Half a year later — on the border of the Land of Fire.
Inside a temporary command post, a one-eyed man sat cross-legged on a floor cushion, studying a letter laid out on a low table in front of him.
His face was partially concealed by bandages, but the "X"-shaped scar across his chin and his tightly wrapped right eye gave him a distinct, recognizable look.
Yet more striking than his appearance was the aura he exuded—cold, oppressive, like a predator hidden in tall grass, waiting to pounce the moment its prey made a wrong move.
Had Hoshiyomi been present, he would have instantly recognized the man. If this wasn't Shimura Danzō, Hoshiyomi would've gladly chew his wooden training sword into splinters and swallow it.
Eventually, Danzō opened the letter. One hand held the page as his eyes scanned each line meticulously, while the other tapped rhythmically against the table's edge.
It wasn't a long message, but he took his time, scrutinizing every word as if it held some hidden meaning.
After ten minutes of silence, the tapping ceased. Folding the letter carefully, Danzō rose to his feet, lightly touching the bandaged area over his right eye.
"So... this long, drawn-out war is finally coming to an end."
His teacher, Tobirama Senju, and his comrade, Uchiha Kagami, had both fallen during this brutal conflict. Danzō himself had lost an eye on the battlefield. And now—finally—there were signs the war might be drawing to a close.
In truth, the main front had already settled down after Kumo's internal rebellion was suppressed. But the newly appointed Third Raikage was not someone who could be reasoned with.
Yes, the instigation had clearly been on Kumo's side. But since when had Kumogakure ever played fair with outsiders?
So, although full-scale battle had ceased, low-level ambushes, raids, and skirmishes persisted. Both sides hoped to wear the other down and squeeze out a more favorable end to the conflict.
But in the end, Konoha's greater resources and organization gave it the edge. Yesterday, the Third Raikage had finally sent an envoy to deliver a ceasefire proposal to Danzō at the front.
Even a man like Danzō—perpetually grim—felt his mood lift slightly as he read the document. Still, just because Kumo wanted peace didn't mean he would accept it easily.
He resealed the letter, then pulled out a fresh scroll and brush, swiftly drafting a reply of his own.
Once it was complete, he summoned a shinobi and handed over both scrolls for immediate delivery back to the village.
Back in the Hidden Leaf — at the team's private training ground.
By a small stream, four figures were engaged in pairs of sparring matches.
Sakumo and Hoshiyomi clashed in an intense duel, blades ringing as White Fang and a standard shinobi sword collided over and over.
The fight had become fierce—Sakumo's forehead glistened with sweat. Hoshiyomi's progress had been terrifying. Half a year ago, their kenjutsu had been evenly matched, but now?
Hoshiyomi had taken a leap forward.
Where Sakumo once had the edge in close-quarters, especially when Hoshiyomi didn't use his kekkei genkai or his Crescent Moon Flash technique, now even that advantage was gone.
In the last two months, Hoshiyomi had developed a dual-style sword technique, combining a short blade with his standard katana. The addition covered his close-range weaknesses—and now Sakumo was on the defensive more often than not.
But Sakumo wasn't the type to roll over. Gritting his teeth, he decided it was time to show the results of his half-year of growth.
With a shout, he knocked Hoshiyomi's blade aside and leapt backward.
For a moment, he stood still—and then the White Fang lit up with flickering lightning chakra. Sparks danced along the blade, and Sakumo exploded into motion, his speed doubling in an instant as he dashed toward Hoshiyomi.
Hoshiyomi's eyes widened. He hadn't seen this move before. His instincts screamed at him.
Don't block this.
It wasn't that he couldn't stop it—his skill was high enough—but his blade wasn't. Sakumo's White Fang was forged from chakra-conductive metal. Enhanced with Lightning Release, it could slice through steel.
If he blocked with his standard sword, it would shatter—and he'd be wide open.
Without hesitation, Hoshiyomi activated Crescent Moon Flash. A silver streak tore across the field as he vanished, reappearing ten meters to the left.
Sakumo's thunderous slash struck only air.
As Sakumo came to a halt, Hoshiyomi raised his hand.
"Alright, alright—you win this round. Are you insane? If I'd hesitated even a second, I might've lost a limb!"
Sakumo scratched the back of his head sheepishly, though his tone was still a little defensive.
"Come on, I knew you'd use Crescent Moon Flash. You weren't in danger."
Hoshiyomi rolled his eyes.
"That technique of yours isn't fully stabilized. It's obviously putting a strain on your body. Until it's complete, save it for emergencies, alright?"
Sakumo felt a twinge of guilt. Hoshiyomi's scolding stung—but it was the kind of thing a real friend would say.
"...Yeah. You're right."
Hoshiyomi clapped him on the shoulder.
"Don't sweat it. It's just a spar—we all lose sometimes. Trust me, I've had my share. C'mon, let's go see how Jiraiya and Orochimaru are doing."
Compared to the clang and clatter from their own fight, Jiraiya and Orochimaru's sparring match was… quiet. Mostly.
Except when Jiraiya yelled.
Neither of them had mastered many jutsu yet, so their fights were primarily taijutsu-based.
On the surface, Jiraiya looked like the dominant fighter—his raw strength and stamina were unmatched. You couldn't close the physical gap with just six months of improved nutrition. Jiraiya was a natural powerhouse.
But that didn't mean Orochimaru was losing.
Far from it.
His tactical mind was razor-sharp. He consistently slipped out of Jiraiya's attacks and managed to land subtle, precise hits at blind angles. After just a few minutes of exchanging blows, Orochimaru was barely scratched, while Jiraiya looked like he'd been through a windstorm.
Frustrated, Jiraiya jumped back and began forming hand signs.
"Alright, you sneaky snake! You asked for it!"
From the hand seals, it looked like he was about to use Wind Release: Great Breakthrough.
Orochimaru, unfazed, quickly responded. As Jiraiya built up chakra, Orochimaru unleashed his own move—Shadow Thread Technique, a fine wire laced with tiny backward-facing barbs.
The threads lashed out and wrapped around Jiraiya's arm, pulling tight and disrupting his signs.
Before Jiraiya could react, Orochimaru closed the distance and launched a flurry of close-range attacks. A well-timed trip sent Jiraiya crashing to the ground, and a kunai was suddenly at his throat.
"You idiot," Orochimaru sneered. "Yelling while you're weaving hand signs? Even a civilian could figure out how to interrupt that."
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