The year had turned to Konoha Year 54.
Though the Five Great Nations maintained a fragile peace, the covert skirmishes and political maneuvers between them never truly ceased—especially between the Land of Lightning and the Land of Fire.
During the Third Great Ninja War, the Fire Country had already signed peace treaties with both the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth. The Land of Water, isolated overseas and now shut off from the world, cared little about treaties either way.
But the relationship between the Land of Lightning and the Land of Fire… was far more complicated.
Back then, the A–B Combo had led an invasion force into the Fire Country, only to be intercepted halfway by Namikaze Minato's team. On the surface, the two sides fought to a draw—but in truth, A and B were the ones who'd been overwhelmed. And after the Third Raikage perished from exhaustion in battle, the Land of Lightning had no choice but to withdraw.
However, though the troops had retreated, no formal peace treaty was ever signed.
Then came the Nine-Tails Incident—Minato dead, the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki also gone. The two figures the Land of Lightning feared most had vanished overnight.
Sensing weakness, the restless Lightning Country grew bold once more.
And two years ago, in Konoha Year 52, Orochimaru defected—leaving Konoha's strength diminished yet again. To the Land of Lightning, it seemed Fire Country's military might was crumbling.
In their eyes, this was the perfect opportunity to strike.
But war between nations could never be declared on impulse.
There had to be a justification—a "righteous cause" to rally the people and send soldiers willingly to their deaths.
So, in a surprising turn, the Land of Lightning took the initiative—and proposed signing a peace treaty with the Land of Fire.
They even dispatched an official envoy delegation to Konoha.
Upon hearing the news, Hiruzen Sarutobi was overjoyed.
Danzō Shimura, on the other hand, reacted exactly as expected—by opposing him.
"Hiruzen, you can't seriously believe those muscle-headed fools from Kumogakure are coming to talk peace, can you?"
"What are you implying, Danzō?"
Danzō snorted coldly.
"Since the Fourth Raikage took power, the Land of Lightning's military budget has grown year after year—surpassing even ours! Calling them warmongers isn't exaggeration. Do you really think a village armed to the teeth came to discuss peace? More like to declare war."
Of course, Hiruzen understood. But his perspective differed greatly from Danzō's.
Danzō thrived on conflict.
The more wars Konoha fought, the more funding Root received, and the greater his influence became.
But Hiruzen—Konoha's Hokage—knew all too well how far the village's strength had declined since the Third War.
The new generation of ninja was still in training.
Even the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, Naruto, was barely three years old—far too young to fight, let alone serve as a deterrent.
Meanwhile, Kumogakure had two fully matured jinchūriki.
Especially Killer B, one half of the A–B Combo, who was said to be a perfect jinchūriki.
If the Cloud Village deployed its tailed-beast hosts in war, Konoha had no true countermeasure.
That was precisely why, deep down, Hiruzen didn't want war.
He wanted to believe the Land of Lightning's envoy had come in genuine pursuit of peace.
Danzō could read him at a glance.
"Hmph. Still as naïve as ever, Hiruzen. Fine then—let's wait and see what your 'peace talks' bring."
He stood and left.
But before he could exit, Hiruzen's voice cut through the air, cold and steady.
"Danzō. I don't want to see anyone sabotaging this negotiation. That includes Root."
"Relax. I won't act without orders."
After Danzō left, Hiruzen summoned Kakashi and assigned him to lead the envoy's security detail.
Then he called Nara Shikaku, instructing him to oversee the diplomatic reception and ceremony.
Orders were given.
And soon, all of Konoha bustled with life—like a festival was approaching.
Villagers swept streets, washed walls, hung banners; shopkeepers decorated storefronts in welcome.
The day of the envoy's arrival drew near, and the entire village radiated celebration.
Smiles filled the streets—some genuine, others arranged by the Hokage's intelligence division.
"The long years of tension are finally over," one gray-haired mother murmured tearfully as she polished a railing.
"My son can finally come home alive from the border…"
And she wasn't alone.
Many shared her feelings.
That was the real shinobi world
War always meant death.
Only the truly elite—or those with a "protagonist's blessing"—ever survived a blade through the gut.
For ordinary genin, with no talent or luck, the battlefield was nothing but a grave.
Now, at last, the light of peace seemed within reach.
Of course their families would be overjoyed.
Yet, while the village celebrated, the Hyūga Clan was having a different kind of festivity
It was Hyūga Hinata's birthday.
Yes—after the Caged Bird Incident, Hyūga Hiashi had stepped down as clan head, replacing the elder whose skull Hyūga Hizashi had smashed in with a single strike.
Hiashi became the new Grand Elder of the Hyūga Clan.
As Rokuro had once predicted, Hiashi's decision to abolish the Caged Bird Seal and publicly share the clan's secret techniques had earned him immense respect.
Thus, when his daughter's birthday came, even the current clan head—his brother Hizashi—personally attended to offer congratulations.
The two brothers, their roles reversed, now got along far better than before.
Not only they—their children, Neji and Hinata, were closer too.
Without the burden of the Caged Bird curse, Neji's heart had never darkened; it had been filled instead with the warmth of family.
At that very moment, he was sneaking into the kitchen, hand in hand with his little sister.
"Nii-san, are you sure this is okay? What if we get caught?"
Hinata peeked nervously from behind the door, keeping watch while Neji crept forward.
"Relax, Hinata. All the adults are in the hall chatting—no one's in the kitchen. Ha! Look what I found! Your birthday cake! Two layers, tons of cream! Come on!"
He grabbed her hand and pulled her over excitedly, knife in hand.
Hinata swallowed hard at the sight of the cake.
"But, Nii-san… that cake's supposed to be brought out later. Isn't it bad if we cut it now?"
"If we wait, everyone will take a piece and you'll only get a tiny slice. But now—" he grinned, "—the whole thing's yours. You want a big piece or a small one?"
Hinata hesitated for a long time… but in the end, she wanted the big one.
While the two little ones snuck bites of cake in the kitchen, far across the village—
The Lightning Country's envoy had already entered Konoha, greeted by cheering crowds.
The envoy leader stood atop his carriage, wearing a professional smile, waving to the people as if he were some touring celebrity.
After the formalities, the delegation was escorted to their lodgings.
But barely half an hour later
A dark figure burst from the compound's roof, moving swiftly through the night—Straight toward the Hyūga estate.
END OF CHAPTER
3 IN 1 - BE A MEMBER, GET 3 ONGOING STORIES!!
35 CHAPTERS AHEAD!!
Forbidden Java Jutsu - MrBehringer's Secret
👉 patreon.com/MrBehringer