The war continued without a stop. The Third Shinobi World War has officially become the longest war that has ever unfolded in history.
"FIGHT!!!"
With Amegakure joining hands with Konohagakure, they managed to push the Iwagakure's troop out of the land of grass.
Then, Konohagakure received intel from chunin Hatake Kakashi and chunin Nohara Rin that Kirigakure's proposed alliance was a fluke; that they are planning to stab them from the back.
Re-locating their force from the land of grass to the eastern edge of the land of fire, Konoha effectively defended against Kiri's meant-to-be a surprise attack. Essentially, Ame's troops now handled the battle line against Iwa.
Having recuperated, Sunagakure then joined in, flanking Iwagakure's defenceless border from the side.
Iwagakure's attention was split into two, dealing with both Sunagakure and Amegakure simultaneously.
At the same time, Konohagakure was forced to focus on dealing with Kumogakure and Kirigakure's assaults.
It became a battle of who collapses first—Konohagakure or Iwagakure. Should Konoha fall first, Kiri and Kumo would then attack Ame and Suna, saving Iwa. If Iwa were to fall first, the opposite would happen, in which Ame and Suna attack Kiri and Kumo, saving Konoha.
And then, three years passed.
...
"Why, Hanzo-sama?!"
Yahiko, gritting his teeth, revealed his frustration as he faced the leader of Amegakure, Hanzo of the Salamander.
"We are proud ninjas of Ame, not some filthy thieves who kill and steal! Haven't we driven them out of the land of grass? Aren't we safe now? Why must we push further?!"
"...Aren't you naive, jonin Yahiko."
Hanzo breathed smoke out, enjoying his smoking pipe. With an aloof look, he stared out the window.
"There is no better way to protect what is ours than to destroy what is our enemies'. Have them occupied on preserving what is theirs, such that they don't have time to think of destroying ours. That is the point."
"Is this the only way?! No, it isn't!!"
"Of course, there are other ways as well. However, this is the easiest way."
Yahiko's head dropped. His clenched fists trembled.
"Just yesterday... I killed a man who pleaded with me to spare him. He said that his family was waiting for him at home. One daughter and one son, he said. Having lost their mother at a young age, his death would mean that his children would become orphans... just like me."
Yahiko gulped. Opening his trembling hands, he stared at his palms.
"I... I am doing the exact same things as those I used to despise."
"Should you wish the village to change our approach to this war, bring a real solution instead of whining about it."
Hanzo sighed.
"Are you going to act rashly again? Just like the last time, one that forced my grandson to sacrifice himself for your sake?"
"...Don't you dare mention Akashi as if he is your family."
And it looked like Hanzo triggered Yahiko's touchy subject.
"You didn't even know a single bit of what he's gone through. He isn't your grandson... but our big brother."
"Oh, he is my grandson indeed, tied by blood. Should you three not have existed, I probably would've met him sooner."
Hanzo didn't back off, for he was just as sensitive when it came to the matter involving Akashi.
"He would've smoothly become the succeeding ruler of Amegakure. He would've made this village the greatest of all..."
"As if Akashi would ever be interested in something as meaningless as that!!"
The subject of war was long forgotten. The two began to argue, letting their anger out at each other. However, there was no force involved, as if there was a mutual pact; their argument never developed into an irreversible fight.
After all, both of them had mixed feelings about each other.
Yahiko hated Hanzo for the past policies that he established, ones that threw away all the civilians who remained outside the borders of the village's walls. He also hated Hanzo for labelling Akashi as his enemy and realizing just at the last moment that he was his grandson. However, the fact that Hanzo is repenting of his past acts, that he understood Akashi's intent and took the three of them under his turf, was an undeniable truth.
Hanzo, on the other hand, saw the three as the rascals who took the place of his grandson. However, they were the ones whom Akashi cherished nonetheless.
So they argued. But they couldn't afford to go any further than that.
"Ha..."
Standing outside the room, Konan sighed, facepalming.
"Speaking of Akashi... I wonder what he's doing now."
Nagato mumbled, next to Konan.
"He was last heard to be in Kiri, abruptly freeing the village from the fourth Mizukage before fleeing. It's already been three years."
"That's a good sign. It means that he's hidden well enough that no one can chase after him."
Konan shook her head with melancholy in her eyes.
"We should... just hope that he is well. Wishing to see him again, at least in the current situation, is a little too selfish on our side."
"...You're right."
Nagato nodded. He then stared at his reflection in the window.
There they were, his bizarre eyes that were characterized by numerous rings centring his pupils.
"...Rinnegan, huh."
Nagato mumbled.
"Konan, I'm scared."
Konan's face darkened, knowing what he meant.
"They say... that I possess the legendary eyes of the Sage of Six Paths. I'm not even close to Akashi's strength. I don't possess a strong sense of righteousness like Yahiko either. I'm the same as any other, but people keep saying that I'm special."
"Ignore what they say, Nagato. There is nothing to worry, for we know you."
"...Yeah, you're right."
'But I would've been more at ease if Akashi were to be here...'
Such a thought surfaced in Nagato's mind, but he kept it in, knowing that Konan didn't wish to dwell too long on the thoughts of Akashi.
