For the latter half of the year, almost nothing happened. Minato's Team spent the year training through the lowest-level commissions, while I kept running around with Sakumo.
In the blink of an eye, it had arrived.
Konoha Year 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 cruelty of war.
Minato's Team seemed to have carried out the Kannabi Bridge Battle in Konoha Year 50, still three years away from now.
What I had to do in this war was ensure that no one died in the Kannabi Bridge Battle, save Might Guy's father, Might Duy, and recover as many of the stolen Byakugan as possible.
These three things could absolutely change history and steer it in a better direction.
This won't do. My memories from my previous life are getting blurrier and blurrier. I can't clearly remember what happened in the Third Shinobi World War anymore. Hidden Sand declared war and attacked the border first, then Hidden Mist and Hidden Rock took advantage of the chaos, and finally Hidden Cloud entered the fray to reap the benefits, right?
"Hm? Qingyue, did you say something?"
Damn it. I had carelessly muttered my thoughts aloud and forgotten that 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."
This was the preparation period for war. Recently, the number of ninja academy graduates had suddenly increased, and many ninja I had barely seen around the village had been recalled.
"Your tenth birthday is in a few days, Qingyue. I don't know what to give you this time. Is there anything you need?"
Now that she mentioned it, I really was turning ten. It had been ten years since I came to this world.
It seemed I could draw cards again!
"There isn't anything in particular that I want. How about... Rin, could you make me some kind of amulet? I've been leaving the village for missions a lot lately. If I had an amulet, I could feel much more at ease, as if you were by my side."
The moment I said that, I felt my own face burn with embarrassment.
Across two lives, the only time I had ever flirted with girls was through dating sims. Without realizing it, I had used the lines from those games on Rin.
But... Rin seemed even redder than I was?
"An amulet... 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 stammered as she agreed to my wish. If not for the fact that my Shadow Clone beat me black and blue in daily training until my entire body ached—
I would really have thought this was nothing more than a fantasy or a dream.
Could it be... that I was already inside the Infinite Tsukuyomi?
"Ahem. Rin, thank you for always being by my side and supporting me."
"Why are you suddenly saying something like 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 how I felt.
At our current age, I definitely could not do anything excessive with Rin. I had to properly maintain the distance between us and wait until we grew up.
Yet my feelings 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 who she was in the story I remembered. But now, I had truly integrated into this world and genuinely fallen for her.
"Rin, I like..."
The words had 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 had only just begun to understand such things. I should not bind her to me under these 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 of warmth. I could feel warmth through them.
But if I kept nestling at their side, I would surely grow complacent and forget that this was a dangerous world.
"Like what? I didn't hear you clearly. Can you say it again, Qingyue?"
"I like amulets like necklaces, something with a pendant. Would that be okay?"
"I'll work hard to learn how to make it. I'll definitely finish it before your birthday!"
"Then I'll look forward to it."
Over the next few days, I did not take on any more missions. Sakumo seemed to have other matters keeping him busy. He was probably gathering intelligence.
Over these past few days, Hill slightly reduced the intensity of my training. War was likely approaching, so he wanted my body restored 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, would obtain another powerful cheat!
[First: the top-tier weapon ninja—Zhiyu. Second: a staff capable of strengthening ninjutsu—Pride Expert. Third: elevate Battle Aura into Dragon Saint Battle Aura. From now on, Battle Aura will no longer require chakra to generate, but chakra may be consumed to strengthen it, and the Battle Aura will completely transform into armor.]
Dragon Saint Battle Aura slightly reduced the physical enhancement compared to ordinary Battle Aura. It was a technique that focused more on defense than attack.
But that did not mean Dragon Saint Battle Aura lacked offensive power. Its upper limit was even higher.
Especially in a world that also had chakra, there was no need to rely on the physical enhancement granted by Battle Aura.
Besides, for attack power, I would definitely rely more on Conqueror's Haki Infusion and Flowing Cherry Haki later on. At that point, Battle Aura would be used more for insurance and swordsmanship.
Then Dragon Saint Battle Aura was undoubtedly more suitable for me than ordinary Battle Aura. Most importantly, it did not need chakra to generate, and it could even be strengthened with chakra. That undoubtedly raised its upper limit.
As for the weapon and staff... they were not so desperately needed for now. A sword would be easier enough to explain, but a staff simply did not fit this world very well.
[I've decided. I choose the third option. Come forth, Dragon Saint Battle Aura!]
After making my choice, unlike 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, chakra-based attacks.]
Chakra-based attacks... then it was not limited to ninjutsu. Chakra-enhanced slashes were also chakra-based attacks.
I did not know whether Susanoo counted, but no matter what, this was a powerful technique.
The next problem was whether Haki and Battle Aura were compatible.
As I kept thinking about these complicated matters, my vision gradually went dark, and I fell asleep.
My tenth birthday party was just like when I turned five: I received many gifts. Among them, the one I treasured most was the pendant Rin gave me.
Two purple hearts overlapped. Its length placed it just slightly below where my collarbones met, so it would not interfere with combat.
And the beauty of peace ended at that moment. In Sunagakure, Sasori of the Red Sands transformed himself into an eternal puppet and assassinated the Third Kazekage.
After consideration among the higher-ups, they unanimously decided to use this opportunity to point their spearhead at Konoha and make a choice between destruction and prosperity.
On March 1, Sunagakure assembled a large army, bypassed Amegakure, and formally advanced toward Konoha's border.
The Third Shinobi World War had thus begun.
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