It was lunchtime at the academy.
Ino approached Hinata, who looked confused about what to do.
'What should I do? Are they bothered because I'm looking at them?' Hinata thought uneasily.
"Hinata." Ino called.
"Eep!" Hinata screamed because she was startled.
"Hinata, are you okay?" Ino was also surprised by Hinata's reaction, that's why she asked.
Hinata shook her head and said, "Um... I'm fine."
"Oh, I thought I did something wrong." Ino said, relieved.
Hinata shook her head again and said, "No, it's not because of you."
"All right then. Ne, Hinata, do you want to join us?" Ino asked, pointing at Souji and the others.
"Eh? Um... I don't want to disturb..." Hinata said.
"Disturb? Not at all, Hinata." Ino added, "Besides, I'm the only girl there. At least if you're there, I won't be alone anymore."
"Um...um..."
"Please, Hinata." Ino said, holding Hinata's hand.
Hinata finally agreed to Ino's invitation after being asked like that.
"Alright..." Hinata said softly.
"Really? That's great, Hinata!" Ino said happily. She brought Hinata and her lunch toward Souji and the others.
When they arrived, Souji and the others greeted Hinata warmly. Hinata responded with a blush.
"Hinata, you're from the Hyuga clan, right?" Ino asked. "Do you receive training from your clan?"
"Um...yes..." Hinata answered.
"Oh? I thought I could invite you to train with us." Ino said sadly.
"Training?" Hinata asked.
"Yes, training together. It's fun, but also painful." Ino answered enthusiastically, then winced when she remembered the pain.
"Eh? Isn't that dangerous?"
"Don't worry. My dad will heal all the wounds we get." Naruto said before Ino could respond.
When Hinata saw Naruto looking at her and talking to her, she blushed. Ino saw that and was worried about her. "Hinata, are you okay?"
"Um, yes. I'm fine."
"As Naruto said, Souji can heal us. The training is painful, but I have to admit that it has really improved me." Shikamaru said.
The others nodded in agreement.
"So, what do you say, Hinata?" Ino asked.
"Um...that..."
"Hey, you guys, don't pressure Hinata like that." Souji said. "From what I've heard, the Hyuga clan has strict training. I think Hinata has had enough of that."
"Uh, if you say so. It looks like I'm forcing her." Ino said. "I'm sorry, Hinata."
Hinata shook her head. "It's okay. It's not Ino's fault."
"But if you're interested in joining us for training—" Souji said. "You can bring extra lunch tomorrow. We can go to train, but only if you've gotten permission from your parents. If you're not interested, that's also not a problem." Hinata nodded her head when she heard that.
Souji gently stroked her hair.
"..."
Hinata fell silent, her face flushing as she lowered her head.
"Souji-kun! What are you doing?!" Ino asked disbelievingly, wanting her hair get stroked too.
"Me? Well...you know? Hinata has the same vibe as Naruto." Souji said. "Don't believe me? See this?"
He was still stroking Hinata's hair with his right hand and stroked Naruto's hair with his left.
"Hehehe." Naruto laughed happily.
"..."
Those who saw this somehow believed Souji.
"..."
"Ugh..." Ino was annoyed and frustrated because of it.
As for Shikamaru?
'Just a stroke of the hair. What's the problem?' he thought.
'Troublesome...'
"..."
"..."
———————————————————
The border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Grass.
Boom Boom Boom
"Enemy attack!" A Konoha ninja shouted.
"Everyone! Defend your positions!" Jiraiya shouted as he ran toward the enemy.
"..."
"They really intend to do this." Jiraiya muttered, seeing the large number of enemy troops.
Swish
A ninja appeared beside him.
"Jiraiya-sama! There are 6,000 enemy troops, consisting of Iwa and Kusa."
"What about Taki?" Jiraiya asked worriedly.
"They are also moving. A combined force with a special task will handle them."
Jiraiya fell silent and looked at the enemy troops again.
"Even if they manage to defeat Taki, If we lose here, everything will be in vain." Jiraiya said.
"Have you sent the information back to the village?" Jiraiya asked.
