The village of Konohagakure no Sato buzzed with the clamor of families, shinobi, and civilians alike. The front gate, usually a symbol of peace, now became a farewell post for many as shinobis prepared to march toward the Land of Hot Springs. The air was thick with emotion—parents wishing their children good luck, friends clasping each other's arms in reassurance, and lovers sharing one last glance before the unknowns of war.
Hashirama, Madara, and Tobirama stood near the front, overseeing the scene with measured expressions. Hashirama, always wearing a calm smile, turned toward Kūga, who was standing tall at the head of the assembled troops. "Kūga," Hashirama asked with a hint of concern, "are you sure this is all the men you need?"
Tobirama, ever the pragmatist, nodded in agreement, arms crossed over his chest. "Yeah, why only five hundred? Kumo could send anywhere from two to three thousand shinobi against the camp in the Land of Hot Springs. You'll be outnumbered."
Kūga glanced at the soldiers who had volunteered for his mission, five hundred strong—shinobi handpicked for their skill, loyalty, and resolve. After sizing them up for a moment, he looked back at his friends with a confident grin.
"Don't worry," he said, voice calm and unshaken. "I'll bring back good news. How many days does it take to reach the camp again?"
"Three days on foot," Tobirama replied, his analytical mind already calculating the logistics. "I suspect the first skirmish will happen within a week."
Madara, who had been silent until now, stood slightly apart from the group, arms crossed as he observed the scene. His intense gaze landed on Kūga.
"Kūga," he started, his voice low but with a playful undertone, "I worry for our people. Especially with so many of my clan going up against Kumo." His eyes narrowed ever so slightly, though there was a flicker of amusement in them. "You won't use them as cannon fodder, will you?"
Kūga's eyes widened at the remark, caught off guard for a moment before laughing heartily. "Of course not, Madara! You know me better than that. That's why I said I'd be bringing back good news."
Madara let out a small chuckle, but the seriousness of the moment didn't escape him. They all nodded, knowing that this might be the last time they'd all stand together for some time. One by one, they dispersed, heading toward the lines of shinobi to give final words of encouragement and bid others farewell.
Kūga watched them go, a soft smile playing on his lips, before turning around to find Reifū and Kenta approaching. Reifū had a worried expression, her usual composed demeanor giving way to something more vulnerable, while Kenta smiled.
"Hello there..." Kūga greeted them, his voice warm.
Reifū's worry didn't go unnoticed, and Kūga placed a hand on her shoulder. "Come on," he said gently, "don't be worried about me. You know who I am."
Reifū met his gaze, her lips pressed into a firm line. "I'm your girlfriend, of course I'm going to be worried," she said, her straightforwardness surprising even herself.
Kūga smiled at her honesty, then reached out to pat her head affectionately. "I'll be okay," he reassured her, his voice softening.
Reifū didn't say another word. Instead, she stepped forward and hugged him tightly, the warmth of her embrace surprising Kūga for a moment before he returned it, his arms wrapping around her. He could feel her heart pounding against his chest, and for a brief moment, the noise of the village fell away, leaving only the two of them.
As he held her, Kūga glanced over her shoulder and caught sight of Hashirama, who was trying—and failing—to stifle a giggle, while Madara wore a faint smile of amusement. Kūga just shook his head at their reactions, though a grin tugged at his own lips.
When Reifū finally let go, Kūga took her hand in his and discreetly cast an invisibility spell around the two of them.
"Just a little privacy," he whispered with a smirk, before leaning down to kiss her. Reifū blushed deeply but kissed him back, the weight of their impending separation making the moment all the more tender.
When they pulled away, Kūga broke the spell, making them visible once again. Reifū's cheeks were still pink, and she glanced away, embarrassed but smiling.
Kūga looked at both Reifū and Kenta, the playfulness in his eyes giving way to something more serious.
"Both of you," he said firmly, "stay safe out there. And remember what I told you. Survive, no matter what."
Reifū and Kenta nodded, their expressions growing more determined. They understood the weight of the words he had spoken, the importance of their survival not just for themselves but for each other—and for Kūga.
.
Kūga stood before his assembled force of 500 shinobi and kunoichi, his expression calm yet commanding. The anxiety in the air was palpable. The group was well-prepared, but the uncertainty of war lingered in their hearts. Nervous glances were exchanged among them, but as Kūga stepped forward, his presence alone seemed to settle the uneasy murmurs. He channeled Aether into his voice, causing it to echo with power across the gathered soldiers.
