The results of the exam were no surprise—Minato and his two teammates all passed without issue. Perhaps thanks to the encouragement from Mikoto and Kushina, Kuugetsu displayed a rare initiative during the graduation exam.
Without relying on her inner personality, she successfully defeated the opposing genin using her own swordsmanship and advanced smoothly.
After receiving their forehead protectors, the trio didn't return to the academy to show off. However, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, made time to visit the academy and officially announced the launch of the "prodigy team" plan.
He revealed the names of the nine prodigies selected for the inaugural group: the three from Hoshiyomi's squad, the previous generation of Ino–Shika–Chō, the Hyūga brothers, and a promising younger Uchiha.
The news landed like a slap in the face for those who had once mocked Kuugetsu. The once-unknown girl from the Uchiha clan had instantly become a hot topic throughout the entire academy.
But none of that mattered to Kuugetsu now—because she was currently undergoing intense pre-battle training under Hoshiyomi's watchful eye.
Since Kushina wouldn't be deployed to the frontlines, and Minato's only shortcoming was his lack of experience in lethal combat, the primary focus of Hoshiyomi's training was Kuugetsu.
Because he knew of her split personalities, Hoshiyomi tailored a specialized regimen for each. Her main personality trained in chakra control, basic ninjutsu, and taijutsu fundamentals.
But when it came to real combat experience—facing death, adapting under pressure, and mastering lethal skill—it was all entrusted to her inner personality.
Kuugetsu was a unique case. Hoshiyomi didn't expect the main personality to adapt quickly on the battlefield. So instead, he invested his most advanced combat techniques in her inner personality.
If Kuugetsu was to survive war, her trump card needed to be fully mastered.
And the inner Kuugetsu didn't disappoint. Gifted in kenjutsu from the start, she progressed at lightning speed under the guidance of her two-tomoe Sharingan.
With the Sharingan's almost cheat-like learning advantage, paired with Hoshiyomi's one-on-one sparring, she experienced a breakthrough in her swordsmanship within just two weeks.
At this point, Kuugetsu in her inner personality state could fight Minato without his Body Flicker Technique to a standstill. That level of growth was nothing short of astonishing.
...
Meanwhile, at the Rain Country frontline...
Danzo's face showed an undeniable look of smug satisfaction.
His strategic deployments during the offensive had all gone according to plan. The negotiations with Hanzō of the Salamander had gone unexpectedly smoothly. It was clear that Hoshiyomi's earlier assault had left a deep impression.
Danzo wasn't quite Kage-level, but he'd met enough of them to recognize the subtle shifts in aura. He could sense it—Hanzō's former ferocity had faded. Though still powerful, the man had lost the will to dominate the shinobi world.
In front of Konoha's delegation, he blustered—but it was all surface.
Danzo quickly secured a formal alliance. In return for a large shipment of food, Hanzō agreed to direct his forces toward Sunagakure's front, rather than interfere with Konoha.
Of course, Hanzō only brought a token number of jōnin—barely ten of them. He clearly had no intention of fighting in earnest.
But Danzo didn't care. So long as Hanzō didn't interfere, Konoha's hands were untied.
With the Rain leader's surrender, Konoha's stalled twin forces finally began to move.
They bypassed the former Four-Village War Zone and established strongholds in territories previously under Amegakure control. The sudden alliance caught both Iwagakure and Sunagakure completely off guard.
Before either village could redeploy their forces, Konoha had already seized the high ground.
But it wasn't the alliance alone that had Danzo so pleased—it was the fact that he'd successfully pried a piece from Hoshiyomi's camp.
No matter how cunning you are, Hoshiyomi, he sneered internally, you still have to drink from my washbasin eventually.
Just as he'd expected, the frontlines had become a fortress under Hoshiyomi's design. Nearly every key post was filled with his loyalists—young shinobi who revered him.
That, ironically, gave Danzo peace of mind.
If the frontlines had been arranged the same way they were before Hoshiyomi arrived, Danzo would have found it suspicious.
Thinking about this, Danzo couldn't help but show a look of mockery.
He mocked and ridiculed me so much, but in the end, he's doing the same thing I am.
With Hoshiyomi's current arrangement at the frontlines, if anyone claimed he had no ambitions, Danzo wouldn't believe it even if you beat him to death.
Gekkō Hoshiyomi? Just another self-righteous hypocrite chasing fame.
If anyone else had come here, they'd have resigned themselves to failure after seeing such an arrangement. But who was he, Danzo?
Once he confirmed that Hoshiyomi, Jiraiya, and the others had all left the front—and that Jiraiya had no interest in commanding—Danzo struck.
Using lies, manipulation, and forbidden techniques, he dug a tunnel through the fortress wall.
Quietly, he turned a few squad leaders on the frontlines into his own agents.
With them under his command, Hoshiyomi's plans were no longer secret. All Danzo needed was the right moment—and he would end this so-called "Konoha's Silver Moon."
Just as he was envisioning Hoshiyomi's downfall, a Root operative burst into his tent.
"Danzo-sama—urgent news!"
"Speak clearly," Danzo said, frowning.
But the man was too shaken to take his time. He rushed his report:
"Sunagakure and Iwagakure's frontlines have just received massive reinforcements. They're fully mobilized and ready for battle."
"One of our embedded agents within Sunagakure managed to get word out before dying—thanks to his intel, our defense perimeter avoided heavy losses."
"But… that's not the worst part."
Danzo's eyes narrowed.
"Iwagakure dispatched a unit we'd only heard about in rumors—the earth release burrowing unit. They bypassed the main battlefield entirely and looped around to launch a sneak attack on the supply convoy meant for Hanzō."
"They burned everything. Massive stockpiles of food—all destroyed."
"Hanzō is furious. He's demanding Konoha replace the shipment immediately. Otherwise, he says he won't be able to maintain control over Amegakure—and that the alliance... will collapse."
Danzo's expression darkened instantly. The smugness vanished. With a thunderous bang, he slammed his palm onto the table.
"Damn that Ōnoki... treacherous old dog!"
After venting, Danzo forced himself to calm down. He took a long breath.
"What's the situation on the main battlefield? Can we hold our lines?"
The Root agent hesitated.
"Due to the massive enemy redeployments, many of our spies have gone dark. We don't have a clear picture of their formations."
"My recommendation... is that you, Danzo-sama, request emergency reinforcements from Konoha."
He took a breath before continuing.
"Specifically—summon Hoshiyomi and his team back to the front. If the enemy is fielding elite forces, we won't be able to hold both fronts at once without their help."