Next Day — Konoha
The streets near the village gates were packed.
Shinobi stood in long rows, facing the raised platform where the Third Hokage addressed them. They came from many clans; each group gathered with its own members. Beside them stood civilian shinobi—independent ninja without clan backing—their numbers nearly equal to those of the clan forces.
All of them were fully equipped.
Armour fastened.
Weapons secured.
Faces sharp with focus.
They looked vigorous—ready for war.
From the stage, Hiruzen Sarutobi surveyed the gathering.
A sense of pride rose in his chest. With a wide, confident smile, he spoke.
"All shinobi of Konoha—The future of this village and its people rests upon you.
Their trust lies in your strength.
They believe that as long as you stand and fight for them, no one will dare disturb their peaceful lives or force Konoha to bow.
You are the pillars of this village.The smiles on the faces of our children are proof of that strength.
Today, our people stand here with faith—faith that this war will carry Konoha's name across the entire ninja world.
No matter how many wish to see Konoha beneath their feet, you—the pillars of this village—must not allow it.
Our blessings go with you.Fight for the fire that burns within your hearts.Show our enemies that the Will of Fire never fades.
Let the new leaves flourish."
For a moment, there was silence.
Then the crowd erupted.
"For Konoha!""For the Will of Fire!"
A new light ignited in the hearts of those present.
Hiruzen listened to their voices, pride filling him once more.
"And for the Will of Fire," he said firmly,"for Konoha."
On the Uchiha side, Elder Kohaku stood beside the Grand Elder, Setsuna. The cheers from the gathered shinobi echoed through the air as Kohaku spoke quietly.
"One thing is certain," he said."The Third Hokage truly has a charm—his way with words. It's something we Uchiha lack the most. If someone like him had stood for Konoha in the past… perhaps we would have risen beyond the fear and fame we carried."
Grand Elder Setsuna listened, then nodded slowly.
"Yes," he replied.
"That may be why Tobirama Senju chose Hiruzen Sarutobi as Hokage. One thing is clear—Hiruzen has a place for Konoha in his heart. Even if only a part of it, he truly wants the village to be strong… and he cares for it more than for his old friendships."
Kohaku turned to him, eyes widened in surprise.
"I didn't expect you to say that, Elder."
Setsuna glanced at him calmly.
"I am not a man who sees only the evil in others," he said."I also acknowledge their goodness. When you reach my age, Kohaku, you'll understand—this world is neither white nor black. It is a mixture of both. What people need to learn is when something is right… and when it is wrong—because survival depends on that understanding."
His gaze drifted toward the sky.
A memory surfaced.
Long ago, during his years as an active shinobi, Setsuna had been assigned a mission to eliminate a bandit lair. But when he reached the location, he found not hardened criminals—only starving children and their parents. Victims of war. People who had lost everything when ninja battles destroyed their land and resources.
The so-called "bandit leader" had been nothing more than a father trying to fill his children's stomachs.
Setsuna remembered his own son.
That day, he let the man live. He left behind some food and returned without completing the mission.
Later, he learned the truth.
The mission had been completed by another shinobi.
That was when he truly understood it.
In times like these, morality bends.Only survival remains.
He sighed softly, his eyes lowering to the departing figures of the shinobi—and to his clan head, Fugaku Uchiha, among them.
After some time, the crowd dispersed.
As the shinobi vanished from sight, leaving to join the war, the Uchiha elders returned quietly to their homes—carrying thoughts far heavier than cheers.
On Koji's side, events unfolded far from the cheering crowds of Konoha.
At that moment, Koji was moving through the black market of the Land of Fire, searching for both buyers and sellers. Through careful probing, he had confirmed one thing—the Fire Nation Bounty Office possessed an enormous information and trade network.
With Akira's help, he secured a private meeting with the leader.
Inside the headquarters of the bounty office, Koji entered a dimly lit chamber.
He wore a mask this time.
Across from him stood Shibaku, watching carefully as Koji took a seat.
Shibaku spoke first.
