"I was careless. I should've realized that old bastard Madara Uchiha wouldn't go down that easily. He's definitely the one pulling strings from the shadows this time!"
Jinghang pounded his forehead in frustration.
"But didn't you see him get burned to ashes by the black flames with your own eyes?" asked Yamashita Tetsu.
"You don't get it," Jinghang sighed. "The Uchiha clan has this… well, cheat code—no, a secret technique! I should've reviewed my notes… Damn, I completely forgot. Iwagakure's sudden mobilization? That's got Madara written all over it!"
"Secret technique? What kind?" Yamashita Tetsu pressed.
Jinghang launched into a detailed explanation of the Uchiha's Izanagi—the forbidden jutsu that rewrites reality itself. By the end, Yamashita Tetsu was left wide-eyed in disbelief.
"That's insane! Isn't that just… rewriting fate itself?"
"Exactly. It's literally called the 'Technique of Changing Destiny.' If Madara were really dead, the Fourth Tsuchikage's genjutsu would've broken. But according to the latest intel from Rouzhao, the Fourth Tsuchikage is still stumbling around in a trance—clearly still under illusion. I let my guard down, and now we're paying the price."
Jinghang sounded deeply regretful.
"But didn't you already have a plan for Iwagakure's attack?" Yamashita Tetsu asked.
"A plan is one thing, but Chiyo's forces are just too thin. Two thousand against an entire village's army? That's a huge risk. If anything goes wrong, we'll be the first to break."
"Didn't the Third Raikage promise to send reinforcements?"
"He did, but coordination's a nightmare—timing could be totally off. And the Iwagakure commander isn't the cautious Kitsuchi anymore, but the Fourth Tsuchikage, Murasaki—or rather, Madara Uchiha himself! He won't hold back. He'll throw everything at us, no matter the cost!"
"What about pulling troops from other fronts…?"
"No way. The east and north are stretched to the limit. There's no one to spare."
"There's still one more place—"
"I know what you're thinking. Forget it. That's my last-resort counterattack force. If I move them now, we're in for a long, grinding war."
…
So, what exactly was making Jinghang so anxious?
To understand, we have to go back to when Konoha elder Homura Mitokado visited Iwagakure.
A seasoned diplomat, Homura Mitokado knew Iwagakure's political landscape inside out. He understood perfectly that the real power in Iwagakure wasn't the puppet-like Fourth Tsuchikage Murasaki, but elder Kitsuchi.
So, upon arrival, he went straight to Kitsuchi and laid out his intentions:
Konoha's going to war with Sunagakure. Are you in or out?
Remember the Second Shinobi War? How much did Sunagakure bleed Iwagakure dry? How much shame did they bring you?
And that recent clash with Kumogakure—just when you were about to take the Third Raikage's head, it was the Third Kazekage, Jinghang, who ruined everything!
One thing after another, even as an outsider, I feel embarrassed for you. Shouldn't Iwagakure seize this chance to settle old scores?
If we take down Sunagakure, Konoha promises: all conquered land and wealth, we split fifty-fifty!
It sounded tempting, but Kitsuchi wasn't some hot-headed rookie. He saw right through Homura's motives and politely deflected:
"You make a good case, but something this big needs the Fourth Tsuchikage's approval. Why don't you rest at the guest house tonight? Tomorrow, I'll arrange an audience with Lord Tsuchikage. He'll make the final call."
As soon as Homura left, Kitsuchi gathered his trusted advisors—Kiba, Mahiru, and others—for a war council.
"I think Konoha just wants us to share their burden. They want Iwagakure's sons to fight for their ambitions!" said ANBU Operations Chief Okuhi.
"That's true, but this deal might be worth it," countered Mahiru. "Konoha plus us against Sunagakure means we outnumber them three to one—almost a guaranteed win. Sunagakure's gotten rich these past years. Miss this chance, and you won't get another."
"Don't forget," Okuhi shot back, "Kumogakure's still watching us from the east. After the last war, Kumogakure and Sunagakure formed a blood pact. If we attack Sunagakure, Kumogakure will strike, and we might lose our home base!"
The debate grew heated, giving Kitsuchi a pounding headache.
Finally, Chief of Staff Kiba offered a shrewd suggestion: "Why not agree to Konoha's proposal, but delay our advance under the pretense of military preparations? Let Konoha and Sunagakure bleed each other dry. When they're both exhausted, we make our move. We'll take Sunagakure with minimal effort and won't have to worry about Konoha backing out. As for Kumogakure, just divert a force to hold them off."
That plan fit Kitsuchi's thinking perfectly. He made the call: "Let's do it!"
But fate had other ideas. The next day, when Kitsuchi escorted Homura Mitokado to see the Fourth Tsuchikage, the usually puppet-like Murasaki suddenly stood up and declared:
"Konoha's proposal is excellent! Sunagakure plundered our wealth and humiliated our leader—imprisoning Onoki! They are Iwagakure's mortal enemies! This time, I will personally lead Iwagakure's army to crush Sunagakure and wash away our shame! Anyone who opposes will meet the same fate as this table!"
With that, he drew a ninja blade and sliced off a corner of the table.
Kitsuchi was stunned, but quickly realized what was happening.
This had to be Black Zetsu's handiwork!
But with Konoha watching, Kitsuchi couldn't object and had to play along—for now.
I'll deal with you after the Konoha delegation leaves, he thought grimly.
Homura Mitokado was delighted. With the western front secured, the plan to crush Sunagakure was one step closer to fruition.
All this was detailed in the intelligence report from Rouzhao—also known as Okuhi.
And that's what had Jinghang pulling his hair out.
"I do have an idea," Yamashita Tetsu offered. "It's a bit dirty, but at this point, who cares?"
"Forget about being dirty or not. Just spit it out!" Jinghang urged.
"If the Fourth Tsuchikage is now commanding Iwagakure, why not cut the problem off at the source…"
The suggestion hit Jinghang like a bolt of lightning.
"Damn! I've been so busy I forgot the obvious. Unbelievable."
He slapped his forehead, then snatched up the red hotline.
"Hakura? Yes, get Hidan over here immediately. I have a critical mission for him. Move!"
Hanging up, Jinghang finally felt a weight lift from his shoulders. Normally, his relationship with the Fourth Tsuchikage was decent, but at this point, sentiment didn't matter. Besides, being turned into a mindless puppet couldn't be any better than death. In fact, death might just be a release.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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