While Konoha threw itself into full-scale war preparations…
Sunagakure, Kirigakure, Iwagakure, and Kumogakure moved even faster.
For the four great villages, this was a once-in-a-generation opening:
Knock the "Number One Village" off its throne.
Split Konoha's resources.
Carve up the Land of Fire's territory.
And the faster they did it, the better.
After all—whether in the Second or Third Shinobi World War—Konoha, as the final victor, had swallowed massive spoils. That steady flood of resources was one of the reasons "geniuses" kept appearing in the Leaf like they were mass-produced.
Now?
Konoha was in a weak phase.
So the conclusion was simple:
Hit it. Hard.
Under the eyes of the entire shinobi world, the four armies advanced openly and brazenly into the Land of Fire—no disguises, no pretense, no diplomacy.
And Konoha didn't send a single force to intercept them.
So the allied troops surged forward like a blade sliding into a body's heart, until they finally halted a few kilometers outside Konoha.
Land of Fire — The Allied Forward Camp
Inside the central command tent, the lineup was terrifying:
Kumogakure: Fourth Raikage A, and the Eight-Tails jinchūriki Killer B
Iwagakure: Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki, and the Five-Tails jinchūriki Han
Sunagakure: Fourth Kazekage Rasa, and Maki
Kirigakure: Elder Genji, Mei Terumī, and the Three-Tails jinchūriki, Yagura
If anyone outside saw this tent, they'd go pale on the spot.
Four Kage.
Three jinchūriki present in person (Han, Killer B, and Yagura).
A combined force that could crush almost any power on the continent.
No one spoke at first.
Then Rasa broke the silence with a cold, satisfied smile.
"This feels good."
"We walked into the Land of Fire without lifting a finger."
"Konoha's scared."
Ōnoki's mouth twitched—half a smile, half a sneer—as he glanced at Raikage A.
"Who would've thought… we'd ever be standing on the same side?"
Raikage A's jaw tightened.
"Ōnoki."
"Don't push your luck."
Ōnoki shrugged like he didn't care.
"In the Third War, to deal with your father… we used tens of thousands of Iwa-nin."
His eyes narrowed, a flicker of old fear crossing them.
"Uchiha Ren may not be Madara."
"But to be safe…"
"I plan to use tens of thousands of Iwa-nin to surround him."
The tent sucked in air all at once.
Even Raikage A—who was seconds away from exploding—swallowed hard.
Then he stared at Ōnoki like he was looking at something poisonous.
"…You really are the kind of bastard who survives forever."
Ōnoki snorted.
"Ren wiped out Konoha's leadership."
"That means he's dangerous."
"And frankly—"
"I'm worried tens of thousands of Iwa-nin, plus your three villages… still won't be enough."
Killer B clicked his tongue behind his sunglasses.
"Idiot… moron… no way."
"Even if Ren's strong, he can't fight an army."
Rasa's confidence dimmed too, his expression tightening.
"Konoha's leadership is gone. Their overall strength is down."
"One man can't carry a whole village."
But Ōnoki's voice stayed heavy.
"You don't understand what the Uchiha can be."
"I've seen Uchiha Madara."
"I fought alongside the Second Tsuchikage."
"And we were still crushed."
He let the words settle like stones.
"Be careful. Ren isn't Madara…"
"…but you'd be a fool not to fear what he might become."
The tent fell into a rare, uneasy silence.
Their confidence had been loud.
Now it was edged with caution.
Then—finally—Elder Genji spoke, voice low and sharp.
"Enough."
"Ren might be strong."
"But if all four villages focus him the moment the war starts…"
"…he dies."
Raikage A nodded immediately.
"Agreed."
Killer B's grin returned—lazy, cocky, and violent.
"Idiot, moron…"
"I'll show him what the Eight-Tails feels like."
Rasa gave a decisive nod.
"Fine."
"We stay allied for now."
"We crush Konoha first."
"How we divide the spoils—"
"We discuss that after Konoha is already broken."
No one argued.
Because every one of them understood the same thing:
This alliance was fragile.
Temporary.
A knife held together by greed.
But for one moment, their goals aligned.
Hit Konoha first.
And only after that…
split the loot.
After the Meeting
Once Ōnoki, Rasa, and Elder Genji left—
Raikage A leaned back in his chair, lips curling into a cold smile.
"Ōnoki's still the same."
"Scheming to the bone."
His eyes sharpened.
"When Konoha's finished…"
"…we turn on Iwagakure."
"We settle my father's blood debt."
Killer B's expression cooled, the playfulness draining out of him.
"I know."
And the tent's air turned even colder.
Because the truth was simple:
They weren't just marching on Konoha.
They were marching toward a second war—
one they'd start the moment the first was over.
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