The Continuation of the Great War

Many surprising and unexpected news shook this whole ninja world during these past six months.

Intelligence agencies from the shinobi villages all around the world were constantly updating their old information and knowledge bases, in fear of their old information suddenly becoming outdated overnight.

One of the legendary Three Sannin, Tsunade Senju, having unanticipated hemophobia.

The assassination of the Third Kazekage by an unknown junior, who in turn got killed by another unknown junior later on the battlefield.

On the political spectrum, many strange and unexplainable things happened in the Amegakure.

The conflict between Hanzo's forces and the Akatsuki escalated, with Akatsuki seemingly gaining an upper hand now after abandoning their previous pacifistic ideology.

Then there is, an unexpected and strange new peace treaty between Konohagakure and Sunagakure, just after the latter achieved a really big and critical victory for themselves in a surprise attack on Konoha's most important base on their front.

In fact, not many people know, but these two events are somewhat connected.

After Konoha's Root force and their supreme leader, Danzo Shimura, experienced a complete fiasco at the hands of young Nagato in the Amegakure, they decided to leave that gloomy village for good and escape somewhere else.

And, after seeing that the Konoha-Suna battlefront appeared to be in dire straits for them, Danzo decided to make his appearance there next with his remaining forces.

He directly overturned the previous peaceful regime of the Tanigakure with brute force and many insidious means at his disposal.

He made the new Konoha's temporary base there, many of the Tanigakure's shinobi also joining him promptly.

After which, he triggered his previously well-hidden Root spies in the Sunagakure, dealing them more damage in that way sneakily.

Nevertheless, the peace between them wouldn't be really possible had the high-level of Suna also not desired it.

The Suna's current jonin commander, Pakura of the Scorch Release, was a very peace-loving person by nature.

She diligently advocated for peace in her home village now, always thinking about the next generation of the young Suna shinobi and their fate if the war continues.

Even the usually warmongering Lady Chiyo surprisingly also opted for peace in this situation, but no one knew what she was planning or thinking at the moment.

She usually shut herself down for days in her puppet workshop, not even going out to eat. When people looked at her, she always had those same creepy bloodshot red eyes on, losing all of her previous somewhat gentle aurae.

After coming to her village from that mission, that day, she became a totally different person. It was as if she lost all of her humanity that day, only deep anger, and hate remaining in her.

Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage, also had his own plans. He extorted many benefits from Konoha this time around, regaining all their lost territories from the previous war and much more back for signing a peace.

If he was just smartly waiting for the other big villages to exert all of their strength and then gain even more benefits from this war, later on, that remains to be seen when the time comes.

And through this many peculiar circumstances, Danzo suddenly found himself suddenly becoming the Konoha's new village hero for managing to bring them peace in such a difficult situation he found himself on in that battlefront, created by Tsunade's bad commanding before.

Him deliberately ordering spreading the rumors of his new 'remarkable' deeds and Tsunade's previous 'atrocious' commanding also helped his cause strongly.

This was his first step towards the light, leaving the dark, and the first successful step he took towards the realization of his only dream, becoming the Hokage.

Konoha villagers and the rest of the world finally knew of Danzo Shimura!

'Giving that woman info about Tsunade really wasn't a mistake!'

Danzo suddenly thought seriously while sitting on his spacious chair in his new office somewhere in the Konoha's hidden base in the Tanigakure.

His shrewd face still remained serious on the outside, but inside he was burning with excitement.

He had a real chance of becoming a Hokage now!

He had the biggest merits in this war so far, he sufficiently increased his forces here in Tanigakure, Sarutobi's official shinobi forces who were dispatched here, nearly all dead.

And not to mention that...

'I hope Orochimaru and that kid don't let me down!'

'After that final step is completed, I could truly sleep well...'

Personal strength was still the most important part of everything in a shinobi's life, he realized that simple truth a long time ago.

Achieving a real influence without having a formidable personal strength to match it, is naturally impossible in this world.

- - -

At the same time, while Danzo was being preoccupied with something else in the Tanagakure, a new startling piece of news hit the high-level of Konoha all of a sudden.

