Naruto: Reborn with the Template System

Author Note:

Here's the BONUS CHAPTER as promised—thanks for the support, and let's keep this energy going!

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"Argh! Damn it—my waist!"

The first skirmish was over, and the Rock Shinobi had withdrawn back to their base. Onoki, now lying on a mat surrounded by medical-nin, couldn't stop groaning in pain.

That kick from Guts had been absolutely brutal.

Unlike Sarutobi Hiruzen, Onoki didn't have the same resilient body. Ever since he got back to the barracks, the sharp pain had only worsened.

The initial confrontation between the two forces had ended in a stalemate.

Konoha had four Kage-level fighters: Guts, Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Namikaze Minato.

But Rock Shinobi had Onoki himself and two Jinchūriki who could wield the power of their tailed beasts.

Not to mention, in sheer numbers, Rock Shinobi had a major advantage.

That's why, despite the fight, Onoki wasn't too concerned. What did bother him, however, was the absence of their secret informant.

A whole day had passed without a word. Onoki frowned, his brows tightening.

At Konoha's Barracks

Meanwhile, Guts was also being treated,by none other than Tsunade herself.

He lay on a cot in her medical tent, wearing nothing but a pair of training shorts.

After opening the Third Gate during battle, he had sustained multiple muscle strains.

Tsunade's healing chakra glowed softly from her palms as she moved her hands across his battered torso.

"Ngh... mm~"

A quiet moan slipped from Guts's mouth as the soothing chakra sank into his sore muscles.

"Oi!" Tsunade snapped, a vein popping on her forehead. "Don't make sounds like that. Anyone passing by would think I'm doing something weird to you."

She wanted to smack him. Hard.

But looking at him now,his chiseled abs, toned muscles,it was hard to believe this was the same scrawny brat she used to drag out of the rotisserie seven years ago.

After inspecting his injuries one last time, she pulled her hands back and sighed.

"Alright, treatment's done. Get dressed. You're not on a beach vacation."

"C'mon, the weather's hot anyway. What's the rush?" Guts replied with a smirk.

"Hot?! It's almost winter, idiot!" she snapped, turning away to tidy up her tools.

But just as she turned, she felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her waist from behind.

"You..."

Tsunade's voice trembled, caught between frustration and flustered disbelief.

The War Stalemate

Konoha and Rock Shinobi had entered a deadlock.

According to Orochimaru's calculations, unless an external force intervened, the war could drag on for another two years.

Of course, that didn't account for unpredictable factors,food shortages, political shifts, or sudden betrayals. In war, anything could change in a single day.

Roughly two months later, the new year arrived: the 46th Year of Konoha.

And finally, the long-awaited informant appeared.

A cloaked figure in a black robe, wearing a distinctive white spiral mask, emerged from the shadows near Rock Shinobi's rear encampment.

Though the mask resembled the one Obito would one day wear as "Uchiha Madara," this wasn't Obito.

It was White Zetsu, an artificial being created by the real Uchiha Madara.

In the future, White Zetsu would merge with Obito's body, accelerating his transformation into the masked menace of the Fourth Ninja War.

On a hill about two miles from the Rock Shinobi base, Onoki, Kitsuchi, and a few trusted advisors gathered to receive the mysterious figure.

Without hesitation, Onoki stepped forward. "Do you have the information?"

The answer would shake the foundations of their assumptions.

The truth was, since the start of the war, Konoha's military secrets had been consistently leaked.

And contrary to popular belief, it had nothing to do with Danzo.

It was all orchestrated by Uchiha Madara, with White Zetsu serving as the spy.

Madara wanted the war to continue. His plan required Obito to witness the ugliest side of humanity, a world consumed by despair.

At first, Onoki had been skeptical. But after several accurate predictions, and even using intel to assassinate Konoha's White Fang, he started to believe.

Danzo, meanwhile, became the scapegoat.

Though innocent in this matter, his notorious past made him an easy target for suspicion. Whether it was Guts, Tsunade, or Minato, they all had lingering doubts about him.

It was the classic "Boy Who Cried Wolf."

When you've done too much wrong, people stop giving you the benefit of the doubt.

White Zetsu chuckled, his voice twisted and eerie. "There's no new intel. Konoha's preparing to confront you head-on. But... Sand Shinobi has just elected their new Fourth Kazekage. You might want to look into that."

With that, he slowly sank into the earth like a shadow swallowed by the night.

Kitsuchi turned to his father. "What now, Father?"

Onoki took a moment, then replied, "Kitsuchi, deliver my personal letter to Sunagakure. Go as Iwagakure's envoy."

"Understood!"

Almost simultaneously, news of the new Kazekage reached Konoha.

After some discussion, Sarutobi Hiruzen decided to send Jiraiya,his trusted student,as an envoy to Sand Shinobi.

Both sides had the same idea:

Onoki wanted to persuade Sunagakure to betray Konoha and ally with Rock Shinobi.

Hiruzen hoped to reinforce their alliance with the Sand and attack Iwa together.

Elsewhere, Deep Underground

Obito had spent months living in Madara's grotto.

His hair had grown long, and his mind was a mess of longing and trauma. That night, he lay sleeping with a lewd, foolish grin, murmuring Rin's name in his dreams.

White Zetsu emerged from the muddy walls and reported to Madara.

"Madara-sama, both Konoha and Iwagakure have sent envoys to Sunagakure. Jiraiya arrived first."

Madara's eyes remained closed, but his voice was calm.

"What's Rasa's stance?"

"The new Kazekage favors Konoha. They're still allies, and there's lingering tension between Rock and Sand from the last war."

Madara nodded and said in his usual deep voice. "Good. Everything is proceeding as planned. Let them fight. When the blood flows and hope runs dry... we'll show Obito what true despair really is."

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