The Fourth Ninja World War had ended.
Konoha, Sunagakure, and Kirigakure all disbanded their joint army. Ninjas removed the shared forehead protectors worn during the war and returned to those of their own villages.
Now, as long as Uchiha Kenya did not personally ignite conflict, no one dared to recklessly start another war.
From that point of view, this was the best possible era.
It was similar to the peace after Senju Hashirama first established the ninja village system. Back then, everyone believed stability would last forever.
But Hashirama passed away after just over ten years as Hokage—and war immediately followed.
Kenya, however, was different. He was still young. Conservatively speaking, if he lived another fifty years, peace could last that long as well.
As long as Uchiha Kenya refrained from acting on his own, the ninja world could enjoy half a century of harmony.
Upon returning to Konoha, Kenya was celebrated as a hero—just like Namikaze Minato after the Third Ninja War.
Though Konoha's higher-ups still saw him as a dangerous figure to guard against, the civilians thought differently.
To them, whoever brought prosperity and protection to the village was a hero.
And today, no one embodied that role more than Uchiha Kenya.
With his return, young representatives from the other villages also arrived in Konoha.
"Teacher, please let me work under you!"
"Lord Kenya, I admire your overwhelming power! Allow me to join you!"
"Why push me? If you want to join, do it yourself…"
Among them were Temari and Suigetsu Hōzuki.
Temari looked eager and excited, while Suigetsu—holding his Decapitating Blade—looked uneasy and nervous as he faced Kenya.
These two represented the younger generation of Sunagakure and Kirigakure.
Not long after Kenya's return, whether by the will of their village elders or their own choice, they sought him out—asking to serve directly under Konoha's strongest shinobi.
To be honest, although Konoha's shinobi corps held many powerful ninjas, few were sincerely loyal to Kenya.
Veterans like Nara Shikaku and the other clan leaders respected his overwhelming strength but feared him as a potential threat to the village. Many even discouraged their children from getting too close.
But unlike them, Temari and Suigetsu seemed genuinely willing to follow Kenya.
That didn't matter much to him.
What truly caught his attention were the two sisters standing behind the group—looking almost identical.
Hyūga Hinata and Hyūga Hanabi.
With Sand and Mist representatives present, they were the only ones from Konoha's new generation.
Hinata's short hair, once cropped above her shoulders, had grown down to her neck. In less than a year, it would reach her waist again, just as it had in the original timeline.
Noticing Kenya's gaze, Hinata immediately lowered her head, too shy to meet his eyes.
But her younger sister, the bold 8-year-old Hanabi, stepped forward confidently.
"Lord Kenya! My sister and I have just become Chūnin and Genin. Father says you're Konoha's hero. We hope to work under you in the future!"
Kenya raised his eyebrows. In the original timeline, Hinata became a Chūnin around this time, but Hanabi's graduation had been less clear.
Still, her talent was undeniable. Graduating as a Genin at age eight wasn't unthinkable.
"Oh? You're the head of the Hyūga clan's daughter?"
"Yes," Hanabi nodded, utterly fearless—completely unlike Hinata, who bowed nervously at her side.
It was almost hard to tell who was the older sister and who was the younger one.
"This Hyūga Hiashi is truly shrewd…" Kenya thought to himself.
When leaders like Nara Shikaku and Yamanaka Inoichi tried to keep their children away from him, Hiashi instead pushed his two daughters toward Kenya—making them his subordinates.
It was a calculated move.
Tsunade, though still strong, was already aging. Within the next decade, it would undoubtedly be Uchiha Kenya who ruled Konoha—and perhaps the entire shinobi world.
If the Hyūga clan waited until then to show loyalty, it would be too late. By offering his daughters now, Hiashi ensured the clan's future.
"Hanabi, graduating so young is impressive. As far as I recall, only the Sannin, Hatake Kakashi, and Uchiha Itachi became shinobi earlier than you."
Kenya chuckled, walking over to her. He placed his hand gently on Hanabi's head.
"But tell me—don't you want to team up with kids your own age? You've only just become a Genin. Why rush into formal service?"
As his large hand rested on her head, he subtly used his spiritual pressure to probe her body.
Just like Hinata, Hanabi carried the purest Byakugan bloodline of the Ōtsutsuki heritage.
This child… as expected.
Kenya's gaze dimmed as his thoughts deepened.
But Hanabi wasn't intimidated. Trying her best to act mature, she answered proudly:
"I graduated early because the others were too weak! I don't want to team up with them."
"Is that so? You're quite something, Hanabi."
Kenya smiled faintly.
"Yes!" Hanabi beamed, then tugged on her sister's hand. "Sister, you should say something too. Don't let them look down on us."
Hinata's pale face turned crimson, and she struggled to speak, unable to form words.
Kenya didn't linger on the shy heiress. After a brief reassurance, he addressed the group again:
"Very well. Since you've chosen this path, I'll start by improving your strength."