Here's the BONUS CHAPTER as promised—thanks for the support, and let's keep this energy going!
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Tsunade had said that Guts's Genin team assignment would be settled within three days.
No summons. No update. No decision.
Frustrated by the silence, Guts decided to visit the Senju residence himself. If Tsunade had forgotten, he'd remind her personally.
As he made his way through the village streets, a group of shinobi passed by in formation. Their conversation wasn't exactly quiet.
"Damn that White Fang… The war was practically over!"
"Yeah, and because of him, we're being sent right back to the frontlines!"
"He calls himself a hero? He should be in prison!"
Guts's sharp eyes scanned the group. Two of them—he recognized immediately. Chūnin.
The same ones he'd beaten to a pulp not long ago. Now they walked among others, muttering grievances under their breath.
And at the head of the squad?
One of the Sannin himself.
Orochimaru noticed Guts too. His golden, reptilian eyes narrowed with vague interest.
But he didn't stop. He simply kept walking, leading the unit toward the village gates.
Guts stepped forward. "Orochimaru-san, what's going on?"
The pale Sannin halted. His expression unreadable. His voice, dry and hoarse, slid out like a whisper from the shadows.
"The Land of Wind has declared war. We leave for the border."
Behind him, the two beaten Chūnin stiffened when they saw Guts, nervously shrinking deeper into the squad.
Guts frowned. "I overheard talk of White Fang… What's that about?"
Before Orochimaru could answer, one of the other shinobi barked out,
"Why're we wasting time explaining to some kid? We need to move!"
Another sneered, "White Fang messed everything up. It's because of him the peace talks failed!"
"He's brought loss upon Konoha—he's no hero!"
Guts's expression darkened.
"You're loud for someone I wasn't talking to."
That shut them up for a moment. Then came the anger.
"You little brat! Do you even know who you're speaking to?"
"Think you're special just cause you graduated early? Konoha's full of geniuses!"
"Lord Orochimaru, let me teach him a—"
Orochimaru's single word silenced the group like a snap of thunder. The weight of a Kage-level shinobi's presence dropped over them like a cloak.
Then he smiled—twisted, amused, cold.
"He'll surpass all of you in under three years," he said, not so much as a compliment, but a fact.
"You'd be wise not to mess with someone like that in the future."
The squad shuffled uncomfortably.
Their leader had spoken. There was no room for protest now.
"And if you're that curious,"
Orochimaru continued, turning back to Guts,
"Ask Tsunade. I don't have the time."
With that, he moved out. His team followed, heading toward the battlefield near the Wind Country border.
Guts watched them go, gaze lingering on Orochimaru's back. Then his thoughts turned inward.
White Fang… so it's happening now.
He remembered the story. White Fang—Konoha's strongest, just below the Hokage. A hero.
A man revered in wartime… who took his own life after being ostracized by the very village he fought for.
It always sounded absurd. Suicide? Over public opinion?
How could a man like that fall from grace so easily?
Guts turned and sprinted toward Tsunade's home.
When he arrived, he found her dressed in her Konoha vest, clearly preparing for the coming war.
She raised an eyebrow at his sudden entrance.
"You're supposed to be resting. What's with the urgency?"
"I came for answers," Guts said plainly.
"Everyone's talking about White Fang. What the hell happened?"
"The rumors spread fast, huh…"
She paused, then relented with a nod.
"Alright. I'll tell you."
She motioned for him to sit, then began.
It turned out that not long ago, White Fang had accepted an S-rank mission to secretly meet with a spy Konoha had planted in Sunagakure over ten years ago.
The mission was simple in theory—extract crucial intelligence the spy had gathered on Sand Shinobi's movements. But things didn't go as planned.
The spy had slipped. Something he did, or failed to do, drew attention. He was followed.
Their rendezvous was discovered.
Realizing the situation had spiraled out of control, the spy made a desperate request:
"Kill me. Right now. If I die by your hands, they'll have no proof of a Konoha connection. You'll give them no reason to wage war."
This wasn't some nameless pawn. He knew the man—had relied on his information before, trusted his judgment, and even owed him a debt of gratitude.
It was because of this spy that White Fang had successfully eliminated several high-value targets in the past—including, most notably, the parents of Sasori of the Red Sand.
And now, the very man who once served the mission so faithfully was begging to be erased to protect the village.
But White Fang couldn't do it.
Not out of weakness, but conviction.
He wasn't just a weapon. He was still human.
Against orders and logic, he made his decision.
That single act of mercy sealed everything.
Sunagakure found out. And with that, they had their excuse—a clear sign of Konoha's interference on their soil.
It was all they needed to formally declare war.
Chiyo, still active on the frontlines, seized the opportunity.
With her son and daughter-in-law killed by White Fang years ago, she wasn't about to let the chance for revenge slip away.
And just like that, a war that should've been winding down… ignited all over again.
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