Chapter 316: Aoki Returns to Main Base

The Third Great Ninja War continued, now at its peak and nearing its end. The sky above the Land of Fire grew darker by the day.

It was as if the clouds themselves were tired of witnessing the blood that had soaked the ground. The wind carried the metallic scent of the battlefield, and a thin mist occasionally shrouded the destroyed villages, as if disguising wounds that would never heal.

Every morning was cold, not just because of the season, but because of the sense of loss that had begun to feel familiar. Death became a familiar companion. Children stopped crying, knowing no one would hear. Only silence and whispered prayers filled the night.

After Aoki, Tetsu, and Ajisai returned to the Land of Fire, Aoki immediately took Tetsu and Ajisai to the Main Base of the Oni and Kisatsutai. The journey to the base was not just a matter of walking, but also a shift in mental burdens.

They passed through ruined streets, ruined buildings, and mass graves marked only by rough stones or small, improvised flags. 

Ajisai stared blankly at one of the unmarked graves. Her face looked pale, and her hands were trembling slightly, but she still followed Aoki and Tetsu silently.

Tetsu did the same, but his gaze was sharp, as if absorbing the entire scene into his heart and using it as a reason to persevere.

Aoki himself walked at the front. His body was straight, his shoulders tense. Although he appeared calm, his mind was filled with conflicting worries.

He knew that time was running out. He knew that the war showed no signs of ending. But he also knew that the opportunity to lay the foundation for the future only comes when everything is in ruins.

The headquarters of the Oni and Kisatsutai was hidden within a secret hole beneath a giant, centuries-old tree, nestled in the dense forest of the Land of Fire.

It wasn't a grand building or an ancient mine, but a hidden place nearly impossible to find with the naked eye.

As Aoki approached, a section of a large root curled in the ground slowly shifted, revealing the opening of the hole, about one and a half meters wide.

The hole was dark and seemingly deep, but the heat from within faintly rose to the surface, carrying a damp, metallic scent.

As Aoki descended the narrow passageway leading downward, the soft light of the lanterns on the walls began to flicker on one by one, following Aoki and the others toward the center of the base.

The structure inside was much larger than Tetsu and Ajisai had imagined, but it was efficient and orderly—training areas, storage rooms, and a coordination center were scattered through interconnected corridors beneath tree roots.

As soon as they entered the base, the distinct smell of hot iron and the sweat of training greeted them.

The sound of shinobi training, shouts of commands, and the clanking of weapons echoed through the corridors. Bonfires burned in several corners, providing a warm glow in the center of the base, which was largely constructed of stone and metal.

Aoki immediately encountered Kurisu, who was giving instructions to a group of women who appeared to be newly recruited.

Kurisu stood with a cool, confident demeanor, her blonde hair tied up in a high bun, her sharp eyes tracking the trainees' every movement.  Kurisu seemed like a general who knew full well that one small mistake could kill his troops.

Without further ado, Aoki asked Kurisu to immediately train Tetsu and Ajisai. Aoki's voice was firm, but not commanding. It was simply a request from someone entrusted with something important.

Kurisu simply nodded once, then glanced at Tetsu and Ajisai for a moment, assessing them with a professional eye.

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