Even without Sunagakure to worry about, Konoha was still in a very bad situation currently.

They miscalculated the strength and maturity levels of the other big villages' elites.

Just five years, after the Second World Ninja War, was enough for many elites to quietly mature in the other big ninja villages, catching Konoha really by surprise.

That's why they were currently losing this war to both Iwa and Kumo gradually.

However, Kirigakure battlefront still remained unusually peaceful at the moment.

Actually, no one knew for sure what was happening in the Kirigakure right now.

Kirigakure was in a clear state of unrest ever since Konoha's White Fang killed their Third Mizukage five years ago.

Their village and country were surrounded by vast seas from all sides, and it was really hard to get any information from there.

Not to mention that their hidden village was coated in a naturally dense mist all around.

It is doubtful whether even their Daimyo knew what was really happening there at the moment.

That was until this very morning!

A sensational letter hit the Hokage's radar today.

The sender of that letter even used the Mizukage's personal stamp mark proving the authenticity of it completely.

And the letter was addressed to him personally.

After reading it, it was said that Hokage suddenly showed his most surprised face in all of his life.

He just looked in a daze in the direction of that letter for fifteen more minutes after reading it, before setting up another high-level meeting promptly.

In a secret room somewhere in the ground, down the Hokage's building.

Hokage and his two advisors were seated there.

But there was one more person sitting there.

He had two scars on the right side of his face which were probably his most noticeable feature. He also had dark hair tied up into a spiky ponytail, dark eyes as well as a goatee.

His ears were also pierced. He wore a meshed shirt underneath his flak jacket, a deerskin coat over that, and handguards.

His name was Shikaku Nara, and he was Konoha's jonin now in his early twenties.

The two advisors looked at him weirdly.

Sarutobi coughed a little and explained.

"Shikaku is a master strategist, I've called him here today to help us better understand this situation."

They nodded, and Sarutobi finally handed them the letter he got this morning.

They all had their eyes wide open once they finished reading it.

"What is the meaning of this!?"

Homura suddenly stood up and slammed his hand onto the wooden table in front of them hard.

Koharu and Shikaku also shared the same feeling.

"Are they crazy!?"

Koharu asked wondering for real, all of a sudden.

Shikaku suddenly started speaking rhetorically feeling incredulous.

"To let go of our 'hegemonic' ambitions and return to following the previous dream for peace of the Lord First Hokage?"

"Only by voluntarily suppressing our further developments will peace be truly achieved now?"

"They even want us to give up some of our territories voluntarily to restore the previous balance?"

"That makes no actual sense on so many levels that I would probably even think that this letter was forged had it not been for the Mizukage's personal stamp mark!"

"That was what I thought too, Shikaku. Why would one Mizukage write such a childish and naive letter to us at this time?"

Sarutobi also said puzzledly.

"I think I understood it a little now, Hokage."

Shikaku suddenly said after contemplating for a little.

"Say it then, Shikaku!"

Sarutobi, Koharu, and Homura all looked at him seriously and full of curiosity.

"From what I've managed to gather from this letter so far. After the untimely death of the previous Third Mizukage, the Kirigakure entered a period of civil unrest and strife."

They all nodded motioning him to continue.

"The two opposing factions were the conservatives, led by the former high-level of the Third Mizukage, and the old traditionalists. They advocated for the continuation of the old brutal Kirigakure's methods and policies."

"And the progressives, led by the new guard and other young people of Kirigakure. They advocated for changes and a more humane and civilized approach in doing things."

"In the end, progressives somehow won despite the odds not being in their favor..."

Koharu and Homura nodded, impressed by his quick and thoughtful analysis.

"As for why they sent this letter now..."

"That is actually very simple. It was just because they wanted to feel good about themselves, as many other self-righteous people like to do as well,

They wanted for it to appear like they were giving us a real chance this time around to avoid the war with them, thus closely following their own ideology and not deviating from it in that way. Even if it is only formally."

