Western border base of the Land of Fire.
Since Konoha hadn't entered the war yet—and there was no three-front fighting yet—the Konoha Sannin, Konoha's White Fang, and Shimura Danzō were still gathered together, closely watching the battlefield between Sunagakure and Amegakure.
Right now, the busiest—and most dangerous—were the reconnaissance teams and Anbu, who infiltrated enemy territory to gather intelligence.
News of Sunagakure's countermeasures was quickly delivered to Orochimaru and the others.
"Chiyo, that damn woman, actually developed an antidote formula for the salamander's poison?" Tsunade said in shock as she read the intelligence scroll.
"Not only that," Danzō added, knowing more. "Sunagakure seems to have found the salamander's weakness. For a brief time, they even forced Hanzō into a stalemate."
Jiraiya looked delighted. "If Suna and Amegakure are stuck in a stalemate, then Hanzō shouldn't be able to shift targets and come after us, right? Does that mean the wider melee won't break out?"
Knock knock knock—
Almost the moment Jiraiya finished, knocking suddenly sounded.
"Come in."
As the words fell, the door opened and a Byakugan user in a green flak vest walked in.
"My lords, my clan brother's summoned beast has brought back the latest intelligence."
Without wasting words, the Hyuga man handed a sealed scroll to the highest-ranked person present—Danzō, the Hokage's advisor.
"You've all worked hard, Kawa," Danzō said politely. At this time, he wasn't fully established yet, and he too dreamed of becoming Hokage.
After Hyuga Kawa left, Danzō immediately used an unsealing technique and opened the scroll.
When he finished reading, his face turned ugly.
Noticing the change, Hatake Sakumo asked, "Danzō-sama… did the situation suddenly change?"
"Mm. See for yourselves."
Danzō placed the scroll on the table.
Very quickly, Orochimaru and the others' faces also darkened.
"Just like I said—Ōnoki suddenly reinforced the border. He was never up to any good," Jiraiya complained. "After lying low for three months, he finally made his move. Still, at least he only attacked Amegakure. It still has nothing to do with us."
"If that were all, it would be good news," Orochimaru said. His finger traced the text on the scroll, then stopped on a line, voice turning heavy. "But they attacked Amegakure while Hanzō and Suna were locked in stalemate—are they really doing it just to slaughter and loot? They aren't Suna's allies. Aren't they afraid Hanzō will suddenly change targets?"
Sakumo added, "Amegakure has plenty of Rain ninja guarding it. Even if there's more wealth than in ordinary towns and villages, there's no need to take the risk of raiding a military base."
Jiraiya's expression hardened. "So the slaughter and looting are only a cover… and they have another goal?"
Orochimaru and the others exchanged looks for a few seconds, then said in unison:
"The antidote."
As a medic-nin, Tsunade immediately said in a low, firm voice, "We can't just sit here. Even if we're judged as joining the war, we have to act."
"Whether Iwagakure is targeting the antidote or not, whether they've already obtained the antidote and formula or not, they've clearly prepared to go to war with Amegakure. If they truly obtain the antidote formula and produce an antidote to the salamander poison, we'll be in an absolutely passive position."
"I refuse to believe Ōnoki is simply trying to seize Rain Country's resources."
"Who knows whether Suna and Iwa both having the antidote will lead Hanzō to ally with them? Or maybe they'll use the antidote to lure Hanzō toward us on purpose—how do we respond then?"
"We also must obtain the antidote and develop the formula to counter the salamander poison."
After Tsunade's analysis, everyone's mood sank to the bottom.
Even so, Orochimaru said, "First, report to Sarutobi-sensei."
No one objected.
Using clan summons to transmit information, the intelligence about Iwagakure's surprise attack on Amegakure—along with Tsunade's analysis—was quickly placed before Sarutobi Hiruzen.
After reading it, Hiruzen's mood also grew heavy.
"Ōnoki… what exactly are you thinking?"
Hiruzen tried to put himself in Ōnoki's shoes and infer his intent.
The Land of Earth's territory was enormous, surrounded by many small nations. With borders touching the Land of Demons and the Lands of Rain and Waterfall, it didn't lack trees and water at all.
As for minerals, a country full of rocky mountains certainly didn't lack them either—the issue was that extraction was difficult.
What they lacked was trade-friendly territory, economic influence, and the status and reputation that would draw nobles and civilians from other countries to commission missions.
But Rain Country's harsh environment—aside from water—wasn't suited for trade at all. Rather than angering the fearsome Hanzō, wouldn't it make more sense to exploit the fact that Konoha had moved large forces to guard the western border and seize the Land of Waterfall instead—with its dense forests and fertile land?
Hiruzen took a deep drag from his pipe. Then his eyes suddenly sharpened as he murmured:
"Ōnoki… is your target… the Land of Fire?"
In that moment, Hiruzen made his decision.
Just as Tsunade analyzed: regardless of whether Iwagakure's target truly was the Land of Fire, Konoha couldn't afford to sit still.
So Hiruzen raised a hand in a signal.
In the next second, an Anbu appeared inside the Hokage's office, kneeling on one knee.
"Hokage-sama."
"Go notify genin Gojo Yoru to come see me. No need to rush him—tell him to prepare first, then come."
"Yes."
The Anbu dipped his head and vanished in an afterimage.
Not long after, Gojo Yoru—who had been in his yard training sealing arts with Kushina—received the notice.
"I understand. I'll prepare and go over," Yoru said with a nod, immediately grasping Hiruzen's intent.
Then he went inside to pack his things.
"Yoru… are you going to war?" Kushina followed him in.
"I'll only know after seeing the Hokage," Yoru said with a smile. "It might just be that they need my Flying Thunder God to deliver something to the border for Orochimaru-sensei."
Even as he said that, Yoru was already preparing for deployment.
They hadn't summoned him in three months—meaning the situation had still been manageable and Flying Thunder God hadn't been needed.
Now they were finally calling for him. That likely meant the wider melee had begun.
If Yoru remembered correctly, the Second Great Ninja War's main participants were only four: the Lands of Rain, Fire, Wind, and Earth.
And Konoha… seemed to be fighting on three fronts.
"Did someone run into danger and need reinforcement?" Yoru thought, remembering that Orochimaru had asked him for several Flying Thunder God kunai.
Or was it that they needed him—the Flying Thunder God user—to carry out some secret mission?
Either way, Gojo Yoru was done being idle.
~~~
Thank you for reading!