The war with Kumogakure was over.
From its onset to its conclusion, it had taken less than ten days. The duration of this conflict was almost inconceivable.
Wars, as everyone knew, typically dragged on for months, even years. But this one had concluded in ten days.
The speed of it left everyone with a surreal, almost dreamlike feeling.
“Compared to the last shinobi war, this one almost feels…like a dream,” remarked the Uchiha clan leader, pulling his thoughts together.
As he looked at Mochizuki Hui, his gaze softened. Perhaps this young man represented the future of the Uchiha clan itself.
“Unbelievable as it is, we won. It’s real,” replied another shinobi, smiling.
‘We won,’ Hui thought to himself, repeating the words internally. The war had ended even faster and smoother than he had anticipated.
Of course, luck had played a part. The unique terrain of Moonfall Mountain contributed at least seventy percent of their advantage in this victory. Without it, he knew he wouldn’t have stood a chance holding off nearly ten thousand Kumogakure shinobi alone.
If they had extended the battle lines, he would have been stretched too thin to cover everything, especially since he could only manage two shadow avatars.
Shadow clones, though useful in lower-stakes battles, would be of little use here against such overwhelming numbers. And the remaining thirty percent of their success?
That had come down to his own efforts. After all, this war had been his performance, start to finish. Without the support of Konoha’s forces, he couldn’t have defended Moonfall Mountain alone.
And, of course, Sakumo Hatake’s mission to sever Kumogakure’s supply line had been the final blow, the straw that broke the camel’s back.
“Now, it’s time to head to the Land of Rain,” Hui murmured, his gaze turning cold.
The Iwagakure forces had initiated this war—they were the true instigators. He felt a flash of regret for sparing Ōnoki.
Perhaps it would have been better to eliminate him right then. No matter. This time, he would finish the job.
Suddenly, a thunderous cheer erupted across the battlefield. Looking over the jubilant Konoha shinobi, Hui allowed himself a slight smile.
Whatever challenges awaited in the next battle, this was the moment to enjoy the fruits of their victory.
Night fell over the Konoha camp at Moonfall Mountain. There was no loud celebration, no cheers of victory.
Instead, there was only the sound of quick, purposeful movement as the shinobi packed supplies and prepared for their next deployment to the Land of Rain.
The journey would take them across nearly the entire Land of Fire and would not be a short one.
Although they had emerged victorious over Kumogakure, the larger war was far from over. Shinobi of Konoha continued to fight and fall on other fronts, their lives at risk each passing moment.
Hui knew that every day counted; the sooner he reached the Land of Rain, the fewer sacrifices Konoha would have to make.
“Hui-sama, everything is ready!” reported an elite shinobi, bowing respectfully.
“Good. Let’s move out.” Hui nodded.
At his command, the two-thousand-strong Konoha force mobilized, advancing swiftly.
Among the Konoha shinobi, one figure stood out.
The Third Raikage, Ay, had joined the march. Though Kumogakure had formally surrendered, Hui had been cautious not to leave the border defenceless.
If Kumogakure were to go back on its word, marching into the Land of Fire as soon as Konoha’s forces withdrew, the consequences could be disastrous.
As Kumogakure’s leader, Ay now served as a “hostage” of sorts—a living insurance policy. Should Kumogakure betray its surrender, the Raikage’s life would be forfeit.
Of course, this arrangement would only last until the war’s end, after which Hui would release the Third Raikage.
Surprisingly, Ay did not mind his role as a hostage. With Kumogakure officially withdrawn from the war, he had no plans of rejoining the conflict.
For him, accompanying the Konoha forces was merely a chance to observe Mochizuki Hui up close and learn more about this formidable young leader.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere in Konoha’s Land of Rain encampment was somber and tense. Hui’s victory at Moonfall Mountain had given their spirits a temporary lift, but it had also provoked Iwagakure and Sunagakure into launching even fiercer assaults.
These intensified attacks had turned the Land of Rain battlefield into a bloodbath, with countless shinobi from all sides perishing daily.
The conflict had become so severe that Konoha had even started sending genin—those who typically remained behind—into the grinder of battle.
The Iwagakure front line extended far into the distance, marking the position of the Konoha forces and the battlefield where the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju was stationed.
Hidden by the misty rain, a glint of respect could be seen in the eyes of the Iwagakure and Sunagakure commanders.
"Edo Tensei… truly, Tobirama Senju deserves his reputation as a master of ninjutsu for creating such a formidable technique," commented Shamon, his gaze fixed on the distant Konoha line.
Without Edo Tensei, this war would likely have ended long ago.
“It’s terrifying indeed… yet, don’t you feel as though something is missing?” murmured Mū, his voice heavy.
Shamon looked at him, puzzled, not quite understanding.
“Edo Tensei summons the dead to fight from the Pure Land. Throughout this war, we’ve seen countless familiar faces return to the battlefield. And yet… there are two people we haven’t seen.”
Understanding flashed across Shamon’s face, and he whispered, “Hashirama Senju, Madara Uchiha…”
“Exactly. These two men brought an end to the Warring States era and ushered in the age of shinobi villages,” Mū continued, his expression thoughtful.
“It’s said that Uchiha Madara was killed by Senju Hashirama. And shortly after, Hashirama himself passed away, likely weakened from that same battle. Their remains, we can assume, are in the hands of Tobirama Senju. And yet… he has yet to summon them with Edo Tensei. Doesn’t that seem… odd?”
Mū’s eyes gleamed. With those two on the field, this war would have been over in an instant.
While the Edo Tensei technique did weaken its subjects, these two legends would retain far more of their original strength than any others.
Perhaps in the early stages of the conflict, the situation hadn’t been dire enough to warrant their summons. But now, with Konoha in a precarious position, what could explain Tobirama’s restraint?
Mū and Shamon exchanged a glance, each understanding the other’s thoughts.
“It seems… Tobirama’s so-called trump card may not be as terrifying as we once thought,” Mū concluded.
“Let’s put it to the test tomorrow, then,” Shamon agreed, a hint of determination in his voice.
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