"So, Mister Toji," he said smoothly,"Are you truly certain you wish to trade this pill through our bounty office? We are honoured by your choice. However, you must understand—this pill could cause a massive stir across the entire shinobi world if sold to the great ninja villages."
Koji met his gaze calmly.
His identity remained concealed. To Shibaku, he was only Toji.
Earlier, Akira had already presented the chakra recovery pill and explained its effects. Even Shibaku—a man who had seen countless treasures—had been visibly shaken upon realising such an item could be mass-produced and sold through his halls.
Koji finally spoke.
"I could sell it to the great villages," he said evenly,"but they would never allow me to sell it elsewhere. Worse—they would either kill me for the formula or try to cheat me out of it."
He leaned back slightly.
"Your bounty office, on the other hand, has built trust across the entire ninja world. Your reach extends from the greatest nations to the smallest territories. That is why I believe I can trust you."
Shibaku stared at him, momentarily stunned.
After a pause, he smiled.
"We have existed since before the ninja villages themselves," he said proudly."That is why our influence reaches into every nation and border."
Then he laughed.
"But tell me—why do you believe we wouldn't simply take this treasure from you? Why wouldn't we cheat you?"
Koji laughed softly.
"Hahaha. You wouldn't kill the hen that lays golden eggs," he replied."Otherwise… the nobles backing you would flee long before you could catch them."
The smile vanished from Shibaku's face.
For a brief moment, silence filled the room.
He understood immediately.
Very few people knew the truth—that nobles stood behind the bounty office, funding it from the shadows to keep their own hands clean.
"You've done your research," Shibaku said coldly."But you should be careful with such words. Speaking recklessly can shorten one's life."
Koji waved dismissively.
"Don't worry," he said lightly."For an organisation this large to exist, it needs backing. Other than nobles, no one fits the role. Many intelligent people already know this."
His gaze sharpened behind the mask.
"So, Mister Shibaku—what do you say to our cooperation?"
Shibaku studied him for a long moment.
Finally, he spoke.
"Mister Toji," he said slowly,"state your requirements first. Then I will give you my answer."
He smiled faintly.
"If we cooperate… I intend for it to last a long time."
Koji looked straight at Shibaku and spoke without hesitation.
"What I want is simple, Mister Shibaku," he said."A long-term cooperation—one that allows both of us to grow rich."
Shibaku studied him for a moment, then nodded.
"With our network," he replied,"I can make these pills appear in every corner of the ninja world. With the nobles' support, we can secure their trade routes and ensure steady supply—not only to the great ninja villages, but also to smaller territories."
His eyes gleamed.
"And with war spreading, demand will only increase. This period alone can bring us immense profit and resources from the villages."
Koji listened carefully. When Shibaku finished, he nodded once.
"For the first year," Koji said,"I can provide eight to ten thousand pills."
Shibaku's expression sharpened.
"This is a test," Koji continued."A test of whether the bounty hall can truly control distribution—and how the villages react. If everything proceeds smoothly, production can be increased later."
He paused.
"But what I want in return is not ryō."
Shibaku frowned slightly.
"I want gold."
That made Shibaku hesitate.
He understood the logic behind testing supply and reach—but gold was different.
"Mister Toji," he said carefully,"I can arrange advance payments in ryō. But gold… that will be difficult."
Koji's tone remained calm.
"I need only gold," he replied."However, I am willing to accept chakra metal as well."
He leaned forward slightly.
"Speak with your superiors. Once they understand the value of this pill, they will agree."
The discussion continued for a long time.
Terms were refined.
Risks weighed.
Numbers adjusted.
In the end, an understanding was reached.
Until the nobles made their final decision, no large-scale trade would begin.
However, Shibaku agreed to use part of the bounty office's own gold reserves to purchase a limited batch of pills—testing the market personally.
Koji accepted.
Soon after, Koji departed the headquarters quietly.
Shibaku, on the other hand, headed deeper into the complex—to meet the true powers standing behind the bounty hall.
The wheels of the ninja world had begun to turn.