At the border of the Land of Earth, Ōnoki led his team in a hurried march.
When they arrived at the Kanabi Bridge, they found it barricaded.
Something had happened in the Land of Grass!
Ōnoki frowned. "What's going on in Kusagakure? Where are our undercover ANBU operatives stationed there?"
"I don't know..."
Kitsuchi was baffled, staring at the assembled Grass ninjas ahead, unsure of the situation.
As Ōnoki pondered, a figure emerged from behind the Grass shinobi.
"Tsuchikage-sama, Kusagakure has undergone some changes. Leader Asano Yū has passed away, so we cannot host you at this time. Please refrain from crossing the border and causing complications."
In his hands, he held two ANBU-clad ninjas—captives.
It was Mui, the warden of Hōzuki Castle.
Ōnoki recognized him.
This man was a prodigy from his youth and had grown into a formidable force, tasked with overseeing some of the most dangerous criminals.
The ANBU in his grasp were indeed Ōnoki's subordinates.
Mui had personally intervened.
This confirmed that Kusagakure had undergone a major upheaval—one severe enough to pull him away from his duties.
Forcing a smile, Ōnoki replied, "Of course. Iwagakure has always sought friendly relations with Kusagakure. Since your village is dealing with internal matters, we won't intrude."
"These two belong to your side. Since we've encountered them, I'll return them to you, Tsuchikage-sama."
Mui remained composed as he handed them over.
Ōnoki nodded, accepting the prisoners before politely taking his leave.
On the way back, Kitsuchi still couldn't make sense of it.
"Did the Grass ninjas kill their own leader?"
"Unlikely."
Ōnoki shot his son a sidelong glance. "Kusagakure wouldn't dare. Even if they did, their attitude wouldn't shift this abruptly. Konoha must be behind this."
His mind raced—who had orchestrated this?
The retired Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen?
Danzo, hiding in the capital?
Or perhaps... Orochimaru?
Questions swirled, but answers would have to wait until the two unconscious operatives awoke.
Back at their camp, after medical treatment, the two ANBU soon regained consciousness.
The moment they saw Ōnoki, they frantically recounted what they had learned.
Kitsuchi paled. "You're not joking, are you?"
"How could we joke about something like this?"
The two ANBU wore bitter expressions.
Ōnoki sat silently in his chair, not uttering a word.
Two men. Two techniques.
Even hundreds of pigs wouldn't have been slaughtered so easily, let alone a hundred chūnin and jōnin.
Had Konoha somehow resurrected Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara?
His gaze turned icy. "Did you verify this with your own eyes?"
"At first, we also found it unbelievable. But after infiltrating, we saw the devastation near the Land of Fire's border. The destruction was horrifying—many bodies weren't even intact."
The ANBU operative's face was ashen.
The scene had been gruesome enough to shake him, let alone the Grass ninjas who had witnessed it firsthand.
Seeing his father's silence, Kitsuchi pressed further. "Who led the attack?"
"One of the Sannin—Jiraiya."
"Him?"
Kitsuchi was stunned.
The Sannin were legendary, but Jiraiya had always been seen as a man of peace, much like Hiruzen.
No one could have predicted that he would spearhead such a ruthless, overwhelming strike against Kusagakure.
It was...
Unthinkable.
He looked to his father.
Ōnoki remained silent.
If Konoha truly possessed such terrifying power, he would have to reconsider his plans against them. Otherwise, Iwagakure might charge in first, suffer heavy losses, and let others reap the benefits.
He forced a smile at Kitsuchi and the two operatives.
"Rest for now. We'll return to Iwagakure tomorrow and revise our strategies."
"Yes!"
---
To deter an enemy, the strongest method isn't outright destruction—but leaving them guessing about your true capabilities.
This was why Jiraiya had only deployed Might Dai and Chen Baojun.
Yet, the sheer impact of their display had left an indelible mark on Konoha's forces.
Upon returning to the Land of Fire, many longed to ask questions, but some held back out of courtesy, while others didn't wish to disturb Might Dai and Chen Baojun in their exhaustion.
