Otherwise—
the consequences would be disastrous.
After all, the current Fifth Hokage, Uchiha Ren, had already reached a level comparable to the Sage of Six Paths.
Just thinking about it made Orochimaru's head ache.
If he had known things would turn out like this, he never would have stepped into this mess.
Wouldn't it have been better to stand aside and watch?
Now, he was trapped.
Especially after Kumogakure and Iwagakure's forces entered Otogakure, even if he wanted to regret it, it was already too late.
Difficult.
Truly difficult.
As one of the Sannin, Orochimaru had never felt this cornered before.
"Why don't we attack Konoha directly?"
After a long silence, the Fourth Raikage, A, took a deep breath and said in a heavy voice,
"The elite forces of Kirigakure, Sunagakure, Takigakure, Amegakure, and the others are constantly gathering in Konoha. That makes this the best chance to surround the village."
"Isn't that too reckless?"
Ōnoki froze for a moment before speaking instinctively.
"Once we surround Konoha, there'll be no room left for compromise."
"Hmph."
A clenched his fists and snorted coldly.
"There's no compromise left between us and Konoha."
"Either Konoha dies, or we die."
"If the Fifth Hokage acts, Lord Madara will act as well."
"At that point, it becomes the final battle."
A's eyes flashed with cold killing intent.
He had endured Konoha and Uchiha Ren for years.
Now that the opportunity had finally come, he would not back down.
He would avenge Killer B, Yugito, and every Kumogakure shinobi who had fallen.
"I agree."
The First Tsuchikage drew a deep breath.
"Since we are already enemies, then we fight. We've already died once anyway."
"That's right. Surround Konoha directly."
The Second Tsuchikage's face hardened.
"Iwagakure's Will of Stone will not bow to Konoha, and it will never allow Konoha to unify the shinobi world."
After saying that, he turned toward Ōnoki.
"Ōnoki, what do you think?"
"Ah…"
Facing the First Tsuchikage's pressing gaze, Ōnoki could only force a smile.
"I believe the Will of Stone—unyielding, immovable, and enduring—is the strongest will."
"So yes. We can surround Konoha."
"Good!"
"A wise answer."
The First and Second Tsuchikage nodded in satisfaction.
Clearly, they were pleased that Ōnoki still remembered the Will of Stone.
As expected of the Third Tsuchikage.
He had inherited their teachings well.
Unfortunately—
neither of them knew what Ōnoki was truly feeling.
Inside, he was collapsing.
Helpless.
Speechless.
And deeply pessimistic about Iwagakure's future.
The Fifth Hokage's strength was not as simple as they imagined.
Yes, Ōnoki had once been dominated by Madara.
But compared to the terror of being dominated by Uchiha Ren, Madara's pressure felt almost insignificant.
The so-called fear of Madara was nothing now.
But the arrow had already been drawn.
Ōnoki could only go along with it.
"Forget it…"
In the end, his expression remained calm, but his heart had already compromised.
What was there to fear?
It was only Uchiha Ren.
He was not afraid.
If the sky collapsed, someone taller would hold it up first.
"In my opinion, we march on Konoha tomorrow."
A's eyes burned with killing intent.
"No matter whether the timing is perfect or not, it's time to act."
"I support it. We should attack Konoha and show the might of the three-village alliance."
"Our chance of victory is not small. Lord Madara is still behind us."
"Start the Fourth Great Ninja War. Make Konoha pay in blood. Turn Uchiha Ren into a prisoner."
"Kill the Fifth Hokage. Destroy Konoha."
Once Ōnoki and Orochimaru fell silent, the revived First Raikage, Second Raikage, Third Raikage, First Tsuchikage, and Second Tsuchikage exchanged glances.
In each other's eyes, they saw the same determination.
There was nothing more to say.
Victory or defeat would be decided in one move.
It was time to surround Konoha.
"Then move."
A strange gleam flashed through Orochimaru's eyes as he smiled faintly.
"I agree."
Ōnoki nodded expressionlessly.
One hour later—
Ōnoki, A, and Orochimaru jointly issued another declaration.
The content was simple.
At dawn tomorrow, the allied forces of Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Otogakure would march together and lay siege to Konoha.
Boom!
The moment the news spread, the shinobi of Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Otogakure were all shaken.
They had expected war.
They knew the Fourth Great Ninja War had begun.
But they had not expected that, right from the start, the three-village alliance would choose to surround Konoha directly.
This was far too shocking.
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