Naruto: Uchiha Rejects Konoha

Iwagakure's economy had been severely damaged by a raid carried out by Kumogakure. Although the daimyo had managed to provide emergency funding, the destruction inflicted upon the village far exceeded what this monetary aid could repair.

The assault involved two Tailed Beasts and Kumogakure shinobi operating at near-maximum capacity. The devastation caused by such overwhelming power was far beyond what any single village could endure—even Konoha.

Not long after the attack, before Ōnoki could respond, Kumogakure officially declared war, marking the onset of a full-scale shinobi war.

With the war underway, resources became increasingly strained. Iwagakure's already fragile economy and poor standards of living left its infrastructure teetering on the brink. If the situation continued, internal collapse seemed inevitable long before the war reached its conclusion.

"Absurd! Absolutely ridiculous! Over a single Tailed Beast Ball, they accused us of orchestrating the attack and started a ninja war..." Ōnoki fumed. Despite his frustration, he directed his attention to investigating the incident in Kumogakure, determined to uncover the truth behind this conflict.

Yet the information he uncovered only added to his confusion. According to reports, Kumogakure had been attacked by a Jinchūriki who launched a Tailed Beast Ball. Their two Jinchūriki had worked together to neutralize the attack and, based on the Chakra signature, identified it as originating from the Four Tails. The problem? Roshi, the Jinchūriki of the Four Tails, was missing and unaccounted for.

Ōnoki clenched his fists in anger. I can't even mobilize two Jinchūriki, let alone send them to attack Kumogakure!

"Lord Tsuchikage, according to reports from operatives in Kumogakure, the attack did take place. Their Jinchūriki identified the Chakra as belonging to the Four Tails, and we still haven't established contact with Roshi," a Rock shinobi reported promptly.

"We'll put this matter aside for now. We can investigate further once the fighting subsides! In the meantime, notify all units to replenish supplies along their routes. Take whatever is useful and send it back to the village," Ōnoki ordered. "And what's the latest on Konoha?"

The war's momentum made resolution unlikely in the near term. To sustain the village's war effort and ease domestic tensions, Ōnoki turned his attention to small nations caught in the conflict. Their resources and finances were seen as spoils of war, even if it meant covering up the pillaging with Kumogakure forehead protectors.

At the same time, Ōnoki eyed the wealth of the Land of Fire. Its proximity to the battlefield and abundant resources made it an enticing target. A successful raid on Konoha's territory could greatly strengthen Iwagakure's position.

"Konoha has allied with Sunagakure. The Land of Fire and the Land of Wind have fortified their borders near the battlefield. Konoha has mobilized heavily, with estimates suggesting close to 3,000 shinobi stationed along the border," a Rock shinobi reported.

Ōnoki nodded grimly, realizing that Konoha's strength remained a formidable obstacle.

Ōnoki's prediction was accurate—Konoha was clearly signalling that they were prepared to defend against him. The corner of his mouth twitched in frustration.

On one hand, he was irked that Konoha had seen through his intentions. On the other hand, he was deeply unsettled by their strength.

Everyone in the ninja world understood that Konoha wasn't at its peak, but who could have expected that even in its diminished state, the village could muster such a formidable force to prevent an unnecessary war?

With close to three thousand ninjas deployed, plus those already stationed at the border, Konoha represented a force that could potentially shift the entire balance of the war. Add Sunagakure's alliance to the mix, and any aggression against Konoha could prompt a united front with Sunagakure and even Kumogakure. Such an alliance would leave Ōnoki in an impossible position.

Not everyone could emulate Konoha during the Third Shinobi War, holding their ground against four villages simultaneously.

While attacking Konoha could theoretically provoke a similar coalition to target Konoha, the gamble was too steep for Iwagakure. Ōnoki's recent battlefield successes and the plundered supplies from Kumogakure gave him no reason to risk everything. For now, he decided to focus on smaller countries within the conflict zone, exploiting their resources without overextending himself.

Meanwhile, the Fourth Raikage found himself similarly frustrated, though his discomfort stemmed from battlefield setbacks.

Kumogakure had the upper hand initially, but Iwagakure seemed to gain a miraculous edge, securing multiple victories in quick succession and even reclaiming several outposts.

Despite Kumogakure's expectation that Iwagakure's lack of strategic supplies would cripple them, the losses inflicted by these battles only strengthened Ōnoki's forces, replenishing their stockpiles and prolonging the war.

Much of this success stemmed from Orochimaru's subtle involvement. Without direct intervention, he provided Iwagakure with critical intelligence. In a war as tightly contested as this, even small pieces of information could dramatically alter outcomes.

Cloud Shinobi, despite their wealth, wasn't immune to the logistical strains of war. Ninja tools, weapons, and consumables were universal weak points for any village. The cost and production time for these supplies imposed a painful limitation, even on the best-prepared nations.

"Lord Raikage, Konoha has rejected our invitation to participate in the war. They've also denied our request to purchase strategic materials. Sand Shinobi has taken the same stance, though they are willing to sell various mineral resources," Samui reported after reviewing the scroll in her hand.

As the war dragged on, Kumogakure faced challenges similar to those of Iwagakure. Though Kumogakure had the edge in overall strength, Ōnoki's strategy of using the battle to sustain his forces was putting significant pressure on them.

"Damn that Ōnoki... He's not as simple as he seems," the Fourth Raikage muttered in frustration. After a moment's silence, he barked, "Send a reply to Uchiha! This time, I'll make Rock Shinobi feel true pain!"

He had already anticipated Konoha's response. The Third Hokage was unlikely to involve Konoha in the conflict easily, and their refusal to sell supplies wasn't unexpected. Sand Shinobi's stance was also unsurprising—selling mineral resources was a token gesture rather than genuine support.

"Mineral resources?" the Raikage scoffed. "What am I supposed to do with minerals? Hit people with them?"

With few options left, he turned to the Uchiha Group. While he had initially dismissed Uchiha as mere shinobi incapable of sustaining war logistics, recent reports painted a different picture. Uchiha, freed from Konoha's constraints, had grown rapidly.

Now, the Fourth Raikage was curious to see just how much influence and power the Uchiha had accumulated.

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