A Childhood Year, Another Birthday

Almost nothing happened in the latter half of the year. Minato's team spent the year training through the lowest-level commissions, while I followed Sakumo around on his errands.

In the blink of an eye, it had arrived.

The year was Konoha 47, the year the Third Shinobi World War broke out. As a specially promoted Jonin, I would definitely have to go to the battlefield and face the brutality of war.

Minato's team seemed to carry out the Kannabi Bridge Battle in Konoha 50, which was still three years away.

What I needed to do in this war was ensure that no one died in the Kannabi Bridge Battle, save Might Guy's father, Might Dai, and recover as many of the stolen Byakugan as possible.

These three things could absolutely change history, and change it for the better.

This won't do. My memories from my previous life are getting blurrier and blurrier. I can barely remember what the Third Shinobi World War was about. Sand Village declared war and attacked the border first, then Hidden Mist and Hidden Rock took advantage of the chaos, and finally Hidden Cloud entered to reap the rewards, right?

"Hmm? Qingyue, did you say something?"

Crap. I had accidentally muttered my thoughts aloud and forgotten Rin was beside me. But judging by her reaction, she probably had not heard what I said clearly.

"Nothing. I was just thinking about something I couldn't figure out. And the atmosphere in the village has felt strange lately."

They had entered the war-preparation phase. There had suddenly been more recent Ninja Academy graduates, and many ninja I had rarely seen in the village had been recalled.

"In a few days, it'll be your tenth birthday, Qingyue. I don't know what to give you this time. Is there anything you need?"

Come to think of it, that was right. I was ten years old now—my tenth year in this world.

It seemed I could draw cards again!

"I don't particularly want anything. How about... Rin, could you make me something like a protective charm? I've been leaving the village for missions a lot lately. If I had a charm, I could feel much more at ease, like you were right by my side."

The moment I said that, I was the first to blush in embarrassment.

Across both lives, I had only ever flirted with girls through Galgame. Without realizing it, I had used the lines from those games on Rin.

But... Rin seemed even redder than I was?

"A protective charm... um, I'll go back and see how to make one. I should be able to... finish it before your birthday."

She lowered her head shyly, yet still stammered as she agreed to my wish. If I had not been beaten black and blue by my own Shadow Clones every day during training until my entire body ached—

I truly would have thought this was nothing but a fantasy or a dream.

Could it be... that I was already inside the Infinite Tsukuyomi?

"Ahem. Rin, thank you for always being there and supporting me."

"Why are you suddenly saying that? Didn't we agree? Qingyue protects Konoha, and I protect Qingyue. I've always been watching over you. That's our promise, isn't it?"

Even so, I truly did not know how to express my feelings.

At our current age, I definitely could not do anything excessive with Rin. I had to maintain the proper distance between us until we grew up.

But my affection for Rin grew stronger every day. Whenever I felt nervous, afraid, or lost, the first thing that came to mind was her adorable face.

At first, I liked Rin only because of the version of her in the story I remembered. But now, I had truly integrated into this world and genuinely fallen for her.

"Rin, I li..."

The words reached my lips, but it was not that I could not say them. It was reason suppressing my emotions.

Though I had lived two lives and was mentally far older than a child, Rin was only just beginning to understand these things. I should not bind her to me under such circumstances.

Sakumo was right. Rin and I relied on each other too much.

In this unfamiliar world, Rin and my parents were my only refuge. I could feel warmth from them.

But if I kept nestling at their sides, I would surely become complacent and overlook the fact that this was a dangerous world.

"Like what? I didn't hear you clearly. Can you say it again, Qingyue?"

"I like protective charms like necklaces. Something with a pendant, perhaps. Would that be okay?"

"I'll work hard to learn how to make one. I'll definitely finish it before your birthday!"

"Then I'll be looking forward to it."

Over the next few days, I did not take on any more missions. Sakumo seemed to have other matters to attend to; he was probably gathering intelligence.

Hill slightly reduced the intensity of my training these past few days. With war about to arrive, she was probably trying to restore my body to peak condition.

Until midnight on my birthday.

[February 27. Congratulations, Lord Qingyue, on reaching your tenth year in this world. Please choose the birthday gift you desire.]

It had finally come—the five-year appointment... I, Qingyue, was about to obtain another powerful cheat!

[Option one: top-grade weapon ninja—Zhiyu. Option two: a staff capable of enhancing ninjutsu—Pride Expert. Option three: elevate Battle Aura into Dragon Saint Battle Aura. From now on, Battle Aura will no longer require chakra to generate, but chakra can be consumed to enhance it, and the Battle Aura will fully transform into armor.]

Compared to ordinary Battle Aura, Dragon Saint Battle Aura provided slightly less physical enhancement. It was a technique more focused on defense than offense.

But that did not mean Dragon Saint Battle Aura lacked offensive power. Its upper limit was even higher.

Especially in a world that still had chakra, I did not need to rely on Battle Aura's physical enhancements at all.

Besides, when it came to offensive power, I would definitely rely more on Conqueror's Haki Infusion and Flowing Cherry Haki later on. By then, Battle Aura would be used more for insurance and swordsmanship.

That made Dragon Saint Battle Aura far more suitable for me than ordinary Battle Aura. Most importantly, it did not need chakra to generate, and could even be enhanced with chakra, undoubtedly raising its upper limit.

As for the weapon and the staff... they were not that scarce for the time being. A sword was easy enough to explain, but a staff really did not fit this world.

[I've decided. Option three—come forth, Dragon Saint Battle Aura!]

After making my choice, unlike with Conqueror's Haki, I quickly felt changes in my body.

[In its original world, Dragon Saint Battle Aura possessed high resistance to magic. Accordingly, in this world, it grants high resistance to ninjutsu... that is, attacks in the form of chakra.]

Attacks in the form of chakra... that meant more than just ninjutsu. Chakra-enhanced slashes also counted as attacks in the form of chakra.

I wondered whether Susanoo counted as well. No matter what, this was a powerful technique.

The next issue was the compatibility between Haki and Battle Aura.

As my mind continuously turned over these complicated matters, my vision gradually went dark, and I fell asleep.

At my tenth birthday party, just as when I was five, I received many gifts. The one I treasured most was the pendant Rin gave me.

Two purple hearts overlapped each other. Its length placed it just below where my collarbones met, so it would not affect combat.

And the beauty of peace ended at that moment. In Sand Village, Sasori of the Red Sand transformed himself into an eternal puppet and assassinated the Third Kazekage.

After consideration by the higher-ups, they unanimously decided to use this opening to point their blades at Konoha and make a choice between destruction and prosperity.

On March 1, Sand Village assembled a massive army, bypassed Rain Village, and officially marched toward Konoha's border.

The Third Shinobi World War had officially begun.