Naruto: Starting with Infinite Chakra-Chapter 176: Kill Them

Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression darkened immediately.

Both the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind had launched an attack on Konoha. This was extremely bad news. If they wanted to continue reaping benefits in the Land of Rain, they would have to deploy even more troops.

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Hiruzen promptly summoned Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu to his office and informed them of the situation. As the Hokage's advisors, their input was crucial in deciding how Konoha should respond.

"The ninja of the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind didn't make any demands before attacking us?" Koharu asked, frowning at Jiraiya after hearing the report.

"After we took Tetsuishi Town, we noticed a large number of enemy ninja approaching. I tried to talk to them, but they completely ignored me and stormed the town walls, launching a direct assault," Jiraiya replied.

"Those two countries are brazen beyond belief! I expected them to be unwilling to accept us taking Tetsuishi Town, but I didn't think they would go so far as to try and take it for themselves, cutting us out entirely!" Homura said angrily.

"It seems that after forming an alliance, the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth have become overconfident. Do they really believe they can challenge Konoha?" Koharu muttered, her face grim.

"Sensei, we cannot abandon our campaign in the Land of Rain. If those two want a fight, then we should oblige them," Jiraiya declared. "They can't send too many troops into the Land of Rain without leaving their own territories vulnerable. If we reinforce our forces just a bit more, we can thoroughly crush them and show them Konoha's true strength."

"If we go to war with both the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind, the pressure on us will be immense," Hiruzen said after a brief pause. "I believe negotiation is the better path. We have no deep-seated conflict with them—this is merely a dispute over resources in the Land of Rain. If we offer them a portion of the benefits, we can resolve this matter peacefully."

Jiraiya's expression stiffened for a moment before he quickly composed himself. He had already anticipated Hiruzen's reluctance to engage in full-scale war. As long as Konoha wasn't facing total annihilation, Hiruzen would always choose negotiation over conflict. He was simply too soft.

This wasn't the first time. In the Third Great Ninja War, even after emerging victorious, Konoha had ceded a significant amount of territory to the defeated nations, leading to widespread dissatisfaction. Eventually, this forced Hiruzen to step down and pass the Hokage title to Minato Namikaze. Even when Orochimaru defected, Hiruzen had hesitated to kill him, allowing him to escape and later wreak havoc on Konoha.

"Sensei, if we choose to negotiate, how much will we have to give up to satisfy them?" Jiraiya countered. "Give them land today, and tomorrow they'll demand a whole town. If we keep compromising, they'll think Konoha fears them, and their greed will only grow. Are we really going to just hand over the land we fought so hard to seize in the Land of Rain?"

Jiraiya was clearly frustrated. Hiruzen was a leader who could maintain what was already built but lacked the drive to expand. Konoha was the most powerful of the Great Nations, yet he continuously chose to yield rather than assert dominance.

"Lord Hokage, Jiraiya is right. If we back down now, the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind will only grow bolder. Even if we do intend to negotiate, we must first engage them in battle and make them suffer. Otherwise, they'll assume we're weak and try to take even more from us," Koharu added.

Jiraiya glanced at Koharu in surprise but quickly nodded in agreement.

"Sensei, even if we wanted peace talks, they might not even be willing to negotiate. Whether we fight or negotiate, we must reinforce our troops."

"Jiraiya has a point. No matter what we decide, sending more forces is a necessity," Homura agreed.

Hiruzen sighed heavily before finally giving his orders.

"Gather at least two thousand ninja from the major clans, along with a thousand civilian shinobi. Jiraiya, you will lead them to the front lines."

"Sensei, the situation on the front lines is already dire. I want to leave immediately with the troops who are ready now. The rest can be sent to Tetsuishi Town later as reinforcements while escorting a group of workers to continue mining operations," Jiraiya requested.

Even as Konoha's strongest village, gathering three thousand shinobi on short notice was difficult. It would take at least a week, and Jiraiya wasn't willing to waste that time.

"You've just returned and have been fighting for days. Take a short rest before heading back," Hiruzen advised.

"Sensei, the war effort and the village's interests come first. I'll rest when this is over," Jiraiya insisted.

Seeing Jiraiya's determination, Hiruzen relented with a nod. He was pleased with Jiraiya's sense of duty.

"Jiraiya, once you return to the front lines, keep a close watch for any information about Elder Danzō. Report back the moment you uncover anything."

Danzō's disappearance weighed heavily on Hiruzen, and until his whereabouts were known, neither he nor the other Konoha higher-ups could rest easy.

...

Soon after, Jiraiya led over five hundred ninja out of Konoha, heading toward Tetsuishi Town at full speed. The journey was uneventful, and they arrived without incident.

Upon reaching the town, Uchiha Raiden and his men immediately came out to welcome them.

"Did anyone attempt to attack Tetsuishi Town while I was gone?" Jiraiya asked as he led his troops into the town.

"No direct attacks, but the ninja of the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth are gathering in large numbers. They're preparing to strike," Raiden reported. "Meanwhile, the Land of Rain is staying out of it, likely waiting to see how things play out."

"Did they send any ninja to inquire about their missing comrades?" Jiraiya asked.

"Of course they did. But before they even got close, I had them killed. I have no interest in listening to their nonsense," Raiden replied indifferently.

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