Kogura was an ordinary Genin from Sunagakure, specializing in poisons and puppetry. He had fought his way through several rounds with surprising skill, advancing all the way to the Ninth Arena finals. There, he would face a Genin from the Shikimura clan of Konoha.
As a young ninja from the Sand, Kogura usually held the advantage against fellow Genin. His poisons could be devastating, especially since medical ninjas were scarce in the world. Legends even spoke of Hanzo the Salamander, whose poisonous summon had once terrorized the ninja world. His puppetry gave him both offensive versatility and defensive stability, making him a formidable opponent.
But the finals would prove Kogura's toughest test yet. His opponent, Shikimura Tsuru, wielded Wind Release, which completely countered Kogura's attacks. Every time he tried to deploy poison, the gusts from Tsuru's Wind Release scattered it harmlessly.
Kogura, however, remained calm. He adapted his tactics skillfully, combining poison with his puppets, and ultimately defeated Tsuru in a clever, hard-fought victory.
At that exact moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi had received urgent reports: Sunagakure, Iwagakure, and Kumogakure had simultaneously launched surprise attacks on Konoha's borders.
The situation was critical. Sarutobi immediately summoned Konoha's high-ranking officials to a brief strategy meeting above the viewing hall.
The decisions were swift:
Orochimaru would take command of the Sand frontlines.
Tsunade, despite her hemophobia, would lead the medical corps to assist Orochimaru. Sunagakure's poisons were unpredictable, and the Uchiha clan's presence meant that an experienced medical ninja like Tsunade was indispensable.
The Iwa front would be commanded by Jiraiya, with Sarutobi Shinonosuke, the Third's son, as deputy, leading the Hyūga, Konoha ANBU, and civilian ninja.
The Cloud front, still relatively stable, would be overseen by Namikaze Minato, assisted by the Ino-Shika-Cho clan and other allies.
The unseen Mizukage front would be handled by Shikimura Danzo, leading the Root, as a precautionary measure.
Sarutobi, along with Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, would manage logistics, ensuring supplies and reinforcements reached the frontlines.
Once the plans were finalized, the ANBU sprang into action. They immediately detained all ninja present, explained the actions of the three attacking nations to nobles and civilians, and declared Konoha in a state of wartime emergency. All residents and visitors were subjected to thorough inspections and searches.
The hall erupted in chaos. Some refused to believe it, some cried, some tried to flee.
Kogura, still celebrating his victory, was stunned. Only now did he understand the truth: they had been sacrificed by their own villages, completely unaware, pawns in a larger war. Shocked, he dropped his kunai and was escorted away by ANBU. His mind went blank. Amid the chaos, all he remembered was a tall, glasses-wearing Uchiha in the Eighth Arena, who had glanced at him with quiet curiosity.
Ran, fully aware that the Third Ninja World War had begun, felt the surge of power in his Sharingan. Soon, he knew, the Mangekyō Sharingan would awaken.
Younger ninja like Uchiha Ran, Uchiha Mizuki, or Might Guy hadn't yet been drafted in the first wave by Hiruzen, reserved for when the situation became more critical. But Ran, as captain of the Uchiha Special Operations Squad and under Orochimaru's mentorship, was deployed immediately. After receiving a pendant from Red and her heartfelt blessing, he headed to the Wind Country front.
This time, Red and Tsunade would not meet.
Before departing, Uchiha Mikoto had prepared a cache of shuriken and rations for Ran.
"Ran… come back alive. If danger strikes, stick close to your Fuuga brother—he'll protect you," she said, sending him off with her blessing.
On the battlefield, Ran's determination burned bright.
"小 brat," Tsunade had called, her tone teasing despite the seriousness of war. "If you're afraid of death, you could join my medical corps. With your Sharingan, you'd pick up medical ninjutsu in no time."
Ran, however, politely but firmly declined. It wasn't about pride or Uchiha honor, nor a lack of courage. He simply explained: as captain of the Uchiha Special Operations Squad, it was his duty to lead his team safely through the war, to ensure minimal casualties and protect the rear medical corps from Sand attacks. In doing so, he would also ease Tsunade's burden.
Tsunade huffed. "Fine. Whatever. You're an Uchiha brat anyway—if you die, it won't exactly be my problem." She scowled, clearly irritated that he had volunteered for the most dangerous missions ahead of her. She turned away, not speaking to him again until they were near the frontlines.
At that point, Tsunade handed Ran the pendant she had worn over her chest.
"Here. Take it. It's my grandfather's relic. Supposedly a protective charm… but it always seemed to bring misfortune. Shigure died wearing it on the battlefield. Are you sure you want it?"
Tsunade didn't believe in curses, yet her experiences with Shigure made her hesitate. Handing it to Ran, she felt a swirl of conflicting emotions: she hoped her grandfather's power would shield him, but feared the pendant might draw him into danger. She told Ran the story candidly.
Without a word, Ran took the pendant. Then, in a quiet but profoundly moving moment, he spoke words that left Tsunade's heart trembling—reassuring, sincere, and carrying a weight beyond his fourteen years.