Chapter 356: The Akatsuki Officially Declare War on the Land of Snow!
Raikage spoke first: "Just the three of our nations alone won't be enough. Any outcome that favors one side over the other will cause dissatisfaction. We should involve other nations as well, with representatives from our three countries overseeing the process."
Tsunade had no objections—clearly, she shared the same opinion.
Kitsuchi let out a sigh of relief.
So this was all they were asking for? That was no problem at all. He and the representatives of the smaller nations quickly agreed while trying to figure out their true intentions.
Was it, as Raikage had said, to increase credibility?
But wouldn't that just create more opportunities for interference? Wouldn't the situation become even more complicated?
After pondering for a while, Kitsuchi felt something was off, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. In the end, he gave up trying to figure it out.
And so, with the "full cooperation" of various nations, an investigative team was formed...
However, the operation of this team did not go as smoothly as expected.
There were clear divisions and suspicions among the representatives sent by each nation. The members from the Land of Lightning and the Land of Fire constantly blamed each other, while those from smaller nations tried to remain neutral, avoiding direct involvement. Yet, despite their efforts, they were inevitably drawn into endless arguments.
As a result, the investigation made little progress. Due to conflicting interests, the team was unable to reach a consensus on many critical issues, bringing the entire investigation to a standstill.
But less than a month after the team was established, Uchiha Shisui unexpectedly returned to Konoha—alive. And he brought with him information about the true mastermind behind the incident.
It was a spy from the Land of Snow who had set a trap for him, intending to spark a conflict between the two nations. Using Obito's Mangekyō Sharingan, they had dragged him into Kamui's dimension and held him captive there!
Upon hearing this, the investigators from various nations also began presenting evidence pointing to the Land of Snow.
Even though she had anticipated this outcome, Tsunade couldn't help but laugh bitterly at the absurdity of the situation.
How does one resolve a conflict?
One very effective method is to redirect it.
If the Land of Lightning wanted to drag the Land of Fire into war, they needed a common enemy powerful enough to justify it. Both the Akatsuki and the Land of Snow could play that role.
But when it came to national politics, the Land of Snow was the more realistic option compared to the Akatsuki, a mere terrorist group.
This was exactly what Tsunade had wanted.
After repeated defeats in war, the nations had lost their fighting spirit.
If things continued like this, countries would resort to passive strategies, dragging out conflicts over time. Eventually, even ordinary civilians might be forced onto the battlefield.
Rather than suffer such an embarrassing loss, it would be better to use this opportunity to unite the nations' forces one last time—wager everything on a final gamble.
And if you're wondering whether Tsunade actually believed Shisui's testimony or all that so-called evidence?
When she saw Shisui's empty eye sockets, his blood-loss-induced pallor, and heard his fragmented, confused recollection of events, she knew his account wasn't entirely reliable.
Shisui claimed he was trapped due to Obito's Kamui, but when asked to recall the exact timeline, the dates didn't match up with his disappearance at all.
Still, given what he had been through, it was already remarkable that this Uchiha prodigy had managed to return alive. No one was too surprised that his memory was muddled. In fact, if he had come back completely unscathed, people would have been more suspicious, wondering if he was even the real Shisui.
As for the so-called evidence? It wasn't even worth looking at.
Once Tsunade refrained from explicitly opposing the idea of targeting the Land of Snow, all sorts of bizarre "evidence" suddenly surfaced.
For example, someone claimed that Shisui's "little comic book," which he got from Kakashi, happened to be a bestseller in the Land of Snow—suggesting a possible link to his disappearance.
When Tsunade first heard this, she was so dumbfounded that she remained speechless for a long time.
Raikage smiled and said, "Since Shisui has returned, I suppose this clears me of any suspicion."
Tsunade snorted coldly and turned her gaze to Raikage on the screen. "Tell me, what is your real goal? Is this about avenging your brother?"
"No."
Raikage's eyes flickered as he spoke slowly.
"I want to declare war on the Land of Snow."
Tsunade was momentarily stunned, then her brows furrowed.
Although this development aligned with her expectations, something felt off. According to Mabui, Raikage's transformation had been driven by revenge. Yet, despite gathering considerable strength, why was he targeting the Land of Snow instead of the Akatsuki?
In Raikage's eyes, the Land of Snow should have been a secondary target, after dealing with the Akatsuki.
Using the Snow Nation's threat to unite the other nations was one thing. But directly leading them into war against it? That was another matter entirely.
'Something's wrong with Raikage…'
Tsunade narrowed her eyes in thought. But under Raikage's gaze, she simply nodded calmly. "Public opinion in my country has been turning against me lately. The Land of Snow's propaganda campaign has been highly effective. If I want one last chance to turn things around, this may be it."
…
With negotiations between nations reaching a conclusion, internal agreements were finalized.
At the same time, both the Land of Snow and the Land of Water were actively preparing for war, making all necessary arrangements for the impending conflict.
In the Land of Snow, ninjas trained relentlessly in midair, their armor glinting coldly under the frigid winds. They moved like phantoms across the snowy landscape, leaping and gliding with pinpoint precision, blending seamlessly with their icy surroundings.
"Maintain your rhythm! Control your breathing!"
A seasoned Jōnin stood on the ground, shouting commands. His voice echoed across the vast snowfields, clear and sharp.
Meanwhile, in the Land of Water, the sea was turbulent, and the ports were packed with warships. The Land of Water's ninja conducted intense maritime drills, skillfully maneuvering their vessels through the waves.
The production of explosive tags and scientific ninja tools increased further as relations between the Land of Lightning and the Land of Fire improved.
Strategic meetings were held frequently, sometimes occurring every few days.
Woo-woo-woo—
Just as another war meeting was about to conclude, a chilling alarm suddenly blared from the strategic base in the Land of Demons!
All those still connected to the video conference immediately turned their attention to the screen, and the atmosphere in the meeting room became tense and oppressive in an instant.
Everyone speculated about what emergency had occurred. Meanwhile, the image on the large screen trembled violently, clearly disrupted by some unknown force.
As confusion spread, a pitch-black, zipper-like rift slowly tore open on the other side of the base. It was as if the very fabric of space had been split apart, exuding an unsettling darkness. As the passage fully opened, Nagato stepped through alone.
The ninjas in the base immediately prepared for battle.
"The leader of the Akatsuki… What are you doing here?!" a guard shouted.
"No need to be so tense."
Nagato's Rinnegan and Sharingan scanned the surrounding ninjas. His voice was calm.
"Today, I come as a representative of the Akatsuki… to officially declare war on the Land of Snow."
His Rinnegan glowed ominously as he suddenly lifted his head, locking eyes with a pair of brilliant blue Tenseigan on the central screen. His voice deepened.
"Let's settle the future of the shinobi world… with an all-out war, Hyuga Fuji."