Early morning.
The morning sun peeked over the mountains, its gentle light filtering through the clouds and painting the earth in warm colors, as though draping Konoha in a thin veil of gold.
The morning breeze blew softly, carrying a fresh scent. Dewdrops slid down leaves, sparkling and translucent, glittering like pearls.
As the villagers began moving about, Konoha gradually came alive in the morning, bustling and clamorous.
There was no sign at all that Konoha was currently at war.
Thanks to the opening of the two academies, news that was rather "stimulating" to the villagers no longer spread through visiting merchant caravans or people with "ulterior motives."
Under Lord Danzo's direction, the instructors the villagers trusted would occasionally reveal news from the front lines or secrets of the Shinobi World.
Thanks to people's natural love of gossip, this sort of "inside information" could quickly spread throughout Konoha, and it carried tremendous credibility.
"Come on over! Highland bison from the Land of Lightning, so fresh it's like biting straight into the animal!"
Beneath a wooden sign engraved with [Haochi Beef Jerky].
A burly man stood inside the shop, holding up a piece of bright red meat and shouting at the top of his lungs. His bulging muscles repeatedly drew passersby over to ask questions.
"How much is the beef?"
"Eh? You look a little familiar..."
A dark, slightly greasy hand reached out from behind the burly man and pushed the shouting vendor aside.
"How did you know my son won the academy tournament?"
The honest-looking, dark-skinned old beef seller spoke with a chuckle.
"Oh! He's Watanabe, the one who beat up that Uchiha Academy genius last time!"
The passerby looked very excited as he gazed at the tall Watanabe. He, too, supported the Eastern Front Academy.
"Hey, hey! What do