286. Like A Dagger

Konoha's declaration of war against the Hidden Cloud Village caught many by surprise.

The news, spread rapidly through the *Shinobi World United Press*, swept across the ninja world like a storm.

"Just as I thought, Danzo is perfectly fine!"
Ōnoki, the Tsuchikage, looked at the newspaper in his hands, his face clearly displaying the words "I knew it."

Although the newspaper only mentioned that Danzo had been targeted in an assassination attempt and didn't specify his current condition, Ōnoki could easily deduce one thing: Danzo was definitely unharmed!

Otherwise, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the "Professor," would never have allowed the Yellow Flash to make such an aggressive decision.

Let alone such a direct declaration of war and intense preparations for battle.

Those Konoha higher-ups wouldn't dare to act so boldly even if they had ten times the courage!

Regardless, this was good news for the Hidden Rock Village.

Although many of their spies in Konoha had been rooted out recently, they still had a general understanding of the situation.

The losses Konoha suffered from the Nine-Tails and Seven-Tails attacks were real.

Coupled with the upcoming war against the Hidden Cloud, it was possible that both sides would end up severely weakened.

In that case, the Hidden Rock might be able to seize some significant benefits.

The cunning Tsuchikage narrowed his eyes, a new scheme brewing in his mind.

——————

The Kazekage of the Hidden Sand Village shared similar thoughts.

Holding the urgently delivered *Shinobi World United Press*, he read the war declaration with excitement.

His trusted aide, Baki, quickly reported, "Lord Kazekage, as per your orders, I have secretly dispatched 500 elite shinobi from the Hidden Sand, disguised as miners, into the mining area. At your command, they can immediately launch an assault and drive those damned Konoha ninja out of the Land of Wind!"

Hearing Baki's words, Rasa's face lit up with satisfaction.


"Well done!" He slammed the newspaper onto the table and gazed at the ninja world map on the wall, coldly stating, "As soon as Konoha shows signs of weakness in their fight against the Hidden Cloud, we will immediately attack and reclaim the mining area! Not only that, we can also take the opportunity to cross the mountains and enter the Land of Rain!" Rasa's eyes were filled with ambition.

Due to the Land of Wind's poverty and drought, he had long dreamed of conquering the Land of Rain.

This was also why the Land of Wind had repeatedly launched wars against the Land of Rain and the Land of Rivers throughout history. Unfortunately, they had always been pushed back by Konoha...

Feeling the Kazekage's ambition, Baki lowered his head respectfully and said, "Lord Kazekage, you are truly wise!"

——————

In another direction, the Hidden Mist's fleet was conducting exercises off the southern coast of the Land of Fire.

The Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, who was being controlled by Obito, stared blankly at the coastline. As soon as the time was right, he would order the Hidden Mist forces to launch an attack on the Land of Fire, dragging it back into the quagmire of war!

Unlike Yagura's radical war ideology, the younger generation of the Hidden Mist, including Mei Terumī, Ao, and Mangetsu Hōzuki, had expressed opposing views even before Yagura began the military exercises.

They believed that the war between Konoha and the Hidden Cloud had nothing to do with them, and that the Hidden Mist should focus on recuperating.

Unfortunately, such peaceful ideas were not adopted by the Mizukage.

In fact, Yagura had ordered his top generals, Fuguki Suikazan and Biwa Juzo, to carry out a purge within the village.

Even Mei and others were nearly added to the list of targets...

In short, the Hidden Mist was in complete chaos. Yagura's continuous dictatorship and purges had left the shinobi of the Hidden Mist in a state of panic, with many clans fearing for their safety.

Desperate to resolve the situation, Mei and others, limited by the Mizukage's authority, could only seek solutions in secret.

——————

Back to the Hidden Cloud.

When the Third Raikage, leading his troops deep into the Land of Fire, saw the report of Konoha's declaration of war and the sudden loss of contact with numerous spies, he could almost confirm one thing: Danzo, that old fox, was definitely awake!

In fact, he might never have been unconscious at all!

This was all just an act.

Realizing this, the Third Raikage's expression darkened. He felt like he had been played.

But he quickly calmed down.

After all, launching a war wasn't something Konoha could do overnight.

War mobilization, resource gathering, equipment distribution, and personnel allocation—none of these could be resolved in a day or two.

Plus, it would take several days for Konoha's forces to march to the border. This meant he still had at least ten days to prepare.

With this in mind, the Third Raikage quickly made a decision.

"Send a message to the Fourth Raikage. Have him quickly build defensive fortifications at the border between the Land of Earth and Konoha. Also, gather the main forces and deploy them to the frontlines as soon as possible. Finally, order all rapid assault units to retreat and regroup with the main forces at the border!"

The Third Raikage issued a series of decisive orders.

After all, his previous pressure tactics were based on the assumption that Danzo was in a coma.

He believed that, in such a situation, the weak-willed Konoha higher-ups would never dare to wage a large-scale war!

That's why he had dared to lead hundreds of elite shinobi past Konoha's border defenses and into the Land of Fire.

But now, Danzo was awake.

The Third Raikage was almost certain that the first thing Danzo would do upon waking was to seek war with the Hidden Cloud.

And he would likely aim for a decisive battle in the shortest time possible, because Konoha couldn't afford a prolonged war of attrition. That's why the Third Raikage chose to retreat immediately.

Knowing that Konoha wanted to end the war quickly, the Hidden Cloud would do the opposite!

They would build extensive defensive fortifications at the border, turtle up, and drag Konoha into a quagmire of war.

In such a scenario, the other villages watching from the sidelines would inevitably join the fray. Konoha would then be forced to relive the chaos of the Third Great Ninja War.

In that period of time, the Hidden Cloud might just find the opportunity to knock Konoha off its pedestal as the top ninja village!

It must be said, the Third Raikage was no fool.

Beneath his rough exterior lay a keen and calculating mind. Unfortunately, what he never expected was—
Danzo had already anticipated his moves.

While the Third Raikage was retreating, Danzo, leading only the Earth Branch Squad and ten temporarily recruited elites, was already advancing like a sharp dagger, aiming straight for the heart of the Hidden Cloud!