Sunagakure simply wasn't in a position to fight.
The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, knew that better than anyone—so even if it meant offending Chiyo, he had to prioritize the bigger picture.
Rasa had only recently taken the seat.
How could he not want a war he could win, a victory that would cement his authority?
But Suna's reality was right in front of him.
It wasn't that he didn't want to fight.
It was that he couldn't.
If Suna lost to Konoha again, what then?
Would the Kazekage's dignity survive?
He barely had prestige as it was—another defeat would be the final nail.
And Rasa was ambitious.
He didn't climb to the top just to hand power away.
Chiyo was old.
His road was still long.
So for the sake of stability, the smartest move was to stay out of the war.
Besides—
Onoki could sit back and watch.
Rasa could do the same.
If he couldn't win a full war, he could still wait for the right moment and squeeze profit from the chaos—bleed Konoha and Kumo with "fees" and leverage without ever stepping onto the battlefield.
No direct involvement meant fewer risks.
You might strike it rich.
But I'll never lose.
That was the effect he wanted.
Land of Hot Water — A Certain Street
Inside a hot spring inn, Jiraiya and Tsunade sat facing each other, drinking.
They didn't talk much.
Just drank in silence, both clearly burdened with thoughts.
After a long time, Tsunade finally looked up.
"Jiraiya… you're really not going back to check?"
"The old man probably came looking for you, didn't he?"
Even living in luxury, Tsunade still knew the big news:
Konoha and Kumogakure were heading into war.
Jiraiya smiled faintly.
"If you know Konoha's in trouble… why aren't you going back?"
Tsunade's lips curled in self-mockery.
"Heh. And what would I even do if I went back?"
"Konoha doesn't need me anymore."
Jiraiya didn't answer.
He could hear the disappointment in her voice.
He'd come to the inn intending to "gather material," only to get caught red-handed by Tsunade.
Old friends meeting meant old wounds resurfacing.
During Hiruzen's rule, Tsunade lost her lover Dan and her younger brother Nawaki.
Jiraiya lost his beloved student Minato.
They didn't say it out loud—
But both of them carried resentment toward Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Konoha was in the hands of those old men.
And it had rotted.
Was a village like that really worth dying for?
After a long silence, Jiraiya forced a smile.
"Forget the depressing stuff. Drink."
Truthfully, Jiraiya was worried about Konoha.
The Land of Hot Water bordered the Frost Country—close enough to hear news from the front anytime.
And the reason he refused to return was simple:
He didn't want to become a tool in the Konoha leadership's struggle against the Uchiha.
He'd heard of "Flame Oni" Yusuke before—Minato had praised the kid highly.
Jiraiya trusted his student's judgment.
With talent like that holding the front, why would he rush back to Konoha just to offend the Uchiha and get dragged into politics?
Jiraiya wasn't like Konoha's higher-ups.
He had no special prejudice against the Uchiha.
And he had no interest in being used as someone else's blade.
He didn't want to be Hokage.
He didn't want power struggles.
Traveling the world and peeping—wasn't that more enjoyable?
If anything, Jiraiya was one of the rare truly clear-headed ones.
Every man who became Hokage lived like a dog under a mountain of responsibility.
Jiraiya had already decided:
Unless Konoha truly faced extinction, he wasn't going back.
Tsunade watched his expression and sneered slightly.
She could tell—Jiraiya wasn't fully done with the village.
But as long as it didn't touch him directly, he'd keep it at arm's length.
Then her tone shifted, suddenly hopeful.
"By the way… do you have money?"
"Lend me some. I'll pay you back after I win it back."
Jiraiya's face turned pale.
"Ah—uh—I've got something to do."
"I'll… I'll get going."
"See you, see you."
He moved like a rabbit, leaping straight out the window.
Loan Tsunade money?
Impossible.
Not in this lifetime.
Everyone knew the Princess of Slug had the nickname "Fat Lamb."
You could lend her a mountain of gold and it still wouldn't survive her gambling.
Outside, Jiraiya looked at the street—at the white legs walking past—and instantly brightened up.
"The Land of Hot Water really is a great place."
"The quality here is top-notch."
"Enough talk—time to gather material!"
Tsunade stood there stunned for several seconds before she snapped back to reality.
"Wait, Jiraiya!"
"Go pay the bill first!"
"I didn't bring any money!"
Land of Lightning — Kumogakure's War Council
Inside Kumo's council chamber, the Fourth Raikage sat high above the room and stared down at everyone.
"What's the situation?"
"Who's commanding Konoha's coalition?"
Killer B sat beside him.
Unlike the Raikage, B had several obvious lumps on his forehead.
Clearly, he'd just been "disciplined" by his big brother's loving fist.
And honestly—it made sense.
War with Konoha was imminent, and B still wouldn't stop rapping in the Raikage's ear.
With A's temper, not pounding him into the floor already was restraint.
Mabui stepped forward and presented a report from Kumo's forward observers.
"Konoha's coalition is a little over three thousand shinobi."
"The commander is the current head of the Uchiha clan—Uchiha Yusuke."
The Raikage snorted.
"Uchiha Yusuke? The kid they call 'Flame Oni'?"
"A brat still wet behind the ears, coming here to die?"
"So what if he has Uchiha blood?"
"He's not worth me lifting a finger."
But a doubt lingered.
Konoha's higher-ups had always been at odds with the Uchiha.
So why would they place an Uchiha in overall command?
Mabui's next words answered him.
"According to our spies, Konoha's leadership intends to use Kumogakure to weaken the Uchiha."
The Raikage looked even more contemptuous.
"Still playing political games at a time like this."
"Hiruzen really has gotten worse with age."
"Konoha's internal rot won't stop—sooner or later they'll collapse."
"And Kumogakure will one day rule the shinobi world."
He slapped the armrest and made his decision.
"A 'Flame Oni' doesn't require the Raikage's hand."
"Send Yugito Nii."
"Let the Two-Tails test him first."
"With Yugito there, that kid won't be able to stir up anything."
His confidence was absolute.
Flame Oni specializes in Fire Release?
Fine.
I'll send someone who is fire.
A shinobi who plays with flames thinks he can hurt the Two-Tails?
Don't make me laugh.
In the Raikage's eyes, Yugito was the perfect counter.
Uchiha fire might be strong—
But stronger than a tailed beast?
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