Declaration of War from Amegakure

After Nara Shikaisuke reached an agreement with Natsuki, he took the list of medicinal ingredients provided and left.

Between the Red Healing Potion: Blood of God and the Stamina Recovery Potion, Natsuki chose to research the former first.

The former required Hashirama Cells or White Zetsu cells, while the latter required Tailed Beast Chakra and Hero Water.

In terms of difficulty, the former was simpler.

Hashirama Cells were already available; he only needed the nod from Konoha.

Hero Water was very difficult to obtain.

Especially since Konoha and Takigakure were still allies, it would be inappropriate to simply seize it.

It would also be difficult to steal, as Takigakure was the only small ninja village besides the Five Great Shinobi Countries to possess a Tailed Beast and a Jinchuriki.

Tailed Beast Chakra was also difficult to acquire.

The current Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Uzumaki Mito, was in poor health; it would be best to wait until Uzumaki Kushina became the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

Although Hashirama Cells were precious, in the original story, Konoha had conducted Hashirama Cell experiments twice.

One was led by Hiruzen Sarutobi and was considered compliant and legal.

However, because too many ninja who volunteered for the experiment died, it was eventually halted.

The other was led by Shimura Danzō with the participation of Orochimaru, and it was conducted in secret.

Because they were more unscrupulous, their Hashirama Cell experiments yielded results, giving birth to a Wood Release ninja, Yamato.

At this stage, the second Hashirama Cell experiment had certainly not yet begun.

This was because Orochimaru had not yet turned rogue to collaborate with Shimura Danzō.

But the first Hashirama Cell experiment might have already ended, or it might still be ongoing.

"What a pity."

Natsuki was still young and had no qualifications to access the Hashirama Cell experiments.

But he could prepare early.

That was to create an incomplete version of the Red Healing Potion: Blood of God without using Hashirama Cells.

Nara Shikaisuke returned home.

He opened the prescription Natsuki had given him and began to look it over.

The medicinal ingredients mentioned on it could all be considered quite valuable.

In the entire Konoha, only their Nara Clan could afford to produce them.

Of course, Natsuki had also added four extra ingredients to create a smokescreen.

"Father."

Nara Shikaku walked in.

"How did you do on the Final Exam this time?"

Seeing him, a smile appeared on Nara Shikaisuke's face.

"First place."

Nara Shikaku replied.

"Well done."

Nara Shikaisuke nodded and added, "During this winter break, I am giving you a task: go find Natsuki and learn his Shadow Secret Technique."

"Huh?"

Nara Shikaku instinctively looked up, his face full of surprise.

What did he mean by telling him to go find Natsuki to learn the Shadow Secret Technique?

Natsuki was a year younger than him.

Furthermore, wasn't the Shadow Secret Technique unique to the Nara Clan? Why go to Natsuki to learn it?

"Natsuki has created two Shadow Secret Techniques of his own."

Nara Shikaisuke explained, "I have already reached a deal with him; he will teach you those two Shadow Secret Techniques."

Natsuki was, after all, too young.

If adult ninja like Nara Shikaisuke followed him to learn, it would appear too conspicuous, or rather, it would be a blow to their pride.

After some thought, he decided that Nara Shikaku should be the one to learn them.

He was only a year older than Natsuki, so he could pose as a friend and train together.

"...?"

Nara Shikaku didn't know what to say for a moment.

He was a genius himself, but was the gap between geniuses really this large?

Natsuki, who was a year younger than him, had already managed to create a Shadow Secret Technique that even their Nara Clan valued?

This sounded like a fantasy.

"Yes, Father."

Nara Shikaku snapped back to reality and immediately replied.

The next day.

At Orochimaru's residence, in addition to Nawaki and Natsuki, there was now Nara Shikaku.

Nara Shikaku had a high IQ and was very clear about his position, so he kept a very low profile.

As long as he didn't encounter any problems, he wouldn't disturb Natsuki, choosing instead to quietly practice in the corner by himself.

Natsuki also proved a theory: his abilities could be taught to others.

This was actually normal.

After all, the abilities from the Character Template had been localized; in essence, they were just ninjutsu.

