The Hidden Sand Village suddenly began conducting military exercises within the borders of the Land of Bear, an event that hasn't escaped the attention of other countries.
As one of the Five Great Nations, the Land of Wind's every move is naturally watched by countries across the Ninja Realm.
The Hidden Sand Village, as the embodiment of the Land of Wind's military strength, is similarly a key focus for all nations.
Although during the Third Ninja War, the Hidden Rain Village's intervention caused the Hidden Sand Village to miss the best opportunity to attack Konoha, no country dares to underestimate the Hidden Sand Village's strength.
The Hidden Sand Village was the first ninja village to leave the battlefield during the Third Ninja War. After years of steady development, its military power has already regained its strength, having gotten ahead of Konoha and the recovering Hidden Cloud Village.
Amidst this era dominated by peace, the Hidden Sand Village suddenly conducting military exercises in the Land of Bear appears rather intriguing.
Among the Five Great Nations' ninja villages, the Land of Earth's Hidden Rock Village was the first to receive this news.
Surrounded by rocks and mountains, the Hidden Rock Village possesses the most resilient defense capabilities among all ninja villages.
In the office of the Tsuchikage Building, the seventy-year-old Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, upon receiving the news that the Hidden Sand Village is conducting military exercises within the Land of Bear, instinctively pondered whether the Hidden Sand Village was targeting the Hidden Rock Village.
Although there was cooperation between Hidden Rock and Hidden Sand during the Third Ninja War, it does not guarantee the continuation of such collaboration.
Due to its location in the Land of Wind and severe desert environment, the Hidden Sand Village's demand for food and water far exceeds other countries.
Reviewing the Hidden Sand Village's external wars, they are driven by an extreme thirst for resources.
Attacking the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth makes little difference to the Hidden Sand Village.
However, upon closely examining the intelligence collected by the Hidden Rock's Anbu, it was found that the Hidden Sand Village's military exercise site within the Land of Bear is not on the northeastern border adjacent to the Land of Earth, but on the northwestern border close to the Land of Demons.
"A feigned advance?"
It seems to target the Land of Demons but is actually eyeing the Land of Earth.
After all, the Hidden Sand Village has no reason to attack the Land of Demons; conversely, the Land of Earth is different.
As ninja villages of the Five Great Nations, being adversaries is an undeniable fact.
"Father, I have a different view."
The Hidden Rock Jonin Kitsuchi, standing nearby, also saw the intelligence submitted by the Anbu and shared his own speculation.
"Oh? You have a different perspective, Kitsuchi?"
"Now that the environment among the major nations is stable, even for the sake of resource plundering and development, the Hidden Sand Village wouldn't attack the Hidden Rock Village. The impact of a war among the Five Great Nations is too enormous and difficult to control, unless the Hidden Sand Village is prepared to sacrifice extensively again, losing all the vitality it has regained over the years."
Though the Hidden Rock wouldn't fare well in the end, the Hidden Sand wouldn't emerge unscathed either.
"That's reasonable, but the Hidden Sand Village has been ambitious since the era of the Second Kazekage... developing Magnet Style Jutsu, advancing Tailed Beast Techniques; they cannot be gauged with ordinary logic."
Despite aging, Onoki's insight remains sharp.
The current Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, just like the previous Kazekage, is a young ninja with broad political aspirations.
For three consecutive generations, the Kazekage have all schemed to build the Hidden Sand Village, not hesitating to acquire power by any means, even contemplating wars.
Perhaps Rasa's strength among the contemporary Five Kage might be lacking, but his ambition fits perfectly alongside the Fourth Raikage of the Hidden Cloud.
It's young people like him that give Onoki the most headaches.
If only they were as steady and conservative as Konoha's Third Hokage—it would immensely ease things.
Thinking carefully, among the original Five Kage, only himself and Konoha's Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, have not stepped down.
Hidden Mist, Hidden Sand, and Hidden Cloud have all undergone leadership transitions.
In his eyes, the new Kage of these three villages are still young, belonging to the generation of juniors, capable of holding office for at least another twenty years.
By comparison, the Hidden Rock Village is somewhat lacking.
Currently, there's no young individual within the Hidden Rock Village capable of succeeding him, and his son Kitsuchi isn't quite there yet, causing Onoki continuous worry.
At seventy, he ought to be nearing retirement.
Not only has his chakra diminished, but his responsiveness cannot be compared to his younger self; most critically... having sacrificed his back for luring the Third Raikage into a trap, he's now suffering frequent back pain...
Reflecting on this, Onoki nearly shed tears.
"That's possible. But recently, I've heard an interesting rumor from the folk."
Kitsuchi remarked.
"A folk rumor?"
Onoki was slightly surprised, not having paid attention to this.
"I recently went to the Land of Demons to purchase meds, and at a tavern, I overheard several merchants discussing something."
"What were they discussing?"
"During the Third Ninja War, because the Hidden Sand Village lacked operational funds, they sought loans from the Shion Flower Merchants Association in the Land of Demons, with a significant minister from the Land of Wind acting as guarantor. Father should have heard of this, right?"
"Indeed, I have heard about this matter."
Onoki was unsure why Kitsuchi brought this up at such a time.