Separations

The moment the Hidden Leaf Village declared war on Amegakure, Sunagakure, Kumogakure, and Iwagakure all received the news.

Sunagakure and Iwagakure soon followed, declaring war on Amegakure and beginning to mobilize for battle.

Fifteen years had passed since the First Shinobi World War. Every nation had developed considerably and was no longer satisfied with the status quo. Small-scale armed conflicts had become commonplace.

They had once feared the strength of the Land of Fire and dared not start a large-scale war. But now that Konoha had struck first at Amegakure, they had to join in and claim their share.

Since Kumogakure was separated from Amegakure by the Land of Fire, the Land of Hot Water, and the Land of Moon, it chose not to join the war, instead holding back and waiting for an opportunity.

As for Kirigakure, its isolationist policy meant it did not receive the news right away.

The gates of the Hidden Leaf Village.

On the eve of war, a tense atmosphere hung over the entire village.

Every civilian and shinobi was guessing and wondering what kind of calamity this war would bring.

Senju Genma looked around. He could still see shinobi bidding farewell to their families, while those with no family stood alone, gazing blankly in every direction.

They had no control over the present and could not foresee the future. All they could do was wait in bewilderment.

War always brought fear, pain, displacement, hardship, and disaster...

At least, bewilderment let them forget these grim thoughts about the battlefield for a little while.

They were a medical ninja unit hastily assembled by Konoha, led by Tsunade.

Konoha's medical ninja system was still underdeveloped, so it had taken some time to assemble the team.

Orochimaru and Jiraiya had already led the main force to the battlefield. They intended to catch Amegakure off guard.

Senju Genma carefully straightened Tsunade's clothes. The setting sun stretched their shadows long, but in the end, they remained joined.

"You really are careless. You're about to head to the battlefield, and you still forgot this. It's your pouch—I brought it for you, and I've organized all the ninja tools inside."

Senju Genma thoughtfully fastened the pouch around Tsunade's waist, then straightened her Jonin vest.

Tsunade just stared at him blankly, saying nothing.

Senju Genma smiled and straightened her collar.

"I know. When I wake up tomorrow, you won't be here."

"But don't worry. We'll see each other again soon, though the circumstances might not be pleasant."

Tsunade didn't understand what he meant. As far as she was concerned, their next reunion would be a wonderful moment.

"I'll look forward to seeing you again."

She slowly bent down and kissed Senju Genma on the forehead.

She didn't like war and didn't want to take part in it, but she had no choice.

No one had forced her. She had willingly let herself be swept along, pulled by the little figure standing before her and by the companions she'd spent her days with in the village.

Senju Genma met her eyes, waved, and said goodbye.

She only avoided his gaze, turned with easy confidence, and waved for him to go back.

Tsunade had settled her personal affairs and accepted her duty.

The shinobi gradually left the area around the gates.

The time to assemble was drawing near. They would gather in the woods ten miles west of the village, then march to the battlefield under Tsunade's command.

Waiting for them ahead was the cycle of life and death.

They didn't know what the outcome would be. They only understood what they had to do.

Senju Genma wouldn't mock them for being foolish, unaware that they had become pawns of the powerful. He could only admire their courage in facing life and death.

He didn't hate those willing to give their lives to protect something or someone.

He didn't return to the clan compound, but went back to the Ninja Academy instead.

In this school, the war seemed to have nothing to do with them. Everything was still orderly, though the usual bustle had faded.

Senju Genma went to the teachers' office and found Kato Taka resting with his eyes closed.

They exchanged few words. Kato Taka handed Senju Genma a Forehead Protector bearing Konoha's stylized leaf design.

One month later, at the Konoha Arena.

The Third, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and the head of the Senju Clan, Uzumaki Mito, sat high on the viewing platform. More than a dozen Jonin and several dozen Chunin surrounded them.

Over three hundred Jonin had remained in the village, but only these twelve had been able to find time to come and watch.

They represented both the ninja clans and the civilian shinobi, gathered to witness the war's first new Jonin.

The main reason they'd made time in their busy schedules was that the shinobi who might become a Jonin was a renowned Wood Release user in Konoha.

Wood Release wasn't just a source of pride for the Senju Clan; it was a source of pride for Konoha, too.

Most of Konoha's Jonin of this generation had grown up listening to stories of the legendary Wood Release Ninja, the God of Shinobi, the First, Senju Hashirama.

They wanted to see what the future held for this new Wood Release Ninja—and whether he could become the next God of Shinobi.

There were two paths to becoming a Konoha shinobi.

The first was for peacetime: attend the Ninja Academy, graduate as a Genin, take the Chunin Ninja Exams, and become a Chunin by passing. Finally, the Hokage would promote you to Jonin.

The second was for wartime: if you were strong enough at the Ninja Academy or the village needed more shinobi, you could graduate early as a Genin. Once you were strong enough, you could become a Chunin without taking the Chunin Ninja Exams. Finally, the Hokage would promote you to Jonin.

Senju Genma had volunteered to graduate early from the Ninja Academy and join the war.

He had many reasons for wanting to take part.

As much as he hated to admit it, after living here for so many years, he had grown attached to the place. Everyone except a few had treated him well; some even seemed ready to worship the ground he walked on.

But most importantly, he wanted to train himself.

He didn't want to become like Kaguya Otsutsuki—a false powerhouse with immense skill and strength but no way to bring his full combat potential to bear.

If Madara Uchiha had possessed Kaguya Otsutsuki's power, he could have beaten Naruto and Sasuke senseless.

Uzumaki Mito also approved of Senju Genma's idea.

She had never opposed children gaining experience through hardship.

She, Hashirama, Tobirama, and Madara Uchiha had all been tempered on the battlefield. So had Hiruzen Sarutobi, in his own time.

Her most beloved granddaughter, Tsunade, had gone to the battlefield at just six years old.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had a general idea of Senju Genma's strength, and he also intended to cultivate Genma as one of his successors. So he planned to promote Genma straight to Jonin and send him to war.

He wasn't worried that Senju Genma would earn too much merit in the war and threaten his position.

Senju Genma was still young. Even if he defeated Amegakure, he wouldn't become Hokage right away. If Hiruzen later found Genma had become difficult to control, he could always use a few tactics to damage his reputation.