"Attention!" Kūga's voice boomed. All eyes snapped to him. "We'll be heading to the Land of Hot Springs. As a reminder, our scouts have already established a camp. That's where we'll be staying for Kami knows how long."
The shinobi and kunoichi listened intently as Kūga's tone shifted to something more serious. "As we proceed, I'll head out ahead to scout the area once more. I'll ensure our path is safe." His eyes scanned the crowd, noting the seriousness etched on their faces.
"Now, I want you all to divide yourselves into one hundred and twenty-five teams. Each team must have one medic, one short-range combat specialist, one long-range fighter, and one sensor. Stay close together as we move. No one is to get too far from the group. Conserve your energy and don't rush. Understood?"
"YES!" the crowd roared in unison, their combined voices reverberating with determination.
Kūga gave a satisfied nod, his face neutral as he turned and gave the command, "Okay, let's go."
The troops began to mobilize, moving with practiced discipline as they turned north-east, heading toward the Land of Hot Springs.
Kūga lingered for a moment, his gaze shifting to Hashirama, Madara, Tobirama, Izuna, Reifū, and Kenta, who stood watching from a distance. They exchanged silent nods, a mutual understanding passing between them.
Kūga smiled briefly before gathering Aether around him. The shimmering energy began to lift him slowly into the air. From his elevated vantage point, he cast one last glance at the village of Konoha. His heart swelled with pride—this village had so much potential, and he, along with his friends, had helped pioneer its creation.
With the wind swirling around him, Kūga's smile broadened as he channeled more Aether, the air around him vibrating with intense power. He raised his hand toward the village below and spoke calmly, "Aether: Great Embrace."
Suddenly, a surge of gold, silver, and black energy erupted from his hand, expanding outward in all directions. The energy formed a vast barrier that engulfed the entire village, its brilliance catching the attention of everyone nearby. The shinobi and onlookers were left in awe as the shimmering light spread, creating an invisible protective dome over the village.
The barrier flickered briefly before becoming invisible, its presence felt but unseen. Kūga shot a smile back at those watching from the gates. Then, with a burst of energy, he shot into the sky, leaving behind a sonic boom that echoed through the air.
Hashirama, standing with his arms crossed, watched Kūga's form vanish in the distance. A wide grin spread across his face as he shook his head in amusement. "Maybe I'll say this for the rest of my life… what a show-off."
Madara, who stood nearby, couldn't help but chuckle at Hashirama's comment. "We have so much catching up to do. Unbelievable," he said, his voice carrying a note of admiration despite his teasing.
The group remained there for a moment longer, watching as Kūga's sonic boom finally faded into the distance, the lingering excitement of his display still buzzing in the air. The village was in good hands, and now, it was time for them to face the challenges ahead.
As Kūga's barrier settled invisibly over the village, Kenta's eyes lit up with excitement. He couldn't resist the urge to test the limits of the Aether-crafted protection. Grinning wildly, he leaped high into the air, his body charging with immense Aether energy. His hand began to glow a brilliant gold and white, the energy around his fist shattering small fragments of space as it condensed.
"Aether: Ultimate Impact!" Kenta roared, his voice filled with determination as he hurled his empowered fist at the barrier.
The impact was immense. A powerful gust of wind erupted from the punch, sending a shockwave that blasted through the front gates of the village. Nearby shinobi and civilians staggered back, shielding their faces from the sudden burst of air. Even the leaves on the trees shook violently, scattering in all directions. Yet, as the dust cleared and the energy dissipated, the barrier remained utterly unaffected—no ripples, no cracks, not even a speck of dust moved from its place.
Hashirama and Madara, who had been standing nearby, watched in surprise. Though the technique Kenta unleashed wasn't the most powerful attack they had ever seen, it was undeniably strong—more than enough to shatter most defensive jutsu. And yet Kūga's barrier held firm without any sign of stress.
Hashirama, ever competitive, couldn't help but grin, his mind immediately shifting to one thought: he wanted to challenge it, too.
"Well then," Hashirama said, cracking his knuckles with an eager grin. Without hesitation, he weaved a series of rapid hand signs. "Wood Style: Great Javelin!"
The earth beneath him rumbled as he placed his hand on the ground. In an instant, a massive pillar of wood erupted from the earth, soaring high above the village gate. The wooden javelin, towering and massive, compressed itself until it was no more than five meters long, a dense spear of raw power.
