Three days later.
Beneath Kage Rock.
Twenty-three figures stood in three neat rows.
No one chatted.
No one whispered.
Even Obito, who usually couldn't sit still, had a tense expression now, his eyes fixed straight ahead at the platform.
Above them were three enormous Hokage faces.
The morning breeze stirred a few fallen leaves.
Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi stood on the platform.
He had a pipe in his mouth and wore his Hokage robes. His expression was ten times more serious than usual.
Several Anbu stood behind him, along with Ikkaku Umino.
No one spoke.
Only an occasional wisp of smoke drifted from the pipe.
The Third Hokage swept his gaze over the faces below.
Twenty-three.
Not one was missing.
He nodded.
"You all made it out alive."
His voice wasn't loud, but every word rang clearly in everyone's ears.
"Good."
He paused and took a deep breath of smoke.
"Originally, you were supposed to have half a month off after graduation."
"But—"
He lowered his pipe.
"There will be no vacation."
The crowd below fell even quieter.
"Yesterday before dawn, Iwagakure's army of ten thousand crossed the border from the Land of Grass and advanced toward the Land of Fire."
"Kumogakure's army of twenty thousand has assembled in the Land of Rice Fields, with the Land of Hot Water as its target."
"Kirigakure's navy has appeared off the eastern coast of the Land of Fire and begun making probing landings."
The Third Hokage's voice was calm.
But every word landed like a stone in everyone's heart.
"The Third Shinobi World War has begun."
The crowd was so quiet they could hear heartbeats.
Someone swallowed.
Someone clenched a fist.
The Third Hokage looked at them.
At these children who were only eight or nine years old.
He fell silent for a few seconds.
Then he spoke.
"I should have given you more time to grow."
"But war waits for no one."
He raised a hand.
An Anbu behind him brought over a tray.
Twenty-three brand-new Konoha Forehead Protectors lay neatly arranged on it.
The Third Hokage picked one up and held it in the sunlight.
The metal forehead protector reflected a dazzling gleam.
"Starting today, you are no longer students of the Ninja Academy."
"You are Konoha's Genin."
He paused.
"You are Konoha's shinobi."
He set the Forehead Protector back on the tray.
"Ikkaku Umino."
Ikkaku Umino stepped forward.
"Yes."
"Announce the assignments."
Ikkaku Umino nodded and walked to the front of the platform.
He held a roster in his hands.
He glanced at the crowd below.
All twenty-three children were staring at the sheet in his hands.
It would decide their fate.
Where they would go.
Who they would go with.
Whom they would fight.
Whether they would die.
Ikkaku Umino took a deep breath.
"Nohara Rin, Uchiha Obito."
Hearing his name called first, Obito jolted.
Rin, standing beside him, was also taken aback.
They looked at each other, then turned toward the platform.
Ikkaku Umino continued reading.
"You're assigned to Team 7, under Captain Minato Namikaze."
"Proceed to the border of the Land of Grass at once and report to Captain Minato."
"Over there—"
He glanced at Obito.
"Hatake Kakashi is already waiting for you."
Obito's eyes lit up.
Rin's did too.
"Kakashi!"
Obito almost shouted, but Rin secretly tugged at his sleeve, and he quickly shut his mouth.
But there was no hiding his excitement.
Kakashi!
That guy!
They hadn't seen each other in a year!
Ikkaku Umino looked at his beaming face, and the corner of his mouth twitched.
"Stand properly."
Obito quickly forced his expression to straighten.
But his eyes were still bright.
Ikkaku Umino continued reading.
"Kurenai Yuhi, Sarutobi Asuma, Aburame Shikuroo."
Kurenai froze for a moment, looking a little disappointed, but quickly stepped forward.
"You're assigned to the Intelligence Division, under Captain Yamanaka Shinichi."
"Report to the intelligence station on the border of the Land of Rice Fields."
"Your primary duties will be reconnaissance behind enemy lines, intelligence gathering, and infiltration and sabotage."
Ikkaku Umino paused.
"It will be dangerous."
"But it's important."
Kurenai took a deep breath.
She turned to look at Guy in the back row.
Guy was watching her.
Their eyes met.
Kurenai pressed her lips together, then smiled.
It wasn't the kind of smile that said, "I'm scared."
It was the kind that said, "Don't worry."
Guy smiled too.
He gave her a thumbs-up.
Kurenai turned back.
She kept her eyes on the platform.
Ikkaku Umino continued reading the names.
Each time a name was called, a child stepped forward, then silently rejoined the group.
Guy was waiting to find out where he would be assigned too.
From his memories, he only knew that Guy eventually survived.
He didn't know how it happened.
Suddenly, Ikkaku Umino paused.
He lowered his eyes to the roster.
Then he looked up.
"Might Guy."
Guy's body jolted.
It was time.
His name.
Ikkaku Umino looked at him.
"Might Guy, Ebisu, Shiranui Genma."
"Assigned to Team 9, under Captain Akimichi Choza."
"Proceed toward Kikyo Mountain immediately and report to Captain Choza."
Kikyo Mountain.
When those three words came from Ikkaku Umino's mouth, Guy's mind buzzed.
Kikyo Mountain.
The place where the great battle between Konoha and Sunagakure erupted during the Third Shinobi World War.
In the original story, Konoha won that battle.
