Half a month passed in the blink of an eye. While Uchiha Ryun was still immersed in the leisurely life of cultivation and flirting with girls, a shocking piece of news came from the Hokage Building.
The Land of Rain had officially declared war on the Land of Fire!
Hanzō of the Salamander, known as the "Demigod," personally led the Rain-nin army to defeat the Konoha-nin forces. The situation on the Land of Rain battlefield was critical.
Sarutobi Hiruzen initiated a war mobilization within Konoha Village and even dispatched his three powerful disciples to the Land of Rain battlefield to confront Hanzō of the Salamander.
The news of the war between the two countries spread like thunder throughout the ninja world, causing unease among the smaller nations. Meanwhile, some major nations seemed eager to join the fray upon hearing the news.
After over twenty years of peace, the ninja world was once again engulfed in the flames of war.
"The war... has finally come." Listening to the Hokage's mobilization speech broadcasted from afar, Uchiha Ryun sighed softly.
"But even if war breaks out, it's not a big deal. The Rain-nin can't break into the Land of Fire, let alone Konoha. I still have at least a year or more of leisure time..."
Uchiha Ryun muttered to himself, then suddenly kicked off the ground, shooting forward like a cannonball.
With a flash of blue sword light, a thick tree was cleanly sliced in half.
The chakra blade enhanced by lightning was incredibly sharp. Combined with the speed of the Body Flicker Technique, it achieved a truly cutting-edge effect.
In the Senju Clan's compound.
Mito Uzumaki confined Nawaki at home, forbidding him from joining the Konoha-nin forces heading to the Land of Rain battlefield.
This decision immediately caught the attention of the Sannin, who seemed unable to understand Mito's reasoning.
Orochimaru believed the battlefield was an excellent place for training. He attempted to take Nawaki to the Land of Rain to earn merits, a plan supported by Tsunade and Jiraiya.
However, Mito Uzumaki, who usually never interfered with her grandson's freedom, suddenly ordered Nawaki not to leave the country. Her attitude was unusually firm, leaving no room for discussion.
Tsunade was puzzled and argued with her grandmother, only to be scolded harshly.
Nawaki was no easygoing child either. He couldn't accept or understand his grandmother's decision. He made a scene at home, constantly shouting about wanting to join the war.
He said he wanted to inherit the will of his grandfather and granduncle, to become the Fourth Hokage of Konoha Village someday. As the grandson of two Hokages, he couldn't possibly shy away from battle. He accused his grandmother of not understanding him.
Mito Uzumaki was torn. On one hand, she trusted Uchiha Ryun's warning. On the other, with the Sannin's assurances, she felt they could protect Nawaki.
She had raised Nawaki since he was a child. How could she not know or understand his dream of becoming Hokage?
But she was truly afraid Uchiha Ryun's words would come true, that the last direct descendant of the Senju Clan would perish on the battlefield.
On the day before the ninja troops departed, Mito Uzumaki faced immense pressure. The Sannin tried to persuade her, promising to protect Nawaki.
The timing of the troops' departure was fixed. Nawaki's situation was unexpected, but the army wouldn't delay for one person.
Mito Uzumaki, the wife of the First Hokage and the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, rarely exercised her authority. She explicitly forbade Nawaki from joining the war in the Land of Rain. Even the Third Hokage dared not oppose her decision.
Losing one genin wouldn't affect Konoha's war effort. Though Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't understand Mito's reasoning, he respected her wishes.
"Grandma, what are you thinking? Do you want to destroy my dream with your own hands?" Nawaki's eyes were filled with tears, his voice almost hysterical.
He had argued, the Sannin had pleaded, but his grandmother still refused to let him go to the Land of Rain battlefield. In his desperation, he shouted hurtful words.
"I get it. You want me to be a coward. You want to ruin me. I hate you."
Mito Uzumaki was so upset she cried. But seeing her grandson's despair and tantrums, she couldn't harden her heart and finally relented.
She knew if she didn't let go, Nawaki would hate her forever, possibly even break down.
She decided to gamble, to bet that Uchiha Ryun's warning was just a childish joke, that her grandson would be safe.
Nawaki eventually left with Orochimaru.
He left resolutely, without even looking back at his grandmother.
"With Tsunade and the others watching over him, my grandson will be fine." Mito Uzumaki tried to console herself as she watched Nawaki's determined figure leave. But her tears kept falling, and her heart ached.
"Grandma Mito, Nawaki will be fine." Kushina stepped forward to comfort her.
Seeing Mito cry, Kushina also felt like crying.
Once outside the village, Nawaki was exhilarated, even quickening his pace.
In less than half a day, he followed the ninja troops into the Land of Rain.
He couldn't wait to fight and earn merits. The reckless young man acted bravely, joining Orochimaru on a mission that very night.
Orochimaru personally eliminated many strong enemy ninjas, thinking Nawaki wouldn't encounter any threats. He let his guard down slightly.
But soon after, a violent explosion rang out, and his beloved disciple's life was cut short.
Orochimaru could block powerful enemies targeting Nawaki, but he couldn't prevent the explosive tags hidden underground.
Nawaki died, in the exact place and time he was supposed to die in the original story.
When Orochimaru saw the corpse, his fear of death magnified infinitely. He couldn't understand how a living person could turn into a charred, unrecognizable body in an instant.
Why was life so fragile?
"Nawaki... why did this happen?" Orochimaru murmured as he touched the disfigured corpse, his eyes filled with pain and regret.
"Lady Mito was right. I shouldn't have taken Nawaki. If I hadn't insisted, maybe he'd still be alive."
He had vowed to protect Nawaki that morning, yet in less than a day, Nawaki had died right under his watch.
For the first time, the fearless Orochimaru was afraid to face Mito and Tsunade.
Trembling, he picked up the crystal pendant from the ground, tears streaming from his snake-like eyes.