Naruto: Tenseigan Eye

Madara Uchiha had declared war on the Five Great Ninja Villages with an air of finality, yet he left a clear warning:

War or not, the Rinnegan was off-limits.

"If anything happens to my eyes," Madara had declared, "I'll destroy the Five Great Ninja Villages and the entire ninja world myself."

For anyone else, such words might have been brushed off as mere threats. But coming from Madara, no one dared to doubt his resolve. If his plan was ruined, why would he hesitate to obliterate the world?

"Damn it!"

Onoki's frustration boiled over as he stared at the empty rock where Madara had stood moments ago. He vented his anger by smashing the rock to pieces, but Madara was long gone.

The other Kage paid little attention to Onoki's outburst.

The Third Raikage, arms crossed and frowning, finally spoke. "Are we really just going to let him lead us around like this?"

The Third Raikage admitted Madara was powerful, but with the Five Great Ninja Villages united, why should they let him dictate the terms?

Shinki replied calmly, "Because someone like Madara Uchiha thrives on direct confrontation. If he's stepping into the open, it's to his advantage, and avoiding him only gives him more room to exploit us.

"This old man is as proud as he is powerful. When he steps forward, it's best to cooperate with his tempo instead of playing games with him. Otherwise, you're the one who'll end up uncomfortable."

The Third Raikage wasn't entirely satisfied with the answer, but he couldn't deny the logic behind it.

Yagura, however, raised a pressing question. "If Madara is declaring war on us, who are his forces? Is he planning to take on all five villages alone?"

The question hung in the air.

Was Madara truly planning to face the combined strength of the Five Great Ninja Villages by himself?

Shinki shook his head, addressing the unspoken question on everyone's minds. "It's hard to say, but Madara is not someone who acts without preparation. If he's declared war, it means he's confident in his resources—likely enough to rival or even surpass the elite of all our villages combined."

His words sent a chill through the group. A resurrected Madara with an army at his back was a terrifying prospect.

"Does this mean we need to mobilize our elites and concentrate them in the Land of Earth?" the Third Raikage asked, his tone skeptical. "What if he's bluffing?"

The Raikage wasn't pleased with the idea of uprooting his forces over a threat that might not materialize. Mobilizing all their elites to the Land of Earth based on Madara's word seemed too reactive.

"That's for each village to decide," Shinki said. "But Konoha isn't treating this as a joke. Unless Madara doesn't care about the Rinnegan, he won't make empty threats."

Madara wasn't one to bluff. Anyone who underestimated him did so at their peril.

The Third Kazekage, pragmatic as ever, changed the topic. "What about supplies?"

Mobilizing the ninja armies of the Five Great Villages would be a logistical nightmare. The resources required to sustain such a force would be astronomical.

Onoki's fiery demeanor instantly cooled, as if doused with cold water. Sand Village was notoriously poor, and while the Rock Village wasn't faring much better, they had managed to scrape by.

Even the Third Raikage, representing one of the wealthier villages, looked grim. Years of conflict had drained the Cloud Village's coffers.

Kiri was slightly better off, but Yagura's expression made it clear that the Mist Village couldn't shoulder the burden alone either.

All eyes turned to Shinki.

"Don't look at me like that," Shinki said, rolling his eyes. "Konoha has recovered well in recent years, but even we can't provide enough supplies to sustain the Five Great Villages in a prolonged conflict. Besides, the responsibility shouldn't fall solely on us."

The others exchanged confused glances. If not the Five Villages, then who?

Shinki leaned forward, giving them a knowing smile. "This war doesn't just concern the Five Great Ninja Villages—it affects the entire ninja world. Do you think smaller villages and nations will sit this one out?"

His words slowly sank in.

Though small countries and minor villages lacked the military strength of the Five Great Villages, many of them were wealthy. Additionally, this war would determine the fate of the entire ninja world. It was only fair that everyone contributed, whether through manpower or resources.

"Why didn't we think of that earlier?" Onoki muttered, realization dawning.

Indeed, small nations and villages had always benefited from the efforts of the Great Villages, yet they rarely shouldered any of the burden. Now, with the stakes so high, it was time for them to step up.