The year-end wind carried a mix of rain and snow, accumulating a thick layer on the ground.
The low temperature and snow brought a bit less noise and a bit more tranquility to the usually bustling Konoha.
However, Konoha's children remained energetic. Even heavy clothing and slippery ground couldn't stop their enthusiasm for play.
They chased and roughhoused in the village's streets and alleys, using snowballs as kunai, imagining themselves as ninjas on secret missions outside the village.
As the New Year approached, adults also became busier than usual.
Since the Land of Fire's political and economic activities concentrated around Konoha, the village's scale kept expanding.
City walls and roads were demolished and rebuilt; commercial centers and attractions were pushed up. Many long-term Konoha residents almost couldn't recognize their own homes.
With roads opened and buildings erected, merchants naturally came.
Goods brought here concentrated in Konoha before being sent to various places, gradually turning it into the Land of Fire's second transportation hub.
Village's Ninjas thus earned a little extra. Various orders and commissions kept coming, their family savings gradually growing, all hoping for a good New Year.
Konoha Village. Patrol Ninjas in green vests walked together, chatting about their mission experiences.
Encountering picky clients during escort missions.
Which rookie wet their pants when suppressing bandits.
Finding unlucky kids peeing upstream after cleaning a river.
Finding cats, dogs, children… delivering goods, meals, letters.
Seemingly diverse tasks could all be posted as commissions at the village's mission center, eventually becoming topics for ninjas after meals.
So, Ninjas weren't as cool as imagined. Accumulated through countless daily tasks was a life every Konoha's villager cherished.
As they chatted, the topic gradually shifted to politics.
"You know, two of my friends stationed at the border probably can't come back for New Year's."
A veteran-looking, steady Chunin sighed lightly.
Chunin like him were the most numerous in Konoha.
Becoming a Ninja at twelve, struggling for over twenty years, experiencing many B-Rank Missions, excelling in various aspects… they were Konoha's backbone.
Those he considered close friends were naturally at his level. Such mid-tier forces being heavily dispatched to the border under the guise of garrison duty carried significant implications.
"My friend too." Another Ninja offered a cigarette. "And lately, food, fuel, and ninja tools are all getting more expensive."
"Is it... going to war with the Land of Earth?"
A Ninja with a blood-red single eye took the cigarette, lighting it for himself.
"The Land of Earth's situation is terrible, can't afford... Wait, who are you?!"
The earlier veteran, somewhat refreshed by the pungent tobacco, suddenly noticed something off.
In an instant, he completed a series of actions from throwing a ninja tool to finishing hand seals.
Spinning shuriken were ignited by flames spat from his mouth, flying towards the one-eyed, Three-Tomoe Ninja.
[Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Flower Nail Crimson!]
"Such a shame. Konoha's Ninjas' quality remains as high as ever!"
Even though he had used a Genjutsu to hide his presence, it still didn't fool the opponent.
Obito stepped forward, his body phasing through the flames attached to the flying shuriken.
Immediately after, the Mangekyo Sharingan in his pupil rotated, activating its Ocular Power.
Spiral spatial distortions appeared. The entire Akatsuki descended.
"Well done, Uchiha Obito!"
Deva Path Pain stepped out from the vortex, deliberately calling his name.
Waving his hand, he mobilized Chakra to release a repulsive force, deflecting the flame-wreathed shuriken.
"Hmph, now's not the time for infighting. Don't forget our purpose for coming to Konoha!"
Obito snorted coldly, inwardly gnashing his teeth with hatred towards Sakura for revealing his true identity.
Even knowing Nagato was merely a pawn, being treated with such contempt still embarrassed him, accustomed to moving about as Madara.
'Damn Haruno Sakura! I will destroy everything you hold dear!!!'
"Meaningless reminder. All obstacles will perish before God!" Pain retorted coldly, not even deigning to look directly at Obito.
In the distance, Deidara returned, holding the earlier escaped Chunin with one hand. Kisame followed behind, also holding another Konoha's Chunin.
The entire Konoha's patrol squad was captured, with no one left to escape.
"Bastard! Who are you people?!"
The initial veteran Chunin was now pinned to the ground by Pain's repulsive force.
His Chakra erupted, barely managing to lift his head against the pressure.
"Shouting won't help. Your voice won't reach outside."
The indifferent Human Path stepped forward. Deva Path cooperatively released the repulsive pressure.
"Damn it!"
The enraged Chunin threw a kunai upon rising, but the Human Path shook its head, dodging.
A hand covered in Chakra Rods grabbed the Chunin's neck, lifting him.
"Now, let's extract Konoha's barrier intel from you!"
The Human Path placed its palm on his head, using the Rinnegan ability, Soul Removal.
Instantly, after reading all his memories, the Human Path's eyes widened, sharply turning its head.
"Hah!"
The Chunin laughed mockingly, his soul extracted, dying.
The earlier thrown kunai pierced the ground, directly triggering a trap Konoha had laid in the village outskirts.
A small mechanism buried underground was activated by the kunai. A rolled explosive tag was unfurled by the mechanism, its inscription burning, erupting into intense light.
Boom—!
Amidst the roar that shattered the atmosphere, flames, shockwaves, and smoke shot skyward.
The Akatsuki's Missing-Nins were powerful, and naturally, they wouldn't die from an explosive tag like a certain celebrity.
However, Konoha's defensive barrier was thus triggered. Immediately, a sharp, piercing alarm echoed throughout Konoha.
Earlier, to distinguish different mobilization matters, the Second Hokage personally designed a set of different alarm sounds.
Now, the alarm echoing over Konoha Village was naturally the type that hadn't sounded for years. Its meaning was simple… Enemy Attack!
"Damn, exposed!"
Deidara sat on the ground dejectedly. "It's all your fault, Uchiha Obito! If you'd just taken us into Konoha from the start, none of this would've happened!"
"They already knew about me, so they modified the barrier specifically!"
Obito gave Deidara a cold glance, barely holding back his anger.
"So what now? Still attacking Konoha?"
Kisame's bloodshot eyes turned towards Pain.
"Continue!" Deva Path ordered. "This time, we charge straight in from the front!"
The group marched grandly towards Konoha's area.
Meanwhile, inside Konoha Village.
"This is... the village barrier being triggered? And it's the highest-level alarm?!"
In the office, Tsunade looked up in surprise, punching through the wall and leaping down from the hundred-meter-high Hokage Building.
Inside the village, Tsunade quickly organized personnel, using her Hokage authority to mobilize Anbu, the Jonin Team, and the Sealing Squad.
After arranging for nearby residents to evacuate, she hurried towards the explosion direction with a group of Ninjas.
Thus, they unexpectedly encountered a group of people in black robes with red clouds along the way.
"Akatsuki!!!"
When enemies meet, eyes turn red. Battle erupted instantly!