The ceasefire came suddenly—so suddenly that even Uchiha Ran hadn't expected it.
He and Orochimaru-sensei had only been stationed at the border for a short time when Konohagakure and Iwagakure reached a ceasefire agreement.
When the news arrived, Ran was inside Orochimaru's temporary laboratory, assisting with research in cellular studies.
The Star Stone, now stripped of its Ten-Tails chakra, was nothing more than a meteorite that emitted faint radiation and could store chakra. Within just a few days of losing the Ten-Tails chakra, even that residual radiation began to fade away.
After studying it, Orochimaru concluded that the radiation's amplification effect on chakra was unimpressive—and once the radiation dissipated entirely, the Star Stone became an ordinary meteorite. He quickly lost interest in it.
After discussing it with Ran, Orochimaru arranged for the meteorite to be sent to the Land of Iron, where it would be reforged into a short sword and several kunai.
I'll give one of those kunai to Natsuhiboshi, Ran thought to himself.
Recently, Orochimaru had fully shifted his focus to cellular research.
Frankly speaking, he couldn't stand staying at the border any longer. The lack of experimental equipment and materials made it impossible to continue meaningful research on Hashirama's cells.
That said—
he had captured quite a few "experimental materials" lately.
As for border duty itself, it was painfully dull.
One by one, the Iwa shinobi lurking near the border were captured by Konoha's forces. This situation forced Iwagakure to convene a high-level meeting.
The meeting was personally presided over by Ōnoki, the Third Tsuchikage, and its central theme was—
"Seize new opportunities, forge new development."
Ōnoki was deeply dissatisfied with both the previous special military action involving Sunagakure and the border fortification efforts against Konoha. Those two failures dealt a heavy blow to Iwagakure's internal hardline faction.
As a result, the elder council turned its pressure directly onto him.
However, the battle-hardened Ōnoki relied on his prestige—and a series of follow-up plans—to once again convince everyone present.
This border operation had cost Iwagakure many lives, but it also made one thing painfully clear:
Konoha was far stronger than expected.
Konoha's intelligence and reconnaissance capabilities were terrifyingly efficient. Relying on a single nation was no longer enough to challenge it.
At present, the optimal strategy was clear—
Send a delegation to Konoha to negotiate a mutual non-aggression pact, while secretly accumulating strength and stirring other nations into opposing Konoha.
War was never just a clash on the battlefield.
It was also a struggle of intelligence, information, and timing.
In Ōnoki's vision, intelligence gathering and utilization were decisive factors—ones that could determine whether to act against Konoha now, and ultimately decide victory or defeat.
This failed border operation was, in itself, part of Ōnoki's intelligence test.
And through it, he abandoned any immediate plans for war against Konoha.
Interestingly enough—
The one chosen to visit Konoha this time was Kitsuchi, Ōnoki's own son.
Upon arriving at the border, Kitsuchi encountered Konoha's Uchiha Special Operations Unit.
What he hadn't expected was that his father's carefully laid plans had been dismantled by—
An Uchiha who still looked like a teenager.
So this is Konoha… so this is the Uchiha clan, Kitsuchi thought grimly.
The strength of a single village isn't enough to oppose Konoha.
Following protocol, Kitsuchi explained that unrest had broken out within Iwagakure. Many defecting Iwa shinobi had crossed into the Land of Fire's borderlands without authorization—an issue that greatly troubled the Third Tsuchikage.
Ōnoki believed these actions endangered the peace between Iwagakure and Konoha. Thus, he sent Kitsuchi to formally request the signing of a permanent non-aggression treaty.
Whether Konoha believed Ōnoki's explanation wasn't the important part.
What mattered was whether Konoha was prepared for war.
If not, then signing the treaty would benefit both sides' peaceful development.
This was far beyond Ran's authority to decide.
So he immediately arranged for messengers to relay all intelligence back to Konoha.
As for Orochimaru-sama—
He had long since grown restless.
The moment he heard anything about negotiating some "pointless treaty," he wasted no time returning to Konoha himself.
When it came to slipping away and letting others handle the work, Orochimaru was a true master.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Ran and the eight members of the Uchiha Special Operations Unit remained at the border, awaiting further instructions.
During this time, Ran never once saw Hyūga Hizashi.
After arriving at the border, Hizashi had devoted himself entirely to hunting down hidden spies—working tirelessly without a single day of rest.
A true workhorse among workhorses.
According to Uncle Taka, however, Hizashi was surprisingly easy to get along with. Unlike most Hyūga and Uchiha, there wasn't that intense, hostile tension between him and the Uchiha.
After several days of waiting, an order finally arrived—
From the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi himself.
Uchiha Ran and the Special Operations Unit were to escort Kitsuchi and two of his subordinates to Konoha.
"It seems your Third Hokage has suddenly developed a keen eye for peace," Kitsuchi said casually as they traveled. "For two great nations like ours, maintaining peace is what truly matters, Ran-kun."
Ran neither agreed nor disagreed.
Iwagakure would never truly give up. This ceasefire was nothing more than a temporary pause.
Originally, Ran had already prepared himself for long-term border deployment.
But Ōnoki was cunning—he had clearly grasped Sarutobi's mindset.
With things developing this way, the newly formed Uchiha Special Operations Unit would have little chance to train at the border.
Ran was certain of one thing—
Even if he could be considered the Third Hokage's grand-disciple, Sarutobi would never feel fully comfortable leaving several powerful Uchiha stationed permanently at the frontier.
"Actually," Kitsuchi continued, "I have another matter I hope to gain the Third Hokage's support on."
"Oh?" Ran replied. "Please, go ahead."
He was curious to see what schemes Iwagakure had in mind this time.
"Well," Kitsuchi said, "we've heard that Konoha has a long-standing tradition of Joint Chūnin Exams. Iwagakure would like to participate this time—and to do so on a grand scale."
"First, it would showcase the strength of the Five Great Nations' shinobi. Second, by bringing the other three great nations into the exam, we can prevent large-scale conflict and confine our competition to the level of chūnin."
It sounded reasonable—
But Ran didn't believe a word of it.
If the timeline remained intact, the Third Shinobi World War would still break out as expected.
Whether to accept Iwagakure's proposal was entirely Sarutobi Hiruzen's decision.
Ōnoki's abacus was clicking loudly.
Truth be told, when compared to Danzō, Ōnoki wasn't much different at all.
The only difference was that Ōnoki, as Tsuchikage, had firmer authority and fewer restraints.
Ran and Kitsuchi traveled quickly.
In less than two days—
They arrived at Konoha's gates.
As per tradition, Ran greeted Konoha's two invincible gate guardians, then escorted Kitsuchi straight toward the Hokage's Office—
To formally report to the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.