Chapter 233:
The news of three major ninja villages preparing to besiege Konoha sent the village's top leaders into an uneasy silence.
While Konoha had famously stood victorious in the Third Shinobi War, fighting against multiple nations, the reality of that conflict was more fragmented than most would recall.
The war had been a series of staggered battles rather than a united assault. First, Konoha faced the Sand Village, then the Stone Village. As the Sand retreated, the Cloud Village entered the fray. After the Stone and Sand withdrew, the Mist Village joined the conflict.
It was as if the nations were taking turns, one after another, like a game of rescuing a trapped grandparent, each stepping in only after the previous one stepped back.
Most importantly, there had been no alliances between these nations. Konoha had never been forced to face three allied nations at the same time.
Even so, the toll from that war had been devastating. Konoha's resources had been stretched thin, to the point that seven- and eight-year-old children had been sent to the battlefield. It was a grim reminder of how costly the war had been.
Now, Konoha's new generation—Kakashi, Guy, and others had just started their academy years. The village was far from ready to withstand another large-scale conflict. Facing even two nations at once would be daunting, let alone three.
During the Second Shinobi World War, Konoha had only survived thanks to the heroics of figures like Hatake Sakumo and Orochimaru, as well as temporary assistance from the Cloud Village. Without those key factors, Konoha would have faced even greater losses.
This time, the other nations had made their demand clear: sacrifice Orochimaru to secure temporary peace or prepare for war that would cost tens of thousands of lives.