As Konoha's ninja officially set foot in the Land of Rain, the land already ravaged by war instantly became a meat grinder for the Three Great Shinobi Villages: Konoha, Iwagakure, and Sunagakure.
The three forces entrenched themselves in the Land of Rain, with no fixed battle lines. Brief standoffs sometimes gave way to sudden, chaotic clashes. In war, there were no permanent allies, only immediate interests.
Raids, ambushes, and chance encounters played out constantly, blood soaking into the muddy soil of the Land of Rain...
Rumor had it that Third Kazekage Sajie had been ambushed by Konoha's Shimura Danzō while fighting the Four-Tails. Gravely wounded, he had been forced to retreat to Sunagakure to recuperate, leaving Chiyo in command of Sunagakure's forces in the Land of Rain.
Chiyo's younger brother, Ebizo, known as the "Sea God," also rushed to the Land of Rain to help his sister coordinate Sunagakure's ninja there and stabilize their front lines.
From then on, the Three Great Shinobi Villages embarked on years of sustained, bitter fighting in the Land of Rain.
Konoha Year 32, autumn.
Mornings in the Senju Clan Compound were a little quieter than in years past.
As Nawaki headed out, he glanced back. Grandma Mito was still sitting beneath the veranda, holding a cup of tea that had gone completely cold and staring blankly at the old tree in the courtyard. She had been doing that often lately, neither speaking nor moving, simply sitting there like a tree whose roots ran too deep, no longer inclined to move.
"Grandma, I'm heading out."
His voice seemed to bring Mito back to herself. She turned her head and smiled. "All right. Be careful on the way."
Nawaki left. Just before stepping outside, he could not help glancing back once more.
Mito's gaze had already