The shinobi world, already stirred by the presence of the Four Nations' garrisons, became even more chaotic.
The reason was a joint official document, signed by the Daimyōs of three nations.
As the document spread throughout the shinobi world, it was delivered almost simultaneously to the Daimyo Manor in the Land of Earth.
The contents were simple and direct.
It listed only three points.
First, a stern condemnation of the Land of Earth's treacherous actions within the Land of Lightning.
Second, a demand for the immediate cessation of illegal occupation and the return of all seized assets.
Third, a public apology to the Land of Wind and the Land of Water.
Otherwise, the three nations reserved the right to take all necessary actions.
This strongly worded warning made the smaller nations tremble.
Everyone who caught a whiff of tension had only one thought in mind.
Was war about to break out?
The Four Nations Alliance, which had just finished dividing the Land of Lightning, was already turning on itself?
The world was changing too fast.
So fast that it felt unfamiliar and unsettling.
Land of Earth, Daimyo Manor.
Inside the ornate hall, the atmosphere was heavy.
The Daimyo of the Land of Earth sat in the main seat, his plump face dark and gloomy.
The joint warning lay open before him.
Each word on it was like a slap across his face.
"Outrageous. Absolutely outrageous!" He suddenly snatched the teacup beside him and hurled it to the floor.
The crisp shatter mingled with his furious roar.
"That brat. Does he think he's the ruler of the entire shinobi world?"
"And those two bastards from the Land of Wind and the Land of Water! Ungrateful white-eyed wolves!"
He was so furious his fat body trembled, spit flying as he raged.
"Back then at the Land of Hot Springs, who was it that took the lead and helped them seize the chance to drive out the Land of Fire? It was me! Me!"
"Now that they've eaten their fill, they've turned around and joined an outsider to bite back at me!"
He couldn't understand. Truly couldn't understand.
So what if they took a bit more, occupied a little more? What was wrong with that?
The strong prey on the weak, the bold thrive while the timid starve. Isn't that how the world works?
Yet not only did they refuse to back down, they had the gall to ally with the Land of Fire.
Below him, the gathered officials didn't dare breathe too loudly.
None had ever seen the Daimyo this furious, like an enraged pig.
"Daimyo-sama, please calm your anger!" A Jōnin in Iwagakure uniform finally spoke up. "In my opinion, the Land of Fire is just bluffing!"
He analyzed, "They just ended a war with Kumogakure. It's impossible for them to immediately start another war with us!"
"Exactly!" Another Iwa shinobi chimed in, "Our Land of Earth didn't suffer much in the last Great War."
"Plus, our terrain is strategically advantageous. Easy to defend, hard to attack. Even if the Land of Fire dares to come, they might not gain anything!"
"I believe this is just a ploy to force us into submission!"
For a while, the hall filled with chatter, everyone voicing opinions on how to deal with the Land of Fire.
Their analysis slightly soothed the Daimyo's anger.
He then turned his gaze to the short figure who had remained silent, eyes closed the entire time.
The Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki.
"Tsuchikage." The Daimyo spoke deeply. "What do you think?"
The room instantly fell silent. Everyone looked toward the inconspicuous old man.
Ōnoki slowly opened his eyes, snorting through his large red nose.
He floated up from his seat, levitating to the center of the hall.
"Bluffing? Submission?"
"You really think the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, who stomped the Fourth Raikage and the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki underfoot, forcing Kumo to sign a humiliating treaty, is someone who only makes empty threats?"
His words immediately drained the color from many of the officials' faces.
That's right.
They had almost forgotten.
The Daimyo of the Land of Fire wasn't just a politician.
He was also an unrivaled powerhouse.
"Then... what does Tsuchikage-sama mean?" a civil official asked cautiously. "Should we compromise?"
"Compromise?" Ōnoki sneered. "That word doesn't exist in my dictionary."
He turned sharply to the Daimyo, battle intent radiating from his small frame.
"Daimyo-sama."
"This battle must be fought."
"But not yet!"
"The Land of Fire is strong, but not invincible!"
Ōnoki stared at the Daimyo, a cunning glint flashing in his old eyes.
"The Daimyo of the Land of Fire is indeed a formidable figure."
"But all of us have overlooked one thing."
"He is now the Daimyo."
Ōnoki's tone sharpened, eyes flashing coldly.
"A shinobi can act recklessly. A monarch cannot."
"Because rules are what reinforce his authority."
"So, his identity has become his own shackle!"
"The reason he issued this joint statement is to leverage his status as Daimyo and the righteousness of the Four Nations Alliance to pressure us!"
Ōnoki's words made everyone feel enlightened.
The Daimyo followed his line of thought and added, "So, as long as he doesn't act personally…"
"Exactly!" Ōnoki nodded. "He wants to play a king's game, so let's play along!"
"As long as he doesn't personally take the field, biting off Iwagakure, the hardest bone on the continent, is nothing more than a dream!"
"If we just stall for time, the Land of Fire will eventually retreat due to the pressure of prolonged war!"
Ōnoki cupped his hands.
"Daimyo-sama, please respond to the Land of Fire."
"Simply state that disputes among shinobi should be resolved in the shinobi way. The Daimyo will not interfere."
"Good. I understand." The Daimyo nodded. "I'll leave the rest to you."
"Rest assured, Daimyo-sama!"
…Iwagakure's reply, with even stronger wording, was swiftly delivered to the Daimyo Manor in the Land of Fire.
The letter emphasized repeatedly that this was a shinobi dispute and that Daimyo should not interfere.
It attempted to exclude Arashi from the picture, pulling the conflict back to a shinobi-level confrontation between nations.
"Shackles, huh?" Arashi casually tossed the letter onto the table.
After a brief silence, he asked, "How are preparations?"
Below, Aono Saku responded, "It's already done."
Arashi nodded. "Good. Then announce the battle report and Iwa's reply to the world."
"Make it clear that Iwa acted treacherously first, and then slaughtered our Land of Fire's peacekeeping shinobi."
"They've handed me the perfect excuse."
"If I don't accept it, wouldn't that be disrespecting their kind gesture?"
"Issue my command."
"In the name of the Land of Fire, toward the Land of Earth…"
"Declare war."
"The declaration will contain only eight words."
"Blood for blood. Unending until death."
…When Iwa's reply and the battle report detailing the brutal massacre of Land of Fire's patrol squad were released together to the world, everything fell deathly silent.
If the previous joint letter was just posturing across a distance.
Then now, blood had completely severed the path of retreat.
In the eyes of the world, Iwa's actions had escalated from greed to tyranny and bloodlust.
Suna and Kiri immediately followed up, publicly announcing their participation in the joint campaign against Iwa.
Their declarations were filled with condemnation of Iwa's cruelty.
In the Land of Lightning, silence reigned.
They had become the most bitter observers of this new war.
A brand new Shinobi World War erupted with a roar.
And no one had expected it to come this way.
(To be continued.)
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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
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