The darkness before dawn was at its deepest.
On the hillside, Tsume Inuzuka was curled in Saiki's arms, her breathing steady and rhythmic.
Under the moonlight, traces of tears still lingered at the corners of her eyes, but her lips wore a faint, serene smile.
Kuromaru lay in the grass three meters away, his ears twitching occasionally as he stood guard over the couple who had just crossed the forbidden line.
Saiki was not asleep.
He stared at the starry sky, his mind rapidly organizing the current situation.
Kumogakure was defeated, and the defeat was absolute.
The Third Raikage was dead, his son Ay was dead, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki was captured, and nearly half of their several thousand elites were lost.
This single battle was enough to ensure the Hidden Cloud would not recover for at least a decade.
But this did not mean peace had arrived.
Iwagakure was still watching like a tiger, the Mist had just opened a new front on the coast, and the Sand was stirring on the borders.
Konoha was still strained on three fronts; it was just that the thickest thorn, the Cloud, had been plucked out.
However, at this moment, he felt incredibly calm.
But this calm was different from that of an ordinary person.
It wasn't satisfaction or happiness, but a kind of... near-void clarity.
Power.
That word had lost its meaning to Saiki.
Many ninjas spent their entire lives striving to become a Jonin—which required talent, daily grueling cultivation, and experience forged in countless life-and-death struggles.
To become a Kage, one needed to reach the pinnacle in a specific field: the Third Raikage's physical body and Lightning Style, Onoki's Particle Style, Hiruzen Sarutobi's mastery of all five elements...
And the Tailed Beasts were viewed as "natural disasters" by the shinobi world, requiring the strength of an entire village to barely contend with.
But none of this mattered to the current Saiki.
Two years ago, he had successfully condensed that breath of Pre-natal Qi and engaged in Dual Cultivation with Tsunade, merging Yin and Yang—he had already stepped onto the threshold of "Entering the Path."
And his two-year slumber in Shikkotsu Forest, while seemingly for recovery, was actually a total metamorphosis of his life-tier.
He had Entered the Path.
Even if he was still far from true "Enlightenment," his essence had already transcended the category of "Human."
This included the category of "Ninja."
What is a ninja?
An existence that uses chakra, weaves hand signs to perform ninjutsu, and fights using techniques and experience.
And Saiki?
He did not need hand signs.
Every one of his thoughts could trigger the natural energy of heaven and earth.
Every swing of his blade contained the will to sever the very rules of the world.
His existence itself was a negation of the common sense of the shinobi world.
Two years ago, because his foundation was unstable, he had flaws in combat and moments of exhaustion.
But now...
Saiki raised his hand, his five fingers gently closing into a fist.
There were no chakra fluctuations, no traces of ninjutsu.
But the surrounding air seemed to solidify instantly.
Light warped in his palm, forming a miniature, slowly rotating vortex.
It was pure energy condensation, a manifestation of the "Dao," a primordial power that transcended the chakra system.
If he encountered Madara Uchiha's Shapeshifting Clone again now, he would only need a single strike to annihilate it.
A Kage?
A Tailed Beast?
Utterly fragile.
Even the legendary progenitor of chakra, Kaguya Otsutsuki...
In Saiki's eyes, she was merely a "Tree Demon"—relying on the God Tree to devour planetary energy. Her essence was still within the realm of "Technique," a mere accumulation of external force.
But Saiki was "Dao."
It was a fundamental leap in the level of life itself.
There was an essential gap between the two.
This near-invincibility brought not joy, but...
Emptiness.
Saiki released his hand, and the energy vortex in his palm dissipated silently.
His power had come too easily.
He didn't need decades of bitter cultivation like other ninjas, didn't need to struggle for breakthroughs between life and death, and didn't even have to pay a price.
He had just taken a nap and transformed from a "powerhouse" into something "non-human."
This leap made him lose the tangible feeling of "getting stronger," the tension of "combat," and even... some of the emotions of being a "human."
Such as fear, desire, or the obsession with power.
He would still protect Tsunade, Kushina, Nono'u, and Tsume; he would still fight for Konoha.
But that wasn't out of "duty" or "emotion," but because... it was the "Path" he had chosen.
Protecting those he wanted to protect, ending the endless wars, and creating a peaceful world—this was his "Daoist Intent," the only "meaning" he could still feel after Entering the Path.
Beyond that, everything had become... indifferent.
"Mmm..."
