In the early morning, the sky remained a hazy gray, heavy clouds rolling across the horizon like a silent omen.
Unlike its usual calm, the gates of Konohagakure were filled with restless movement. Shinobi assembled in formation, their armor and flak jackets catching the faint light. Under the command of the leading jonin, the noise gradually faded. Orders were given, signals passed, and the troops marched out of the village in disciplined silence.
Uchiha Hayashi stood among the departing figures, watching the steady stream of shinobi disappear beyond the gates. After a brief moment, he turned and made his way toward the Hokage Building.
As he approached the central district, more civilians filled the streets. Their voices were hushed, their expressions tense. The air felt heavy, pressed down by uncertainty.
Hayashi was familiar with this atmosphere. When the Second Great Ninja War erupted, the village had felt exactly the same. Back then, he had only been a student at the Academy.
War never brings joy. Everyone despises it, yet no one can stop its arrival.
After entering the Hokage Building, Hayashi pushed open the door to the Hokage's office.
The moment he stepped inside, the Anbu concealed nearby silently withdrew. Whatever discussion would take place was not meant for their ears.
"You are back, Hayashi."
Standing alone by the second floor window was the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. He gazed at the pale morning sky, his posture carrying a trace of solitude.
"Yes. Konoha jonin, Uchiha Hayashi, reporting to Third Hokage-sama."
"Enough with the formalities." Hiruzen waved him over.
Hayashi stepped forward and stood beside him. From the window, the Hokage Rock loomed in the distance, the massive stone faces overlooking the village.
At seventeen, Hayashi already stood taller than the Third Hokage. His short black hair framed a sharp, youthful face. There was confidence in his eyes, and an intensity that came from both talent and experience.
"How is your senjutsu training progressing?" Hiruzen asked.
"I have fully mastered it."
"If you have not yet learned it, in the future you can…" Hiruzen paused mid sentence and turned slowly. "What did you just say?"
"I have fully mastered senjutsu."
Hiruzen inhaled sharply.
He had only asked casually. He never expected Hayashi to succeed, let alone within six months.
He understood the difficulty of senjutsu better than most. Jiraiya had trained in it for years and still struggled to stabilize Sage Mode. Yet Hayashi now claimed complete mastery.
For a brief moment, Hiruzen wondered whether fatigue was affecting his hearing.
He studied the young Uchiha carefully.
"Is there any technique you cannot learn?" he finally asked.
Hayashi considered the question seriously. "I have not found one so far."
Hiruzen was momentarily speechless.
Even he, known as the Professor of Ninjutsu, would not dare make such a claim. Yet Hayashi had the record to justify his confidence.
At the Academy, he had created several A rank ninjutsu. He became a jonin the same year he graduated, setting the record as the youngest in the shinobi world. He once split Shukaku apart with a Lightning Release technique and earned distinguished merit on two battlefields.
Compared to him, many so called geniuses paled in comparison. Even Orochimaru, Hiruzen's most prized disciple, could not completely overshadow him.
Fortunately, Hayashi was his own grand disciple, not an enemy.
Hiruzen's mood visibly improved. "Since you have mastered senjutsu, you should exchange experiences with Jiraiya. He will be delighted."
"Are you certain?" Hayashi asked, narrowing his eyes slightly.
Hiruzen chuckled. "It has been years and Jiraiya is still refining his Sage Mode. A little motivation will do him good. Trust me."
Hayashi was unconvinced. If he followed that advice, there was a high chance Jiraiya would immortalize him in one of his novels, and not in a flattering way.
"Enough idle talk." Hiruzen's expression grew serious. "You already know why I called you back."
"The Third Mizukage has disappeared."
"Has the cause been identified?" Hayashi asked.
Hiruzen shook his head. "It was too clean. No traces left behind. But the cause does not matter. Sometimes, all it takes to ignite war is a spark. No one cares who struck the match."
Hayashi remained silent.
The Mizukage's disappearance was merely a trigger. If not him, it would have been another Kage. History would not halt for a single individual.
"What is the current situation in the shinobi world?" Hayashi asked.
"For now, everyone is testing one another."
Hiruzen led him to a large table covered with a detailed strategic map.
"The most immediate threat comes from Sunagakure."
Hayashi frowned slightly. "Not Kirigakure?"
"Kirigakure attempted to exploit the Five Kage Summit and strike the Land of Fire. However, we reinforced our coastal defenses in advance. Their offensive did not achieve its intended results."
In truth, Kirigakure had been pushed back decisively. They had not fought in a major war for nearly two decades, and large scale warfare was very different from isolated missions.
"Their forces are now stationed in the Land of Hot Water, the Land of Waves, and the Land of Bears," Hiruzen continued.
Hayashi studied the map. The three nations formed a straight line along the coastline. Kirigakure clearly intended to create a blockade, limiting Konoha's mobility and forcing a multi front defense.
"But for now, that front is stable," Hiruzen said. "Sunagakure is the pressing concern. Their vanguard has reached the border between the Land of Wind and the Land of Rivers. Approximately one thousand shinobi. The commander is Rasa, disciple of the Third Kazekage."
"Rasa?" Hayashi's brows lifted slightly. "He is only seventeen."
"Sunagakure's internal situation is complicated," Hiruzen replied carefully. "After the last war, dissatisfaction with the Third Kazekage has grown. The factions once led by Chiyo and Ebizo have gradually withdrawn from active leadership."
"So they are facing internal strife," Hayashi concluded.
"Yes. The Third Kazekage seeks to redirect that tension outward. War is the most effective method."
Hayashi gave a faint nod. History had proven that many leaders relied on external conflict to suppress internal unrest.
"And Iwagakure?" he asked.
"Their forces are at the border of the Land of Grass, building supply lines. They have also divided their troops."
"The Land of Waterfalls," Hayashi guessed.
Hiruzen nodded approvingly. "Ohnoki remains wary of Kumogakure. He has not forgotten the Second Great Ninja War."
"And Kumogakure?"
"They are mobilizing but have yet to deploy. The Third Raikage is waiting for the right opportunity."
Kumogakure preferred decisive intervention over reckless engagement. They would strike only when the advantage was clear.
"And the Land of Rain?" Hayashi asked.
"I have sent Danzo to negotiate with Hanzo. The Land of Rain is struggling with famine and instability. For now, they are unlikely to intervene."
Hayashi's thoughts flickered briefly toward a certain organization that claimed to seek peace, but he kept the thought to himself.
"The situation is fluid," Hiruzen concluded. "No village has committed fully. Everyone is probing."
He closed the map and looked directly at Hayashi.
"Since you have mastered senjutsu, your strength is no longer that of an ordinary jonin. I will assign you accordingly."
"I understand."
"You and Jiraiya will each lead a detachment. Leave intelligence teams in the Land of Grass and the Land of Hot Water. The main force will advance to the Land of Wind battlefield and rendezvous with the vanguard."
The allocation was careful. Konoha could not commit excessive numbers to a single front while facing multiple threats.
"If there are no questions, the forces will assemble tomorrow at seven in the morning. Coordinate with Jiraiya if necessary."
Hiruzen handed him a document listing the intelligence operatives.
Then his tone deepened.
"When Orochimaru departed for the front, I told him this. Now I tell you."
"You know Sunagakure well. Our situation is stable for the moment, but prolonged war will not favor us. Among the great villages, they are the weakest."
His gaze hardened.
"I need you to defeat them as swiftly as possible. This is not like the last war. We are facing a coalition. They can afford losses. We cannot."
Hayashi met his eyes without hesitation.
"Understood."
Hiruzen exhaled slowly.
"Everything rests in your hands."
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