"Let's go!"
By the shores of the Land of Snow, a wooden boat waited. Standing aboard, Kamizuki Hikari glanced at the reluctant trio and urged them impatiently.
Unmoved by his lack of sentimentality, Ino rolled her eyes at him.
"Koyuki-nee, we'll head back first. When you come to Konoha, you have to visit me!"
"Don't worry, Ino." Kazahana Koyuki reassured her. "Once things settle here, I'll definitely come to Konoha. According to Sandayū's intel, there seems to be some tension between Konoha, Iwa, and Kumo. Be extra careful on your way back."
"No worries, we're plenty strong!" Ino boasted.
With their farewells exchanged, the Ino-Shika-Chō trio boarded the boat. Koyuki remained on the shore, watching as they drifted farther away until they vanished beyond the horizon.
On the boat, Hikari lounged lazily against the cabin seat while the three genin sat across from him, staring intently.
"I know I'm handsome, so Ino staring at me makes sense. But you two? That's just unsettling."
"Hikari-senpai!" Shikamaru called out.
"What? Speak up or shut up."
Shikamaru frowned. "Couldn't you tell Princess Koyuki wanted to say goodbye to you properly?"
"And what if I did? Should I have stayed and agreed to be her royal consort? Sure, I enjoy living off a rich woman's wealth, but the Snow Princess isn't in that category." Hikari's tone was as lazy as ever, leaving the trio baffled.
Ino chimed in, "But she's a queen! And she's beautiful! If you became her consort, you'd live in luxury for the rest of your life!"
Hikari waved her off. "Nah. Land of Snow is too cold, and the place is poor. That woman isn't just smitten with my looks—she's after my talent. That's why she wanted to keep me."
"Forget it. A handsome man like me isn't about to settle for one flower when there's a whole field of wild blossoms in the shinobi world!"
Shikamaru: '...Speechless.'
Chōji: "Senpai's words are always so... striking."
Ino: "He's truly the grandmaster of scumbags. Hikari-senpai, you've reached new heights of shamelessness!"
Just as the trio was about to say more, Hikari abruptly stood and hurried toward his room.
"Hikari-senpai, you—" Shikamaru began, but Hikari cut him off.
"I'm going to sleep. Don't disturb me unless I come out myself."
With that, he vanished into his room, leaving the three to ponder his words.
After a moment of silence, Ino ventured, "Do you think... Hikari-senpai is actually heartbroken about leaving Koyuki-nee and just doesn't want us to see him cry?"
"Impossible. The odds of that are less than one in ten thousand." Shikamaru had full faith in Hikari's scumbag integrity. A man who lived by his word, never lingering for any woman—he was the idol many men aspired to be.
Ino didn't argue. She, too, found the idea unlikely. But then why had Hikari rushed off so suddenly? Was someone waiting for him inside?
"Should we... peek?" she suggested, only to be met with disdainful looks from Shikamaru and Chōji.
Men spying on men? That's a dangerous suggestion.
---
At the border of the Land of Waterfalls and the Land of Grass.
The Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki.
The Fourth Raikage, A.
The Fifth Hokage, Tsunade.
The three Kage stood together, their presence alone enough to shift the air. Two kilometers away, shinobi from their respective villages stood ready, poised to intervene should their leaders need protection.
Konoha's forces were the most vigilant, their nerves taut. Several Hyūga clansmen worked in shifts, their Byakugan scanning the battlefield for any sign of danger.
Hatake Kakashi's hand hovered near his forehead protector. If Tsunade were in peril, he wouldn't hesitate to use Kamui—even if it meant ambushing the Tsuchikage or Raikage.
Maito Gai, brimming with energy, clenched his fists, prepared to unleash the Eight Gates at a moment's notice.
Yet, despite the tension among their subordinates, the three Kage stood calmly, exchanging casual remarks.
"Tsunade, it's been over a decade since I last saw you. You haven't aged a day." Ōnoki studied her youthful appearance, then glanced at his own aged body. If not for knowing her medical skills, he might've suspected forbidden jutsu.
"You old fossil just won't die, huh? How long are you planning to cling to that Tsuchikage seat? Give the younger generation a chance already!" Tsunade's sharp tongue hadn't dulled with time.
Ōnoki chuckled, unfazed. "Ah, age catches up to us all. Unlike Konoha, we in Iwa lack such prodigies. Though, I must say, the Third Hokage—serving so long only to be killed by his own student—now that's an impressive way to go."
"The Third Hokage died for Konoha. His sacrifice will never be forgotten." Tsunade delivered the diplomatic line, then turned to the Raikage.
She briefly considered provoking him with mentions of the Third Raikage, but that felt too underhanded—not her style.
"This battle is happening because the two of you want war. As Hokage, I have no choice but to stand against you—"
"Hold on."
Raikage A cut her off. "You're right about us wanting war. I'll admit that."
Ignoring Ōnoki's betrayed glare, A continued, "But that bit about you standing against us for Konoha? That doesn't sound quite accurate."
Tsunade waved a hand. "Details don't matter. What matters is that you two are trying to start a war, and—"
A interrupted again. "We admit we're instigating war. But your phrasing needs work."
Ōnoki, ignored by both, thought: 'So I'm just a prop here? Neither of you even care about me? And Raikage, I'm a pacifist! I never wanted war!'
Sadly, neither Tsunade nor A heard his internal grievances. After some back-and-forth, they reached a conclusion.
"Let's just fight."
"Yeah. A fight will settle everything." A cracked his knuckles.
Teaming up with an old man to fight a woman felt a little unfair... but for some reason, he was really looking forward to it.
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