With Konoha stationing 7,000 shinobi at the border, Tsuchikage Ōnoki had no choice but to personally lead the reinforcements.
Although the two sides had entered a military standoff, no casualties had yet been recorded. Until a clear order to engage was given, even if scouting teams from both sides crossed paths, they would quietly retreat to avoid combat.
Ōnoki's temporary command post was set up in the Daimyō's mansion in the Land of Grass. The Daimyō himself had been forcibly relocated to the rear courtyard under "protection," though he carried a clear sense of resentment.
"Konoha's power is undeniable. They've sent almost a hundred jōnin this time," said Kitsuchi as he studied the latest intelligence report.
Both sides claimed to have 7,000 troops, but Iwagakure's forces were padded with many lower-level shinobi. Yet, this didn't mean Iwagakure was weak. After enduring three Shinobi Wars, they had managed to mobilize 7,000 shinobi without weakening their border defenses—something even Kumogakure couldn't do at the moment. Other villages were in even worse shape.
"Jōnin are nothing. You've never seen Konoha in its prime," Ōnoki said, his face shadowed with old memories and a trace of bitterness.
"Iwagakure has fallen behind in some respects… I miss my old rival. I made a mistake this time."
Ōnoki hadn't expected the situation to escalate this severely. If the Third Hokage had still been in charge, negotiations would have already begun. Sarutobi wouldn't have let things get this tense.
"So, what now? If this standoff drags on, it'll drain us. And if war breaks out…" Kitsuchi trailed off.
Ōnoki sighed. "Send someone to contact Konoha. Open negotiations."
Kitsuchi blinked in surprise. His father was famously stubborn. Was it old age catching up?
"Old man…" Kitsuchi began, trying to offer reassurance.
But Ōnoki cut him off. "Also, send a message to Kumogakure. Let them know we'll tie up Konoha's main forces here in the Land of Grass."
Kitsuchi swallowed the words he had been about to say.
"Still the same old man…"
Over the next ten days, the two sides held three rounds of negotiations—none of which went anywhere. Neither side's high-ranking forces made an appearance, and the envoys merely hurled accusations back and forth about violating the Land of Grass's sovereignty. No meaningful progress was made.
Then, Uchiha Fugaku ordered Konoha's forces to advance 50 kilometers deeper into the Land of Grass, establishing new camps.
This move drew fierce condemnation from Iwagakure's envoys and officials from the Land of Grass.
But it changed nothing.
"You're invading the Land of Grass!" the Iwa envoy barked.
"Konoha has every right to ensure the stability and sovereignty of the lands bordering the Land of Fire," Nara Senkei retorted coldly. "Iwagakure has invaded the Land of Grass and posed a grave threat to the Land of Fire's borders. Konoha is simply making the necessary defensive deployments."
Senkei was having the time of his life—assertive, bold, and not at all concerned about decorum. Best of all, Iwagakure had no way to shut him down.
"We haven't invaded…" muttered an official from the Land of Grass.
Before he could finish, Senkei declared,
"No need to worry. With Konoha here, no one will invade the Land of Grass!" His righteous tone effectively ended the meeting.
As the distance between the two forces shrank, chance encounters became more frequent.
Even though both Ōnoki and Fugaku had strictly forbidden their shinobi from making the first move, old grudges from the Third Shinobi War weren't so easily suppressed.
In just two weeks, there were six small skirmishes.
Iwagakure had two fatalities and six injuries. Konoha lost one shinobi and had five injured.
The two sides handled these incidents very differently. Iwagakure suppressed all information about the clashes, while Fugaku made them public, riling up Konoha's forces. The clamor for battle among Konoha's jōnin grew louder with each passing day.
Fugaku responded by ordering another advance—this time 100 kilometers deeper into the Land of Grass, placing the two forces in a true standoff. At that point, even if either side wanted to withdraw, it would depend on the other's willingness.
Ōnoki now realized Konoha wasn't bluffing. They were genuinely prepared for war.
Even though he had suppressed rumors within his camp, they were spreading like wildfire. If this dragged on, morale would collapse before the first battle even began.
Yet war wasn't an option. Iwagakure couldn't face Konoha alone. Until Kumogakure or another village joined the conflict, Iwagakure had to avoid making the first move.
"Kitsuchi, you'll handle the negotiations yourself. Stall as long as you can. If there's no other choice… agree to their terms."
After Kitsuchi left, Ōnoki gazed toward Iwagakure, sighing softly. His figure seemed to shrink, as though he had aged several more years in mere moments.
"I wonder if I'll live to see Konoha's downfall again…"
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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