The Beginning of Chaos

In Konoha's forty-seventh year, several years had passed since the end of the Second Shinobi World War. On the surface, the shinobi world maintained a fragile peace as the Five Great Nations licked their wounds and recovered their strength. Yet beneath that seemingly calm facade, undercurrents had long been surging.

Nearly ten years of relative peace had greatly weakened the Five Great Nations' absolute control over the surrounding smaller countries and regions. A vacuum of power inevitably bred ambition and unrest. Friction between nations grew increasingly frequent. In the struggle for resources, territory, and strategic strongholds, small-scale conflicts and proxy wars quietly unfolded throughout the shinobi world. The great powers openly or covertly courted, supported, and even directly oppressed smaller nations, dragging them into whirlpools of self-interest. The people of those smaller countries groaned with resentment, their anger steadily mounting.

At last, quantitative change gave rise to qualitative change. The accumulated contradictions were like a dry powder keg—one spark was all it took to ignite the entire world.

The flames of the Third Shinobi World War ultimately erupted in full force, unavoidable at last. What began as increasingly fierce border skirmishes quickly escalated into direct declarations of war and massive military clashes between the great powers. Like a plague, the flames spread rapidly across the entire shinobi world, dragging countless people and nations back into a bloody meat grinder.

Hidden Sand Village, which had only just begun to recover from the wounds of the Second Shinobi World War, was once again shrouded beneath the dark clouds of war. Patrol, guard, and reconnaissance missions on the assignment board surged in number, and the atmosphere abruptly turned tense and grim. Reports of attacks along the Land of Wind's borders also arrived from time to time.

The storm of war was already at hand.

Yet for Shaye, who had immersed himself in training and growth, the past two-odd years had been a golden period of transformation.

Under Elder Chiyo's wholehearted guidance, his progress had been visible to the naked eye, advancing by leaps and bounds.

His Puppet Technique had long surpassed basic construction. He had begun delving into composite structures, advanced energy circuit inlays, and the theory of coordinated control over multiple puppets. He had also sought Sasori's advice on a great many practical combat techniques.

In Medical Ninjutsu, while he was limited by his chakra nature—he lacked a primary Yang Release affinity—and his chakra reserves, making him unable to perform advanced healing techniques, his theoretical foundation was exceptionally solid. His understanding of the human body, meridians, and toxins far surpassed that of ordinary medical ninja. He had especially developed unique insights into using Sealing Technique alongside internal energy guidance.

His study of Sealing Formulae had progressed even more rapidly. Under Bunpuku's meticulous instruction and Shukaku's "sharp-tongued sparring," he could already understand and preliminarily construct many complex advanced barrier techniques and Sealing Formulae, laying a firm foundation for future upgrades to his Puppet Core and Body Refining Furnace.

Wind Release and Earth Release were even more central to his training. His Chunin-level chakra allowed him to sustain the consumption of more powerful techniques, while his exceptional control made his releases unusually condensed and efficient. Whether it was Earth Release's defense and manipulation or Wind Release's cutting power and speed, both had become quite formidable, forming a distinctive combat style.

The foundation of it all came from the Body Refining Furnace's constant nourishment. Over these two years, he had never stopped improving the Body Refining Furnace and Puppet Core. Though progress was slow due to limited materials and knowledge, the effects were real. His physical foundation had been further consolidated and strengthened, while the speed and quality of his chakra refinement steadily improved.

The most obvious outward sign was that Shaye had begun to shoot up. His former short, frail appearance gradually changed, and his height increased noticeably. Though he remained somewhat lean, his figure became balanced and upright, his muscle lines smooth yet filled with strength. There was no longer the slightest trace of congenital weakness. The childish roundness faded from his face, revealing the handsome contours of a young man. His black eyes grew ever deeper and calmer, and the occasional sharp glint within them made others wary of underestimating him.

Of all his training, however, the most difficult yet most exhilarating progress came from his research and development of Magnet Release.

After countless failures, adjustments, and renewed attempts, relying on his profound understanding of the nature transformations of wind and earth as well as his meticulous chakra control, he finally achieved a breakthrough!

At that moment, in the open space behind his small house, Shaye held his breath and focused. He extended his right hand, palm upward, as the chakra within his body circulated and fused in an unprecedentedly complex manner. A wisp of mist, glimmering with a faint silver-black light and seeming to consist of innumerable minute metal grains, slowly condensed and spiraled above his palm.

It was no longer a simple chakra shape transformation. It emitted a unique magnetic fluctuation!

Shaye's gaze sharpened, and the mass of Magnet Release chakra in his palm trembled slightly.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Several training shuriken scattered across the ground seemed to be pulled by invisible hands, abruptly lifting into the air and tightly adhering to that silver-black cloud of chakra!

Although it lasted only a few seconds before the Magnet Release chakra dispersed from being too difficult to maintain, sending the shuriken clattering back to the ground, this brief phenomenon undoubtedly marked Shaye's successful entry through the gates of the Bloodline Limit!

Magnet Release had shown its first results!

Shaye looked at the scattered shuriken and slowly clenched his fist, his heart filled with excitement and lofty ambition. More than two years of bitter training, sweat, and perseverance had finally borne their sweetest fruit.

However, just then, a rapid peal of bells suddenly rang out from the center of the village, shattering the morning's tranquility. That was... the signal for an emergency assembly!

Shaye raised his head toward the sound of the bells, his brows knitting slightly. The storm of war was finally about to drag even this sanctuary where he had grown into its grasp.

His peaceful days of training might soon be over.

(End of Chapter)