Under the cover of night, Konoha was no longer as peaceful as before. Across the village, shinobi who normally would have been away on missions were now all heading toward the central Hokage Tower.
In that kind of atmosphere, the air slowly grew chillier...
Hokage Tower.
One figure after another arrived at the base of the tower until a huge crowd had gathered.
Without exception, these people were all ninja.
The ninjas stood neatly in their designated positions. Some revealed worry upon their faces, while others whispered among themselves. But without exception, they all wore solemn expressions, appearing gloomy under tonight's dim moonlight.
On top of the Hokage Tower, more than ten figures stood spaced apart.
Shuffling footsteps!
At a certain moment, sounds of movement echoed from atop the tower.
Though such sounds would be nearly imperceptible to ordinary people, to shinobi with heightened senses, they were easily detectable.
Therefore, many ninja lifted their heads, watching as several figures appeared before everyone.
They were clearly some of Konoha's current high-ranking officials.
Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, and even Danzo, who was responsible for Root.
Among these three stood the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
These four top leaders of Konoha looked very different from usual—they were now dressed in full combat gear.
Hiruzen's expression was heavy. He swept his gaze across the gathered shinobi before speaking, "Now, I am about to announce something you likely already know."
At this, every shinobi focused their attention, holding their breath in anticipation.
"That is," the Third said gravely, "the war among the Five Great Nations has begun once again!"
Although every Konoha ninja had already known this information beforehand, when the Third officially declared it, many still visibly stiffened.
"Many years ago," he continued, "when the last Great Ninja War ended, I inherited the position and duty of the Hokage from my predecessor. He entrusted the role to me. Therefore, I, Hiruzen Sarutobi, will protect the peace of the Land of Fire and the Hidden Leaf Village at any cost—even if it costs me my life!"
"And I believe each of you, as ninjas of Konoha, shares this same resolution!"
The Third did not say much more because he believed in these shinobi whom he had watched grow up.
When he finished speaking, none of the shinobi cheered loudly, for war was never something to celebrate.
Cheering didn't equal effectiveness, and those who had already resolved themselves to die for their cause remained exceptionally calm.
Yet, the Third could already see the firm determination gathered in everyone's eyes.
"Very well… Then I hereby declare—the Second Great Ninja War has begun!"
" said Third, and before the many ninjas gathered there, each group leader had already received their respective mission.
They contacted their teammates and, without another word, turned and left.
Shua Shua Shua!
In an instant, Konoha's streets were filled with speeding ninjas, their eyes burning with intensity.
However, they did their best to avoid ordinary villagers so as not to cause panic.
The Great Ninja War was a war between ninjas, unrelated to civilians. And the ninjas of Konoha fought desperately precisely to protect common people from experiencing warfare.
But that was only relative.
For the civilians in countries turned into battlegrounds, peace and safety became mere luxuries.
Minato stood in his room, watching countless Konoha ninjas rush toward the battlefield, a heavy sigh escaping his lips.
After this war, how many among these ninjas would still be alive?
And within that small country known as the Land of Rain, how many families would be torn apart?
But due to his position, although Minato felt sorrow, he would show no mercy should he face any ninja from Amegakure on the battlefield.
It was like a question Jiraiya-sensei once posed—one he still couldn't answer. What exactly was it?
Perhaps, at its core, the very existence of the ninja system was a contradiction in itself.
...
As the many ninjas dispersed before Hokage Tower, the Uchiha clan's section on the outskirts of Konoha had already gathered all its ninja.
"As a ninja of the Uchiha clan, we must never retreat on the battlefield! Let all enemy ninja nations know: as long as the Uchiha exist within Konoha, our village is inviolable!"
The head of the Uchiha clan flared his eyes open. His originally black pupils suddenly turned crimson red, with three tomoe spinning slowly within.
Sharingan!
"Inviolable!"
Many other Uchiha ninjas did the same—their Sharingan revealed as well. Among them, those possessing triple-tomoe eyes were only a small minority; they were the true elite of the Uchiha clan.
Most possessed only single-tomoe eyes. Even so, the Uchiha clan, possessing the Sharingan, remained fearsome opponents for any nation's ninja.
At the corner of this gathering place, Yan Uchiha—who had been hiding there—clenched his fists tightly.
A flicker of surprise passed through his eyes. Yan knew about the tensions between the clan and the village, but during wartime, everyone still set aside past prejudices.
Because the Uchiha clan was also part of Konoha.
Within that crowd stood a boy around fourteen or fifteen years old, possessing a two-tomoe Sharingan. He glanced slightly toward where Yan Uchiha was hiding, then redirected his gaze forward.
"Follow me!" Soon after, dozens of Uchiha ninja followed under leadership and departed from the clan grounds, heading early into battle.
...
After the gathering concluded, the young boy earlier arrived at an estate belonging to the Uchiha clan. He walked familiarly up to a certain door, paused momentarily, then gently knocked upon the eavesill.
Splash! Splash!
The door slid open, revealing a girl with an exceptionally beautiful face, though her delicate brows were slightly furrowed at the moment.
"Fugaku Aniki?" Mikoto's voice carried surprise upon seeing the visitor, though the worries etched in her expression immediately lightened somewhat.
"Mikoto...Tomorrow I'm leaving for the battlefield, so I stopped by today to see you one last time before I go."
Fugaku Uchiha stated his purpose directly upon arrival. In truth, his only intention this time was to see the girl for a moment.
He didn't know if he'd make it back from the battlefield...
"I understand," Mikoto nodded, but her melancholy and concern couldn't be concealed.
Fugaku nodded as well before turning to leave.
"You've got to come back safe!" A female voice called out from behind him just then.
Upon hearing these words, even Fugaku's stern features couldn't help but soften slightly with a faint smile. Just these words from her were enough.
"I will! I promise!" He replied firmly without turning back, then vanished into the night.
He knew all too well that after his departure, the students from the Ninja Academy would probably graduate and be sent to the battlefield as well.
Though they're inexperienced and might only be assigned transport duties, on the battlefield… who can ever truly be safe?
"You *have* to be safe too... absolutely!"
Fugaku silently murmured in his heart. The reason he didn't tell Mikoto these things was because he wanted her to have one final peaceful night.
But still… who could possibly find peace enough to sleep tonight?
...
...(To be continued.)
<><><><><><><><>
Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!
~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** this weekend!
<><><><><><><><>
~ 100+ Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!
~ More *Free* Chapters and Books Available on Patreon!
patreon.com/Tansnovel
<><><><><><><><>