Fourth Shinobi World War

The beginning of the was declared by Madara Uchiha when the five Kages refused to give him the Eight-Tailed Giant Ox and the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox. Madara has stated that he will use the seven tailed beasts already captured by the Akatsuki in combating the ninja world. The Fifth Mizukage, the Fifth Kazekage, the current Raikage, the current Tsuchikage, and Mifune have agreed to form a Shinobi Alliance, pooling their resources against Madara. They intend to invite the ninja of Konohagakure into the alliance, but they do not trust the Sixth Hokage.

Years earlier, Itachi Uchiha had prevented the outbreak of a Fourth Ninja War by carrying out the Uchiha Clan Massacre. The Fourth Ninja War was also declared again by Hiruko during the third Naruto Shippūden Movie, but that declaration never came through.