Three years later, after three years of preparation, Iwagakure planned to start a war.
The reason for such a long preparation was, firstly, to wait for a new generation to grow.
Every additional year meant Iwagakure gained many more Ninja.
Secondly, it was to desensitize Konoha, making Konoha truly believe that Iwagakure was just conducting drills.
"Old Tsuchikage, I have already drafted the battle plan."
"I call it the Blitzkrieg!"
"Higashi Shinjin will lead a thousand Ninja to assault Konoha's front line from the front. According to Anbu intelligence, Konoha's defenders are very weak at this time."
"At the same time, we will set up a supply station at Kannabi Bridge!"
"Cooperating with the Kumogakure and Amegakure forces, we will encircle Konoha from three directions, and finally fight a decisive battle to end Konoha at Kikyo Mountain!"
"Once Kikyo Mountain falls, Konoha will only be able to huddle within the Village."
Kakuzu spent three days and three nights presenting the battle plan to Ōnoki.
Ōnoki couldn't help but nod.
"Not bad, Kakuzu!"
"I am very satisfied with this battle plan!"
Ōnoki floated over the map, examining it carefully.
According to Kakuzu's plan, Iwagakure would have at least three major campaigns to fight.
The frontal battle led by Higashi Shinjin's Ninja forces.
The crucial supply line of the Kannabi Bridge battle.
And the final battle at Kikyo Mountain.
"What do you plan to do with the two Jinchuriki?"
Ōnoki was hesitant about whether to directly send the Jinchuriki to the battlefield.
"We don't need to rush that. Konoha's trump cards haven't been revealed yet, so we should keep ours hidden too!"
"Four-Tails Jinchuriki Roshi and Five-Tails Jinchuriki Han will be the finale. Our investigation shows that the Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki is currently a young girl from the Uzumaki Clan, and it's uncertain whether she has mastered the Nine-Tailed's power..."
Kakuzu immediately replied.
"Hmm, get ready!"
"Notify Amegakure and Kumogakure to prepare for war!"
Ōnoki ordered with a serious expression.
"Alright!"
....
"Father! Father!"
"Iwagakure has sent a secret telegram! Iwagakure will launch an offensive against Konoha the day after tomorrow, at five o'clock!"
"War is coming! War is coming!"
Fourth Raikage A walked over hurriedly, excitedly saying.
"Hmm, I've expected this. Prepare yourselves!"
Third Raikage stood up, his body like an iron tower, and simultaneously clenched his fists: "Come on, long-awaited war!"
.....
"Good, good, good, this day has finally arrived!"
Hanzou immediately assembled his Ninja forces.
...
In Konoha Village, Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyebrows twitched.
A bad premonition welled up in his heart.
Suddenly, Danzo Shimura, with a rare look of panic, walked into the Hokage's office.
"Hiruzen! Big trouble!"
Danzo Shimura was panting, seemingly having encountered something alarming.
"What is it, Danzo!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned.
There weren't many things that could alarm Danzo Shimura...
"Hiruzen, it's big trouble! An anonymous letter says that Iwagakure is going to attack us! And they've allied with Amegakure and Kumogakure to wage war on us!"
Danzo Shimura fumbled to pull out an anonymous letter.
"What?!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart jolted. This was no small matter.
If it was true, then Konoha was finished!
Konoha was already on shaky ground fighting one-on-one.
Now, it was three against them.
"Just based on one letter? Is the intelligence source really reliable?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi asked, his brows tightly furrowed.
"That's not important. What's important is, what if Iwagakure really starts a war against us?"
Danzo Shimura asked, slamming the table.
Iwagakure exerted too much pressure on Konoha.
Iwagakure had not yet returned the western lands of the Land of Fire.
From Konoha to Iwagakure, the strategic depth wasn't that long.
The Iwagakure army could directly launch from the western Land of Fire, and a strike would directly penetrate into the central Land of Fire.
Holding three Tailed Beasts, and with unfathomable military strength.
"We have no other way..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi said helplessly.
"Recall Jiraiya and all personnel on missions outside the Village!"
.....
On a seemingly ordinary afternoon, as the sun gradually set, around five o'clock, the Konoha border was enjoying a moment of peace.
However, beneath this calm surface,
a sudden storm was brewing.
"Peace is truly wonderful!"
A bearded Jonin sighed, looking at the peaceful border.
Kazura Hagane, a Konoha border Jonin (a character from the original work).
Buzz!
A call came in.
"Hello! This is Hokage Assistant Danzo Shimura. You at the front line, increase your defenses! Absolutely, absolutely, absolutely!"
"Alright, Lord Danzo!"
After hanging up the phone, Kazura Hagane was slightly speechless.
Iwagakure had been drilling on the border for three years.
How could they possibly attack?
Kazura Hagane didn't believe Iwagakure would attack; he thought Iwagakure was just doing drills.
Boom!!!
A loud bang instantly made Kazura Hagane's ears ring!
"What's going on!?"
Kazura Hagane was shocked and rushed out of the fortress.
Immediately after, he saw the ground crack, and several fissures sped towards him!
"Masaka?! Could it be Iwagakure's!!!"
Kazura Hagane's pupils widened in shock. This was Iwagakure's signature Ninjutsu!
Concentrating Chakra in the palms, then striking the ground with the palms to crack the earth and attack the enemy. If hundreds of people perform it simultaneously, the power is immeasurable!
(Don't underestimate this Jutsu. The second Six Paths Uchiha Obito almost died from this Jutsu once; the record is verifiable.)
"Earth Release: Fissure Strike!"
With shouts, the earth began to rumble and shatter.
The entire Konoha front line was caught off guard, and the previously constructed defensive measures were instantly swept away!
...
The Land of Earth, a country that had always maintained relative peace with the Land of Fire, suddenly declared war on the Land of Fire without warning!
This news was like a bolt from the blue,
shocking the entire Ninja World.
Before people could even react, and before the news had spread to every corner of the Ninja World, the Iwagakure Village army had already swept in like a gale, with astonishing speed.
Konoha Village's border defenses were quickly breached under Iwagakure Village's fierce attack.
They had completely underestimated Iwagakure Village's decisiveness in launching the attack. For a time, the entire Land of Fire was plunged into chaos and panic.
Orochimaru's secret underground laboratory.
When Orochimaru learned that Iwagakure had started a war against Konoha,
Orochimaru, who was studying cells, paused.
"Hiss..."
Orochimaru looked at the Nine-Tailed's tail in the test tube.
The tiny piece of flesh originally obtained from Iwagakure had now been cultivated by him to a meter in size.
"It's a pity I didn't get the 'Six Paths flesh' and the First Hokage's Chakra from the data, otherwise I could have gone further!"
"Now that Iwagakure is at war with Konoha, the Old Tsuchikage is probably close to dying of old age. It will be difficult for me to go to Iwagakure again..."
Orochimaru rubbed his brows.