Inside a temporary tent, Chen Baojun sat up, facing a young boy of about ten.
"Reki, did you see?"
"Yes, Chen-sensei!"
Kawakami Reki stood firm, tears streaming uncontrollably down his face.
Unable to master ninjutsu or genjutsu, he had strived to become an exceptional shinobi through sheer effort—yet, until now, he had lacked true direction and confidence.
But today...
He had found his beacon.
His teacher. Might Dai.
They were the proof that his path was valid.
"Work hard. One day, you too will become a remarkable taijutsu master, just like Dai!"
"Yes!"
---
Land of Fire, Eastern Border.
Kyohiko and his team reunited with the Ino-Shika-Chō trio near the Land of Hot Water.
After exchanging intel and responsibilities, they prepared to part ways.
"You four are tasked with stabilizing relations with Kumogakure. Don't get too distracted by the pleasures of the Land of Hot Water! You're still too young for that kind of excitement!"
Shikaku joked.
"We've been here before, and our teacher isn't with us this time. We'll manage just fine."
Kyohiko played along smoothly.
Since Uzumaki Yuki had been cared for by Shikaku's wife, Kyohiko had grown familiar with the Nara patriarch—more so than with the other two.
The forest soon echoed with laughter.
Jiraiya's reputation as a punchline never faded.
After the mirth subsided, Shikaku schooled his expression into seriousness.
"If you encounter danger, prioritize your safety above all else. The mission is secondary. These are the Hokage's orders—and our own stance."
"Understood."
Minato nodded.
He handed over a kunai engraved with a special mark.
"This is a marker for the Flying Thunder God Technique. If we're in trouble, we'll send word immediately."
"Good. We'll await your success."
Nara Shikaku accepted it.
Beyond their team, over a dozen elite squads—composed of jōnin and chūnin, including Hyūga and Aburame clansmen—were stationed nearby.
If conflict erupted, reinforcements could arrive swiftly.
With mutual well-wishes, they separated.
Kyohiko's team entered the Land of Hot Water, making their way toward the Land of Lightning.
Prior to their arrival, ANBU had already delivered Konoha's stance to Kumogakure, securing their cooperation.
Thus, their journey was free of threats—save for the terrain itself.
Upon entering the Land of Lightning, even Minato was taken aback.
Towering mountains dominated the landscape, leaving little room for habitation. Only a few valleys housed sizable populations, forming modest towns.
The further they traveled, the more apparent it became.
"The Land of Lightning is like this...?"
After half a day's trek, Kakashi struggled to articulate his thoughts.
The Land of Lightning was harsh.
He could only imagine the hardships its civilians endured. Compared to Konoha and the Land of Fire, their lives were paradise.
"No wonder they're so driven to grow stronger."
Gai murmured.
During the Chūnin Exams, aside from Kirigakure's ninjas, the ones who left the deepest impression were Kumogakure's.
Tenacious. Unyielding. Warlike.
Especially that girl—Nii Yugito.
Kyohiko smirked. "Feeling sorry for them?"
"Not exactly..."
Kakashi shook his head.
After a pause, he added, "I was just wondering what the other Great Nations are like."
"The Land of Wind's central and northern regions are endless deserts, with only a few oases sustaining life. The Land of Earth is slightly better..."
Minato elaborated on each nation's struggles.
Every country had its hardships.
"No wonder they want to fight us."
Kakashi sighed softly.
Kyohiko chuckled. "War between nations boils down to one thing: profit. Our conflict with Sunagakure stems from the Land of Rivers."
"The Land of Rivers?"
Kakashi pondered briefly before nodding in understanding.
He had been there before.
Logically, it should have been a fertile and prosperous land. Yet in reality, the Land of Rivers was plagued by chaos and warfare, becoming a haven for rogue ninjas while its citizens suffered immensely.
The root cause lay in its precarious position between two major hidden villages and nations, each vying to swallow this territory whole. The result was a stalemate where neither could claim it, and neither would allow it to develop properly.
"Peace... is so difficult."
