Hidden Cloud assembled three massive fleets, totaling eight thousand Ninja, and under the guise of a winter joint military exercise, launched a full-scale war against the newly emerging Land of Whirlpools.

A military mobilization of this scale, no matter how secretive, could not escape the intelligence networks spread across the Shinobi World.

Like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, the entire Shinobi World was stirred into a massive frenzy by this sudden action from Hidden Cloud. All eyes, whether open or hidden, whether gloating or intrigued, were focused on that vortex in the middle of the eastern sea.

Hidden Leaf Village, Hokage's Office.

The atmosphere was as stifling as a solidified swamp.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's complexion was even paler than when he had vomited blood last time; the pipe in his hand had long since gone out, yet he still mechanically held it to his lips. The two Advisors, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, wore complex expressions.

"It has been confirmed."

An Anbu Ninja knelt on one knee and reported in a dry voice, "The vanguard of Hidden Cloud is expected to make contact with the Coast Guard of the Land of Whirlpools within twenty-four hours. War is imminent."

"Hmph, let them fight, it would be best if they both suffer heavy losses!"

Danzo Shimura, who had been silent until now, finally spoke, his voice filled with gleeful malevolence. In his bandage-wrapped right eye, it was as if a venomous snake were slithering.

"That fool Raikage A really thinks the Land of Whirlpools is an easy bone to chew? That brat Uchiha Kei is no pushover either. Let them tear each other apart like dogs; no matter who wins or loses, it is a good thing for our Konoha!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's lips moved, but he did not refute him.

Ever since the declaration of the re-founding of the nation was released, his prestige within the village had plummeted. The Daimyo of the Land of Fire was extremely dissatisfied with him, and the other Ninja villages mocked him. Konoha's status as the strongest Ninja village was already tottering.

He now hoped more than anyone to see the Land of Whirlpools fall into trouble.

If Hidden Cloud could heavily damage the Land of Whirlpools, it would undoubtedly prove that his decision to put out a bounty on the Uchiha was farsighted. If the Land of Whirlpools were to turn the tables and defeat Hidden Cloud, it would also greatly deplete the strength of this northern rival.

No matter how you look at it, this is a profitable deal.

A morbid sense of gloating quietly spread among the upper echelons of Konoha. They seemed to have forgotten that the country about to be engulfed in the flames of war was once their strongest ally, and that the Ninja about to stain the battlefield with blood shared the same bloodline as them.

Hidden Stone Village, Tsuchikage Office.

Third Tsuchikage Onoki floated in mid-air, arms crossed, overlooking the emergency intelligence that had just been delivered to his desk.

His daughter Kurotsuchi said with some concern: "Father, Hidden Cloud is playing for real this time. Eight thousand Ninja is almost all the mobile force they can mobilize. Although the Land of Whirlpools is mysterious, their sparse population is a fatal flaw; I'm afraid..."

"Heh, girl, war is not simple addition and subtraction."

Onoki let out a low chuckle, his turbid old eyes flashing with the brilliance of someone who understood everything.

"Raikage A's tactics are very clear: use an absolute numerical advantage to fight a war of attrition and drag down the defenses of the Land of Whirlpools to death. This tactic is enough to crush any small or medium-sized Ninja village. However, the one he is facing is Uchiha Kei."

He recalled the bizarre battle in the Yixiantian Canyon and recalled that declaration of the founding of the nation that possessed law, reason, and power.

"That brat never plays by the rules. His way of thinking has already surpassed our era. I dare to bet that he must have prepared a backup plan for today's situation that Raikage A could never have imagined."

Onoki slowly descended and tapped his finger on the location of the Land of Whirlpools on the map.

"Pass down the order to have the border troops closely monitor the battle situation, but do not take any unnecessary actions. We will stay here and watch the fire from across the river. When they decide the winner and loser, that will be the time for us to reap the rewards."

Compared to the complex mentality of Konoha and Iwagakure, the positions of Sunagakure and the Kirigakure were much clearer.

In Sunagakure, Fourth Kazekage Rasa urgently recalled the delegation that was about to visit the Land of Whirlpools. Faced with this sudden war, they chose cautious neutrality, suspended all alliance agendas, and waited for the final result.

As for the Kirigakure, Mei Terumī, who had just firmly secured her position as Mizukage, only smiled faintly after receiving the news. She immediately ordered that the Kirigakure would condemn Hidden Cloud on a diplomatic level and publicly support the Land of Whirlpools.

Although this support could not provide any substantial military help, it was a clear political stance. It declared to the entire Shinobi World that the newly born Kirigakure would firmly stand with the Land of Whirlpools.

In an even darker corner of the Shinobi World, a mysterious organization was also closely watching the coming storm.

Amegakure, top of the high tower.

The figure of Six Paths of Pain stood quietly, the Rinnegan overlooking the ceaseless rain curtain below. Behind him, a vortex-like spatial ripple appeared, and Obito, using the alias Tobi, walked out from it.

"Pain, the plan is proceeding very smoothly," Tobi said in his usual exaggerated and frivolous tone. "That hot-headed Raikage really was the first to not be able to hold back. Now, the eyes of the whole world are attracted to the Land of Whirlpools."

"Mm."

Pain only responded coldly.

"Our Zetsu has already lurked near the battlefield. As long as that guy Uchiha Kei reveals any flaw in the battle, or uses that incredible space-time Dōjutsu, we will be able to capture it in the first instance."

Tobi's tone carried a hint of undisguised wariness and excitement.

"As long as we can analyze the secret of his Dōjutsu, the plan to lure the snake out of its hole will be half successful. At that time, it will be the time for us, Akatsuki, to enter the field ourselves and harvest."

Pain did not speak again, but the murderous intent in his eyes became even colder.

For them, the outcome of this war was not important. What was important was whether they could find, in this war, the weakness of the man who had overturned all their plans.

The Land of Whirlpools, this newly emerging country that had been established on ruins for less than a year, at this moment, became the absolute center of the entire world stage as never before.

Countless eyes, countless conspiracies, and countless calculations were all intertwined on this small island.

Just at this moment, on the lookout post of the Coast Guard of the Land of Whirlpools, a Hyuga Ninja possessing the Byakugan suddenly widened his eyes, and blue veins bulged around his bloodshot eye sockets.

He looked at the end where the water and sky met, at the huge shadow pressing over like dark clouds, and used a hoarse voice to send the final confirmation to the command center.

"Target... appeared!"

Hidden Cloud's fleet appeared on the horizon of the Land of Whirlpools.