Konoha Village was already a picture of decline.
Most of the houses had collapsed, the streets were broken, and especially the three huge, disaster-like pits in the center of the village, all proclaiming the disaster that had befallen this village.
Every villager and Ninja walking on the streets of Konoha looked lifeless, with none of the cheerful atmosphere of the past.
So much time had passed, yet Konoha had not recovered from the damage caused by Naruto.
Or rather, they simply hadn't been given time to recover and rebuild.
Not long after the news of the attack on Konoha spread, Sand Village directly declared war on Konoha.
Tsunade, who had just taken office, had barely taken over the position of Hokage and hadn't had time to appease the villagers before she had to immediately start preparing to deploy troops to the border of Konoha.
The once invincible Konoha Village, which could fight four opponents alone, now seemed somewhat strained even against just Sand Village.
Inside the Hokage Building.
The Fifth Hokage Tsunade was sitting in her seat, expressionlessly reading the intelligence that had just been sent from the front lines.
No matter what kind of intelligence she saw, it was difficult for her expression to show any emotional fluctuations anymore.
This was not calmness, but numbness.
She had only been Hokage for a little over a month, but it felt like decades had passed. She was in a state of constant anxiety every day, with various reports of defeats from the front lines, especially since the Fourth Kazekage had personally gone to the front lines.
Inside Konoha Village, there were also all kinds of people causing trouble every day, and she had to find a way to deal with these troublemaking commoners.
She already wanted to give up, as this was originally a mess.
There was no way to win.
"Sigh—"
Tsunade couldn't help but sigh, put down the documents in her hand, and rubbed her aching temples.
Knock, knock, knock—
At this moment, a knock sounded on the door.
An Anbu Ninja walked in.
When Tsunade saw the person, her eyes couldn't help but brighten slightly, and she asked.
"Is there any news from Jiraiya?"
The deadline Tsunade had given Jiraiya was seven days, and today was exactly the seventh day. If good news could come, Konoha could breathe a little easier.
The Anbu Ninja immediately knelt down on one knee to Tsunade and replied lifelessly.
"Hokage-sama, we have not received any news from Jiraiya-sama, but scouts on the border of the Land of Fire have brought back a piece of intelligence."
"Five days ago, a very unusual tsunami occurred in the sea area between the Land of Fire and the Land of Water, suspected to have been caused by a battle between Ninja. At the same time, boatmen said they saw Jiraiya-sama set sail with several Hidden Mist Ninja on that day..."
Crack!
The Anbu Ninja didn't finish speaking, but Tsunade had already understood the meaning. Her fist clenched subconsciously, making a crisp sound.
The slight light that had appeared in her eyes disappeared again, and she said with a grim face, "You may leave. Any information about Jiraiya must be reported to me in a timely manner."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
The Anbu Ninja responded and left.
Tsunade didn't think Jiraiya and Kakashi were in trouble.
She knew Jiraiya's strength very well, and with the elite Jonin Kakashi assisting him, no one could stop them if they wanted to escape.
But in that case, the Hidden Mist Village probably couldn't be counted on.
"Someone!" Tsunade called out.
"Hokage-sama."
Another Anbu Ninja appeared in the office.
"Go and invite Advisor Hiashi over."
"Yes!" The Anbu Ninja disappeared.
Since the Utatane Clan and Mitokado Clan's territories were destroyed, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura had become somewhat crazy, and they had been removed from their positions as advisors, replaced by Hyuga Hiashi, the head of Konoha's largest Shinobi Clan.
The Anbu Ninja quickly found Hyuga Hiashi patrolling the streets. After the Uchiha were gone, the Anbu's manpower was also insufficient, so the Hyuga Clan re-established the Konoha Military Police Force.
Although the Hyuga Clan liked to do their own thing at home, at least they were honest, and now the Hyuga could be said to be the true number one clan in Konoha, and only the Hyuga could produce so many people.
After receiving the message, Hyuga Hiashi immediately headed towards the Hokage Building.
"Hokage-sama."
Hyuga Hiashi bowed slightly to Tsunade and then sat down to the side.
Tsunade didn't beat around the bush and said directly, "The Cloud Village and Hidden Stone Village have simultaneously declared war on Konoha."
Hyuga Hiashi's expression changed, but he didn't react too much, as it was something he had expected.
"Hokage-sama, how is Lord Jiraiya's mission?"
Tsunade simply shook her head, the meaning was self-evident.
"This... then what are Hokage-sama's plans? The Hyuga are willing to support with the entire clan."
Hyuga Hiashi then asked. He wasn't a very strategic person. Tsunade was willing to let him be the advisor because she wanted the support of the Hyuga Clan behind him.
The Hyuga Clan had never participated in political struggles in the past, but now, as the most completely preserved Shinobi Clan in Konoha, if they continued as before, it was estimated that the inside of Konoha would target them first.
"Seal the village!"
Tsunade directly stated her decision.
If Jiraiya failed to secure the help of the Hidden Mist Village, Konoha would choose to enter a closed state like the Hidden Mist.
Only the main body of the village would be preserved, and a barrier would be set up outside the village, prohibiting anyone from entering or leaving.
And this would mean that Konoha completely abandoned its share of Ninja missions, as well as all the village's interests outside.
But this would also allow Konoha to recuperate properly. Without carrying out missions, there would be no Ninja sacrifices, and in this way, the number of Ninjas could slowly recover over time.
Moreover, with Konoha's good ecological environment, self-sufficiency was entirely possible.
And when Konoha gives up all economic benefits outside the village, the other Ninja villages will naturally give up the idea of continuing to attack Konoha, after all, war will no longer bring any economic benefits.
The purpose of Ninja village wars has always been only economic interests, not land. Even if the other four major Ninja villages really fought into Konoha, what could they do? In the end, it would only be for that little bit of mission share and some money.
After getting the desired benefits, they can only choose to withdraw their troops. After all, the Feudal Lords will not allow Ninja villages from other countries to be stationed on their territory.
The Shinobi World War is just a war between Ninja villages. If they dare to occupy the territory of other villages, the nature will be different. After all, the Feudal Lords of the Five Great Nations are, in a sense, on the same side.
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