The gloom that had settled over Konoha after Sakumo's "death" did not immediately lift, but life had to go on.
For Shinji Uchiha, Miwa Kato, and Hizashi Hyuga, that searing grief and anger did not fade with time. Instead, they buried it deep within their hearts, where it settled into clearer understanding and firmer resolve.
Danzo's methods had jolted them fully awake, like a bucket of filthy water laced with shards of ice.
They had once believed that talent, strength, and battlefield achievements were enough to secure their place in Konoha and protect what they cherished.
Now, however, they understood how powerless individual strength could be before the true "Darkness of the Shinobi," unless it reached the point of overwhelming everything-or had sufficient political power behind it.
Anger alone and howled demands for revenge meant nothing. Only by growing stronger and possessing greater "value" could they earn the right to make a move in this cruel game.
Without needing much discussion, the three tacitly chose their own paths and began another period of lying low and honing their blades.
Downstream along the Naka River, the Secret Base was put to use again, but the atmosphere was entirely different from their previous hundred-day research push.
There was less excitement over discovery, and more somber determination.
Shinji, Minato Namikaze, and Kushina Uzumaki gathered there.
"Minato, Kushina," Shinji began without preamble, his gaze sweeping over his two closest friends. "What happened to Sakumo-sensei made a lot of things clear to all of us. Individual strength has its limits, but some of those limits are ones we have to break."
He turned to Minato, his gaze sharp. "The concept behind your Flying Thunder God Technique has been fully developed for a while now. All that remains is the final breakthrough.
"Your Rasengan-the idea of