Konoha Year 36.
After several years of relative stability, the shinobi world was thrown back into chaos.
Sunagakure and Iwagakure—two colossal powers of the current era—
Declared war on Konohagakure!
Sunagakure had been forced to recall its ninja forces due to a catastrophic sandstorm sweeping across the Land of Wind, in order to stabilize internal conditions.
But the disaster didn't end there.
Amid the chaos, during a moment when the village's defenses were weakened—
The One-Tail, Shukaku, broke free from its jinchūriki's seal!
The price Sunagakure paid was devastating.
Nearly half the village was reduced to ruins.
This monster's power filled countless Sand ninjas with absolute terror.
They could only watch helplessly as Shukaku rampaged—destroying buildings and slaughtering civilians without restraint.
In the end—
The Third Kazekage, the blue-haired man known as the strongest Kazekage in history—
Took action.
After the villagers were evacuated, his terrifying Magnet Release erupted.
Endless iron sand filled the sky, suppressing Shukaku's sand and Wind Release completely.
After a brutal battle lasting an entire day and night—
Shukaku finally reached its limit.
With an unwilling scream, it was sealed back into its jinchūriki.
With the crisis resolved, Sunagakure began restoring order.
The catastrophic sandstorm gradually subsided.
But soon—
An even more severe problem surfaced.
The Land of Wind—
Had no water.
While the Daimyō and nobles could still luxuriously bathe in hot water—
The common people of Sunagakure didn't even have enough to drink.
The Third Kazekage personally went to the Daimyō's residence to request water resources—
Only to be coldly refused.
"I don't even have enough water for myself," the Daimyō said. "Where would I get extra for your village? If you want water, go take it. Other countries have plenty."
The Kazekage's eyes burned with rage.
He wanted nothing more than to kill the man on the spot.
But what would that achieve?
Plunge the Land of Wind into chaos?
Surrounded by powerful enemies, if their nation collapsed into disorder—
They would be torn apart like prey devoured by wolves.
So—
He endured.
Returning to the village in humiliation, he looked at the suffering civilians—
And his eyes filled with tears.
Thus—
After a council of elders—
Sunagakure made its decision.
They would declare war on Konohagakure.
Why not target the weaker Amegakure instead?
First—
Hanzo of the Salamander had already made his stance clear.
"Iwagakure, Sunagakure, or anyone else—if you kill even one more Rain ninja, I will destroy your village with my own hands!"
A Hanzo with nothing to lose—
Was terrifying.
His destructive power rivaled that of a Tailed Beast.
The Third Kazekage had no intention of inviting such a madman into his village.
Second—
Amegakure had agreed to supply Sunagakure with a portion of water resources through negotiation.
When the Kazekage saw the villagers lining up to receive water—
Their faces filled with joy—
Some even kneeling toward the Kazekage Tower in gratitude—
His heart burned with emotion.
Why…
Why must such good people suffer like this?
Late at night, he would question the heavens—
Why is the world so unfair?
And then—
His thoughts turned to Konoha.
That hateful village—
With its abundant water resources.
That village—
Which had emerged victorious in the previous war and taken most of the spoils.
While Sunagakure—
Suffered heavy losses—
Only to gain a pitiful amount of water.
This wasn't water.
This was the blood of Sand ninjas.
Their lives.
Thus—
The village that had once ambushed his forward camp—
The village with fertile lands that every other nation envied—
Konoha!
The Third Kazekage roared during the war declaration ceremony:
"Greedy Konoha does not deserve such vast water resources!"
"They belong to Sunagakure!"
The entire village erupted with fury.
Their hatred burned uncontrollably.
They wanted nothing more than to tear Konoha's ninjas apart—
To seize their land—
To claim their water.
Jealousy drove them mad.
Why could Konoha live in such a rich land—
While they suffered in endless desert storms—
Without even water to drink?
And on top of that—
Konoha had shamelessly attacked their camp.
This hatred—
Would never be forgotten!
Sunagakure deployed an initial force of six thousand ninjas—
The largest army they could currently muster.
Once the village stabilized—
Reinforcements would continuously be sent to the battlefield.
This force was led by Chiyo as the commander—
With Ebizo serving as chief strategist.
They advanced toward the Land of Rain.
Even with war declared—
They would not immediately invade Konoha's core territory.
That would overstretch supply lines.
Instead—
They would first exhaust Konoha's forces in the Land of Rain—
Then, after achieving victory—
Advance deeper into Fire Country.
This—
Was Sunagakure's strategy.
…
At the same time—
Iwagakure.
During the previous conflict, due to Kumogakure's unrest—
They had been forced to withdraw their frontline forces.
After years of tense standoff—
Kumogakure finally pulled back.
Ōnoki let out a long breath of relief—
But his hatred toward Kumogakure only deepened.
If not for those fools—
Iwagakure would have been the true victor of the last war!
Instead—
Konoha had taken everything!
Ōnoki stared at the intelligence report in his hand.
Information about Yoru.
His expression flickered.
Just like Sunagakure—
Iwagakure now faced a critical problem.
Food shortage.
But unlike the Kazekage—
Ōnoki was far more pragmatic.
There was no point going to the Daimyō.
It would only lead to endless excuses.
Instead—
They negotiated with Amegakure.
In exchange for not attacking—
They received a supply of food.
But if they wanted more—
Then they would take it by force.
A cold light flashed in Ōnoki's eyes.
War was inevitable.
Amegakure would once again become the battlefield for the great nations.
Hanzo—
Had completely compromised.
He no longer dreamed of making Amegakure the sixth great power.
He had finally realized the gap—
Between his forces—
And those of the great villages.
Thus—
Iwagakure also declared war.
Their initial force consisted of eight thousand ninjas.
Commanded by Ōnoki's son—
Huangtu.
They advanced into the Land of Rain—
Launching their assault on Konoha.
Their strategy mirrored that of Sunagakure—
First exhaust Konoha's strength in the Land of Rain—
Then, when Konoha's forces weakened—
Break through their defenses—
And seize their resources.
The Second Great Ninja War—
At its peak—
Had begun.
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