Within the Land of Fire.
In a vast, endless stretch of lush forest.
Konoha, a village that seemed to embody warmth, sat right in the middle of the woods.
At that moment, inside the Hokage Building.
A large conference hall was filled with people waiting anxiously.
Among them were several members of Konoha High Command. They sat with grave, composed expressions, waiting for the latest news from the battlefield.
"Swish!"
A shadow appeared.
He knelt respectfully and immediately presented a confidential report, which detailed the state of the fighting in the Land of Rain a day earlier!
Utatane Koharu stepped forward and took it. She glanced over the page, and a hint of delight immediately appeared in her eyes!
"Third Hokage, take a look. That child, Sosuke... He's truly remarkable..."
At her words, the Third Hokage's expression remained unchanged. He took the report solemnly and studied it carefully.
After reading the contents, his shoulders relaxed slightly. He looked at everyone present and said gravely,
"The report says that under Sosuke's command, Konoha broke through six Sand Ninja strongholds in a single day."
He paused, pondering.
"Counting yesterday's, Konoha has now destroyed ten strongholds in the Land of Rain."
Hearing the Third Hokage say this himself, the members of Konoha High Command, who had been waiting here for news, all looked delighted.
"Ten strongholds!? If our previous estimates are right, those must be all the strongholds the Sand Ninja planted among the Rain Ninja!"
One of the Konoha officials seemed to have suddenly realized something and cried out.
At his words, the others also caught on. They looked at the Third Hokage in surprise, deeply shaken by the child they had practically watched grow up through the stories they'd heard.
Was this the terrifying power of Sosuke, the "Child of Konoha"?!