In the end, perhaps unable to endure such a back-and-forth struggle any longer, Konoha High Command made another sweeping decision and ordered Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya to lead another 3,000 Konoha Ninja against Hidden Cloud Village.
They were determined to bring the war to a swift conclusion.
This also showed just how deep Konoha's reserves ran. Ziyun had killed many of its Genin when he destroyed Konoha Village, yet it could still field a standing army of 6,000 ninja in one go. That was impressive indeed.
And presumably, many ninja in Konoha Village had yet to be deployed. Konoha couldn't possibly send everyone out, as that would give the other ninja villages a chance to attack while it was undefended.
"In the end, I can only rely on my own strength."
Ziyun clenched his fist. Over the past three months, he had finally raised his proficiency with the Door-Door Fruit to 70 percent and could use it freely.
He had also nearly mastered the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Jutsu. It was time to test the power of these new moves.
He had especially high hopes for the Door-Door Fruit, hoping it would bring him something different.
"Ziyun, are you going to the battlefield?"
Inside the Raikage's Office, the Third Raikage's partner, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki Blue B, was currently serving as Hidden Cloud Village's highest-ranking official.
Like A, B was a Hidden Cloud Village codename. The Raikage's codename was A, while his partner's was B.
Blue B had a relatively steady temperament, completely unlike the second Jinchūriki, Killer B.
He was also currently the strongest person in Hidden Cloud Village aside from the Third Raikage, so the position was rightfully his.
After seeing Ziyun volunteer to go to the battlefield, Blue B didn't agree. Instead, he wanted Ziyun to give him a reason.
After all, Konoha was after Ziyun. Wouldn't sending him to the battlefield be doing Konoha a favor?
"Konoha has sent another 3,000 ninja to attack Hidden Cloud Village. That brings them up to 6,000 all at once. The difference in numbers is too great, and the terrain advantage we rely on won't help us much. Uncle Raikage could be in danger, and the village could lose."
Ziyun gave his reasons.
"Ziyun, you make a good point, and I know how strong you are. But as you said, the enemy has 6,000 ninja. You can't change anything on your own, and you'd only get yourself killed. The Third Raikage wouldn't agree to this idea of yours either."
After thinking it over, Blue B refused Ziyun's request.
Ziyun represented Hidden Cloud Village's future. He was still young and far from his peak. Blue B couldn't risk him.
Even if they lost this war, Hidden Cloud Village wouldn't hand Ziyun over.
"Don't worry, I won't die. I've developed another new Ninjutsu."
Ziyun spoke with confidence. Then he paused with one hand in the air, and an incredible sight appeared.
A door opened right there in the air. It was clearly a passage to another dimension!
Ziyun opened the door and stepped inside. A few seconds later, he appeared somewhere else.
Then he vanished again and appeared in yet another place.
This was different from Ziyun moving at speed. Because he traveled through another dimension, he could appear and disappear like a ghost. There was no way to predict where he would show up next.
"Th... this is Space-Time Ninjutsu, Ziyun?"
At the sight, Blue B sprang to his feet in excitement.
There was no doubt that what Ziyun had just demonstrated was Space-Time Ninjutsu!
In the Shinobi World, every Space-Time Ninjutsu was incredibly powerful.
Blue B's knowledge was limited, but even he knew how formidable the Flying Thunder God Technique created by Second Hokage Tobirama Senju was.
At present, only Second Hokage Tobirama Senju knew that Space-Time Ninjutsu. No one else had managed to learn it, because Flying Thunder God demanded too much talent.
Above all, it required a talent for space and time. Flying Thunder God was so fast that a person's reflexes had to keep up, or reckless use of the technique could easily leave them dizzy.
In the original story, aside from Tobirama Senju, only Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze had learned it. With his masterful Flying Thunder God and a Rasengan, he had become unbeatable against anyone below the Six Paths level.
But now Ziyun had actually created a Space-Time Ninjutsu?
Other people couldn't even learn someone else's Space-Time Ninjutsu, and he had created one?
Blue B suspected that Ziyun was Tobirama Senju reincarnated.
"Ziyun, I suspect you're Tobirama Senju reincarnated..." Blue B said what was on his mind.
"Big Brother B, even Tobirama Senju couldn't have created this many Ninjutsu at eleven, could he?"
Ziyun wasn't entirely happy with the comparison.
Tobirama Senju was indeed formidable, but he hadn't been as strong as Ziyun at eleven.
That was right. During those three months, Ziyun had celebrated his eleventh birthday and become a Hidden Cloud Village Jonin.
Becoming a Hidden Cloud Jonin at eleven had also broken Hidden Cloud Village's record for fastest promotion.
Unfortunately, Ziyun hadn't received any system rewards when he was promoted to Jonin, but the skills he had now were enough.
Trying to master too much at once would only leave him unable to digest it all. It wouldn't be too late to get something new after he had mastered his current fruit abilities.
"You're right. Looks like you really aren't Tobirama Senju reincarnated. You must be some kind of monster reincarnated as a human," Blue B said with a laugh.
Blue B couldn't find the right words to describe Ziyun's talent. He could only call him a monster.
"All right, Big Brother B, enough joking. Let's get down to business. I want to go to the battlefield." Ziyun's gaze was intent.
