Tsunade glared at Danzo. In her heart, the decision to send Fuma alone to provoke Hanzo was a blatant conspiracy.
Danzo clearly intended to eliminate the rising power of the Uchiha clan, using a cowardly tactic of borrowing someone else's hand to kill.
Even though she had crossed paths with Fuma deeply and knew his strength better than anyone, she couldn't help but feel anger.
Hanzo was a ninja with more experience than even Hiruzen Sarutobi and had long been famous in the ninja world. He had maneuvered between two great nations and established a powerful village, a testament to his undeniable strength.
"As the Hokage's advisor, I don't need to explain my actions to a youngster like you. As a ninja, obedience is a duty!" Danzo coldly responded to Tsunade's challenge. In his mind, such questions had no place in Konoha.
The Third Hokage, seeing Tsunade about to explode with anger, stepped between her and Danzo and calmly spoke:
"There's definitely something suspicious here. My orders were for him to scout Amegakure's terrain, not to engage in a fight with Hanzo."
The peculiar politics of Konoha surfaced again. The Third Hokage deftly absolved himself of responsibility, passing the blame to Danzo.
If the challenge had come from anyone else, Danzo wouldn't have cared, but a statement from the Third Hokage required clarification.
"Hmph, I only instructed him to observe Hanzo's son, and I dispatched two squads from Root to accompany him," Danzo said.
"With Fuma Uchiha's capabilities, is this mission really that difficult?"
Tsunade's expression softened slightly. It seemed Fuma had engaged Hanzo of his own volition. Her rival had only told her he'd fought Hanzo, causing her much unnecessary worry.
The Third Hokage coughed lightly and said, "Let's wait for Fuma to return to the village and properly question him about what transpired."
The brief argument ended there. Tsunade was filled with joy over her lover's safety, while Danzo and the Third Hokage each had their own thoughts.
After all, a ninja who could duel Hanzo and come away unscathed was a valuable asset any village would vie to recruit.
.......
Amegakure
Inside the headquarters of the village, Hanzo sat grimly at the head of the table, his body wrapped in bandages as he led a high-level meeting.
Due to Fuma's immense strength, Hanzo had suffered severe internal injuries, nearly rupturing his poison sac. He realized that his plan for Amegakure's expansion was no longer feasible.
Hanzo had intended to annex the Land of Rivers, a vassal state of the Land of Fire, which boasted vast plains and favorable climate.
He believed that as long as he demonstrated sufficient strength to annex the Land of Rivers, Konoha would merely put on a show of resistance. He did not believe Konoha would go all out for a vassal state.
If he could withstand the first wave of Konoha's counterattack, Amegakure could successfully move out of its current miserable territory.
But now, with Fuma Uchiha capable of holding his ground against him, his original plan had to be scrapped. Hanzo knew in his heart that Fuma could have killed him.
His expression grew darker, and the executives below him could only bow their heads, waiting for Hanzo's orders. In this small nation, Hanzo was like a god, and no one dared question his authority.
"Contact the Suna shinobi. Their situation is dire as well."
"If they deploy troops, we can split the spoils and potentially capture the Land of Rivers, maybe even acquire some resources."
"Konoha can't afford to lose, and any territorial loss is a desecration to their previous Hokages."
"As long as we only take the Land of Rivers and resources, and don't cross their bottom line, Hiruzen Sarutobi will compromise."
Hanzo clearly understood Sarutobi Hiruzen's mindset and limits. Having immersed himself in the ninja world for over fifty years and dealt with two great nations, he had his own unique understanding of war and politics.
..........
Sunagakure
The Third Kazekage, Chiyo, and others were reviewing a secret message from Amegakure's Anbu, discussing the feasibility of Hanzo's proposal.
After a brief silence, Ebizo, known as "Suna's Darkness," was the first to voice his opinion.
"I believe this is feasible. Our village has been shrouded in the shadows of hunger and poverty for too long. It's time for a change."
Ebizo, Chiyo's brother, was in charge of Suna's intelligence and Anbu operations and was a staunch militarist. He had long harbored ambitions regarding Konoha's prosperity.
Chiyo, contemplating her brother's words, spoke hesitantly, "The key is to assess Konoha's response. If we lose, will the Daimyo's office provide enough support for the village?"
Despite Chiyo's cautious approach, none of the Suna leaders objected. Chiyo had tirelessly worked for Suna's development, her meticulous planning making her the most reliable strategist in the village.
The Third Kazekage picked up the report, remaining silent. To declare war on Konoha required courage and confidence.
Ebizo stood up and scanned the room.
"Suna is in a state of slow death. Our village is 85% desert, and we have to import all our food."
"Our ninjas and civilians suffer from the harsh desert conditions, affecting their work and lives."
"And Konoha, occupying vast fertile lands, controls small countries and continues to drain us economically!"
Ebizo slammed his fists on the table, shouting:
"Suna shouldn't be doomed to suffer. If Konoha has bread, we deserve a piece!"
"If Hanzo is willing to lead the charge, we have no reason to hold back!"
The Suna leaders nodded in agreement, sharing a common understanding of their village's prolonged suffering.
Since the First Five Kage Summit, where the First Kazekage had demanded land from Konoha and was sternly rejected, Suna had been desperate for resources.
Could invading Konoha be seen as fulfilling the First Kazekage's will?
The Third Kazekage surveyed the room and solemnly declared, "My disciple Rasa has awakened his Magnet Release."
"And unlike my Magnet Release, he can extract gold dust from the desert."
"So, even if we are defeated, we have a secure source of funds to support our ninjas."
The Suna leaders were visibly energized. If this were true, they would have the confidence needed for the war.
Indeed, directly invading Konoha's heartland and taking a substantial bite out of it might be possible.
Chiyo stood up and added, "My puppet poisons, combined with Hanzo's salamander poison, can effectively damage their lower-ranking ninjas."
"For the Land of Rivers, Hiruzen Sarutobi is unlikely to deplete all his resources against us."
The Third Kazekage made the final decision, striking the table with conviction.
"Ebizo, inform Hanzo that we agree to the alliance. You will negotiate the detailed preparations with him."
"Chiyo, according to Hanzo's intel, Konoha's Blood Wolf is on the rise. Be prepared for him."
"Gentlemen, Suna's prosperity depends on this. Prepare for battle!"
"Yes!"
The Suna leaders, invigorated, responded in unison.
Sometimes, fate works in mysterious ways. What should have been a chaotic three-village conflict in the Second Shinobi World War had now turned into a united front against Konoha.
The emergence of a genius can elevate a village's future, but it can also lead to greater conflicts.
Such is the harsh reality of the ninja world, where right and wrong blur into shades of gray. Who can truly say what's just?
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