I, Uchiha, will not be whitewashed!

The next morning, the transfer order was delivered to Shuoge's residence.

"Northern route, Cloud Hidden. Depart immediately."

After reading it, Shuoge folded the scroll and stuffed it into his pocket.

He stood up, took the knife from the wall, and hung it behind his back. Several new nicks appeared on the scabbard, and the cloth strip on the hilt needed replacing again, but he didn't have time.

He pushed open the door, and Zhishui was standing in the courtyard.

"Brother Shuoge." Zhishui handed over what he was holding. It was a shuriken, with the character "Mirror" crookedly engraved on it. "It's new. You gave the last one to someone else."

Shuoge took it and tucked it behind his waist.

"Um."

Shisui stood there, saying nothing more. He was wearing a black short-sleeved shirt, and was a little taller and broader than before. He was still holding another shuriken in his hand, not offering it to him, but simply twirling it between his fingers.

Shuoge walked past him, stopped at the courtyard gate, and did not turn around.

"I'll come back and teach you shuriken."

Shisui's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Um."

Shuoge left. Zhishui stood in the courtyard, twirling the shuriken in his hand, spinning it countless times.

At the village entrance, Kai and Hong were already waiting.

Kai was carrying a large bag, which was jingling and clanging with something inside.

Hong crossed her arms and leaned against the doorpost.

There were two other people standing nearby—Rin and Kakashi. Rin was dressed casually and carrying a bag. When she saw Sakugo, she handed it to him.

"Food eaten on the way."

Shuoge took the bag and glanced at it—several rice balls, wrapped neatly in cling film. He didn't say thank you, and Lin didn't wait for him to say so either.

Kakashi stood at a distance and did not come over.

His headband was still pulled low, covering his left eye, and his hands were in his pockets, exactly the same posture he had on the training field that day. He looked at Shuoge, but didn't wave or say "take care."

Shuoge glanced at him.

Then he turned around and walked out of the village.

Kai followed, Hong followed. Three people, three backs to the camera. The morning mist hadn't yet dissipated, and their shadows were stretched long, trailing on the ground.

Rin stood at the village entrance, watching the figure disappear into the mist. Kakashi stood at a distance, also watching.

The wind blew, and the fog became even thicker.

……

……

……

The war situation in the ninja world has become clear.

The Hidden Sand Village and the Hidden Leaf Village reconciled, an alliance treaty was signed in black and white, trade was allowed, and the borders were opened.

After two years of fighting and so many deaths, they gained nothing in the end. Sunagakure accepted it, because Chiyo accepted it, and Rasa accepted it—the position of Kazekage was more important than the war.

-

Kirigakure inexplicably declared war, and then inexplicably ceased hostilities.

There were no conditions, no compensation, and even the prisoners were exchanged cleanly and efficiently.

The strategists in Konoha couldn't understand it, but Sakugo knew the reason—Uchiha Madara no longer needed Kirigakure.

The pieces have been found; the chessboard can be put away now.

-

Hidden Rock Village.

Minato Namikaze, alone with a single kunai, cleaved through their thousand-strong army, forcing the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, to issue that humiliating order: "If you encounter the Yellow Flash, you can abandon the mission immediately."

The shrewd Onoki calculated it perfectly—rather than continuing to squander the nation's dwindling resources, it was better to retreat and leave the mess to others.

If Kumogakure wants to fight, let them fight. If Konoha wants to win, let them win. Iwagakure will not interfere.

-

Thus, the final battle of the Third Shinobi World War fell to the Hidden Cloud Village.

The other four great nations have all withdrawn, leaving only the Hidden Cloud Kingdom still fighting—because they still have their last trump card to play.

The Fourth Raikage, A; Killer Bee, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki.

The AB combination represents the strongest spearhead of Kumogakure. With the Third Raikage killed in the Battle of Iwagakure, the newly appointed Fourth Raikage needed a victory to establish his authority and prove that Kumogakure had not fallen.

The northern camp was set up at the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Hot Water, and further north was the controlled area of ​​the Hidden Cloud Village.

The camp was smaller than the one on the eastern front, but more compact, with only a narrow passageway between tents, supply crates stacked like walls, and three trenches dug around the perimeter.

The wind was strong, blowing from the north, carrying the chill of the snow-capped mountains.

The clouds were low, a hazy gray pressing down on the mountain ridge, like an unmade quilt.

-

When Shuoge entered the camp, the sun was already setting in the west.

Kai and Hong followed behind, all three of them still covered in dust from their long journey. The sentry at the camp gate checked their orders and pointed inside: "Lord Minato's tent is at the very back."

They walked over. The tent wasn't big, and a red triangular flag was flying on the flagpole at the entrance.

