I Never Doubted You Would Make the Right Choice; The Otsutsuki Attack?

Night had fallen deep. Most of the training camp was asleep, with only the patrols and the lights atop the watchtowers still awake.

Samui stood before the window of her barracks, holding a Scroll that had just been decrypted using a special technique.

The contents of the Scroll were simple, yet they made her heart sink.

"Closely monitor Chiyo Uchiha and the movements of the Konoha Federation. Regularly report on its internal conflicts, strength assessment, and potential threats.

This order holds 'Kage-level classified' priority. Only you may know of it."

She rolled up the Scroll expressionlessly.

Yet her fingers trembled slightly.

Outside the window, moonlight spilled across the Training Ground like liquid silver. In the distance, the faint roar of the Valley of the End's waterfall could be heard.

Over this time, she had watched Konoha's younger generation train diligently. She had watched children from different shinobi villages go from wariness to gradually opening their hearts. She had watched Chiyo guide it all with astonishing patience and wisdom.

She had also watched herself.

She had watched her gaze turn increasingly often toward that man—the man who chatted and laughed with several women in a forest clearing, who was stern and focused on the Training Ground, and decisive and composed in strategy meetings.

"How am I supposed to choose...?"

She murmured softly, so quietly that she was nearly inaudible.

She watched the Scroll turn to ash in her hand, the special fire technique ensuring that not a trace remained.

Did she need to report it?

What was she supposed to report?

The Konoha Federation's strength?

Chiyo's leadership?

The trust gradually forming among the shinobi villages?

Or...

She closed her eyes.

Lord Raikage, you still cannot see the situation clearly!

Do you not know that even the Tsuchikage of Iwagakure has begun