Snow continued to fall gently, dyeing the entire Hidden Leaf Village in pure white.
Inside the Hokage's office, a group of people gathered around the table, eating and chatting in a lively atmosphere.
Nagato and Yahiko had a bit to drink—
but Yahiko, the simple-minded one, had a terrible tolerance for alcohol. After just two sips, he started acting drunk and rowdy.
Haku sat quietly to the side, smiling as he watched the scene.
His gentle eyes reflected the snowy light outside the window, while steam curled softly from the hot tea in his hands.
Wen Lan raised his teacup and said:
"Happy New Year, everyone. In the coming year, I wish you all success in everything and happiness every day!"
"And may I win every bet!"
Tsunade shouted loudly, raising her wine glass from the side.
Everyone burst into laughter and raised their cups in response.
Their laughter echoed warmly through the room.
Outside, the falling snow seemed to absorb the warmth within, swirling lightly like dancing musical notes.
Haku took a small sip of tea, his gaze flickering faintly as he murmured softly:
"May this peace last as long as this first snowfall."
As if sensing something, Wen Lan suddenly turned to look out the window.
After a moment of thought, he said:
"I'm stepping out for a bit."
Forming hand seals, he used the Shadow Clone Technique, leaving behind a clone in the room.
His real body pushed open the door and stepped into the snow.
Cold wind carried fine flakes against his face as he walked slowly toward the Memorial Stone.
Standing before the memorial for Rin Nohara was a solitary figure—
Uchiha Obito.
He gently brushed the snow from the stone, his fingers gliding across its cold surface, leaving faint marks behind.
"Rin… I came to see you again."
His voice was so soft it was nearly swallowed by the wind and snow, yet deep within his eyes churned an obsession and pain that had never faded.
Wen Lan stood silently in the distance, not approaching.
Snow settled on his shoulders.
In that moment, silence felt heavier than words.
Longing piled up like snow—
covering the blood and fire of the past, yet unable to conceal the wound that would never heal.
Obito slowly closed his eyes.
A tear slipped past the edge of his mask, striking the snow and leaving a tiny crater.
"Do you know?" he murmured softly.
"They say the world has changed."
It sounded as though he were speaking to Rin—
and to himself.
"But I've already found a way to bring you back. Believe me.
I will create a world without pain… without war."
In the distance, a bell tolled.
The first wind of the new year swept through the forest, scattering the ashes of the past.
After finishing his vigil, Obito turned toward Wen Lan.
"The Six-Tails capture was successful. We extracted most of its chakra—the jinchūriki survived.
The Seven-Tails capture failed. She escaped.
But it seems we've caught the attention of Iwagakure. They've been asking questions about our organization."
Wen Lan nodded.
"No rush. Take it slow. I just came to check in."
He understood Ōnoki's thinking perfectly.
To the outside world, the Akatsuki was still just a mercenary group.
As long as they remained useful, the Hidden Villages would continue to exploit them—while quietly probing their strength.
Obito nodded.
"Can you let me stay here with Rin a little longer?"
"Of course," Wen Lan replied, turning to leave.
The snow continued to fall silently as his figure gradually disappeared into the storm.
Obito gazed at Rin's name on the stone once more, his fingers brushing across it again, as if trying to feel the warmth she once held.
"One day…
I will bring peace back to this world."
His voice was carried away by the cold wind—
yet the determination within it remained unshakable.
Snowflakes settled gently before the monument, reflecting the unextinguished obsession in his eyes.
Time passed like a white horse galloping past the window.
Year after year slipped by in an instant—
until the arrival of a crucial moment.
This would be the year when the events of the original story truly began.
Naruto and Sasuke had graduated.
Inside the Hokage's office, Minato Namikaze, Wen Lan, and Nara Shikaku sat together, discussing the upcoming team assignments for the new graduates.
Wen Lan glanced over the roster.
There were no major differences from the original timeline.
Naruto was still assigned to Team Seven, alongside Sasuke and Sakura.
The gears of fate began turning once more.
Kakashi Hatake remained their jonin instructor.
The difference was that Karin, Kimimaro, and Jūgo had formed another team—
led by Orochimaru.
Wen Lan chose not to interfere.
In his view, nothing here threatened the fundamental balance, so there was no need to meddle.
Meanwhile, Orochimaru had continued advancing further down the path of science.
Under Wen Lan's deliberate guidance, a technological era had quietly begun.
Televisions, communication devices, and other inventions gradually appeared throughout Konoha—constantly improving with each iteration.
Technology had begun to merge seamlessly into the daily lives of shinobi.
Through the combination of technology and chakra, Konoha had even built its first energy conversion station, transforming natural energy into civilian electricity.
Factories soon followed.
Konoha began exporting equipment across the ninja world—
and demand skyrocketed.
Even the rough-and-tumble shinobi of Kumogakure couldn't resist ordering generators.
Konoha's coffers swelled rapidly.
These days, if you were a merchant and hadn't visited Konoha, you could hardly claim to be a real businessman.
Yet more than a decade of relative peace had stirred new ambitions.
A new generation of fighters had risen in every village.
Unlike Konoha, most villages were located in regions with fewer resources.
Even with Wen Lan's overwhelming strength as a deterrent, their desire for territory and resources continued to grow.
If there was one village that remained genuinely friendly toward Konoha—
it was Kirigakure.
Through trade with the Land of the Sea, the Mist Village had prospered and maintained a stable alliance with the Hidden Leaf.
Yagura Karatachi had repeatedly sent envoys to strengthen cooperation.
Recently, he had even visited in person—
to announce his intention to step down as Mizukage and retire.
Understandable, really.
Despite his small stature, Yagura had a family.
His grandson would one day become a member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, wielding the twin blades Hiramekarei.
As for the next Mizukage, Yagura had chosen Mei Terumi.
He had been completely transparent about it, openly stating that Mei possessed dual kekkei genkai.
This honesty earned Wen Lan's respect.
Her talent and character were beyond question, and he was more than willing to support the decision.
In truth, more than strength, Yagura felt deep gratitude toward Wen Lan.
It was Wen Lan who had freed him from genjutsu, restoring his free will.
At the time, the Bloody Mist era had already begun.
Had he remained under control any longer, Kirigakure might have collapsed entirely.
Perhaps because of that debt, Yagura consistently offered favorable terms in every negotiation with Konoha.
No one knew how long that goodwill would last—
but Wen Lan understood one thing:
As long as Yagura lived, the alliance between the Mist and the Leaf would not break.
In fact, because Yagura regained control early, the Kaguya clan never rebelled.
Instead, they became loyal supporters of the Mizukage faction.
And today—
a letter had arrived from Kirigakure.
An envoy delivered an ornate parchment stamped with the swirling crest of the Mist Village.
It was an invitation.
An invitation for Konoha to attend the succession ceremony of the new Mizukage.
—------------------------------
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