Shikaku explained confidently, effectively getting into the heads of his enemies.

Sarutobi suddenly opened his eyes wide, wasn't this what he always did in the past too?

Koharu sighed solemnly and said.

"Yes, a war with them is unavoidable too..."

Sarutobi also sighed and said somberly.

"Since it is already unavoidable, let's talk about our plans next then!"

"Shikaku..."

- - -

Somewhere on a training ground near Konoha.

Two guys and one girl were training pretty hard there. They all wore those famous Konoha's green jonin uniforms.

One of the guys had a black mask hiding his face efficiently and his hair was shining in silver color and spiky.

But, the most surprising thing about him was, in fact, his now missing left arm.

However, you can sometimes find great luck in misfortune.

That's why he was currently stronger now than he was six months ago during that faithful day.

He got two major revelations and breakthroughs directly as the result of him losing his own left arm on that dark and gloomy night before.

The other guy had a very silky and softly-colored red hair tied in a small ponytail at the back of his head falling down to his neck a little.

He also had a couple of hair strands falling over his forehead and eyes in a handsome manner.

His eyes were light purple in color and they were shining with an unknown light, unbeknownst to them before.

He now had even wider shoulders and taller frame, besides his youthful pretty boy face, he really looked like an adult body-wise now.

He was also a little stronger than before.

But not because of the so-called revelations and breakthroughs, but as the direct result of both his shinobi merits and him getting more familiar with his Adamantine Sealing Chains at this time.

After earning more shinobi merits from some of the missions he took during the last six months, he managed to exchange them for two more amazing techniques from the Konoha's database.

'Water Release: Water Dragon Jutsu!'

The user manipulates water into the shape of a dragon, which they then direct at a target. The water crashes upon the target, dealing a significant physical damage.

Ideally, users will use pre-existing bodies of water for this technique, but sufficiently skilled users can instead create the water themselves, spitting the dragon from their mouths.

The more talented the user, the greater the amount of water that the dragon can be made from.

This jutsu was also from the Tobirama Senju's signature water ninjutsu arsenal.

He learned this amazing and useful B-rank technique perfectly already.

'Flying Thunder God Technique!'

This technique doesn't even need an introduction. It was definitely one of the best jutsus from the original Naruto world in his opinion, righteously deserving its S-rank appraisal.

Flying Thunder God Technique is performed by marking a target with its technique formula.

The formula is applied after the merest touch and cannot be removed; it will remain in place even after the user has died.

Then, by entering a dimensional void, users can instantly teleport to a technique formula's location whenever they please, regardless of distance.

It's a pity that he is not really close to learning it.

Thanks to his excellent general fuinjutsu knowledge, he already managed to understand the fundamental principles of that technique. He understood the bigger picture, but he lacked the details.

In other words, he already understood the branches of that technique, but he still had to complete and understand all the individual leaves that were hanging on top of it.

And that will be a really long and tiresome process.

That technique made by the Second Hokage was so intricate and complicated that he doesn't believe that he will manage to learn it before three or four more years of hard work.

He once again realized the genius and the deep mind of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju.

Finishing up his contemplation and training for the day, he turned around and looked at Anko.

She was now nearly sixteen years old, excluding the charm of a young woman already.

She directly sat down on the ground, her pretty eyes closed and her purple hair fluttering in the wind.

All around her, in the distance, were various worn-out practice targets.

She suddenly opened her eyes, shurikens that were in her hands already started glowing blue, and all of a sudden disappeared from her hands like magic.

And, after a moment they all swiftly managed to hit right in the centers of all those practice targets in the distance, with some of them even being twenty or thirty meters apart.

"Amazing!"

Yoshi came towards her and praised her sincerely.

He is really impressed by her throwing skills, not believing that a few of his casual words towards her aiming skills before completely changed the trajectory of her shinobi growth, in a good way.

'Being so good at this without the use of the Sharingan, Anko is truly incredible.'

'No, she's even better at this than the majority of the Uchihas who train in many other things too.'

'She solely focused on this skill without wasting her time on anything else.'

