"From now on, you can call me Teacher Aoshi."
As he spoke, Aoshi stepped forward and gently reached out, rubbing Terumī Mei's small head in a casual, natural gesture.
Then, without any delay, he activated Medical Ninjutsu on her injured right arm.
A soft burst of green light bloomed around his palm.
Terumī Mei felt warmth surge through her arm, followed by a tingling sensation that quickly spread. In the blink of an eye, all pain vanished, and her arm felt lighter than it ever had before.
[Treatment of Terumī Mei complete. Reward obtained: one Blue Orb.]
[Congratulations, you have obtained 100 points of Chakra.]
Aoshi glanced at Terumī Mei, unsurprised by the result.
After all, she had only just graduated from the Ninja Academy. Even with two Bloodline Limits, her current combat power was at most at the level of a Special Jonin.
"Thank you, Teacher Aoshi!"
Terumī Mei smiled brightly, lifting and moving her right arm again and again, her expression filled with joy.
Not only had her injury been completely healed, but she had also successfully become Aoshi's disciple—far more smoothly than she had dared to hope.
Another solid step had been taken toward the day she could finally avenge Elder Genshi.
"Since I've accepted you as my disciple," Aoshi said calmly, "I can't leave you untaught. I'll need to conduct a test first, so I can create a training plan suited to you."
As he spoke, he turned and walked toward the training ground inside the base.
Terumī Mei nodded vigorously and hurried after him.
---
Inside Konoha
Because the meeting's main purpose was simply to notify everyone to prepare for war, it ended swiftly.
Yet no one left in good spirits. On the contrary, the atmosphere was heavy, oppressive.
Although open conflict had not yet begun, everyone present understood the truth.
The very fact that such a meeting had been convened was itself a signal. War was no longer a possibility—it was an inevitability.
Even for Ninja, war was never something to welcome.
Every war, no matter who emerged victorious in the end, always came at the cost of shattered families and countless lives.
Tsunade felt this more deeply than most.
During the Second Great Ninja War, she had earned fame that shook the entire Ninja World—but she had also lost far too much.
Those losses had once driven her into complete apathy.
If she hadn't met Aoshi and been pulled back from the brink, she might still be lost in that darkness today.
Now, hearing that war was looming once again, the warmth of her recent reunion with Aoshi vanished without a trace.
Sitting at the head of the table, Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly scanned the expressions of those present before speaking in a low, heavy voice.
"None of us desire war. I am no exception."
"But the enemy will not grant us the luxury of refusal."
"To protect Konoha, we must fight—and we must stop the enemy beyond our borders."
"So I hope that once you leave this room, every one of you will be prepared to step onto the battlefield at any moment."
With that, the meeting came to an end. Everyone departed in silence, hearts weighed down by unease.
Soon, an invisible shadow of impending war spread across Konoha.
---
Hidden Cloud Village
The reaction in Kumogakure was much the same. Aside from Konoha, they were the closest Great Village to the Hidden Mist Village.
If Kirigakure truly launched a war, then beyond Konoha—the most likely target—Hidden Cloud Village could very well be next.
Sunagakure and Iwagakure, being much farther away, did not feel the same immediate pressure.
But even they began to stir.
Raikage's Office
"A mere Hidden Mist Village dares to wage war against us?! I say we strike first and wipe them out!"
The Third Raikage slammed his hand down onto the desk, lightning-like fury flashing in his eyes.
Unlike the other Four Great Shinobi Villages, Hidden Cloud Village rarely suffered from internal strife.
Their culture prized strength and combat above all else, and their overall military power was not inferior to Konoha in the slightest.
Immediately, several people raised their hands in agreement.
However, before matters could escalate, Dodai stepped forward.
"Raikage-sama, it's far more likely that the Hidden Mist Village intends to declare war on Konoha first."
"We only need to remain vigilant for now."
"When the war begins, we shouldn't rush to act in the early stages. Once the Hidden Mist and Konoha have exhausted each other to a certain degree, then we declare war on Konoha."
"At that point, Iwagakure and Sunagakure will certainly follow."
"With four Great Villages attacking at once, Konoha will absolutely be unable to endure."
The Third Raikage nodded slowly, clearly approving of Dodai's analysis.
"Good. Then we'll proceed exactly as you say."
"This time, we will defeat Konoha and become the strongest force in the Ninja World!"
With the Raikage's final decision, the entire Hidden Cloud Village began mobilizing as well.
---
Land of Rain
Rain continued to pour endlessly from the sky, as it always had.
Sunlight was a rare luxury in this country.
Ever since realizing during the Second Great Ninja War that the Land of Rain could never rise under the shadow of the Five Great Nations, Hanzō of the Salamander—the so-called Demi-god—had lost his former ambition.
The sharp, capable ruler of the past was gone. Though he hadn't completely given up, the difference was negligible.
Now, Hanzō valued only his own authority. Anyone who posed even the slightest threat to it would be mercilessly crushed.
Because of this, many Rain Ninja had grown disillusioned.
Some who once followed Hanzō left Amegakure entirely. Others, with darker intentions, turned into bandits, surviving through robbery and violence.
Their victims were, inevitably, the civilians of the Land of Rain.
Life became increasingly unbearable.
Thus, just as in the original course of events, Yahiko and his two companions spent their days tirelessly helping the people.
Fortunately, their strength was formidable enough that they had yet to encounter an enemy they could not handle.
At this very moment, they were engaged in combat with a group of Rogue Ninja.
At the same time—
A small foreign ninja unit quietly crossed into the borders of the Land of Rain. Judging by their attire and forehead protectors, they were all Kirigakure Ninja.
Leading them was a gloomy man with bandages wrapped around his head.
If Aoshi were present, he would have recognized him instantly. It was none other than Danzō.
After settling affairs within the Hidden Mist Village, Danzō had slipped away in secret and arrived in the Land of Rain.
His purpose was clear. To seek cooperation with Hanzō.
"What's happening ahead?" Danzō asked coldly.
"Danzo-sama, there's a group of Rogue Ninja robbing civilians of food. They were intercepted by three young Rain Ninja."
Though Root had been destroyed, Danzō had already rebuilt a New Root within the Hidden Mist Village.
"Do you recognize those three?" he asked.
The New Root Ninja shook his head, then described the appearance of the three Rain Ninja in detail.
As Danzō listened, his brows slowly knit together.
They sounded… familiar.
As if he had heard of them before. Suddenly, realization struck. His eyes sharpened.
"Lead the way. I want to see exactly who those three are."
The New Root Ninja did not dare refuse and immediately guided him to a high vantage point.
"Danzo-sama, look—they're over there."
Following the direction indicated, Danzō's gaze fell upon the battlefield below.
The moment he saw those three exceptionally gifted young Rain Ninja, surprise—and delight—flashed across his face.
He knew them. And that realization filled him with interest.
--
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