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Some people are born leaders.
Even without noble bloodlines, clan backing, or extraordinary wealth, some individuals rise to greatness through sheer determination, instinct, and the wisdom to seize every opportunity that comes their way.
By the end of July, the decisive battle between Konohagakure and Iwagakure finally broke out.
During the conflict, Konoha's elite jonin, Minato Namikaze, led a small force in a daring surprise attack. He infiltrated the heart of Iwagakure's formation, eliminated the Tsuchikage's designated successor, and escaped unscathed using his signature Flying Thunder God Technique.
That victory sealed the war in Konoha's favor.
By early August, following their defeat, Iwagakure proactively offered a peace treaty to the Hidden Leaf.
News spread quickly across the ninja world. Minato Namikaze's name became a symbol of glory and power.
In the Land of Lightning and the Land of Earth, he was hailed as the man who had secured Konoha's triumph in both conflicts. Overnight, the world forgot that Minato had once been just an orphan with nothing to his name.
That evening, bonfires blazed all around the Konoha camp.
A spontaneous celebration had erupted among the soldiers.
Minato Namikaze joined the festivities, humble as always, chatting casually with the lower-ranked ninja.
Moved by the camaraderie, clan leaders like Nara Shikaku and Uchiha Fugaku also joined in. Fugaku even brought along his young son.
Some of the other prominent clan heads, feeling the shift in the tide, also let go of their pride.
"Looks like our investment in Minato paid off."
"Those who supported Orochimaru will be eating his dust from now on."
They exchanged glances, comforted by their decision to back Minato.
But suddenly, a Leaf shinobi came dashing through the crowd in a panic.
"Minato-sama!"
Minato turned his head calmly. "Yes?"
"I've received word from the village—about the guard detail protecting the daimyo. They were attacked… about half a month ago."
The mood shifted instantly. The festive air evaporated. The only remaining sounds were drunken murmurs from distant corners of the camp.
The messenger dropped to one knee, lowering his head in shame.
"Team Three sustained a minor setback. The team leader and vice-leader have returned to the village safely."
Minato and Hyuga Hiashi both sighed in relief. The team's leader was Minato's fiancée, Uzumaki Kushina. The vice-captain was Hiashi's wife.
But then the messenger hesitated. Shikaku, always perceptive, noticed the change in his demeanor.
"If there's more, say it."
The messenger bowed deeply to both Shikaku and Fugaku.
"Team One... was completely wiped out. My deepest condolences."
The summer breeze rustled through the trees. Cicadas chirped. The fire crackled.
Uchiha Itachi, only four years old, tugged on his father's sleeve.
"Father… what does he mean, 'offer condolences'?"
Despite his age, Itachi already understood what death meant. He had heard these words before. But this time… he hoped for a different answer.
This time… he wanted it to not be true.
But for the first time in his life, Itachi saw tears in his father's eyes.
"Is it true?" Fugaku asked.
"Yes, sir."
"I understand." Fugaku forced a smile. He stood, pulling his son along, and bowed toward Minato.
"Minato, please excuse us. Itachi's tired. I'll take him to rest."
Minato nodded solemnly. "Understood. Tomorrow morning, you'll lead the Uchiha back to the village at full speed."
"Okay."
Without another word, Fugaku left with his son.
The rest of the celebration dissolved. No one felt like dancing or drinking anymore.
Minato approached Shikaku and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You should get some rest too. You don't have to hold it in."
Shikaku's wife, Nara Yoshino, had been the vice-captain of Team One.
Shikaku set down the apple he'd been eating and replied calmly, "I'm fine. Don't worry."
"Come on, man!" Choza said, wrapping his arm around Shikaku's shoulder.
"Let's walk with you," Inoichi added from the other side.
Even Minato looked concerned.
But Shikaku just shook his head.
"Really. I'm fine."
The others said no more. Some believed he was suppressing his grief. Others thought he was simply heartless.
Minato, however, couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
'He's really not sad at all. Is a man who feels nothing for his wife's death truly someone we can trust…?'
A hundred kilometers away…
Uchiha Mikoto wiped the sweat from her brow, breathing hard and panting lightly.
"Haa... Menma-kun, that's enough!"
"Stop throwing shuriken at me!"
A blade whizzed past her hair. She'd narrowly dodged another one.
Realizing she was outmatched, Mikoto raised both hands in surrender.
Even with her proud Uchiha techniques in ninja tool manipulation, she couldn't compete with the blonde boy.
Menma was just too strong!
"Haha! Mikoto, you're so weak!" Yoshino, who was lounging nearby, laughed and mocked her.
Mikoto shot her a glare. "This is all your fault! You asked me to spar—and now I'm getting pummeled by Menma!"
"Hmph!"
Yoshino trotted up to Naruto's side, clung to his arm, and stuck out her tongue.
"My husband's helping me out. That's normal, right?"
"If you're feeling salty, Mikoto, go get your husband. Let's see who's stronger—my Menma or your Fugaku."
Mikoto folded her arms and rolled her eyes.
'This woman… She's been married to Shikaku for over a year and never once called him "husband" sweetly. Now she's suddenly calling Naruto "my husband" after just a few days?! Unbelievable!'
