The Continuation of the Iwa-Kiri War

After Konoha and Sunagakure's peace agreement was formally signed, they returned to the campsite and received urgent information from Sarutobi Hiruzen. Sarutobi Hiruzen and Akimichi Torifu were the highest commanders on the battlefield between Iwagakure and Kirigakure. Ordinary orders did not require the consent of their superiors and could be decided on the spot. Typically, they submitted a summary report once a week, with the last report coming on Wednesday. However, the information sent this time was deemed critical and needed to be addressed immediately.

At first, Tobirama suspected that something had happened on the battlefield. Given that they had just withdrawn from the Sunagakure battlefield, he was prepared to send reinforcements to Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others if necessary.

However, after reading the report, he let out a sigh of relief and told the tense group gathered around him, "The Second Tsuchikage and the Second Mizukage have died together on the battlefield."

Although the situation in the Shinobi World differs from normal history, the fate of these two has not changed. The two old rivals from the Warring States Period—Mu, the Second Tsuchikage, and the Second Mizukage, Hōzuki Gengetsu—were well-matched in strength. Without interference from unexpected factors, it seems the result was inevitable.

"The newly ascended Tsuchikage and Mizukage both have intentions of a truce, and they'll likely sign an agreement to end the war soon," Tobirama said. "In other words, the First Shinobi World War will soon be over."

Initially, everyone thought they would have to head to the battlefields of Iwagakure and Kirigakure. Their faces showed signs of weariness. After such a prolonged war and witnessing the deaths of countless comrades, many had grown tired of the conflict. The news of the impending armistice brought a sense of relief to all.

Seeing that Sarutobi Hiruzen and Akimichi Torifu could handle the situation on the front lines, Tobirama decided not to send additional support. He glanced around the room and ordered them to pack their belongings and return to Konoha for rest. The era of large-scale battles was coming to an end; only small skirmishes remained. It was time for these frontline soldiers to finally take a well-deserved rest.

Though there were still matters such as reparations, land distribution, mineral veins, and medical ninja aid in the Land of Rain, these could be handled by the Fourth Division's remaining forces. Since there were no plans for large troop operations, and with the borders secure, there was no need for the samurai army to worry. Even if a shinobi village were to break the treaty, there would still be time to react. Of course, Tobirama believed that no village would do so, knowing that the cost of resuming the war would be even higher.

While the battle in the Lands of Earth and Water had not fully concluded, the outcome was clear. The Konoha and Iwa Alliance had defeated the three nations of Lightning, Wind, and Water, which had disrupted the peace of the Shinobi World. The so-called "just war" had achieved a decisive victory, and the other countries were paying a heavy price. Kumogakure was weakened by a civil war, Sunagakure had lost lan, Kirigakure had lost its leader; and Iwagakure was in a similar state.

While Konoha might seem like the greatest victor, the toll of fighting multiple nations was immense. The casualties within Konoha were significant, with many of the ninja clans suffering heavy losses. Clans like Sarutobi and Shimura had seen their numbers dwindle from hundreds to fewer than one hundred.

The Senju, Uchiha, and Hyuga clans, as the top clans of Konoha, had fared slightly better due to their larger populations. The Hyuga, who primarily took on scouting duties, suffered fewer losses but still lost nearly a quarter of their people. The Uchiha, despite their smaller numbers, were an elite force. The awakening of the Sharingan, their bloodline limit, was rare, and even a single Sharingan wielder was considered exceptional. At its peak, the Uchiha clan had only a few dozen members with the Sharingan, and after the establishment of Konoha, only a handful retained the Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

The Senju clan, however, suffered the most severe losses. As they led on the battlefield and bore the greatest burdens, their population dwindled to only a few dozen. This loss was catastrophic for such a once-powerful clan.

The First Shinobi World War, while not the largest in terms of numbers, inflicted some of the most painful losses in shinobi history. Future wars would see large numbers of civilian ninjas supporting grassroots forces, but in this era, dominated by clan-based ninjas, the devastation was felt deeply.

The gap between the First and Second Shinobi World Wars was about twenty years, compared to only ten years between the Second and Third Wars. This shows just how long it took to recover from the devastation of the First War.

Tobirama, having learned of Hashirama's ideals through Fumori Masaki, pondered whether to try and mitigate the lasting impact on the Senju clan. No matter how powerful a clan, it could not withstand such staggering losses forever.

He decided to discuss this matter with his brother's widow, Mito. He knew there was much work to be done upon returning to Konoha, handling local conflicts, dealing with the civilians who had fled into the village, and negotiating with the daimyo. These matters could not be resolved in a single day.

When they finally returned to Konoha, there was no time for rest. Immediately, they set about addressing various issues, while the others prepared to take much-needed breaks.

Fumori Masaki and his wife, Rimi, returned home together. Unlike before, this time they truly had nothing to worry about. They could lie in bed and sleep without any looming battles.

Masaki had never felt physically exhausted, but the mental pressure of war had always been there. From the moment he woke up, he had prepared himself for the day's battles, praying he would survive. Now, at last, he knew he had made it through.

For the first time in years, Masaki felt the weight lift from his shoulders. Though he knew there would be future challenges, he refused to think about them now.

For the next while, Masaki had no intention of engaging in more battles. The village was in desperate need of recovery, and he intended to focus on governance. Although the aftermath of the war would be difficult to manage, it was at least a relief from the constant fighting.

Masaki also noticed that his strength seemed to be reaching a plateau. His progress with Senjutsu had slowed, not because he couldn't improve at all, but because he lacked the insight needed to reach a higher level.

In the Chakra system, Masaki knew that the pinnacle of mastery was the combination of all seven elements, leading to the creation of the Truth-Seeking Orbs. However, while the shinobi world generally only saw two-element combinations, with Önoki being the sole known user of a three-element combination, the path to this ultimate form was at least clear.

But when it came to Senjutsu, the pinnacle was less defined. The only known ultimate form was the Six Paths Senjutsu, but it was too mysterious to grasp fully.

Masaki felt it was time to investigate the Ninja Records. If he could find any clues about the Six Paths Senjutsu, it might help him break through his current limits.

"Masaki, is the war truly over? Will it return anytime soon?" Rimi asked, lying next to him.

Having seen many of Masaki's predictions come true, Rimi trusted his judgment completely. She eagerly awaited his answer.

"Yes, it's over. There won't be another war for at least ten years. If we're lucky, maybe twenty," Masaki replied cautiously. In the original timeline, the Second Shinobi World War occurred twenty years after the First, but no one could be sure if things would play out the same way now.

"That's wonderful!" Rimi exclaimed with joy, snuggling closer to him. "Does that mean we can finally live peacefully for a while?"

"Yes, we can live peacefully for now," Masaki said with a smile, gazing warmly at her.