War.
This word seems remote.
For a long time, there had been no wars in Konoha.
After Tsunade issued the order for war, the villagers of Konoha quickly quieted down. Memories of years past gradually revived, and they recalled the horrors of war.
Many villagers looked bewilderedly at Tsunade atop the Hokage building, not quite understanding why the Fifth Hokage would suddenly issue an order to start wars against two ninja villages during her inauguration ceremony.
"We indeed need to avenge the Third Hokage..."
A Konoha ninja's face twisted with conflict as he cautiously added, "But haven't those two villages already sent envoys to sue for peace?"
The villages of Sand Village and Mist Village had been sending envoys back and forth, continuously seeking to negotiate a treaty to maintain their alliances with Konoha.
Gaara, the one-tailed Jinchuriki from Sand Village, and many Sand Village ninjas were still detained in Konoha, and numerous ninjas from Mist Village were also imprisoned in Konoha's jails!
"Are we going to start a war?"
A sense of panic was evident in a Konoha ninja's eyes.
Though they believed Konoha was strong enough, who knew what chain reactions a real outbreak of war might provoke, and how many of their comrades might have to be sacrificed?
"Or must we avenge the Third Hokage after all..."
"But to start a war just like that..."
"Shouldn't we seek vengeance?"
"We indeed should seek vengeance… but..."
The Konoha ninjas instantly erupted into a noisy debate. They were very much in favor of the idea of vengeance, yet they feared facing the cruel realities of war. Even some of the experienced jonin, who had become hardened by war, sighed deeply.
Some of the younger genin, who had little concept of war, having been born towards the end of the Third Great Ninja War, had neither seen the cruelty of war nor even heard it discussed by senior jonin or their elders at home.
Nara Shikamaru was the quickest thinker; he immediately noticed his father looking somber and took the initiative to ask, "Is war... that terrifying?"
"More terrifying than anything else in this world."
Nara Shikaku slowly nodded, his voice subdued, "On the battlefield, ninjas from two countries fight each other, and anyone might be sacrificed. Friends and comrades around you would keep dying…"
Nara Shikamaru's gaze turned towards his friends.
Akimichi Chōji started to panic, his face covered in sweat as he continually munched on chips. Despite being the most robust genin, he was also the most timid...
"The battlefield…"
Hatake Kakashi's eyes showed a hint of worry as he looked at his students. Uzumaki Naruto would probably not be sent to the battlefield...
As for Uchiha Sasuke…
He seemed almost disdainful of the upcoming war.
For this youngster who had never heard of the cruelty of war, the word "war" was far less stimulating than the name "Uchiha Itachi."
Atop the building of the Hokage.
After Tsunade announced the order to commence war, her expression grew even more somber, "All ninjas, go prepare yourselves. A meeting for the jonin will be convened…"
"Tsunade!"
Jiraiya furrowed his brows, wanting to step forward and have a serious talk with Tsunade, "Why would you suddenly start a war at this time…"
"Jiraiya-sensei!"
Akihara Kagura stopped Jiraiya, gently shaking his head, "Lady Tsunade and I didn't want this, but the decision to declare war on the two villages was made by the two Hokage advisors and the four previous Hokages…"
Jiraiya's brows locked tightly.
This tall, white-haired man couldn't help but turn back to look at the several Hokages present, not quite understanding, "But starting a war for revenge at this time will only bring…"
"Jiraiya, there's no helping it."
Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed, taking the initiative to explain to his student, "There have been some conflicts in the village and with the Daimyo of the Land of Fire... Tsunade and Akihara Kagura thought we should kill the Daimyo and the nobles, we think starting a war against Mist Village and Sand Village could ease the tensions between Konoha and the Land of Fire's Daimyo and nobles."
"Moreover…"
"The strength of Sand Village and Mist Village isn't that great."
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked towards Jiraiya beside Akihara Kagura, recalling the battle he witnessed that night, continuing, "Even if Konoha starts a war, it could end quickly without worrying about casualties in the village…"
"This…"
Jiraiya struggled to speak, his expression odd.
If what Sarutobi Hiruzen said was true, then starting an external war might actually be the best option?