With a swift flick of his wrist, Hashirama sent it hurtling toward the barrier at incredible speed.
The massive javelin slammed into the barrier... and then simply split in two.
The wooden halves fell to the ground harmlessly, the barrier not even registering the attack as anything more than a ripple in the air.
Madara, standing with his arms crossed, shook his head at Hashirama's antics. "Always trying to one-up someone," he muttered, though the faintest of smiles tugged at his lips. With that, he turned and calmly walked back into the village through the entrance, not even bothering to test the barrier himself.
Hashirama, however, stared at the barrier for a moment longer, still grinning. "Again... what a show-off," he said to no one in particular, the admiration in his voice clear.
Kenta, still panting from his exertion, landed back on the ground and looked up at Hashirama's fallen javelin. He let out an impressed whistle. "That barrier's on a whole other level."
Hashirama laughed heartily, clapping Kenta on the back. "You'll get there someday, kid. But I have to admit, even I didn't expect that barrier to be so strong."
Kenta grinned, looking back up at the now-invisible barrier protecting the village. "I guess we're in safe hands," he muttered, still in awe.
Hashirama smiled warmly, casting one last glance at the barrier before heading back into the village himself.
"Indeed, we are."
.
As Kūga floated over the landscape with his clothes and hair streaming in the wind, a smirk played across his face as he pondered a small personal mission: heading back to the Land of Iron. A sword crafted by one of their master craftsmen might be just the thing, a sort of symbol to stand alongside Hashirama's Great Blade and Madara's iconic Gunbai.
He didn't need it, of course—his Aether alone was unmatched—but he imagined the three of them side by side, each wielding a unique weapon. Chuckling to himself, he shook off the thought and focused on his surroundings.
Below him, the long river stretched from the Land of Rice through the Land of Hot Springs and into the Land of Frost. As he soared over the water, he spotted small settlements dotting the riverbanks and reached out with his ethereal senses to scan for any Kumo shinobi lurking nearby.
His search turned up nothing initially, but when he reached the border between the Land of Hot Springs and the Land of Frost, he picked up on a cluster of chakra signatures—shinobi, camped about a mile from the river.
He descended rapidly, landing in a flurry of dust and leaves.
*BUSHHHHHHHHHHBOOBSHHHH*
The impact created a shockwave, scattering the encampment's outer defenses and sending shinobi into immediate alert.
"Who goes there?" one of them shouted, kunai drawn, as the smoke began to clear.
Their eyes widened in recognition as Kūga's calm smile emerged from the dust.
"Kūga-sama," they murmured, quickly sheathing their weapons and giving a small bow. Kūga nodded, his gaze sweeping over their temporary camp.
It was decently fortified but lacked a reliable water source—something he could fix immediately.
"I'll set up a water station here," he announced, earning a few puzzled looks. Without further explanation, he raised a hand, focusing Aether into his fingers. With a subtle flick, the ground nearby began to distort before vanishing entirely, leaving a deep, smooth pit ready to be filled.
The shinobi looked on, astonished as Kūga seamlessly lined the pit with stone walls that locked together like puzzle pieces, forming a basin large enough to supply water for an army. He added a cover with stone slabs and installed a faucet from which he would channel the water.
With a slight wave of his hand, fresh, clean water began to flow, filling the reservoir and waiting to be dispensed as needed.
The shinobi could only stare, silently marveling at the effortless way Kūga manipulated reality. He met their eyes and gave them a reassuring nod, explaining,
"This should be enough for the five hundred shinobi who are on their way. It'll refill on its own, so you won't need to worry about running out." He grinned, adding with a playful smirk, "Go ahead, leave it running all day if you want."
The group looked at each other, one of them shaking his head and replying earnestly, "No, Kūga-sama. We'll use it wisely!"
Kūga paused for a moment, reaching into his sleeve to retrieve a small, peculiar device no larger than a kunai handle. The smooth, silver object had a single, rounded button on its top, and as he held it out, it gleamed faintly under the light.
He handed it to one of the shinobi and explained, "I'll be gone for about a week. If anything urgent arises—something that needs my immediate attention—just press this button. I'll appear instantly."
The shinobi took the device, glancing at it with a mix of curiosity and mild confusion. He looked back up at Kūga, sensing the immense power behind the simple reassurance. After all, this was the man said to be stronger than even the Hokage or the Uchiha clan leader.