He sighed deeply.
Minato walked ahead, scanning their surroundings but not joining their conversation.
Because he had no answers either.
Peace...
Even Jiraiya had fallen into deep confusion about it, let alone himself.
Kyohiko understood.
The incident in the Land of Grass had impacted everyone.
This was inevitable in wartime.
After some thought, he said, "Many nations wage war to plunder resources and expand their territories. All we can do is refrain from starting such wars ourselves."
Or perhaps establish a unified shinobi world.
Unify their consciousness, reduce conflicts.
Kyohiko added silently in his heart.
Kakashi nodded thoughtfully. "You're right. Complete peace is too difficult - we can only control our own actions."
Just then, four figures appeared at the mountain pass ahead.
"You must be the envoys from Konoha?"
One particularly burly and intimidating man stepped forward.
Judging by his appearance alone, no one would guess he specialized in speed.
Kyohiko glanced at Minato.
Minato gave a slight nod and stepped forward. "I am Namikaze Minato, leader of this squad. We've come to discuss future cooperation with your village."
"I'm A, here to receive you. But..."
A grinned fiercely. "Before that, I want to fight you!"
Then he turned to his three companions and said in a low voice, "Don't underestimate him. This man single-handedly stopped many of our ninjas!"
Kyohiko studied the others.
The one with spiked swords was clearly Killer B, while the other two were unfamiliar - probably jōnin from Kumogakure.
This lineup...
More like trying to intimidate them than welcome them.
Minato looked between the four opponents and his three teammates. "Ninjas emphasize teamwork. Why don't we all participate?"
"Oh?"
A's eyebrow twitched.
His expression turned cold. "You have three children with you. Are you suggesting they're stronger than our jōnin?"
Highly competitive by nature, A had prepared thoroughly for this challenge by gathering intelligence on Minato.
Minato's attitude displeased him greatly.
"Or are you looking down on Kumogakure's ninjas?"
"Not at all."
Minato smiled. "I simply have full confidence in my subordinates' abilities. Besides, we also have an exceptional jōnin from Konoha with us."
He gestured to Kyohiko.
Understanding the cue, Kyohiko stepped forward with a calm smile.
Killer B studied him intently. "Bro, that's Ryoho Kyohiko that Yugito talked about."
Ryoho Kyohiko?
A searched his memory before recalling the name.
Konoha's child prodigy, promoted to jōnin at eight years old, who swiftly defeated Yugito when she was cloaked in her bijuu's chakra...
Did this boy truly possess strength worthy of Minato's confidence?
A's interest was piqued.
His attitude softened slightly as he nodded. "Fine. Then I'll see what your subordinates are capable of. B, Murasawa, Wada - you're all joining too."
"Yes!"
The three responded in unison.
Kyohiko turned to his teammates and whispered, "Kakashi, pay close attention to their techniques and fighting styles."
Huh?
Kakashi glanced at him before realizing -
Of course!
When it came to lightning-style ninjutsu, who could rival Kumogakure's ninjas?
Minato and Kyohiko wanted them all to fight together precisely so he could observe and learn Kumogakure's combat methods!
He nodded subtly.
"Then..."
A grinned fiercely as explosive chakra erupted from his body. In an instant, he closed the distance between them.
However.
Almost simultaneously, a wall of water surged from the ground to block his path.
Water Style: Water Wall!
Unlike ordinary water walls, this one swirled violently like a whirlpool, its rotational force capable of repelling most attacks.
But -
"It won't stop me!"
A roared as he charged straight through, throwing a devastating punch.
The water wall shattered!
Inside, the Konoha team had already formed their battle positions.
With perfect synchronization, Killer B appeared beside A, his spiked blades piercing through the watery aftermath.
Just then, A saw Kyohiko's hand seals change.
Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!
"Fall back."
Kyohiko's gaze sharpened as he formed seals.
With just two hand signs, the remnants of the water wall coalesced around him, transforming into a roaring aquatic dragon.
The massive creature reared up before surging toward them with terrifying force.
Whoosh!
