Three days later in the Land of Birds.
A ninja unit from Sunagakure and a ninja unit from Iwagakure stood facing each other across a river.
The commander of the Sand ninja forces demanded coldly, "Will your Rock ninjas hand over our honorable Kazekage!"
However, the commander of the Rock ninja unit immediately began cursing at the Sand ninja, hurling such vicious insults that the Sand ninja's faces flushed with rage.
Enraged, the Sand ninjas united in indignation and began cursing back.
Everyone scrambled to come up with the most vicious and filthy words imaginable.
The verbal battle raged for a full fifteen minutes.
The Sand ninja commander roared, "You damn bastards from Iwagakure are absolutely shameless! You murdered our Kazekage and still dare to act so smug! Everyone! Follow me into battle!"
The Rock ninja commander watched as the Suna ninjas charged toward them, his expression filled with mockery.
"Living in the desert with sand blowing up your noses all day must've filled your heads with nothing but sand too! Everyone, use Earth Release jutsu to reshape the terrain!"
Rock ninjas excelled particularly at Earth Release techniques, which could alter the battlefield into forms advantageous to them.
As the Rock ninjas performed their Earth Release jutsu, the landscape directly ahead of them transformed dramatically.
The advancing Sand forces encountered immediate obstacles, needing to navigate barriers before they could close in on the Rock ninjas.
Taking advantage of this, the Rock ninjas quickly seized favorable positions, continuously launching various Earth Release attacks against the Sand forces.
The Sand ninja quickly found themselves at a disadvantage.
Yet currently, the Sand forces remained remarkably unified. Their commander was no pushover either; under his leadership, the Sand ninja stabilized the situation and began counterattacking relentlessly using Wind Release techniques they specialized in.
This very battle between Sunagakure and Iwagakure in the Land of Birds marked the official beginning of the Third Great Ninja World War.
At the farthest edge of the main battlefield where Sand and Rock forces clashed,
Seven shadowy figures hid in concealment, observing the fight unfold.
These seven individuals comprised a squad led by Orochimaru himself, sent here to observe the situation in the Land of Birds.
"Lord Orochimaru, now that the conflict between Sunagakure and Iwagakure has begun, should we return to Konoha and report our findings to The Third, or send intelligence reports back using contractual summons?"
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes watching the intense battlefield ahead, not answering immediately.
When Orochimaru had first been dispatched to the Land of Birds for observation duties, he'd felt deeply annoyed.
He had just recently released the Eight-Tails from Kumogakure's jinchūriki, expecting to return to Konoha for some peaceful research time.
However, only a few days of undisturbed research had passed in Konoha when he was dispatched back to the Land of Birds once again, forcing him to halt one of his experiments midway.
But now...
Witnessing the fierce battle between the Sand and Stone ninja, seeing countless corpses lying on the ground—in Orochimaru's eyes, these were not just bodies, but precious experimental materials!
Orochimaru had been in short supply of test subjects. Once this battle ended, he would surely collect many excellent specimens.
He quickly made a decision: "Use summoned animal messengers to send intelligence reports back to Konoha. Then we'll stay here and keep an eye on Sunagakure's and Iwagakure's ninja forces."
Several days later, after receiving intelligence from the Land of Birds, Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed on his pipe a few times.
"Tch, war has come again. But perhaps it's better this way—we won't have to keep wondering when Konoha will be dragged into it first."
Hiruzen summoned a ninja and ordered him to find Konoha's Hokage Advisor Danzo, as well as his two counsellors, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado.
Since this was shaping up to be another Great Ninja War, it was only a matter of time before Konoha joined the fight. It was time to mobilize for war—gathering their ninja forces and preparing for battle at any moment.
...
Kumogakure.
The Third Raikage A was greatly thrilled upon learning that Sunagakure and Iwagakure had begun fighting.
Due to the Eight-Tails' rampage, Kumo had suffered heavy losses and was suffering from low morale. They desperately needed a battle to restore morale.
Relations between Kumogakure and Iwagakure had never been good to begin with. Naturally, the Third Raikage A and the Third Tsuchikage Onoki held deep mutual contempt.
Now that Iwagakure had already entered a war, how could he possibly hold back?
The Third Raikage immediately gathered a unit of Cloud Ninja, planning to strike deep into the Land of Earth and launch a surprise attack on Iwagakure from behind.
...
Meanwhile, Kirigakure also began showing signs of movement upon hearing about the conflict between the two great ninja villages, Suna and Iwa.
Although still under the rule of the Third Mizukage, Kirigakure had already begun implementing the Blood Mist Policy.
However, this early version of the Blood Mist Policy wasn't yet as brutal and bloody as the version later imposed by the Fourth Mizukage Yagura Karatachi under Obito's manipulation.
At this stage, the core philosophy of the Blood Mist Policy was simple: might makes right. The strong deserved everything; the weak got nothing.
If he promoted such a policy to enhance ninja strength, then its effectiveness must eventually be proven.
And what better place to demonstrate its power than the battlefield itself?
The Third Mizukage knew clearly that the Third Great Ninja War was inevitable. In essence, the Blood Mist Policy was preparation for that very war.
He had endured immense opposition from those who opposed his Blood Mist Policy. Yet despite overwhelming pressure, he insisted stubbornly on enforcing it.
Therefore, if Kirigakure gained significant victories in this war, it would undeniably prove his Blood Mist Policy was correct. Then let them see who dares call his Blood Mist Policy a failure.
Therefore, the Third Mizukage immediately launched war preparations, assembling ninja forces ready to enter the conflict.
...
Many other small nations and minor Hidden Villages also hoped to gain some benefit from this war.
If the major villages take the lion's share, at least they might hope to get the crumbs.
But for small countries like the Hot Water Country, River Country, and Bird Country—constantly used as battlegrounds by the great Hidden Villages—it was pure misfortune. If they were lucky enough to survive, how could they even dream of profiting? Forget about it.
As soon as Sunagakure and Iwagakure went to war, the entire ninja world became lively.
Within the Land of Birds,
The conflict between Sunagakure and Iwagakure had continued for a while, with battles fierce and frequent—large-scale engagements and minor skirmishes alike occurring more than a dozen times within a single month.
The Sand ninja fought as if fearless of death, clashing against the Rock ninja with unyielding ferocity.
With morale so high, even though the Rock ninja possessed greater strength, they temporarily found themselves at a disadvantage.
Onoki was currently burning with anxiety.
Because the very thing he feared had come true—an army of Cloud shinobi had entered the Land of Earth.
That damned Third Raikage had sent forces to stab him in the back.
Now finding himself at a disadvantage against the Sand ninja, Onoki had no choice but to dispatch more ninja to the Land of Birds.
At the same time, these Cloud shinobi were advancing toward Iwagakure too, forcing Onoki to send yet another detachment to intercept them.
If Konoha decided to intervene as well, then things would become truly problematic.
Back in Sunagakure,
Rasa, Chiyo, and Ebizō stood atop the Kazekage Building, letting the desert wind whip past them as it swept through Sunagakure.
"Fourth Kazekage," one of them spoke, "the timing is nearly right. I believe Onoki must be in a panic by now, caught between two fronts. It's time we spread rumors and divert this war toward Konoha."
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