In a secret location in the land of Waterfall, several village leaders were sitting down to talk. Hiruzan Sarutobi chose this place to be in a more neutral ground than if it was in the land of fire or land of wind. If it was in the land of wind, then Hiruzen doubted that there would not be an attack, and the same would be true for the Kazekage if he had to come to the land of fire.
"Lord Hiruzen, I must ask, when is the Kazekage coming? I would rather speed things up if possible." Hisen, the current leader of Takigakure, asks in slight irritation.
He did not like the idea of a meeting like this happening in his land. Not only would this meeting easily escalate into war depending on how things play out, several spies and assassins from the land of Earth and Lightning had infiltrated the country and more and more attention would be cast on the land of Waterfall.
His was a small country with limited resources and limited military force. If they went all out they would only be able to pull at most two thousand shinobi, an impressive force to be sure, but any great shinobi village could pull out at least ten thousand, some even up to fifteen thousand or more, and those shinobi tended to be much better trained and have much better ninjutsus and equipment.
As such, Hisen did NOT want to get his country in trouble, thank you very much.
"Please, calm yourself lord Hisen. I am sure the Kazekage should not take too long to arrive now." Hiruzen said in a tone to pacify the leader of Takigakure.
On the side though, the leader of the Grass Country was cleaning his nails with a kunai. Personally, the man was just uninterested in all this and he would rather the war does happen.
If there is a war there would be more chances to kidnap kekkei genkai ninjas as well as steal the ninjutsu from other villages or just plain old get and sell intell between villages for some easy cash.
As for the regular citizens of his country, who cares?
Grass ninja village's leader was just interested in making his village stronger and, by consequence, himself richer. As long as he could get that, whatever else happens or who suffers for it hardly mattered for the man.
There were also a few small clan leaders or representatives in this building surrounded heavily by many guards from all the representatives. This was the safest place possible at the moment.
Hiruzen smoked his pipe, wanting to relax in his chair as he waited for the Kazekage to show up. He was a bit late, sure, but the simple fact was that the man was the most important one for this meeting's success beside Hiruzen. If the two reaffirmed their alliance firmly, there was a big chance that the Third Shinobi war would not happen any time soon. As long as Konoha could delay it, then the new generation would be able to sharpen themselves and Konoha would no longer need to fear the other villages even if they create a coalition against them!
Feeling satisfied with the thought, it did not take long for an attendant to show up and speak.
"Lord Hokage, the Third Kazekage has arrived with his commitive."
"Good, tell him to come inside with two guards and leave the rest outside for now." Hiruzen said to the messenger that would go do his thing.
Everyone could have two guards here. Hiruzen himself had Orochimaru and Minato by either side of him after all, two of the best and most capable of Konoha's ninjas that Hiruzen felt could help him in battle or escape depending on the situation. Besides the two, there were many other ninjas from Konoha all around the tower.
After all, a meeting like this would be something that the other Great Shinobi Villages would take notice of and could perhaps try to mess around with.
Better safe than sorry.
Soon, the third Kazekage appeared. He was a man in his early forties with spiky black hair and a sharp face. He was one of the main heroes of Suna during the Second Shinobi War and had been able to bury hundreds of fighters during that war, even managing to kill the Five Tails Jinchuuriki at the time in single combat.
Truly, he well deserved the title of Strongest Kazekage that he had.
Behind him Hiruzen saw two ninjas. One with shirt red hair and a calm expression on his face, on his back a large bundle that was clearly a puppet. The other was also a red haired man, but his hair was much less vibrant than someone from the Uzumaki clan, he had a normal build and a face that, while not ugly, was far from handsome.
Sasori and Rasa, the two brightest stars of Suna's young generation. Hiruzen admitted he found it strange that Sasori, with his talent with puppets, would carry one like that, but the old monkey just figured it might be a way to show that he was armed.
"Hokage, it has been a while." The Third Kazekage said, sitting confidently in front of the Hokage.
Hiruzen gave his usual grandfatherly smile as he nodded.
"Far too long, I believe. You have certainly grown a lot stronger since the last time, truly worthy of the title of strongest Kazekage."
The Third Kazekage just nodded his head, absolute confidence in his expression as he continued as if he was the one in charge of the meeting instead of the other way around.
"I believe this should be about the other villages arming up near your borders, correct?"
"Yes, that is right. Konoha has been facing a bit of pressure from the other villages and we wanted to affirm our alliances as well as discuss countermeasures in case any of us is attacked by them moving forward." Hiruzen said before pointing at the map he spread out on the table that showed in great detail the borders they had with the other territories.
