Konoha cat breeder

Chapter 229: Reentering the Hidden Mist

Crisis in the Land of Rain!

Crisis in the Land of Taki!

Crisis in the Land of Hot Water!

Almost simultaneously, three urgent battle reports were placed on Hiruzen Sarutobi's desk!

Neither he nor his advisors, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, had anticipated such a situation. They had expected the three major villages to retaliate after discovering Konoha's deceptive tactics, but they hadn't expected them to launch their attacks at the exact same time, as if they had coordinated their movements beforehand.

This left Konoha completely unprepared, resulting in the current three-front crisis.

Given Konoha's present state, they simply didn't have the manpower to support all three battlefields at once. If they did, they wouldn't be in such dire straits to begin with.

The strategy of feigning weakness had granted Konoha's forces a brief respite. However, it seemed that the three great villages had grown wary of allowing Konoha any more breathing room. They had chosen to strike simultaneously, ensuring that Konoha would be overwhelmed.

Inside the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression was as dark as still water as he looked at his two advisors. Three intelligence scrolls lay open before him, detailing the battlefield situations.

Taking a deep breath, he asked, "The situation is grim. Do either of you have any ideas?"

At such a critical moment, he couldn't expect Koharu and Homura to offer empty words of praise.

Hiruzen continued, **"The Sand Ninja in the Land of Rain are not as big of a problem. Their numbers have always been relatively small, and with the Hidden Rain Village assisting us, we should be able to hold them off.

"But the Hidden Stone forces in the Land of Taki and the Cloud Ninja in the Land of Hot Water… no, it's even worse than that.

"Not long ago, the exact scenario that Nara Shikaku feared the most has come to pass. The Hidden Stone, already boasting the largest military force, has opened a second front in the Land of Grass!

"And based on intelligence reports, Onoki has likely dispatched several hundred, possibly even thousands of ninja to attack the Fire Country's interior from the Land of Grass. Their goal? To strike at the rear of our forces in the Land of Taki!

"Even though Nara Shikaku assigned Jonin commander Muraoka Yoshihide to set up defensive lines, it may not be enough to stop them.

"And on the frontlines in the Land of Taki, the Hidden Stone has amassed nearly ten thousand ninja.

"With such a vast army at his disposal, Shikaku cannot afford to make reckless moves. Our available reinforcements are limited, and it's uncertain whether we can hold the line.

"If the Land of Taki falls…"**

The pressure bearing down on Hiruzen Sarutobi, both mentally and physically, was almost unbearable.

"What about the Hidden Grass Village?" Koharu Utatane asked.

Hiruzen shook his head slowly. He had no desire to discuss it. The Hidden Grass Village was not the Hidden Rain. They had no "Demi-God" like Hanzo to protect them.

There was no way the Hidden Grass would dare to intervene.

"What about the Land of Hot Water?" Homura Mitokado inquired.

**"The Hidden Cloud didn't open a second front, but the Third Raikage still dispatched an additional thousand ninja from the Hidden Cloud.

"Our already strained defenses are now stretched even thinner than before."**

Every word weighed on Hiruzen's mind like a boulder.

Hearing this, both Koharu and Homura's expressions darkened.

At this moment, the same thought surfaced in both their minds.

"If only Danzo were here."

Among the three of them, Danzo was the one most skilled in handling emergency situations. He could devise underhanded but highly effective solutions.

Hiruzen suddenly stood up.

"It seems I have no choice but to take the field myself!"

If the Hokage personally entered battle, not only could he stabilize the situation in the Land of Grass, but his presence would also greatly boost morale.

"No!"

"Absolutely not!"

Koharu and Homura immediately rejected the idea.

**"As the Hokage, you are Konoha's final line of defense. If you personally take action, it will signal to the enemy that Konoha has exhausted all its options.

"This will only embolden them to press their attacks even harder.

"And if they decide to launch an attack on Konoha itself while you are away, we would be doomed!"** Koharu argued.

Hiruzen stood in place, silently staring at his two advisors.

Under his gaze, both Koharu and Homura felt a tinge of guilt.

Still, sometimes pressure sparks ingenuity.

"What about the 'Yellow Flash'?" Koharu suddenly suggested.

**"Namikaze Minato is stationed in the Land of Hot Water. His speed is fast enough to reach the Land of Grass in time.

"And his squad, which includes Hatake Kakashi, the son of Konoha's White Fang, has already made a name for itself on the battlefield.

"Since he was able to go head-to-head with the Third Raikage, that means he already possesses Kage-level strength!"**

Hiruzen considered this carefully.

Minato was indeed powerful enough to support the Land of Grass…

"Additionally," Homura added, **"since Hatake Kakashi has already become a Jonin, that means he must have remarkable talent!

"And didn't Danzo once tell us that he had been working on a plan against the Hidden Stone?

"I believe now is the time to relieve Danzo of his command and return control of the Land of Hot Water's forces to Jiraiya.

"The Hidden Stone's expansion of the war front is our biggest concern right now.

"If other villages follow suit, we will be overwhelmed."**

Their discussion quickly led to another idea.

"We should also reach out to the Hidden Mist Village."

**"If we can convince the Mist Ninja to attack the Lightning Country's rear, it would ease the pressure on our forces at the front.

"If we can neutralize the Hidden Stone and the Hidden Cloud, then the Sand Village—without a Kazekage—won't be a problem."**

Hiruzen's eyes gleamed.

**"The Water Country is isolationist. Reaching the Mist Village won't be easy.

"We've sent many ninja there, but they either fail or vanish without a trace."**

"Tonari can go!" Koharu proposed.

**"Before the Water Country closed itself off, he had successfully infiltrated it for a mission.

"And since the Land of Hot Water is the closest battlefield to the Water Country, he can travel there the fastest.

"His strength is more than sufficient—even if the negotiations fail, he will still be able to retreat unharmed.

"If we act quickly, he might even return before the Hidden Cloud launches its assault."**

Hiruzen nodded.

This was the first useful suggestion they had made in a long time.

When pressured, even they could come up with something good.

With no time to hesitate, Hiruzen immediately issued his orders:

1. Minato's squad is to be deployed to the Land of Grass to assist in repelling the Hidden Stone's sneak attack.

2. Danzo is ordered to return to Konoha and relinquish command of the Land of Hot Water's forces to Jiraiya.

3. Tonari will travel to the Hidden Mist Village to deliver a message from the Hokage and attempt to form an alliance. If unsuccessful, he must return to the battlefield immediately.

4. All Konoha ninja are to be recalled from leave. B-rank missions and lower are canceled, and all available ninja are sent to the frontlines.

5. All funding is redirected toward the war effort. The ninja clans are ordered to contribute financially, and the supply chains for explosive tags and kunai are reinforced.

6. The Ninja Academy initiates its wartime protocols. Any student who can proficiently use the Clone, Transformation, and Substitution Jutsu can graduate early. The Academy will also begin accepting adult recruits.

The full wartime system of Konoha had now been activated.

As the creator of the Ninja Academy, Tobirama Senju's foresight was finally proving invaluable.

Far away in the Land of Hot Water, Tonari had just received his mission orders.

Without hesitation, he set off toward the Water Country once more.

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