In Konoha, Land of Fire, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally showed a rare, comforting smile.
After days of forced calm and restrained expressions, the news from the front lines allowed the Third Hokage to relax—if only slightly. The corners of his mouth lifted, replacing the habitual smirk he had worn since the war began.
All three figures who had become the core of Konoha's battlefield strength had received new titles.
"Konoha's Sannin…"
Jiraiya stroked his chin, his grin stretching so wide that even Gamabunta would have trouble suppressing it with his Roof Tile Shattering Technique.
"Konoha's Sannin doesn't really suit me, does it?" Jiraiya laughed loudly. "Something like Great Super Frog Sage sounds much better!"
"Konoha's Sannin, huh…"
Tsunade crossed her arms, examining the title calmly. She didn't dislike it. A title like that meant their names had already spread throughout the Ninja World. Fame carried influence—and influence mattered in war.
Orochimaru, however, reacted differently.
"Konoha's Sannin…"
He hadn't expected such a title, especially before facing Hanzo of the Hidden Rain Village. Compared to something like Serpent Sage or Master of Forbidden Techniques, this collective title felt… dull.
Still, Orochimaru said nothing.
On another battlefield, far from Konoha's walls, Iwagakure's high command was finally forced to face reality.
After a string of setbacks, Iwagakure's senior officials realized something undeniable.
The current Konoha was not an enemy they could handle alone.
Continuing to stubbornly clash head-on would only turn Iwagakure into a stepping stone for other ninja villages to exploit. Rather than exhausting themselves, it was wiser to scale back and observe how the other Great Ninja Villages would move.
When this proposal was presented to Ōnoki, it aligned perfectly with his own thoughts.
Large-scale conflict with Konoha was disadvantageous.
Thus, Ōnoki issued a new order—one that fundamentally altered Iwagakure's strategy.
Instead of directly breaking through Konoha's lines, Iwagakure would initiate multi-front warfare.
Their goal was clear: divide Konoha's strength, scatter its elite forces, and exhaust the infamous Konoha Sannin across multiple battlefields.
If Konoha wanted to invade Iwagakure, it would have to pay an unbearable price.
Land of Water — Hidden Mist Village
After reviewing intelligence reports from his reconnaissance units, the Third Mizukage abandoned his original plan to attack Iwagakure.
The situation had changed.
Iwagakure was already engaged in multi-front warfare, drawing away a large portion of Konoha's elite forces—including the now-famous Konoha Sannin.
Yet even so, Konoha's remaining strength was deeply unsettling.
Too many geniuses had emerged.
Orochimaru.
Jiraiya.
Tsunade.
Hatake Sakumo.
Old generation, new generation—it didn't matter. Konoha's talent pool was terrifying.
The Third Mizukage slowly opened his narrowed eyes.
"Dispatch an elite raiding unit," he ordered. "Approach Konoha from the sea."
Underwater maneuvering would reduce detection to a minimum.
The Hidden Mist elite force landed southeast of the Land of Fire, advancing swiftly beneath the waves. However, as they neared Konoha's borders, they were discovered.
Konoha responded immediately.
Elite units from multiple clans were dispatched to intercept them.
The battlefield was soon swallowed by thick fog as the Hidden Mist Ninjas unleashed their signature Hidden Mist Jutsu, creating an environment where visibility was reduced to nothing.
Normally, this would have been a decisive advantage.
But Konoha had prepared well.
Among the responding forces were:
Hyuga Clan ninjas, masters of reconnaissance and Gentle Fist.
Iburi Clan ninjas, wielders of the Smoke Transformation Bloodline.
Uchiha Clan ninjas, their Sharingan blazing through the fog.
This alone demonstrated how seriously Konoha took the Hidden Mist threat.
Iburi Clan ninjas transformed into drifting smoke, weaving through the fog and infiltrating the Hidden Mist formation. They slipped into enemy ranks silently, controlling bodies and movements.
Suddenly, Hidden Mist ninjas began attacking their own comrades.
Confusion erupted.
"This is the Iburi Clan's Bloodline Limit!"
"Be careful!"
Hyuga Clan ninjas stepped forward, veins bulging around their eyes as Byakugan activated.
"Your Hidden Mist Jutsu is useless against the Byakugan!"
They struck with precision. Each palm strike sealed chakra points, disrupting the enemy's chakra flow.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Clan ninjas advanced relentlessly.
