Five years later…

Due to the joint siege of Amegakure by the major shinobi villages years ago, the Shinobi World had repeatedly teetered on the brink of war.

Border skirmishes between the great nations became constant, with countless small-scale conflicts breaking out.

However, the other villages, mindful of Konoha's massive luminous summoning beasts and Kumogakure's earlier display of large-scale Lightning Release forbidden techniques, found themselves considerably more restrained.

Still, villages like Sunagakure and Iwagakure—big and small—realized that merely possessing Tailed Beasts no longer guaranteed their safety. Thus, they began researching large-scale forbidden techniques, Puppet Techniques, summoning arts, and more.

In short, any means to gain power was eagerly pursued, with no expense spared in research.Even the daimyo of the major nations, despite lacking the power of chakra, began climbing the technological tree in pursuit of formidable strength to ensure their own safety.

Thus, the state of the Shinobi World, meticulously crafted by Hashirama Senju, subtly began reverting to the chaotic trends of the Warring States period.

The entire world had plunged into an arms race.

In recent years, the most speechless and wronged individuals had to be the Fourth Raikage, A, and the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

That battle back then...

The Raikage, narrowly defeated by the giant, had to lie in bed for three months upon returning.

People spoke of the forbidden Lightning Release technique, and everyone believed this powerful ninjutsu had been unleashed by the Raikage—or rather, only he was worthy of such a technique.

Even the shinobi of Kumogakure held their village leader in higher esteem, taking greater pride in their identity.

So much so that rumors spread throughout the Shinobi World that the Fourth Raikage was the true and undisputed God of Shinobi.

The Raikage had wanted to explain countless times, but whenever he opened his mouth, people simply thought he was being modest. Coupled with Konoha's formidable giant summoning beast and the influence of the Shinobi World's political climate, if Kumogakure showed any sign of weakness, the other villages would inevitably unite to attack them.

Left with no choice, the Fourth Raikage had to grit his teeth and admit he had mastered a powerful forbidden Lightning Release technique...

Meanwhile, the terrifying giant summoning beast of Konoha had turned back into a stone statue and sunk into the depths of the sea, leaving the world with one less sun.

Logically, the disappearance of the statue and the false sun should have brought relief.

But...

During the battle in Amegakure, Konoha's summoning beast had brutally beaten the Kage of three villages before rampaging through the Land of Hot Water and shattering the Three-Tails.

Its sudden disappearance didn't bring relaxation—instead, it sowed panic in people's hearts.

Because no one knew when Konoha might deploy that glowing giant against them, or if one clear morning, they'd inexplicably hear that eerie "Shaa" in their ears.

It was utterly terrifying.

Of course, the shinobi of Konoha weren't the least bit worried.

Except for the Third Hokage...

Over the years, he'd nearly pulled out all his hair and beard, yet still couldn't figure out where that stone statue had come from. With the Root organization annihilated and the entire Uchiha clan wiped out in battle, he and the Raikage formed an eerie tacit understanding. He, too, gritted his teeth and claimed responsibility, even invoking the name of the Giant of Light.

He declared that anyone who dared attack Konoha...

Would face the village's wrath—the giant would annihilate their nation and their village.

Though such a lie couldn't last forever, the Third Hokage had restarted research on the First Hokage's cells. He believed that by the time the truth came to light, Konoha's strength might have returned to its peak.

As for Amegakure...

Due to Pain's presence, it had become the target of everyone's hostility. While the Shinobi World officially recognized Amegakure, secretly, all were scheming to seize those Samsara Eyes.

Even the Land of Rain, under pressure from the major nations, had voluntarily abandoned Amegakure.

No funds were provided, and no missions were assigned.

The Bounty Station even blacklisted the entire Akatsuki Organization due to the infamous Kakuzu, barring them from taking missions in the black market.

By sheer coincidence, they also developed chakra-based identification markers.

Of course, this too was born out of sheer necessity.With the Chakra markers provided by several hidden villages, the Chakra of Akatsuki Organization members could now be easily identified at a glance, completely cutting off their ability to disguise themselves for missions. This indirectly curbed the malicious acts committed under the name of "Kakuzu."

A series of measures made the already struggling Hidden Rain Village even worse off...

"Customer, here are your one hundred explosive tags."

"Total comes to 1 million ryo."

In the Land of Fire, at the Ice Cream Ninja Tools Shop, Uchiha Hikari swiftly handed over the sealed scroll containing the explosive tags. While accepting the payment, she meticulously counted the money.

After breaking free from the seal, the time that had been frozen on her body began to flow again. Her appearance, which had been that of a twelve or thirteen-year-old, had now matured into adulthood.

Life in the Hidden Rain Village had been tough these past few years. Unable to bear seeing the children suffer, and finding life at home dull, Hikari realized her Chakra hadn't been marked by other villages yet. So, she and Konan came up with the idea of opening a ninja tools shop within the Land of Fire.

Hmm... As for why it was called the Ice Cream Ninja Tools Shop—

Back when she was in the Land of Fire, Uchiha Hikari had fantasized about owning an ice cream shop so she could eat to her heart's content.

In other words—

Selling ninja tools was work; eating ice cream was life.

After seeing off the customer and tidying up the shop, Hikari crouched on a chair, holding a tub of ice cream. As she took a bite, a certain fool's voice seemed to echo in her ears.

"Five years already..."

Honestly.

Sometimes, she found that guy annoying, but after not seeing him for so long, she began to miss their bickering and roughhousing.

"Is that idiot even alive or not?!"

A sudden surge of irritation made the ice cream in her hand seem less appealing.

With a sigh, she put the freshly opened ice cream back in the freezer, pulled down the shop's rolling shutter, gathered the month's earnings, and activated her Mangekyo Sharingan in the darkness.

Activating the Eight Thousand Spear Mark, Runtu appeared before her in the next moment.

"Human, what is it?"

"Today is Sasuke's graduation. I need to accompany him."

Runtu was still wearing a chef's hat, clutching a cooking manual in his claws.

All because of his damn master...

He was told to take good care of Sasuke, but he never expected raising a child would be so difficult. Not only did he have to cook at home, but he also had to go on missions with Sasuke.

If that was all...

Some old monster even started using him as a teleportation tool.

"Take me back to the village."

Runtu: "..."

Again?!

Though Runtu, forged from Chakra Metal, couldn't store Chakra, the Eight Thousand Spear Mark could still be used.

While he couldn't be controlled, it served as a long-distance communication method between Hikari and Runtu.

The moment the mark was activated, Runtu would teleport to her.

It significantly shortened her commute time.

Extremely convenient.

Thinking of the soup still simmering at home, Runtu didn't dare delay. He immediately transported Hikari to the Hidden Rain Village and, as soon as the cooldown ended, vanished without a word.

But when Runtu returned home, he looked up at the pressure cooker embedded in the ceiling and let out a sharp, horrified scream.

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