That night, the moon hid behind drifting clouds, and the stars were dim.
After Shimura Danzo left, an ANBU captain knelt on one knee before Hiruzen Sarutobi's desk.
"Lord Hokage, Orochimaru's forces have departed from the base outside the village tonight."
Following the strategy of a "swift decisive victory" discussed the previous evening, Orochimaru—fully prepared—had set out under the cover of night with two thousand ninja.
Their destination: the southwestern border.
There, he would join forces with Jiraiya, who was advancing southward, to crush Sunagakure as quickly as possible.
The goal was simple.
Kill the chicken to scare the monkeys.
A devastating defeat for the Sand Village would force Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Kirigakure to think twice before acting.
At the same time, it would keep the increasingly restless Uchiha clan within Konoha in check.
"Meanwhile," the ANBU captain continued, "our ANBU squad has already reached the vicinity of the Kumogakure encampment."
"They can disguise themselves as Iwagakure ninja and assassinate Kumogakure forces at any moment."
"Lord Mitokado Homura met with the Fire Daimyō today in the capital, but no favorable news has been reported yet."
Hiruzen lightly tapped his fingers on the desk.
The strategic map unfolded clearly in his mind.
War with Sunagakure would soon erupt in the southwest.
In the northeast, Kumogakure would soon be contained by Danzo.
Now the most critical variable lay to the northwest, along the border with the Land of Rain.
"Send the order," Hiruzen said calmly.
"Have Namikaze Minato immediately reinforce the northwestern border."
"He is to fully assist the ninja forces stationed there."
The ANBU captain bowed in acknowledgment.
Then the Hokage spoke again.
"Dispatch another ANBU squad to locate Tsunade."
"Tell her…"
Hiruzen paused.
The weight in his voice was immense.
"Konoha needs her."
"Understood, Lord Hokage!"
After the ANBU captain departed, the Hokage's office fell silent once more.
The faint glow of the pipe's embers illuminated the deep lines carved into the old man's face.
His thoughts drifted to Uzumaki Kushina.
The unstable yet overwhelmingly powerful Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, one of Konoha's greatest military assets.
Even though Minato had repeatedly requested that she remain out of battle—
If the situation reached its most desperate point…
She might still have to step onto the battlefield.
I hope it never comes to that.
Hiruzen sighed inwardly.
He prayed the two frontlines would bloom in victory.
Night had grown deep.
Only scattered lights remained across Konoha Village.
A dark figure silently landed before the Namikaze residence.
Before the visitor could knock, the door opened from within.
Minato Namikaze stood in the warm light.
It seemed he had already sensed the approaching presence.
His face still carried that familiar gentle smile—
But his eyes had sharpened into the alert gaze of a ninja.
The ANBU ninja quickly relayed the Hokage's urgent command.
Minato listened.
Understanding flashed in his eyes.
He nodded lightly.
"Please inform Lord Hokage that Minato will depart immediately."
After seeing the ANBU off, Minato thought of his fiancée.
A trace of helplessness crossed his face.
He stepped into the night, leaping across rooftops until he arrived at Uzumaki Kushina's residence.
The window light was still on.
He knocked softly.
A moment later, the door opened slightly.
The bright figure of a young girl appeared.
She looked as though she had just woken up.
Her long crimson hair—thick like a waterfall—was slightly messy as it draped over her shoulders.
She wore a light-colored haori embroidered with the Uzumaki clan crest, with simple sleepwear beneath it.
Her collar hung slightly open, revealing the elegant line of her collarbone.
Warm light softened the shadows across her delicate features.
Her eyes held both confusion and sudden joy.
Some late-night romantic thought must have crossed her mind—
Because her cheeks flushed slightly as she asked shyly,
"Minato? At this hour…"
"Kushina."
Minato's voice was lower than usual.
There was an unmistakable heaviness in it.
"I've received an urgent mission."
"I must leave for the northwestern border immediately."
The smile froze on Kushina's face.
She opened her mouth as if to say something.
But in the end, she simply crossed her arms and looked at Minato, who wore a guilty expression.
As a ninja, she understood perfectly what such an order meant.
The wedding invitations she had carefully chosen…
The wedding dress she had secretly prepared…
Everything would now have to be postponed.
"…Be careful."
A thousand words circled in her heart.
But in the end, only those two simple words escaped her lips.
Kushina lifted her head and forced a smile.
Yet the disappointment in her eyes could not be hidden.
Seeing her trying to stay strong made Minato's heart ache with guilt.
He wanted to reach out and touch her red hair.
He wanted to promise he would return soon.
But who could predict the chaos of war?
Especially when this coming conflict might become the most brutal yet.
For the sake of protecting Konoha—
And to prevent Kushina from ever being forced onto the battlefield—
He had to give everything on the front lines.
"When I return…"
"I'll hold the grandest wedding for you."
Minato looked at her deeply.
His voice was as gentle as water, yet firm with conviction.
"I want the entire ninja world to witness it."
"I, Namikaze Minato, am the man who loves you more than anyone else."
A radiant smile spread across his face.
It was so bright that even the moonlight seemed dim beside it.
His golden hair fluttered softly in the night wind.
For a moment, he looked like a small sun.
Warm.
Brilliant.
Able to drive away all darkness.
Kushina leaned against the doorframe.
Her once pale cheeks were now dyed with bright crimson, spreading all the way to her ears.
She bit her lower lip unconsciously.
But she couldn't hide the sweetness curling at the corners of her mouth.
"…Okay."
"I'll wait for you to come back."
After watching Minato disappear into the night, Kushina slowly closed the door.
She leaned against it.
Both hands pressed over her racing heart.
Her lips curved upward uncontrollably.
Even her steps became light with excitement.
She walked back inside.
Her gaze naturally fell upon the wedding dress hanging carefully by the window.
Unlike the traditional white shiromuku worn by brides in the ninja world—
This was a Western-style wedding dress.
Layers of delicate lace formed an elegant neckline and waistline.
The long skirt flowed like drifting clouds.
Under the soft lamplight, it shimmered with a pearl-like glow.
The veil rested gently over the back of a chair.
Tiny crystals decorated it like stars scattered across the night sky.
Kushina reached out and touched the soft fabric of the dress.
Her fingertips were careful and reverent.
Half-written wedding invitations lay scattered across the table.
Every detail spoke of her hopes for the future.
"When you come back…"
She whispered softly.
Her eyes filled with warmth.
"I'll wear it."
"And become the most beautiful bride for you."
Thinking about that future made Kushina smile happily.
After standing there for a long time, she finally returned to the bed.
She picked up the novel she had been reading earlier.
It contained illustrations.
One showed a woman in a beautiful Western wedding dress, smiling with happiness.
The title on the cover read:
"I Forgave Everything in the Past—Because We Will Never Meet Again."
"That awful author!"
When she reached a crucial part of the story, Kushina complained angrily.
The first half had been full of sweetness and devotion.
Then suddenly everything changed.
The return of a so-called "white moonlight"—a perfect past love—combined with misunderstandings and manipulative words.
Their beautiful love was torn apart piece by piece.
"How can someone treat lovers like this?!"
Kushina slammed the book onto her lap.
"If I ever find this author called Ji Boda, I'll make him taste my fists!"
But as her anger faded—
She thought again of Minato leaving for the battlefield.
She remembered the firm promise he made before departing.
Suddenly Kushina straightened her back.
A fiery determination ignited in her eyes.
Uzumaki Kushina and Namikaze Minato…
Would never be separated.
Ever.