The rumors didn't arrive all at once.
They seeped in.
Like moisture before rain.
Subtle at first — instructors speaking more quietly than usual, shinobi patrols increasing near village borders, academy lectures shifting toward battlefield survival rather than simple basics.
Kaen noticed immediately.
Observation Haki made emotional atmospheres hard to miss.
And lately…
Konoha felt uneasy.
It became open discussion one afternoon during break.
A group of students gathered near the training yard, voices louder than usual.
"They say smaller nations are already fighting proxy battles," one boy whispered urgently.
"My brother heard Sunagakure is mobilizing," another added.
"And Kumogakure too," someone else said.
Then the phrase surfaced:
"Maybe… the Second Ninja World War will start."
Silence followed.
Even children understood what that meant.
Parents deployed.
Casualties rising.
Academy students graduating early.
Possibly becoming soldiers sooner than expected.
Jiraiya reacted first, predictably.
"If war comes, I'll prove myself faster!"
Confidence. Excitement. Youthful boldness.
Some students nodded.
Others looked nervous.
Tsunade frowned instead.
War wasn't glory to her.
It was responsibility. Loss. Medical necessity.
Kaen sensed conflict in her emotions — courage mixed with concern.
A mature response.
Orochimaru said nothing.
Just listening.
Analyzing.
His calmness was almost unsettling.
Like war was simply another phenomenon to study.
Kaen stayed quiet.
But internally, thoughts accelerated.
War explained recent patrol increases.
Explained political tension rising subtly.
Explained why clan elders seemed more alert lately.
Historically — based on his past-life fragments — another war eventually did happen.
But timelines were fuzzy.
And reality rarely followed fiction exactly.
So Kaen treated rumors seriously… but cautiously.
That evening, he extended Observation Haki across the village again.
Carefully.
Measured.
He sensed:
Increased chakra movement near administrative zones.
ANBU patrol activity slightly elevated.
Civilian unease spreading slowly.
Nothing confirmed.
But definitely preparation.
Hitomi sat beside him on the rooftop again.
"War rumors are everywhere now," she said quietly.
"Yes."
"Are we safe?"
Kaen considered the question honestly.
"For now."
Not reassurance.
Reality.
And she appreciated that more.
His training intensity increased again after that.
Not dramatically — still low profile.
But internally focused:
Endurance drills extended.
Reaction training refined.
Mental discipline strengthened.
Because war changed everything.
Academy timelines.
Political priorities.
Clan expectations.
Especially for Uchiha.
Historically, their combat capability made them frontline assets.
Which meant scrutiny would increase.
And Kaen still had no intention of becoming anyone's expendable weapon.
The daily lottery spins continued quietly.
One recent reward gave enhanced recovery under stress — subtle, but useful if conflict escalated.
Still nothing flashy.
Still perfect for secrecy.
A few days later, Kaen noticed something else:
Clan shinobi occasionally watching academy grounds now.
Not obvious surveillance.
Just interest.
Preparation.
If war came, academy students were future manpower.
And Uchiha children particularly valuable.
That realization hardened Kaen's resolve.
Strength meant choice.
Without strength, war decided for you.
Late that night, alone beneath falling leaves again, Kaen exhaled slowly.
Rain hadn't started yet.
But the air carried that same pre-storm heaviness he remembered from earlier seasons.
War felt similar.
Quiet first.
Then unstoppable.
One thought settled firmly in his mind:
If another ninja war truly began…
He wouldn't panic.
Wouldn't rush heroically.
Wouldn't blindly follow expectations.
He would survive.
Protect Hitomi.
And choose his own path carefully.
Even in war.
Especially in war.