"With the Sharingan, your fog means nothing!"
Through chakra perception, movement, and killing intent, the fog was rendered meaningless.
Faced with Smoke Transformation, Byakugan, and Sharingan simultaneously, the Hidden Mist elite unit was forced to disperse the fog, abandoning its greatest advantage.
Fortunately, the Third Mizukage had anticipated Konoha's response.
The raiding unit included Wind Release specialists.
Wind Release techniques disrupted the Iburi Clan's smoke forms to some extent—though not completely.
"Smoke Dragon Technique!"
Iburi Clan ninjas merged their smoke, forming a massive dragon that tore through the battlefield.
Physical attacks were useless.
Water Release techniques had no effect.
Only strong ninjutsu could damage it—and even then, the Hidden Mist ninjas lacked sufficient power.
Before long, the Hidden Mist elite unit was completely neutralized.
But the Hidden Mist Village did not stop there.
Like Iwagakure, they adopted a multi-front warfare strategy, dispatching additional forces to harass Konoha from multiple directions.
Land of Wind — Hidden Sand Village
Upon learning that Konoha was simultaneously engaged with Iwagakure and the Hidden Mist Village, the Third Kazekage saw a golden opportunity.
"Chiyo," he said, turning to the elderly woman. "You will lead the Suna forces."
"Kazekage-sama," Chiyo replied calmly, "I recommend bringing Bunbuku with us."
The usage rate of Tailed Beasts among other villages was pitifully low compared to Sunagakure's experience.
If Bunbuku lost control and Shukaku was unleashed on the battlefield, the destruction alone could decide the war.
"Bunbuku… Shukaku?" the Third Kazekage frowned. "Why?"
"In terms of raw strength," Chiyo explained, "Sunagakure is inferior to Konoha, Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and the Hidden Mist. But we surpass them in one area—our control and understanding of Tailed Beasts."
She extended her hand, as if already seeing the battlefield littered with corpses.
"Let Shukaku rampage between the Konoha and Iwagakure or Konoha and Hidden Mist battlefields."
"And how do we retrieve Shukaku afterward?" the Kazekage asked grimly.
"That… cannot be guaranteed," Chiyo admitted. "We wait for him to calm down."
After a long silence, the Third Kazekage nodded.
"Very well. Bring Bunbuku."
His voice hardened.
"We must reclaim Sunagakure's honor."
Land of Rain
Hanzo observed the movements of the Great Ninja Villages with growing unease.
He had hoped the war would gradually subside.
Instead, it was intensifying.
Despite his efforts to minimize the impact on the Land of Rain, the nation's economy had suffered severely. Per capita income plummeted.
The Land of Rain had finally found peace.
Hanzo wanted that peace to last.
But he knew his own limits.
If the Five Great Ninja Villages fully mobilized, even the Land of Rain would be crushed.
Konoha — Hokage Tower, Command Room
"Even Sunagakure…"
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood abruptly after reading the latest report.
Managing wars with Iwagakure and the Hidden Mist was already straining Konoha's resources. Adding Sunagakure changed everything.
This was no longer simple arithmetic.
Danzo Shimura frowned as he delivered Root's intelligence.
"Chiyo is leading the Suna forces. She's an expert in puppetry and poison."
"And… there's a monk among them."
Root had almost no information on him.
"That poison…" Utatane Koharu muttered. "Only Tsunade or Orochimaru could counter it."
"We need medical ninjas capable of detoxification," Homura added. "Orochimaru is slightly better than Tsunade in that regard."
"No!" Koharu snapped. "Orochimaru must return. We elders should go!"
Danzo looked at her coldly.
"Can you formulate antidotes?"
"…No."
Hiruzen made the decision.
"Jiraiya continues fighting Iwagakure. Tsunade and Orochimaru will intercept Sunagakure."
Orders were dispatched.
Orochimaru's Discovery
In his laboratory, Orochimaru's Shadow Clone examined new intelligence.
"An old monk…"
His eyes narrowed.
"Bunbuku."
Sunagakure had sent a Jinchuriki to the battlefield.
A dangerous gamble.
Moments later, Orochimaru relayed the information to his main body.
"One-Tail… Ichibi."
Tsunade's eyes widened.
"They're insane."
And far away, the storm of war continued to spread.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)