Looking at it, there were a few places signed as more important. The very first is Kanabe bridge, a large bridge that crosses the largest river in the country of grass.
There were plenty of military forces accumulating near it according to Jiraya and Danzou's spy networks, that was the best place for supplies of the Earth Country as it was a very well maintained road that would let the supply lines for the Iwa army to arrive for any more advanced attack force. If the earth country could not hold onto that location then their supply lines would need to travel way longer, needing at least five days more to arrive, if they even manage that.
If he could, Hiruzen would destroy that bridge right away… but no war has been declared or started yet and that is the main trade route between several countries. If he attacked before the war starts then they would be seen as the aggressors and, worse, the Fire Daimyo may not support the war.
Then there was the rain country, many routes there but there were only very few roads that could sustain proper supply movement into the country of fire or Wind from there. As long as those routes were not taken, no army would pass through there… Even if they would still need someone to enter that territory regardless considering that those routes to enter into the Fire and Wind country lack any sort of natural barriers to make passage harder.
There was the land of Stone, located between the countries of Earth and Wind, that place had naturally very complex terrain and would be relatively simple to protect for the country of Wind.
Finally, there was the Land of Waterfall which was relatively safe since passing through here would demand a much too huge turn for the country of Earth to invade.
Beyond those, there was the forest between the lands of Frost and Hot Springs. That was the only logical path for the country of Lightning to invade Konoha from since, even if they had been preparing a strong navy for a while now, it would be far too difficult for any occupation force to come in this way. No, if Kumo was to invade they would focus on the country of Fire for occupation or the country of Earth for looting.
In all honesty, Konoha would most likely need to deal almost exclusively alone with the land of Lightning since there were no allies of theirs in that direction. Even the country daimyos of the lands of Frost and Hot Spring tended more to the country of Lightning secretly according to Jiraya's information network.
And finally, the joker card that could complicate any move that the Konoha alliance could try, Kiri.
Kiri was decidedly the weakest of the five great shinobi villages. From all reports they could only pull out eight thousand shinobi at most. Considering that the second weakest and the poorest of the five, Suna, could pull out at least twenty thousand and Konoha could get forty four thousand, it was clear how weak Kiri was by comparison… but they were still a pain.
Not only were they near impossible to attack due to being an archipelago and having far too many water release experts, they also were well known for being allied with pirates that could, and would, harass any supply ships going in that direction if a war breaks out. If that was not enough, there was also the fact they had the highest number of Kekkei Genkai families as well as being over-specialized in assassination making them incredibly troublesome.
For Kiri, Hiruzen could only wait for them to throw the first punch and use it as a way to weaken them before a retaliatory strike.
As Hiruzen continued to detail his ideas, it took a while before he noticed something.
He was talking a lot, but besides Hisen and a few minor clans there were very noticeable voices that lacked in terms of interjecting.
The leader of the Gras Ninja Village was pretty much expected, the man was greedy and would likely take any information spoken here, modify it to make it more tempting, before selling it to others for an over inflated price. Grass was like that, after all. They were war profiteers, but even if Hiruzen knew it he had to bite the bullet since having them at least somewhat on his side would be better than them offering full support to Iwa or something.
No, the most worrisome thing was that-
"Lord Kazekage, do you have something to add to these discussions?" Hiruzen asks, behind him both Minato and Orochimaru were relaxed but a tense air could be felt as the Third Kazekage continued looking at the map.
"These are solid plans. I do agree with most of them, there is only one problem I see in them." The Kazekage said as he observed the map.
His finger then pointed to a place in the map, it was an old fortress in the country of Rivers which makes the device between the countries of Wind and Fire.
"Care to explain why my spies caught signs of your forces fortifying this place?" The Third Kazekage said, making the Hokage close his mouth.
Both were well aware that this fortress, Kikyo Pass, was essential for either side. If Suna could take possession of it, they could easily occupy almost half of the territory of the country of Rivers, a land with plenty fresh water as well as fertile grounds that can be used for agriculture easily.
However, Konoha, which already occupied the most fertile land in all the elemental continent, had also secretly occupied Kikyo Pass. The only use Konoha could have for it though was as a defense against any movements from Suna if they were to try and attack the country of fire and as a place to mine some precious gems present in the mines near it.
The two leaders looked at one another without saying anything for a moment before Hiruzen said.
