Year 72 of Konoha.
Four years had passed since the Fourth Shinobi World War.
Kabuto, the master of making dreams come true, had voluntarily submitted to Konoha after learning that Orochimaru had successfully been resurrected, becoming the director of an orphanage.
Almost all the children he took in were from various villages and had been left alone and orphaned by the war.
Orochimaru had taken over Konoha's research institute, carrying out the research work he enjoyed.
Because of the Fourth Shinobi World War, contact between the villages had become much more frequent. Even the minor friction of the past had disappeared.
Ōnoki of Iwagakure had stepped down from his duties there and become a retired old man.
The Tailed Beast Squad Liumu had established had also returned to their respective villages after the Fourth Shinobi World War.
At that moment, the Hokage Office was packed with people.
Among them, a man with short, tousled blond hair took a scroll from Minato and quietly waited for him to assign the mission.
"The intelligence we received this time reports strange tremors along the border between the Land of Grass and the Land of Lightning."
"But Dad... Fourth Hokage, couldn't you just give an investigative mission like this to a Genin squad? We..."
Before Naruto could finish, he sensed a chill coming from a dark corner behind him.
Looking back, he saw Liumu leaning against the back of a chair, glaring at him with a thoroughly languid air.
"Uncle Liumu, you're here too!"
Liumu stood, walked over to Naruto, and slapped him on the back.
"Don't be so picky. As ninja, you must carry out your missions unconditionally, no matter how big or small. Besides..."
Minato rose from behind the Hokage's desk and told them, "This mission is rather unusual. Kumogakure is also