The Local War Is About to Begin
In the Hokage's office…
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Orochimaru sat facing each other, their expressions grim—war was looming over Konoha like a storm on the horizon.
The political climate had turned dire. Once the war broke out, the four great shinobi nations—Konoha, Kirigakure, Kumogakure, and Iwagakure—could launch coordinated attacks, squeezing Konoha from all sides.
Hiruzen broke the silence. "According to intelligence, the Third Mizukage has adopted a brutal new policy known as the Bloody Mist Village doctrine. They're training their shinobi to fight with ruthless efficiency, gearing up for the inevitable war."
He paused, eyes sharp. "Kirigakure has long allied with Kumogakure and Iwagakure. This explains their reluctance to maintain contact with Konoha."
"Enemy shinobi are already embedded within Konoha," Hiruzen continued. "There may be more operatives hidden in the shadows. The war's arrival is imminent."
Orochimaru's cold voice sliced through the tension. "Given the current state, Konoha cannot afford a full-scale war. If it's only Kumogakure and Iwagakure, we might hold out. But add Kirigakure, and we'll be stretched thin. Not to mention Sunagakure, which watches us greedily."
He leaned forward. "Our forces are limited. A multi-front battle will dilute our strength, hampering any effective counterattack. We'll be dragged down before we can strike back."
Hiruzen fell silent, the weight of the reality sinking in.
No matter how strong Konoha's Will of Fire burns, simultaneous assaults from four nations could extinguish it.
"What do you suggest, Orochimaru? How can we break this deadlock?" Hiruzen asked.
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with a calculating light. "Delay is our best weapon. The longer we postpone, the more the situation tilts in Konoha's favor."
Hiruzen frowned. "But the war's initiative isn't ours. They can strike at any moment."
Orochimaru grabbed a brush and circled the Land of Grass, Land of Hot Water, Land of Rivers, and Land of Waves on a map.
"These lands form a buffer zone. We must eliminate enemy spies within Konoha immediately to blind our opponents. Simultaneously, we should deploy shinobi to these four countries to keep the fighting away from our borders."
He continued, "Though the four villages coordinate, they aren't a monolith. If Konoha projects strength and resolve, they'll hesitate to act rashly. They know that if Konoha commits fully, we have the capability to invade their homelands. The cost would be unbearable."
"If the conflict remains localized and doesn't escalate to total war, Konoha's resources will allow us to hold out. Over time, prolonged fighting could fracture their alliances from within."
Orochimaru glanced at Chiyu. "I once asked him what strategy he'd recommend if all four villages attacked simultaneously. He said to leverage benefits to sow discord between the villages."
"Exactly," Hiruzen mused, tapping the table thoughtfully. "A divide-and-conquer approach. Delaying the war and creating internal conflicts among the enemy could be our salvation."
Chiyu's eyes widened slightly—he hadn't expected Orochimaru to credit his insight. In truth, the logic was solid. The alliance of the four villages was fragile, bound only by mutual interest. Remove the incentive, and doubt would poison their unity.
Moreover, if Konoha offered tangible benefits to one side, it could tip the scales.
Yet Chiyu understood the cost: Orochimaru's plan required fighting on multiple fronts—the Land of Grass, Hot Water, Rivers, and Waves—to keep the enemy away from the Land of Fire. That meant Konoha's limited shinobi would be spread thin.
Hiruzen nodded. "Your plan is sound. We have little choice in this position."
He addressed Orochimaru. "Tomorrow, the Anbu will join Danzo's Root to root out enemy operatives within Konoha."
"Orochimaru, you must take command on the battlefield. Sunagakure currently poses less threat—the troops we've stationed in the Land of Rivers should hold them off."
"We'll send a reconnaissance team to the Land of Waves to assess Kirigakure's presence before committing more troops. Every shinobi counts now."
"As for Iwagakure, Onoki is cunning. He won't engage in full confrontation before the war officially breaks out. Sakumo will lead our forces there."
"The greatest threat is Kumogakure," Hiruzen continued. "The Land of Hot Water sees the fiercest fighting. Jiraiya's forces have battled Kumogakure relentlessly, with reinforcements spilling over into the Land of Rivers."
"Since your plan hinges on showing no weakness, Orochimaru, you will face the Kumogakure threat in the Land of Hot Water. Are you prepared?"
Orochimaru bowed slightly. "I understand. I will depart tomorrow to join Jiraiya. I also request to bring Chiyu along. May I have your permission, Teacher?"
Hiruzen's stern face softened into a smile. "I was planning the same. Jiraiya's disciple Minato is making waves on the battlefield. Chiyu will grow stronger alongside him and soon be a shinobi who can stand on his own."
Chiyu's heart raced—a surge of excitement mixed with burning resolve. The Kumo ninjas who kidnapped Kushina Uzumaki would soon pay in blood.