According to Tsunade and Akihara Kagura's extreme thoughts, the rules of the ninja world would be directly overturned, and Konoha might well face attacks from other enemy countries.
"Let's prepare for the meeting!"
Tsunade walked down the steps from the rooftop.
"Is there even anything else to discuss?"
Tobirama looked towards Akihara Kagura, folding his arms, speaking softly, "Kid, you have Wood Release and Flying Thunder God, you alone could resolve this war, right? At this time, we probably shouldn't even expose ourselves, right?"
All eyes in the vicinity turned towards Akihara Kagura.
"Should we…"
Akihara Kagura hesitated for a moment, actively asking, "Should we give the ninja world some time to react? At least let others know that Konoha has declared war?"
"Hmph…"
Tobirama shook his head impatiently, continuing coldly, "There's no need for such redundancies. You should act quickly to resolve this war; that's the proper way!"
"Let the young people of this era witness…"
"The wars of the Sengoku period were not just child's play like now; let them understand the true power of Wood Release that ended the chaotic times, let them understand the terror of Konoha, unconditional surrender to Konoha is what you should do!"
"Wait…"
Tsunade was somewhat slow to react, shocked as she looked at the group of unchanging-faced Hokages, "Grandfather, you mean, let Akihara Kagura act alone?"
"More than enough."
Tobirama stared at Akihara Kagura, continuing sternly, "Kid, do you still need a team to wave flags and cheer for you?"
"I understand."
Akihara Kagura looked towards the other Hokages, seemingly searching for something, this seemed a bit off, as if she hadn't received any missions, only having one characteristic of Tsunade.
[System Prompt]: [You have a new superior (Tsunade), reward new employee welcome package, unlock new characteristics.]
[Medical Saint Hand (Able to control the body's chakra very precisely, medical ninjutsu techniques become very advanced.)]
Medical ninjutsu is barely useful.
But this precise control of chakra is most useful.
Even though Akihara Kagura had specifically trained this aspect, it was nowhere near the characteristic brought by having the medical ninja Tsunade as a superior. Akihara Kagura always relied on his vast chakra in battle, now being able to precisely control his chakra would significantly improve his control over his body, extremely useful for progress in taijutsu.
"Wait…"
Tsunade hurriedly tried to stop Akihara Kagura, but it was a bit too late, she just saw Akihara Kagura's figure disappearing from the spot.
"Tsunade."
Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head, softly persuading, "Don't worry about Akihara Kagura's safety, Akihara Kagura, at the age of eleven, captured the Mizukage of Mist Village, once almost broke through Mist Village alone, I have seen the battle report from that time…"
That time…
Akihara Kagura was still able to achieve that much.
Let alone now, according to Sarutobi Hiruzen's observations, perhaps even overthrowing the Land of Water wouldn't be a problem!
Within three days.
Konoha should receive news of Mist Village's surrender.
As long as Mist Village chooses to surrender, Sand Village would also have no possibility of resistance, without the one-tailed Jinchuriki and the Fourth Kazekage, Sand Village had no resistance.
"We still need to hold a meeting…"
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked towards Tsunade, speaking softly, "The village's ninjas might have some opinions about the war, take these few days to calm them down, avoid panic in the village due to the war, this is the responsibility of the Hokage…"
Tsunade's eyes twitched.
Actually, she, the Fifth Hokage, was more panicked than anyone else in the village!
"I'll let the village prepare for war…"
Tsunade sighed, heading towards the meeting room on her own.
Land of Water.
Outside the village of Mist Village.
Akihara Kagura moved swiftly, the [Golden Flash] bringing unparalleled speed, allowing him to arrive here before the sun even set.
"Akihara Kagura?"
Ao of Mist Village immediately spotted Akihara Kagura's arrival using his Byakugan, sending someone to notify the village's current acting leader, Terumī Mei, while he himself rushed over to meet Akihara Kagura, hoping to gauge from Akihara Kagura's words whether Konoha had proposed any conditions.
Mist Village had been continuously sending envoys to Konoha proposing peace negotiations, hoping Konoha would forgive Mist Village for being deceived by Orochimaru and Shimura Danzo.