"Yes, Jiraiya-sama."
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The sound of explosions from explosive tags and clashing jutsu.
"Jiraiya-sama! The Tsuchikage is visible!" One of the ninjas shouted.
Onoki was floating above his troops.
"Tch... This is really difficult." Jiraiya clicked his tongue. "Sensory squad, find the Jinchuriki from Iwa."
Jiraiya didn't want to fight Onoki while his troops were being attacked by the Iwa forces led by a Jinchuriki.
"Yes!"
Jiraiya intercepted Onoki while the other ninjas fought the Iwa ninjas.
"Old man! If you really want to fight, come down here now!" Jiraiya shouted.
"Heh! Jiraiya, you should show some respect to someone older than you!" Onoki replied.
"If you don't come down, Then I will force you down!"
"Try it!" Onoki shouted as he shot toward Jiraiya.
"Earth Release: Rock Fist Jutsu!"
"Earth Release: Added-Weight Rock Jutsu!" Onoki added.
Jiraiya widened his eyes, when he saw what was happening, he dodged with his Body Flicker jutsu.
Boom!
"..."
From the smoke, Onoki's voice was heard, "Jiraiya, why did you dodge it?"
Twitch
Jiraiya's face twitched upon hearing that.
"This is really difficult..." Jiraiya muttered while making hand seals.
"Fire Release: Flame Bullet!"
"..."
"..."
———————————————————
In the Land of Grass, Kusagakure.
"Did you find them?" Souji's Shadow Clone asked his other Shadow Clone.
"No. I've checked the entire village. I didn't find them."
"..."
"Could they not have been here from the start?" Shadow clone number one asked shadow clone number two.
"Could this world be different from the original?"
"Isn't that obvious?" Clone Number 1 said.
Clone Number 3, who had been silent until then, opened his eyes and spoke to them.
"I found their house, but it seems they were taken somewhere."
"Tch... damn Kusa ninjas."
"..."
They all fell silent, thinking about where they could be.
"Fled?" Then, Clone 1 shook his head. "No, most likely not."
"But Kusa is attacking Konoha now. They wouldn't loosen their guard, would they?" Clone 3 said.
"..."
"Could they have been taken to the front lines?" Clone 2 asked.
"..."
"That is a real possibility, especially since they need Karin and her mother to heal the injured ninjas." Clone 1 said.
"Then what are we waiting for? I don't want to lose them." Clone 2 said.
"Of course, let's go." Clone 1 said.
"I'll stay here for a while. You guys go without me." Clone 3 said.
Clone 1 raised his eyebrows. "Is there something?"
Clone 3 looked at him. "Money. A lot of money."
"..."
The three shadow clones of Souji smiled simultaneously.
"Do your best, Clone Number 3!" Clone 1 and 2 said.
"Leave it to me." Clone 3 replied.
Clones 1 and 2 nodded and disappeared, using the Body Flicker Jutsu.
Swish Swish
"..."
Shadow clone number 3 accidentally found a secret door under the office of the village head. With his astral projection, he easily penetrated the ground or barrier. When he saw the room's contents, he couldn't believe his eyes.
'How can Kusagakure store this much wealth?' Souji's Shadow clone thought.
Therefore, he now intends to help Kusagakure spend their money.
'Kusagakure's money? Or the money from their leader?'
"..."
'Never mind. Let's do it now.'
"..."
"..."
———————————————————
On the border between the Land of Fire and the Hot Springs.
Boom!
Kakashi successfully avoided the attack from Raikage, which only hit the tree behind him.
Swish
Kakashi used Body Flicker, followed by the Raikage with Lightning Release: Chakra Mode.
Bang! Poff
The Raikage hit Kakashi, but the Kakashi he hit turned into a wooden log with an Explosive Tag attached to it.
Boom!
"..."
Zzztt Zzztt Zzztt
The Raikage, who was hit by the explosion, was protected by his lightning chakra mode, so he wasn't injured.
"Konoha's Anbu are really slippery and full of tricks." said the Raikage.
