"Hahaha, you two really are brothers. Your brother also said the same things, you know. And I am glad Konoha has such ninjas who know that life, whether of friends or foes, is equally important. And that's why we are doing this mission."
Shisui looked toward Jiraiya as he continued.
"In our world, peace could only come from power. The moment you show weakness, everyone will jump at you to take what is yours. If we want everyone to have peace, we have to show them that we are still the strongest village without a shred of doubt," Jiraiya said.
"I understand, Jiraiya-sama," Shisui said.
"Go and take some rest as well. Tomorrow is going to be a very long day," Jiraiya said.
...
In Iwagakure, an emergency meeting was called because of a sudden report from one of their spies in Konoha.
"It is just small movement. He could only see 20 ninja moving. I don't think Konoha will underestimate us that much. According to the news from Fire capital, Fire Daimyo is going on a business trip to Kirigakure. This movement is more possible for that than anything else."
"But it is Konoha we are talking about. That old fox is too shrewd and can't be trusted at all."
"Even considering it is preparation to attack us, don't you think Konoha will be more... discrete in their movement? With their network, it wouldn't have been hard to hide movement of even 100 ninja, let alone 20."
"So what? Maybe they are actually planning on making us think the same thing and let our guard down so that they could easily build better force and attack us when we are expecting it the least." This was Kitsuchi, the commander of Iwagakure forces and one of the elders of Iwagakure. A ninja who could be considered to be on the verge of breaking into S-rank, an epitome of elite Jonin in Iwagakure. With his power and experience, his voice had quite a significant weight in the council.
All of the elders who had been discussing what to do became silent at his point, giving it some serious consideration.
"It is totally possible. For now, just activate all of our spies in Konoha even if some of them get discovered. I want to know what they are planning. Also, share this info with Kumogakure as well. If they activate their spies as well, we will be able to have a better idea of the things going around in Konoha," Onoki said.
"But sir, we will lose many of our spies in this process. It will take so much more resources and time..."
"Doesn't matter. Neither we nor Konoha want to start a war at this time period. We will have more than enough time to send more spies. At this moment, the news of Konoha's outpost being blown is widespread. With this, the nobles who were trying to form their connection with Konoha back are thinking twice on their decision.
If Konoha successfully destroys one of our outposts too, then all of that work will be for nothing and Konoha's rise will not be halted for quite some time. We have to prevent that at any cost. The lives of few spies is nothing compared to that," Onoki said, showing why he was the oldest Kage and was able to rule for so long over a great ninja village.
"I understand, Onoki-sama. I will send messages to the spies right now," Kitsuchi said.
"And we should send message to Kumogakure as well," the elders discussed.
"But first increase the security of every outpost which is on the way to any minor village. If Konoha attacks, they will choose a target which couldn't be hidden from the crowd at all," Onoki said.
"Sir, all of those outposts already have 100 plus ninjas."
"Hundred is not that big of a number, Kitsuchi. We know it better than everyone else," Onoki said, his eyes looking out of the building.
His words brought out the suppressed memory everyone present in the room had - the memory of their thousands of ninjas stopped by a single Konoha ninja, who flashed through their ranks like lightning. Then there was the memory of ten thousand ninja giving their all just to bring down a single ninja from Kumogakure. Even though he was Kage, going against ten thousand ninja alone just showed that numbers couldn't always be trusted.
It was such history why the villages can't work together. Kumo and Iwa may have joined their hands to fight against Konoha for now, but in reality, they were always worried about betrayal all of the time and have made countless contingency and backup plans for such scenarios.
Even now when Iwa contacted Kumo, the other party didn't immediately start following their lead at all.
...
A domineering figure of Raikage was sitting in the meeting hall, accompanied by many other elders, but the scene was anything but normal.
There was no shout of what they should do next, which business was going to see decline because of Konoha's rise, and all because there was a message in front of A from Iwagakure.
"I still think this is bullshit. Why would Konoha show it so openly that they are planning on attacking us? We all know they could hide this way better than this since there is no extra cooperation they are doing. This is just a normal mission according to me," C said.
"But Kitsuchi's point is valid too. What if Konoha actually does something if we become careless now?"
"They are not going to use sea, it will be too apparent and difficult, not to mention we can easily hide it. The only paths remaining are the outposts near Land of Frost. All of them are packed with shinobi. What can we do more?" Darui asked.
"Nothing. Even if I send someone like you or B, they could just target other outposts. Each of our outposts has more than 200 ninjas. If Konoha wants to attack us, they will need to send 400 ninjas at the very least.
These numbers couldn't be hidden in any case... but let's not take their advice as a joke. Activate some of our spies in Konoha, just confirm that there is no possible attack coming our way," A said, closing the scroll which was laying in front of him.
As his orders were passed, the council got to work.
...
While two villages were looking towards Konoha like hawks, Konoha was moving discretely, doing something so absurd that Hiruzen would have never agreed to this if he had not lost Danzo, because it would have been handled by him. But now that Konoha didn't have anyone to maintain the dark side of it, Hiruzen had to take command of both.
And the ninja in front of him was feeling it for the first time.
"So I will have to go with Jiraiya-sama and Shisui to Fire capital, but they will then take another mission of destroying one outpost each, and I have to stop the convoy at the Land of Hot Water till they return, and that too using our ninja as bandits?" Kakashi asked.
"Good job, I knew you were really smart," Shikaku said with a smile.
"And I thought you were as well. The journey to Land of Earth and Lightning will take too much time. How will they maintain shadow clones till then?" Kakashi asked.
"They will not. If they couldn't come back in time, the clone can just go and 'check' the bandits themselves. It will give more than enough time for them to come back," Shikaku said.
"So we are really doing this?" Kakashi asked, but this time Shikaku didn't answer him because this question was not directed at him at all.
"We have to, but don't worry it will not lead to a war... not yet," Hiruzen said, looking toward the only eye of Kakashi which was visible.
Kakashi kept on looking toward him for some time before sighing.
"As you wish, Lord Third."