Here's the BONUS CHAPTER as promised—thanks for the support, and let's keep this energy going!
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The military orders came swiftly,just as Guts had anticipated.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had mobilized two-thirds of Konoha's military force, including Uchiha Shisui and Guts himself, sending them to reinforce the battlefield in the Land of Earth where the fighting was at its most intense.
The remaining third of the army was stationed at the northern border, a buffer against the ever-volatile Cloud Shinobi, whose unpredictability demanded constant vigilance.
The letter Guts received praised his contributions in glowing terms, but he barely reacted.
In truth, he cared more than he let on.
How could Konoha,home to three Kage-level legends like Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Namikaze Minato, be losing ground to Iwagakure?
They'd even lost White Fang. A hero.
Is Danzo's interference truly to blame for all of this?
Guts didn't know. But the thought lingered like a thorn in his mind.
Meanwhile, deep in the northern reaches of the Land of Fire, not far from the Land of Earth, inside a shadowy underground cave
Obito lay motionless atop a stone slab, his right side now fused with Hashirama's cells.
From the wall behind him, White Zetsu emerged like a phantom, speaking to the elderly man sitting calmly in a deadwood chair.
"Lord Madara, the Third Raikage is dead. That kid may not have any Kekkei Genkai, but… I think he's worth watching. He's dangerous."
Madara's eyes narrowed slightly.
"At thirteen, to kill a Kage at his peak... Hmph. A pity he lacks the Uchiha or Uzumaki bloodline. Otherwise, I would've considered replacing Nagato or even Obito with him."
Madara's tone was soft but carried a weight few in the shinobi world could bear.
It was rare for the legendary Uchiha Madara to acknowledge someone.
And this time, it wasn't disdain,it was genuine recognition.
After a brief pause, Madara made his decision.
"Activate the hidden trump card. We'll need it."
Unbeknownst to Guts, his performance on the battlefield had already drawn the eye of one of history's most dangerous figures.
As the Konoha army moved toward the Land of Earth, news of Guts's battle spread like wildfire.
The Third Raikage,defeated by a thirteen-year-old boy.
The ninja world was in an uproar.
Some were in awe, others in disbelief. But all agreed on one thing: Konoha truly was a cradle of geniuses.
White Fang had just fallen, and already a new name was rising,one from a civilian background, no less.
"The Strongest Taijutsu Ninja."
That title was now being whispered across the frontlines. And slowly, it began to stick.
When Guts first heard it, he couldn't help but grimace.
I trained like Garp and now I'm being treated like Kaido?! What kind of title is that...?
After five days of grueling travel, the reinforcements finally arrived at a small village nestled in the northwest of the Land of Fire, bordering the Land of Earth.
The Konoha army under Orochimaru had set up base there.
Their arrival gave a much-needed morale boost to the weary troops.
Among them, Guts's name sparked both curiosity and admiration.
He'd become a symbol,though not one he particularly wanted.
Led by a Jōnin, Guts made his way toward the command headquarters, housed in what had once been an orphanage.
Since the war began, its former residents had been evacuated, and the building repurposed as a temporary base.
Along the way, Guts unexpectedly crossed paths with familiar faces,Rin Nohara, Kakashi Hatake, and a group of young ninjas, none older than fifteen.
"Long time no see, Guts!" Rin waved cheerfully.
Guts gave a small nod, his gaze lingering briefly on Kakashi, who stood quietly, eyes downcast.
Rin stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
"Thank you. Because your reinforcements arrived, Lady Tsunade decided to send all ninjas under fifteen back to Konoha. We're heading home."
Guts looked at Kakashi again. The boy hadn't spoken a word.
After losing both his father and his best friend in such a short time, it was no wonder he was struggling.
Turning back to Rin, Guts said quietly,
"Rin, once you get back to Konoha… stay there. Don't leave the village until the war ends."
Rin blinked, a little puzzled, but smiled and nodded.
"Thanks. Alright, we'll be going now."
With that, she gently tugged on Kakashi's sleeve, and the group of young shinobi departed.
Soon after, Guts arrived at the headquarters.
Though the building wasn't luxurious, it was large and functional,enough to host three Kage-level shinobi:
Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Namikaze Minato.
"You sure took your sweet time,"
Tsunade teased, grinning as she hooked an arm around Guts's neck in a friendly headlock.
"As expected of Guts-kun,bringing down the Third Raikage,"
Minato said with a sheepish smile, rubbing his nose.
"Unlike me… I couldn't even protect my own student."
His expression darkened with guilt. The loss of Obito still weighed heavily on him.
Orochimaru chuckled, licking his lips in his usual unsettling way.
"To think the body could be trained to this level. Fascinating…"
Shrugging out of Tsunade's hold, Guts chuckled.
"I heard Rock Shinobi crippled Asuma. I guess the old man Hokage must be pushing this front harder than ever."
Orochimaru gave a cold laugh.
"He's only human. Of course he'd let emotion cloud his judgment."
"But after the losses Konoha's taken… I doubt Hiruzen will keep the Hokage seat once this war ends."
White Fang's death had been a heavy blow.
Could Hiruzen truly hold on to power after that? The odds weren't good.
Guts raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? So who's next in line? Tsunade, you'd make a fine Hokage."
He cast a sideways glance at her, half-joking.
Tsunade scoffed, hands on hips.
"Why waste time on paperwork when I can drink and gamble all day? No thanks."
Although she didn't outright reject the idea, it was clear she wasn't eager to take on the role.
"Besides, Sarutobi-sensei seems more interested in promoting civilians lately. Being a Senju might actually work against you, Tsunade."
"Alright, that's enough,"
Minato interrupted, clearly uncomfortable.
"The Third Hokage is still in office. We shouldn't be talking about succession so openly."
Despite his words, he knew the truth: respect for Hiruzen had waned among Konoha's elite.
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