The situation for Kakashi's team was also bleak. Not only did they have few troops, but their enemies were formidable. Kakashi and his team were forced to retreat because they couldn't hold off the Kumo ninja troops.
"Summoning Jutsu."
Poff
A dog appeared from the puff of smoke.
"Pakkun, deliver this scroll to Sandaime-sama as soon as possible."
"Leave it to me." Pakkun said. He took the scroll and ran toward the village.
"We will hold them off while retreating slowly." Kakashi ordered. "Form teams of three and shower them with explosive tags if they get close."
"Yes," responded Kakashi's subordinates.
"..."
"..."
———————————————————
Konohagakure, Year 70, late August.
The conflict between Iwagakure and Konohagakure turned into a war, followed by Kumogakure and Sunagakure. The Fourth Shinobi World War broke out.
In Konohagakure's meeting room.
All the clan leaders from Konohagakure gathered, including the Hokage and the two village advisors. Danzo was absent because he and his Root were facing Suna.
"Everyone, you must have received a brief from the ANBU we sent." said Shikaku.
"Konoha is currently under attack by Iwagakure, Kusagakure, and Takigakure, which are located to the northwest of the village in the Land of Fire." Shikaku continued, "Kumo is attacking with its elite forces from the Land of Hot Springs, which is northeast of the village."
"Meanwhile, Suna is attacking us and is currently facing Danzo-sama with his ROOT. Fortunately, they can still be held back in the Land of the River." Shikaku explained.
"This is one of the worst attacks Konoha has received in previous wars. Even the Fire Daimyo ordered Sandaime-sama to drive our enemies out of the Land of Fire immediately."
"..."
"Sandaime-sama, please." Shikaku said, inviting Hiruzen to speak. Hiruzen nodded his head.
"I want the clan leaders present to help on the front lines and defend the village." he said.
"Inoichi and Choza will accompany me to confront Iwa." he said, surprising the clan leaders with his decision.
"Sandaime-sama, if you go to the front lines, who will manage the village?" Hyuga Hiashi asked.
Hiruzen looked at Shikaku, who nodded.
"Before I say it, there are some official announcements I want to make." Even in important situations, Hiruzen would not easily allow other clans to benefit from his students.
"I officially recognize the Tendou Clan, led by my student Souji, as one of the registered clans in Konoha."
"..."
The clan leaders had various responses to this announcement, some agreed, and some disagreed.
"With respect, Sandaime-sama. In order to register a clan, it must meet the requirements determined by the village. You cannot recognize the Tendou Clan as a clan of Konoha if they do not meet the requirements." One of the clan leaders present said.
Hiruzen looked back at Shikaku, who then said, "I support the establishment of the Tendou Clan of Konohagakure."
"I do too." said Inoichi and Choza.
"..."
The two village advisors agreed too.
"..."
The clan leaders who wanted to refuse looked at the other clan leaders. If they refused, their clan would certainly experience difficulties in the future.
"..."
"Does anyone object?" Hiruzen asked, looking at the clan leaders present. Hiruzen rarely used this method himself, but the situation was urgent, and he didn't want his student to be taken advantage of by other clans. He and Shikaku decided to use this method.
"All right, with that, the Tendou Clan is now officially part of Konoha." Hiruzen continued, "Tendou Souji automatically becomes the clan leader."
"..."
The other clan leaders could only remain silent, resigned to hearing that news.
"Next, regarding who will handle the village, I appoint my student, Tendou Souji, as the temporary Hokage while I am on the front lines." Hiruzen said firmly.
Everyone there was shocked by what Hiruzen said. Even the two village advisors, Homura and Koharu, were unaware of this decision.
"Hiruzen, I know Souji is your student, but do you really want to let an academy student lead the village? Do you want Konoha to become the laughingstock of the other ninja villages?" Homura said.
"I agree with Homura-sama." One of the clan leaders said. The other clan leaders agreed as well, including Fugaku.
Meanwhile, the Hyuga, Aburame, and Inuzuka clans decided not to get involved in the dispute.
'Will Konoha be all right?' They thought to themselves.
"..."
"..."