The first Great Ninja War that swept across the entire ninja world officially ended with the mutual deaths of the Tsuchikage and Mizukage.
This war was especially brutal, with four Kage losing their lives: the Second Hokage Senju Tobirama, the Second Raikage A, the Second Tsuchikage Mu, and the Second Mizukage Hōzuki Gengetsu.
The entire ninja world was immersed in grief. Not only the shinobi, but also the civilians caught in the crossfire suffered deeply.
Their homes were destroyed, their loved ones were killed without reason, and they became refugees, wandering endlessly across the land. Hunger and cold became their worst nightmares.
To survive, they could only search for places that would take them in.
However, for the ones responsible—the hidden villages—
They would not accept strangers without reason, fearing they might be enemy spies. Unless you were an ignorant child or possessed some special talent, they would take you in.
Then, they would use their own methods of education to mold you into someone who would serve their village in the future.
As for the elderly and the useless…
They could only continue wandering, searching for a place that would let them live. In the end…
They would freeze or starve to death on the road.
Five days after the war ended in Uzushiogakure.
All the citizens had grown accustomed to this communal way of life.
After eating breakfast in the morning, they would follow the assigned shinobi to their designated work areas. Three meals a day, each with meat—such a life was something they could hardly believe. Even in peacetime, they could not afford three meals a day, let alone meat.
Only shinobi lived like this before!
Though the work was hard and the weather cold, no one slacked off…
They cherished this period deeply.
And every household could receive a sufficient amount of charcoal at regular intervals. Though the smell was unpleasant, with Jun-sama's help, they could light a stove and make it more bearable.
Perhaps…
Under Jun-sama's leadership, life in Uzushiogakure would become even better.
They were filled with hope.
Pregnant women and infants were housed separately by Jun-sama. That area had no charcoal, but there were enough clothes to keep them warm through the winter. Of course, if it was a family, they could also be assigned a small home of their own!
Additionally, during illness, anyone could seek free treatment from the medical-nin.
Such a life was beyond imagination!
"Actually, war isn't so bad," a young man chopping wood said to his companion. "Three meals a day, with meat, and no fear of the cold."
"Don't talk nonsense," his companion rolled his eyes. "That's because the war is over. If it were still wartime, we'd probably still be hiding in caves."
"Exactly. All of this is thanks to Jun-sama," another man carrying logs said with admiration. "I heard from the shinobi that under Jun-sama's leadership, our lives will keep improving."
However, the supervisor nearby noticed their chatter and walked over sternly. "What are you doing? Get back to work. Our area is already the slowest. If we get punished and lose our meat rations, you'll regret it."
"Haha," the young men laughed sheepishly, leaning in. "Shinobi-sama, tell us a story. Tell us about the war."
"Yeah, yeah. We can listen while we chop wood."
"Don't call me shinobi-sama," the supervisor said sternly. "Call me supervisor, or Supervisor To."
They weren't afraid of his stern expression—they were used to it. Aside from that, shinobi weren't so different from them. Last time they worked well, Supervisor To even gave them a big bowl of meat!
The thick, juicy meat—just thinking about it made their mouths water.
"You want to hear stories about Jun-sama?" Uzumaki To smiled helplessly. "Wait until mealtime. Work hard now, or if Uzumaki Jin's team overtakes us, I'll really whip you."
"Yes!" No one took the threat seriously, still laughing as they responded. They'd heard it many times before, but he never actually did it—just a kick to the rear, and then it was over.
Uzumaki To watched everyone working diligently and murmured, "This feeling is really nice."
Ever since becoming a shinobi, people would bow and say respectfully, "Greetings, shinobi-sama!"
Then…
They would leave in fear.
At first, it felt novel, but over time, it felt wrong. Gradually, his only remaining friends were fellow shinobi.
When Jun-sama first assigned him to supervise civilians, he was both nervous and excited. He had never led civilians before and feared failing Jun-sama's task. As for the excitement…
Jun-sama actually remembered him!
So he accepted the task eagerly, sternly leading the civilians at first. But after a while…
"This feeling is nostalgic," Uzumaki To murmured. These people weren't afraid of him anymore—they even joked with him. Now he understood why things had been the way they were before: civilians and shinobi simply didn't interact enough.
They were afraid. Afraid of dying suddenly at a shinobi's hands.
"Peace is truly wonderful."
...
"How are things below?" Uzumaki Jun asked the shinobi beside him. "Any conflicts?"
This was only the first step getting civilians and shinobi to coexist and integrate. As technology advanced, ordinary people's power would grow, while shinobi's role would diminish. So…
If shinobi didn't adapt, they might disappear in the future. Now, while his authority was strong, he would make them coexist peacefully, so it wouldn't feel strange later.
Jun didn't want to follow a purely technological path. He wanted to forge a new way for the ninja world, one that combined shinobi arts and technology, like scientific ninja tools. But now was not the time…
Because there were too few shinobi, which would hinder Uzushiogakure's development.
"At first, the civilians were afraid, but after a while, they've been coexisting peacefully," the male shinobi acting as secretary replied respectfully, filled with admiration. To think Jun-sama could make civilians and shinobi live in harmony, this was unimaginable in the ninja world!
Shinobi stood above, holding power over life and death, while civilians feared them, afraid of dying for no reason.
But now…
Because they worked together, shinobi and civilians could coexist peacefully. It was unbelievable!
Perhaps the era of peaceful coexistence between civilians and shinobi would begin under Jun-sama's rule.
Uzumaki Hibiki looked at the seven-year-old boy with reverence. Maybe…
Jun-sama would become a great figure in the ninja world, just like the legendary Sage of Six Paths who founded ninshū, bringing…
A different kind of peace.
True peace!!