Chapter 354: The Fifth Great Ninja War Erupts
After Wind Country's Daimyo received his envoy's report, he immediately began sighing endlessly, wearing a worried expression while pacing his chamber without stopping for a moment.
"Lord Daimyo, why hesitate? Quickly order Sunagakure to have Rasa lead forces with the other three nations to surround Konoha Village!"
"That Uchiha Yasushi dares commit such treason—we must eliminate him!"
The Daimyo glanced sideways at the advising noble with obvious irritation:
"You think I don't want to?"
"Uchiha Yasushi already visited Wind Country before—he destroyed our very capital! Don't I want revenge?"
"I'm afraid!"
"Those Sunagakure wastes talk big normally, but when actually needed, they're utterly useless!"
"That incompetent Rasa—during the four-nation siege of Konoha, he got himself captured alive by Konoha Village."
"He's been back in the village so long now, yet still hasn't suppressed internal opposition. Endless internal fighting continues."
"Such a waste—what can you expect from him?"
"Expect him to defeat Uchiha Yasushi and level Konoha Village?"
"Dream on!"
"I'm terrified that not only will we fail to eliminate the Uchiha, but we'll attract Uchiha Yasushi here again."
"He came once—he can come twice."
"What do we do then?"
"Hide at home waiting for death?"
The advising noble, thoroughly scolded, recalled the terror of Uchiha Yasushi sweeping through the capital. He shuddered involuntarily, fear creeping in.
"But... Uchiha Yasushi has openly proclaimed rebellion against the established order. We can't simply ignore this, can we?"
"..." The Daimyo grew increasingly agitated, pacing like a millstone donkey.
After considerable time, he finally sighed and waved dismissively:
"We won't be the first to stick our necks out. If we can survive by keeping low, we absolutely must."
"Wind Country became one of the Five Great Nations never through military strength—but through endurance!"
"Ninja, ninja—how can they succeed without endurance?"
"Look at the Amegakure incident. If we hadn't kept low, wouldn't we have suffered terrible losses like Iwagakure and Kirigakure?"
"This time, let Lightning Country take the lead. Wind Country will just send some people to follow behind and cheer."
"After Konoha Village falls, Lightning Country becomes the shinobi world's premier nation. They also consumed the most war benefits. If they don't contribute, who should?"
"Also, tell that waste Rasa he must lead personally."
"If the campaign fails, he needn't return!"
"Understood."
Someone immediately departed to convey the Daimyo's will to Sunagakure.
Sunagakure naturally complied gladly. However, Rasa harbored personal calculations.
His prior capture had destroyed his village prestige—he could barely maintain the Kazekage position.
He refused to merely play a supporting role in the ninja alliance. Instead, he planned using this opportunity to redeem past humiliation.
Especially since the Daimyo specifically demanded his personal command—obvious malicious intent that filled him with dread.
He wouldn't die foolishly abroad. So he rallied all his supporters, bringing them along to join the alliance in force.
As for winning?
Defeat meant death anyway. Why overthink?
In Earth Country, a group had been arguing endlessly about who should inherit the Tsuchikage position.
"Shut up!" A yellow-haired youth impatiently shouted at the assembled elders.
"I just want to pursue my art—I don't want to be some Tsuchikage!"
"The old man and Kitsuchi are dead. Isn't Kurotsuchi still here?"
"If Kurotsuchi won't work, make Kozuchi do it. Why bother me?"
Everyone hastily pleaded:
"Deidara, stop being stubborn!"
"Iwagakure has suffered devastating losses, especially high-level ninja power. We desperately need you now."
"The Third Tsuchikage always trained you as his successor. Now's when you must step forward!"
Deidara clutched his head in frustration:
"I said I'm not interested in being Kage! I can't stand office work either. Find someone else!"
"You're most suitable!" The crowd surrounded him, insistently persuading.
"You're the Third Tsuchikage's disciple. He always had high hopes for you. During this campaign, he kept you behind guarding the village."
"You performed brilliantly during the Konoha siege. Your strength and achievements qualify you. You're more suitable than inexperienced Kurotsuchi!"
"If you find paperwork tedious, we'll find you a secretary. You just give orders—like the Raikage."
"A village's Kage needn't be the most capable—but must be the strongest fighter."
"Look at Sunagakure—those wastes picked a mediocre Kazekage and became the shinobi world's laughingstock!"
After endless harassment, Deidara finally compromised:
"Fine, fine! I'll temporarily be Tsuchikage for a few days. We'll find someone suitable later."
Everyone breathed relieved sighs.
Immediately after his succession, messengers arrived:
"Lord Tsuchikage, the Daimyo has sent orders requiring us to immediately organize forces and launch war against Konoha Village alongside the other three nations."
"More fighting?" Deidara's eyes widened. "Are you joking? The village is in this state and we're supposed to fight Konoha again?"
"Tell the Daimyo if he wants war, he can fight it himself. Iwagakure won't participate."
Before the Daimyo's envoy could react, his advisors panicked, urgently cautioning:
"Lord Tsuchikage, this is the Daimyo's will. Please reconsider carefully."
"Reconsider what?" Deidara stubbornly replied. "We can't fight. The village has suffered terrible casualties. Recovery and rest matter most—not continued warfare."
His advisors surrounded him with renewed pleading, enraging Deidara.
"I said I didn't want to be Tsuchikage! You forced me."
"Now that I'm Tsuchikage, my words don't count?"
"I quit!"
"Let whoever wants this position take it!"
Seeing their Tsuchikage threatening to abandon his post, everyone relented helplessly and escorted the Daimyo's envoy out.
When this news reached Earth Country's Daimyo, he erupted with fury, beginning to suspect Iwagakure harbored treasonous intentions.
Consequently, he rejected Iwagakure's nomination of Deidara, forcibly designating Kurotsuchi as Fourth Tsuchikage while continuing to demand Iwagakure deploy forces.
The ninja village naturally couldn't oppose the Daimyo. So they made Kurotsuchi Tsuchikage instead.
Kurotsuchi couldn't withstand Daimyo pressure. Soon, Iwagakure also joined the shinobi alliance.
After the four nations united, the Fifth Great Ninja War officially erupted!
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