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A black figure darted swiftly between the trees, leaping forward with precision. The icy air filled Miao's lungs, cooling his mind and sharpening his focus. A cold gust of wind swept through the forest, lifting the bangs that usually covered his right eye. By now, Miao's eyes had unknowingly shifted into the crimson Sharingan. Three tomoe spun rapidly around the central black dot, gradually connecting with one another. Meanwhile, the solid black dot at the center began to hollow out, merging with the three tomoe to form an eerie triangular shuriken-like pattern—reminiscent of Uchiha Itachi's Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
However, while Itachi's Eternal Mangekyō featured curved edges on the shuriken's points, Miao's design was sharp and angular. Though structurally similar, the shapes were entirely distinct.
"The restrictions placed on bloodline limit users in this land are too severe. I must leave the Land of Water for now," Miao vowed silently to himself. "I will obtain even greater power—no matter what it takes!"
With that thought, his movements accelerated dramatically. In the blink of an eye, he vanished into the depths of the forest.
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Five years passed in the blink of an eye, as seasons cycled from spring to winter. During these five years, the shinobi world remained outwardly calm, devoid of the tension and smoke of battle that had defined the Great Shinobi Wars. Beneath the surface, however, the waters churned with hidden turmoil. Everyone knew that the Third Great Shinobi War would not be the last. Conflicts over resources, political interests, and deep-seated grudges between individuals, villages, and nations could not be erased by mere treaties.
In this era where strength dictated survival, such alliances were nothing more than scraps of paper—easily torn apart when convenient. The Second and Third Great Shinobi Wars were living proof of this truth.
Though no large-scale conflicts erupted between nations during this time, significant events still occurred. One year ago, a shocking incident sent ripples throughout the shinobi world: the annihilation of the Uchiha clan—the most prestigious family in Konohagakure, the Hidden Leaf Village. The perpetrator? None other than Uchiha Itachi, the eldest son of the Uchiha clan head. Every single member of the Uchiha clan was mercilessly slaughtered, save for one seven-year-old child.
The news reverberated across the shinobi world, leaving countless people stunned and horrified. The Uchiha clan's name was legendary, known far and wide as one of the two strongest clans that had ended the chaotic Warring States Period. They were also one of the founding clans of Konoha, renowned for their immense contributions to the village's power.
Yet, such a mighty clan had been wiped out single-handedly by one man—and not just any man, but a member of their own clan. How could this not send shockwaves through the shinobi world?
In an instant, Uchiha Itachi's name became infamous. Prior to the massacre, Itachi was already well-known as one of the two greatest prodigies of the Uchiha clan, alongside Uchiha Shisui, and hailed as the strongest genius of Konoha. But overnight, he transformed into an S-rank missing-nin, hunted by his former village. The abruptness of this transformation left many struggling to comprehend it.
The destruction of the Uchiha clan dealt a devastating blow to Konoha. The Uchiha were not only the village's most powerful clan but also its elite fighting force. They had played a pivotal role in all three Great Shinobi Wars, earning countless victories for Konoha. With their extinction, Konoha's strength was severely diminished.
When the news first broke, the other hidden villages found it hard to believe. But once confirmed, they were elated. Everyone understood how formidable the Uchiha clan's ocular powers were. Ordinary shinobi stood no chance against Uchiha warriors wielding the Sharingan at the same level. The Sharingan was not only terrifying in combat but also possessed extraordinary reconnaissance capabilities, second only to the Byakugan and sensory-type shinobi.
The fall of the Uchiha clan was akin to severing one of Konoha's arms. How could the other villages not rejoice? As for the authenticity of the event, there was no room for doubt. Konoha wasn't foolish enough to fabricate such a story. Throughout history, the other villages had always attacked Konoha during every Great Shinobi War because Fire Country held the richest resources in the entire shinobi world. The other nations had little worth Konoha coveting. Moreover, Konoha had suffered heavy losses during the Third Great Shinobi War and the Nine-Tails' rampage. It would be sheer folly for them to provoke further aggression from rival villages.
Besides, each of the major villages had spies stationed within Fire Country and Konoha itself. Such an event could not have been faked.
Thus, the shinobi world grew restless. Though no large-scale conflicts had yet erupted, tensions rose sharply. The Land of Water remained preoccupied with its civil war and paid little attention to external affairs. However, the other major villages began to stir.
The Land of Wind, while officially allied with Konoha, showed subtle signs of movement. Their actions were not overt, given their alliance with the Leaf.
The Rock Village, too, refrained from drastic measures. Despite Konoha's weakened state, the lingering aura of victory from the Third Great Shinobi War still loomed large. Though Konoha had suffered significant losses, its foundation remained intact. While the Uchiha clan had perished, other powerful clans still existed. Furthermore, the majority of Konoha's forces consisted of civilian-born shinobi, who formed the backbone of the village's strength.
The most conspicuous activity came from the Cloud Village. This village had always harbored aggressive ambitions, as evidenced by its behavior during the previous three Great Shinobi Wars. The Lightning Daimyō began increasing funding for Kumogakure, expanding the ranks of their shinobi forces and ramping up production of weapons and tools. They aggressively collected various jutsu and secret techniques, engaging in a massive arms race. However, wary of Konoha's lingering influence, they refrained from deploying troops to the borders of Fire Country—for now.