"Sarutobi, after so many people have died, will you still keep enduring this?"
"How many times have you endured this already?"
Upon hearing the grim news from the frontlines, Shimura Danzo arrived immediately.
He kept pushing Sarutobi Hiruzen to start a war.
In his opinion, besides Yugito Nii, the Two-Tails jinchuriki, what other powerful experts did Kumogakure have?
Any? None at all.
So as long as they could hold off Yugito, the Kumogakure ninjas would be completely at Konoha's mercy.
Besides, jinchuriki rarely left their villages in the first place.
He believed this was a guaranteed victory!
Hiruzen puffed his pipe and let out a long sigh, blowing smoke rings that drifted straight into Danzo's face.
This time, he didn't reject Danzo's idea outright, nor did he agree with it.
He remained silent for a long while.
Danzo, now enveloped in smoke, had no choice but to leave in frustration.
The deaths of over three hundred ninja weren't announced publicly within the village, but the news spread quickly within the ranks of the ninja.
Maeda Mineo walked into the Ninja Academy with a worried expression. Seeing the students before him unaware of everything, laughing and fooling around, his heart felt heavy.
If they truly entered a preparation-for-war phase, the original six-year curriculum could slash the six-year curriculum in half—reducing it to just three years—and send students straight into battle after graduation.
Isn't the group he currently taught already in their third year?
"Take this seriously!"
At the training ground, Maeda kicked over a laid-back student with one foot while scolding angrily.
"Teacher suddenly became really strict," Hiroki Hyuga said, sitting on the ground.
"I heard adults talking; we might go to war soon," Hana Inuzuka, her face painted with war paint, added. "That must be why…"
"Aren't we always fighting wars?"
"This won't be like now. It'll be like the Third Great Ninja War—with full village alert status. Every ninja might be sent to the battlefield!" Hana expressed anxiously.
Seeing the worried, fearful look on her face, Hiroki asked curiously, "Have you been to a battlefield before? You seem to know so well."
"No," Hana shook her head repeatedly, still looking shaken. "War means death and injury everywhere. I've seen members of my clan carrying corpses and moving the wounded in and out… It's terrifying."
Hiroki pressed his lips together and nodded slightly.
Indeed terrifying.
What's even scarier? Making kids carry the weight of war.
From what he could tell, in any era, newborns should be highly valued.
But the Ninja World seemed an exception.
Even back when Kaguya first appeared in the human world, ten-year-olds didn't go to battle with weapons.
Yet here in today's world, children under ten going to kill enemies on the battlefield seemed perfectly normal—even celebrated. Some took pride in it, calling these kids geniuses for being able to fight so young.
Chakra's spread had accelerated the entire world.
People gained power faster now.
Ninjas had become increasingly ruthless, but heading down the wrong path. Everyone was treated as expendable—including children.
What sent chills down the spine was that no one raised objections. They had all grown accustomed to it.
To them, it seemed perfectly normal for a child five or six years old—or even younger—to train for several years and then take on combat missions.
They had been fully conditioned.
This was an absurdly twisted world. Ordinary people living outside the Five Great Ninja Villages might not even live to see old age—they could easily be killed by evildoers.
But if they lived within a ninja village, they might survive until old age only to experience the tragedy of outliving their own children.
Though safer, ninja villages subtly influenced residents' thinking, instilling admiration for ninjas into everyday life.
Once ordinary citizens' offspring reached the appropriate age, they might be sent to the Ninja Academy or independently seek knowledge related to ninjas.
Once this militarized education began, their thoughts would gradually become domesticated too.
Their minds were packed with nothing but killing techniques. How could they possibly think of anything else?
If they ever did awaken to reality and lose their innocence, they'd likely turn dark like Obito Uchiha and Nagato, blaming the world itself.
Schooling, graduation, becoming a ninja, completing missions, dying unexpectedly—that was the fate trajectory for many ninjas.
In the Hokage Building, clan leaders from various prominent families in Konoha came and went constantly.
Hiruzen Sarutobi remained indecisive about whether to go to war. He couldn't make up his mind.
He was dying to know what others really thought.
However, these clan leaders were all shrewd individuals, unwilling to easily reveal their true thoughts.
Except for Danzo Shimura, no one clearly expressed wanting to start a war—all gave vague responses indicating willingness to follow the Hokage's instructions.
After all, they weren't sure whether Konoha could suppress Kumogakure.
If they miscalculated and set a wrong tone, they might bear responsibility later during settlements.
Not everyone enjoyed the Third Hokage's special favor like Danzo did.
Thus, high-ranking officials continued holding endless meetings while villagers sensed something significant might happen, worrying anxiously.
Amidst this atmosphere, Hiroki Hyuga entered winter vacation—a special day arrived for the Hyuga clan.
It was the third birthday of Hinata Hyuga, the clan heir.
This was a joyful occasion for the Main House, yet mixed emotions existed in the Branch House.
Because this meant another group of Branch House children would receive the Caged Bird seal—including Neji Hyuga.
Hiroki didn't involve himself in anything. Whether within the clan or at school, he remained low-key.
Already proficient in body activation, he could handle himself against an average Chunin without difficulty, yet he still maintained his usual academic performance.
Other transmigrated protagonists might have already completed their overpowered protagonist arcs, but he was content to remain a background character.
On Hinata's third birthday celebration, every Hyuga member attended—the only exception being Hiashi Hyuga, the clan head. Everyone else must offer blessings and good wishes for her.
Hiroki's first impression of this young lady was—roundness.
Round head, round face, round brain, straight bangs with short hair, plus two large round Byakugan eyes—she looked absolutely adorable.
Hiashi Hyuga and Hinata Hyuga stood at the very center as members of the Branch House approached one by one to bow before them.
Though she was the official heir to the Hyuga clan, this was also Hinata's first time attending such a major gathering.
To protect her in her early years, Hiashi and his wife hardly ever took her out in public before she turned three.
Clutching tightly onto Hiashi's large hand, Hinata was bundled in thick clothing. Her expression was both shy and dazed as she nervously looked at the approaching Hyuga clansmen.
A cold winter breeze blew, bringing a faint flush to her cheeks.
She's just three and already a certified social anxiety case...
"Kaguya, what do you think of her?" Hiroki Hyuga glanced at Hinata from the back of the crowd and mentally conversed with Kaguya.
"Hmm?"
"You know… control?"
"Who? You don't mean that child, do you? She's only three. What could she possibly do or say that would matter?" Kaguya's tone carried clear confusion.
"She may be young, but she's now the sole heir to the entire Hyuga clan. Through her, we could control the whole family."
Kaguya scoffed, clearly unimpressed with the diluted bloodline of the Hyuga.
"And what value does this clan even hold?"
Hiroki fell silent for a moment, with nothing to say.
<><><><><><><><>
Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!
~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** on the weekend!