Natsuki received his initial payment from Nara Shikaisuke.

It was enough medicinal ingredients to produce ten portions of Red Healing Potion: Blood of God.

Natsuki was in no rush to attempt the brewing.

His pharmaceutical skills were still lacking.

Halfway through the winter break, Uzumaki Kushina returned to Konoha after visiting the Uzumaki Clan.

Just then, an event that shocked the Ninja World occurred.

Hanzo of Amegakure declared war on Iwagakure, Sunagakure, and Konoha simultaneously.

The reason was that the three great villages had been fighting in the Land of Rain for years, bringing unimaginable disaster and losses to the country.

As the military force of the Land of Rain, Amegakure intended to drive these three villages completely out of the Land of Rain.

In the Konoha conference room.

A Jonin meeting was held accordingly.

"Hanzo is simply courting death!"

Shimura Danzō said with a livid expression, "Konoha must take the initiative to strike and make him understand what a gap in strength truly is!"

"Taking the initiative is unnecessary."

Jiraiya said in a deep voice, "If we prepare well and wait for the enemy to tire themselves out, we can minimize our losses."

"I disagree!"

Shimura Danzō retorted, "Amegakure and Hanzo are merely clowns; only by finishing this quickly can we demonstrate the prestige of Konoha!"

"Although Amegakure is a small village, Hanzo cannot be underestimated."

Jiraiya frowned and said.

"Are you afraid of Hanzo?"

Shimura Danzō snorted coldly and asked in return.

"Alright, I didn't call you here to argue."

Hiruzen Sarutobi stopped their bickering, looked at Utatane Koharu and the others, and asked, "What are your thoughts?"

"The Land of Rain is currently a three-way melee; if Konoha rushes in, it might provoke a joint attack against us."

Tsunade said immediately, "I agree with Jiraiya's idea."

Upon hearing this, Jiraiya immediately gave her a wink and a grin.

But Tsunade ignored him.

"That is indeed a very real possibility."

Hokage advisor Mitokado Homura spoke up, "Konoha is the strongest, which also makes us the easiest target for the wariness of other ninja villages."

The other Hokage advisor, Utatane Koharu, also nodded in agreement.

"Very well."

Hiruzen Sarutobi concluded, "Konoha will prepare first and remain still for now."

"To be safe, we can send people to the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rain first."

Tsunade suggested.

"I can go!"

Shimura Danzō said immediately.

With Tsunade and the others having stated their positions, a preemptive strike had become impossible.

But he could turn the impossible into the possible by causing trouble at the border to trigger the war prematurely.

The reason Shimura Danzō wanted war was that his Root could thrive through conflict.

In war, the most important thing is the intelligence war.

But relying solely on the Anbu, the manpower is far from enough, so the Root must be added to the mix.

When that time comes, he will have plenty of room to maneuver.

"Sakumo, you go."

Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at him and said decisively.

He knew very well what Shimura Danzō was thinking.

"Yes, Lord Hokage."

A young ninja with white hair stood up.

He was none other than the White Fang of Konoha, Hatake Sakumo, the father of Hatake Kakashi.

The next day, Natsuki also received news that Hanzo of Amegakure had declared war, but it had nothing to do with him for the time being.

Given his age and status, Konoha would not send him to the battlefield unless it was the most critical moment.

Time arrived in January.

Just when Natsuki thought his winter break was about to end like this, Orochimaru took on a mission for them.

"The target of this mission is a group of rogue ninja wandering along the southeast coast of the Land of Fire."

Orochimaru introduced, "According to intelligence, their leader is a missing-nin from Kirigakure, a Special Jonin who excels in Water Release."

Upon hearing this, Natsuki couldn't help but perk up.

The third ability of the Tanjiro Kamado template requires defeating three Chunin or Special Jonin who specialize in Sword Technique or Water Release, respectively.

After two semesters of hard work, he had already completed two-thirds of the goal, leaving only the last two Special Jonin.

"Teacher, can we bring Kushina along?"

Natsuki thought of how Uzumaki Kushina had previously said she wanted to go on a mission, so he asked.

"I can take her, but the prerequisite is that Tsunade agrees."

Orochimaru said softly.