The air inside the command tent was thick with tension. Maps of the Land of Hot Springs and the surrounding regions were spread across the table. Lines representing troop movements snaked across the parchment like scars.
Yamanaka Inoichi stood at the center, his voice cold and emotionless.
"Old Haiquan, no one is asking the Land of Hot Springs to fight Kumogakure head-on. Your only task is to harass them—slow them down. And according to our latest predictions, Kumogakure will soon be sending forces to stop Sunagakure's advance. Once that happens, your situation will become much easier."
The wrinkles around Haiquan's eyes deepened with anger. His breath grew heavy; the veins on his temples bulged. He clenched his fists until they trembled.
He swallowed hard, forced down his fury, and bowed slightly toward Jiraiya.
"Lord Jiraiya… Land of Hot Springs Ninja—"
Before he could finish, Kurama Murakumo interjected.
"As long as the younger generations survive, the Land of Hot Springs will continue to exist. There is no need to fear annihilation. Moreover, your village has always been Konoha's most loyal ally. Konoha—will never abandon you."
The words were meant as reassurance, but even Kurama knew they sounded hollow.
Jiraiya lowered his gaze. He couldn't bring himself to meet Haiquan's eyes.
War always demanded sacrifices.
The truth was cruel: even though Jiraiya was willing to send Konoha shinobi to shield the Land of Hot Springs, the advisers strongly opposed it.
He could rouse Konoha shinobi with words of the Will of Fire. But Haiquan was not a Konoha ninja. He was not moved by the ideals of the Fire Country. Any words Jiraiya spoke now would sound like hypocrisy.
So he said nothing.
Seeing Jiraiya's silence, Haiquan felt the strength drain from his body. His expression collapsed like a deflated balloon.
Before the Konoha army marched north, the Land of Hot Springs had already evacuated all elderly, women, and children to the Land of Fire—a tradition repeated in every past Shinobi World War.
As a subordinate country of the Fire Nation, they had no choice. Once war erupted, they were forced to declare loyalty by sending their people away—hostages that ensured they would never defect to Kumogakure.
Haiquan thought of his two-year-old grandson now living far away in the Land of Fire.
He sighed quietly.
This… was the fate of small nations trapped between great powers.
They had no freedom to choose heaven or hell.
Only a destiny forced upon them.
Haiquan bowed his head in resignation.
At that moment, the tent flap burst open.
"Lord Jiraiya! Kumogakure is attacking!"
The messenger's shout shook the room.
Jiraiya clenched his fists.
The war had begun.
---
The Byakugan Sees All
"Byakugan — activate!"
The new Hyuga clan head immediately activated his dojutsu. As the clan head, his Byakugan was developed almost to the theoretical limit. From where he stood inside Kikyō Castle, he could observe everything within a five-kilometer radius in crystal clarity.
His pupils tightened.
"Konoha's front lines… are collapsing."
From the sea, Kumogakure forces charged violently toward the defensive lines. Hidden Mist shinobi advanced with them in a deadly pincer attack. The Konoha defenders were pushed back rapidly.
Three figures stood out like living calamities:
Uchiha Shisui with his blazing Mangekyo.
Yugito, transformed completely into the Two-Tails' monstrous form.
Utakata, the Six-Tails' Jinchuriki.
The three of them tore through the battlefield like living blades. Wherever they passed, Konoha's line shattered.
"Lord Jiraiya," the Hyuga head said, voice trembling, "the attackers include a Mangekyo Sharingan user, the Two-Tails Jinchuriki of Kumogakure, and the Six-Tails Jinchuriki of the Hidden Mist."
The room fell silent.
Faces turned pale.
The fear of Mangekyo Sharingan was well-known—an ocular power capable of suppressing even Tailed Beasts. And Jinchuriki needed no explanation. Each was a walking natural disaster.
Someone muttered bitterly:
"If only the First Hokage hadn't split the Tailed Beasts among the great nations…"
No one dared say it aloud, but resentment toward the First Hokage filled the room. His idealistic attempt at "balancing" the nations with Tailed Beasts had only turned future wars into bloodbaths.
The Third Shinobi World War had already cost Konoha dearly.
And now… Uchiha Shisui, once a Konoha hero, stood among their enemies.
Some glared silently at Jiraiya.
If the Third Hokage hadn't driven the Uchiha into a corner…
If Uchiha hadn't defected and joined Kumogakure…
This nightmare might never have happened.
Jiraiya grimly absorbed their unspoken accusations.
---
Kumogakure Attacks Too Soon
"That can't be right…" Jiraiya muttered. "Kumogakure shouldn't have recovered enough to attack this quickly."
Days earlier, Konoha and Kumogakure had fought to mutual exhaustion. Shikaku Nara had predicted it would take Kumogakure at least a week to recuperate before launching an effective offensive.
But now—
it had only been three days.
Shikaku stepped forward, eyes heavy with dread.
"Most likely, Sunagakure's pressure has forced Kumogakure's hand. The Fourth Raikage must be desperate. He intends to inflict maximum damage on Konoha here in the Land of Hot Springs—no matter the cost."
No one responded.
War logic among the great nations was brutal.
Low and mid-level shinobi mattered…
but they didn't decide wars.
Only Kage-level combatants could shift the tides.
In truth, Konoha had more Genin, Chunin, and Jonin than Kumogakure. They had been suppressing Kumogakure earlier—until Yugito arrived on the battlefield.
Yugito alone had turned the tide.
