Konoha’s Five-Element Ninja

Chapter 48: The End of the Great War

Hayama had faintly deduced the Fire Daimyo's covert attempts to weaken Konoha, but he didn't dwell on it. Konoha's post-war reconstruction heavily depended on the daimyo's support, and Sarutobi Hiruzen would never act rashly at such a crucial time. At most, the Hokage might issue a mild reprimand—nothing too severe.

While Konoha had its own commercial ventures, most were controlled by civilian families and shinobi clans. Tax revenues were pitifully low, and the funds earned through shinobi missions barely covered the post-war death benefits. Establishing a robust medical system alone would cost an astronomical sum, making daimyo support indispensable.

After the Fire and Wind countries signed their treaty, the Hidden Mist, having lost four of its Seven Ninja Swordsmen and the Three-Tails, also declared a ceasefire. This marked the end of large-scale conflict in the ninja world. While skirmishes and small battles continued, the Second Shinobi World War had definitively come to a close.

The decades-long Second Shinobi World War spanned Hayama's adolescence, from his graduation from the ninja academy to the early years of adulthood. During that time, he rose from a mere genin to a seasoned jonin, surviving and even gaining some recognition among Konoha's civilian ninja. However, Hayama never felt that what he gained from the war outweighed what he had lost—especially since he was the only survivor among his graduating class by the war's end.

The same held true for Konoha itself. The war's toll left deep wounds on the village, and while the fallen would be remembered, those who lived had no choice but to brace themselves for the next, inevitable conflict. In the end, this harsh reality was a cruel irony.

War had brought Hayama nothing but pain he preferred not to recall. He felt no sense of triumph, only a deep weariness. All he wanted now was to return to Konoha, take time to recover, and carefully plan his future.

But things rarely went as one hoped. Instead of being allowed to return with Minato's team for rest, Hayama was reassigned to a border outpost, tasked with standing guard. The command post's reasoning was sound enough: with the war just ended, strong jonin were needed on the borders to prevent sudden incidents.

A few days later, the Konoha shinobi forces, led by Sarutobi Hiruzen, returned to the village, leaving about 300 ninjas to maintain a presence. Hayama was among those chosen to stay. As one of the remaining jonin, he was entitled to make certain requests. He asked for Yamashiro Tatsu to be stationed with him, expecting some resistance to his request. To his surprise, the command post readily agreed.

Thus, two years later, Hayama and Yamashiro Tatsu found themselves teamed up again. Hayama genuinely trusted Tatsu, though he felt a bit guilty for disrupting his comrade's plans to return home.

After the ninja forces departed, the camp became noticeably more empty. Hayama wasted no time claiming a particularly spacious tent for himself as he waited for Tatsu to arrive.

As evening fell, the sweltering summer heat gave way to a refreshing breeze and the gentle chirping of insects. Standing outside his tent, Hayama crossed his arms and gazed at the starry sky, letting himself relax for once. His thoughts drifted back to the ordinary life he once had.

"It's about time to get off work," Hayama mused with a faint smile.

In his past life, Hayama had been a carefree layabout. After work, he and a few friends would gather at a bustling barbecue stall, order some skewers and a cucumber salad, and most importantly, enjoy a keg of cold beer. They'd vent their frustrations freely, discussing the world's troubles, game highlights, and even the best ways to slack off at work. It was simple, laid-back, and deeply satisfying.

But in the world of Naruto, Hayama couldn't afford such luxuries. He had been forced to pick up weapons and fight. Though his ordinary mindset made him long for comfort and peace, this new life pushed him into battles he never wanted to face.

With the war over, Hayama hoped to use the money he had saved from missions to renovate his old house. He envisioned turning the traditional Japanese-style interior into a Chinese-style home, planting a vegetable garden, and maybe even getting a cat and a dog. After daily training, he could relax in the tranquility of his garden.

Hayama reached up and rubbed his bald head, a small smile on his face. As for his career as a ninja, he planned to retire at thirty, open a hotpot restaurant, and live out his remaining years in peace.

