The Third Great Ninja War spiraled into chaos, bred mutual slaughter in that chaos, and—after the bloodshed—finally clarified the battlefield, only for someone to kick the board again just as things looked settled.
Amid the carnage some cracked and defected, some clung to their ideals, some retired with grave wounds—and some became heroes, both the living and the dead.
On the Land of Grass front, beset by Konoha and Kumogakure, Iwagakure's forces were fading; defeat was showing on their faces.
Konoha, however, had bled just as badly. With no choice, rookies who'd graduated only a few years earlier—still minors—charged onto the battlefield, burning with youthful fervor.
Whether in an ordinary world or this Chakra-powered one, war is a contest of supplies and a drain of national reserves.
Ninja aren't immortals; Chakra is born of the body. military ration pills are emergency fare, not food. To fight a sustained campaign, a Ninja must eat—far more than civilians.
Grain, shuriken, Kunai and Explosive Tags were the four staples devoured in bulk, shipped forward from every hidden village's rear areas.
Convoys had to be guarded against enemy raids; depots had to be ring-fenced—lose a stockpile in one blow and your war effort took a mortal hit.
sealing scrolls? Hardly miraculous. They can't hold much; to pack huge quantities you need prodigious talent in the Summoning arts.
Summoning is a space–time ninjutsu. Many have the Aptitude, but few reach the top tier. Not everyone can match Tenten or the little Taoist shōjo Shiyōka and Seal tons inside a single card.
Short on supplies? Plunder the small countries—no one cares about their survival.
But after years of war the minor nations' civilians and Ninja were decimated; nothing more could be squeezed from them.
In July, Konoha leveraged superior intelligence to seize the initiative. Jonin Minato Namikaze—the brightest star on both the Iwa and Kumo fronts—infiltrated Iwagakure's rear with an elite team and blew their entire supply cache sky-high.
On his way back he and his students destroyed the vital transit point: the Musashibashi Bridge. Spanning a deep gorge, its loss meant men might still cross, but supplies could not.
He also swept away the large Iwa contingent pinning Konoha forces.
When reinforcements sealed the pocket, nearly two thousand Iwa troops and wounded stranded between Kannabi and the front became turtles in a jar.
What could Ōnoki do—watch them die?
Iwagakure relied on massed troops; their Ninja count was the Five Nations' highest, their casualty rate likewise. Earlier, ten thousand had been thrashed single-handedly by the Sandaime Raikage A—he only died of exhaustion after mowing down swaths without being brought down.
Now their manpower had dropped to perilous levels, so Ōnoki sued Konoha for peace to save those lives.
They still had to deal with Sunagakure and Kumogakure.
After Suna's surrender, Konoha had toppled another equal-sized foe.
All who fell in this battle were heroes, but several stood out.
Chief credit went to Minato Namikaze, a living legend whose might was already common knowledge across the Ninja World and the new idol of Konoha's youth, the reliable comrade of every frontline Ninja.
Minato had repelled Kumogakure's future A–B combo early on, then single-handedly battered Iwagakure into suing for peace—like a hero out of a storybook.
The Konoha battalion that had held Iwa in place was nearly annihilated; only Yondaime Kazu卷 and three comrades survived, carrying their fallen friends' will and becoming heroes—alive.
This battle produced two Sharingan heroes who helped their teacher destroy Musashibashi Bridge.
Kakashi Hatake—alive.
Obito Uchiha—dead… isn't he? As far as Konoha is concerned he is, earning the Uchiha Clan a hefty dose of goodwill.
Before dying he gifted his right eye to Kakashi, letting the once-optimistic Genius—now jaded after his father's suicide and a clash of ideals—learn the meaning of comrades.
Fortunately the Ninja World has no Full God, or that floating-haired Aunt Chen would have burst out to smash the fragile light rekindling in Kakashi's heart:
"Kid, that's how the world is—you've caught a fleeting ray of sun, but soon you'll lose teammates, then your teacher, then your teacher's wife, until nothing remains but an empty heart."
—
Despite grievous losses, mighty Konoha had defeated another equal, and the Third Great Ninja War's intensity began to wane.
Hope dawned: villagers and Ninja alike believed this far bloodier conflict than the first two was ending, and history would crown Konoha victor once more.
The only ones dissatisfied were probably the Uchiha.
"I haven't even boarded yet.jpg"
Even Higashino Megumi felt optimistic about the future, and for the Higashino Clan the good news didn't stop there.
Higashino Jiro was still alive—scarred but vigorous, fighting on the front.
He and Uzumaki Yuwa served in the mobile patrol, ranging the flanks of the main force to hunt any Iwa Ninja trying to break into the Land of Fire.
Later, as reinforcements, they helped capture the remaining Iwa troops at the front alongside gathered comrades.
Had they been in Yondaime Kazu卷's defense unit, their corpses would be cold by now—only four of that force survived.
Had Minato not arrived in time, the entire unit would have been wiped out.
That was a small bit of foresight from Higashino Shin; to avoid becoming his clan's sole male, he had used his future knowledge to give his father a quiet analysis.
As mobile troops, with Ninja speed, even if you couldn't win you could still withdraw and get intel back. Not so for defenders, who faced enemy steamrollers and the duty to guard the homeland—no retreat.
Perhaps unfair to the fallen, but people are selfish; Shin couldn't sway the big picture, yet he could nudge one relative's choice.
Mobile duty was perilous too—opposing Iwa's elite assault teams, among them the famed Iwa Bomb Corps led by Karyū. Life or death still hinged on strength.
Luck held: Higashino Jiro not only survived but was promoted alongside Uzumaki Yuwa.
With frontline casualties so heavy, both earned battlefield merit and strength, receiving recommendations—including from Minato—and were raised to full Jonin.
In essence this was building a personal retinue; thanks to master-and-son-in-law ties and this war's glory, Minato had become hot favorite for next Hokage.
As for the other three candidates?
Princess Tsunade haunted casinos and vanished daily; Jiraiya had no desire and pushed his student; the likeliest, Orochimaru—commander of Konoha's first victory—was downplayed by his teacher the Sandaime for methods that clashed with the will of fire.
Right now Snake Uncle was lost in experiments.
Save for a few disgruntled loyalists, only Danzo harbored ulterior motives and backed him.
Night at the Higashino home.
Higashino Megumi clutched the letter, relief shining in her eyes.
"By the Six Paths Sage's grace, Shin, it looks like the war may end soon; your father is still safe. Most importantly, I needn't fear your generation being dragged into it."
"Mom, you're painting reality too rosy."
"Brat, can't you say something nice and let me stay happy?"
"Fine—I hope your wish comes true. But, Mrs. Higashino, did you forget there's still the Land of Water? Among the Five Villages there's the Hidden Mist; those madmen aren't mere spectators."
Higashino Megumi: "…"