Boom.
Then, the door burst open, revealing Yahiko, who was fuming.
"Let's go!"
Yahiko stomped off. Konan and Nagato turned nervously and saw Hanzo waving them to leave, with annoyance written on his face.
Bowing respectfully, they chased Yahiko, following him to the outside.
"Are we heading back to the land of grass then? Yahiko?"
"After three days! We got some time off. I mean, heh, they can't have the core ninjas of Amegakure not be at their optimal conditions, right?"
The angry self was lost. Now grinning, Yahiko spoke proudly.
"Look how fast we made up in the ladder! Just two years ago, we were chunins. Now, look at us, being jonins of the village!"
Before Konan and Nagato could speak anything more, he spoke more,
"I mean, considering the two teachers who taught us, it was given that we would rise this high! Also, the fact that Konan is able to manipulate papers and Nagato has his unique eyes..."
Yahiko then paused, realizing that he had become too excited.
"...Sorry, Nagato. Shouldn't have said that."
"No, it's fine, Yahiko."
Nagato made a weak smile.
"It's true that these eyes magnify my power by a lot, after all—"
"Alright!"
Konan then clapped her hands, trying to lighten up the mood.
"Where are we going to eat today?"
"Ramen!"
"Yakisoba!"
Watching as the orange-haired and red-haired men walked in front of her, Konan smiled gently.
"..."
From afar, a masked man with spiky black hair could be staring at them in silence.
"So that's Madara's Rinnegans..."
__________
"Mystical Palm Technique. It could be said that in today's world, it is the most advanced form of medical ninjutsu."
On a board, a complex drawing of the human body could be seen. An instructor stood, pointing her stick at the drawing.
"Its essence is to 'accelerate' the body's natural healing abilities. The section that requires this acceleration must be taken into account. Depending on the area of the wound, the required amount of chakra differs. The difference in the required amount may be extremely tiny, but such a difference can decide whether a person will survive or not. Now, look here. Scratches and stab wounds are categorized as difficulty 1..."
As the instructor taught, numerous trainees listened and took note intently. Many wrapped their heads around, feeling a headache, but the instructor continued, knowing that there wasn't much time to relax during the war.
"The implementation of medical ninjutsu in battle was highlighted in this war, thanks to the feats of Senju Tsunade. Konohagakure was the first to implement this system and has been seeing many benefits, allowing them to fare against the combined efforts of Iwagakure and Kumogakure until now..."
"Having recognized the benefits of this system, the joint force of Amegakure and Kusagakure decided to groom the medical specialists of our own, here in the land of grass. Upon graduation, you will be placed among the team that consists of three battle specialists. You won't be expected to take a part in the combat, but it is your duty to ensure that they remain alive should they get wounded."
Among the numerous students who were struggling to understand, there was one who seemed to have no trouble in taking the information.
He was a black-haired student with an eye-patch over one of his eyes, good-looking enough to earn the attention of other students. Engrossed in the study of medical ninjutsu, he didn't seem to notice the eyes on him, however.
'Isaka... was it?'
The instructor recalled the student's name.
'Orphan who lost his mother and an eye to the ninjas of Iwa...'
Eventually, the instructor dismissed her curiosity and focused back on teaching.
"Now, we will be practicing the Mystical Palm Technique. Follow me to the outside!"
...
During the dark night, among the numerous tents that were set up in the vast plain of grass, one was zipped open.
While everyone was asleep, one student studying the medical ninjutsu, Isaka, was holding a lamp, reading the notes he compiled just today.
By his side, a silhouette appeared.
"...Isn't it tiring? I heard that medical ninjutsu is a pure headache."
"So was fuinjutsu."
'Isaka' responded without bothering to look at the person next to him.
"It is quite interesting. Listen to what I learned. The Mystical Palm Technique is about feeding the cells chakra in a specific manner such that the cells immediately attain the necessary aspects of cell replication and skip the interphase. Considering how cells can replicate only so many times before reaching senescence, it could be said that in exchange for healing you, the technique takes away some extent of your lifespan."
"...I didn't want to learn that. Now you're making me reluctant to receive treatment."
"It isn't like that legendary Yin-Yang Release that the Sage of Six Paths is said to be capable of using, I guess."
Closing the note, 'Isaka' turned off the lamp and stood up.
"If you're here, I suppose that you found it."
The figure next to him nodded.
"It was under the ruins created by this war, but I managed to find it. It was surprisingly intact; I think you are going to like it."
"Great."
'Isaka' smiled. Taking off his eye-patch, his figure began to morph.
The black hair morphed into wavy brown hair. The previously black-colored eye now exhibited a dark-blue glow within the darkness.
His company took a step forward, revealing her long, red hair that covered one of her eyes. She was holding a cloak, a black one that had many red clouds drawn around it. She was wearing the same cloak as the one she held.
Taking the cloak, Akashi draped it around him.
"Alright then,"
The note in his hold was ignited. Instantly, it was burned to ashes.
"Lead the way, Mei."
The two figures disappeared.
That day, one student of the medical training camp went missing.