The young shinobi were exhausted. A year had passed since they began their rigorous training, and their progress was undeniable. Many of them had already reached the level of Chunin, their bodies hardened through relentless exercises, their minds sharpened by constant battles and strategic lessons.
"Sensei, we've learned so much already! When are we getting a break?" a young shinobi asked, his voice filled with both excitement and fatigue.
Mutsuy smiled, crossing his arms as he looked over the eager students. "Relax, the second phase of your training begins today."
A murmur of anticipation spread through the group. The students straightened their postures, knowing that their sensei never spoke without purpose.
"Teams one through five," Mutsuy continued, "you will now study these techniques: Giant Shielded Bubble Jutsu, Droplet Clone Jutsu, and finally, Mutant Giant Water Jutsu. Your role will be to support the battlefield with defensive and large-scale offensive techniques."
A few students exchanged glances, whispering among themselves.
"Support, huh? Sounds like a lot of responsibility."
"Yeah, but imagine the kind of techniques we'll be able to use! I bet we could flood an entire battlefield."
Mutsuy allowed them their brief chatter before turning his gaze to the other half of the group.
"Teams six through ten," he announced, "you will be learning Blood Refinement Jutsu, Fast Travel Blade Jutsu, and Great Surge of Flammable Liquid Jutsu. Your focus will be agility, precision, and the ability to control the flow of battle."
The excitement among the students grew. Some clenched their fists, others grinned at the thought of mastering such high-level techniques. But they knew that with every new technique came harsh training.
The first part of the day was dedicated to refining their bodies and chakra networks. Mutsuy had them undergo specialized Taijutsu drills, pushing their physical limits to expand their chakra reserves. Sweat poured from their brows as they executed strikes, dodged, and countered in fluid sequences. Some struggled, some excelled, but all of them grew stronger.
As midday arrived, they transitioned into Ninjutsu training. The teams split into their respective groups, each working tirelessly to master their assigned techniques.
For those learning the Giant Shielded Bubble Jutsu, the challenge lay in perfecting the ratio of chakra to water. Too much water and the bubble would collapse, too little and it would shatter on impact. The Droplet Clone Jutsu proved just as difficult—some students ended up with clones that barely held their shape, dissolving into harmless puddles before they could even move. And the Mutant Giant Water Jutsu was another beast entirely, requiring immense control to maintain the form of the titanic water constructs they attempted to summon.
Meanwhile, the students tasked with the Blood Refinement Jutsu struggled with the precise manipulation of their own bodily fluids. One unfortunate shinobi nearly fainted from overuse, earning a stern lecture from Mutsuy about chakra control. The Fast Travel Blade Jutsu had them refining their movement speed to near-blinding levels, while the Great Surge of Flammable Liquid Jutsu required them to balance aggression with caution—an explosion at the wrong moment could mean disaster.
Hours passed, and as the sun dipped below the horizon, the training grounds were littered with exhausted yet determined shinobi. But their day was not over yet.
The moment the sky turned dark, an air of anticipation spread through the ranks. A few whispered excitedly among themselves.
"Damn, did you hear? The Hokage himself is coming to teach us tactics!"
"I wish I had my best uniform for this!"
"This is going to be huge. How far do you think the senseis will push us?"
Then, like a force of nature, Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived. He walked calmly into the training grounds, his presence alone silencing the excited murmurs. His sharp eyes surveyed the students, reading their exhaustion and determination in equal measure.
"You've worked hard today," he began, his voice carrying the weight of authority and experience. "But power without strategy is meaningless. You must learn to think, to adapt, to anticipate. Only then will you become true shinobi."
For the next few hours, Hiruzen guided them through the intricacies of battlefield tactics. He taught them how to counteract enemy formations, how to predict movements based on terrain, and how to use deception as a weapon. He tested their ability to work in teams, forcing them to come up with solutions under simulated combat conditions.
By the time the lesson ended, the students were both mentally and physically drained. Yet, despite their exhaustion, their spirits burned with renewed determination.
As they made their way to their sleeping quarters, the whispers continued.
Aiko couldn't stand being away from Mutsuy for too long, so she requested to go to the coast for an "important mission." And just like that, the once peaceful nights became filled with affection once again.
Unfortunately for Hiruzen, the coast had no public bathhouses. Fortunately for him, Biwako had come along to ensure the "safety and integrity" of her husband.
Mutsuy couldn't help but laugh maliciously about it every single time.
Today, the students would be facing off against each other to ensure the support team could handle what was expected of them.
The orders were simple: Perform the Giant Shielded Bubble Jutsu and advance towards the other side of the enemy's defense lines while enduring a relentless barrage of attacks from all directions.
On the training field, a massive blue bubble could be seen, extending even beneath the earth. Inside it, small shinobi advanced at full speed while Mutsuy and Hiruzen unleashed large-scale attacks, raining destruction from above.
Mutsuy smirked. "What do you think, Uncle? Can the structure withstand thousands of A+ level attacks?"
Hiruzen nodded, watching the resilient barrier. "Definitely. If we use it as proposed, I can already laugh at the sheer incompetence of our enemies in the future."
