The Kaguya Clan's upheaval—civil strife and external attacks—had erupted and ended in the blink of an eye. By the time news reached the Amamiya Clan, Kaguya had already assembled their forces and were marching toward the Daitō Clan.
Amamiya Gen read the situation at a glance. The war was imminent. The newly forged alliance between Amamiya and Daitō left him no choice: if they failed to act, their reputation would crumble. Worse yet, Kaguya's appetite for conflict over the gray grass meant that once Daitō fell, Amamiya itself would become a target.
Under the weight of these threats, Gen made the only logical decision—he would unite the two clans, Huaxing and Daitō, to confront Kaguya head-on. Better to meet them with the combined might of three clans than let them pick off allies one by one. A show of strength would remind Kaguya that these clans were not prey.
Raven-like ninja pigeons carried messages to both the Daitō and Huaxing clans, warning that the Kaguya expansion could destroy them if the clans did not unite. Panic gripped Daitō at first—but relief quickly followed upon receiving the Amamiya offer. Within hours, their reply was clear: they would join the coalition.
Huaxing hesitated, weighing the risk and the potential gain, but eventually agreed. By the time Raizen returned from the Flower-shaped Clan, the decision had already been made—the alliance was active, the plan underway.
The battlefield would stretch between Daitō and Kaguya, and only the most capable ninja could lead the fight. Patriarch Amamiya Gen faced a dilemma: commit too many troops and risk leaving Amamiya vulnerable elsewhere; commit too few, and Daitō might collapse before reinforcements arrived. After careful calculation, he dispatched a hundred elite ninja. Enough to relieve pressure on Daitō, but still maintain a defensive core at home.
Raizen returned to the clan and immediately sensed the tension. He approached Gen, seeking answers.
"The Kaguya clan's new patriarch has ignited a war against Daitō Temple," Gen explained, summing it up with brevity. Raizen's brow furrowed. Only a few days had passed, and yet the political landscape had shifted like sand in a storm.
"Douren—uh, Raizen," Gen continued, "I'm putting Amamiya Tian in command of the allied forces. You will accompany him as second-in-command."
Raizen nodded. Tian was a trusted Jōnin, intelligent and capable—a capable field commander. But Raizen was not just a backup; his strength and tactical mind would tip the scales, ensuring the Amamiya Clan retained its core power while striking on the battlefield.
"Make this battle count," Gen said, placing a hand on Raizen's shoulder. "If we lose, the Kaguya army will crush everything in its path. This is a life-and-death test for our clans."
"I know," Raizen replied, the weight of responsibility settling over him. First test of the Amamiya Clan… better not screw this up.
The next morning, Raizen and the support ninja assembled at a clearing outside the Amamiya estate. Patriarch Gen addressed them, voice low but commanding:
"The Kaguya Clan has set its sights on our allies. Daitō and Amamiya are now their lips and teeth. Protect what is yours. Protect what is theirs. And we will win."
A roar erupted from the assembled ninja:
"The Amamiya Clan wins! The Amamiya Clan wins!"
Under Tian's command, the force surged forward. Though only Jōnin in strength, Tian's strategic mind made him the perfect captain. Raizen, strong and cunning, complemented him—together, they would maximize the clan's impact on the battlefield.
As the Amamiya force pressed toward Daitō, Raizen couldn't shake the feeling that this war might mark a turning point—for himself and for the clan. Every fiber of his reincarnator instincts screamed it. He had never been wrong about such instincts before.
The Kaguya, aware of the incoming reinforcements, tested Daitō repeatedly, hoping to destabilize them before the Amamiya arrived. Meanwhile, the five-family conflict simmered elsewhere, with Senju and Uchiha embroiled in a battle that would define their clans for generations. Both patriarchs fought with brutal brilliance, embodying the pinnacle of their respective houses.
As Raizen and the Amamiya forces raced toward Daitō, the Warring States period erupted anew into chaos. The stage was set—alliances, ambition, and blood would decide the next era.