The streets of Konoha were still filled with the cries of street vendors.
Ninja and civilians alike went about their daily routines as usual, heading into the marketplace to purchase their necessities.
However, despite this seemingly ordinary scene, the tense and chilling atmosphere in the village could not be concealed.
Many shopkeepers had noticed that a number of familiar faces—those who usually dropped by their stalls—had not shown up for several days.
At night, the few insomniacs who couldn't sleep would occasionally catch a glimpse, through their windows, of shadowy figures darting across rooftops—members of the Anbu, moving swiftly and silently.
The last time such a scene appeared in the village was right before the outbreak of the Third Great Ninja War.
The Police Force had increased its patrol frequency, and the Internal Affairs Division had begun another round of purges against suspected traitors.
Several rogue shinobi not belonging to the Ninja Alliance had already been captured and thrown into prison, where they were subjected to harsh interrogation.
The other four major hidden villages had all received Konoha's notification of military action.
Konoha was declaring war on the Land of Snow.
For such a small nation located on the edge of the map, the other major hidden villages didn't pay it much attention. Especially after learning that the Land of Snow might be collaborating with the Akatsuki, they readily gave their unconditional support to Konoha's decision.
As for military assistance, only Sunagakure directly inquired whether Konoha needed reinforcements. The other hidden villages remained indifferent, pretending it wasn't their concern.
Takeshi didn't stand on ceremony—he directly requested that Sunagakure send forces to protect Konoha's supply routes.
After all, the most convenient route to attack the Land of Snow was to cross through the northern regions of the Land of Wind.
Having Sunagakure shinobi guard the supply lines would save Konoha a great deal of manpower that could instead be focused on defending against the Akatsuki.
Pakura readily agreed.
Three days later, once Konoha's troops and supplies were fully assembled, the village leadership immediately issued a formal declaration of war—approved long ago by the Feudal Lord—against the Land of Snow.
The stated purpose was to "restore the rightful heir to the throne, Kazahana Koyuki."
In the declaration, Konoha condemned Kazahana Dotō's crimes of usurpation, describing him as a ruthless demon who persecuted his own niece in pursuit of the crown.
Of course, Dotō had indeed done such things—Konoha had simply exaggerated a few details for dramatic effect.
Regardless, the declaration of war instantly enraged Kazahana Dotō.
Reading the accusations detailing his "inhuman acts," the schemer finally lost his composure.
"Defamation—utter defamation! What do they mean I lusted after Koyuki's beauty? She was a child when her father died! And what's this nonsense about me liking to eat raw human brains—who the hell eats that crap?!"
Dotō tore the proclamation into shreds, his face red with fury.
"Damn it! Attack them! Attack those shameless bastards from Konoha!"
The Land of Snow quickly mobilized its army, sending wave after wave of troops toward the borders.
Their most elite robotic corps, however, remained stationed in the capital—held back as a hidden trump card.
"The Land of Snow's terrain is treacherous and its climate severe. We must end this swiftly, or our logistics will suffer badly,"
Jiraiya said, standing before a massive war map, analyzing the region's geography.
Konoha had dispatched two thousand shinobi for this campaign.
Jiraiya, with his rich combat and leadership experience, served as the commanding general.
As Hokage, Takeshi's duty was to serve as the vanguard—piercing the enemy lines and opening the path for Konoha's main force.
"Once we seize the Kazahana Castle, the Land of Snow will hear its death knell."
"I understand," Takeshi replied immediately, catching Jiraiya's meaning.
That very afternoon, the snow shinobi stationed at Kazahana Castle witnessed—for the first time in their lives—the devastating sight of a Tailed Beast Bomb.
Worried that the castle might possess some kind of unknown defensive technology, Takeshi unleashed three Tailed Beast Bombs in succession, obliterating the Land of Snow's primary stronghold in a storm of ice and fire.
Through this breach, Konoha's ninja poured into the Land of Snow's heartland.
Before the snow shinobi could even organize a defense, Konoha's forces had already surrounded and isolated their scattered divisions along the roads.
Though it was Konoha's first overseas expedition, Jiraiya's command was masterful—swiftly capturing major towns with minimal losses and driving their advance straight toward the capital.
Confronted with reports of the collapsing frontlines, Kazahana Dotō could no longer afford to curse Konoha. In desperation, he summoned Gluttony, ordering him to eliminate Takeshi, and sent out his elite robotic army to temporarily slow Konoha's advance.
...
Takeshi spread his immense wings of ice, forming a massive Ice Release: Rasengan in his hand.
Below him, the snow shinobi stared up helplessly, unable to resist. They could only watch as the swirling sphere in his hand grew larger and larger.
Suddenly, three black rods shot out from the shadows toward Takeshi.
Hearing the whistle of air, Takeshi countered instantly—launching the Rasengan to deflect the rods before unfurling his icy wings to glide swiftly toward their source.
Pale skin. White eyes. Arms so long they hung past his knees.
No mistake—this was the artificial human that Kakashi had once encountered: Gluttony.
"So, you're the Fifth Hokage?"
Gluttony eyed Takeshi up and down, his tone beastlike.
Takeshi didn't answer. Instead, he flicked a Flying Thunder God kunai at him.
"Flying Thunder God: Frostwing Waltz."
It was Takeshi's latest technique—combining rapid teleportation with simultaneous strikes from his frost wings.
The battlefield shook with violent collisions.
Gluttony raised his arms, moving so fast he actually matched Takeshi's teleportation speed—blocking blow after blow.
His body, too, carried traces of the Ōtsutsuki bloodline. He was strong enough to clash barehanded against Takeshi's Ice Release wings.
Their fists met head-on—the impact forcing Takeshi back several steps.
Spotting the opening, Gluttony hurled more black rods at him.
A wall of ice surged up, blocking the attack.
Using the cover, Takeshi clasped his hands together, gathering natural energy.
Gluttony leapt into the air, flinging more rods down toward him.
"Ice Crystal Realm Technique!"
Realizing Gluttony's angle of attack, Takeshi changed his hand signs mid-motion, summoning countless icy spikes that shot skyward, intercepting the projectiles.
The spikes pierced into Gluttony's body—but instead of wounding him, they merely pushed him upward, unable to pierce his toughened flesh.
"Ice Release: Descent of the Snow Maiden."
A dense white mist spread across the battlefield.
When Gluttony landed, he was instantly engulfed by the icy fog—a frost so cold it could destroy internal organs.
Activating his Byakugan, he scanned for Takeshi's presence.
As for the mist, he didn't consider it dangerous—his enhanced body could easily endure something like this.
That was until blood began to pour from his mouth.
Only then did he realize he had underestimated the damage this freezing mist was inflicting on him.