He couldn't say whether he could defeat Konoha on the battlefield, but he could definitely give them a hard time for a while.
And they couldn't do anything to him either. After all, the Door-Door Fruit was different; its power involved another dimension.
Even if Konoha had Senjutsu and Sealing Jutsu, they couldn't do anything about that ability. The only thing that could counter it was a Mangekyo Sharingan with a space-time ability.
Or someone who could use Yomotsu Hirasaka or Amenominaka could counter it.
Unfortunately, it was impossible for anyone like that to be in Konoha today.
"With that Space-Time Ninjutsu, you could indeed cause Konoha some trouble on the battlefield, and it's very likely they couldn't do much to you. But sending you to the battlefield is too important a matter. It's beyond my authority, so I can only ask the Third Raikage."
After some thought, Blue B didn't give Ziyun a direct answer, instead preparing to consult the Third Raikage.
After all, Blue B couldn't bear the responsibility if anything happened to Ziyun.
"All right, then I'll wait for Uncle Raikage's orders. Make sure you tell him nothing will happen to me on the battlefield."
There was nothing else Ziyun could do. In truth, if Ziyun was determined to leave, no one in Hidden Cloud Village could stop him.
But Blue B was doing this for his sake, and Ziyun couldn't disregard his kindness. He wasn't an ungrateful wretch.
If he went to the battlefield recklessly, Blue B would also be held responsible, so Ziyun decided to wait. In any case, he could afford to wait for now.
"Ziyun, are you going to the battlefield too?"
When he returned home, Mikoto happened to be at his house.
Mikoto now lived in the Yeyue Clan's compound and sometimes came over to help Ziyun clean.
"Yes. Konoha has sent another 3,000 ninja, and the situation in the war has grown serious. We can't drag this out any longer." Ziyun nodded and plopped down on the living room sofa.
"I want to go with you. I want to do my part for Hidden Cloud Village." Mikoto walked over and placed her slender hands on Ziyun's shoulders, massaging them.
To be honest, Mikoto was well suited to being a wife. She was gentle, virtuous, considerate, and a great cook.
For the past few months, Ziyun had stopped eating food from around Hidden Cloud Village and eaten Mikoto's cooking instead. It had made him a picky eater.
"This is war, Mikoto. You should stay in the village. Maybe you can go to the battlefield when you're stronger," Ziyun said.
Given the hatred between Konoha and Mikoto, if Konoha Ninja discovered her, they would certainly make killing her a priority.
Although she was talented, she wasn't strong enough to protect herself yet.
"I can already use the Mitsudomoe Sharingan." Mikoto revealed her Mitsudomoe.
"I know, but it's still not time. Don't worry, I'll develop a Ninjutsu to make you stronger," Ziyun said with a smile.
The Devil Fruits Ziyun received from the system could actually be eaten by other people, though they had side effects.
If he obtained a fruit suited to Mikoto, he could give it to her.
Seeing this, Mikoto nodded. She had witnessed Ziyun's talent, and he could deliver on most of what he said.
"Hmph, Ziyun, you're playing favorites! All you care about is making Mikoto stronger. What about me?"
Just then, Kushina walked out of a bedroom, bleary-eyed.
"You're treating my place like your own home now, huh..." Ziyun was speechless.
Kushina sometimes came over to chat and train with Mikoto. If she got tired, she would sleep at Ziyun's place. His house had plenty of rooms anyway.
After all, Ziyun was also a member of the Yeyue Clan, and before they died in battle, his parents had been among Hidden Cloud Village's high-ranking figures.
"What's the problem? You have plenty of bedrooms anyway, and they'd just sit empty. Can't I stay here for a bit? Cheapskate." Kushina made a face at him.
"All right... you win." Ziyun couldn't be bothered to criticize Kushina anymore. The little loli was pretty cute anyway, and teasing her now and then was a nice diversion.
"Oh, right, Mikoto, I'll give you these first. They're Fire Release Ninjutsu. You should be able to use them."
Ziyun then put the Fire Release Ninjutsu the system had rewarded him with into scrolls and handed them to Mikoto.
Besides the B-rank Fire Release Ninjutsu the Uchiha Clan excelled at, there was also Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame, which had been lost because of Madara Uchiha. Mikoto should be able to use it.
Mikoto didn't refuse and accepted them at once.
Her feelings for Ziyun had grown rapidly over the past three months. All that remained was for one of them to make the first move.
Communication was troublesome during wartime. After waiting more than another half a month, Ziyun finally received the Third Raikage's order approving his participation in the war.
At the same time he received the Third Raikage's order, the system issued a new mission.
[A-rank mission: Participate in the Second Shinobi World War.] Mission description: Participate in the Second Shinobi World War. Mission rewards: 10,000 mission points; Advanced Armament Haki: Ryuo; Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere; Earth Release: Earth Flow River. Mission failure: No penalty.
"Advanced Armament Haki: Ryuo!"
Seeing the reward, Ziyun's heart stirred.
Armament Haki: Ryuo! This was Armament Haki raised to its highest level.
The ability was somewhat similar to Sage Mode's Frog Kata. Both could damage an enemy without actually striking them.
But Ryuo Armament Haki was definitely far more powerful than Frog Kata, because Ryuo could destroy an enemy from within, while Frog Kata lacked that ability.