"Yeah, we have to rely on ourselves for this!" Robert Scott patted his chest loudly and declared righteously, "I guarantee on the reputation of White Fang that the brothers will absolutely help you handle this beautifully when the time comes. When we do things, you can rest assured!"

Rest assured, my ass. If this really happens, you two gossipmongers will definitely grab a little stool and sit on the side to watch me make a fool of myself. Right now, all I want is to stamp my size forty-two shoe print on your two size thirty-eight faces. The veins on William Baker's forehead bulged—how did I end up knowing you two shameless bastards?

William Baker was full of annoyance, ignored the two buzzing flies in front of him, and leaned against the tree with his eyes closed, pretending to nap. Robert Scott and Grace Evans exchanged a glance and nodded secretly. Tight-lipped, huh? But this isn't over. There are still plenty of beasts in the jonin class waiting for our news!

"...I hereby announce, from today onward, you are all proud students of the Konoha Ninja Academy." With Samuel Harris's words, Henry Carter's ninja career began!

This was the 38th year of Konoha.

Chapter 8: Outstanding Women Need Enough Backup Options

In the 38th year of Konoha, the Second Great Ninja War was drawing to a close, and the tense situation at the borders was gradually easing. In fact, by the 37th year of Konoha, large-scale battles had already ceased, with only occasional minor skirmishes continuing. The outcome of the war was already clear, and the losers had no chance of turning the tables. The only reason it dragged on this long was that each side was trying to gain more leverage at the negotiating table. War is a means, not an end; it is an extension of politics, and politics has always been about compromise.

Victors of the Second Great Ninja War: Land of Fire, Land of Lightning. Losers: Land of Wind, Land of Earth, Land of Rain!

The Land of Wind was defeated by the Land of Fire, the Land of Earth was defeated by the Land of Lightning, and as for the Land of Rain, it was simply a victim of misfortune. This unlucky child was chosen by the great nations as the battlefield. Despite fierce resistance, the disparity in strength was too great, and the entire country was turned into scorched earth by the three great nations. The leader of the Hidden Rain Village, known as the "Demi-God" Thomas Reed, after defeating Richard King, Elizabeth, and John Walker, bestowed upon them the title of "Konoha's Legendary Sannin," making them famous throughout the ninja world. Judging Thomas from a ninja's perspective, he was undoubtedly a top-tier powerhouse, but from a national perspective, he was merely a tragic loser. Thomas defeated the three, yet dared not kill them, even granting them the honorific "Sannin," all in hopes of preserving the Hidden Rain Village. He was a competent leader, able to display his strength and also choose compromise at the right moment. Because of him, the Hidden Rain Village survived.

Among the defeated, the Land of Wind first lost on the Rain Country battlefield, then was invaded by Konoha, suffering heavy losses and forced to surrender—a classic case of trying to steal a chicken and losing the rice. The Land of Earth fared a bit better; the defeat of the Land of Wind changed the course of the war, and seeing no further benefit, they simply admitted defeat. In fact, their losses were not great, and their war potential remained strong.

As for the victors, the Land of Lightning mobilized troops to invade the Land of Earth, ready for a big fight, but the Land of Earth refused to play along. They did win the war, but the front lines had consumed too many resources—all of which cost money, now wasted. Whether they could make the Land of Earth pay would depend on their negotiating skills.

As for the Land of Fire, the Konoha Ninja Village returned in triumph, having defeated the Land of Rain and the Land of Wind, gaining a large amount of reparations and territory, and even able to claim a share at the Land of Earth's negotiating table. It seemed wonderful, but in reality, it was not. First, Konoha lost Elizabeth Cooper, a newly risen Kage-level powerhouse in medical ninjutsu. Because of the deaths of her brother and lover, she developed hemophobia, and barring any surprises, her ninja career was over. Out of resentment toward the higher-ups, she resolutely left the village. Just as Konoha's medical system was beginning to improve, it collapsed, and the Senju clan faded from history, while the restless Uchiha became Konoha's largest clan. The strength Konoha displayed also made the other villages uneasy, viewing it as a major threat and sowing the seeds for the encirclement in the Third Great Ninja War.

In short, there was no true winner in this great war. The cause was the imbalance in economic development among the nations, and the result was that the strong became stronger and the weak became weaker—the root of the conflict remained unresolved. Once the nations recovered, an even more brutal war was bound to break out, and it wouldn't be long.

At the negotiating table, the Land of Fire's delegation won victory after victory, gaining countless reparations and territory. The Hidden Sand Village was forced to sign a series of unequal treaties with Konoha. Just as the Konoha leadership was celebrating this great victory, a piece of news shocked the entire village.

White Fang Robert Scott, in order to save his comrades, abandoned mission intelligence that was already in hand, causing Konoha, still at the negotiating table, immeasurable losses. The higher-ups were furious. After nearly seven years of war, with enormous effort and countless ninja sacrifices, everything was ruined by Robert Scott's so-called compassion. In an instant, all of Konoha condemned him; his countless sacrifices and spilled blood were forgotten, his glory ignored, and he became the village's sinner, despised by all! The former hero was denounced as a failure who did not follow the ninja code. Unable to endure the torment, Robert Scott chose suicide, leaving behind his only five-year-old son—David Scott!