Night had not yet fully receded.
Beyond the window frame, the horizon showed early signs of daybreak — a pale glimmer laced with the crisp chill unique to this hour.
Minato Namikaze opened his eyes, the faint traces of bloodshot veins showing clearly under them.
Hardly anyone had managed peaceful sleep last night.
The Hokage's declaration of war still echoed in his ears, and the images of determined ninja departing on their missions refused to leave his mind.
A tense, unusual atmosphere hung over the village.
Morning birdsong, usually vibrant, now fell silent, replaced instead by a heavy stillness broken only by subtle winds sweeping through alleyways.
Minato sat up from his bed without hesitation.
He dressed swiftly in his deep-blue ninja attire, carefully tying his forehead protector around his head.
The cold metal gave him a jolt and cleared his head.
Approaching his ninja pouch, he meticulously inspected each kunai's sharpness, each shuriken's gleam, and the dryness of explosive tags.
Each motion was deliberate, as if every second mattered.
During wartime, even the smallest oversight could prove fatal.
He looked at himself in the mirror — golden strands slightly disheveled, but those sapphire eyes remained clear, though now shaded with a gravity previously absent.
No doubt, a new mission would come soon enough.
And he was ready.
"Knock! Knock! Knock!"
Urgent, forceful rapping shattered the morning quiet.
Minato barely furrowed his brows before pulling open the door.
Standing outside was a Konoha chunin, visibly flustered, sweat beading along his brow.
"Genin Minato Namikaze."
The chunin's tone bore no room for argument — a direct order.
"All newly graduated genin must report immediately to Training Field Three!"
"There's an urgent mission to assign!"
Minato's eyes hardened.
"Understood!"
Without hesitation, he answered firmly, grabbing the scroll pack leaning against the wall and quickly following behind the messenger ninja.
Meanwhile, within the Uchiha compound,
Mikoto Uchiha was also jolted awake by a frantic knock on the door.
She nearly shot upright, heart pounding, her eyes ringed lightly from a restless night.
"Fugaku..."
She murmured softly, hoping for news about Fugaku Uchiha.
Heart fluttering between urgency and anticipation, she hurried to the door.
But the messenger ninja standing there, and that chilling command, instantly crushed her fragile hope.
"All newly graduated genin are to report immediately to Training Field Three for urgent mission assignments!"
Mikoto paled slightly.
After a brief daze, she drew in a deep breath. Her gaze, once soft with worry, gradually glazed over with icy resolve.
Stepping before the mirror, she regarded her tired reflection.
She reached out and smoothed the crease on her sleeve.
Then she changed into the attire representing her duty as a ninja, gathering her long, silky black hair up neatly.
As she tied on her forehead protector, determination replaced any lingering uncertainty or fear in her eyes.
War waits for no one — not even for love or longing.
She — Mikoto Uchiha — was a shinobi of Konoha.
Elsewhere, at Kushina Uzumaki's house.
She practically sprang out of bed as the command rang out, her long crimson hair dancing like flames.
"It finally came!"
Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and the frustration she had felt the night before—when Anbu escorted her home like some outsider—completely vanished.
Although the shadow of war unsettled her slightly, her naturally optimistic and strong-willed nature filled her more with an inexplicable thrill.
"All newly-graduated Genin must immediately assemble at Training Field Three for urgent mission assignments!"
The messenger ninja couldn't help but pause for a moment, taken aback by the fiery energy radiating from the red-haired girl in front of him.
"Understood!"
Kushina quickly tidied herself up, skillfully putting on her ninja gear.
Before the mirror, she tightened her forehead protector firmly over her bangs as if encouraging herself.
"This time, I'll definitely show everyone just how amazing I, Kushina Uzumaki, really am!"
With slight nervousness but mostly anticipation, she rushed out the door like a gust of wind.
At another mansion within the Uchiha clan compound.
Yan Uchiha sat cross-legged on the tatami mat, his eyes half-closed in meditation.
When the footsteps of the messenger ninja sounded outside the door, he slowly opened his eyes.
Those black pupils were deeper, sharper than usual—as though they could already see through everything.
When the messenger entered, he found Yan already fully dressed and seemingly waiting calmly.
"All newly-graduated Genin must immediately assemble at Training Field Three for urgent mission assignments!"
The order was delivered.
Yan simply nodded calmly in response and stood up.
His movements were steady, not a single unnecessary motion.
To the Uchiha clan, war was both a crisis and an opportunity.
