"Warm-up exercise?"
With only two people in the tent, Ayane looked at Hakushi with a puzzled expression, not understanding why he would say such a thing.
"The ambush on the Konoha envoy was undoubtedly orchestrated by the Kazekage. Even if he didn't personally hire the attackers, this strategy is definitely his handiwork."
"Do you have any evidence?"
"The warm-up exercise I'm referring to is the evidence. Before this war ends, wiping out part of Konoha's elite ninjas equates to weakening Konoha's strength."
"But... if the higher-ups decide to continue the war, wouldn't that go against the plan?"
Ayane questioned.
"That's why Hidden Rock was dragged into it. In the eyes of Konoha's higher-ups, here's the situation—Hidden Sand initially intended to continue fighting Konoha because they received supplies from Hidden Rock, enabling them to continue the battle. However, after eliminating the Konoha envoy, Hidden Rock suddenly drastically reduced their original supplies, leaving Hidden Sand without the ability to sustain the fight. As a result, in the Konoha higher-ups' eyes, Hidden Sand was played by Hidden Rock. If Konoha continues to fight Hidden Sand, they'll fall into Hidden Rock's trap."
"Such a simple scheme, the higher-ups won't be fooled."
"Whether they're fooled or not is irrelevant. What's important is whether they have the capability to fight both Hidden Sand and Hidden Rock simultaneously. The point is here, Konoha's higher-ups aren't prepared to go to war with both ninja villages at the same time. This is an overt strategy."
Although Konoha has the capability, doing so would lead to even greater sacrifices.
Hakushi did not believe that Konoha's higher-ups had the resolve to sacrifice nearly a decade of Konoha's future development by going to war with Hidden Sand and Hidden Rock.
Clearly, these two villages, openly or covertly, have long been conspiring together.
Or perhaps, Hidden Rock is also being used by the Kazekage.
Hidden Rock didn't cooperate with Hidden Sand's act, only Hidden Sand is putting on a show for everyone, fooling others while shifting the focus of the issue.
"Warm-up exercise? It's certainly an apt description."
If things were as Hakushi said, Ayane thought the term "warm-up exercise" was very fitting.
Eliminating the Konoha envoy and getting Hidden Rock to play along with the act was a warm-up exercise for an even fiercer assault on the Land of Fire next time.
That is to say, in the years following the end of this war, Hidden Sand will certainly rise again, led by the Third Kazekage, with an assault even more ferocious than this time.
Recalling that in the past, Hakushi had said that after the end of the Second Great Ninja War, the Third Great Ninja War would not be far off and would still revolve around the Land of Fire where Konoha is located, Ayane couldn't help but feel admiration.
That indeed was the best time to leave Konoha.
◎
Hidden Sand Camp.
"Is this your future development plan, Kazekage-sama? It's truly amazing! No one could possibly guess the true intentions of Kazekage-sama."
Surrounded by trusted Hidden Sand Jonin, after reviewing the entire plan process, they all looked at the Third Kazekage with expressions of admiration.
Both Hidden Rock and Konoha were being played around by their respected Kazekage-sama.
Konoha was especially tragic, having lost so many people and still needing to sign a ceasefire agreement with Hidden Sand.
Hidden Rock did intend to use Hidden Sand to continue the war with Konoha.
The reduction in the supplies promised to Hidden Sand did happen, and it wasn't fabricated.
However, even this was utilized by the Third Kazekage.
Hidden Rock was secretly pleased that Hidden Sand and Konoha's conflict had deepened.
Konoha, on the other hand, thought Hidden Sand and Hidden Rock had long colluded, seeing it as a trap against Konoha that couldn't be moved rashly. They must continue to sign a ceasefire agreement with Hidden Sand to prevent a united attack on the Land of Fire by Hidden Sand and Hidden Rock.
"In the coming years, we must make good use of the abundant resources obtained from within the Land of Fire to train more outstanding ninjas for the village, in preparation for the next war a few years later. Also, to build a prosperous era that belongs to us, Hidden Sand. Let us all work together towards this goal."
The Third Kazekage stood up from his seat, his tone filled with confidence and encouragement for his subordinates.
"Yes! We swear to serve faithfully!"
The Hidden Sand Jonin also stood up from their seats, looking at the Third Kazekage with fanatic eyes.
It was as if they could already see that in a few years, under the Kazekage's leadership, they would once again breach the Land of Fire, seizing more and better resources.
The era of Hidden Sand's true rise was soon to arrive.