At the border of the Land of Hot Water, the battlefield between Konoha and Kumogakure raged.
Smoke filled the air, and the scars of ninjutsu marred the landscape.
The power of ninjas far surpassed that of ordinary people.
Indeed, a ninja's strength could determine a great nation's fate, a truth most evident in the Land of Fire.
The other four great nations coveted its fertile lands and abundant resources, yearning to claim them.
In a battlefield encampment, numerous wounded lay, swathed in bandages. Their forehead protectors identified them as Konoha ninjas.
In this battle, Konoha's forces were steadily retreating, nearing the Land of Fire's border. If this continued, the enemy would breach their homeland.
Inside a tent at Konoha's camp, the jōnin gathered for a meeting.
"What's the Hokage's response?" Uchiha Fugaku asked Hyūga Hiashi.
"Reinforcements are coming." Hyūga Hiashi replied. "Konoha will send ninjas to support us, and Orochimaru-sama will take charge of this front. But the final person is what surprised me most."
"Surprised you?" Uchiha Fugaku glanced at Hiashi. Both were clan leaders, so for Hiashi to say this, the individual must be extraordinary.
A name came to Fugaku's mind. "Could it be Tengen?"
"Yes, it's him, the genius with the Mangekyō Sharingan. He and Orochimaru-sama will lead this battlefield." Hiashi said gravely.
"It's really him." Fugaku said, recalling Tengen. He had wanted to meet Tengen after hearing of his Mangekyō Sharingan, but Tengen had joined the Iwagakure front.
"And on the Iwagakure battlefield, Tengen accomplished something remarkable." Hiashi said, addressing the gathered jōnin.
"Remarkable? Did he use Susanoo to wipe out hordes of Iwa ninjas?" One jōnin asked, aware of the Mangekyō's power from prior reports.
"He did eliminate many Iwa ninjas, nearly a thousand, and captured their two tailed beast jinchūriki." Hiashi said slowly.
"That powerful?" The other Konoha ninjas gasped, marveling at Susanoo's, or rather, the Mangekyō's, might.
"But you've got one thing wrong." Hiashi said with a smile. "This time, Tengen didn't use the Mangekyō. He used Wood Release, the First Hokage's power, Wood Release: Advent of a World of Trees."
"Wood Release?" The Konoha ninjas froze, their expressions shifting to shock.
Wood Release?
Since when did Tengen possess the First Hokage's kekkei genkai?
"I don't know how, but the Hokage confirmed Tengen has the First Hokage's power. Perhaps his ancestors carried Senju blood." Hiashi said, smiling at Fugaku.
"This… how is this possible?" Fugaku's heart surged with disbelief.
Tengen, with the Mangekyō Sharingan, now wielded the First Hokage's kekkei genkai?
As the Uchiha clan leader, Fugaku knew such power demanded immense chakra. For a nine-year-old to possess it was unthinkable, 'monster' didn't even begin to describe Tengen.
The other Konoha ninjas were equally stunned.
Wood Release was among Konoha's most renowned powers. Though it belonged to the First Hokage, its ability to rival or even surpass the Uchiha's supreme power spoke volumes.
Tengen now embodied both.
Moments later, the Konoha ninjas dispersed, still dazed, needing time to process the news.
Fugaku returned to his tent, sitting in a chair, his gaze deep in thought.
Tengen's power was growing beyond imagination.
"What should be done?" Fugaku's eyes flickered.
Compared to Hiashi, Fugaku's thoughts were more complex. Tengen lacked the Byakugan but possessed the Sharingan's power.
And now, he wielded the First Hokage's kekkei genkai.
It was a headache for Fugaku.
As Konoha's ninjas grappled with mixed emotions, far away, at Kumogakure's encampment, a jōnin spoke. "Raikage-sama, we've confirmed Konoha's position. We can press the attack."
"Good. Order the assault to continue. Konoha won't hold much longer." The Third Raikage said, rising with a cold smirk.
On this battlefield, Kumogakure was unstoppable, and no Konoha ninja could match the Third Raikage.
"A, you and Killer B prepare. The battle begins soon." He said to his son, A, standing nearby.
"Understood, Father." A replied, swiftly exiting the room.
"The Land of Fire, I'm coming for you." The Third Raikage said, his eyes blazing with ambition.
Over a day later, at the Land of Earth's border battlefield, Yūhi Shinku greeted Minato and his team. "Welcome, Minato."
"Thank you, Shinku." Minato said with a smile. "Where's Tengen?"
Kakashi, Obito, and the other Konoha ninjas looked curious.
"You're too late. Tengen's already left, likely nearing the Kumogakure battlefield." Shinku said, shaking his head.
"That's a shame." Minato said.
Kakashi and Obito looked disappointed.
"Come with us." Shinku said, arranging for Minato's team.
On this battlefield, Minato would later achieve many feats.
As for Tengen, he became a legend.
His deeds were sung by Konoha's ninjas.
***
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