"Investigate."
"Use all resources to investigate. Konoha, Kirigakure, do not overlook any possibility. 'Azure Dragon'. No matter what it represents, you must figure it out for me. The moment you have confirmed intelligence, notify me immediately."
"Yes, Raikage sama." Muchi bowed and accepted the order.
"The frontline war situation is tense. Those Iwagakure bastards are biting down like mad dogs. I cannot be away for too long."
The Third Raikage strode towards the door, lightning flickering on his body.
"Village matters here, along with the investigation into 'Green Snake' and 'Azure Dragon', I leave to you, Muchi."
"Understood. Please be careful at the frontline." Muchi responded solemnly.
The Third Raikage said nothing more. He just nodded, his figure transforming into a flash of lightning, instantly disappearing from the end of the corridor, rapidly heading towards the Land of Earth battlefield.
Inside the office, Muchi stood alone in place, brows tightly furrowed, repeatedly mulling over those two words.
"'Azure Dragon'. 'Green Snake'. What on earth happened."
He looked out the window at the gloomy sky, occasionally streaked by lightning. His heart was shrouded in an impenetrable fog and heaviness, identical to the atmosphere over Kumogakure.
Heavy losses, yet they could not even discern the true nature of the enemy. This feeling was terrible.
He took a deep breath, turned, and quickly left. He had to execute the Raikage's orders as soon as possible.
…
Konoha, the Orphanage.
After dinner, Sora returned to his room.
The moonlight outside the window was cold and clear. The faint sounds of Yumi and Ayumi laughing and play fighting in the next room could be heard, filled with the carefree nature belonging to their age.
But Sora's mood was not light.
He closed the door behind him, somewhat shutting out the sounds from outside. The room immediately quieted down, leaving only the sound of his own breathing.
'Yumi and Ayumi probably have no idea when they will be sent to the battlefield.'
'If it were only me…'
A thought involuntarily emerged.
If he had not been sent to the orphanage back then, but had struggled to survive alone in Konoha, perhaps things would be much easier now.
He would only need to focus on hiding his secrets, improving his strength, without worrying about anyone else.
After completing Anbu missions, he could train if he wanted, rest if he wanted. All resources could be used on himself. He wouldn't need to worry about whether two little girls would be sent to the battlefield, wouldn't need to worry about the orphanage's food, clothing, and expenses.
Even… an even more extreme, more free thought flashed through Sora's mind.
'What if I took them away from Konoha. Found a remote place to live in seclusion. Could we completely avoid this war.'
This idea was extremely tempting.
Relying on the power of the Azure Dragon Fruit, Sora was confident he could take Yumi and Ayumi away and find a relatively safe place to stay.
The sky is vast for birds to fly, the sea is wide for fish to leap. No longer bound by Konoha's higher-ups, no longer needing to hide his strength all day, worrying about being seen as a freak or a tool.
But after just a few seconds, he secretly shook his head, dismissing this unrealistic fantasy.
'No. Too naive.' Sora analyzed calmly in his heart.
First, the cost of defection was enormous.
Once labeled as a missing-nin, he would face endless pursuit from Konoha's Anbu, likely including speed-type experts like Namikaze Minato. He might be able to handle himself, but escaping with two children who had no ability to protect themselves was almost impossible.
Second, leaving the shelter of Konoha, the big tree, might seem like freedom, but he would actually lose the most important resources and intelligence channels.
The supplies needed for training, ninjutsu scrolls, even basic survival guarantees would become difficult. The growth and education of the two little girls would also become a major problem.
In this turbulent world, the risk of acting alone was far higher than relying on a major ninja village.
Furthermore, the Third Great Ninja War was a calamity sweeping the entire ninja world. There was absolutely no completely safe place. Being away from Konoha's protection might instead make them more likely to encounter threats from rogue ninjas, hostile forces, or even Tailed Beasts.
Most importantly, Sora had promised Nonō to take care of this "home".
This home was not just Yumi and Ayumi. It also included Miyamoto Ichirō, Uesugi Rin, The Director, even this small orphanage itself. Sora could not possibly take everyone with him. The target would be too large, even more unrealistic.
Abandoning them and leaving alone. Sora could not do that.
Although in his previous life, that's exactly how he lived.
Alone. While occasionally feeling empty, it was at least easy. He only needed to be responsible for himself.
But there are no ifs in this world.
Sora remembered when he first arrived at the orphanage, Nonō, with her warm smile, gave him his first warm meal.
He remembered Nonō always smiling gently, patiently teaching him ninjutsu, the basics of training.
He remembered even more, before Nonō left Konoha to carry out that dangerous mission, she gently patted his head, her eyes filled with reluctance and pleading.
"Sora, sister has to leave for a while. The Director's health is not good. Ichirō and the others are still young. Take care of this home for me, okay."
He agreed.
And after years of living together, Miyamoto Ichirō's silent contributions, Uesugi Rin's occasional bickering, Yumi and Ayumi's unreserved dependence and smiles…
These little details had long since unknowingly seeped into his heart.
This small orphanage had long since become his only harbor in this cold ninja world, a warmth he wanted to protect with all his might.
Therefore, Sora could not just take care of himself alone, and he certainly could not just walk away.
"Sigh…"
Sora let out a soft sigh and rubbed the space between his eyebrows. 'Really… bringing trouble upon myself.'
But this trouble, he accepted it willingly.
Just occasionally, he still missed that state of being completely unattached.
…
"Multiple Shadow Clone Technique."
Accompanied by two soft popping sounds, two shadow clones appeared in the room.
Without any communication, the main body gave them a look. The two shadow clones, with tacit understanding, picked up the book on the table, "Detailed Explanation of Uzumaki Clan Sealing Technique Fundamentals", and once again immersed themselves in the tedious study and deduction.
Over half a year had passed. Sora had mostly mastered the knowledge within, even able to independently perform a few simple sealing techniques.
But he had never rushed to find more advanced sealing technique texts. Instead, he unwaveringly had his shadow clones assist in reviewing the fundamental theory every day.
In Sora's eyes, learning sealing techniques was like building a house in his previous life. The worst fear was an unstable foundation. Even the simplest rune inscription, chakra infusion ratio, if there was the slightest deviation, the seal would fail at best, or backfire on the user at worst.
Now, spending more time to thoroughly polish the basics would allow fewer detours when encountering higher-level sealing arts later, preventing him from stumbling at critical points.
Paying no mind to the two clones buried in their studies, Sora quietly sat on the edge of the bed. His gaze, unfocused, fell on the faint crescent moon outside the window.
Yumi and Ayumi… they are almost eight years old.
The Ninja Academy has a six-year system. But that was the rule in peaceful times. Now, with the outbreak of the Third Great War, everything was different.
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