Within the Land of Fire.
On their way back to the village, Team 7 looked at the ruins left by the ravages of war, a gloom hanging over their hearts.
The birds that had once been there were gone.
The fish and shrimp in the river had disappeared too.
Even the irritating cicadas that should have been chirping at this time had inexplicably fallen silent.
As far as the eye could see.
War had ravaged everything.
Charred, dead trees lay strewn across the bare, fire-scorched ground.
A nearby waterfall had been cut off from the river, a massive boulder blocking it halfway down and diverting its flow.
"This is war."
Minato looked at Kakashi and the other two beside him, his expression exceptionally calm.
He reached into his ninja tools pouch, pulled out a kunai fitted with an explosive tag, and hurled it at the massive boulder in the middle of the waterfall.
With a thunderous boom, the boulder shattered.
Without the boulder blocking it, the waterfall flowed back into its original course.
"Just like this, all we can do is protect what we have and make the best of what we have no choice but to lose."
"But why would they start a war?" Rin asked beside him, her expression pained.
The once-beautiful flower beds were gone.
The birds were gone too.
Everywhere lay steeped in a deathly silence.
This was not what she wanted.
What she hoped for was the carefree life they had enjoyed at the Ninja Academy.
Ninjutsu should not have been used to attack either, because it clearly had so many other uses.
"You're wrong, Rin!"
Minato came over to Rin, bent down, and gently patted her shoulder.
"There is no right or wrong in war. Not a single person involved is innocent."
"Right and