Traveling through Naruto with Heroes of Might and Magic.

Although vigilance remained high and the ninjas on the watchtowers continued to watch the distance warily, a long-lost, slightly melancholic yet relaxed atmosphere permeated the base.

The ninjas spontaneously cleaned up the camp and built a huge bonfire in the center of the open space.

The logistics team made the most of the limited food supplies, treating all the ninjas on the front lines to a meal amidst the current shortage of resources.

There's no way around it; Konoha has been in constant turmoil for countless years.

The three wars had finally ended, but the Nine-Tails Night stirred up trouble in the surrounding ninja villages, leading to frequent border clashes.

Under such circumstances, even with the wealth of the Land of Fire, the country's finances are becoming increasingly strained.

Tonight, everyone will also receive a small bowl of sake, which is not very strong, but it is enough to bring a touch of warmth to the cold border night.

As night fell, a huge bonfire was lit.

The orange flames leaped and danced, dispelling the chill of the winter night and illuminating faces, young or weathered.

The ninjas sat around the fire, silently eating their allotted food, occasionally exchanging a few words in hushed tones, but mostly just staring blankly at the flames.

Some people took out letters sent by their families, perhaps already worn and handled countless times, and quietly looked at them.

There was no laughter, no fireworks, only the crackling of burning firewood and the howling of the cold wind sweeping through the mountain pass.

But that's their year.

In the brief tranquility after teetering on the brink of life and death, one silently thinks of loved ones far away by the campfire and pays tribute to comrades who will never return.

The four members of the Shadow Guard sat together.

Red Bean held a string of meatballs, taking small bites, her eyes sparkling as she watched the leaping flames, lost in thought.

Tenzo sat upright, slowly sipping his soup, his gaze occasionally sweeping over the other ninjas around him, his face bearing a sense of peace belonging to the "collective".

Shisui quietly wiped his short sword, which he never parted with, the firelight casting flickering shadows on his calm profile.

Qingwu held a bowl of still-hot soup, the steam blurring his vision.

In another life, New Year's Eve is a table full of dishes, a lively gala on TV, the continuous sound of firecrackers outside the window, and fireworks blooming in the night sky.

In this life, last year when I was in Konoha, the New Year was quite lively, with shrine prayers and gatherings with friends.

Now, only the cold mountain winds of the border remain.

Actually, their Shadow Guard team had only been at the front lines for a short time, so their feelings weren't that strong yet.

For those ninjas who have been on the front lines for many years, the longing they feel during this festival can no longer be suppressed.

Or rather, everyone is tired of war!

"Captain, if the situation doesn't change, the war should be over soon, right?" Tianzang asked thoughtfully.

Having been away from Root for a long time, his sense of belonging to Konoha grew stronger, and looking at the ninjas around him now, he felt sad.

“Yes,” Qingwu nodded, “It’s the same in Yunyin. War is just a game between the high-level people. Few ordinary people like war.”

"Sigh..." Red Bean sighed sadly, "It feels like it's been ages since I've had Ichiraku Ramen."

Shisui sheathed his gleaming dagger, picked up a rice ball, and ate it slowly without saying a word.

Qingwu glanced at him and tentatively asked, "Zhishui, your family is so big, it must be very lively today, right?"

Zhi Shui twitched the corner of his mouth. "Yeah, I guess so."

His voice remained gentle as water, but his words were clearly somewhat perfunctory.

He didn't really know how to answer. Ever since the clan's territory was moved to a corner of Konoha, the Hawk faction within the clan had become increasingly dissatisfied with the village. If it weren't for the clan leader Fugaku's suppression, they probably would have caused trouble long ago.

Life is tough for the Uchiha clan... How lively can the so-called New Year really be?

Red Bean glanced at Shisui and changed the subject, "I miss my mom and the dumplings in the village. Don't you want to eat Ichiraku Ramen?"

"Yes!" Tenzo blinked and said, "I also want to have a barbecue in the forest. I wonder what Iruka and Kakashi-senpai are doing."

Shisui let out a sigh of relief. "I hope the war ends soon. Why do people never cherish peace?"

"It will all pass." Qingwu took a sip of the soup. It tasted very ordinary, even a little bitter.

He looked at the three of them and said, "Once the situation stabilizes, the village should give us a short break. When we get back, I'll treat you to ramen and barbecue, as much as you want!"

