Seeing this, some might be puzzled.
Iwagakure, Amegakure, Kusagakure… these neighboring Shinobi Villages are one thing, but how is Kumogakure, which is separated by several countries, also involved?
This involves the relationship between Shinobi Villages and their nations.
The relationship between a Shinobi Village and its nation is one of cooperation… that is, the nation provides funding, and the village provides national defense.
When the nation is invaded by foreign enemies, the Shinobi Village must unconditionally confront the invaders.
Other than that, there is no other relationship between the Shinobi Village and the nation.
They can accept missions from other countries and can even be hired by other nations to participate in wars.
Therefore,
A war between Shinobi Villages does not necessarily mean a war between nations. Regardless of victory or defeat, the village itself gains or loses no territory.
Wars between Shinobi Villages are fought for reputation and credibility.
The winner gains higher reputation and credibility, which makes the nation trust the village's capabilities more, leading to increased support. More civilians will also come to the village to post commissions.
More commissions mean more money, allowing the village to develop better.
Conversely, the loser will have their village declining.
Just like Sunagakure in the original work.
The Daimyo of the Land of Wind lost confidence in Sunagakure due to its constant defeats in wars, leading to reduced military funding and even giving the nation's commissions to Konoha to handle.
If it were worse, the nation could completely abandon the Shinobi Village and find someone else to form a new village.
Don't think this is unbelievable… it's the reality.
Although most Shinobi Clans and Rogue Shinobi in the Shinobi World today have banded together to form Shinobi Villages, many clans still exist in the form of a single clan.
After Orochimaru defected from Konoha, relying on his own prestige and the financial support of the Daimyo of the Land of Rice, he quickly established a medium-sized Shinobi Village, with renowned clans like the Fuma Clan joining.
If a great country like the Land of Wind called for it, there would definitely be powerful Shinobi willing to join.
This special interest relationship makes many wars between Shinobi Villages take on a peculiar pattern where only victory is contested, and no territory is seized.
Therefore, wars between Shinobi Villages are not constrained by geography.
Doesn't this seem peculiar?
A group of people with superhuman powers fighting each other to the death just to get more commissions and national support... One has to say, the Shinobi of this world are truly noble!
Even wanted criminals like Kakuzu would rather work hard to capture bounty targets for money than rob ordinary people.
After the decline of the Fuma Clan, its members became bandits and robbers, but after being mocked by Naruto and Jiraiya, they became furious out of shame.
After failing at robbery, they were so ashamed that they gave up the profession.
If just robbing money is like this, what about ruling by force?
Look at those ambitious villains in the movies… they are definitely enemies of the world, the kind hunted by the entire Shinobi World.
In short, it's very peculiar.
For these Shinobi Villages, Sunagakure currently has vulnerabilities in its border defense, and its internal forces are weak, which is a great opportunity.
If they can destroy Sunagakure, they will have one less competitor vying for commissions.
Therefore,
Kumogakure crossing several countries to launch a raid from the other side of the continent makes sense.
Seeing these people staring back boldly, Gari felt annoyed.
He possessed the Explosion Release Kekkei Genkai, and his strength was immense.
Even within Iwagakure's special forces, he was highly respected, but these outsiders showed him no respect.
However, sensing the aura these people emitted, a hint of wariness flashed in Gari's eyes.
These people were no weaker than him.
Although he wasn't afraid, for the sake of the bigger picture, Gari swallowed his anger.
"Hmph, no need for you to remind me." Gari turned around, raised his right hand, and beckoned. "The objective is to breach Sunagakure's gate from the inside. Speed up along the way, kill everyone who sees us, and don't give the enemy time to react."
After saying this, he leaped up, jumping from the rooftops toward Sunagakure's gate.
The others, a beat slower, also transformed into shadows, jumping onto streetlights or rooftops, advancing toward the target like ghosts.
Their speed was fast, their movements light, and they made no sound at all.
Under the cover of night, they passed by some people without being noticed, only leaving a gust of wind in their wake.
Oh, no.
They didn't even feel the wind.
Because as they passed by these people, they slit their throats in passing.
By the time they felt the wind, they had already lost consciousness.
The distance to Sunagakure's gate was about five kilometers.
It seemed far, but for these elite Shinobi, it was just a matter of minutes.
Soon, the small path leading up the cliff face to the gate came into view.
Everyone couldn't help but show slight smiles.
At that moment, someone suddenly shouted, "Captain, someone is blocking the way ahead."
Gari glanced back. The one who shouted was a Kusagakure's Shinobi, the same one who earlier said that twenty guards had been pulled from Sunagakure's gate.
He was a Sensor-type Shinobi.
"How many?"
"One."
"Pfft!" Gari couldn't help but laugh. "Speed up, kill them when we charge past."
No one replied, but they all sped up in unison, as if bursting into action in battle. In the blink of an eye, they arrived at the path.
They saw the figure standing on the path.
Because of the darkness, they couldn't make out the face, but judging from the figure, it seemed to be a youth.
"I'll handle it!"
A muscular Iwagakure's Shinobi wearing a single-sleeved vest sped up and rushed to the front.
He formed hand seals, then raised his sleeveless right arm. Hard stones seeped out from his skin, enveloping the entire right arm.
The already thick arm now became as large as a giant's.
[Earth Release: Rock Fist Technique!]
The Iwagakure's Shinobi charged like a heavy tank, the very ground trembling with his steps.
Such immense force seemed to frighten the youth into stillness, as he stood motionless on the spot.
"Die!"
The Iwagakure's Shinobi reached the youth, roaring as he swung his fist down.
The force was so great that the air whistled, making a sound like waves crashing.
That was the sound of the air being punched.
Facing this terrifyingly powerful strike, the youth merely raised his left hand.
Thud!
A ring of air waves spread from where the fists collided.
That seemingly unstoppable strike came to a halt before the youth.
The Iwagakure's Shinobi's eyes widened, as if unable to believe what had happened.
The youth's figure was slender, his arm about as thick as a bamboo pole.
With such a body, such an arm… how could he possibly block the forceful punch of a stone arm as thick as a basketball, aided by the momentum of a charge, simply by raising his right hand?
"The strength is quite impressive!"
The youth's voice was very calm. Spoken in such a situation, it was hard to believe it was praise and not sarcasm.
And the youth's next actions proved this point.
He grabbed the Iwagakure's Shinobi's stone arm and squeezed hard. The massive stones enveloping the arm cracked and scattered to the ground.
Then, with a light toss, he threw the over-100-kilogram man flying away.