[Inside Ichiraku Ramen]
The place was packed today, overflowing with noise and chatter.
The entire shop was wrapped in a boiling tide of excitement.
The customers talked over one another nonstop, every conversation revolving around the war on the front lines. Every face was lit up with excitement as they enthusiastically discussed battle after battle.
"Hahaha! Did you guys hear? Our army's already pushed deep into the Land of Earth. They've been steamrolling the enemy the whole way. Every single battle's been a huge victory!"
"Everywhere our forces go, the people of the Land of Earth welcome them with open arms. Before long, Iwagakure will be enjoying the same benefits as the Land of Fire too!"
"It's all thanks to Lord Hokage Madara and Lord Tobirama's brilliant command. That's why we've been unstoppable!"
"And don't forget Lord Sasuke Sarutobi, head of the Sarutobi Clan! This battle alone made him famous in one shot. He personally tore straight through the Land of Earth's defensive line!"
Every civilian in Konoha's ramen shop was overjoyed by the constant stream of victories from the front.
Konoha's war machine was fighting abroad.
At the same time, its propaganda machine was operating at full power internally.
The nonstop reports of victory swept the civilians along, slowly dragging them into a feverish obsession with war.
At first, many of them had feared the flames of conflict. But after witnessing one victory after another, that fear had long since vanished. Instead, they grew increasingly excited, eager to see Konoha expand its territory.
After all, they weren't the ones risking their lives on the battlefield.
All they needed to do was stay in the factories producing explosive tags and kunai, continuously supplying weapons to the front lines.
"…Sigh."
Kakuzu watched all of this coldly and silently shook his head to himself.
These Konoha civilians understood nothing.
But Kakuzu knew better than anyone.
That person had already interfered in this war.
The outcome of this conflict was probably going to be far uglier than these people imagined.
"Kakuzu, what do you think of my new food item?"
Arisu walked over carrying a hamburger.
Looking at the food stacked with vegetables, meat, bread, and sauce, Kakuzu was slightly surprised.
"So this is called a hamburger? Why's it called that?"
He couldn't help asking.
Arisu smiled.
"You don't need to worry about that. Just try it first. Tell me how it tastes."
Kakuzu slowly took a bite. His eyes immediately brightened.
"Not bad. It's good."
"But how much are you planning to sell it for?"
Compared to the taste, Kakuzu cared far more about pricing.
"I'm planning to sell it for two hundred and forty ryo," Arisu answered directly.
Kakuzu's eyes widened.
"Our ramen only costs one hundred and twenty ryo a bowl. This single hamburger costs as much as two bowls of ramen?"
Arisu didn't think much of it. His hamburgers were freshly made on the spot, so naturally the price would be higher.
Besides, even a D-rank mission paid Konoha ninjas anywhere from five thousand to fifty thousand ryo.
Mission rewards.
"Well, fair enough. We're merchants after all. Merchants chase profit."
Kakuzu shrugged.
———
[Inside the Hokage's office]
"Madara, every nation is condemning us."
Tobirama Senju said while holding letters of protest sent from various countries.
Madara Uchiha looked utterly disdainful.
"Heh. Condemnation? Empty words. Once I conquer Iwagakure, all those condemnations will disappear."
"That may be true, but Madara, we still need to stay cautious and avoid pushing the other nations into actually sending troops."
Tobirama warned carefully.
"Good! If they send troops, then I'll send our frontline forces too!"
"Tell Izuna, Tennin, and the Hatake Clan leader to be ready to launch blitz attacks against them at any moment."
Madara waved his hand dismissively.
Tobirama nodded.
"By the way, hasn't Sasuke Sarutobi taken Kannabi Bridge yet?" Madara asked unhappily.
Tobirama shook his head.
"No. For some reason, a guerrilla organization from the Land of Rain called 'Akatsuki' attacked our forces."
Madara's expression darkened.
"Forget it. Tobirama, let's go. We'll drop directly into Iwagakure. You left Flying Thunder God markers there, right?"
Tobirama nodded, though he spoke with some confusion.
"My markers seem to have been discovered somehow. Strange. Does Iwagakure actually have someone with such powerful sensory abilities?"
"Doesn't matter."
Madara waved it off.
The two put on their armor, picked up their weapons, fully prepared themselves for battle.
Then vanished directly from the office.
———
[Iwagakure]
Mu stood atop a rooftop with his hands behind his back, his brows tightly furrowed.
"Although I removed all the Flying Thunder God markers, there's still no guarantee Tobirama Senju won't find a way in.", Black Zetsu spoke slowly.
"Mankind proposes, heaven disposes. We've done all we can. If they come, then I'll fight with the resolve to die here."
Mu spoke in a deep voice.
Just moments ago, Mu had used his sensory abilities and Dust Release to eliminate every Flying Thunder God marker inside Iwagakure.
Suddenly, a violent gust of wind swept through.
Mu's expression changed instantly.
"They're here! So fast!"
Black Zetsu narrowed his eyes.
"Southeast direction. Two people. Mu, prepare for battle."
Midair...
Madara Uchiha and Tobirama Senju appeared simultaneously.
Madara stood with his arms crossed, long hair dancing wildly in the wind. Clad in armor with the gunbai fan strapped to his back, he radiated an overwhelming aura that looked down upon the entire world.
Beside him stood Tobirama, his face as cold as frost, holding the Sword of the Thunder God in his hand.
A TV-original weapon. As everyone knows, this novel follows the anime continuity.
The chakra pressure released by the two of them descended over Iwagakure like an iron curtain.
———
"…So, the Kings of Konoha have arrived…"
Mu narrowed his eyes slightly. A trace of gravity flashed through them as he slowly lifted his gaze toward the sky, his entire body instinctively tensing.
"The civilians nearby have already been evacuated. Looks like they already knew we were coming and prepared thoroughly in advance."
Floating in midair, Tobirama's icy gaze swept across the deserted buildings below, where not a single person remained.
"Hmph. I, Madara Uchiha, have never been one to slaughter innocents. Since the civilians are gone, all the better. Today, I can fight to my heart's content and dance freely here!"
Madara casually grabbed the handle of the gunbai behind him. His crimson Sharingan slowly spun within his eyes, his entire body radiating arrogant dominance over all beneath heaven.
Madara was ruthless too.
He went straight for the Western style of fighting.
No nonsense.
The moment they met... He attacked.
Whoosh!
Before his words had even fully faded, Madara's figure suddenly vanished.
Only a fleeting afterimage remained where he had stood.
His speed had reached an absurd extreme.
And when he reappeared...
He was already directly behind Mu without the slightest warning.
Madara's body carried fierce winds with it as an overwhelming pressure instantly enveloped Mu.
The crimson glow in his eyes flared violently.
With a savage twist of his wrist, he swung the gunbai viciously toward Mu.
"Hah!!!"
Violent chakra erupted from the fan's surface...
"Uchiha Reflection!"
"So fast!!!"
Mu's pupils shrank violently as shock exploded inside him.
'Too fast!'
There wasn't even enough time to form a complete defense.
Mu immediately activated the extraordinary sensory abilities within his body.
At the critical moment, he forcefully twisted his body sideways, relying on ultimate reflexes to narrowly avoid the fatal blow by the slimmest margin possible.
Whoosh!
The gunbai swept past Mu's body, carrying a violent torrent of air with it.
At that exact moment...
A Flying Thunder God formula hidden on the fan suddenly lit up with a faint blue glow, and subtle spatial ripples quietly spread outward.
Mu's heart shook violently.
An overwhelming sense of fatal danger instantly flooded his entire body.
Mu stared in horror.
"There's a second stage too?!"