The new year arrived, and with it, the Great Ninja War that had gripped countless people across the Shinobi World entered an entirely new phase.
Iwagakure declared war on Konoha. A few days later, Konoha responded: the Uchiha Clan, the most powerful clan of ocular jutsu users, finally joined the fight, heading to the battlefield under their Clan Head, Fugaku.
The news stirred countless hearts and brought the Land of Grass and the Land of Waterfall into the spotlight of the entire Shinobi World.
Meanwhile, not far from that focal point, the Land of Rain's Shiba Seika unexpectedly faced a new year's challenge of his own.
The turn of events caught him completely off guard.
Just a few days earlier, he had been admiring the beautiful fireworks with Konan and the others. But only a few days later, one of his subordinates came rushing back with news—
The fireworks weren't the only things to return to the Land of Rain. Those detestable landlords and nobles had come back, too!
"What do you mean, someone came back with land deeds to collect rent? Where did these people come from? Where have they been all this time?" Shiba Seika asked, frowning. A rare trace of anger showed on his face.
The Akatsuki member who had brought the news was clearly upset as well, though his reaction wasn't yet as intense as Shiba Seika's.
"They're nobles of the Land of Rain, all appointed by the Daimyo in the past. When the war broke out early last year, they fled to the Land of Earth, afraid that Konoha would invade again, like it did during the last Great Ninja War.
"But recently, Iwagakure declared war on Konoha, and the front line successfully crossed the Land of Grass. It's already advanced into the Land of