"Yoshi!"She stood up and looked at Yoshi joyfully as always. As long as he doesn't tease her too hard that is.

But, before he could respond, they suddenly felt a loud bang and a crumbling sound in the distance.

A large hillock was suddenly shattered in half there, in a second.

Looking at the gaping slicing hole in the mountain, Yoshi sighed seriously.

"This Kakashi is really intense, only destroying foreign objects all day long, not caring about really important things in life at all..." Yoshi continued while looking at Anko purposely.

"...like finding a cute girlfriend for example."

"Hmh, look who talks. I don't remember you having a girlfriend either!" Anko stomped a bit and then replied a little embarrassingly, her face mildly red now.

"Some things don't have to be specified in order to be understood, duh..." Yoshi smiled teasingly while looking at her a bit meaningfully.

"Never, you fool!" Anko suddenly yelled and started running towards him angrily, but there was still a happy smile present on her face after hearing that.

'Does that mean...?' She started blushing hard while just thinking about it.

"Kakashi, help! My girl wants to kill me ~!"

Yoshi yelled from the distance while looking towards Kakashi.

"Who's that, you idiot!?"

"You, just accept it already!"

"No way!"

"Alright stop, Yoshi didn't you already notice someone is watching us?"

Kakashi shook his head and asked him seriously.

Anko also stopped and looked at Yoshi surprised and curious.

"Of course, but they're just ordinary Anbu so don't worry."

"You can come out now gentlemen," Yoshi said politely towards a particular direction in the distance.

Four masked shadows suddenly appeared in front of them.

"Lord Hokage is expecting you three, it's urgent, please come with us now!" One of them just said plainly.

"Alright, let's go then!"

Yoshi nodded and looked at Kakashi and Anko, and soon they all disappeared from that place.

- - -

Hokage looked at his newly arrived three visitors with a face full of genuine smiles.

He already realized that they are one of his most important players in the chess field.

And Yoshi was his king...

However, he first looked at Kakashi, making his face look very concerned.

"Are you better now, Kakashi? Did you familiarize yourself with this situation?"

He asked gently while looking at Kakashi's arm, his whole expression appeared sad and genuine.

'This man is simply getting better and better...'

'He truly deserves my respect...'

'... as an actor of course.'

"Yes, I'm back to my former strength and more, it's all thanks to you Lord Hokage!"

Hokage gave him and Sakumo face, not forcing Kakashi to do many hard missions during these past six months, helping him recover more quickly in that way.

"It's all thanks to your talent, Kakashi."

Sarutobi nodded and looked at Yoshi and Anko warmly next.

"How are you two today, Yoshi, Anko?"

"We're ready to help, Lord Hokage!" Yoshi replied quickly.

"That's great to hear, you're the only ones I can count on right now."

Sarutobi pretended to be a little dejected, then continued, "I hope that you understand that you're not little kids anymore. You have your own shinobi duties now to fulfill for the betterment of the whole village!"

"We understand, Lord Hokage, please say what's our mission for this time," Kakashi suddenly interjected from the side.

"Sigh... it's the assisting our forces on the Konoha-Kiri battlefront from the shadows, and ensuring the total and quick capitulation of the Kirigakure!"

"This is the S-ranked mission, I don't need to remind you how careful you'll need to be!" Sarutobi finished thoughtfully.

'Our best hope is to defeat the weakest war-torn Kirigakure first, forcing them to sign a quick peace agreement with us, and then focus on the real threats like Kumo and Iwa in the near future.'

The three of them looked really surprised and dignified.

"We understand, Lord Hokage!"

They all shouted in unison.

'Let's see how will you end up now, Mizukage...'

'You invited this on your own, remember...'

Sarutobi thought fiercely while looking at Yoshi and others secretly like he was looking at his best tools once they turned around to leave his office.

- - -

Kirigakure is the hidden village of the Land of Water. As the village of one of the Five Great Shinobi Countries, Kiri has a Kage as its leader known as the Mizukage, of which there have been four so far in its history.