To make it worse, Yoshino and Menma acted all lovey-dovey in front of her every day. They didn't even hide it when they snuck off to do naughty things—acting like she wasn't even there.
But Mikoto couldn't bring herself to be angry.
A few days ago, when she was kidnapped, it was Menma who had rescued her. Even after she was poisoned with a love toxin, he'd held back.
From that day on, both Mikoto and Yoshino began to see Naruto—who was using the alias "Menma"—in a new light.
Yoshino became more affectionate, while Mikoto slowly let down her guard.
Sometimes… even Mikoto didn't understand herself. She'd feel this inexplicable urge to get closer to him.
But her rationality always pulled her back.
She was married. She could not betray her husband, Uchiha Fugaku.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations to the host for completing Option 2: "Beat Uchiha Mikoto." You've earned 5% of Uchiha Mikoto's favorability.]
[Current favorability: 85%]
"If Mikoto gets mad later, I'm not helping you," Naruto said, pinching Yoshino's nose.
She pouted and raised her chin proudly. "Like hell you won't."
Naruto sighed. He didn't understand how she could act so spoiled. Other women tried to win his affection—but this one demanded it constantly.
He muttered, "If Mikoto's right, then I should help her."
Yoshino gasped and placed her hands on her hips. "You dare!"
"I do."
He hadn't chosen to spar with Mikoto just to help Yoshino win. It was a random decision.
If she kept acting like this, he might as well grab some popcorn and enjoy the show.
"You jerk!" Yoshino rubbed his face. "We just slept together and you're already looking at Mikoto? You heartless bastard!"
Naruto: "…"
Mikoto: "…"
'Could you not say that out loud?!'
Naruto grumbled, "Could you be more discreet? Mikoto's still here."
"Oh, now you're shy? You weren't shy when you were grinding on me in front of her!"
Yoshino said it so loudly that even the birds flew away.
Mikoto blushed. "You two carry on. I'm going for a walk."
Yoshino called after her, "Don't get kidnapped again, Mikoto! Menma might not be there to save you this time!"
"Haha, I won't go far," Mikoto replied, walking away quickly. "I'll be back soon."
Naruto flicked Yoshino's forehead. "What's wrong with you today? Why are you provoking her like that?"
"I'm jealous!" Yoshino puffed her cheeks. "You two are too close."
"Seriously? You were right there when Mikoto and I—"
"Your hearts are too close!"
Naruto gave up. "Okay, whatever."
Yoshino stared at Mikoto's retreating back. "Don't think I'm overreacting. Mikoto's totally been acting different toward you lately."
Naruto shrugged. "Didn't notice."
"That's because men don't have women's intuition."
"Hah! If I wanted Mikoto, I'd have taken her long ago."
Naruto leaned in and whispered, "I told you from the start: if one woman can't satisfy me, I'll find others."
A real man doesn't lie to women. He tells the truth, even if it stings.
Yoshino glared. "Who says I can't satisfy you?!"
Naruto smirked. "Oh really?"
She raised her chin. "Try me."
Under the starlight, with the moon above and mischief in their eyes, their distance melted into nothing.
Mikoto, from afar, clenched her fists.
'Can't these two not do this out in the open? What's wrong with them?!'
Mikoto groaned and jumped into a tree. She sat against the trunk, gazing at the stars.
The wind rustled through the trees. Yellow leaves fluttered down.
She caught one between her fingers.
She bit her lip and thought of her husband and son.
'I used to miss them so much… but now... not as much.'
"We'll meet soon."
They didn't return to Konoha. Instead, they moved toward the front lines.
It was Yoshino's idea. She said she wanted to finalize her divorce with Shikaku—and let Mikoto beat up Fugaku and take Itachi home.
But Mikoto could see through her friend.
'Yoshino, you're trying to push me into Fugaku's arms again.'
'You're wrong about me. Even if I have feelings for Menma, I won't betray my family…'
Land of Water – Kirigakure
The Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, stood in the central square wearing the blue-and-white robes of office.
Hundreds of elite ninja gathered before him, led by the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. Among them were the next generation's finest: Mei Terumi, Zabuza Momochi, and Kisame Hoshigaki.
Yagura glanced over the crowd.
"All of your contracts have expired," he said.
Confusion swept through the ranks. No Mizukage had ever summoned all jĹŤnin before.
Mei Terumi stepped forward. "Lord Mizukage, what's going on?"
Yagura frowned. >'Do I have to spell it out for you?'
He shouted, "We're an island nation with limited resources. We're poor!"
Mei blinked. "We know that. So what?"
'What the hell, girl—?!'
Yagura swallowed his irritation.
"Now is our chance. Sunagakure is even poorer than us and under siege from Kumogakure—they're finished."
"Kumogakure lost three consecutive battles against Sand, Stone, and Leaf—they're no longer a threat."
"Iwagakure fought Kumogakure to the brink and then got crushed by Konoha—they're finished too."
"And Konoha? Sure, they won—but they've exhausted themselves."
"Now is our moment!"
The Mist Village had remained neutral through every great ninja war. Decades of untouched strength lay waiting.
Yagura roared, "Everyone knows Konoha's resources rank near the bottom among the Five Great Nations. If we conquer them… we'll be rich!"