Inside a modest civilian home within the village.
Rina Takeuchi left her house beneath the worried gazes of her parents.
Still somewhat inexperienced, Rina showed both the dream of being a ninja and the anxiety over war's sudden arrival right on her face.
"Rina, please be careful…"
Her mother's voice trembled with emotion.
"I will!"
Rina nodded forcefully, adjusting the forehead protector atop her head. That piece of metal seemed to lend her some strength.
She took the ninja pouch handed to her by her father and inhaled deeply.
Her eyes shimmered with a mix of nervousness and resolve.
She had truly become a ninja of Konoha now.
Konoha's marketplace, usually bustling, looked entirely different that morning.
Few people walked the streets, only occasionally passing young ninjas hurrying forward like them.
Most shops remained closed, and leaves swirled quietly in the chilly morning air.
The paths where children once chased each other joyfully now echoed only with their footsteps—some hurried, others calm.
Patrolling ninjas increased noticeably along the way. Their expressions were solemn; weapons at their waists gleamed faintly under the pale morning sun.
A suffocating tension filled the air, heavy like the calm before a storm.
Minato, Mikoto, Kushina, Yan Uchiha, Rina Takeuchi, and dozens of fellow Genin gradually arrived at Training Field Three.
The training ground, once echoing with sweat and voices, now stood strangely quiet and deserted.
The morning light filtered through the sparse leaves, casting mottled shadows on the ground and adding a solemn atmosphere.
Training posts and arrow targets stood silently in place, like mute soldiers.
A tall, stern jonin was already waiting there.
He stood straight as a pine tree, his cold expression unchanged as he crossed his arms over his chest, his eyes sharp as an eagle's.
The aura radiating from him carried a hint of iron and blood—a presence honed only after years on the battlefield.
When the young genin arrived, no one spoke; instinctively following their usual training routines, they automatically formed into neat rows.
The air was eerily silent, broken only occasionally by the rustling of clothing and the suppressed breathing of the young genin.
A tense and heavy feeling unique to the moments before battle quietly spread among them.
Minato stood at the front of the formation, his gaze calm.
He saw Kushina standing not far away, her face tightly drawn, her bright red hair gently swaying in the morning breeze. When their eyes met, Minato gave a quiet nod, letting his gaze tell her everything would be okay.
Feeling a bit better, Kushina pulled herself up and stood a little taller.
Mikoto stood beside Kushina. Her gaze searched briefly through the crowd before finally settling on Minato and Kushina; she gave a subtle nod, a look of quiet relief in her eyes.
Yan Uchiha stood alone at one side of the formation, his expression indifferent, calmly surveying everyone present—including the powerful jonin radiating oppressive energy.
Rina Takeuchi stood somewhat uneasily at the back of the ranks, secretly observing her companions—especially seniors like Minato who seemed composed and dependable.
Minato's gaze returned once again to the jonin.
What kind of mission awaited them next?
Reconnaissance? Escort duty? Or…direct support in a regional battlefield?
No matter what it was, he had to give it his all.
Not only must he complete the mission, but he also needed to protect those important to him.
Kushina's heart pounded rapidly.
Seeing Minato did bring her some peace.
But toward the unknown mission ahead, she felt both curious and subtly anxious.
As the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki (jailer of the Nine-Tailed Beast), would she be assigned some special and even more dangerous task?
She took a deep breath, trying to stay calm—though a hint of eagerness still showed in her face.
I won't lose! She wanted to prove her worth!
Time dragged on, second after second.
The atmosphere grew heavier with each passing moment.
Finally, the jonin—who had remained silent until now—took action.
He slowly raised his hand, gesturing slightly.
Though the scene was already completely silent, his gesture silenced any last whisper of sound.
He cleared his throat; though his voice wasn't loud, it reached every young genin clearly, carrying undeniable authority.
"Ahem."
His piercing gaze, almost tangible, swept slowly across the faces of every young ninja present.
Gliding over expressions filled with tension, anticipation, confusion, or forced composure.
Everyone held their breath, eyes locked on the jonin, waiting for him to announce their fates—and the missions they were about to undertake.
For a moment, the air itself seemed to still.
The jōnin's lips moved slightly, and a voice devoid of warmth or hesitation cut through the silence:
"...Next..."
He paused, his words heavy with unspoken meaning.
"You will each be assigned to a team..."
<><><><><><><><>
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
<><><><><><><><>