A pale, overcast sky shed drifting flakes of snow.
The temperature plunged to several degrees below zero in an instant, and pedestrians hurriedly wrapped themselves in thick coats.
Snow fell to the ground, yet Konoha Village remained lively as ever. Children and adults alike took advantage of the rare snowy season, a brief delight that came only once a year.
The snowfall continued. What had been light flurries gradually grew heavier.
A masked ninja in the gray uniform of the Assassination Division (ANBU) leapt across rooftops and arrived at the Hokage Tower.
—
Urgent Frontline Report:
Analysis from the Intelligence Division:
On the Sand–Rain border, the Stone–Rain border, and the Fire–Rain border, three simultaneous offensives have pushed deep into the Land of Rain. Amegakure has suffered heavy losses.
As a result, the leader of Amegakure has most likely begun surrender negotiations with two major ninja villages—Iwagakure and Sunagakure.
Source of intelligence:
Iwagakure shinobi have crossed through the Land of Rain and made initial contact with Konoha forces guarding the Fire–Rain border.
[In short: they surrendered to two villages—just not Konoha.]
—
"Hanzō!"
Inside the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen slammed the desk in anger. This report meant he would have to dispatch even more shinobi to the front lines.
"Summon Orochimaru."
"Yes!"
Facing the Hokage's fury, the ANBU ninja replied swiftly and vanished in a flash of Shunshin.
"…White Fang," Hiruzen said heavily. "I'm afraid this time, I'll need you to act."
Whoosh—
In front of the Hokage's desk, Hatake Sakumo appeared, kneeling respectfully at the center of the room.
"I will follow the Hokage's command!"
The Land of Rain's resistance had collapsed far too quickly—so quickly that Hiruzen had no time to properly respond.
"Rest assured. The village will protect your wife. Kakashi will be born safely."
"Go all out on the Fire–Wind front."
"Yes! I leave everything in the Hokage's hands!"
If the village could not protect the families left behind, how could its shinobi devote themselves wholeheartedly to the blood-soaked battlefield?
Though it was supposed to be the New Year in Konoha, Hiruzen felt no joy at all—only worry etched across his face. He did not know how many of those additional teams sent to the front would ever return.
"…By the way," he added suddenly, "any leads on that suspicious ninja who's been appearing at Konoha Hospital at night?"
Hiruzen remembered that Sakumo had been responsible for investigating the matter, yet there had been no updates for quite some time.
Sakumo stiffened slightly.
"My apologies, Hokage-sama. That individual is extremely cunning. Footprints, physical traits—none of them match any known young jōnin, chūnin, or even genin."
Hiruzen fell silent.
If they're not from our village, then why would someone provide free medical aid to another village's people? There must be an ulterior motive…
"…Forget it. I'll have Jiraiya stake the place out and investigate."
"For now, I'll leave the frontline to you."
"Yes!"
—
Elsewhere, at Konoha Hospital.
Within white-walled corridors, a civilian child who would one day shine brilliantly was born.
Outside the operating room, a thick-browed young man—no longer shouting about youth—clenched his fists tightly, swallowing dry mouthfuls of air as he paced back and forth.
By the row of closed windows along the hallway, two boys were talking.
One had grown another half-year older, his appearance barely changed—still youthful and handsome.
The other, brown-haired and still a bit childish, stood beside him.
"Bai Xing, do you think Uncle Dai's baby will be a boy or a girl?" Senju Nawaki asked eagerly.
Might Dai was a full generation older than Nawaki, so calling him "uncle" made perfect sense.
And this year, Nawaki was twelve.
Bai Xing, already having learned the baby's gender from Yakushi Nono—now a trainee nurse—put on an uncertain tone and replied, "Probably a boy."
"I think it might be a girl!" Nawaki said excitedly. "Then I could treat her like a little sister."
"What if she's super cute~?"
Bai Xing's mouth twitched.
A thick-browed little sister? Are you sure about that?
If it really were a thick-browed female version of Guy, he wouldn't even know how to comment.
A new codename—Empress Guy.
Click.
The red light above the operating room switched to green, and the door began to open.
Everyone's tension spiked.
The door swung open, revealing a nurse holding a loudly wailing, rather ugly newborn.
"Congratulations—it's a boy~!"
"From today on, you're a great father."
"Oh! I'll definitely let my child experience the youth of a father~!"
"Lower your voice. This is a hospital."
Bai Xing couldn't help adding, "Aren't you going to ask about the baby's mother—Miss Rin?"
"Oh—right, right!"
"Is my wife okay?!"
Might Dai grew anxious again. In the ninja world, it was often the children who survived—mothers were far more likely to die young, or even during childbirth.
"Don't worry. You didn't skimp on nutritional supplements for her, did you? She's fine—just needs to rest well after the surgery."
Soon after, a hospital bed was wheeled out of the operating room. A tired but safe mother lay atop the white sheets, the wheels rolling softly beneath.
"Dai…"
"Thank goodness, Rin! You're safe—thank goodness!"
Might Dai burst into tears. Bai Xing, able to understand that emotion, stood to the side with a relieved smile.
The brown-haired boy, however, felt none of it—he just thought the baby was ugly.
And worse—not a girl.
—
The previous year's Team One hadn't taken missions for several days.
Because Dai's wife was giving birth, Nawaki felt that instead of earning money on missions, it was better to stay and see the baby safely born before returning to D-rank work.
Bai Xing agreed. And since the "young master" had spoken, that was even better—after all, Bai Xing wasn't one of Orochimaru's personal disciples.
The same applied to Yakushi Nono at the hospital.
They were more like ordinary students. Orochimaru and Tsunade would teach what needed to be taught—but inheritances from the Sage Lands were out of the question.
At this point, Bai Xing could finally and legitimately use the C-rank jutsu he'd learned earlier, as well as the Shadow Clone Technique.
Still, whenever he used them, he deliberately made mistakes and looked clumsy, disappointing Orochimaru enough that no further jutsu were taught.
Exactly as Bai Xing had hoped.
—
On the streets, Bai Xing found Uchiha Mikoto on patrol and told her the good news.
Nearby, other members of the Police Force—and even the captain—looked over.
The captain was Uchiha Fugaku.
"What?! Uncle Dai had a baby and you didn't tell me! If I'd known, I would've taken leave today!"
"I'm telling you now, aren't I?" Bai Xing said casually. "Don't let it affect your work."
He glanced at Mikoto's teammates, then at Fugaku—who looked relatively calm.
"Jōnin Fugaku. Long time no see."
"Indeed. The last time we met, you left a deep impression."
Occasional encounters during D-rank missions or police duties didn't count as a proper greeting.
Fugaku looked at Bai Xing, then at Mikoto, and spoke gently to her:
"Mikoto, I'll approve your leave for today. Take a break and go visit your former teammate."
The other two officers immediately curled their lips inward.
So biased.
With manpower stretched thin, leave was practically unheard of unless someone was injured on duty.
"Thank you, Captain Fugaku," Mikoto replied stiffly, turning her head with a polite smile.
"I've told you—just call me Big Brother Fugaku. We're not in a formal squad; there's no need to be so strict."
"When you take the clan's chūnin assessment mid-year, you'll be promoted."
Fugaku's face was filled with admiration… even affection.
"With your talent, in another year or two, you'll be an outstanding Uchiha jōnin—just like me."
"Mm-hm. Thanks~ Captain," Mikoto said, still calling him captain.
Fugaku frowned slightly, but said nothing more.
Before leaving, he cast a serious glance at Bai Xing.
—Let us hope we never become enemies.
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