The War Ended

In the fall of the year 982AR (After Rikudo) the Third Great Shinobi War came to an end. The war had begun seven years earlier when tensions between the nations reached their limits and Hatake Sakumo became the match that lit the barrel.

During those seven years tens of thousands of shinobi perished, and many more civilians.

Since the time of the Clan Wars there has been the so-called War Agreement, in that agreement both sides agree to respect the lives of the civilians who inhabit those lands and keep the battles away from them. That agreement was rarely respected, if for one side to gain some advantage over its adversary they have to sacrifice an entire town of civilians, they will do it in a heartbeat.

There is also the mentality of: Destroy the enemy's resources.

After invading enemy territory during a mission or campaign it is common for ninjas to destroy resources in their path to weaken their enemy, those resources range from crop fields to humans.

Anyway, practically no one respects it, not even the most "honorable" shinobi do. Konoha has a reputation for being the "kindest" of ninja villages, but no one talks about the thousands of civilians killed by Konoha shinobi.

Such is the power of a good intel network, spreading favorable rumors is easy and after a while if a rumor is repeated enough times people end up believing it to be true.

Itachi was quite incredulous to hear the civilians of a village praising the kindness and compassion of the shinobi of his village. He saw the truth of the shinobi world with his own eyes, he saw Konoha's so-called "compassion".

`How can they believe that the Konoha ninjas are kind and compassionate? A village would never be able to win three wars one after the other without using dishonest tactics!`

But the young heir has to admit that Konoha is very good at playing with that image, Sarutobi Hiruzen's recent actions only served to strengthen those rumours.

The main aggressors in the Third Shinobi War were without a doubt Konoha and Iwa, other nations had their role but they were almost minor characters in the war between these two powers.

Both villages had powerful shinobi and cunning strategists, the war was very close but in the end the actions of one man in particular tipped the balance towards Konoha. At the end of the war there was no doubt that Konoha was the winner, the most powerful power on the continent. The logical thing to do at the end of the war is to demand many war reparations from the loser, that is, claim your loot.

But Sandaime surprised everyone, including his own advisers, when at the end of the war he established a policy of reconciliation to create a more lasting peace. Sarutobi did not demand a single Ryo from Iwa, which terribly angered his advisors and the Hokage was forced to resign.

The student of his student, the great war hero Namikaze Minato was chosen as the Yondaime Hokage.

Sarutobi's retirement placated his political rivals and many other nations, because despite being in his fifties Sarutobi Hiruzen is still the Shinobi God; the most powerful shinobi in the world.

Sarutobi's reputation served as both a shield and as a magnet, attracting possible threats. Many shinobi are eager to take away this coveted title from him, and many others bear a grudge against him for his actions in past wars.

The retired Hokage hopes that with him no longer being the face of Konoha those old rivalries will calm down and end up dying.

"Itachi, don't just stand there." Mikoto reprimands her son, who has been staring at a stall sign for the last five minutes. "Come on, we still have to do some shopping before we go home."

"Yes, Kaa-san." The little boy quickened his pace and walked beside her, his mother holding his hand to make sure he didn't slip away again.

The two Uchihas are shopping in a village in the countryside of the Country of Fire to replenish the food supplies of the village, almost a decade of continuous war depleted the village's reserves and because of the conflict acquiring new supplies was rather complicated for few merchants who dared cross territory at war.

Mikoto decided to take his son on a little shopping trip to escape the village for a few hours, since the war has come to an end people who lost loved ones can finally properly mourn them. Which is why the atmosphere of the village is quite gloomy.

The Uchiha thought it would do her son good to get some fresh air so she took the mission and started the two hour journey to the neighboring village. The mission is usually rank B+ in times of war and rank D in times of peace.

The big difference between ranks is due to the scarcity of resources in times of war and how dangerous the routes are.

"Do you want to have some dango and tea after we finish shopping?"

Itachi's eyes start to sparkle like two gems at his mother's suggestion and the boy quickly nods.

Mikoto chuckles and ruffles his hair with her free hand.

`What a cute son I have, luckily he is beginning to recover after witnessing that massacre. Really Fugaku?! I hope you enjoy sleeping on the roof for the next month,taking our four year old son to see the aftermath of a battle...`