Time flew by, and soon it was early December. Already a month and a half since the Nine-Tails' rampage on October 10th.
Much of Konoha's destroyed buildings had been rebuilt, and though the scars in people's hearts hadn't fully faded, they were beginning to scab over.
The dead were gone, and no matter how painful life remained, the living had to move forward.
The small-scale clashes at the front lines had left their mark on Konoha, but the village's prosperity was slowly returning.
Sunagakure, still reeling from its losses, chose not to act. It kept to itself, licking its wounds and rebuilding strength.
Iwagakure, meanwhile, made constant small provocations both openly and secretly trying to strain Konoha's ties with other villages. But its focus was clearly on Konoha and Kumogakure. At the borders, they massed troops and made repeated shows of force, hoping to intimidate and wring concessions from the Leaf.
Kirigakure was the quietest of all. Outwardly, it did nothing. But that very silence only drew Konoha's suspicion. The Hokage's advisors increased their spy networks in the Mist, activating long-hidden agents, who soon uncovered their secret moves.
On December 8, Year 51 of Konoha, the Mist dispatched a thousand elite shinobi, boarding supply-laden ships and setting sail toward the ruins of Uzushiogakure.
The Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, had never forgotten Kirigakure's humiliating losses at the end of the Third Shinobi World War.
Now, with Kumogakure having made the first move, Mist resolved to strike as well.
But they dared not declare all-out war against the Leaf, not with the risk of other villages pouncing on their weakness. Instead, they sought to test Konoha with a limited conflict, to weaken its recovery and probe its defenses.
If the Leaf faltered, they would escalate.
The Cloud's reasoning was much the same.
And if Konoha truly revealed weakness, then Cloud and Mist alongside Stone and Sand lurking in the wings would surely descend on the Leaf together, just as they had in the last war.
Even Sunagakure, nominally allied with Konoha, could not be trusted if the opportunity was too tempting.
Konoha's spies risked their lives to deliver this intelligence. Crossing seas, forests, and mountains, their message made it home in time.
The Hokage's office immediately convened a high-level council and not just the 'F4' elders, but also the heads of key departments. Normally, the Jonin Commander would be present, but he was stationed on the Kumogakure front and could not attend.
Though the position carried little formal authority, a Jonin Commander deeply trusted by the Hokage could wield immense influence.
For now, only one Uchiha had a seat at this table; the Police Force Captain, Uchiha Fugaku. Gen, as deputy, wasn't qualified.
Fugaku's presence was largely ceremonial. His only responsibilities were to maintain village security, tighten vigilance, and support the ANBU in rooting out enemy spies. But he never missed these meetings as it was his clan's only chance to take part in official village policy.
No one debated whether or not to fight. This was no great war, merely a limited campaign, and Konoha could not afford to appear weak.
The real discussion lay in how many troops to deploy, what supplies to mobilize, and most importantly who would command the front lines.
Commanding a ninja army was no simple task. Few shinobi had the strategic vision to lead thousands.
Most could only handle small units.
The name Orochimaru inevitably surfaced.
With Jiraiya and Tsunade gone from the village and unlikely to return in time, no one else was suited for the role.
Others could perhaps 'get by,' but the risks were too great without the Ino-Shika-Cho trio to support them. And if Kumogakure escalated by sending its Jinchūriki or the Raikage himself, Konoha's chances would crumble.
So, after some deliberation, Hiruzen Sarutobi gave his reluctant approval. Orochimaru was appointed supreme commander of the Whirlpool front, and a messenger was dispatched to summon him.
Orochimaru accepted without fuss. Partly because he still held some lingering attachment to Konoha, partly out of respect for his old sensei but also because the battlefield was a treasure trove of 'research material' he desperately desired.
Orders soon went out. The southeastern border forces would march to intercept the Mist in the Land of Whirlpools. Once Uzushiogakure had been Konoha's closest ally, but now the ruins would once again become a battlefield.
When Gen learned that Orochimaru would lead the campaign, he immediately understood, Orochimaru wanted him along.
Fugaku said little, only warning him to be careful before granting permission. After all, Gen's reputation from the Third War was already considerable.
The duties of Team Nine would fall to Uchiha Shin in his absence. Gen's work attitude had always been… 'relaxed,' but neither Fugaku nor the clan elders cared much.
The Police had enjoyed decades of peace; a little slacking was commonplace. Only after the Nine-Tails attack had discipline tightened again.
That evening, Gen treated his three subordinates to a meal at a restaurant, then went home to prepare. Over dinner, when he mentioned his deployment to the front, all three women immediately asked to follow him.
He refused firmly. Their duty was to grow stronger in Konoha, not risk themselves on the battlefield. Seeing his resolve, they reluctantly accepted.
Still, they couldn't help but worry. Later that night, they visited his home, leaving small charms and trinkets as protective talismans.
Gen didn't put much thought in such things, but he accepted them warmly. They weren't valuable, nor likely effective but the gesture itself made his heart lighter.
After all, he had trained them, shared advanced jutsu, and even spoiled them with the occasional meal. Though his motives weren't entirely selfless, his efforts had won their gratitude.
When they left, Gen retired early, knowing he would march at dawn.
But just as he lay down and began to drift into sleep, a thought struck him jolting him upright in an instant...