"You're awake?" Saiki said softly.
The eyelashes of Tsume Inuzuka in his arms flickered, and she slowly opened her eyes.
When she realized she was lying naked in the arms of her student, her cheeks instantly turned a deep crimson.
"Saiki... g-good morning..." she stammered.
"Morning. The sun is coming up." Saiki stood up, picked up the scattered clothes from the side, and handed them to her. "It's time to head back to camp."
Tsume took the clothes, turned her back to him, and dressed quickly.
Her movements were a bit frantic, and her fingers were trembling slightly.
Saiki looked at her slender waist and the smooth curve of her back, a surge of pity welling in his heart.
This seemingly iron woman was actually more fragile inside than anyone.
"Tsume." He walked up behind her and helped her fasten the belt on the side of her flak jacket.
This intimate gesture made Tsume's body stiffen.
She stole a glance at him.
In the morning light, Saiki's profile was sharp and masculine, his eyes calm and empty of ripples, as if the passion of the previous night had just been a dream.
"Saiki... in the future... call me Teacher in front of others." She lowered her head, her voice very soft. "In private... you can do whatever you want."
Saiki understood her concerns—the teacher-student relationship, her status as a widow—these were all shackles that needed careful handling.
"Alright." He nodded and pressed a soft kiss to the back of her neck.
Tsume gave a small shiver but did not pull away.
The two of them finished dressing, and Kuromaru came running over, wagging his tail.
Tsume rubbed his head, a gentle smile appearing on her face.
In that moment, she transformed back into the tough kunoichi once again.
Side by side, they walked down the hillside with Kuromaru following silently behind.
The morning mist began to permeate the mountain forest, and the cooking smoke from the distant Konoha camp slowly rose.
By the time they returned to the camp, most people were already awake.
As Saiki and Tsume appeared together, the atmosphere in the camp changed subtly.
Some bowed their heads in reverence, while others—such as a few remaining ninjas from the Sarutobi and Shimura clans—had suppressed hatred flashing in their eyes.
"Lord Saiki!" A messenger ninja ran over and respectfully handed over a scroll. "Lord Jiraiya asked me to give you the draft of the battle report for your review. He also requests your presence at the command tent."
Saiki took the scroll and scanned it quickly.
The report was written very objectively, detailing the deaths of the Third Raikage and Ay, the capture of the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, and the casualty figures for the Cloud forces.
Understanding the situation, Saiki walked toward the main tent.
Inside the command tent, Jiraiya and Minato Namikaze were studying a map.
Seeing Saiki enter, both of them looked up simultaneously.
"Saiki," Jiraiya got straight to the point. "The Cloud is essentially handled, but the situation with the Mist... it's not looking good."
He pointed to the coastal region on the map. "The Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi, is leading the front personally. The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist have all been deployed, along with two elite Anbu divisions and three thousand Mist shinobi. The only high-end combatant Konoha has over there is Fugaku Uchiha."
Minato added, "Clan Head Fugaku has awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, and his strength is formidable. But on the Mist side... Mizukage Yagura and every member of the Seven Swordsmen possess power close to the Kage level. Although the Uchiha elites are all there, the pressure is simply too high."
"What about the other clans?" Saiki asked.
"The Hyuga are dealing with the remnant Stone pressure on the Land of Grass line, and the Ino-Shika-Cho families are scattered across various battlefields." Jiraiya gave a bitter smile. "The civilian ninjas of the Leaf are filling the gaps, but against the Mist's elites... the casualties are heavy."
He looked at Saiki, his gaze solemn. "We need you to support the Mist front. Only you can change the tide of that battle in the shortest time possible."
Saiki did not answer immediately.
He had already learned about the Mist front from Tsunade and had long ago decided to go.
But at this moment, as he looked at the front lines marked on the map, he wasn't thinking of "support," but rather... "cleansing."
The Mist, like the Cloud, was a participant in this war.
Therefore, all those who instigated the conflict were obstacles that needed to be scrubbed away.
"I understand," Saiki finally spoke. "I'm leaving now."
Jiraiya and Minato exchanged a look, both sighing in relief.
"How many men do you need?" Minato asked.
"None." Saiki turned and walked toward the tent exit. "I am enough on my own."
His tone was flat, yet it carried an unquestionable confidence.
"Lord Saiki." A ninja bowed respectfully.
Saiki nodded in response and walked directly toward the Medical Corps.
He wanted to see Rin.