Now…
Had there been a result?
"No need to come over."
Akihara Kagura watched Ao come out to meet him, raised his hand to stop Ao's approaching steps, and said, "This afternoon, Lady Tsunade succeeded as the Fifth Hokage of Konoha."
"Considering Mist Village's collusion with Orochimaru in instigating riots in Konoha and plotting against the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen, Lady Tsunade, upon her succession, officially declared war on Mist Village."
"Don't…"
Ao's pupils immediately dilated, and he hurriedly tried to speak, "We want to maintain peace with Konoha, just tell us the conditions, even if it's compensation, we can discuss it…"
Don't be so quick, right?
At least talk a bit more!
Why is Konoha's new Fifth Hokage so extreme?
And now, no matter what conditions Konoha proposes, Mist Village would probably agree, because it's very likely that Konoha wouldn't demand any land.
Because Mist Village was still leaderless, with the members of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, Hōzuki Suigetsu and Hōzuki Mangetsu, still detained within Konoha!
"Conditions for peace?"
Akihara Kagura furrowed his brows, thinking it seemed like Tobirama really had mentioned some conditions for peace between the two villages: "Konoha's Hokage mentioned, if you want peace, it would probably be Mist Village's unconditional surrender, allowing Konoha to dispose of you as it sees fit?"
"That's impossible…"
Ao instinctively refused.
That's too unreasonable!
Konoha and Mist Village are both major ninja villages of the Five Great Countries!
If we unconditionally surrender, wouldn't that be like letting others slaughter us, taking away Mist Village's soil for survival, what would we do then?
Just then, Mist Village's current acting leader Terumi Mei received the news and immediately brought a group of people to the village gate, also hearing the exchange between Akihara Kagura and Ao.
"Don't be rash, Ao."
Terumi Mei scolded Ao coldly, standing in front of Akihara Kagura, her appearance having matured a lot since back then, her demeanor becoming somewhat gentle, "If Mist Village unconditionally agrees to negotiations, how would Konoha dispose of us?"
"It's not a negotiation, it's surrender."
Akihara Kagura shook his head, continuing, "The Third Hokage was Lady Tsunade's teacher, she is extremely furious about this incident, she will definitely make Mist Village pay a painful price…"
"We were also deceived…"
Ao still wanted to argue.
"But you indeed participated…"
Akihara Kagura did not accept Ao's explanation, sighed, and continued, "I'm just responsible for bringing the declaration of war to Mist Village, and I need to bring back the news of Mist Village's unconditional surrender to Konoha."
"What… does that mean?"
Ao looked at Akihara Kagura in shock and confusion.
"Literal meaning."
Akihara Kagura slowly brought his hands together.
"You're going to…"
Ao's eyes trembled as he looked at Akihara Kagura, as if seeing something unbelievable in the world, "Attack Mist Village alone?"
No!
This isn't something that has never happened before!
Ao and Terumi Mei's memories immediately went back to six or seven years ago, when Akihara Kagura, the Wood Release ninja, almost single-handedly breached Mist Village, leaving a great humiliation for Mist Village!
Back then, Akihara Kagura was accompanied by two people…
But it was almost no different from him acting alone…
"Alert!"
A roar erupted from Ao's throat!
Because Ao did not believe he and Terumi Mei could stop Akihara Kagura!
The ninjas of Mist Village immediately relayed the alert order!
Terumi Mei was very vigilant, watching Akihara Kagura's movements, quickly kicking towards Akihara Kagura, trying to stop him from using ninjutsu!
Bang!
Akihara Kagura punched Terumi Mei's body!
Terumi Mei's body was thrown backward, crashing down in an instant, feeling as if she had been struck by a heavy hammer, spitting out a mouthful of blood!
Ao immediately tried to step forward to help!
Akihara Kagura's foot stomped on the ground, the ground directly cracking under his feet, sending Ao flying out!
"Wood Release: Advent of a World of Flowering Trees!"
Akihara Kagura raised his head towards the walls of Mist Village, suddenly bringing his hands together, vines sprouting from his feet, spreading towards the inside of Mist Village!
"Hopefully… Mist Village can give me a satisfactory result."
~~~
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