"Lord Liu Yun is amazing! I almost thought we were going to die in this war! I never expected that we wouldn't even need to fight outside, and the war would just end."
Uchiha Obito spoke with lingering fear, glancing at Nohara Rin and Hatake Kakashi beside him.
Currently, Obito, Rin, and Kakashi were assigned to the same squad.
Their captain, of course, was still Minato Namikaze.
However, given Minato's current situation, he was clearly unable to lead them.
Don't be fooled by Obito's bravado before the war. Deep down, he cherished life—and if he could live peacefully with Rin, that would be even better.
"Rin!"
Thinking of that, Obito turned to her happily.
However, what he saw made his heart sink.
Rin nodded slightly, also shaken by the battle, but her gaze was fixed on Kakashi.
"Indeed, if it weren't for Lord Liu Yun this time, we really wouldn't know what to do."
"Tch!"
Why isn't she looking at me? Am I not good-looking enough?
Obito squinted suspiciously at Kakashi.
What's so great about that guy?
Does Rin like the cold, brooding type? Obito wondered if he should start acting more aloof himself.
"Obito?"
The moment Rin called his name, Obito immediately snapped out of his thoughts.
"Ah? What's wrong, Rin?"
"Nothing—it's just, you were zoning out just now. What were you thinking about?"
"Cough, cough! Nothing at all!"
Could he tell her he'd been thinking about pretending to be cool? Not a chance.
Trying to divert the topic, Obito glanced toward Kakashi.
"Oh, right! Kakashi, aren't you practicing swordsmanship these days? Lord Liu Yun's swordsmanship is incredible—you should ask him to be your master!"
"That's right!" Rin nodded in agreement. "Lord Liu Yun is a very kind person. If you ask him properly, he'll definitely agree!"
Rin had actually met Aoyama Ryuyun once before because of Yūhi Kurenai.
At that time, Aoyama Ryuyun had left a lasting impression on her—not cold or distant like many of their seniors, but composed and approachable.
"No need," Kakashi said flatly.
Perhaps he had his own thoughts, but at this stage, Kakashi was still too proud to seek guidance from others.
Without hesitation, he turned and walked away.
"Kakashi!" Rin called after him, worry evident in her voice.
But Kakashi didn't even glance back.
"That arrogant guy!"
Seeing that Kakashi was gone, Obito stopped caring about him altogether.
He turned to Rin, smiling expectantly.
"Rin! Since the fighting's stopped for now, how about we go for a walk around the camp?"
A walk with just the two of them—it was practically a date!
Obito's heart was already racing at the thought.
But Rin shook her head apologetically.
"Sorry, Obito, I have to assist with medical duties later."
As a medical ninja, Rin was indispensable in the camp.
"Alright…" Obito forced a grin. "Then I'll see you later."
"Mm! You too, Obito—don't push yourself too hard."
And just like that, Rin left with a gentle smile.
It was a rejection, but Obito didn't seem to care. He was still grinning like a fool, completely smitten.
"So annoying! This is all Kakashi's fault!"
But the moment Rin disappeared from view, Obito clenched his fists and started muttering bitterly.
In his eyes, everything was Kakashi's fault.
If that arrogant guy didn't exist, Rin would've definitely agreed to walk with him!
---
Iwagakure had ceased its attacks.
Although they hadn't formally withdrawn from the Third Shinobi World War, they had halted all conflict with Konoha for the time being.
And that was perfectly understandable.
After all, Ōnoki, the Third Tsuchikage, had his leg severed by Aoyama Ryuyun's blade.
The Four-Tails and Five-Tails, even as Tailed Beasts, hadn't been able to resist him.
Aoyama Ryuyun had overwhelmed them effortlessly.
If he'd had a sealing squad with him, it was uncertain whether Iwagakure would have even been able to recover their Jinchūriki at all.
With Ryuyun's sheer power—standing at the very peak of the shinobi world—Ōnoki would have to be insane to launch another war against Konoha anytime soon.
---
"Is this the Golden Lion?"
On the way to the Hidden Cloud Village front, Jiraiya had just received word from Ryuyun's side.
When he first heard that, right after Jiraiya left, Aoyama Ryuyun had begun rallying the remaining Konoha forces for a decisive battle against Iwagakure,
he'd immediately prepared to turn back to assist.
But before he even arrived—Ryuyun's campaign was already over.
A complete, one-sided victory.
---
Over the past year, when Jiraiya had led Konoha's army as supreme commander, he had clashed with Ōnoki many times.
On paper, they were evenly matched.
In reality, Jiraiya's side had suffered more losses than wins.
Ōnoki's Dust Release (Jinton)—a Bloodline Selection that transcended ordinary kekkei genkai—was simply too devastating.
But now...
The same battlefield Jiraiya had struggled on for a year without any decisive progress—
Aoyama Ryuyun had ended in less than a day.
One battle. One overwhelming victory.
He had shown the entire ninja world what the Golden Lion of Konoha truly meant.
"Sigh…"
Jiraiya exhaled deeply.
He used to compare Minato Namikaze and Aoyama Ryuyun, seeing them as rivals—the two brightest stars of the next generation.
But now? There was no comparison left to make.
"Minato… don't fall apart."
Jiraiya's face darkened.
He knew Minato's current situation was dire.
The stain of being branded a traitor to Konoha wouldn't be cleared easily—not in ten years, maybe not in twenty.
Worried that Minato might do something reckless, Jiraiya quickened his pace toward the Hidden Cloud front.
---
"Useless! Minato Namikaze is utterly useless!"
Meanwhile, in the Hidden Mist battlefield's conference tent, Hiruzen Sarutobi slammed the table in fury.
The credit he had painstakingly tried to secure for Minato had gone to waste.
And now, hearing that as soon as Aoyama Ryuyun arrived at the Iwagakure front, Konoha achieved a crushing victory—
Hiruzen's expression twisted with barely contained rage.
Visit patreon.com/Akeyno to get 30+ chapters