But halfway there, a silhouette blocked his path.
It was Kurenai Yuhi.
She was wearing dark red shinobi gear today, her long hair tied in a high ponytail. Her face carried a hint of nerves, but her eyes were resolute.
"Saiki-kun." She spoke, her voice lower than usual.
"Kurenai." Saiki stopped. "What's wrong? I was just about to go looking for you."
Kurenai bit her lip, then seemed to make a final decision. "Yesterday... Rin went to find you first. Today... it's my turn."
The words were a bit disjointed, but Saiki understood perfectly.
He looked at her.
Kurenai's eyes were beautiful—a deep, piercing red, like the light of a sunset or a burning flame.
In those eyes right now, there was adoration, tension, and a stubborn refusal to lose.
Saiki suddenly remembered that two years ago, they were members of the same team.
Kurenai was his teammate; though the gap in their strength was vast, she had never stopped trying to catch up.
Their relationship was indeed more familiar than his bond with Rin—training together, executing missions together.
"Kurenai," Saiki said softly. "You've grown."
Those words made Kurenai's eyes turn red instantly.
It wasn't just Rin; during the two years Saiki was gone, she had missed him terribly. She had been working hard to become strong, to follow in his footsteps.
She forced back her tears and looked up. "Yes, I have. So... there are things I can finally say."
She took a deep breath. "Saiki-kun, I like you. I've liked you so, so much since two years ago."
The confession was blunt and brave.
The surrounding ninjas pretended not to hear, walking away quickly.
Saiki looked at her in silence. He knew exactly what kind of man he was, but a maiden's love was something they had to decide for themselves.
"Kurenai," he finally said. "Thank you for your feelings. However, I don't have much time right now. After the war is over, we can have a long talk."
It was just a "thank you."
No acceptance, no rejection, but the door was left open.
Kurenai's eyes dimmed for a microsecond, but she quickly managed a smile. "Are you going somewhere in a hurry?"
"Yes. The Mist front needs reinforcements."
She looked surprised. "You're heading to the Mist front?"
Saiki nodded.
"Then... be careful," Kurenai said. "I... I will wait for you back in the village."
With that, she turned and ran away.
Her back looked frantic, but her steps were firm.
Saiki watched her go, then continued toward the Medical Corps.
Inside the Medical Corps tent, Rin Nohara was busy treating the wounds of a severely injured Leaf Chunin.
Her movements were skilled, her gaze focused, and beads of sweat dotted her forehead.
"Rin." Saiki stood at the entrance.
Rin looked up, her eyes igniting the moment she saw him. "Saiki-kun!"
Once she finished her current task, she hurried over to him.
"Are you alright? You killed so many enemies alone yesterday..." Rin's voice was full of worry.
"I'm fine," Saiki said. "And you? How are you holding up?"
"I'm good." Rin wiped her brow. "It's just that there are so many casualties, we're barely keeping up."
She looked at Saiki, wanting to say more.
"Well, I came to tell you I'm leaving. I have to head to the Mist front."
Hearing this, Rin's face filled with concern, and she reached out to grab his hand. "You're going to the Mist battlefield? Will it be dangerous?"
"No. Trust me."
"Then... come back safe," Rin said. "I... we are all waiting for you in the village."
We.
The word was used with deep intent.
Saiki nodded. "I will."
Finally, he found Tsume Inuzuka.
She was currently checking her gear, preparing to lead a squad on a reconnaissance mission.
"Sensei Tsume," Saiki said.
Tsume turned around, a flicker of confusion on her face. "Leaving already?"
"Mm."
"Be careful!" Even knowing his strength, she couldn't help but nag.
"I will," Saiki said. "You too. Be careful on your mission."
"I know."
After the farewell, Saiki turned and left.
In the open space outside the camp, the white Auspicious Cloud manifested over Saiki's head, expanding until it was large enough to stand on.
He leaped onto the cloud.
Below, the Konoha ninjas looked up in awe.
Rin ran out of the medical tent, looking up and waving.
Kurenai stood on a high point, her red hair dancing in the wind, her gaze resolute.
Tsume led her squad out of the camp, stole one last look back, and continued her march.
Minato and Jiraiya stood together in front of the command tent, watching him go.
Saiki stood on the cloud, looking down at the people below, his heart at peace.
Then, the cloud ascended, carrying him toward the Mist front.
His speed was extreme, and in seconds, he was just a white dot on the horizon.
The next battlefield awaited.