Minato, Kakashi and Gai scattered in different directions.
A and Killer B also used their speed to retreat.
But -
The next moment, they saw Kyohiko maintaining the water dragon with one hand while forming seals with the other. A shadow clone instantly appeared beside him.
The clone rushed forward and grabbed the dragon's head, forcibly altering its trajectory.
Killer B, who had just avoided the initial assault, realized his danger too late.
Boom!
Tentacle-like appendages sprouted around him as a protective shield.
The water dragon transformed into a spinning drill, relentlessly boring into his defenses while razor-sharp water blades sprayed outward.
Killer B had seen Water Dragon Bullet techniques before, but never one like this.
Miscalculating for just a moment left him with no time to dodge now. The razor-sharp water blades forced Murasawa and Wada to keep their distance, let alone attempt a rescue.
Just then, A flashed to his side.
With chakra concentrated to an extreme, he chopped down with his fist—
The rampaging water dragon shattered, dispersing into countless blades that shot outward in all directions.
From the shadows, Kakashi watched in astonishment.
Kyohiko's Water Dragon Bullet had evolved yet again...
Water dragon. Water blades.
Combining two transformations made the technique far harder to defend against.
But—
This Kumogakure ninja called "A" had split the dragon apart with his bare hands, his body withstanding the subsequent blades.
Just how formidable was his defense?
He immediately understood what Kyohiko wanted him to observe—
This unique Lightning Style defense!
Even if not everyone could master it, learning even fragments of this technique might make his Lightning Style: Rasengan safer to use.
While they were amazed, A and Killer B were even more stunned.
The massive tail tentacles had been severed halfway, though they were rapidly regenerating. Never had they encountered a Water Dragon Bullet with such destructive power.
It reminded them of Senju Tobirama.
The Second Hokage, too, had wielded immensely powerful water techniques.
Just like the man before them.
Could this person be Senju Tobirama's reincarnation?
While they were still reeling, two pained cries rang out beside them.
A turned to look.
On the other side, the Konoha ninjas had knocked out Murasawa and Wada—though how they'd done it was unclear.
So fast!
"Now it's four against two," Minato said with a smile. "As you can see, we never underestimated your village's strength. On the contrary, we came with the utmost sincerity."
A considered this briefly before nodding in acknowledgment.
"In terms of coordination and tacit understanding, your team is indeed superior. But with just the two of us left, that doesn't mean we'll lose."
He glanced at his companion. "B, you ready?"
Killer B drew his twin swords. "Of course, bro, you dummy—"
Wham!
A punched him in the head, roaring, "Not the time for your weird rapping!"
"Right!"
Killer B promptly straightened up.
Minato quietly tucked away two kunai and grinned. "Let's go again!"
Immediately, A and Killer B charged straight for Kyohiko.
Take out the ninjutsu specialist first!
But—
In the next instant, Kyohiko formed a one-handed seal while drawing his blade.
Genjutsu: Konoha Style—Willow!
A froze in place.
Recognizing the illusion, Killer B extended a tentacle toward his partner.
The moment the genjutsu broke—
A kunai came flying.
He blocked it with his sword.
Yet the next second, Minato appeared where the kunai had been.
Simultaneously, Kyohiko closed in, his blade aimed at Killer B, while Kakashi and Gai followed right behind, pressing the attack.
Minato gripped the kunai.
Rasengan!
A's pupils contracted.
He hadn't expected Kyohiko to wield genjutsu.
Though the distraction lasted only an instant, at their level, that was enough to be fatal. Fortunately, his speed and reflexes were extraordinary—he twisted aside just in time.
In fact—
A countered with a lightning-charged elbow strike.
Lightning Style: Lariat!
If this connected—
He was already calculating how to pull his punches to avoid killing anyone, when suddenly—
His target vanished.
Where'd he go?
A blanked for a split second before realizing—
Behind him.
How?!
The kunai!
He recalled the projectile flying past earlier, but it was too late—
BOOM!
The Rasengan hammered him into the ground, kicking up a massive dust cloud.