The Demigod's Antidote

Winter, the 23rd year of Konoha, heavy snow fell in sheets.

A sudden, violent blizzard blanketed the Land of River in a thick layer of silver.

The snow fell for three full days, and when it finally ceased, the drifts across the Land of River were deep enough to swallow a man to his knees.

The winding mountain paths were buried completely; not only were civilian caravans halted, but even the movements of shinobi were severely hampered by the storm.

Consequently, the drums of war fell silent, and the slaughter was temporarily veiled.

The flames of conflict that had swept across the southwestern shinobi world were finally forced into a lull by the sheer might of nature.

Inside the makeshift wartime command center at the Konoha camp.

"For the past three and a half months, we have been in constant combat with Amegakure. Our estimates suggest that both Konoha and Sunagakure have suffered roughly forty percent losses. While the casualties are heavy, the good news is that the losses sustained by Amegakure and Iwagakure are even more catastrophic."

Hatake Sakumo, the supreme commander of this war, stood at the head of the table, briefing the assembled Konoha jōnin on the results of the campaign.

"Especially Amegakure. The Small Nations Alliance led by them has been battered to the point of collapse over these three months. This so-called anti-Five Great Nations alliance is now a shell of its former self, everyone!"

"Heh, Ōnoki of Both Scales, that cunning fox, has been hiding behind the Small Nations Alliance, making them take the lead in everything."

Orochimaru let out a sinister chuckle. "After fighting for so long, the losses of his Iwagakure are actually the lowest among the four of us."

"I've only just realized it myself. This was likely his plan from the very beginning."

Hatake Sakumo nodded. "That old man colluded with the Small Nations Alliance, but he never intended to engage in a full-scale war with us. He had only one goal... to see this hastily assembled alliance die! To see them wiped out completely!"

"After all, no one wants to see a new monster emerge that is larger than the current Five Great Nations."

Jiraiya nodded in agreement with Hatake Sakumo's assessment. "The Small Nations Alliance had no way to refuse Iwagakure. After all, if they had refused, Amegakure would have been forced to fight three great nations at once. It was an open trap."

"The Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki of Both Scales... what a terrifying man."

Orochimaru sighed. "If there is to be another shinobi world war... that old man Ōnoki will undoubtedly be the greatest threat to our Konoha."

"The future Third Shinobi World War? It won't happen anytime soon."

Hatake Sakumo stated, "In this war, all sides have suffered significant losses, though not to the point of total exhaustion. Once the Small Nations Alliance is dealt with, the three great nations can return home to lick their wounds and recover. If Ōnoki were to launch another war now, he would face an alliance between Sunagakure and Konoha, not to mention the watchful eyes of Kumogakure and Kirigakure."

"To act now would be to invite a joint encirclement and annihilation by the four great nations. That old man Ōnoki is not foolish enough to do something so reckless."

Hatake Sakumo looked at the group and smiled. "I predict the next great war is still far off. We have at least eight years."

Truly, the White Fang of Konoha.

Sakuya, sitting to the side without a word, glanced at the White Fang and nodded inwardly.

He was a man who had nearly ascended to the position of Fourth Hokage through his own efforts, without the support of anyone else.

His judgment of the situation was impeccable, as if he possessed the Byakugan of the Hyūga clan to see through everything.

According to the original plot of the Naruto series, the Third Shinobi World War began ten years after the end of the Second, which aligned almost perfectly with Hatake Sakumo's prediction.

If not for the fact that he was bullied into suicide by the ignorant masses of Konoha, perhaps the Fourth Hokage would have been born much earlier, rather than being taken by Minato Namikaze...

"Before that, Sakuya-kun."

Hatake Sakumo's voice interrupted Sakuya's thoughts.

He looked up, meeting the gaze of the White Fang.

"You've worked hard during this time."

The White Fang continued, "The assassinations of the Small Nations Alliance leadership on the western front of the Land of River, the severing of Iwagakure's supply lines... you have done so much for the village over these past few months. Without you, the collapse of the Small Nations Alliance would not have been so easy."

"No, Sakumo-senpai, you overpraise me."

Sakuya shook his head. "I only did what I had to do. Compared to that, you, Sakumo-senpai, are the true hero of this war for pinning down the Demigod on the front lines and keeping him from stepping a single foot out of the Land of Rain."

"Haha, not at all, not at all. I couldn't have pinned down the Demigod alone; it was the help of the jōnin from the village's great clans."

Hatake Sakumo shook his head.

It was strange, though. For these past few months, Hanzo of the Salamander had stubbornly remained within the borders of the Land of Rain, never stepping out once.

Even though Sakuya had prepared himself to face the Demigod with his Mangekyō, they had never actually crossed paths.

While Hatake Sakumo and the others claimed to have pinned the Demigod within the Land of Rain, they had only engaged him from a distance, using poison gas suppression. They had never once faced him in a direct, head-on confrontation.

One had to wonder what Hanzo of the Salamander was plotting.

"Speaking of which, Orochimaru-kun."

Hatake Sakumo turned his gaze toward Orochimaru. "What is the situation in the Land of Pupil lately?"

"Everything is fine."

Orochimaru replied, "Ever since you thwarted Sunagakure's infiltration attempt into the Land of Pupil, they have been well-behaved, and the front lines have remained stable."

"And the Toxin Research Institute?"

Hatake Sakumo asked again.

"Everything is proceeding smoothly."

"...Is that so?"

During that operation, he had personally executed Chiyo's son and daughter-in-law on the spot as a warning to others. How could Chiyo, faced with the death of her only son at his hands, still be sitting quietly in the laboratory researching toxins?

"It is likely that Miss Pakura suppressed the news."

Watching Hatake Sakumo's doubtful expression, Orochimaru explained, "That shining genius girl from Sunagakure, who is only just over ten years old."

Scorch Release Pakura, the most famous genius of Sunagakure during the Second Shinobi World War.

Together with Magnet Release Rasa, they are known as the two most prominent bloodline ninjas of Sunagakure's younger generation.

In particular, this Miss Pakura is quite brilliant in politics, ability, and even in her methods of managing subordinates; despite being only twelve, she has already taken the position of deputy commander for the current allied front of Sunagakure, looking nothing like someone of that age.

No... the shinobi world is just like this, like leeks; a batch of geniuses dies, and another batch of young geniuses springs up.

Doesn't Konoha have such a person as well?

Orochimaru looked toward Sakuya.

The Red Flash of our Konoha is far more outstanding than that Scorch Release user.

"Whoosh!"

While everyone was lost in thought, the tent flap was violently pulled open.

"Commander! Everyone!"

The newcomer shouted excitedly, "The research institute has had a breakthrough with the toxins!"