As Sandaime's words fell, the Shinobi in the venue instantly vanished from their spots, their expressions grave, rushing back to their respective clans.
Sandaime had always been steady in his actions.
If even he spoke such words, the importance of this battle was self-evident.
Kumogakure, Training Room.
A middle-aged man with bulging muscles, tall and robust, was doing push-ups in his office, large drops of sweat falling from his head.
"One thousand three hundred seventy-six, one thousand three hundred seventy-seven, one thousand three hundred seventy..."
This middle-aged man was the Yondaime Raikage. As the physically strongest Kage, he spent a great deal of time daily on physical training.
Normally, during his training sessions, interruptions were absolutely forbidden.
But now, there was one exception…
"Raikage-sama, there's movement in Konoha!"
Thud.
Just as the Yondaime Raikage reached his fourteen hundredth push-up, the room's door was thrown open.
A beautiful blonde Kunoichi, Samui, stood at the door, reporting coldly.
This was the only type of interruption the Yondaime specifically permitted: intelligence regarding Konoha.
"Oh? What happened? What exactly is that old man, the Sandaime Hokage, scheming?"
Hearing Samui's report, Yondaime Raikage wiped the sweat from his forehead and laughed heartily.
"The specifics are still unclear. But according to our informants hidden in Konoha, Konoha seems to have dispatched a large number of Shinobi towards Otogakure. It seems they are moving against Orochimaru."
Samui glanced at the notebook in her hand and spoke solemnly.
'Orochimaru, huh?'
Yondaime Raikage stroked his chin, falling into thought.
Despite his rough appearance, no Shinobi who became a Kage was a fool.
Yondaime Raikage knew perfectly well.
Orochimaru, as the Sandaime's former student, had been engaged in Forbidden Technique and human experimentation for years, wanted by all Five Great Nations.
Sandaime attacking Orochimaru was justified.
However…
Two other possibilities couldn't be ruled out.
First Possibility: The recently much-discussed incident of the Kyubi's escape, the Jinchuriki was hiding under Orochimaru's banner, forcing Sandaime to lead troops in response.
Second Possibility: Sandaime had always been in secret contact with Orochimaru. Using the false news of the Kyubi's Jinchuriki's escape as a lure to attract the attention of the major nations, they would then join forces internally and externally to annihilate the shinobi forces.
"Hah, that Sandaime... he's given everyone a difficult problem."
Yondaime Raikage snorted coldly, removed the weights from his right wrist, and washed his rugged face with water.
Samui stood timidly to the side, asking in a small voice,
"So, Raikage-sama, your opinion is..."
"Hold our position."
Yondaime Raikage turned off the faucet, a cold, sharp smile appearing on his face.
"If Konoha's Jinchuriki has truly defected to Orochimaru, then even if Sandaime Hokage eventually brings him back, the losses will be heavy. Acting then won't be too late."
"And if it's all a scheme by that old fox, just testing our reactions..."
"Then let that old man, that unpleasant woman, and that gloomy man test the muddy waters first! My bones are too stiff to handle soft persimmons!"
Yondaime Raikage laughed heartily, patted Samui's shoulder, and walked out the door.
Kirigakure, Mizukage's Office.
The Godaime Mizukage, Terumi Mei, looked at the mirror before her, a mysterious and elegant curve lifting the corner of her lips.
"Konoha's hunting plan... That old man, the Sandaime Hokage, truly cannot be underestimated for a single moment."
Compared to the Raikage, the spies Mei had planted in Konoha had grasped more intelligence.
Including the meeting that involved most of the top Jonin, which was also within Mei's knowledge.
However…
Even so, Sandaime's cunning political skills still made Mei hesitant to act rashly.
This iron-fisted old man, who had held the Hokage position for decades, established countless rules, and secretly carried out who-knows-how-many missions... Anyone who had dealt with him dared not underestimate him in the slightest.
At the very least, Mei knew clearly that Konoha still had a 'Root' hidden beneath the sunlight, possessing strength that should not be underestimated.
"Ara ara, that old man Sandaime Hokage is not easy to deal with. I'm just a weak woman. Let whoever wants to go, go. I'd rather think about how to get married first."
Mei smiled charmingly, appearing casual and free-spirited on the surface, yet her words contained countless political calculations.
To exaggerate a bit, if the commander of this operation were anyone other than Sandaime Hokage, even the Sandaime Tsuchikage, Mei would not hesitate to act.
Only Sandaime Hokage was the exception.
He manipulated the light, played with the shadows.
Outwardly, he appeared as a gentle, kindly old man, yet he mercilessly exterminated the Uchiha Clan, established the Root, and made the major nations wary and fearful of Konoha.
In terms of achievements in 'politics' alone, even the God of Shinobi, Shodaime Hokage, and the Forbidden Technique Master, Nidaime Hokage, were completely no match for the Sandaime Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
…
Iwagakure, beneath a waterfall.
Sandaime Tsuchikage formed hand seals, silently enduring the waterfall's impact, his eyes closed.
After a long time, only a 'crack' sound was heard.
"Ouch, ouch, ouch! My back gave out again!"
Sandaime Tsuchikage, rubbing his short lower back, walked out from under the waterfall with a pained expression.
The look on his face gradually shifted from exaggerated pain to a teasing one.
Among all the Kage, he was the one who understood Sandaime Hokage best.
That old fellow was indeed cunning and shrewd, indeed possessed immense political skill.
But, he was an out-and-out conservative, rarely taking the initiative to invade.
If Sandaime Tsuchikage guessed correctly, this operation was eighty or ninety percent likely due to Konoha truly facing a crisis.
However…
"The other villages probably won't make a move. If I act, I'll become the target of everyone's criticism. That is definitely not a wise decision."
A glint of wisdom flashed in Sandaime Tsuchikage's eyes.
So-called political gameplay isn't a simple binary battle of 'I attack', 'you defend'.
It's an intricate web of mutual checks and balances of interests.
To put it simply, once Sandaime Tsuchikage made a move, he would be seen as an 'outsider' by the three villages that didn't dare to act.
Once labeled an outsider, Iwagakure, whether it gained benefits or not, would be criticized and even exploited by the other villages.
This was the balance of power. If any other village dared to act, Sandaime Tsuchikage would do the same.
Then, what if Sandaime Tsuchikage proactively shared intelligence and allied with all the villages to attack together?
That's even more unrealistic.
Because all his judgments were based on his understanding of Sandaime Hokage, not on solid intelligence.
The Kage of the great villages were not individuals who easily trusted others.
Therefore, for this operation, even if Sandaime Tsuchikage saw through it, he ultimately couldn't go against Hiruzen's arrangements and fell into his calculations.
"In terms of brains and cunning, you are indeed the strongest among us."
"But can this calamity truly be overcome by calculation alone?"
Sandaime Tsuchikage threw a stone into the water's surface, shaking his head with a laugh.