During that month, the situation in the Ninja World began to deteriorate rapidly.
Scouts from Sunagakure started appearing more and more frequently along the borders of the Land of Fire. What had once been quiet forest regions soon transformed into tense zones of constant surveillance and danger.
The long border between the two great nations slowly turned into a brutal battlefield.
Every day, countless ninja squads were dispatched to the front lines. Their missions were simple yet deadly: gather intelligence, sabotage the enemy, and eliminate opposing scouts.
These operations rarely ended peacefully.
Small groups of ninjas often encountered each other in the forests, rivers, and valleys that lined the border. When that happened, battles broke out instantly.
Most of these fights were short, violent, and deadly.
Neither side showed mercy.
Gradually, the conflict expanded beyond the border itself.
Two unfortunate nations soon became the primary battlegrounds for the growing war.
The Land of Rivers and the Land of Rain.
These small countries lay directly between powerful nations, making them natural buffers during times of conflict. Though they had not declared war themselves, the major ninja villages silently agreed to treat their territories as convenient battlefields.
For the people who lived there, it was a nightmare.
Their homes were no longer safe.
Their lands became arenas for foreign armies.
Their villages turned into ruins.
The tragedy of small nations was painfully clear.
The Land of Rain
In the Land of Rain, war spread like a disease.
This country was already known for its endless storms. Dark clouds covered the sky year-round, and cold rain fell almost constantly.
Now, alongside the rain, another thing filled the land.
Blood.
Ninjas from powerful villages roamed freely through the country.
To them, this place was simply a battlefield.
The lives of the local population meant nothing.
Whether someone was a civilian or a Rain ninja made little difference.
If they stood in the way, they died.
If they witnessed something dangerous, they died.
If they were simply unlucky enough to cross paths with a battle, they died.
Soon, it seemed as if the entire country had been dyed red with blood.
A Killing in the Rain
Outside a small wooden residence, a fierce battle was taking place.
Rain poured heavily from the dark sky above.
Two ninjas clashed violently in the muddy street.
One wore a Konoha forehead protector.
The other bore the symbol of Sunagakure.
Both were Chunin-level ninjas.
Their techniques were not overwhelmingly powerful by ninja standards, but even this level of combat was terrifying for ordinary people.
Fireballs roared through the rain.
Kunai clashed against steel.
Explosive tags detonated nearby.
For civilians, the fight looked like a natural disaster.
Inside the small house, a family of three hid in terror.
A husband and wife crouched behind a wooden table, trying to shield their young daughter.
The little girl trembled uncontrollably.
Her small face was dirty with mud and tears.
Her wide eyes stared through the window at the terrifying battle outside.
She did not understand what was happening.
She only knew she was afraid.
The Battle Ends
After several intense minutes, the fight finally reached its conclusion.
The Konoha ninja had suffered a deep wound across his shoulder, and blood soaked his clothes.
But his opponent was in even worse condition.
With a sudden burst of speed, the Konoha ninja lunged forward.
His kunai pierced directly into the neck of the Sunagakure ninja.
Without hesitation, he twisted the blade violently.
Blood sprayed outward.
The enemy ninja collapsed into the mud.
The Konoha ninja stood there breathing heavily.
Blood splattered across his face, making him look terrifying—almost like a demon.
For a moment, he simply stood in the rain.
Then he noticed something.
Movement inside the nearby house.
His eyes slowly turned toward the window.
Inside, the frightened family froze.
They had been seen.
The ninja hesitated for a moment.
Then his expression hardened.
Witnesses could not be allowed to live.
If they revealed his location to enemy scouts, he would surely die.
Cold determination replaced any trace of hesitation.
"Blame yourselves for seeing me," he muttered quietly.
Dragging his wounded body, he slowly approached the house.
A Father's Plea
Inside the house, the father understood what was about to happen.
Despite his fear, he stepped outside.
He ran through the rain and dropped to his knees in front of the ninja.
"Master Ninja… please spare us!"
His voice trembled with desperation.
"My wife and daughter… they have done nothing wrong!"
Behind him, his wife clutched their daughter tightly.
Tears streamed down her face.
But the Konoha ninja's expression remained cold.
"Sorry," he said quietly.
He raised the kunai.
The father closed his eyes.
A Flash of Steel
Suddenly—
Swish.
A streak of sword light flashed through the rain.
For a moment, everything went silent.
Then a thin red line appeared across the Konoha ninja's neck.
Blood slowly trickled downward.
The ninja stared forward blankly.
Standing before him was a young man who had appeared without warning.
The ninja collapsed lifelessly into the mud.
The Young Warrior
Ignoring the body at his feet, the young man turned toward the frightened family.
"Leave this place," he said calmly.
"This area is no longer safe."
"If you stay here, you will eventually die."
The father looked devastated.
"We… don't know where to go."