—Is this so obvious, a deliberate attempt to lure us in? With the Flying Thunder God Technique at his fingertips, who can launch a sneak attack? Who dares to?

Shuoge lifted the curtain and went inside. Namikaze Minato was standing in front of the table looking at a map.

He looked up, his blue eyes shining brightly in the dim light, his golden hair disheveled by the wind.

He wore a green vest typical of Konoha Jonin, with a red vortex emblem embroidered on his back, and held a specially made trident kunai in his hand.

"We meet again." Minato's voice was very soft, as if he were talking about something very ordinary.

Shuoge looked at him.

The last time we met was in a canyon in the northwest. Minato descended from the sky, single-handedly breaking through the encirclement of Iwagakure and rescuing him from a pile of corpses when he was overdrawn by chakra.

At that time, Minato was wearing a Jonin vest, not a Hokage robe, and his face still had a touch of childishness.

His face is still clean, but he looks more composed and mature.

"Uchiha Sakugo, report for duty with your squad." Sakugo's voice was flat.

Shuimen glanced at him, then at Kai and Hong, and nodded. "Your tents are in the third row on the east side. Pick up your supplies at Warehouse Two. Assemble tomorrow morning; there's a mission."

There were no pleasantries, no welcoming remarks.

Shuoge turned and walked out of the tent, Kai followed behind, and Hong walked at the very back.

-

Night falls early on the northern route.

As soon as the sun sets, the temperature drops, and a cold wind blows down from the mountain ridge, making the tent fabric rustle loudly.

Sakugo sat in the tent wiping his sword, Kai was doing push-ups, and Kurenai was organizing her ninja tool bag. No one spoke; only Kai's breathing and the soft rustling of the blade against the cloth filled the air.

The brief peace is merely an illusion, as long as the war continues.

It can't truly make people relax.

-

The next morning, before dawn, the assembly whistle blew.

Shuoge led Kai and Hong to the open space in the center of the camp.

Minato was already standing there, with several Jonin and a middle-aged man whom Sakugo didn't recognize—an envoy of the Fourth Raikage, A, who had come to deliver a challenge.

"The Cloud Village's ace is coming."

Minato's voice wasn't loud, but everyone heard it. "The Fourth Raikage, A, and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, Killer Bee. Their target is the Northern Command Post, which is right here."

There was a moment of silence in the open space.

The AB duo, the strongest fighting force in Kumogakure, are the son and disciple of the Third Raikage. One is known for his speed, and the other for his strength. The two work together seamlessly and have never been defeated.

"Our mission isn't to defeat them," Minato said, looking at the map. "It's to hold them off until reinforcements arrive, then we'll surround them."

He looked up at Shuoge. "Shuoge's squad is responsible for the eastern highlands, monitoring the flank of Yunyin. If enemy activity is detected, signal, but do not engage."

Shuo Ge nodded.

"The rest of you, follow me." Minato inserted his trident kunai into his ninja tool pouch. "Let's go."

The group dispersed.

Shuoge led Kai and Hong toward the high ground to the east.

The hill wasn't high, but it offered excellent visibility, allowing them to see the entire northern front of the battlefield. They lay prone on the hill, observing the distant mountain ridges through binoculars. The wind was strong, making it difficult to open their eyes.

"The AB combination..." Kai murmured. "Are they strong?"

"Very strong." Sakugo's voice was flat. "Stronger than the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist."

Kai was silent for a moment, then clenched his fist. "Then I have to work even harder."

Shuoge didn't speak. He looked at the distant mountain ridge, where clouds were churning—not from natural wind, but from chakra.

The Eight-Tails' chakra.

He had seen tailed beasts before, in the original work, and in his memories. But seeing them in person was a different story. The oppressive feeling was like a mountain pressing down on you; before it even arrived, you could already hardly breathe.

"They're here." Hong's voice sounded a little tense.

Two figures appeared on the ridge.

A burly man with short blond hair, his body enveloped in blue lightning chakra.

Another one was wearing sunglasses, carrying eight knives, and humming off-key rap.

The Fourth Raikage, A, and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, Killer Bee.

Minato dashed out of the camp. His speed was so fast that even the Sharingan couldn't catch it—the Flying Thunder God Technique.

A trident-shaped kunai flew from his hand and embedded itself in the ground in front of A. Minato appeared beside the kunai, a Rasengan already forming in his palm.

Ai's fist came at him, and the Lightning Release chakra collided with the Rasengan, the explosion illuminating half the sky.

Kai's mouth gaped open. Red's pupils contracted. Sakugo's Sharingan slowly rotated, capturing the two lightning-fast figures.

