Jiraiya stood with his hands behind his back, his presence overwhelming. Even his silhouette carried a hint of melancholy.
"What a powerful verse."
Hoshizuki Hyuga murmured to herself, her eyes momentarily unfocused.
She could imagine the peerless splendor of that being as he spoke those words.
He must have shone brilliantly, dazzling all who saw him.
Though Jiraiya tried his hardest to imitate him, he ultimately lacked some of that grace.
"These are the Heavenly Emperor's hopes for us."
Kushina Uzumaki murmured too, little stars glimmering in her eyes.
"When autumn comes, on the eighth of the ninth month, my flowers will bloom, and all others will perish!"
"If we fight, we will win!"
Minato Namikaze's eyes blazed, his expression radiant.
The corners of his mouth lifted in a sunny smile, his whole body glowing with confidence.
The Second Shinobi World War had reached its bloodiest stage.
Kirigakure of the Land of Water, Iwagakure of the Land of Earth, and Kumogakure of the Land of Lightning
had joined the fighting one after another.
Just as in the First Shinobi World War,
the four great shinobi villages once again seemed to have agreed to strike together at Konoha, the strongest among them.
The difference was that,
this time, the newly risen Amegakure of the Land of Rain had also joined the fighting.
In an unprecedented turn, five great shinobi villages launched a joint assault on Konoha.
For a time, Konoha reeled under the storm, struggling to hold out alone.
Unlike the last time, however,
no peerless figure had emerged to dominate an entire era.
There was no God of Shinobi like Hashirama Senju, whose invincible might had crushed the other nations until they could no longer raise their heads!
With five great shinobi villages fighting together, every village believed that