His voice trembled.
He wanted to escape.
He wanted to protect his family.
But where could they possibly run?
The young man thought for a moment.
Then he said quietly,
"Head north."
"For now, the Land of Grass has not been swallowed by war."
"But don't stay there too long."
"The flames of war will eventually spread there as well."
The father bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Master Ninja."
Then he hesitated before asking,
"May I know your name?"
The young man paused briefly.
Without turning around, he answered.
"My name is Hanzō."
His voice carried quiet determination.
"In the future…"
"I will make sure this weeping country cries no more."
He waved his hand and walked away into the rain.
The Future Salamander
As Hanzō traveled through the ruined countryside, the scenes he witnessed filled his heart with sorrow.
Burned villages.
Dead civilians.
Children wandering alone.
The entire country seemed cursed by endless war.
Hanzō had already taken drastic steps to gain the strength needed to change this fate.
He had signed a contract with a powerful salamander named Ibuse.
Through dangerous experimentation, he had transplanted the creature's poison sac into his own body.
From that moment forward, he constantly wore a gas mask.
His own body now carried deadly poison.
But with this power, he intended to protect the Land of Rain.
He would suppress any ninja from the great nations who dared to treat his homeland as a battlefield.
The World Descends into War
Konoha Year 19 — December.
At the end of the year, the situation escalated dramatically.
The Hidden Sand Village suddenly increased its military forces.
Their armies crossed the Land of Rivers and invaded the Land of Fire.
At the same time, the Land of Earth and the Land of Lightning grew increasingly hostile toward one another.
These two northern superpowers clashed repeatedly as they fought for influence over smaller neighboring nations.
Within a short time, the entire Ninja World had fallen into chaos.
War had begun.
Hidden Mist Village
Far away in the Land of Water, news of the spreading war reached the Hidden Mist Village.
Inside the Mizukage's office, Hōzuki Gengetsu looked unusually excited.
"Hahaha!"
He rubbed his hands eagerly.
"The smell of gunpowder is spreading across the entire Ninja World!"
Upon hearing that Mū, the Second Tsuchikage of Iwagakure, had also entered the conflict, Gengetsu became even more excited.
"Kid!"
He turned toward Uchiha Su.
"When are we joining the war?"
"I'm so excited I can barely hold myself back!"
Nearby, Elder Genji looked deeply frustrated.
"Mizukage-sama…"
"You should be grateful that we haven't been dragged into the war yet!"
"You are the Kage of this village."
"You should think about the village's interests, not about fighting every day!"
He sighed heavily.
"War is merely a means to obtain benefits."
"It should never be the goal itself."
Uchiha Su remained silent for a moment.
He stood in front of a large map of the Ninja World hanging on the wall.
Finally, he spoke.
"Watching others fight while we reap the benefits would indeed be ideal."
"But unfortunately…"
"I don't think someone will allow us to do that."
Genji frowned.
"Who?"
Su answered without hesitation.
"Senju Tobirama."
He had no direct proof.
But he had a strong intuition.
Just as Tobirama understood the Uchiha better than anyone else…
Su believed he understood Tobirama's way of thinking.
Tobirama would never ignore the Hidden Mist Village, even though it was isolated overseas.
He likely had already prepared for the possibility of fighting on two fronts.
One war against Sunagakure.
Another against Kirigakure.
"A single Sunagakure army is not enough to push Konoha into desperation," Su muttered.
"Konoha definitely still has many hidden forces."
At that moment—
An Anbu ninja suddenly appeared.
"Mizukage-sama!"
"Konoha ninjas have arrived near the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Whirlpools, close to the Land of Waves."
"They are stationing troops there."
"Reinforcements are continuing to arrive."
Gengetsu slammed his hand on the table.
"Well played, Konoha!"
"We haven't even caused trouble yet, and they're already knocking on our door!"
Genji nodded grimly.
"We must respond immediately."
"We cannot lose the Land of Waves."
"It is an extremely important strategic bridgehead."
He turned toward Uchiha Su.
"Su-kun, can you contact the Land of Waves right now?"
Su nodded.
"No problem."
"I left two ninja squads stationed there."
"I can also contact the Daimyo of the Land of Waves."
He turned back toward the map.
"We must act quickly."
"How many ninjas can the village deploy?"
Genji answered seriously.
"Three thousand ninjas."
"If we send more than that, the village's daily operations will begin to collapse."
Su nodded.
"That will be enough."
"I will personally lead one thousand ninjas to the Land of Waves."
"The remaining two thousand will remain here under your command."
He paused before adding,
"I will also require assistance from the Kaguya Clan."
Genji nodded.
"They can provide approximately three hundred warriors."
He bowed slightly.
"In total, you will command around one thousand three hundred ninjas."
"The safety of the Land of Waves now depends entirely on you, Su-kun."
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)