"This is... a battle at the Kage level." Kai's voice was somewhat dry.

Sakugo remained silent. He stared at the battlefield, at Minato's every move, every teleportation, every Rasengan.

He is doing research.

It's not about learning the Flying Thunder God Technique with your eyes, but about learning the rhythm, the feeling of walking on a knife's edge.

"Send the signal," Shuoge said calmly.

Kurenai took a signal flare out of her ninja tool pouch and detonated it.

A red orb shot into the sky and exploded against the gray backdrop, like a blood-red flower.

On the battlefield, Minato saw the signal, took a step back, and dodged Ai's fist. His lips twitched, not in a smile, but something fainter.

"Reinforcements have arrived."

He vanished again. Ai's fist slammed into the open ground, cracking it open and sending shards of rock flying.

Killer Bee's eight swords slashed from the side, and Minato appeared behind him, slamming a Rasengan into his back. Killer Bee was sent flying, crashing into a tree, but quickly got up and dusted himself off.

"Awesome," Killer Bee said, humming a rap. "The Golden Flash lives up to its name."

Minato didn't give chase. He stood in the center of the battlefield, watching Ai and Killer Bee. Three people, three directions, and none of them moved.

"Retreat," Ai said in a low voice.

Killer Bee glanced at him. "Aren't you going to fight anymore?"

"We can't fight anymore. Konoha's reinforcements have arrived." A looked at Minato, his eyes showing no fear, only one thing—unwillingness. "Next time, we'll settle this once and for all."

He turned and walked away. Killer Bee followed behind, his eight swords jingling on his back. The two disappeared into the mist.

Minato stood on the battlefield, watching their retreating figures, without giving chase. His breathing was steady, his hands were steady, except for a tear in his clothes—a scratch from A's lightning release.

Shuoge stood up from the high ground, watching Shuimen's retreating figure. The wind blew from the north, tossing his golden hair. He watched for a few seconds, then turned away.

"Back to camp."

Kai and Hong followed behind.

The three of them descended the hill. Behind them, Minato still stood, watching the direction where Yunyin had retreated. His hands were in his pockets, and his trident kunai hung at his waist, swaying gently in the wind.

-

After Yunyin withdrew, the northern camp returned to quiet.

But it was a different kind of quiet—not the oppressive silence before the battle, but the aftershocks of the war. Everyone was reflecting on the fight, and everyone was thinking the same question: If I were standing there, how many seconds could I last?

Shuoge sat on a wooden box outside the tent, a knife across his lap, unwiped.

He was contemplating the battle between Minato Namikaze and Abby.

Flying Thunder God Technique is indeed very fast, and A's Lightning Release Chakra Mode is also fast, so fast that it cannot be detected by the naked eye.

But is Minato faster than him?

Not necessarily.

Both sides' speeds have exceeded the limits of ordinary people.

The real key lies in timing!

What Saku saw in his Sharingan was something else entirely—Minato wasn't chasing A's speed, but rather making A follow his rhythm.

Every teleportation, every kunai landing point, every Rasengan condensation, all landed on Ai's breath.

Ai throws a punch, and Minato disappears. Ai retracts his fist, and Minato reappears.

It's not that Minato is faster than Ai, it's that Minato understands better when to be fast and when to be slow.

Rhythm, timing.

The same applies to swordsmanship.

Shuoge looked down at his hand; the scar on the web of his hand was still there.

His blade was so fast that his enemies were dead before they could even react.

Everyone has a different understanding of "fast".

Minato Namikaze's answer is—rhythm and timing!

-

Kai came out of the tent, holding dumbbells, and did bicep curls in the moonlight.

His movements were slow, but every movement was executed with the tension of every muscle in his body. Sweat dripped from his forehead, hitting the sand and being quickly absorbed. His eyes shone brightly, that inextinguishable fire within them reignited.

"See that?"

Kai's voice was a little breathless, but not from exhaustion, but from excitement.

"When that Raikage slammed his fist into the ground, the ground cracked open. That Eight-Tails Jinchuriki slashed with eight swords at once, faster than a kunai."

Shuoge looked at him.

"I want to be like that someday." Kai put down the dumbbells and clenched his fists. "No, I want to be stronger than them."

Red peeked out of the tent, glanced at Kai, and then retreated back inside.

She drew a new sealing array on the ninja tool pouch to reinforce the stability of the sealing scroll.

Her hands were steady, but her mind was replaying the battle.

It wasn't Minato and the AB duo, but Sakugo's silhouette on the high ground. As he watched Minato fight, his three-tomoe Sharingan kept spinning, its pupils reflecting the light.

She didn't know what he was thinking, but she knew he was studying.