The moon was dark, and the wind was high.
Along the coast of the Hot Springs Country, watchtowers had been built one after another by the sea. Figures filled the towers, while several squads patrolled back and forth along the shoreline.
Lit torches covered the entire coast, like an orange-yellow serpent winding along the shore.
During this period, the entire sea had been in turmoil. First, the Mizukage of Kirigakure in the Water Country had died suddenly, throwing the ninja forces of the Water Country into chaos and even affecting ordinary people's livelihoods. After all, the destructive power of ninja battles was simply too great. Once civilians became involved, the Daimyo Palace had no choice but to intervene, plunging the entire Water Country into disorder.
On top of that, the Funato Clan, once merely pirates, had suddenly begun invading the small nations scattered across the sea. Their rate of conquest was terrifying. In just one week, they had taken more than ten small countries. Although many of those nations had chosen to surrender outright, it still demonstrated the sheer strength of the Funato Clan.
Though the Hot Springs Country was the third strongest nation at sea, it did not like war. Its daimyo throughout the generations had been somewhat Buddhist in temperament, disliking conflict. It was a country that advocated peace.
But people with such temperaments were often the most afraid of death. When Hashirama advocated peace, he truly wished for world peace. When they advocated peace, however, a large part of the reason was that they feared others might come attack them.
Thus, after learning that the Funato Clan had started a war at sea, they immediately reinforced their coastal defenses, terrified that the Funato Clan might come for them someday.
Under the flickering torchlight, a soldier followed routine