The death of the Third Kazekage sent shockwaves through the shinobi world like a rogue Chidori in a lightning storm.
It wasn't just a headline—it was a declaration. A warning. A potential war cry.
Word traveled fast. Faster than ANBU on caffeine.
And when it reached the other Great Villages?
Well… things got complicated.
Iwagakure — The Village Hidden in the Stones
Nestled in jagged mountains and carved out of pure stubbornness, Iwagakure looked like it was forged by angry architects.
Inside the stone-walled council room, the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, sat like a disgruntled paperweight with authority.
A breathless chunin burst in, scroll in hand, sweat on his brow.
Ōnoki opened the message, read for two seconds… then scowled so hard the scroll looked guilty.
"What?! The Third Kazekage is dead?!"
His voice cracked through the chamber like a landslide. The poor messenger stiffened.
Ōnoki didn't blink. "Who did it?"
"No names, sir," the chunin said carefully. "But… the source is reliable."
Ōnoki grunted. That meant either Konoha was involved… or someone just made a very loud entrance into the international bingo book.
"Gather the council," he barked. "I want eyes in Suna yesterday."
The ninja saluted. "Yes, Lord Tsuchikage!"
As the doors slammed shut, a grin crept onto Ōnoki's weathered face. Not the happy kind. The 'let's be opportunistic bastards' kind.
"If this is true… maybe it's time to turn Sunagakure's tragedy into our business opportunity."
Kumogakure — The Village Hidden in the Clouds
Lightning cracked across the peaks of Kumo as the Fourth Raikage, A, erupted like a one-man thunderstorm.
"What did you just say?!"
He loomed over his desk—which looked like it had five seconds left to live.
Samui, ever the definition of unbothered, stood before him. Calm. Collected. Perfect hair.
"It's confirmed," she said smoothly. "The Third Kazekage is dead."
A's fists clenched, knuckles cracking like thunder.
"Who the hell has the guts to kill a Kage?!"
"We don't know. Yet." Samui tilted her head. "But whether it's true or not… it's a golden opening."
A narrowed his eyes. "You're saying we make a move?"
Samui nodded. "Konoha's still recovering from the Nine-Tails mess. Their Hokage's aging, and their forces are spread thin. If we… suggest Konoha's behind the Kazekage's death, maybe Suna takes the bait."
A's expression slowly turned from rage to strategy.
"Let Suna start the war… and we swoop in after Konoha's taken a beating."
Samui smirked. "Exactly."
A slammed his fist on the desk in excitement. It exploded into splinters.
Samui blinked, wiped a speck of dust off her shoulder.
"I'll send a recon team," she added dryly. "And maybe a carpenter."
Kirigakure — The Village Hidden in the Mist
Fog slithered through the silent halls of Kiri, swallowing the buildings in ghostly mist.
The Third Mizukage sat alone, a scroll laid out before him, a teacup untouched at his side.
He read the news slowly. Then again. Then smiled.
A small, quiet smile. The kind that made your ANBU uncomfortable.
"So… the Third Kazekage has fallen."
He stood, the fog curling around his feet like a loyal hound.
"Let the other villages scramble. Let them bark and bite."
He walked to the window, peering into the mist like it held answers.
"When they've all exhausted themselves… we move."
He turned, voice soft but sharp.
"Send a team to Sunagakure. Quietly. And prepare the bloodline units."
His assistant, hidden in the shadows, bowed.
"Yes, Lord Mizukage."
The Mizukage chuckled to himself.
"Let the world forget how dangerous the Mist can be."
Sunagakure — The Village Hidden in the Sand
If tension had a temperature, it was matching the desert sun inside Suna's council chamber.
The elders glared down at the bloodied remains of a Konoha ninja recovered near the site of the Kazekage's disappearance.
"This is proof!" one elder shouted. "Konoha killed our Kazekage!"
Another slammed his fist. "We must retaliate!"
A third, calmer voice cut through the chaos.
An older man with cropped lavender-gray hair rose, eyes steely.
"Begin the selection for the Fourth Kazekage," he said. "And prepare the army."
The room fell silent at the weight of his tone.
"We march on Konoha."
There were no objections. Only war drums echoing in their minds.
And so…
As night fell, the shadows moved.
Scouting teams vanished into the dark, banners were prepped, and whispers of war crept into every corner of the Five Great Nations.
Some moved for revenge. Others for power. And a few just wanted to watch the world catch fire.
The balance was breaking.
All because one man died.
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