The Hokage building.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was currently writing a plan. Ever since his speech at the Ninja Academy had been met with unanimous praise, he had become unstoppable. Whenever he had free time, he would visit the academy to impart the Will of Fire to the students!
If he weren't the Hokage of Konoha, this behavior would likely have gotten him arrested and confined to a dark room long ago!
Tap, tap, tap!
"Come in!"
A ninja from the Intelligence Division entered, looking anxious. He handed over a scroll and said, "Hokage-sama, urgent report from the front lines!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi stopped writing and his brow furrowed. "Which front did this message come from?"
"Reporting to Hokage-sama, it's news from the Land of Sound battlefield!"
"What!" Hiruzen Sarutobi snatched the scroll and, with a grim expression, began to read it carefully.
After a while, Hiruzen Sarutobi's face grew increasingly serious. In the end, he cursed, "Well played, Third Raikage! To personally descend and bully the juniors, how shameful!"
"Notify the elders to convene in the conference room!"
"Yes!"
After the intelligence ninja withdrew, Hiruzen Sarutobi lowered his head in thought.
Who in Konoha could possibly contend with the Third Raikage now? Sakumo Hatake? Or perhaps Uzumaki Rin U? Or even Danzo?
No, the jinchuriki needed to be protected and contained. Uzumaki Rin U could not leave the village. Sakumo Hatake's swordsmanship seemed to be countered by the Third Raikage's Lightning Release Armor, so sending him would be meaningless.
Then, was it only Danzo? But could Danzo and Orochimaru together match the Third Raikage?
Moreover, their combination gave him a bad premonition! Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned, sighed, and thought, "I'll wait and see."
Not long after, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane entered one after another. As for Danzo, he seemed to be busy, or perhaps the incident last time made it difficult for him to be assertive in front of Hiruzen Sarutobi, requiring some time for a buffer.
Homura Mitokado closed the door and spoke first, "Hiruzen, we've seen the news. What are your plans?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi tapped on his desk, narrowed his eyes, and said, "Homura, Koharu, do you think the two of you, plus Orochimaru, can contend with the Third Raikage?"
Homura Mitokado shivered slightly and hesitated, "You mean, I and Koharu should go together?"
Koharu Utatane's expression also changed. "I doubt it. The Third Raikage's physical defense is something neither I nor Homura can breach. Why not send Sakumo Hatake? Perhaps his swordsmanship can break through the Raikage's defense."
Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head and said, "I've sparred with the Third Raikage. Sakumo's swordsmanship won't work. Based on my assessment, it would take at least an S-rank Wind Style ninjutsu to inflict damage on the Third Raikage."
"But Konoha doesn't seem to have any ninjas skilled in Wind Style," Homura Mitokado racked his brains to find a ninja proficient in Wind Style. He didn't want to go to the battlefield to face the Third Raikage; he was a monster!
"Yes, sigh."
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed again. Did he really have to send Uzumaki Rin U? Master and disciple working together might be worth a try, but what about Kushina?
Hiruzen Sarutobi was still not entirely at ease about the jinchuriki, mainly fearing that Rin U would be unsettled.
Just then, Hiruzen Sarutobi's brow twitched. He gestured, and an ANBU ninja wearing a cloak appeared in the office.
Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane frowned but said nothing more. The Hokage had this much authority.
The ANBU ninja presented Hiruzen Sarutobi with a classified document and then vanished.
Hiruzen Sarutobi opened the document, and after a brief glance, his expression became even more grim.
After reading it entirely, Hiruzen Sarutobi, with a somber face, said to his two old friends, "News has come from the Land of Grass. It's suspected that the Third Raikage's son, A, and the Eight-Tails jinchuriki, Killer B, have entered the Land of Grass. Their purpose is unknown."
"What!?"
Homura Mitokado roared, "Have they, Cloud and Stone Villages, truly joined forces!? They are attacking Konoha from both sides!"
Koharu Utatane said even more pointedly, "Hiruzen, send Sakumo Hatake. It's a good opportunity for him to atone for his past mistakes."
For some reason, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a little disappointed in his two old friends. One was evading, and the other was looking for a scapegoat. Had they forgotten their past spirited pronouncements?
"Alas, let me think carefully. You two may leave for now."
Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane left, relieved. They didn't want to face the Third Raikage and a jinchuriki; one wrong move and they could perish!
After a long while, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally looked up and spoke to the air, "Send Uzumaki Rin U... Forget it, I'll go myself."
...
Ninja Academy.
Hiruzen Sarutobi found Rin U, who was practicing, and explained the reason for his visit.
"So, Hokage-sama wants me to go to the Land of Sound to deal with the Third Raikage?"
Rin U had just finished a chest expansion exercise and was about to start a stretching routine. Hiruzen Sarutobi interrupted him, looking somewhat perplexed, "Rin U, what's the use of you doing these strange movements?"
Rin U grinned, baring his teeth. "There's no use. I'm just reminiscing about my childhood!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi: ???
Hiruzen Sarutobi really wanted to unleash Five Elemental Techniques: Great Breakthrough on Rin U to snap him back to reality. It was wartime, and what was he reminiscing about his childhood for!
Hiruzen Sarutobi coughed and said, "So, do you agree to go? Rest assured, Kushina will be strictly protected within the village and will not be harmed in the slightest."
Rin U pondered for a moment and said, "I'm not worried about Kushina, but I feel this arrangement is not quite appropriate!"
Rin U was speaking the truth. In four years, Kushina was no longer the same. Not only had she fully mastered the Uzumaki clan's sealing jutsu, but she had also learned advanced ninjutsu like the Rasengan and Multiple Shadow Clones. Although still a genin, her strength had already reached the jōnin level.
If one were to also consider the Nine-Tails within her, even the current Rin U could not underestimate her. If anyone were to harbor ill intentions towards Kushina, they would surely regret it.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's brow furrowed. He thought Rin U was refusing to go and became a bit angry. "Then, how do you propose we arrange it?"
Rin U suddenly looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi very seriously and said, "I think since the opponent has dispatched their Kage, shouldn't we Konoha return the favor in kind!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's pupils slightly shifted. "Are you suggesting... I personally go? Then who will manage Konoha's affairs?"
Rin U chuckled, "That's right. Hokage versus Raikage, that's what everyone wants to see. As for Konoha village, I think Shikaku's father can temporarily manage it."
"Shikaku's father? That's a good decision. Then, regarding the Land of Grass..."
"I'll take care of the Land of Grass. However, I have a small request..." Rin U stared at Hiruzen Sarutobi with a somewhat mischievous glint in his eyes and chuckled.
Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a chill creep up from the soles of his feet: Young man! Don't mess around. I have a wife and Danzo!