Hanzo's attack on the Iron Kingdom directly caused huge waves in the undercurrent of the ninja world.
Hanzo's ambitions were completely intolerable to the five major powers.
In particular, the three major countries of wind, fire, and earth that border the Kingdom of Rain have directly entered a state of war readiness.
How can you allow others to snore and sleep on the side of the couch?
Once Hanzo successfully annexes the Iron Country, the Rain Country will not only greatly increase its land area, but will also gain access to the Iron Country's large samurai population and ore resources.
In this way, the Kingdom of Rain truly has a foundation for its rise!
More importantly, the Kingdom of Rain and the Kingdom of Iron are not bordering each other. There are the Kingdom of Grass and the Kingdom of Fire in between.
If Hanzo wants to annex the Iron Kingdom, he will inevitably occupy some of the territories of the Grass Kingdom and the Fire Kingdom.
It can be said that Hanzo's plan is completely to pull a tooth from the tiger's mouth, and what he pulled out was the tooth of the most powerful tiger in the ninja world.
This is why Danzo so aggressively requested to send troops to the Land of Rain.
At the same time, Hanzo's move also gave the fighting factions within the five major countries a suitable reason to launch a war.
In the more than 20 years since the end of World War I, as the economies, populations, and armed forces of various countries have grown, militant factions within each country have continued to rise.
These fighting factions were already ready to move, waiting for an opportunity, a suitable opportunity.
And now, Hanzo has given them both the opportunity and the reason.
"Hahaha!" Laughing excitedly, the Third Raikage held in his hand information about Hanzo's attack on the Iron Kingdom.
The Kingdom of Thunder, which is not adjacent to the Kingdom of Rain, has more options when faced with Hanzo's actions to provoke a war.
Therefore, the Third Raikage was not angry at Hanzo's behavior, but instead was full of excitement and joy.
The Third Raikage didn't even notice the Kingdom of Rain and Hanzo. He was excited because the Kingdom of Thunder had a reason to launch a war.
The Third Raikage, who was very familiar with his biggest enemy, the Hidden Leaf Village of the Country of Fire, knew that Konoha would definitely carry out armed intervention in response to the war initiated by Hanzo.
Once Konoha carries out armed intervention, he and the Kingdom of Thunder will have a very legitimate reason to send troops.
At that time, he can form an alliance with the Kingdom of Rain, send troops to the border of the Kingdom of Fire, and contain Konoha's power.
At the same time, they secretly supported Hanzo and Rain Country, allowing them to consume Konoha's vitality on the frontal battlefield.
When the fighting between the two sides is almost done, he will lead the main force and attack directly into the heart of the Fire Country to plunder their resources and territory.
In a very short period of time, a feasible strategy was initially formed in the mind of the Third Raikage.
However, with this strategy, the Third Raikage has a problem that needs to be solved.
That is to persuade the two countries, Wind and Earth, not to attack the Kingdom of Rain for the time being, but to provide support to Hanzo and the Kingdom of Rain.
Regarding this issue, the Third Raikage felt that it was not a big problem. He was confident that he could convince the shadows of the two countries, Wind and Earth.
After all, due to the appearance of Kizaru, the three great ninja villages, Cloud, Iwa, and Sand, have been in frequent contact with each other during this period, and they have the potential to form an alliance.
Without any hesitation, knowing that the opportunity was fleeting, the Third Raikage took action directly.
Just when the Third Raikage started his own actions, Kakuzu, who had been lurking in the Land of Fire, understood that his opportunity had come after receiving the news of the Land of Rain's attack on the Land of Iron.
As an old man in the ninja world, Kakuzu still has a good strategic vision.
He knew that Konoha could not stay out of this war in the Land of Rain.
And once Konoha comes to an end, the scale of the war will inevitably expand.
By that time, his target, Shimura Kizaru, will definitely be arranged by the village to participate in the war.
As long as Kizaru joins the war, the chance to assassinate him will come, right?
Excited by the huge bounty and his confidence in his own strength, Kakuzu took the risk of sneaking into a caravan that was about to go to Konoha Village and transformed into a caravan guard.
Unfortunately, just when Kakuzu planned to sneak into Konoha, Kizaru was already preparing to leave the village and head to the border of Fire Country.
The day after Hanzo's raid on the Iron Country, just as Kakuzu had just set off with the caravan, Kizaru had already left the Leaf Village amid the farewells of his tribe and the Sannin.
So, on the second day after Kizaru left the village and the third day after the war broke out, when Kakuzu went through all the trouble to sneak into Konoha, he found out a piece of news that made him both happy and uncomfortable. His target,
Shimura Kizaru left the village.
Because Danzo and Hiruzen Sarutobi publicized Kizaru's heroic act at the Ninja Conference when he went to the border alone to monitor and guard against the Land of Thunder.
The news that Kizaru left the village spread to a small extent among the ninja community in the village.
As a veteran Kage-level powerhouse, the experienced Kakuzu easily heard this information from the exchanges between Konoha ninjas.
After getting this information, Kakuzu did not hesitate at all, and left the Leaf Village under the cover of darkness that night.
After spending a whole night, Kakuzu rushed all the way to the area where the Kingdom of Fire and the Kingdom of Tang meet.
The Kingdom of Tang is located between the Kingdom of Fire and the Kingdom of Thunder, and is a key defense area for both countries.
According to Kakuzu's estimation, Kizaru who supports the border must be in this area.
Arriving at the border of the Country of Fire, Kakuzu did not act rashly. Instead, he entered the Country of Yu, preparing to make some simple repairs and restore the chakra consumed on the journey.
750 million, right in front of you!
As an experienced bounty hunter, Kakuzu knows that the closer he is to assassinating his prey, the more thoroughly prepared he must be.
"It's really good!" On the hot spring shop street of Yunokuni, Kizaru, wearing brown sunglasses, was looking around with interest.
The hot spring shop on this street offers rich services, including both meat and vegetable dishes, which is an eye-opener for Kizaru!
With a faint smile on his face and a cold drink in his hand, Kizaru walked around the entire commercial street and slowly walked into a hot spring shop.
Under the warm reception of the landlady, Kizaru changed into his bathrobe, walked into the hot spring pool, and lay down in it with a comfortable look on his face.
"Ha~"
Kizaru breathed a long sigh of relief. He had been at the border for a day and had nothing to do for the time being. He closed his eyes with a look of enjoyment.
After a while, the maid from the store came in carrying a pot of sake and cakes.
He placed the dinner plate steadily on the hot spring and asked Kizaru if he wanted a massage. After being refused, he walked backwards and left the hot spring pool.
Resting his slender hands on the edge of the pool surrounded by stones, Kizaru opened his eyes and looked in the direction of the wooden door that had just been closed by the maid.
With a playful smile on his face and a domineering look on his face, Kizaru felt a good aura approaching.
Wearing the bathrobe he had just changed into, he slowly opened the wooden door. Kakuzu, who had been traveling all night, was about to take a bath in the hot springs to relieve his fatigue.
"Hey, little brother! Do you want a drink?" Pouring himself a glass of sake, picking up the small wine glass, Kizaru looked at Kakuzu standing outside the wooden door and said with a smile.
