It seems I really need to control you!

Returning to the camp barracks, Qi Luna closed the tent flap softly, careful not to disturb her sleeping companions.

He walked to the table and, by the dim light of a candle, pulled a sealing scroll from his robes, then summoned a notebook from within it.

Qi Luna spread the notebook across the table and began to diligently record the training methods for the New Vortex Style Taijutsu. The tip of his pen scratched against the paper, every stroke infused with his focus and anticipation.

In the gaps between writing, she frowned slightly, lost in memories of the Naruto plot details from her past life.

Familiar yet dark plot points surfaced in her mind:

Madara transplanting his own Rinnegan into a young Nagato;

Sending White Zetsu to disguise themselves as Konoha ninja to murder Nagato's father, Ise, and mother, Uzumaki Fuso, planting a seed of pain and darkness in Nagato's heart while simultaneously activating the Rinnegan;

Manipulating the Third Mizukage to initiate the first Bloody Mist Village policy, preparing for the future Eye of the Moon Plan;

And Black Zetsu, the greatest filial son of the Ninja World, disguising himself as the will of Madara through Yin-Yang Release...

However, those events were things that occurred after the Battle of Kannabi Bridge during the Third Shinobi World War...

Suddenly, a breeze blew through, causing the candle flame to flicker and dancing shadows to play across the walls.

Qi Luna snapped back to reality, reaching up to press her brow, though her eyes held a newfound firmness.

Closing the book, she walked to the window and gazed at the light, drizzling rain falling in the night sky. Occasionally, fallen leaves drifted past his sleeves in the wind, as if whispering that in this turbulent Ninja World, he was no longer a lonely soul drifting outside the world...

In the days that followed, all three of Konoha's battlefields fell into a stalemate, with neither side able to gain the upper hand.

That was until news arrived from the distant Land of Waterfalls, completely shattering the deadlock!

"Those barbarians from Kumogakure finally did something useful. After this sneak attack, that short potato Onoki shouldn't have any strength left to invade our Land of Fire, right?"

Inside the command tent, Jiraiya let out a hearty laugh after reading the intelligence snatched from Orochimaru.

"Indeed. Sarutobi Hiruzen has already ordered Elder Koharu to lead half the forces from the Iwagakure front back to the village to rest, then proceed to the southern Sunagakure front in the Land of Rain to prepare to take over Tsunade's position. Tsunade will also be transferred to our northern Amegakure front as soon as possible."

"However, although the threat of the Iwa-nin is gone and our Konoha has more flexible manpower, Amegakure can now also concentrate the full strength of their village to deal with us. It seems the day of the decisive battle is not far off..."

Orochimaru remained calm and composed, not blindly optimistic like Jiraiya, but instead seriously analyzing the impact that Kumogakure's sneak attack on Iwagakure might have on Konoha's subsequent operational plans.

"Ah! That's true. Salamander Hanzo was already hard enough to deal with. A while back, he even used the poison mist of his salamander as cover to injure Jonin Tianxian. Now it will be even harder to face Salamander Hanzo head-on."

"It's strange, though. Jonin Tianxian wasn't seriously injured, and under the treatment of that brat Qi Luna... Killua, he had already mostly recovered. Why would the old man suddenly order him back to Konoha? Not only was Jonin Tianxian recalled, but the other Uchiha ninja were basically all recalled as well. It's truly baffling..."

Recalling the various disadvantages in the recent war situation, Jiraiya scratched his white hair, but due to his naive nature, he couldn't make heads or tails of it.

"Heh, it's just rats in a dark corner who can't stand to see others doing well, so they've jumped over the wall in desperation."

Orochimaru sneered, his golden slit pupils filled with indifference, his words seemingly implying something more...

And his guess was entirely correct.

Just a few days ago, back in Konoha, Shimura Danzo, who had been recuperating for quite some time, received reports from every battlefield. Although the Amegakure front was still at a disadvantage regarding top-tier powerhouses, overall, the three major battlefields were currently slightly in their favor.

Thanks to the fact that the overall quality of Konoha's ninja was slightly higher than those of Sunagakure, Iwagakure, and Amegakure, they could be said to have firmly seized the initiative on all three fronts, standing in an invincible position.

Now, all that was missing was a victory of sufficient weight to act as the final word for each battlefield.

However, the more reports of victory that arrived, the gloomier Danzo's face became.

