The battlefront gradually entered a stalemate.
Both Konoha and Sunagakure refrained from launching large-scale operations, instead engaging in endless cycles of infiltration and counter-infiltration, probing each other in the shadows.
During this period, messenger ninja came and went through Konoha without pause. Uchiha Ran himself received a letter from Kurenai Yuhi. The young woman clearly missed him deeply—every line, both between the words and beyond them, was filled with her longing.
A少女's love was like jasmine—pure, gentle, and quietly fragrant.
Uchiha Ran was not a "good man" by conventional standards, yet his feelings for Kurenai were sincere. One could call him greedy, but not scummy. In a world where strength reigned supreme, he had no intention of betraying anyone. As long as his Mangekyō abilities continued to evolve, and with the power of the Hōgyoku, he believed he could achieve immortality—for himself, and for those he loved.
Yes. That was the ultimate power of Uchiha Ran's left Mangekyō Sharingan—the Hōgyoku.
The Hōgyoku could fulfill the desires buried deep within the human heart. Ran possessed an unending hunger for growth and evolution, and the Hōgyoku would continuously push him forward. Eternal Mangekyō, Rinnegan, tomoe Rinnegan—these were merely steps along the path of becoming stronger. As his power increased, the Hōgyoku would eventually allow others to evolve as well.
Teacher Tsunade… and Kurenai, too, would surely attain immortality and stand beside him, watching the chaos and splendor of the world unfold.
In his reply, Ran wrote of his longing for Kurenai, of the anguish he felt when he witnessed Teacher Tsunade being "killed" by Scorch Release, and of the moment he awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan. He encouraged Kurenai to train diligently, hoping that when the war ended and he returned, he would see a valiant and radiant kunoichi waiting for him.
Time flowed quietly through letters.
And advanced through the secret thoughts of a少女 in love.
With the fiercest conflicts around Sunagakure temporarily stabilized, Konoha's overall situation entered a period of relative calm. After failing to gain any real advantage, Iwagakure and Kumogakure tacitly chose infiltration over full-scale warfare.
"So… Teacher Tsunade," Ran said, looking around with curiosity, "are we really okay coming to the Land of Birds just to have fun?"
The Land of Birds truly was beautiful. It was hard to imagine that Sunagakure—so barren and desolate—had never set its sights on a place like this. Even stranger was the fact that while Konoha and Sunagakure were still at war, Tsunade had dragged him out on what looked suspiciously like a sightseeing trip.
"Idiot," Tsunade snorted. "We're not here just to play. We have a reconnaissance mission. The Land of Birds is close to the Land of Wind—if there's a surprise attack, this could be a viable route for a rapid assault… Wait."
She suddenly realized something was wrong.
Wasn't this evil little Uchiha officially her boyfriend now? Then why was he still calling her Teacher Tsunade?
"You brat," Tsunade frowned sharply, fixing him with a dangerous stare. "You said you wanted to be my boyfriend—so why are you still calling me Teacher Tsunade?"
Her expression clearly said: Explain yourself properly, or my fist will.
"Teacher Tsunade, Tsunade-jie—I just like calling you that," Ran said smoothly. "Calling you 'Little Tsunade' feels like I'm not old enough. Calling you just 'Tsunade' sounds too distant. 'Lady Tsunade' isn't intimate enough. So Teacher Tsunade is perfect."
With no one around, he leaned closer, casually taking her hand.
"Or… does it make you uncomfortable when I call you that?"
"Scram, scram, scram!" Tsunade snapped, flinging his hand away. "You damn, evil Uchiha brat! Just follow me properly. Our main objective is still to scout the routes between the Land of Birds and the Land of Wind. Once we confirm them, we'll form a strike team and give Sunagakure a nasty surprise—make them stop this damned invasion!"
She brushed him off with visible annoyance.
This kid was far too lively—nothing like the gloomy Uchiha she'd known before. And yet… she'd actually accepted him. The more she thought about it, the more suspicious it felt.
Did this Uchiha Ran secretly curse me?
There's no way I should be okay with an Uchiha this much younger than me…
Her pace unconsciously slowed.
Could I really still be trapped in his genjutsu?
Ran walked ahead for a few steps before noticing her lagging behind. He turned back and waved at her.
"Tsunade-jie, why are you spacing out? Don't we still have a reconnaissance mission today? At this rate, we won't finish on time."
Bathed in sunlight, Ran's figure looked dazzling. His gentle demeanor and the faint smile at the corner of his lips made Tsunade feel strangely intoxicated.
…Maybe this isn't so bad, she thought.
Being with this brat really is kind of fun.
"Coming, coming! Damn brat—always rushing people!"
Grumbling, Tsunade quickened her pace and caught up to him.
Ran naturally took her hand again and said with a grin, "Tsunade-jie, remember—we're tourists visiting the Land of Birds right now. Don't act too much like a ninja."
One thing about the Land of Birds was truly strange.
It lay right next to the Land of Wind, yet while the Land of Wind was dominated by endless deserts, the Land of Birds possessed lush forests rivaling even those of the Land of Fire. Anyone who visited would feel as if they had stepped into a fairyland.
Towering trees grew thick and tall, their canopies interwoven. Sunlight filtered through the gaps between leaves, casting mottled patterns of light and shadow on the ground. Ran and Tsunade's faces alternated between brightness and shade.
Though technically on a mission, the two of them were quietly savoring this rare time alone.
The Land of Birds was home to a wide, majestic river—the mother river of the nation, flowing through its entire territory.
Its waters were crystal clear, the gentle sound of its flow resembling a beautiful melody. Countless birds gathered along its banks, playing and feeding. While Konoha and Sunagakure were locked in war, this place felt like a world apart—peaceful beyond imagination.
Emerging from the forest, Ran and Tsunade arrived at a grassy riverside meadow. The grass was a vivid green, dotted with wildflowers blooming in abundance, their fragrance drifting softly through the air.
As the sun slowly dipped toward the horizon, the two of them lay down on a gentle slope, resting on the grass. After traveling all day, it was finally time to let themselves relax.
From the slope, they gazed into the distance. Towering mountain peaks stretched endlessly across the horizon, wrapped in drifting clouds. Sometimes the mist dispersed, sometimes it gathered thickly, giving the mountains an ethereal, otherworldly aura.
Birds soared between the peaks—now vanishing into the clouds, now spreading their wings beneath the golden sunlight.
Watching the scene, warmth welled up in Tsunade's chest. This was the beauty and purity of nature itself, and she felt her heart being quietly softened by it.
She exhaled gently, closed her eyes, and listened to the wind.
A soft breeze passed through the forest, rustling the leaves. The grass around them swayed gently.
Ran lifted his head, gazing at the distant sky, feeling the wind brush against his face. Looking at Tsunade's beautiful profile, he couldn't help but say with a light laugh:
"Teacher Tsunade… today's wind is really noisy, isn't it?"