Standing atop the Kazekage Building, Rasa's heart swelled with ambition.
This Ninja World War was personally initiated by him, Rasa.
And now, he would personally push this war to the next stage.
These two points alone were enough for him, Rasa, to leave a significant mark in the history of Sunagakure!
Hearing Ebizo say it was time to bring the war to Konoha, Rasa opened his mouth and said, "Ah… tsk~"
As Rasa opened his mouth, a sudden gust of wind blew in, filling his mouth with sand.
That didn't count, let's start over.
Rasa cleared his throat and announced with a serious expression, "Then... let's begin the next stage, and let the flames of war engulf the entire Ninja World!"
After making the announcement, Rasa coolly mused, "The harsh environment of flying sand and dust will become excellent nourishment for cultivating Ninja. This time, our Sunagakure will surely rise!"
Ebizo immediately began to act.
Thanks to Ebizo's extensive network of hidden contacts in the Five Great Nations, the spread of the rumor went very smoothly.
Konoha stole the Magnet Release Bloodline Limit Ninja that Sunagakure was supposed to give to Iwagakure. That Magnet Release Ninja was turned by Konoha, who used his identity as a clansman of the Third Kazekage to lure the Third Kazekage out of the Village. Konoha Ninja then ambushed and killed the Third Kazekage, finally faking it as if Iwagakure had done it.
And there was a lot of "evidence" indicating that Konoha had indeed framed Iwagakure.
In just over a week, many people in the Five Great Nations already knew about this rumor.
Inside the Hokage Building.
Besides Hiruzen Sarutobi, Utatane Koharu, Homura Mitokado, and Danzo were all in the office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a grave expression, "You all must have already received the news, right?"
Utatane Koharu's expression was as ugly as if she had eaten dirt: "Of course we know. After all, it's already spread outside Konoha Village, saying that our Konoha Ninja ambushed and killed Sunagakure's Third Kazekage and even framed Iwagakure."
Homura Mitokado adjusted his glasses and suggested, "Could it be that Iwagakure is under a lot of pressure right now and deliberately framed us? Perhaps we should quickly communicate with Sunagakure's new Fourth Kazekage..."
Homura Mitokado was interrupted by Danzo before he could finish speaking.
Danzo said in a sinister tone, "Iwagakure framing us? I doubt it. When this rumor spread, I sent people to investigate. This rumor first appeared in the Land of Earth. Doesn't that explain the problem?"
Homura Mitokado asked in confusion, "Is there a problem with the rumor originating from the Land of Earth? After all, Iwagakure wants Sunagakure to target us, Konoha, doesn't it?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi mused, "I think I understand Danzo's meaning. If Iwagakure wanted to shift the target and make Sunagakure attack us, Konoha, then this rumor should have spread in the Land of Wind first, not in the Land of Earth.
So... Danzo, you mean it's not Iwagakure trying to frame us, but someone else wanting Sunagakure to target us, Konoha? Am I right?"
Danzo nodded: "Hiruzen, you guessed correctly. That's exactly what I mean."
Utatane Koharu frowned: "Since it's not Iwagakure, is it Hidden Cloud Village? It wouldn't be Hidden Mist Village, would it?"
Homura Mitokado's hand, pressing his glasses, suddenly trembled, and a wise light reflected from the lenses: "Is it possible... this rumor was spread by Sunagakure?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo both looked at Homura Mitokado simultaneously.
Although Danzo had investigated and deduced that Iwagakure had not spread the rumor, he had not found out who did, nor had he suspected Sunagakure.
Utatane Koharu retorted, "How could the rumor be spread by Sunagakure? What's the point of Sunagakure spreading this? To go to war with us, Konoha? What good would that do them?"
Homura Mitokado played coy, looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi: "Hiruzen, you should know Ōnoki very well."
Hiruzen Sarutobi had almost guessed the truth and said seriously, "Yes, Ōnoki is a self-serving fellow. If Sunagakure and Iwagakure go to war, Sunagakure will definitely not be a match for Iwagakure, but Ōnoki also won't fight to the death with Sunagakure, because he can't get any benefits from Sunagakure.
If we think along Homura's lines, Sunagakure declared war on Iwagakure, calculating that Iwagakure wouldn't fight them to the death, and the Ninja World War has now fully begun, so their internal conflicts have successfully been diverted.
However, Iwagakure's overall strength is greater than Sunagakure's. If they drag it out, Sunagakure won't be a match for Iwagakure. Even knowing that Iwagakure won't fight them to the death, it's an unbearable consumption for Sunagakure, which is extremely lacking in resources.
And at this point, Sunagakure's second scheme emerges. They also know that Ōnoki is a self-serving guy, and Hidden Cloud Village has already sent a Ninja unit into the Land of Earth, so Iwagakure is currently caught between two fires.
So... when the attack on the Third Kazekage by Iwagakure is a misunderstanding, and it was actually done by us, Konoha, then both Sunagakure and Iwagakure become victims. Sunagakure can then naturally propose cooperation with Ōnoki to go to war against Konoha. From my understanding of Ōnoki, he will almost certainly agree!"
After listening to Homura Mitokado and Hiruzen Sarutobi's analysis, Danzo and Utatane Koharu's expressions were very solemn.
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