Befitting its name, the village is surrounded by a thick mist, with several mountains in the background, making it difficult to find by foreigners.

Kirigakure's architecture is composed of several cylindrical buildings, with the Mizukage's office being the widest and largest. Most of the buildings have vegetation growing on their roofs.

The standard attire for Kiri shinobi revolves around a pinstriped material that the shinobi wear as bracers and greaves which merge into their sandals. Underneath this, they wear a full-black shirt and pants over which they wear the villages' standard grey flak jacket. Some also wear waist-guards.

Many Kirigakure shinobi use Water Release techniques.

Due to the village's high number of missing-nin, Kiri has a subdivision of Anbu known as hunter-nin that are specifically tasked with eliminating these defectors.

Over time, the village became infamously known as the "Village of the Bloody Mist" for a cruel reason. In the Kirigakure Academy, students wishing to graduate had to fight to the death, and only those who survived could advance to the ranks of the ninja.

However, this notorious practice was recently abolished right after the coronation of the Fourth Mizukage, Mei Terumi.

She was both the youngest and the first female Kage in the history of the world!

She is only eighteen-years-old right now, and already a Kage!

But her presence and position still weren't known to the rest of the world at the moment.

Kirigakure truly became an entirely different village under her rule, during these past six months.

The rest of the world will surely be extremely shocked once they learn about all of these changes.

Mei Terumi was currently sitting in her predominately bluey decorated office in the Mizukage's building.

She was gracefully sitting on a large chain while thinking about something and looking at the newly arrived letter in her slender hands.

After reading it, she just sighed.

'I told him, there's no way they'll take us seriously...'

'But this Konoha is really arrogant now, who do they think they are?'

'Do they really think that they can go against Iwa, Kumo, and my own Kiri at the same time?'

'Ryoto was really right, they're the biggest obstacle for world peace!'

As a young girl around the age of nine, Mei had to endure Kirigakure's brutal academy graduation ritual,

Living through the dark days of the Village of the Bloody Mist, she had fought drenched in the blood of others and her own, all for the sake of the village,

For the sake of the future generations, so that they don't have to live through that torture themselves,

And thanks to that amazing guy from the Land of Iron, she gradually began to fight for power and even win in the end, saving this whole tragic village in the process.

But, now changing her own village for the better wasn't enough, she now wants to help Ryoto change the whole world for the better as well,

And, just when she was thinking about all of that, the guy in question suddenly opened the door of her office nonchalantly and entered directly inside.

The guy looked really handsome and elegant, even though he wasn't wearing any expensive clothes at the moment, his whole temperament looked extremely fresh and clean.

He looked like he was around seventeen years old at the time.

He had those particular, sharp like swords, eyebrows, crystal brown eyes, and dark green long hair floating to his back freely.

He also wore a green nicely designed samurai kimono, covering his whole body to his knees.

There was an exceptional sword hanging from his waist as well.

Every step he took appeared to be very sharp and decisive.

Looking at Mei's difficult expression, his sword-like brows furrowed slightly, and he opened his mouth suddenly, "They disagreed?"

"Yes..." She replied and sighed softly.

Ryoto changed his face a little but soon regained his composure back, his gaze turning sharp now.

"Then, the war it is!"

"I'm ready to fight and put my life on the line for my ideals!"

"And those seven guys aren't vegetarians either!"

"We'll openly make them accept our peace on the battlefield then!"

Ryoto firmly followed the philosophy and the ideals of the late Hashirama Senju and other people like him.

That is a sincere wish for global peace, but peace achieved through talking, equality, empathy, and not through the weapons and wars, only using it when it's necessary against heinous people.

He deeply believed in humanity's ability to empathize and feel love instead of hate.

He thought that the majority of people weren't naturally violent and hateful by nature, but that only a small minority of the other more greedy people manipulate them from the shadows into fighting one another, and then profiting on their destruction and conflicts.

He looked through the window of the spacious office in a daze, not realizing that the young woman in the office with him, now looked at his back really affectionately and warmly.

Her eyes sparkling, and her cheeks even blushing a little.