[NTU] [ARC-26] Chapter : 336

The muddy ground trembled beneath the feet of an enormous army—ninjas clad in the symbols of different villages, moving together in a powerful, unified march toward the Land of Rain.

To completely overwhelm the enemy, the Allied Shinobi Forces had launched a multi-pronged advance, pushing in from the Fire, Earth, Wind, and Taki countries. The mobility of the shinobi units meant each column stretched for miles—like herds of migrating antelope, leaping in perfect rhythm under the guidance of their lead scouts.

“It’s rare for the Rain Country to have weather this clear…”

Kakashi, wearing a headband marked with the kanji for “shinobi,” glanced around at the mix of familiar and unfamiliar faces, his expression somber. The weight on his heart had only grown since the Hokage summoned him in private a few days earlier.

“Kakashi, don’t be so gloomy!”

The booming voice came from beside him. Clad in his trademark green jumpsuit and vest, with a gleaming bowl haircut and blindingly white teeth, Might Guy gave Kakashi a hearty slap on the back—nearly knocking him off balance.

“Look around you! All five great villages, united! Doesn’t that stir your soul?”

Gai’s eyes shimmered with emotion as he looked out at the marching shinobi. His heart swelled with hope, not just for victory, but for the peace that might follow. He was truly moved by the moment.

Kakashi, however, wasn’t so quick to share the sentiment.

“Yeah, yeah…” he muttered, distracted.

His mind drifted back to the Hokage’s words.

“Obito… is still alive?”

He unconsciously touched the headband covering his Sharingan. In this timeline, Rin hadn’t died by his hand—yet even so, the past still weighed heavily on him.

“Sensei… what am I supposed to do?”

The Hokage had also revealed another devastating truth: the death of the Fourth Hokage had been indirectly caused by Obito.

Minato had sacrificed his life to seal the Nine-Tails—for the village, for his wife, and to preserve balance.

But if Obito hadn’t unleashed the beast… If he hadn’t intervened at the worst possible moment… Minato might have lived.

“Kakashi! Snap out of it!” Guy’s voice rang out again. “The fighting’s already started up ahead—we’re the reinforcements!”

He pointed toward the frontline, where eerie, pale-skinned enemies had clashed with the Allied Forces’ reconnaissance units.

“Let’s have a man’s challenge—who can take down more enemies?”

Guy’s eyes burned with competitive fire.

“Now’s the time for Konoha’s Blue Beast to unleash his fury!”

With fists clenched and legs bursting with chakra, Guy launched himself toward the battle. As he sprinted ahead, he called back to Kakashi:

“The new competition begins!”

His voice echoed as the air behind him rippled—a testament to his sheer speed and force. Around Kakashi, other shinobi vanished in bursts of movement, their Body Flickers breaking the air like cracks of thunder as they raced to join the fight.

Some cast puzzled glances back at Kakashi, confused by his hesitation.

Why was a ninja of his caliber—a hero of Konoha—still standing still?

“Idiot… always making up these competitions.” Kakashi sighed with a touch of reluctant affection.

And then, with a deep breath, he joined the charge.

—

“Mabui-san, I must say—I didn’t expect to find someone as graceful and intelligent among the Kumo shinobi.”

“Working under the Raikage must be exhausting. You really have my admiration.”

Grasping Mabui’s hand with a little too much enthusiasm, the Fifth Hokage, Toshiro, offered a warm (and overly familiar) greeting, completely ignoring the baffled looks of his own subordinates.

Her skin, a healthy bronze hue, and her long silver hair tied up neatly only enhanced the refined aura around her. Add to that her delicate features and composed, intellectual air. Toshiro thought, she’s dangerously close to his ideal woman.

“Hokage-sama… you’re being too generous,” Mabui stammered, flustered.

Though the command tent wasn’t particularly crowded, being on the receiving end of such a forward greeting from the famously strong Hokage was something she never expected. She had imagined a tactful, restrained leader—not… this.

“Oh, don’t be modest.” Still holding her hand, Toshiro continued, unbothered by the glares piercing into his back. “With Raikage-sama’s… spirited personality, I can only imagine how much of a disaster he leaves for you to clean up.”

“You must spend your days in silent despair, staring at the aftermath of his tantrums.” He leaned closer with a mischievous glint. “You know, you could always consider a transfer to Konoha. I promise—we clean up after ourselves.”

Before he could go any further, a deep, gravelly voice cut through the air like a thunderclap.

“Hokage… this is wartime,” Raikage growled, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles cracked like gunfire. “Watch your words. You’re representing Konoha—try to act like it.”

The way A glared at him made it clear: he wasn’t just angry about the flirting—he was livid that Toshiro had used him as a punchline. It was as if the Hokage had declared war on common decency.

It wasn’t just unprofessional. It was personal.

If A weren’t painfully aware of his slim chances in a fight against Konoha’s unpredictable leader, he would’ve already launched him into the stratosphere.

“Hokage-sama, the enemy has engaged the front lines,” came Shikaku’s calm but pointed interjection, his voice laced with the subtle frustration of a man used to cleaning up political messes—this time, from his own leader.

“Ah, is that so?” Toshiro sighed with exaggerated regret.

Mabui seized the opportunity, quickly retracting her hand and retreating behind her Raikage, her composure barely intact.

“Ahem.”

Clearing his throat to regain some semblance of dignity, Toshiro straightened his robes. “Well, that’s a shame. I was hoping to use this moment to deepen ties between Konoha and the Cloud Village.”

Turning to Shikaku, he added, “Make a note. After the war, remind me to enhance our cooperation with Kumogakure—especially in the field of electronics.”

Of course, he wasn’t just chasing a pretty face. Mabui oversaw Cloud’s tech development, and he saw an opening to discuss future collaboration—through diplomacy, albeit wrapped in charm.

As Hokage, Toshiro understood that his responsibilities extended beyond war. Rebuilding, reconciling, and innovation were just as important. Konoha’s historical alliance with Kumogakure—though strained and largely symbolic—was a convenient foundation for deeper cooperation.

And as for the flirting?

“Completely misunderstood,” he muttered, glancing sideways. “My subordinates just don’t grasp the brilliance of strategic diplomacy.”