He knew all too well the struggles of being a civilian ninja, but he neither had the power nor the desire to change the status quo. Fixing the current system was a monumental challenge, far beyond the reach of one man. Perhaps when Minato finally became Hokage, real reform might begin.

Hayama's dream was simple: to survive in the ninja world, to live out his days peacefully in the village, and to eventually pass away of old age. That was all he wanted.

A cool breeze disrupted his thoughts. Turning, Hayama saw that Yamashiro Tatsu had arrived.

Though two years had passed, their camaraderie remained as strong as ever. Hayama greeted Tatsu with open arms, giving him a hearty pat on the back before pulling him inside the tent.

"You've had a long journey, Tatsu," Hayama said warmly.

Tatsu had been stationed on the eastern front against the Mist-nin, while Hayama had been on the western front against the Sand-nin. The two had been separated by the entire Land of Fire, a considerable distance.

Tatsu, his face alight with emotion, replied, "It's not so far when the team captain still remembers me."

Hayama smiled. "Come inside. Have you eaten? I can grab something from the mess hall."

Tatsu waved him off. "No need, Captain. I'm fine."

Inside the tent, the sparse furnishings reflected the frugality of a border outpost: just a low table with two teacups and a water jug. It was a simple, barebones setup.

As they settled in, Hayama poured Tatsu a cup of water and asked, "You're twenty-five now, right?"

"Twenty-six after August," Tatsu answered after taking a sip.

"Have you thought about getting married?" Hayama asked with genuine concern.

In the ninja world, twenty-six was definitely considered late for marriage. With the physical toll of their profession, the window of opportunity wasn't long. Hayama figured it was best for Tatsu to settle down sooner rather than later.

Tatsu didn't shy away from the topic. "I have a younger sister to support. I've saved enough to ensure she'll be well taken care of. Marriage isn't really on my mind."

Hayama frowned, setting his cup down. "Tatsu, she's your sister, not your wife. You need to start your own family. Don't worry about the money—I've saved up quite a bit myself."

Tatsu felt a warm gratitude but gently shook his head. "Captain…"

"Call me Hayama."

Tatsu hesitated, unable to abandon old habits. "Hayama… Captain, I really don't want to marry."

"Why not? What's stopping you?" Hayama pressed.

Instead of answering directly, Tatsu asked a question of his own. "How long do you think peace will last in the ninja world?"

Hayama thought for a moment before replying, "Maybe fifteen years."

He actually doubted peace would last more than ten years, but he added a few extra years to give Tatsu some breathing room—just enough time to settle down before the world plunged into chaos again.

Tatsu smiled faintly, not arguing the point. "In fifteen years, my child would be old enough to take up arms."

The tent fell silent. Hayama pressed his lips together, searching for something to say, but found no words.

In truth, ten years was more than enough for Tatsu's child to grow up and become cannon fodder on the battlefield—another casualty in an endless cycle of violence. For someone like Hayama, who had clawed his way out of near-death situations, the thought of sending an innocent child into that chaos was unbearable.

Eventually, Tatsu changed the subject. "Captain, what happened to your hair and eyebrows?"

Hayama touched his bald head with a wry smile and briefly recounted his unfortunate experience. Then he asked, "How's Yamanaka Yūra doing?"

Yūra had been a member of Hayama's team, though Hayama had always kept her at arm's length. As a Yamanaka clan member, her loyalty to the Hokage was unquestionable. Yet despite his reservations, the team had grown close over time.

Tatsu's expression darkened. "She lost her leg on the battlefield against the Mist-nin. I visited her recently—she's not doing well."

Hayama gripped his cup tightly, forcing a smile. "At least she's still alive."

For Hayama, the war had brought nothing but sorrow. Every piece of news seemed worse than the last, and he could count on one hand the people he still knew well: Yamashiro Tatsu, Kosuga Ryou, Sakumo Hatake, Minato Namikaze, and Yamanaka Yūra.

One by one, his old comrades had fallen. Hayama had grown used to the grief, but it never got any easier.

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