Chapter 132

After receiving the news, Ohnoki and Ren began to gather their army together and head out. They had already chosen the place they would have the war.

So they headed out intending to meet the incoming army in the place they had chosen, while the ninjas of the villages gathered together and said goodbye to their families the reality that war was about to start had fully set in on the villagers.

The atmosphere of the village became heavy, war was something they knew would happen but as the possibility became reality, the villagers and even the shinobi were very worried about the future.

The truth of the matter was, once the war started they knew, that no one was safe, the people they fought with today would be the day tomorrow, and if you were really unlucky you would see your loved one die before your eyes.

That was the reality of war, something the vast majority of shinobi couldn't prepare for.

( Hours later )

Ren and Ohnoki had gathered at the gate of the village each with the army they would be leading also present.

The hidden stone currently had a total of ten thousand four hundred shinobi, which wasn't the highest number in the hidden villages, and Ren and Ohnoki couldn't mobilize all of them to participate in the war as they had to make sure the village was protected against sneak attacks.

So based on their previous arrangement, Ren took an army of three thousand to confront the combined cloud and sand army which outnumbered them three to one.

Ohnoki on the other hand would take five thousand to confront the Leaf and Mist, which had nine thousand shinobi in their combined army.

From just looking at the numbers, things weren't looking good for them, but neither Ren nor Ohnoki was worried.

" Remember the plan, hit them hard on the first encounter, they should be the laxest then, and we should really be able to do some damage to them."

" I know, this is the summoning it can only be used three times, but it will provide a strong Kage-level helper to you." says Ren as he passes a scroll to Ohnoki.

" Mhm, the time of departure is here. You should make a speech."

Ohnoki turned and looked at the shinobi before him ready to protect the village they live in and loved, he knew he was about to send a lot of them to their deaths, but he had already made his decision.

' Being a Kage is not having disregard for the lives of your shinobi, you can feel sad sending them to their deaths, but you must have the resolve to do so if it means the betterment of the village, and I truly believe doing this is for the best.'

Ohnoki thought as he began to address the shinobi present his every word filled with resolve and complete belief.

" Many of you will die in the coming days." He said causing the shinobi present to look at him shocked.

" But... Your deaths will be the foundation for something great, your deaths will have meaning, and your deaths will bring change to this village, to this country, to this world. The world has joined forces against us to destroy our homes our families, and our peace.

Left with no choice, we must protect what is ours with unstoppable might and power, we will crush all opposition and forces them all to bow before our might, many of you will die, but your sacrifice will not be in vain, the hidden stone will win this war and open an Era where the hidden stone will have everlasting peace.

SO I ASK ARE YOU AFRAID TO FIGHT??

" NO!!!!!!" The army answered.

" I ASK YOU ARE YOU AFRAID OF DEATH???"

" NO!!!!!"

" DO YOU BELIEVE THIS WAR WILL BRING CHANGE???"

" YES!!!!!"

" SHINOBI OF THE HIDDEN STONE YOU WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN, YOU ARE ALL HEROES OF THE VILLAGE, WE WILL FIGHT SHEDDING THE BLOOD OF OUR ENEMIES TO COMFORT THOSE THAT HAVE DIED AND WILL DIE, AND TO PROTECT OUR HOME!!!!!!"

" TO WAR!!!!" Ren shouted.

"TO WAR!!!!" The shinobi army answered back.

Their shout caused the ground to tremble as the shinobi army was now ready for war, bloodlust and anticipation were present instead of the previous hesitancy.

Ohnoki's speech had worked wonders, he had believed every word he said causing the shinobi army to believe as well.

Their Kage had promised them their deaths would mean something, would spark change and they believed, and for these shinobi that was enough.

As the army set out, they didn't know that everyone that participated in this war would never be forgotten, and would truly be praised as heroes who opened the new Era for many years to come.

An Era of almost true peace for the hidden stone, they would gain two nicknames through this war.

The army of peace, and the army of the reaper.