"Looks like I'll need to find a place off the grid—remote enough that Orochimaru won't notice me. Otherwise… sure, I slipped away this time, but next time? I won't be so lucky."
That worry didn't last long. The Third Hokage quickly solved the problem by shipping Orochimaru off to the frontlines against Sunagakure.
The sudden reassignment happened because Tsunade's lover, Katō Dan, fell on the battlefield. Stricken with hemophobia, Tsunade withdrew from the front, leaving a vacant commander's seat. Without hesitation, Hiruzen Sarutobi deployed Orochimaru to fill the gap.
"Orochimaru, on the battlefield? Then the Battle of Kikyo Pass should be over in no time."
The details were fuzzy in Yō's memory, but he vaguely recalled that the legendary victory had indeed been under Orochimaru's command. After that battle, the Third started entertaining thoughts of stepping down, and the search for the Fourth Hokage began.
Natsume Yō originally thought Kikyo Pass would come right away. But he underestimated history—and the sheer endurance of both Konoha and Suna.
Konoha, Year 47. October.It had been ten months since that brush with Orochimaru.
With the snake gone from the village, Yō spent nearly every spare moment grinding his training—when he wasn't on missions, that is. A sliver of his time went into patching things up with Wada Chiba. Their cold war dragged for two months, mostly because Yō was constantly running ANBU missions. Orders from the shadows were absolute; disobedience meant death.
Even so, he thick-skinned his way back into her good graces. Not that he'd admit it aloud, but the bond between them wasn't as strong as before.
The village atmosphere was heavy, but at least there was one shining piece of news: Konoha crushed Sunagakure and won the war. The Battle of Kikyo Pass—forever carved into history.
Meanwhile, the Third Raikage fell against Iwagakure. His successor was forced to retreat from the Third Shinobi War to stabilize the Land of Lightning, taking pressure off Konoha.
"Already October, huh? Eleven months in this world, just like that…"
Yō sat on a rooftop across from the Hokage Building, staring blankly as thoughts churned. His mind lingered on the upcoming Battle of Kannabi Bridge.
Konoha barely had time to breathe after Kikyo Pass before Iwagakure came crashing in. With their war against the Cloud wrapped up, Ōnoki pushed his forces straight toward the Leaf.
"As expected of the most aggressive Kage… Ōnoki's vision is sharp, and his will ironclad." Yō smirked faintly. "But too bad for him—Konoha's full of monsters. And the old man Hiruzen isn't some spineless shadow. The odds are stacked against you."
After learning of the invasion, Yō wrapped up his mission and immediately requested permission from Shiei the Hawk to join the Third Great Ninja War.
There was no way Shiei could refuse. Konoha was desperate—manpower bled thin, frontlines stretched.
Years of war had shredded every great village. Only the Mist, isolated overseas, had escaped the worst. Sunagakure, Iwagakure, Kumogakure—all battered and bleeding.
The fact that Konoha was still standing tall was already a miracle. But it also explained why someone like Kakashi was promoted to jōnin so early. When the frontlines are starving for soldiers, talent gets pushed forward fast.