On the northern front of Konoha, the Kumogakure army, led by the Third Raikage, returned in defeat before the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
This news, as if it had grown wings, spread throughout the entire ninja world in just a few short days.
For a time, the world was shaken.
Sunagakure, Kazekage's Building.
The Third Kazekage looked at the intelligence report in his hand, personally written by Elder Chiyo, his face so gloomy that water could drip from it.
"Hatake Sakumo killing the Couple of the Sand was just the beginning... Sarutobi Hiruzen, with his own power, forced back the Third Raikage... was this his real purpose?"
He murmured to himself, feeling a chill rise from his back.
He finally understood.
From the very beginning, Konoha had not considered their Sunagakure as a real opponent.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had used the three battlefields of the Land of Rain, the Land of Wind, and the Land of Earth to create a giant chessboard, playing everyone in the palm of his hand.
"Relay my orders," the Third Kazekage's voice was filled with weariness and powerlessness. "The Land of Wind front, full retreat. With Konoha... sue for peace."
"But, Lord Kazekage! The revenge for Rōra and Uzuki..." a hawkish elder said unwillingly.
"Revenge?"
The Third Kazekage sneered. "Right now, we don't even have the qualifications to talk about revenge with Konoha."
...
Iwagakure, Command Post.
Onoki floated in mid-air, looking at the identical intelligence report in his hand. His small body was so angry it almost exploded on the spot.
Listening to his son's report, Onoki's small frame erupted with astonishing chakra, and the entire Tsuchikage's office buzzed.
"A four-pronged assault... what a four-pronged assault... Sarutobi Hiruzen, I've underestimated you!"
Now he finally understood why Uchiha Kagami had let Kitsuchi go so easily.
That wasn't mercy; that was blatant contempt!
In Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes, he, Onoki, and Iwagakure were not considered targets at all.
They, like Sunagakure, were just pawns used to confuse the Raikage!
"Father..."
Kitsuchi stood below, his head bowed, not daring to look his father in the eye.
"Relay my orders," Onoki said. "From today on, no ninja is to conduct military operations or acts of invasion in the Land of Fire!"
Humiliation.
Unprecedented humiliation.
He, the dignified Third Tsuchikage, had actually become a pawn on someone else's chessboard.
...
Amegakure, the top of the high tower.
Hanzo of the Salamander looked at the intelligence report in his hand, speechless for a long time.
His face, hidden behind the respiratory mask, showed an expression of shock.
"The Sannin of Konoha... so they were just bait as well?"
He looked down at the land ravaged by the flames of war below the tower, his heart filled with a mixture of emotions.
He had thought he was the chess player stirring up the storm.
But now it seemed that he himself was also the most important, and the most tragic, pawn on that chessboard.
He had attracted some of the other ninja villages' firepower for Sarutobi Hiruzen, and had tied down Konoha's most dazzling new stars.
And Sarutobi Hiruzen had used this opportunity to viciously screw over Kumogakure.
"What a Sarutobi Hiruzen... what a four-pronged assault..."
Hanzo let out a long sigh.
The war he had started had ended prematurely in a completely unexpected way.
And Konoha, as well as the Third Hokage, would ascend to the peak of prestige after this war.
The wind on the northern border of the Land of Fire carried a bleakness after the smoke of war had cleared.
Sarutobi Hiruzen did not immediately return to Konoha.
He threw the series of tedious post-war matters, such as negotiating compensation with Kumogakure and managing the fortress's defenses, all to Shimura Danzo.
Under the fine-sounding name: "Danzo, you are my second-in-command. I believe you can handle these matters well."
Watching Danzo's face, which first showed astonishment, then became incredibly serious, and finally even had a hint of "a gentleman dies for his confidant" excitement as he solemnly took on this mess, Sarutobi Hiruzen silently lit a candle for him in his heart.
Brother, the capable should do more work. I appreciate your hard work.
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