"When I was the commander-in-chief on the Amegakure front, they were all like wilted eggplants, and the speed of the front line's advance was slower than a snail!"

"Once I was injured, stepped down, and returned to the village to recuperate, they all acted like they'd been injected with stimulants, fierce as wolves and tigers! The progress of the front line was changing with each passing day!"

"They are clearly playing me for a fool! A bunch of damn spineless wretches!"

Shimura Danzo slammed his remaining left hand onto the table. Inside the Root base, the already dim lights flickered repeatedly after his chakra erupted, making the base and Danzo's expression appear even more sinister...

The more he read the reports, the angrier Danzo became. When he saw the major contributions made by the Uchiha clan, he flew into a rage, stood up on the spot, and prepared to go find Sarutobi Hiruzen to demand an explanation!

"Bang!"

"Sarutobi, you must have received the news from the various battlefields by now, right?"

The door to the office was suddenly kicked open violently, as if rammed by a wild beast. Wood chips flew, and the hinges let out a teeth-grinding screech.

Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't even look up, continuing to process the documents in his hands. After giving a few brief instructions, he dismissed the Anbu who had been kneeling before his desk.

Everything proceeded in an orderly fashion, as if he hadn't been disturbed in the slightest by what had just happened.

It was to be expected; after all, in the current Konoha, Sarutobi Hiruzen could guess who it was even with his eyes closed.

Aside from Tsunade, who was still on the southern Sunagakure front in the Land of Rain, there was only his old classmate and comrade of many years, Shimura Danzo, who was so ill-mannered.

And Danzo's hoarse, crow-like voice, reminiscent of a resentful woman, further confirmed Sarutobi Hiruzen's suspicion.

Sarutobi Hiruzen adjusted his Hokage hat and, facing Shimura Danzo's question, spoke slowly and in a low voice:

"Danzo, you should knock before entering. I have indeed received the intelligence from the various battlefields, but so what? Do you need me to report to you?"

"The Uchiha have produced several more clansmen who have awakened the Three Tomoe Sharingan. If they are not restrained, in time, Konoha will inevitably fall into a situation where the Uchiha clan dominates. That naturally evil clan will sooner or later become a grave threat to our Konoha!"

Seemingly unaware of the shift in Sarutobi Hiruzen's tone, Shimura Danzo simply spoke his mind, the malice in his heart pouring out with his words, his expression becoming increasingly twisted and hideous as he released it!

"Are you even listening to me, Sarutobi!"

Seeing that Sarutobi Hiruzen remained unmoved, he slammed his only remaining left hand heavily onto the desk in front of Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"We must restrain the inherently evil Uchiha clan and nip the possibility of another Uchiha Madara being born in the bud!"

"Enough, Danzo!"

As if triggered by a specific word, Sarutobi Hiruzen looked up, his eyes cold beneath the Hokage hat.

Looking at his old friend, who no longer resembled the man he once knew, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt nothing but deep helplessness in his heart.

"Stop spouting this nonsense about them being inherently evil all the time. The Uchiha are also a part of Konoha, they are our comrades in the village, and they are Kagami's kin! I have my own considerations regarding what you've mentioned."

"I will arrange for Tianxian and the others to return to Konoha to maintain the village's order and security, but you should also explain... why is it that I have only just finished reading the intelligence reports sent back from all sides, yet you have already come knocking at my door?!"

Danzo was taken aback, his body, which had been tense from agitation, freezing in place.

Is Sarutobi trying to hold me accountable? Just because my Root operates with higher efficiency than his Anbu?

Although deeply puzzled, Danzo did not feel that his actions were improper, and he maintained his stance in his response.

"They are merely Kagami's kin, not Kagami himself. Simply transferring them back to Konoha is far from enough. They should be sent to assassinate Salamander Hanzo of Amegakure, Chiyo and Sanosuke of Sunagakure! And those of Iwagakure..."

"I said... enough! My mind is made up on this matter, so don't waste your breath any further! Also, after the war ends, the operating budget for Root will be halved! That is all, you may leave!"

Danzo, who had originally intended to continue "arguing his case," was left dumbfounded upon hearing that Sarutobi Hiruzen intended to slash Root's funding.

"What... did you say?"

"I said! From now on~ Root's! Budget~ will be~ halved!"

"Sarutobi, you will regret this!"

"Bang!"

Before Sarutobi Hiruzen could even remind him who the Hokage was, Shimura Danzo had already slammed the door and stormed out.