"Didn't expect that…"
Minato Namikaze looked at the freshly cut tear on his robe and smiled faintly.
"You've already mastered the Flying Thunder God Slash to this level."
A streak of pale blue lightning flashed past him—
Only then did Ning Feng's voice follow:
"With your guidance, sensei, it's only natural I'd learn quickly."
Minato chuckled, scratching his blond hair.
"You brat… there's not much left for me to teach you now."
"You've grasped the Second Stage of Flying Thunder God this fast… you're a genius in space-time ninjutsu."
Ning Feng's figure slowly appeared, shrugging casually.
"Genius? Not really. Just good teaching."
Minato stepped forward, ruffling Ning Feng's hair with a hearty laugh.
"So what brings you here today?"
"Been a while since I've seen you."
Since becoming the Rain Shadow, Ning Feng had been busier than ever.
Practically impossible to pin down.
"Haha, just missed you—and Konoha."
Ning Feng sheathed his blade and smiled.
"Cut the nonsense."
Minato laughed, rubbing his hair harder.
"Alright, alright. The Thunder God Sword is finished, so I came to refine Flying Thunder God a bit more."
Ning Feng leaned forward awkwardly.
With Minato's help, he had further adapted the technique to suit his own reflexes.
"Lord Hokage! Enemy forces at the border!"
A voice suddenly rang from outside.
"Enemy?"
Minato frowned.
"Come in."
An ANBU ninja stepped into the courtyard, glanced at Ning Feng, then knelt.
"The Land of Fire border is under attack! The enemy appears to be shinobi from Kumogakure and Iwagakure!"
"Kumo and Iwa?"
Minato's brows furrowed deeper.
Ning Feng also looked surprised.
After their heavy losses last time—
They still dared to provoke Konoha?
Did they forget Konoha and Amegakure were effectively allied?
This didn't add up.
"From their formation… this looks like a full-scale offensive."
The ANBU's tone was grave.
"Full-scale?"
Ning Feng scoffed.
"With Ōnoki and A? They don't have that kind of nerve."
Minato remained silent, thoughtful.
He had lived through wars before—
He understood exactly what "full-scale" meant.
But Ning Feng was right.
Neither Ōnoki nor A had shown that level of resolve before.
So where was this confidence coming from?
"Report! A declaration of war has arrived from the frontlines!"
Another ANBU rushed in, holding a scroll.
"A declaration of war?"
Both Minato and Ning Feng were stunned.
Ōnoki and A… issuing a formal declaration?
They unfolded it.
Moments passed.
Their expressions grew heavy.
The fragile peace of the shinobi world—
Was over.
…
The next day—
Uchiha Madara stood atop the rocky cliffs of Iwagakure, gazing toward Konoha and Amegakure.
Behind him—
Ōnoki and A stood ready, faces solemn.
Though they harbored doubts about Madara's cracked Edo Tensei body—
His overwhelming strength silenced all hesitation.
War…
Was imminent.
"What about Konoha and Amegakure?"
Madara asked calmly, eyes flickering with anticipation.
"They've likely received the declaration."
Ōnoki stepped forward.
How ironic—
Once enemies,
Now allies against a greater threat.
"I'm curious…"
Madara murmured.
"What kind of heroes exist in this era?"
"And this Hokage… how does he compare to Hashirama?"
…
Meanwhile, in Amegakure—
Thanks to prior orders, the entire village mobilized rapidly.
Shinobi gathered in the central square—
Standing in disciplined ranks.
At the front—
Ning Feng delivered his war speech.
Though Kumogakure and Iwagakure had suffered heavy losses—
They were still veteran great nations.
Their foundation far exceeded Amegakure's.
This battle—
Would not be easy.
But Ning Feng also had another goal:
To temper his forces.
Amegakure had grown too quickly.
Too many shinobi—
But not enough true elites.
War would separate the strong from the weak.
He wanted an army of steel—
Not numbers filled with mediocrity.
"Kumogakure and Iwagakure have oppressed us for too long under the banner of the Five Great Nations!"
"But the Land of Rain is no longer what it once was!"
"The shinobi of Amegakure… are no longer weak!"
"If you wish to protect this hard-earned peace—"
"If you wish to protect your comrades, your families—"
"Then entrust your lives to me!"
Ning Feng's voice thundered across the square.
At its peak, he raised his arm high.
The crowd erupted—
Eyes burning with fervor.
To them—
He was like a god.
"When did my brother become so good with words…?"
Itachi stared in disbelief.
This commanding figure—
Barely resembled the Ning Feng he knew.
"He really is… a complete leader."
Nagato smiled awkwardly.
Even he—
Normally calm—
Felt his blood boil.
He wanted to draw his blade and charge into battle.
"That's just who Feng-sama is."
Yahiko and Konan nodded, smiling.
That brilliance—
That overwhelming presence—
Was exactly why they chose to follow him.
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