As Hiro entered his second year at the Academy, the world around him was shifting, the once steady peace growing more fragile with each passing day. Though no official decration had been made, everyone could feel it—the Third Great Ninja War was approaching.

  The major vilges were on high alert, tensions rising as small vilges and rogue factions carried out border incursions, testing the defenses of the rger nations. Of all the threats, the greatest tension y between Konoha and Kumo—the Hidden Cloud had been making increasingly bold maneuvers, and whispers of cshes in neutral territories spread through the vilge like wildfire.

  Hiro didn’t need to ask to know that Shinji and Sakumo were constantly being deployed. Their absences were longer, their missions cssified. Each time they returned, they looked more exhausted, more burdened, and then they were sent out again.

  Kaya never said a word about it, but Hiro could tell the prolonged hostilities were affecting her deeply. She tried to maintain her usual demeanor, but Hiro saw the way her smile faltered when she thought he wasn’t looking. He wondered if she felt guilty for retiring, for staying in Konoha while so many others were being sent to fight.

  The Academy’s curriculum had become far more intense, shifting toward strict, practical training. When Hiro mentioned the changes to Kaya, she had hesitated before expining. “If things get worse, Konoha may accelerate the Academy program to prepare more shinobi.”

  Hiro could see it in her eyes—she hated the idea. The Academy wasn’t just training them anymore. It was preparing them for war.

  Even Natsume, usually bright and energetic, was beginning to struggle. Her father was away on dangerous missions more often than not, and her mother, overworked in the Barrier Corps and Intelligence Division, barely had time to rest. Though Natsume tried to keep up her usual energy, Hiro could tell she wasn’t herself.

  She never admitted it, but Hiro noticed the way she hesitated sometimes, the way her ughter didn’t always reach her eyes.

  “I bet your dad is okay,” Hiro had told her once.

  Natsume had smiled, but it was a little too forced. “Of course he is. My dad’s awesome.”

  Neither of them really believed it.

  Even outside the Academy, the war’s effects were beginning to show. One afternoon, Tomoe approached Hiro quietly, her hands csped tightly together, as if holding back her own nerves.

  “My mom can barely keep medical herbs in stock,” she murmured.

  Hiro frowned. “Because of the war?”

  Tomoe nodded. “She won’t say it out loud, but I know she’s anxious. The business is good, but... it scares her.”

  She lowered her voice, gncing around before adding, “She’s worried about me. About what happens if Konoha needs more medics. If they recruit students early.” A representative from the hospital had recently come by the Academy to test the chakra control of students, and Tomoe had been identified as a prime candidate for the Medical Corps. She had already been earmarked to enter their training program upon graduation.

  Hiro didn’t have an answer for her. He knew the possibility was real. If things got worse, the vilge might not wait for them to graduate properly.

  All he could do was keep moving forward—for Kaya, for Natsume, for Tomoe. For the people who were counting on him, whether they said it out loud or not.