Chapter 147: The Arrogant Third Raikage
The Sand Village's high-ranking officials did not believe that their own Kazekage had met with a murderous attack and thought that the other party was simply lost, so they began to send ninjas to search for the Kazekage.
"That's the most powerful Kazekage, and he brought with him the village's most skilled puppeteer second only to Advisor Chiyo. How could he be attacked by an outsider?"
In the meeting room, the top leaders of the Sand Village were discussing the next course of action.
"Even if he was attacked, he couldn't have died immediately. Maybe Lord Fengying was seriously injured and is hiding somewhere waiting for our support?"
A senior executive offered his own opinion.
A week has passed since the Kazekage disappeared. During this time, the Sand Ninjas have searched all places around the Sand Village, but have not found any trace of the Kazekage and his entourage.
Since there were only two people in Fengying's group, and in order to keep it secret, no one knew which path they had chosen.
Therefore, in order to expand the search range, it is necessary to mobilize the ninjas who are still performing tasks outside the village.
"In that case, let's expand the search area!"
A senior executive said this and looked at Fengfan and Chiyo with hope.
As the two most prestigious senior officials in the Sand Village today, it can be said that after the Kazekage left, they are the actual leaders of the Sand Village.
"can."
After hesitating for a moment, although she knew that such actions would inevitably be known to other villages, when she thought about her own grandson who was also missing, Chiyo finally agreed.
Seeing that Chiyo agreed, Fengfan didn't want to go against the majority opinion, so he nodded to show his consent.
After getting the approval of the two, the other senior executives immediately began to assign tasks, ordering all ninjas performing tasks below A-level to stop their actions and join the team searching for the Kazekage.
Another week passed, and they didn't even find a single hair on Fengying's clothes, let alone Fengying.
The Sand Village's higher-ups, who were already a little overwhelmed, expanded the search range again without regard for the consequences.
Not enough ninjas? Then transfer some ninjas from the border back.
As a result of this action, not only Konoha, but even the Hidden Mist Village, which was far away on the other side of the sea and was fighting fiercely with the Artisan Village and had no time to care about the mainland, got the news.
"The Sandaime Kazekage is missing."
Looking at the information in his hands, Danzo knew that it was most likely Sasori who took action.
In the previous life, it was because of the blind search of the Sand Village that the Cloud Village thought they had an opportunity, so they attacked them from thousands of miles away and fired the first shot of the Third Ninja World War.
I just don't know if they, who were secretly won over by Ōnoki, will repeat the same mistakes.
Throwing the information in his hand back onto the table, Danzo sat on the chair and glanced out the window.
This battle will determine the value of his rebirth.
Whether the new path can strengthen Konoha depends on the final outcome of the war.
......
The country of earth, the village of Iwagakure.
Oonoki's frown has never relaxed since Lao Zi disappeared.
They had already successfully won over the Takigakure Village and reached a secret agreement with the Kumogakure Village and the Mist Village. A few days ago, they also received a hint from the Sand Village that they were willing to cooperate with the Iwagakure Village to attack Konoha.
As a result, the Mizukage of the Hidden Mist Village died in unclear circumstances, and they also fought fiercely with small ninja villages like the Artisan Village.
For some unknown reason, the Raikage of the Hidden Cloud Village started an arms race with the Konoha Village on the border. He continuously dispatched troops and kept sending people to urge himself to declare war on the Konoha Village.
Just now, as a neighbor of the Sand Village, Ohnoki learned through spies that the Third Kazekage was missing and that the Sand Village was searching for him with all their might.
His coalition plan was once again marked with a big cross.
If there really is a Six Paths Sage, then he is too biased towards Konoha Village.
After some deep emotion, Ohnoki began to rethink his plan.
The failure of the coalition plan did not depress him too much.
On the contrary, as a Tsuchikage whose political skills were comparable to Sarutobi Hiruzen, and even slightly superior to the other, Ōnoki quickly came up with a new plan.
Since the Hidden Cloud Village is determined to confront the Konoha Village head-on, then they should agree to the other party and let the reckless Raikage test the strength of the Konoha Village. This will allow him to carefully evaluate the fighting power of the Konoha Village.
All he needs to do is keep his troops in place, and if the Hidden Cloud Village gains the upper hand, it will attack Konoha. If Konoha gains the upper hand, then it may not be impossible to seize the land of the Land of Lightning.
Soon, Ōnoki's handwritten letter was delivered to the Third Raikage.
......
At this time, the Third Raikage did not read Oonoki's letter immediately.
Although he threatened to destroy Konoha, the real purpose of the Sandaime Raikage was to conceal the death of his own Jinchuriki and to cover up the search for a new Jinchuriki.
Although the two sides seemed to be full of tension and several minor frictions broke out, the Third Raikage had never given the order to the troops to start a war.
As for instigating Ohnoki, it was just to let the Iwagakure Village test Konoha first.
Now, the Eight-Tails has been sealed in Killer Bee's body, and the losses caused by the Eight-Tails' riot are gradually being compensated.
The Third Raikage even secretly recalled some of the troops.
Hyuga Shimizu, who was stationed at the border, was obviously unaware of this. He was still doing his best to organize the defense, strictly following Sarutobi Hiruzen's orders, and always maintaining restraint.
As the most obedient family among the Konohagakure, the Hyuga clan always maintained absolute obedience when faced with the village's transfer requests.
Especially after the abolition of the main family and the loss of that group of old-fashioned elders, the Hyuga clan has completely lost its voice when facing the village's high-level officials.
"So, the border defense of the Sand Village has been relaxed to this extent?"
The Sandaime Raikage looked at the sand table, constantly calculating something in his mind.
"Yes, the current Sand Ninja has put all their efforts into searching for their Kazekage, and they have no time to take care of defense."
Dodai, who had just returned from gathering intelligence in the Sand Village, said this while pointing his finger at several fortresses on the border of the Sand Village.
“This is a good opportunity.”
The Sandaime Raikage nodded.
The Hidden Cloud Village has a very strong desire for land. Since its establishment, the village has been in a state of crazy expansion.
The neighboring villages around him have all been invaded by them to varying degrees.
Therefore, even though he knew that the Sand Village was just a barren piece of land, the Third Raikage still coveted it.
"But Onoki..."
Tutai seemed to be hesitant to talk.
"Humph, that little dwarf, don't worry about him."
With his hands behind his back, the Sandaime Raikage took a few steps back and said with disdain.
"Mobilize the troops, first gather 5000 ninjas, and follow me to raid the Sand Village!"
Hearing the order from his own Raikage, Dodai looked embarrassed.
5000 ninjas set out from the northeast to attack the Sand Village in the southwest.
In between are several countries including the Land of Earth, the Land of Iron, the Land of the Moon, the Land of Grass, etc.
Since the Land of Grass is now actually under the control of Konoha Village, it means that the Hidden Cloud Village can only pass through the Land of Earth.
If Ōnoki launches an attack, won’t all of them be trapped and die in the Land of Earth?
Moreover, with so many of his people passing through their territory, would Ohnoki think that the Hidden Cloud Village was actually attacking the Hidden Sand Village under the guise of attacking the Hidden Sand Village?
Will they agree to the request to borrow the road?
However, the Sandaime Raikage did not notice Dodai's ugly expression and continued to issue various orders on his own.
【Oh, I hope everything goes well. 】
Looking at the Sandaime Raikage's eyes full of fighting spirit, Dodai could only pray in his heart that this operation would go smoothly.