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Not only must Konoha not break its promise, it must also deliver a fatal blow to Iwagakure.
The timing was indeed right.
The resources Iwagakure had plundered from the Land of Waterfalls were nearly exhausted.
For Kumogakure to declare war now and fully intervene in the conflict was most appropriate.
In truth, even without A specifically sending someone to remind them, Konoha wouldn't have gone back on their word. Kazuki had been waiting for this day for too long.
There were still some people in the village who whispered behind his back because of his identity.
Once he completed his revenge against Iwagakure, as long as Konoha's losses weren't significant, his prestige would reach an unprecedented level.
The people of Konoha couldn't forget their hatred for Iwagakure.
Although Sunagakure repeated disaster and fought Konoha every time, Konoha's hatred for Iwagakure far exceeded its hatred for Sunagakure.
This showed just how deep the wounds Iwagakure had inflicted on Konoha during the Third Great Shinobi War.
Kazuki's expression grew serious.
"Please convey to the Raikage that Konoha has not forgotten last year's agreement. Once Kumogakure fully intervenes in the war, Konoha will honor its word."
Kazuki's assurance served as a stabilizing reassurance for Samui.
Now she could return to the village with peace of mind to report.
The reason Kumogakure had delayed a full-scale assault was precisely to wait for this reassurance from Konoha.
Otherwise, some of the village's high-ranking officials couldn't make up their minds.
Samui came and went in haste.
Having obtained the desired assurance, she quietly left Konoha under Shikaku's escort.
After seeing Samui off, Shikaku returned to the Hokage's office.
"Lord Advisor is the village truly going to participate in this war?"
Kazuki chuckled lightly.
"What, you don't want revenge? Don't tell me you've forgotten the pain Iwagakure inflicted on the village."
"Of course I want it."
Hatred flared in Shikaku's eyes.
He thought about revenge constantly.
The villagers didn't know much.
But as someone directly involved, he knew not only that Iwagakure had aggressively invaded the Land of Fire, but also how they had humiliated Konoha during the final negotiations.
And the Third Hokage, for the sake of stability, had to concede and endure.
He and Minato, both present at that meeting, had wanted nothing more than to smash Ōnoki's head in.
But they dared not, and it would have been nearly impossible.
The seed of hatred had always been rooted in his heart, just never expressed.
Now that the opportunity for revenge had arrived, how could Shikaku not want to stab Iwagakure?
He was merely worried that war might affect the village's stability.
"Don't worry, it won't affect the village's stability. What we need to do is concentrate our forces, deliver a fatal blow to Iwagakure, and repay them for what they did to the Land of Fire back then. Kumogakure is Iwagakure's ultimate enemy. We're just taking advantage of the chaos to plunder."
A deadly struggle with Iwagakure?
Forget it. I don't engage in losing propositions.
Strike Iwagakure hard while they're not paying attention, then gradually withdraw, slowly drawing their focus.
Keeping them distracted is enough. The rest is up to Kumogakure.
Besides plundering the Land of Earth, Kazuki also intended to carve a piece off Iwagakure at the final negotiating table.
Otherwise, Konoha's high-profile intervention in the war would be unjustified.
Standing by the window, looking out over Konoha, Kazuki declared loudly:
"Shikaku, we cannot underestimate the enemy's strength, but neither should we underestimate ourselves. The current Konoha is strong, very strong."
"Then how do you plan to intervene in the war?"
Since they were preparing to act, advance preparations were necessary.
As the Jonin Commander, Shikaku needed a reasonable plan from Kazuki to prepare accordingly.
Kazuki smiled confidently.
"Mobilize three thousand ninja and a batch of sealing scrolls. Our goal in starting this war, besides revenge, is to plunder resources."
"Just as Iwagakure plundered the Land of Fire's resources, we will use the same tactics against them."
"Three thousand? Is that enough?"
Iwagakure was no Sunagakure. Even if Iwagakure was fighting on two or even three fronts, they were not to be trifled with.
"It's enough."
Kazuki nodded affirmatively.
This time, he didn't intend to send any cannon fodder to participate in the war.
Among the civilian ninja, he would only mobilize the strongest batch, along with the elites from each clan.
Three thousand was sufficient!
If it weren't for wanting to thoroughly humiliate Iwagakure, Kazuki wouldn't even need to mobilize this many people.
Having endured and planned for so long, it was time for Konoha to bare its fangs.
Taking a scroll he had prepared in advance, Kazuki tossed it to Shikaku.
"You can start preparations now. Communicate with the various clans—that's also your responsibility. The mobilization of civilian ninja is your arrangement as well. And after I leave, you need to hold the village down. Can you do that?"
Shikaku was the Jonin Commander. Entrusting him with manpower mobilization was the right call.
It was also reasonable for him to handle it.
Shikaku could handle these matters, but holding down the village...
Wasn't that a bit too much?
Wait!!!
Something's not right.
Shikaku's expression suddenly changed. He exclaimed in shock:
"No, I can't agree to this. The Hokage hasn't returned yet. If you also leave, and something happens to the village, how will we handle it?"
Konoha might seem calm and stable now, but that stability was built on Kazuki's ability to control everything.
Whether Tsunade was present didn't matter; Kazuki could handle everything.
Thus, Konoha remained stable, with no unrest whatsoever.
But once Kazuki also left, Shikaku would start panicking again.
If someone took the opportunity to jump out, the trouble would be enormous.
The village would descend into chaos, and the one who could deter everyone—Kazuki—would be on the battlefield in the Land of Earth. That would be a disaster.
Hence Shikaku's hasty refusal.
Kazuki turned back to look at Shikaku, speaking with a smile.
"Naturally, you and the Council of Elders will handle matters. Consult more with Homura when issues arise. Although I don't particularly like him, he's someone who can stabilize the situation. Most importantly, he is loyal to the village."
"Kazuki, I'm not joking. You know what I'm worried about."
Shikaku really wanted to kick him.
The hell with you. Am I worried about the Council of Elders?
I'm worried about the one retired at home!!
If he steps forward, what am I supposed to do?
You're not trying to hand me a hot potato; you're handing me a bomb that could go off at any moment.
Who would dare accept that?
"I know."
Patting Shikaku's shoulder, Kazuki spoke earnestly.
"That one won't step forward. He has no chance. As for Homura, he won't allow the other to step forward either. Moreover, the people in the Council of Elders won't randomly take sides. You understand what I mean."
The clan elders who became members of the Council are almost all your followers now; they definitely won't cause trouble. But...
Shikaku was very conflicted.
Are you so sure the Third Hokage won't jump out again?
What if he does?