The Realm Divided, Ruling Across the River

Konoha Year 57

Ninja Academy

In the empty classroom, Sakura sat quietly alone, writing an exam paper on the Will of Fire.

Before her, as always, stood the two Ninja Academy teachers, Iruka and Mizuki.

Iruka watched the little girl scribbling furiously before him with a gratified look, unable to help feeling a touch of melancholy as he recalled how she had looked when she first entered the Academy.

Quiet and reserved, always staying silently by Ino's side.

As if she were easily frightened. He never expected that in just two years, she would already be taking her graduation exam.

Though there was still some gap between her and the village's other genius, Hatake Kakashi, she was still quite outstanding.

After all, graduating at five, becoming a Chunin at six, and a Jonin at twelve.

That kind of resume was simply too absurd.

In contrast, he had seen Haruno Sakura's hard work with his own eyes. He had personally witnessed just how much effort this child put in.

"Iruka-sensei, I'm done."

Now eight years old, Haruno Sakura handed her exam paper to Iruka.

"Oh, good. This paper will be graded before the afternoon exam."

"Sakura can take this time to rest a bit. Don't worry—the graduation exam won't have a physical fitness test like the promotion exam."

"It's just the Three Body Techniques."

Iruka put away the paper and spoke gently.

He said it casually. He knew Sakura's situation all too well—the Three Body Techniques were no challenge for her at all.

"Yes, I understand, Iruka-sensei."

Watching the pink-haired girl leave the classroom, Iruka didn't look at the paper's contents. Instead, he quickly sent it to the Hokage Building.

This was a paper personally requested for grading by the Hokage himself—it couldn't be taken lightly.

--

What is the Will of Fire?

Where leaves dance, fire burns ever onward.

The flames will continue to illuminate the village and allow new leaves to sprout.

That was Hiruzen Sarutobi's understanding.

But as he frowned at the graduation exam paper from Haruno Sakura in his hands, he felt that Haruno Sakura's Will of Fire was a bit dangerous.

"Haruno Sakura's Will of Fire"

Fire, the origin of civilization.

Will, the unyielding spirit of man.

In years past, the First Hokage, Lord Hashirama Senju, gathered the various ninja clans in the Land of Fire to found Konoha, seeking to establish a village where children would no longer be sent to the battlefield.

This was the First Hokage's Will of Fire.

The Second Hokage, Lord Tobirama Senju, used every means necessary to protect Konoha, striving for an era of peace for the village. Yet the Land of Fire sits at the crossroads of the shinobi world's four warring nations, blessed with abundant water and lush resources. After the First Hokage's death, great wars erupted in chaos, and the Second Hokage sacrificed himself for this cause.

Lord Tobirama died protecting Konoha—a worthy death.

The Third Hokage, Lord Hiruzen Sarutobi, took command in a time of crisis, inheriting Konoha's legacy. He quelled the Second War, ended the Third War, and during the Nine-Tails' Rampage, dragged his aging body forward to forcibly prolong the village's life.

Countless talents were born under the Third Hokage's guidance, only to fall to accidents, leave the village, or defect.

Now the shinobi world has enjoyed nearly a decade of peace. The wounds of war are slowly healing, but a new round of conflict could arrive at any moment.

And Konoha, sitting at the crossroads of four warring nations, bears the brunt.

Worry before the village worries; rejoice after the village rejoices.

One must remember to be prepared for danger in times of peace.

Plans lie with men, and success lies with men as well.

Leverage the advantage of the Land of Fire's abundant water and fertile resources.

Most of the Land of Wind, Land of Earth, and Land of Lightning lie in vast deserts, rocky cliffs, and towering mountain ranges.

These three nations suffer from food shortages and must import from the Land of Birds, Land of Rivers, Land of Grass, and Land of Fire.

Raise grain prices. Use merchants to drive down the prices of ironware, medicine, and ore. Secretly purchase them.