Mutsuy sighed. "How's the war looking? Is it already on the horizon?"
Hiruzen's demeanor shifted instantly, his face turning serious. "Unfortunately, the other nations just can't sit still anymore." He let out a long sigh. "If only they would just stay quiet..."
Mutsuy nodded in agreement. "Really. It doesn't matter who starts it—in the end, everyone is devastated by war."
"I believe Danzo already mentioned this," Mutsuy continued. "The Fire Nation's military force in terms of samurai surpasses one million. I'm saying—let's fortify key border points and flood them with samurai. Have the Hatake Clan teach them how to coat their bodies and blades with chakra."
"I think everyone needs to contribute," he added, gazing at the training field, watching as the young shinobi finally reached the other side and celebrated their hard-earned progress. "If we can safeguard the younger generation through this era, I believe that any future war will be a piece of cake if it ever happens."
Hiruzen nodded. "The matter of the samurai has already been decided. We just need to coordinate the fortresses."
Mutsuy quickly provided an answer. "Just like we did with the Seal Department."
He pulled out a briefcase, opening it in front of Hiruzen. "We can use the same approach for the borders." He held up a small capsule. "Just throw these into an area, and a fortress in the shape of a castle with chakra cannons will appear."
"Additionally," Mutsuy continued, "the Seal Department made sure it's self-sufficient—it generates clean water for drinking and automatic ration factories where you just dump in the ingredients."
Hiruzen was already aware of the Seal Department's advancements, so he wasn't surprised. With a few quick orders to the ANBU, Konoha's well-oiled military machine began moving throughout the Fire Nation.
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Days passed. Then weeks. Then months.
Only a few months remained before the Water Battalion's training was complete. The small shinobi, who had started at just ten years old, were now turning thirteen. In terms of raw power and chakra reserves, they were already at an elite Jōnin level—a truly dangerous force.
Meanwhile, the relationship between Mutsuy and Aiko, which had once been innocent affection, had now deepened into something only a husband and wife could define behind closed doors.
Now seventeen, Mutsuy wasted no time. He proposed to Aiko during a formal dinner between the Sarutobi and Shimura clans. After all, Mutsuy was the most outstanding shinobi of his generation, and they truly loved each other—who wouldn't want a son-in-law of this caliber?
The wedding was held at the Senju Clan Estate, fulfilling a promise Mutsuy had made to both Mito Uzumaki and his late sensei, the Second Hokage.
Now officially husband and wife, the celebration began.
At a long table, the younger generation gathered—laughing, joking, and enjoying themselves. Aiko clung to Mutsuy like a koala in search of warmth, while everyone at the table couldn't suppress their mischievous smiles.
At that moment, a tiny figure arrived—a small, two-year-old baby with golden-blonde hair. Little Nawaki had arrived, already displaying his natural talent for invisible jutsu.
Orochimaru, watching the boy, couldn't help but smile softly.
In truth, as the brother of his lifelong teammate and closest friend, Orochimaru felt personally responsible for protecting this small bundle of potential.
Noticing Orochimaru's reaction, Mutsuy smirked. He had worked hard to bring about this human version of Orochimaru—he let out a long sigh. Turning his attention back to Nawaki, he also smiled, imagining a limitless future ahead.
Somewhere in Konoha, at an orphanage, a blond-haired boy gazed up at the stars, his brilliant smile capable of melting nations, also dreaming of a grand future.
Far away, in the Forest of Death, a massive fox lay resting.
Yes—this was the Nine-Tails.
Thanks to Seal Development, the fox was now allowed limited freedom within Konoha, as long as it behaved.
Of course, that wasn't too difficult—after all, Mito-sama was now wrapped in a luxurious orange fur coat that only the boldest souls would dare to question.
Because of this, the Nine-Tails' malice no longer affected her, effectively freezing her youth in immortality. Now, fully committed to her new purpose within the Seal Department, Mito believed this was Konoha's golden age, and she couldn't help but be happy.
She looked toward Mutsuy resentfully.
In truth, she had wanted him as a son-in-law. To her, Tsunade and Mutsuy were a perfect match—but alas, that was just her imagination.
Mutsuy, whenever he was around Tsunade, never let her gamble—and if she rebelled, he used his fists to discipline her.
His philosophy was simple:
"If you want to be a blonde dinosaur, then I'll be a brown dinosaur. Let our fists decide the path forward."
Since then, Tsunade had developed a certain respect for Mutsuy, as he reminded her a lot of her great-uncle, Tobirama.
Because of this, with Mutsuy's subtle support, Dan Kato had entered Tsunade's life early. Unfortunately for him, he was frequently on the receiving end of her retaliatory assaults—but he always carried a golden smile, as if nothing could ever shake him.
Speaking of love stories, Jiraiya had truly changed.
After confessing his feelings to Kaori Utatane, the two had become lovebirds.
Under Kaori's relentless affection, Jiraiya—who had the potential to become a legendary pervert—instead became a respectable, respectable man.
Unfortunately, whenever he was around Tsunade, he just couldn't help himself—he dropped outrageous jokes, only to be mercilessly punched into the dirt every single time.