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The area was encircled by three layers of Shinobi from the Nation of Qin, their presence marked both on the ground and perched high in the towering tree branches. Clad in armor, their faces cold and unyielding, they listened intently to Qin Lin's words.
News of the events in the Uzu no Kuni (The Land of Whirlpools) had spread like wildfire, and the plight of their comrades had ignited a firestorm of anger within them. Their hearts burned with righteous fury, a collective resolve hardening in their chests.
From that day forward, the village's blacksmiths and explosive tag factories worked tirelessly, churning out vast quantities of military supplies. The Nation of Qin, as a whole, had abruptly shifted into a state of war readiness.
At the island's edges, soldiers stood vigilant around the clock, their eyes fixed on the horizon, monitoring every movement beyond their borders.
The tension was so thick it could be cut with a blade, and even those outside the nation could feel the sudden, ominous shift in the air.
In the Uzushiogakure (Hidden Village of the Whirlpools) of the Uzu no Kuni (The Land of Whirlpools), a red-haired man spoke gravely to a figure cloaked in a bamboo hat, his tone heavy with concern.
"The Nation of Qin has been mobilizing its troops frequently these past few days. This is highly unusual!"
The man with the bamboo hat responded softly, his voice calm but laced with caution. "You severely injured their envoy and drove them out of the Uzu no Kuni (The Land of Whirlpools). It's no surprise they're reacting this way." He slowly removed his hat with his right hand, revealing a stern, square-jawed face.
"The recent hunting activities of the Qin Hidden Village have left our civilians starving. Many in the village are already struggling to find food. If we don't teach them a lesson, they'll never learn restraint," the red-haired man said coldly, his eyes narrowing.
"That's true, but..." The man with the bamboo hat paused, his expression troubled. "This could easily escalate into full-blown conflict."
"Conflict?" The red-haired man scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain. "Our Uzu no Kuni (The Land of Whirlpools) is strong and well-equipped. We have no reason to fear a newly established Nation of Qin."
"Just like us, the Nation of Qin is also an ally of Konoha. Acting this way will put Konoha in an awkward position," the man with the bamboo hat countered, his tone measured.
"Then we simply won't inform Konoha. With the strength of our Uzu no Kuni (The Land of Whirlpools), we can easily resolve this conflict ourselves," the red-haired man declared confidently, his chest puffed with pride.
"You're too overconfident," the man with the bamboo hat said, shaking his head. He sighed deeply, his shoulders heavy with the weight of responsibility. "Since the Nation of Qin has already made its move, we must prepare for their retaliation."
This time, the red-haired man said nothing, silently nodding in agreement. After a moment of tense silence, he turned and left to rally others in the village.
The Uzu no Kuni (The Land of Whirlpools) was renowned worldwide for its mastery of Fūinjutsu (Sealing Techniques). Strong and well-equipped, they had even formed a marriage alliance with Konoha, cementing their status at the peak of their influence. However, this prestige had bred arrogance and a short temper among their Shinobi.
While they acknowledged the Nation of Qin, they did not take it seriously. This underestimation would soon prove to be a costly mistake.
In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed. The distance between the Nation of Qin and the Uzu no Kuni (The Land of Whirlpools) was negligible; they were practically neighbors.
As a result, the recent actions of both nations were impossible to ignore. To any observer, it was clear that the relationship between these two neighboring countries had grown dangerously strained.
War!
It was highly likely that these two nations would soon erupt into a fierce and bloody conflict.
…
In the Hokage's office in Konoha, Senju Hashirama repeatedly banged his head against the table in frustration, the rhythmic thuds echoing through the room.
"What should we do? What should we do? How could the Qin and the Uzumaki Clan come into conflict?" He groaned, his voice filled with despair.
"Hokage Sama, could you please calm down first?" Senju Tobirama said, pinching the bridge of his nose in exasperation.
"How can I calm down? Both sides are our allies!" Senju Hashirama exclaimed, nearly tearing his hair out in frustration.
"If you're going to intervene, I'm more inclined to support the Uzumaki Clan," Senju Tobirama said, his eyes narrowing with calculated intent.
"Support the Uzumaki Clan? No, that's out of the question. The Qin are our allies too," Senju Hashirama immediately countered in a firm voice.
"Then all we can do is stand back and watch. Both sides are already on the brink of war. The slightest spark could ignite a full-blown conflict," Senju Tobirama replied, shrugging and spreading his hands in resignation.
"Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!" The rhythmic sound of Hashirama's forehead hitting the table resumed, echoing his growing despair.
…
In the Mist Hidden Village, a man with golden hair and sharp, narrowed eyes stood before the Mizukage, his tone urgent.
"Mizukage Sama, I strongly advise that we begin preparing for war immediately. Based on your description of that QinKage, he's not someone to underestimate. If we exploit his conflict with the Uzumaki Clan and intervene, we can eliminate this threat once and for all."
The Mizukage, standing by the window and gazing into the distance, sighed deeply at the suggestion.
"Hōzuki Gengetsu, you are the person I value most in this village. I believe you are the most qualified to inherit my position. Your suggestion is indeed reasonable, but..."
He paused, his voice heavy with caution. "You truly do not understand the terror of that man."
Hōzuki Gengetsu was taken aback but quickly pressed on. "Mizukage Sama, no matter how strong QinKage is, he is just one man. The Uzumaki Clan is formidable, and if we join forces with them, we can swiftly crush them! If we miss this opportunity, it may never come again."
The Mizukage shook his head, his expression resolute. "This time, we will choose to observe. Let them both weaken each other, and we will reap the benefits. That is the best strategy. Remember, I am also bound by the Six Nations Agreement."
Hōzuki Gengetsu persisted, his voice rising with urgency. "Mizukage Sama, if we deploy our forces, our gains will be even greater. You've already made an enemy of that QinKage. We must seize this chance to eliminate him completely. The Nation of Water is not far from the Nation of Qin; if we act swiftly, the other four nations won't interfere. Just look at the situation now— both nations are clearly on the brink of war, yet none of the five great nations have spoken up."
He leaned forward, his tone insistent. "Mizukage Sama, you must understand that this era still carries the style of the Sengoku period— power is everything!"
The Mizukage shook his head again, waving his hand dismissively. "Leave now and order the village's guard to strengthen their vigilance. No rash actions are allowed."
Hōzuki Gengetsu wanted to argue further, but seeing the Mizukage's indifferent expression, he could only sigh deeply and turn to leave.
He understood all too well that the Nation of Qin, though small in territory, held explosive potential. If they didn't take this opportunity to weaken or eliminate them, they would undoubtedly face significant trouble in the future— trouble that could even be catastrophic.
Konoha had Senju Hashirama and wasn't afraid of such power, but their Mizukage had already experienced failure. That was the most critical point.
In the Nation of Qin, the weather was bright, with sunlight filtering through the trees and casting beams of light. Yet, despite the serene appearance, the dense forest was filled with a chilling atmosphere, thick with the tension of impending doom.
"Prepare everything. The moment there's any movement from the island across, we will mobilize immediately and charge into the Uzu no Kuni (The Land of Whirlpools)!"
The captain, clad in armor, commanded in a deep, authoritative voice.
"Your Majesty, along with the Three Generals, will ensure we are fully prepared for the initial assault. All you need to do is charge forward and seize the enemy's key routes at the first opportunity. Additionally, be sure to destroy their sealing formations—that is the most crucial task!"
(End of this chapter)