These hypocrites of Konoha who dare to do but dare not admit, this old man will definitely teach them a lesson!"
The Third Tsuchikage roared fiercely, saliva spraying constantly from his open mouth.
Kitsuchi, closest to him, quietly retreated a few steps to prevent his father's saliva from spraying on him.
"Father, what about the Land of Wind?"
Onoki's short body stood directly on the brand new desk that had just been replaced.
He looked straight at the dozens of elite Jonin in the office.
"Ignore them. Let them fight with the Land of Lightning."
"The Land of Grass is still in internal strife. We bypass directly from the Land of Grass and attack Konoha!"
"Also, spread the news that Konoha Uchiha clansmen controlled our Stone Village Jinchūriki to attack the Stone Village out of control, but Konoha refused to admit it. We are not afraid of losing face; let's see if they are afraid of losing face!"
A few hours later.
The news that Konoha sent Uchiha clansmen to control the Stone Village Jinchūriki, making him lose control and attack the Stone Village, and shamelessly refused to admit it, spread in the ninja world.
...
Sand Village, in the Kazekage's office.
Rasa, who had already returned to the Sand Village, had a good sleep, and was now processing documents.
Hearing this news, he just shook his head.
Sure enough, as he expected.
Facing such a major event, Danzo would absolutely not make concessions.
And the indecisive Third Hokage would definitely be influenced by Danzo.
In this way, the pressure the Sand Village had to face was much less.
Now three Swifts had been manufactured.
Also began to select suitable candidates from the Sand ninjas still remaining in the village.
Now everything was on track.
Rasa finished approving the documents in his hand and stretched.
Speaking of which, if the Stone Village wanted to invade the Land of Fire at the fastest speed.
The best route was to pass through the territory of the Land of Grass, which was still in internal strife?
But the Grass Ninja Village, this village drifting with the wind like wild grass, tough and hateful like grass.
He heard Akatsuki mention that the internal strife in the Land of Grass had started again.
According to the timeline, Karin's mother was still alive.
And calculating based on Karin's age, when Shippuden started in Konoha Year 63, she was about 16 years old.
Then at this time, she shouldn't have been born yet.
An idea suddenly popped up in Rasa's mind.
Just do it. Rasa casually created a shadow clone to stay here for work.
He himself walked quickly to the apron, casually picked a Swift, and flew to the Land of Grass.
The Land of Grass was located northwest of the Land of Fire, bordering the Land of Fire, the Land of Earth, and the Land of Rain.
As a small country and a fence-sitter, its fate was to be chosen invariably by big countries as the center of the battlefield for fighting.
And the Grass Ninja Village was not striving for progress, abandoning itself to vice.
Since the First Great War, the Grass Ninja Village split into the Grass Flower faction and the Flower Fruit faction, having internal strife from time to time.
Half a day later.
Above the Grass Ninja Village in the Land of Grass, a black shadow suddenly flashed past, and then the black shadow disappeared.
Another few hours passed; it was already late at night.
In a dilapidated room, a gentle woman with red hair suddenly sat up from the shabby bed.
She frowned at the black shadow outside the house, her fair and intact arm slowly holding a kunai.
"Do you want power?"
Suddenly the black shadow outside the window spoke. The neutral voice indistinguishable between male and female reached the room.
Hearing this, Yoshina Uzumaki immediately thought of her destroyed village.
When destroyed by various forces, the so-called staunch ally Konoha didn't send a single reinforcement.
Even among those enemies, there were faintly shadows of Konoha.
Thinking of this, a mocking smile appeared on her gentle face:
"Power? Power only brings destruction."
"My life now is quite good."
The black shadow outside the window was silent for a while, but sneered:
"Is that so? Then what do you think will happen to you without power if your special physique is discovered by Grass ninjas?"