"I am sorry, but we cannot allow others to occupy it at the moment. The rivers that run near it can easily be used by the boats of Kirigakure to enter deep within the country of fire. Do not worry though, we have no desire to permanently occupy these lands, just until we feel sure that this tense moment we are at is done. Afterwards, we will surely evacuate it." Hiruzen said with great sincerity, that the Third Kazekage did not believe at all.
Sure, maybe there was some merit in his words since being guarded against Kirigakure trying something like that made sense. They were that great in the sea and who knows where they would attack. There were, after all, many small islands all over that could perhaps serve as relay bases for an invasion force… but anyone could tell that the main reason for this occupation was still decidedly because Konoha was preparing in case of an attack from the Sun side.
The Third Kazekage was silent for a moment. Two. And then-
CRUSH
A huge wave of iron sand, seemingly from nowhere, striked directly towards the Third Hokage. Hiruzen, despite being caught by surprise, was not a weakling.
Sure, he was nowhere near as strong as the First Hokage, and he was certainly less tricky and capable than the Second Hokage, but that did not mean he was someone that could be easily dealt with.
Even as his form was engulfed by the iron sand, there was no show of panic in his face as his form dissolved into mud.
This, however, was within the calculations of the Third Kazekage. This attack using the iron sand that Rasa had helped bring along using sealing scrolls was not simply for the sake of attacking Hiruzen.
It was a sign.
As the walls of the tower broke from the force of the attack, the ninjas outside were ambushed by the Suna forces. However, what was more shocking was-
"... Fog?"
Yes, a deep and heavy fog soon engulfed the entire area. Screams echoed as Hiruzen stared daggers at the Third Kazekage who was looking at him with a hint of mockery.
"Why?" That was all Hiruzen said, not needing to elaborate any further.
"Because Konoha is too strong." The Third Kazekage said the truth in just a few words.
Konoha was simply too strong right now. They had by far and wide the most 'kage' level fighters of the five great shinobi villages, they also had the sealing techniques of the Uzumaki clan and the Uchiha clan to serve as nemesis of the other nations' jinchurikis.
Add in the new talents that the spies in Konoha reported, like Hatake Kakashi and Hyuga Setsuna who were both Chuunin or perhaps even near Jonin level before they were even in the double digits, there was just no comparison. The Third Kazekage feared that, should Konoha not be weakened now and they wait a few more years, they could truly become strong enough to conquer all other nations and become the world's overlord.
As the one ruling Sunagakure, the Third Kazekage could not allow this. Sure, he was still not sure before about acting in this way, but the pressure from his councilors (mostly Chiyo and her family) and an offer from an unexpected ally was enough to push him into action.
Hiruzen's instincts screamed at him to dodge. He had not seen who or what it was that he should dodge, but he still did so as he jumped to the side at an angle, avoiding a decapitating sword strike.
Looking in the direction of the one who attacked him, Hiruzen frowned as he saw that it was none other than the Third Mizukage. In his hands, a sword made with his infamous Ice Release kekkei genkai. It may be a thin blade made out of ice, but its sharpness was known for once having cut through the Kubikiribocho as if it was butter.
Belatedly, Hiruzen noticed what seemed like a puppet behind the third mizukage, he soon understood that Sasori was the one who smuggled the man in this place right now by letting the Third Mizukage ride inside the puppet.
Hiruzen found himself face to face with the strongest magnet style user and the strongest ice style user in the current world. Two certainly terrifying opponents, and yet Hiruzen showed no signs of fear. Only battle hardened spirit as he stared down at the two opponents.
"So, it has started?" Granny Chiyo said as she waited for confirmation from her assistant on the side. The man waited for confirmation of the fighting having started with the Kazekage.
Soon, a small scorpion appeared on his side. It was a minor summon animal that this man and his brother both signed a contract with, the animal would only be summoned on this side if the other entered combat so it worked wonders as a signal.
Seeing the man nod towards her, Chiyo's face opened into a blood hungry smile as she shouted to her three thousand troops.
"March. Show no mercy, kill all those tree fuckers and show them the power of Suna!" Chiyo shouted as her forces started the invasion on the country of rivers, aiming directly at Kikyo Pass.
Ahead of them, the sentrys that should have warned Konoha about the invasion were all being silently and efficiently assassinated by the Kiri squad that came to accompany Suna on this expedition. A squad headed by three of the seven swordsmen of the mist, a clear sign of how important this entire operation was for both countries.
Inside though, Chiyo was not thinking of any of those details. No, the old woman could only think 'My son, mommy will avenge you this time!'.
The actions of this day would be marked in the annals of history as the day when an era of suffering, blood, tears, and fighting has once again begun. This, was the start of the Third Shinobi World War.