Spring, Konoha Year 17.
The aftermath of the wedding had yet to fully subside when battle reports from the front came flying back to Konoha like snowflakes. Every report carried the smell of gunpowder and blood, and every number silently told of the war's brutality.
The study, Toyotomi Clan Grounds.
Toyotomi Yinglang sat behind his desk, a huge map of the Shinobi World spread out before him. Markers of different colors indicated the movements of the various forces-Kumogakure to the north, Iwagakure to the west, Kirigakure to the east, and Sunagakure to the south. Four fronts, four nooses, slowly tightening.
Sakura Haruno stood beside him, looking at the densely packed markers as an indescribable sense of oppression rose within her. She had never seen anything like this-in her original world, the war had been brutal, but never had so many fronts opened simultaneously. Konoha's shinobi were scattered in four directions, their forces stretched thin, every defensive line hanging by a thread.
"Is the situation... that bad?" she asked softly.
Toyotomi Yinglang did not answer immediately. His gaze moved slowly across the map, as though calculating something. Only after a moment did he speak, his voice calm but carrying a chill that seemed to see through everything.
"These Second Kage are each more underhanded than the last."
He reached out and pointed to the area marked "Iwagakure" on the map.
"Second Tsuchikage Mu. He uses Dust Release, a technique that can break an opponent down to the atomic level. It's a kekkei tōta, above ordinary kekkei genkai. Not only that, he can fly, sense, split himself, and turn invisible. You have no idea where he is, and by the time you find out, his Dust Release might already have engulfed you."
Sakura's breath caught slightly. *Fly? Sense? Split himself? Turn invisible?