By then, with grain prices soaring and iron, medicine, and ore prices low, the profit-driven elements in the three nations will inevitably scramble for grain and dump iron, medicine, and ore. Seize this opportunity to buy and prepare.

Within five years, the domestic prices in the Land of Wind, Land of Lightning, and Land of Earth will fall into chaos, and they will inevitably turn their spearheads toward the Land of Fire.

At that point, use a certain amount of resources to win over one of the three nations, joining forces to suppress and pressure the other two (it is recommended to ally with the Land of Earth).

The Land of Water lies overseas, closed off from the world, with no information available. Set it aside for now. But any military action would first require crossing the vast ocean, inevitably costing enormous resources. Refer to the Second Shinobi World War—the Land of Water did not participate.

At that time, use a certain amount of resources to win over the Land of Earth. Because the Land of Earth and the Land of Fire form a pincer position, if the grand strategy takes shape, the Land of Wind and the Land of Lightning can be cut off from each other and defeated one by one.

During this period, all surrounding small nations must be swiftly won over; those who refuse can be subdued by force.

During this time, the three great nations will inevitably have wise men who see through this move, but by then it will be too late and beyond remedy.

At that point, the Land of Earth will certainly not stand by and watch Konoha dominate alone, and will likely stab them in the back. Negotiations can be made with the Tsuchikage to jointly attack the Land of Wind. Konoha will take nothing, but must be aided in attacking the Land of Lightning.

Offer heavy benefits, spread propaganda widely, and stir up public sentiment. Even if the Tsuchikage wants to betray, Konoha can receive word immediately, cut off resource supplies at once, and throw the Land of Earth's military and civilian morale into chaos, reducing their combat effectiveness.

The Tsuchikage will inevitably sue for peace.

At that point, join forces with the Land of Earth to break the Land of Lightning.

The great momentum of the world will all return to Konoha; the remaining nations can be crushed with a flick of a finger.

The Land of Earth, lacking resources, can only become a blade under the Land of Fire's command.

An agreement can be reached with the Land of Earth to set the Kannabi Bridge in the Land of Grass as the border and sign a non-aggression pact.

The world will be split in two, divided by the river.

Within a few years, as resources grow increasingly scarce, the Land of Earth will have no choice but to bow and submit.

This is boiling a frog in warm water.

Even if the Land of Earth fights to the death, it can be easily suppressed.

When you are strong enough, the whole world becomes your friend.

The Will of Fire is to make the whole world a friend, so that Konoha can develop forever.

By making Konoha the strongest existence, every person in Konoha can be protected.

Graduation examinee: Haruno Sakura

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Haruno Sakura's graduation exam paper, and his fingers couldn't help but tremble slightly.

What the hell kind of Will of Fire is this?

This is clearly an ambitious strategic deployment plan from a schemer!!!

Who in their right mind has a Will of Fire like this?!

Is this that little pink-haired girl's Will of Fire?

Is she black on the inside?

Hiruzen Sarutobi chain-smoked, smoke swirling in the Hokage's Office.

Unlike Danzo, who constantly shouts 'For the sake of Konoha,' Haruno Sakura's 'Will of Fire' came with a concrete, actionable plan.

Using the Land of Fire's resource abundance as an advantage, starting with grain prices to suppress the Lands of Wind, Earth, and Lightning.

This move is very subtle, very inconspicuous.

At the very least, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had presided over the Second and Third Shinobi World Wars, had never once thought that war could be played this way.

And this little girl even thought of a contingency plan in case the Land of Earth turned traitor...

Just from Konoha's existing war history records, she managed to produce such a complete strategic direction.

At least in Hiruzen Sarutobi's view, he couldn't find any flaws for now.

Without existences like Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara, the success rate of this strategic deployment would be very high!

Hiruzen Sarutobi felt his heart beating a little fast; an old man like him couldn't quite handle the ideas of the younger generation.