With a nod, the shinobi accepted it, doubt dissolving into quiet confidence.
Kūga smiled at their trusting expressions. "Good luck," he said softly.
Then, in an instant—almost like Tobirama's Flying Raijin technique—he vanished into thin air. The suddenness of his disappearance left the group wide-eyed and murmuring among themselves, a new layer of awe settling over them. This device was clearly not just some trick; it was a direct link to a power they could barely comprehend.
.
Kūga appeared and walks towards the entrance of the samurai village, his footsteps catching the attention of the guards stationed there.
One samurai's hand reflexively moved to the hilt of his sword, his eyes fixed warily on Kūga. The other guard, a bit more relaxed, gave a small sigh and nudged his comrade.
"Calm down," he muttered with a knowing smile. Recognizing Kūga, he addressed him, "Didn't take long for you to come back—another offer for us, I assume?"
Kūga chuckled, remembering the last time he'd tried to recruit warriors from this very gate. "Not this time," he replied with a grin. "I'm here to visit your best blacksmith."
The guard's eyes brightened with understanding, and he nodded. "Well, you're in the right place," he said, stepping aside and gesturing toward the village. "Go on, you know your way."
Kūga thanked him and entered the village, moving with ease through the winding, traditional streets lined with wooden structures and small, peaceful gardens.
He headed directly to the Japanese-themed office where he hoped to find Kojiro Sasaki. After a short search, he found Kojiro—the ruggedly handsome man with a face etched with scars, each a testament to his years in battle.
Kojiro looked up from his work, his eyes widening slightly in surprise upon seeing Kūga.
"Kūga," Kojiro greeted with a respectful nod. "To what do we owe the honor this time?"
"I'm looking for your finest blacksmith," Kūga replied. "I've got a bit of a project in mind."
Kojiro chuckled, understanding immediately. "Ah, so you finally decided to arm yourself properly. Well, you're in luck." He pointed toward a small, unassuming forge at the village's edge. "You'll want to see old Master Genji. He's…grumpy, to say the least. But if there's anyone who can forge a blade worthy of you, it's him."
Kūga thanked Kojiro and made his way to the forge. The sounds of rhythmic hammering grew louder as he approached, until he stood in the doorway of the small workshop. Inside, a short, bulky man with a muscular build and a thick, grizzled beard was pounding away at a red-hot piece of metal.
Master Genji looked up briefly, his sharp eyes assessing Kūga with a mixture of annoyance and curiosity.
"Well, well," he grunted. "Not every day I get a visitor interrupting my work. What do you want?"
Kūga bowed his head slightly out of respect and got straight to the point. "I want a sword crafted—one worthy of standing beside the Gunbai and the Great Sword of the Hokage." He let a subtle aura of his aether slip out, filling the small forge with a faint, golden light.
Genji's eyes narrowed, a faint spark of interest kindling beneath his gruff exterior. "A sword, huh? That's no easy order, even for me." He looked Kūga up and down before nodding reluctantly. "Alright, let's get to work. But don't expect me to hold your hand."
.
For the next five days, Kūga remained at the forge, pouring his own aether into the forging process at Genji's instructions.
With each swing of Genji's hammer, Kūga could feel his energy merging with the blade, shaping it into something extraordinary. T
he sword took form: a polished silver blade that pulsed faintly with a golden glow, as if it was alive with aetheric energy. The edge shimmered like rippling space-time, a silver-white tempered line that promised unmatched sharpness. The blade collar was adorned with swirling patterns that suggested celestial bodies, and the handle, wrapped in aether-conductive material, amplified any energy channeled through it. A sleek, black sheath of rare wood completed the sword, subtle yet powerful.
As Genji held the completed sword in his hands, he looked at it with quiet awe. "I've crafted many blades," he muttered, almost to himself. "But none quite like this. I'd say this sword is my life's work—one that will never be surpassed."
Kūga smiled, his respect for the blacksmith deepening. "Then it deserves a name."
Genji thought for a moment, his eyes still fixed on the magnificent weapon. "Infinite Severer!" he finally declared. "It's a sword that transcends the limits of any I've ever seen."
Kūga nodded, taking the sword from him, feeling its weight and the harmonious flow of aether through it.
"Thank you, Master Genji. It's perfect." And with that, he sheathed Infinite Severer, knowing it would serve him well as he faced the challenges ahead.