But many people died.
An awful lot of people.
Beside him, Ebisu pushed up his sunglasses and muttered, "Kikyo Mountain? Where's that?"
With a toothpick in his mouth, Genma calmly replied, "It's where the Land of Fire borders the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth. It's part of our country, so it's technically within our borders."
"Within our borders? Then it should be safe, at least."
Ebisu breathed a sigh of relief.
Genma ignored him and merely glanced at Guy.
There were some things Genma didn't say aloud.
"Where you go doesn't really matter. What's important is who you're teamed up with."
"Besides, being teamed up with this guy is surprisingly reassuring."
Ikkaku Umino continued reading the remaining names.
One after another.
One after another.
Some were assigned to the front lines.
Some were sent to the rear.
Some joined the defense force.
Some went to the supply lines.
All twenty-three had been assigned somewhere.
After reading the final name on the roster, Ikkaku Umino closed the book.
He looked at the crowd below.
"Did you all hear your assignments?"
"Yes!"
"Any questions?"
No one spoke.
Ikkaku Umino nodded.
The Third Hokage stepped forward.
He glanced over the children.
Then he spoke.
"There's something I need to make clear before you set out."
The crowd fell silent.
The Third Hokage spoke slowly.
"War means death."
"Some of you will die on the battlefield."
"Some of you will never come back."
"I'm not trying to scare you."
"It's the truth."
"But..."
He paused.
He looked at every face below him.
"Konoha is Konoha not because the Hokage is powerful, or because the Anbu are formidable."
"It's because generation after generation of ninja have been willing to die on the battlefield to protect those behind them."
"That is the Will of Fire."
He put his pipe back in his mouth.
"Remember why you're fighting."
"Go."
The crowd was silent for a few seconds.
Then someone moved.
Obito took a deep breath and turned around.
Rin walked beside him.
The two of them headed out.
After a few steps, Obito suddenly turned back.
"Guy!"
Guy looked up, not yet saying anything.
Obito suddenly gave him a thumbs-up.
He struck his signature pose.
"See you on the battlefield!"
Guy froze for a moment.
Then he smiled.
He gave Obito a thumbs-up too.
"See you on the battlefield!"
Obito turned and strode away.
Rin waved to Guy and followed him.
Kurenai walked over and stopped in front of Guy.
She looked up at him.
Her wine-red eyes sparkled.
"Guy."
"Hmm?"
"You... have to stay alive."
Guy looked down at Kurenai, who was half a head shorter than him, and placed a hand on her head.
He ruffled her hair.
"You too."
Kurenai froze for a moment.
Then she blushed.
But she didn't pull away.
She just stood there and let him ruffle her hair.
Two seconds later, she said softly,
"I'll stay safe."
"You have to stay safe too."
"Then... then we'll see each other again."
Guy nodded.
"Okay."
Kurenai smiled, lips pressed together.
She turned and ran over to Asuma.
After two steps, she looked back.
"Guy!"
"Hmm?"
"Don't forget our promise!"
Then she ran off.
Guy stood still, watching her disappear into the crowd.
The promise.
Of course he remembered.
The Promise on the Cliff.
He would be her Strongest Shield.
She would be his genjutsu support.
Aburame Shikoku came over to say goodbye to Guy too.
But just before Shikoku left, Guy suddenly leaned close to his ear.
"Do me a favor."
Shikoku froze. "A favor? What kind?"
Guy jerked his chin toward Asuma.
"Keep an eye on that kid for me."
At that, Shikoku looked at Asuma, then at Kurenai, then at Guy.
His face took on an expression that said, "I get it."
Then he discreetly gave Guy a thumbs-up.
"Leave it to me!"
"Heh, you're a good brother!"
Guy grinned.
Hearing the word "brother" made Shikoku even more excited.
It was the first time anyone had called him that.
"All right, go on. They're waiting for you."
"Yeah! I'm off, then! You take care of yourself too, brother!"
Shikoku nodded firmly, then turned to leave.
Guy looked down at the Forehead Protector in his hand.
It was brand-new.
He hadn't worn it yet.
He raised it and tied it around his forehead.
The metal was a little cold.
But the moment it touched his forehead, he felt something settle into place.
"Guy."
Ebisu walked over.
Genma followed behind him.
Both of them had their Forehead Protectors on.
Ebisu pushed up his sunglasses.
"Come on. Team Leader Akimichi Choza is waiting at Kikyo Mountain."
Genma nodded, a toothpick in his mouth.
Guy took a deep breath.
Kikyo Mountain.
Within six months, it would become the bloodiest battlefield of the war.
Though he knew what he was about to face,
he didn't back down.
He couldn't!
There were less than three years until the encounter with the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
That meant his father, Dai, had less than three years left, too.
He had to become strong enough to kick seven elite jonin to death within three years.
Otherwise, he still wouldn't be able to change Might Duy's fate.
He had to get stronger!
And war was the best catalyst for becoming stronger!
He turned around.
The three of them headed toward Kikyo Mountain.
Everyone had said goodbye to their families three days earlier.
Today was the day they set out.
Behind them, the three faces carved into Kage Rock gazed down in silence.
The wind blew past.
It swept up the fallen leaves on the ground.
A shout came from the distance.
Someone was leaving.
Someone was setting out.
War.
Had begun.