Her kill count even exceeded Shisui's. With only one Kage-level combatant on Konoha's side—Jiraiya—they had been forced to retreat to Kikyō Castle.
Now that the Six-Tails Jinchuriki had joined as well, Kumogakure fielded three Kage-level forces at once.
Konoha only had one.
The difference was catastrophic.
---
The Battle Plan
After a tense discussion, the commanders reached a decision:
Kikyō Castle must be defended at all costs.
If the castle fell, Kumogakure would invade the Land of Fire directly. It would be the beginning of disaster.
Luckily, Kumogakure had only sent a small elite force—perhaps due to the long-distance raid. Only four to five hundred Chunin and Jonin supported the three Kage-level attackers.
Meanwhile, Konoha had ten times that number.
With the castle's defensive terrain advantage, the battle could still be won.
If Konoha could pin down the three Kage-level enemies long enough, they could annihilate Kumogakure's mid-tier forces. Kumogakure would be forced to retreat.
Shibi Aburame stepped forward.
"I will handle the Six-Tails Jinchuriki."
Jiraiya nodded immediately. "Then I leave it to your clan."
Shikaku followed.
"My Ino–Shika–Cho trio will take the Two-Tails Jinchuriki."
Though he spoke calmly, tension flickered across his eyes.
He would never choose to face a Jinchuriki if he had any other option.
But teamwork was their strength, and this was the best match-up.
"As for Uchiha Shisui…" Jiraiya exhaled deeply. "I will face him. This time, we settle everything."
Shisui was a genius who had risen to fame during the Third Shinobi World War—known as "Body Flicker Shisui." With a Mangekyo identical to Uchiha Madara's, he possessed overwhelming combat power.
Their previous clashes had always ended inconclusively.
But today would be different.
"Murakumo, you take command of the castle defenses."
Kurama Murakumo, a seasoned veteran of the Third Shinobi World War, bowed his head. "Lord Jiraiya, I will not fail."
With that, Jiraiya leapt toward the front lines, summoning a giant toad beneath him. The battlefield shook.
---
Neji Arrives
Deep in the forest, two Konoha scouts fell abruptly from the treetops, blood spurting from their slashed throats.
A cold breeze stirred their lifeless bodies.
Standing atop a branch ten kilometers away, Neji lowered his blood-stained chakra blade. His expression was calm, almost meditative.
In the distance, the giant toad carrying Jiraiya leapt into the sky.
"So he finally moved," Neji murmured.
A familiar voice crackled through his earpiece.
"Neji, we've taken our positions. Kikyō Castle is under your control."
It was Mei Terumī.
Neji swung his wrist. The fresh blood on his blade scattered like crimson petals.
"Understood. I'll infiltrate—"
He didn't finish.
A massive serpent coiled silently on the branch behind him.
Neji narrowed his eyes.
Just then—
A shadow stepped out of the forest.
Soft footsteps.
A quiet chuckle.
"Orochimaru," Neji said flatly.
The Legendary Sannin smiled like a predator inspecting prey. "Heh… to think I'd meet the 'Cloud Star' here. How fortunate for me."
A chill swept through Neji's spine.
Something was wrong.
Orochimaru was cunning—he wouldn't attack at random.
And then—
whzzzzz!
A volley of shuriken descended behind him.
Neji twisted, chakra blade flashing, deflecting every projectile in a shower of sparks.
Orochimaru's grin widened.
"Gojū Hebi no Jutsu—Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
Several venomous snakes shot toward Neji.
Neji slammed his palms outward, and twin torrents of magnetic iron sand surged like black serpents, wrapping around Orochimaru's snakes.
"What—? Magnet Release?!" Orochimaru gasped.
But—
Poof!
A puff of white smoke erupted.
The figure transformed into a purple-haired kunoichi.
"Anko Mitarashi," Neji said calmly.
Before she could speak—
Another figure lunged toward Neji from behind.
He kicked the attacker in the stomach—sending the body flying into a tree.
Bam!
A log dropped to the ground.
"Kai—Genjutsu: Demonic Tree Binding Death," a soft voice whispered.
Kurenai Yūhi stepped forward, confidence in her eyes.
She believed she had caught him.
Anko formed quick hand seals.
"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu!"
Flames engulfed Neji.
Anko exhaled. "Was it really that easy?"
But as the fire faded—
Neji emerged unharmed, protected by a defensive layer of iron sand.
"No way… My Genjutsu…" Kurenai whispered.
Neji appeared in front of her instantly.
"How did you think I was caught?"
Kurenai struggled but could not move.
Neji leaned forward—
and bit her neck.
"You—!"
Her body trembled.
Anko watched in horror as black markings spread from Kurenai's neck.
"The… Cursed Mark?!"
She touched her own neck unconsciously.
Then she screamed:
"What is your relationship with that man?!"
But Neji was already gone.
---
Orochimaru's Return
Far away, atop Hokage Rock, Orochimaru watched the sun rise over Konoha.
Nine years had passed since he left.
Everything had changed.
Tsunade.
Hiruzen.
Even the village itself.
Only that idiot Jiraiya remained the same.
Orochimaru chuckled darkly.
"If Hiruzen-sensei could see Konoha's destruction by my hand… what expression would he wear?"
Behind him, the Sound Four and Guren appeared.
"Guren," Orochimaru said without turning, "infiltrate the Hyuga Clan. Act according to the situation."
"Yes," she answered.
"The rest of you, come with me.
Let's go greet Hiruzen-sensei."
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)