Book One: The Rise of the Blue-Haired Devil.

      While I was in the hospital, I wrote a letter to Tobirama about the current situation at the front with the stone. It was necessary to notify him as early as possible so that he would realize how problematic this front is. Having finished the countdown, I summoned a small snake, which I decided to use as a messenger. In this case, it is very reliable, because there are no more snake summoners in the world except me... The letter will be delivered quickly enough. There are no risks, but I don't often use snakes for this purpose. After all, they are living beings. Jerking them over little things can be dangerous. They also have pride. Okay, not about that now... About an hour passed while Irenin treated me. Many small abrasions and scratches covered my body. During the battle I didn’t feel them, but after... it was very uncomfortable, especially coupled with muscle fatigue after using the third stage of ice evolution. Hurt? Not really. But the discomfort was very annoying. After leaving the hospital, I found that the camp was almost ready to leave. I was pleased with such efficiency.       - Michiko-dono, in ten minutes we will be ready to leave. – the Uchiha reported to me, running up to me. - What happened to you? Who beat you up so much? - Kagami decided to find out after all, examining my body with an appraising gaze. The Iryenins knew their business, so there were no visible injuries on me, but my interlocutor saw my condition at the moment when I first returned.       - I met with the Tsuchikage. I can't say I beat him, but I didn't lose either. He is leading a huge army against us. For now, you can prepare some primitive traps so that we can set them along the way. – I said in a slightly irritated voice. I'm really tired of telling this guy everything, but now he knows how bad things are.       - It will be done, Commander-in-Chief. - said the head of the red-eyed clan, heading towards the forest where I came from. Apparently, he really went to make traps. This is good, but I shouldn’t be idle either. As my deputy said, the camp was ready to leave in about ten minutes. During this time I managed to make only one trap. But what! Having moved about five hundred meters away from the camp, I began to place explosive seals in a checkerboard pattern, so that they were not visible from the outside. I also managed to place about ten sensor seals so that I could understand when the enemies would pass through this clearing, and I could also approximately find out their number. My seals were created from sen-chakra, so they dissolved against the background of nature. It was very difficult to notice them, because they camouflaged themselves. It was amazing. This made my task of camouflaging traps much easier. We moved about fifty kilometers away from the site of our previous camp. This is about six hours of travel for a chunin level ninja. The army will move approximately at their speed. This is logical; they won’t abandon most of their troops to catch up with us. This could cost them dearly... Moving through our native forests, we continued to set up primitive traps. The quality of the creations was not very high, but this was compensated by their quantity. A huge number of deadly traps were already awaiting the stone ninja.       Having set up camp, I sat down at one of the fires, quietly thinking about tactics. Suddenly I heard a strange roar of lightning behind me. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, so I knew that the Hokage had teleported behind me. I didn't even need to turn around for this.       - Retreat was the right decision. You would all have died there if you hadn't left. – Tobirama said calmly, sitting down next to me in front of the fire. I continued to watch the fish that was roasting over the fire. There were two pieces. I knew that the albino would come to me as soon as he read the letter. Taking a quick glance at the Hokage, I realized that he had recently returned from battle. This was evidenced by his armor, covered with many black spots. Obviously, these spots were left from the lightning elemental techniques, which were the main one in Cloud Village.       - You were badly beaten. – I noticed, returning to cooking.       - The Raikage is slower than me, but I haven’t been able to break through his cover yet. I never came under his attack. All this is from his protection. Unpleasant guy. - Exhaling heavily, Senju answered me. It was clear from him that he was tired of the war, tired of the many responsibilities that he had to fulfill. The burden of responsibility that the albino carried was simply incredible. The future of the village hidden in the Foliage depended on his decisions.       - How to defeat an army of fifteen thousand ninjas when you only have three at hand? – I decided to ask the question that was bothering me now.       - I think that this will not be necessary. The stone is now at the intersection. Their front with Wind and Lightning is based on their word of honor. They wanted to take us by storm in order to end the war with us, but to lead an army deep into a foreign country, knowing that they could be hit by the enemy from another front, was at least reckless. Ishikawa is no fool. He understands this, which is why he will take half the troops back. His plan to quickly destroy our troops on the border failed, so he will have to act with more restraint. Although no, he will spend five thousand. He closed the front with Sand. The demolition squad did a good job with them. The pressure from the Wind on us will also weaken in the near future. They need to move part of the army to the border with the stone, otherwise the demolitions may reach Suna. It is unlikely that the Kazekage will rely on his jinchuriki to protect the village, so most likely everything will be like this. – Hashirama’s brother told me the latest news, looking thoughtfully at the fire.       - Total, ten thousand ninjas against three. It’s better, but the situation is still not encouraging. – I said coldly, handing one fish to my guest. Tobirama accepted the treat.       - I told you... you don't need to win. Just hold that front. There are still two hundred kilometers to Konoha, so you can do it. A completely doable task given your level of strength. – Senju said calmly, starting to devour the cooked fish. - And you cook well. Thank you. – he added after a few minutes of silence in which we enjoyed the excellent fried fish.       - How is everything going on the front with Oblak? – I decided to ask anyway.       - Well, oddly enough, everything is going quite well. The Raikage lost many ninjas when he recklessly attempted to take Osako Castle for the first time. He had to retreat. Now his army is licking its wounds. About half of them remained, which is about five thousand, however, we also had losses during this battle. I have about one thousand five hundred combat-ready fighters left under my command. Now there are local skirmishes, but we are just trying to test each other's defenses. Today we had to save our own. The scouts went too deep, but it was not in vain. They obtained information from the front between the Cloud and the Fog. The Uzumaki won the sea battle just yesterday. This information would have reached us for another three days. Our messengers make too large a circle to fully convey the information to us. Cloud is going to regroup his troops, transferring some to the front with the Fog. – the albino explained, relaxing a little.       - Everything is going too well, don’t you think? – I asked my interlocutor. I had a bad feeling. This appears at the moment when you realize that you are missing something... something very important... this important thing should change the interpretation of forces in the war in general. But what is this? A real mystery.       - I agree, everything is going as well as possible for us. I don't see any reason to worry yet. The only front that had to retreat is yours, but this will not last long. Better tell me what you thought? – Tobirama immediately answered me, looking with a piercing gaze.       - I have a strange feeling. Hard to explain. It seems to me that there is something we don't know. The only problem that we do not take into account in this war and which has not yet manifested itself is the master of disguise who was able to drive two Shinobi Gods into the grave. But these are just guesses. – I shared my thoughts with the Hokage.       - Hmm, he's alone. If he were not afraid of the power of the kage, then he would clearly have already shown himself to the whole world, but while he is hiding in the shadows, he will only be dangerous in attempts of some kind of coup or sabotage, but where to carry out a coup now? In Konoha? Nobody will support him. In Suna? What's the point? In Stone? This is completely funny. It’s impossible to get close to Ishikavo unnoticed. Fog? Yes, Byakuren is ten years older than Kamizuru, but his skills are still top notch. He has vast combat experience. Trying to kill him without outside help is pointless. His body, even in his sleep, is able to react to danger. Revolution in the Cloud? This is completely stupid. They value the Raikage and his strength too much. He is about my age, but he is not inferior to me in battle experience. Killing him won't even cause panic. The elders already have an heir, and they also have enough power to take control of the situation. Unless this master of disguise has come up with some grand plan, then we have nothing to worry about. – the albino reassured me, looking into the fire. His thoughts were quite logical and seemed impregnable, but we have too little information about the unknown enemy to talk so confidently about his actions. There are too many unknowns. We know practically nothing about his connections... but what’s there... we don’t know anything about him at all... motives, goals... nothing... Okay, I’ll hope that my premonition is just a fantasy that played out after the battle with the kage. - I have to go. And so I stayed here with you. I hope that your intuition is still malfunctioning now, otherwise it will be bad for us. – Tobirama said, getting up from his seat.       - Farewell, Hokage-dono. – I said goodbye to the albino, knowing full well that he doesn’t like it when I address him like that. The Senju simply waved his hand, disappearing in a flash of lightning.