Hongdou immediately smiled: "The captain keeps his word!"

"Yes, you promise."

Tianzang also smiled.

Zhi Shui slightly curved the corners of her mouth.

The simple conversation eased some of the heaviness.

They started talking about trivial things.

When Hongdou talked about the pranks she used to play during the New Year in the village, Tianzang occasionally added that there was no concept of "New Year" back in the roots.

Zhi Shui also opened up and shared some of her family's New Year traditions.

The campfire burned, illuminating the faces around them and casting long, intertwined shadows behind them.

Before they knew it, Suzaku Nara and Shiguro Aburame had come over and sat down next to them.

Without much small talk, we simply joined in, watching the flames together and sharing the unique tranquility and warmth of the border New Year.

Qiu Daotang rushed over from the main camp, raising his small wine bowl: "A toast to our departed comrades."

Everyone fell silent, raising their bowls or kettles.

"In memory of our departed comrades."

Sake or water goes down the throat, with a hint of spiciness or coolness, sinking into the heart.

"Respect to the living," Nara Suzaku said slowly.

"Respect for the living."

"To...the New Year." Aburame Shigehiro said succinctly.

"Wishing you a Happy New Year."

The ceremony was simple, yet it carried immense weight.

At this moment, the barriers of identity, position, and family seem to fade away, leaving only the camaraderie forged through shared life and death experiences!

As night deepened, the campfire grew weaker.

The ninjas returned to their tents to rest one after another.

The four members of the Shadow Guard finished their conversation, and Qingwu raised his last sip of sake: "To those of us who are one step closer to adulthood!"

Hongdou playfully raised the water bottle, "To celebrate that we're one step closer to adulthood!"

Tianzang and Shisui also raised their small bowls.

Ding!

The clock struck midnight, and the new year officially began.

This time, there were no 108 chimes of the prayer bell.

In the chilly mountain breeze of this Konoha border outpost, Qingwu became a 15-year-old boy.

15 years old ...

……

After the New Year, the border remained in a fragile state of calm.

Yunyin remained calm, as if his "backbone" had truly been broken.

Konoha did not advance further, but instead consolidated its defenses and consolidated its gains.

Following orders, the Shadow Guards kept to themselves and spent most of their time cultivating and researching within their stronghold.

Qingwu's research focuses on further optimizing the combat coordination between different military branches.

Tianzang and Hongdou have long since recovered from their injuries, and their strength has steadily improved through actual combat and high-intensity training.

Shisui has become increasingly silent lately, seemingly spending more time in solitary cultivation and contemplation.

About half a month passed peacefully.

——The Kingdom of Rain

It is rainy all year round.

Deep within a secluded mountain cave, the giant hand of the Outer Path Demon Statue stands, with several figures draped in red clouds and black robes perched on its fingers.

It was a routine gathering of the Akatsuki organization.

"Kakuzu-senpai, you're late."

An exaggerated, shrill voice came from beneath the swirling mask.

"Shut up, Afei. You're not qualified to talk to me like that, you're just an outsider."

Kakuzu walked in through the cave entrance and stood in his place, his beady eyes sweeping over the other members present.

Pain, Konan, Sasori of the Red Sand, Juzo of the Loquat, Zetsu.

"I heard you've made quite a bit of money selling information lately." Pipa Juzo grinned, revealing his shark-like teeth.

“Valuable intelligence naturally has its price,” Kakuzu said indifferently, without denying it.

He paused, then looked at Xiao Nan and added, "Making money always takes time, so nobody cares if you're late, right?"

Xiao Nan remained silent.

“Hmm… ‘Catastrophe’… Thousand Hands Azure Willow.” Pain’s indifferent voice rang out.

The Rinnegan looked down at the capital without any emotion, saying, "Tell everyone the detailed information you've gathered about him and the battle in the Land of Frost."

Kakuzu had anticipated this question and calmly replied, "The Fourth Raikage, A..."

He described the internal intelligence sharing within the organization in great detail.

Gradually, Juzo Biwa's smile faded. He was one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, and he chose to defect in the face of the chaos in Kirigakure.

But who is the Raikage? As a former high-ranking member of Kirigakure, how could he not know?

Despite having heard of Senju Seigo before, it was still a chill to hear it confirmed by Kakuzu, a close observer, that Biwa Juzo felt a pang of anxiety.