A New Snake In The Shinobi World-Chapter 357:
There is a fundamental difference between maintaining a state of war and actively starting a war.
Maintaining a war-like relationship means occasional border skirmishes, where injuries are common, but deaths remain rare under normal circumstances.
However.
Declaring an all-out war?
That would result in massive casualties.
So, when news broke that Tsunade had ordered Konoha's military into combat readiness, the village's high-ranking officials, clan leaders, and elite jōnin immediately convened for an emergency meeting.
Each faction had their own stance on the matter.
Launching a full-scale attack on Kumogakure?
Why?
Wasn't Konoha a peace-loving village?
Wouldn't it be better to enjoy a period of peace instead of escalating into war?
---
Unfortunately.
R𝑒ad latest chapt𝒆rs at freewebnovёl.ƈom Only.
They were just Konoha's shinobi.
Now that the village leadership had already approved the decision and with Danzo actively backing it, they had no choice but to follow orders.
Besides.
Tsunade's command didn't explicitly declare war.
Her order was simply to mobilize Konoha's forces to the border, placing pressure on Kumogakure.
There was still a chance that a war could be avoided.
With that reasoning, no one had grounds to object.
Thus, after weeks of preparation, elite forces, led by Hatake Sakumo and Namikaze Minato marched toward Kumogakure.
---
Both Sakumo and Minato were renowned war heroes with exceptional leadership abilities.
In fact, had Orochimaru not forced the Third Hokage into retirement with his three consecutive victories, the next Hokage would have been either of them.
And as for Hatake Sakumo's fate?
After much reflection, Orochimaru had finally uncovered the truth behind why Sakumo had survived in this timeline.
In the original timeline, Sakumo's death was a result of political warfare between the Third Hokage and Danzo.
On the surface, Sakumo had disobeyed orders to save his comrades, leading to major mission failure and public disgrace.
Overwhelmed by shame, he ultimately committed suicide.
However, Ninja missions are classified.
Especially high-level operations that could result in major losses for the village.
How had the details of such a top-secret mission leaked so easily?
There was only one answer, Danzo had orchestrated it.
During the Second Shinobi War, Sakumo had become a living legend, rivaling Orochimaru in merit and prestige.
Yet Danzo wanted Orochimaru to become Hokage.
To achieve this, he needed to eliminate the only true competitor, Hatake Sakumo.
Sakumo wasn't just a war hero, he was also aligned with the Third Hokage.
For Danzo, that was unacceptable.
So, he set a trap.
The mission failure was manufactured.
The public backlash was engineered.
Danzo even approached Sakumo directly, feeding him poisonous words.
> "Your reputation is outshining the Sannin. This is a problem for the future of Konoha."
> "Your existence is hindering the will of fire."
Seeing himself slandered and betrayed by his own village, yet unwilling to defect, Sakumo had only one way out.
Suicide.
But in this timeline, Orochimaru's early departure from Konoha and Danzo's loss of power had completely altered Sakumo's fate.
He had survived.
And now, he was leading Konoha's army to war.
---
Kumogakure, Raikage's Office.
A messenger ninja rushed into the room, panic written across his face.
"Lord Raikage!"
"Konoha's military is gathering at the border! It looks like they're preparing for a full-scale invasion!"
"WHAT?! A full-scale invasion?!"
The Fourth Raikage froze.
What the hell was going on?
Orochimaru had captured his brother.
Shouldn't he be the one declaring war?
Why the hell was Konoha attacking first?!
Where was their justification?
"HOW?! Why would Konoha start a war?!"
A dark-skinned kunoichi standing beside him frowned.
In every war, there must be a reason.
Even if it's fabricated, there must be some kind of justification.
Otherwise, how would any shinobi be willing to risk their lives?
"Did Konoha… state any reason for their attack?" she asked.
The messenger ninja hesitated.
"This… Uh… We're still in contact with their forces at the border. They haven't given any formal explanation yet."
"Damn it…"
The Raikage clenched his fists.
Was this what Konoha was really like?
Had they finally revealed their true nature?
At that moment, another ninja burst into the room, his voice urgent.
"Raikage-sama! Lord Killer Bee and Lady Yugito have returned!"
"WHAT?!"
The Fourth Raikage's head snapped up in shock.
"They… came back?!"
Just then—
Bee, his seven swords strapped to his back, and Yugito, her braids swaying with each step, walked into the office.
"Lord Raikage," Yugito greeted formally.
"Big bro!" Bee grinned.
BOOM!
The Raikage slammed his fists onto the desk, his eyes blazing.
"What the hell is going on?!"
He turned to Bee.
"I chased after you, and you got captured and now you just walk back in like it was a field trip?!"
His brotherly concern was evident.
Bee was his responsibility.
He had trained him personally, and yet.
Because of this mess, his younger brother had been taken.
And now, seeing him safe, his emotions conflicted between relief and rage.
"You better have a damn good explanation, Bee!"
Bee scratched his head.
"Big bro… This whole thing… was weird as hell, yo."
Even now, he was struggling to process what had happened.
Orochimaru's Akatsuki organization was hunting Tailed Beasts?
And yet, Orochimaru had somehow revived them after the extraction?
That was insane.
Even for the bizarre world of shinobi.
---
Hearing this, the Raikage's expression darkened.
"Damn you, Orochimaru… Damn Konoha… So this was all part of your plan?!"
The timing was too perfect.
Orochimaru stripped their Tailed Beasts.
Then, not long after, Konoha launched an invasion?
Anyone could see that something wasn't right.
"As the Raikage," he growled, "I'll defend my country and my village even if it kills me."
His fists clenched.
"Prepare our forces. We're going to war."
"Yes, sir!"
***
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