That night, following the decisive victory over Kirigakure, Aoyama Ryūun allowed all the Konoha ninjas in the camp to gather freely. There was no longer any need to remain on guard. With Kirigakure defeated, what danger remained?
"Brother Liuyun, did you notice how incredible Senior Dai was today?"
Inside the tent, the crimson sunset leaned against the calm figure of the Green Mountains and Flowing Clouds. Reflecting on the day's battles, she asked with awe. After all, judging by appearance alone, who would have guessed that a perennial Genin with thick eyebrows and a watermelon-shaped haircut could effortlessly defeat Suigetsu Fuguki, one of the feared Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist?
"I suppose so. Maybe I'm just better at noticing things," Qingshan Liuyun replied with a faint smile. It wasn't as if she could say she already knew—she wasn't claiming to be a time traveler. But Hong, at least, accepted that explanation.
"Really?"
"Of course. Otherwise, how would I have discovered someone as remarkable as you before? Clearly, I have excellent taste!"
"Hey—hey!" The praise from Liuyun made Xi Ri Hong beam with delight, her cheeks warming in happiness. She let the thought of Matt Dai fade for now.
Soon after, word of Kirigakure's defeat spread across the ninja world. Upon receiving the battle report from the frontlines, Konoha erupted once again in cheers. Not long after Iwagakure's defeat, Kirigakure had also fallen. Civilians had no doubt that, under Aoyama Ryūun's leadership, the Third Shinobi World War would soon reach its conclusion. Families could return home.
"Long live Lord Liuyun!"
"Lord Golden Lion is invincible!"
"Lord Liuyun is the strongest!"
The common folk celebrated, and the ninja clans marveled at the Green Mountains and Flowing Clouds' unmatched power.
But inside the Hokage's office, the atmosphere was tense. Looking at the battle reports from the frontlines, Hiruzen Sarutobi showed no trace of joy; if anything, he seemed almost cursed by the news.
He had just returned to Konoha from the frontlines—and Kirigakure had already been defeated? Was it really that fast? Hiruzen had struggled against the Mist for over a year, never gaining the upper hand, always at a disadvantage. Yet the moment Aoyama Ryūun appeared, Kirigakure fell.
"Is this Green Mountains and Flowing Clouds really that strong?" Hiruzen muttered, bewildered. The more quickly Ryūun crushed Kirigakure, the more his own shortcomings were exposed. Villagers were no longer looking at him with the respect they once had. Strength was paramount in the ninja world; without it, even a benevolent Hokage's image held no weight.
"Hiruzen, we need a plan," Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado stated flatly, glancing at him. Upon his return, all authority had been restored to Hiruzen, and now it was his responsibility to respond.
"…Do you have any ideas?" Hiruzen asked, exasperated, hoping for even a poor suggestion.
But Koharu and Homura remained silent. Their gazes drifted away.
'Damn it!' Hiruzen thought. 'You're usually so talkative—why not now?'
They knew full well that Qingshan Liuyun's rise was unstoppable, yet they treated him as an elder of Konoha first and foremost. Regardless of who became Hokage, their status as advisors remained unchanged. Worrying over Ryūun's power mattered little to them—they were calm and composed.
"You two, leave for now," Hiruzen commanded, seeing through their thoughts. Suppressing his frustration, he ordered them away. Koharu and Homura exchanged a look, said nothing, and departed.
"Damn bastards," he muttered.
Fortunately for Konoha, the cheers for Ryūun did not fade quickly. The day after the defeat of Kirigakure, news spread that Tsunade and Orochimaru had joined forces to subdue the Sand Village on the battlefield. Among the four great ninja nations that had besieged Konoha, only Kumogakure remained standing.
Yet everyone knew the end was inevitable. With all other ninja forces converging on Kumogakure, its defeat was only a matter of time.
"Great! Victory is within reach!"
"Finally, the war is ending!"
Aoyama Ryūun smiled as a message scroll from Tsunade arrived at the Konoha camp in Kirigakure.
"It seems Tsunade really misses me," he murmured.
"What did Tsunade-neechan say?" Kurenai Yuhi asked, curiosity piqued.
"Nothing important. She just wants me to hurry to the Kumogakure battlefield. She's waiting for me there."
The only village left undefeated was Kumogakure. All ninjas from Ryūun's side, alongside Tsunade's forces, would concentrate there. The scroll, likely written by Tsunade herself, carried a simple, familiar message: "I miss you! Come see me on the Kumogakure battlefield!"
Though he smiled, there was a flicker of longing in Qingshan Liuyun's eyes. He hadn't seen Tsunade since the war began; communication had been limited to scrolls. Now, at last, he would meet her face to face.
With that thought, he did not hesitate. Turning to Uchiha Fugaku and Hyūga Hiashi, who had already gathered the Konoha ninjas, he commanded:
"Everyone, follow me to Kumogakure. Let us end this war!"
"Yes!"
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