Chapter 30 — The Third Great Ninja War Arrives
Minato Namikaze's expression darkened the moment he realized the severity of the situation. The same shift appeared on the faces of the other jōnin present.
After quickly calming the crowd and organizing an orderly evacuation, the jōnin moved without hesitation, all heading straight for the Hokage's office.
"What's going on?"
As the spectators filed out of the arena, they couldn't help but notice the tense expressions of the jōnin, and unease began to spread.
"Could it be…"
Obuya's heart sank.
If his judgment was correct, then the war along the Land of Fire's borders had already begun. Iwagakure's ambush had been set in motion—meaning the Third Great Ninja War had erupted ahead of schedule.
Why had they struck early?
Obuya immediately thought of one person—Tōki, the rogue ninja they had captured.
The news of his capture couldn't have been contained forever. Once it reached Iwagakure, their original plans would have been thrown into uncertainty.
Faced with that risk, they must have decided to act immediately, launching their offensive before Konoha could fully adjust.
Though it was only speculation, Obuya was confident he wasn't far from the truth.
That very day, jōnin and large numbers of chūnin departed Konoha in waves, heading toward the border frontlines.
The entire village fell into a state of unrest.
Over the next several days, Obuya watched from his window as wounded shinobi were carried back through the gates. Reports of casualties arrived one after another, each more sobering than the last.
At the same time, more shinobi were called up daily, leaving the village to reinforce the battlefield.
The lively atmosphere Konoha once held had completely vanished. In its place was a heavy, suffocating silence—like a storm hanging overhead. Of all the sights, the worried expression on the ramen shop owner's face left the deepest impression on Obuya.
Everything pointed to one truth—
The true brutality of war had only just begun.
Half a month after the Chūnin Exams ended, a soft series of footsteps approached outside Obuya's room.
It was Rin.
This time, however, the bright smile she always carried was nowhere to be seen.
"Rin," Obuya asked quietly, "what's the situation outside?"
She nodded, her expression serious. "I heard from Minato-sensei that the village had already been preparing for the possibility of war with the Land of Earth. The intelligence came from the Iwagakure rogue ninja we captured."
"Even so, Iwagakure had already completed their preparations. When the fighting began, they moved faster than expected. Even with Konoha sending reinforcements to the frontlines, we've still taken heavy losses."
Obuya's gaze sharpened. "Do you know where they attacked from? Did they pass through Kusagakure to strike us?"
"No." Rin shook her head firmly. "According to the reports, they didn't follow that route at all. They targeted the weakest point in our defenses and broke through from there. Luckily, the Hokage responded quickly and deployed forces in time to stop their advance."
Obuya's expression shifted slightly.
This wasn't how things were supposed to unfold.
"The worst-case scenario…" he muttered under his breath. "History has already changed. Everything I thought I could rely on… might no longer apply."
That was precisely why he had kept silent before, even when he suspected Iwagakure would attack.
If he had warned Konoha based on the original timeline—claiming they would pass through Kusagakure—and it turned out to be wrong, the consequences would have been severe. At best, he would have been dismissed. At worst, he might have been branded a traitor, misdirecting Konoha's defenses.
Thinking back, Obuya felt a quiet sense of relief.
"I also heard the situation at the front is getting worse," Rin continued softly. "Iwagakure keeps sending more troops. Konoha is already stretched thin… It's likely that newly promoted chūnin like us will be sent to the battlefield soon."
Obuya gave a slow nod.
"Obuya…" Rin hesitated for a moment, then looked at him earnestly. "Promise me you'll be careful, alright?"
Her concern was clear.
No matter how strong someone was, the battlefield was chaos. Even elite shinobi could fall when surrounded or caught off guard. There were no guarantees of survival.
She worried for him.
And Obuya had always worried for her.
In the history he knew, Rin would lose her life during this war.
But now, that history had already begun to shift.
Even he could no longer predict what lay ahead.
Everything had become uncertain.
"All newly promoted chūnin, report immediately to the Hokage's office."
A man's voice echoed across the village through the loudspeakers.
Obuya and Rin exchanged a glance.
Neither of them needed to say anything.
The war had reached them.
…
Inside the Hokage's office, roughly twenty figures stood in two neat rows—Obuya and Rin among them.
They were all newly promoted chūnin from a week ago, many of them familiar faces.
Might Guy. Kakashi. Hayate. And others—future pillars of Konoha.
Yet despite the number of talented shinobi present, most of the attention unconsciously gravitated toward one figure—
Uchiha Shisui.
At the front, Hiruzen Sarutobi stood with a grave expression, his voice steady as he addressed them.
"You've likely already heard. Konoha is facing a crisis unlike anything we've seen in the past ten years. Conflict between nations has erupted. Based on the scale and current developments, this may escalate into the Third Great Ninja War."
"Iwagakure has initiated hostilities for its own interests. The conflict continues to intensify. From this point forward, all available forces must be mobilized for a full-scale response."
"You are all newly promoted chūnin. Your promotion is proof that you possess the ability to fight on the battlefield. War is cruel… but it is also the fastest way to grow stronger."
Among the assembled chūnin, most remained silent, their expressions tense.
Only one stood out.
"Youth burns brightest on the battlefield!" Might Guy declared, his eyes blazing with excitement. "Hokage-sama, just give the order—I'm ready to fight at any time!"
Hiruzen adjusted his hat slightly, a faint smile appearing on his face as he nodded. He then turned to the attendant beside him.
The attendant stepped forward, unrolling a scroll.
"You will be divided into teams. Each team will have a designated leader, and you will carry out missions as a unit. The assignments are as follows."
"Team One: Hyūga Tokuma as leader, with members Inuzuka Muta and Arashi Hana."
"Team Two: Might Guy as captain, with members Shiranui Genma and Gekkō Hayate."
"Team Three: Hatake Kakashi as leader, with members Nohara Rin and Yūhi Kurenai."
Obuya froze slightly.
He was from Minato's team—so why wasn't he assigned alongside Rin and Kakashi?
Before he could question it, the attendant raised his head and continued.
"Since this will be your first time entering a large-scale war, the teams have been arranged to maximize survival, based on each individual's abilities."
"Take Team Three as an example. Kakashi excels in direct combat. Kurenai provides support through genjutsu. Rin, as a medical ninja, ensures the team's sustainability in prolonged engagements. The same principle applies to the other teams."
Rin glanced at Obuya from the corner of her eye, unable to hide the faint disappointment in her expression.
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