An order from the Daimyo Manor arrived at Konoha with the highest priority.
Minato immediately gave an order upon receiving it.
"Transmit my command!"
"From the border war zones of the Lands of Wind, Earth, and Water, immediately dispatch five hundred shinobi to converge at full speed on Material Transfer Station Number One!"
"A temporary combat unit will be formed in the village. Five hundred Jōnin and Chūnin are to depart immediately, destination as above!"
The Hokage's order, like a stone thrown into a still lake, instantly stirred up great waves within Konoha.
The war had just subsided.
Peace had not lasted long, and such a large-scale military mobilization made everyone sense a tense atmosphere.
The two thousand Konoha shinobi who received the order, like a surging torrent, converged from all corners of the Land of Fire toward the same location.
This material transfer station was located on the northeastern border of the Land of Fire, only about one hundred kilometers from the border of the Land of Lightning.
The materials stockpiled there were enough to support a localized war.
Together with the front-line troops led by Jiraiya, they could advance within a day to support any potential conflict.
Or they could retreat, securing the rear supply lines and providing logistical support for the entire front.
This deployment would firmly anchor the border against the Land of Lightning.
A single order from the Daimyo instantly switched the entire Land of Fire's war machine into a state of readiness.
Almost simultaneously, in the Land of Earth, the Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki, an old man known for his stubbornness and toughness, also received the highest directive from his Daimyo.
After a brief moment of surprise, the Iwagakure shinobi quickly sprang into action.
A large-scale force began moving toward the border between the Lands of Earth and Lightning.
They did not cross the border but instead set up camp along it, conducting regular military exercises.
However, the towering chakra fluctuations and the murderous intent radiating from the assembled thousands of shinobi weighed heavily on the border of the Land of Lightning.
Deterrence.
Pure, naked military deterrence.
For a time, the entire shinobi world was in turmoil.
The illusion of peace was shattered, and the clouds of war once again gathered overhead.
Countless intelligence organizations frantically sought to gather information.
Why did the Land of Fire suddenly increase its troops?
Why did the Land of Earth deploy its forces to the border?
Although the Land of Wind had no visible military action, its Daimyo publicly called on all parties to exercise restraint.
Yet, in his words, the accusation was aimed squarely at a certain hegemonic nation attempting to disrupt regional peace.
Even a fool could see that these three were acting in concert.
And there was only one target.
The Land of Lightning.
The eyes of all nations converged on that land perpetually shrouded by thunderclouds.
They waited.
Waited for the Fourth Raikage's response.
Would it be concession? Or war?
The entire shinobi world was like a lit powder keg, ready to explode at any moment.
In the capital of the Land of Lightning, inside the Daimyo Manor, the atmosphere was heavy with tension.
The Daimyo of the Land of Lightning slammed the joint diplomatic note, signed by the three countries of Fire, Wind, and Earth, onto the floor.
"Outrageous!"
"They've gone too far!"
The Daimyo's furious roar echoed through the hall.
His chest heaved violently, his face flushed, eyes filled with rage and humiliation.
He had never imagined that simply wanting that small thing called the Crystal of Fire, merely wanting to enjoy the same benefits as other Daimyo, would invite joint pressure from the three great nations.
This was no longer a trade issue.
This was humiliation.
A humiliation of their entire Land of Lightning.
It was as if the three great nations were telling the whole shinobi world that the Land of Lightning had been kicked off the table of top powers.
"Daimyo-sama, please calm down," a trembling civil official spoke up, trying to soothe him.
"Calm down? How can I calm down!" The Daimyo pointed at the scroll on the floor, furious. "That brat from the Land of Fire, how dare he bully me so!"
"And those two bastards from the Lands of Earth and Wind, how dare they follow along and cheer!"
"What do they want? To force our Land of Lightning to kneel?!"
Below the hall, the civil and military officials were silent.
Everyone lowered their heads, not daring to face their Daimyo's wrath.
Just then, a voice filled with explosive power rang out.
"If they want to fight, then let's fight!"
Everyone turned toward the voice.
A burly man walked in from outside the hall, shirtless, his bronze, muscular physique radiating a fierce aura.
It was none other than the Fourth Raikage, A.
"Raikage-sama, absolutely not!"
The earlier civil official immediately stood up to refute him. "Now the Land of Earth has already deployed troops to the border, watching us closely! If we go to war with the Land of Fire, Iwa will surely take advantage of our weakness!"
"At that time, we'll be trapped fighting on two fronts, neglecting one side or the other, and the country will be in peril!"
As soon as he finished, another official echoed, "What the councilor says is absolutely correct!"
"Although the Land of Wind hasn't sent troops, its stance is clearly aligned with the Lands of Fire and Earth."
"Now that the three nations are united, if we rashly go to war, it will be one against three, with no chance of victory!"
"Chance of victory?" Raikage let out a sneer.
His cold gaze swept over the group of civil officials with disdain.
"You bookworms only know how to calculate gains and losses."
"The Lands of Earth and Wind?" Raikage's tone was mocking. "Just a pack of hyenas blinded by profit!"
"Do you really think they'd fight to the death with Kumo just for a small trade share with the Land of Fire?"
"They're just making noise, trying to seize the opportunity for their own gain."
Raikage took a step forward, his voice rising.
"As for the Land of Fire! Do you still think they're the same Konoha as before?"
"In the Third Shinobi World War, Konoha claimed victory, but at what cost?"
"Except for Minato and a few old geezers, the entire Konoha is already struggling, with a generational gap in its core strength!"
"The current Konoha is just an empty shell! The title of the strongest village should have changed hands long ago!"
"Now is their weakest moment!"
"If not now, then when?!"
Raikage's words instantly ignited the young officials in the room.
They clenched their fists, breathing heavily, and shouted in agreement.
"Raikage-sama is right!"
"Fight! Strike while he's down and finish him off!"
The civil officials, refuted and flustered, still tried to hold their ground.
One of them stammered, "But... but even a lean camel is bigger than a horse!"
"Konoha's foundation still exists, and once war breaks out, our Land of Lightning will suffer massive losses as well. It's not worth it!"
"This is exactly what the Land of Earth wants to see!"
"Shut up!" Raikage roared, lightning crackling around him, blue arcs flashing across his muscles.
The immense pressure silenced the civil official instantly, sweat dripping down his face.
"A bunch of weaklings who only know how to push pens! What do you know about war!"
"You—"
"Enough!"
Before the argument could escalate further, the Daimyo finally intervened.
The fury on his face faded, replaced by deep solemnity.
Looking at the two opposing factions below, he remained silent for a long moment.
To fight meant immense risk. Once dragged into a prolonged war, the Land of Lightning could decline permanently.
Not to fight meant swallowing unbearable humiliation and losing all prestige.
It was a difficult choice.
"This matter... will be discussed later."
"Everyone, withdraw for now."
The Daimyo waved his hand, dismissing them.
However, no one knew that late that night, the Fourth Raikage secretly met with his Daimyo.
(To be continued.)
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