After the two of them left with Fugaku, Jiraiya slowly approached.
With such a commotion, Jiraiya, one of the Three Legendary Sannin Jiraiya, was naturally able to sense it.
Kagami Uchiha also noticed that he had been there all along, and made no attempt to hide it.
It's like giving Minato a choice.
Jiraiya had been kind to him, Kagami Uchiha was willing to give him a choice.
Fugaku originally had it too, but he made the wrong choice.
Jiraiya looked at Kagami Uchiha with a very complex expression, his thoughts racing.
The crimson in his eyes faded, Kagami Uchiha turned his head and chuckled.
"Jiraiya- sensei."
Jiraiya's eyes flashed back to that boy from a few years ago, who had called him "teacher" for the first time with an innocent smile.
It feels like only a short time has passed, yet it feels like a Worlds Apart has gone by.
"Mirror... was this battle really necessary?"
If Fugaku could see it clearly, how could Jiraiya not see it clearly?
Once this war ends, the conflict between the Uchiha and the village will be irreconcilable.
Kagami Uchiha, the leader of the radical faction, has already taken over...
"There was once an opportunity for reconciliation, but Tobirama Senju cut off that possibility."
I understand...
But...
One's own disciple and one's own teacher...
Jiraiya remained silent for a very long time.
"Mirror."
His expression was distorted, as if half his face was smiling and the other half was crying.
"Tsunade is gone... Now that this war is over, I want to travel too."
"Forgive me, Mirror."
"The teacher is a coward; he didn't have the courage to stand by your side..."
"At least... Konoha will still exist, right?"
Is this your choice...? Jiraiya- sensei.
"Certainly."
"The establishment of Konoha was originally partly due to the Uchiha."
"I just want to take back what is rightfully mine in the Uchiha."
Jiraiya breathed a sigh of relief.
Let Orochimaru worry about the rest...
Anyway, you're the one who wants to be Hokage.
"Sigh, I was hoping you could help me gather materials in the village, you little rascal."
"I will tell the old man that Fugaku was wounded on the battlefield and returned to the village to recuperate."
Jiraiya approached, intending to pat Kagami Uchiha's head.
I realized this guy was almost as tall as me, so it wasn't convenient to pat his head. I could only pat his shoulder instead.
"Come on, let me show you. I've also learned how to add nature transformation to the Rasengan..."
——
A month has passed.
The Western Front.
The Land of Wind announced its defeat several months ago, Sunagakure submitted an alliance agreement to the Konoha.
Since it wasn't a surrender, there were naturally no treaties regarding reparations.
Konoha, facing enemies on all sides, was also overwhelmed, even though they knew that Sunagakure couldn't send anyone to assist them in the battle.
However, a ceasefire would also allow some of the fighting force to be mobilized to the Iwagakure battlefield, relieving some of the pressure.
Konoha agreed.
From then on, the Land of Wind, which had initiated the war, became the first to withdraw from the Third Shinobi World War, licking its wounds amidst the sandstorms.
In the command center, Konoha's main combat forces were gathered.
Orochimaru, Minato Namikaze, Kushina Uzumaki, the Ino- Ino-Shika-Cho (excluding Shikaku Nara), Shinku Yūhi, Sarutobi Shinnosuke...
The Uchiha and Hyuga were on the Eastern Front, Jiraiya, Kagami Uchiha, and others were on the Northern Front.
This place is where most of Konoha's power is gathered.
Minato Namikaze looked somewhat somber. He only learned about what had happened to Kakashi afterward, as he was still on the front lines against Iwagakure and had no time to spare for anything else.
With the arrival of Kirigakure in the battle, the situation on the Eastern Front is not optimistic. If it weren't for Shikaku Nara's superior wisdom, Kirigakure might have invaded the Land of Fire's homeland.
Konoha has already dispatched all the ninjas it can, and every household has lost relatives or friends.
War is a cruel word.
Hiruzen Sarutobi could no longer withstand this level of damage and decided to gather a large force to engage in a decisive battle with Iwagakure.
The entire army assembled in front of the Kannabi Bridge, Hiruzen Sarutobi was also about to arrive on the battlefield.
This is a battle that will determine the fate of the Land of Fire. After defeating the Iwagakure, which has the largest number of soldiers, we can concentrate our forces to fight against the Kumogakure.
As long as we can free up our hands, the Kirigakure nothing to fear.
On the other side of the Kannabi Bridge, one could see sandstorms in the distance, likely caused by a large number of Iwagakure.
Even Iwagakure couldn't sustain a protracted war with Konoha, as their resources were far less abundant than Konoha's.
In reality, this war was just Ōnoki exchanging Iwagakure's inferior horses for Konoha's superior horses.
I don't care how many of you die, you have quite a few Ninja Clan members.
Moreover... Iwagakure is facing a talent shortage, and if he could find a few promising young talents during the war, he would be willing to nurture them vigorously.
Before long, Hiruzen Sarutobi, dressed in full military attire, appeared and lifted the tent flap.
"Hokage!"
"Lord Third!"
"You've arrived, Third Hokage."
"With you personally leading the charge, we are absolutely certain of victory!"
"Old man of three generations, you really came!"
The frequent battles he fought in his youth caused Hiruzen Sarutobi to look old before he was even sixty.
However, his era was not yet over.
When he appeared on the battlefield, the previously somber atmosphere instantly changed.
Many of them grew up listening to the legend of Hiruzen Sarutobi and held this Shinobi Hero in the highest esteem.
Even someone like Orochimaru felt at ease when he saw Hiruzen Sarutobi.
If it's an old man, then there's no problem.
You are the man who ended two Shinobi World Wars and led Konoha into its golden age!
"Orochimaru, Minato, what's the current situation?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi did not blindly trust intelligence; in wartime, the judgment of the on-site commander was the most direct indicator.
"Three days ago, Iwagakure launched a large-scale offensive with about 15,000 troops, and the Jinchuriki also appeared."
Orochimaru's voice was deep and somewhat hoarse; he hadn't had a proper rest in the last six or seven days.
"We can only make up for the lack of combat power by relying on Kushina."
"Intelligence ninjas have discovered that an even larger number of Iwagakure are gathering at the Kannabi Bridge."
"I see. It seems that old Ōnoki also wants to end this war."
He and Ōnoki were old rivals, having clashed at the end of World War I and throughout the Second Shinobi World War.
The battles were evenly matched, but in the end, Konoha was the victor.
They weren't exactly mortal enemies, since it was always Iwagakure that initiated the attacks on Konoha.
Ōnoki disliked the Third Raikage even more. If that brute hadn't actually sought cooperation, he would still have wanted to fight the Third Raikage.
Ultimately, it was because Kagami Uchiha directly confronted his Dust Release and killed the previous Eight-Tails Jinchuriki that the two mortal enemies, Kumogakure and Iwagakure, united.
After understanding the situation, Hiruzen Sarutobi made a series of arrangements, showing a clearer sense of battlefield awareness than Orochimaru, and pointed out many of his shortcomings.
His gaze shifted between Orochimaru and Minato.
After this war ends, it's time for me to abdicate...
The village should be handed over to a suitable Fourth Hokage.
Only...
He then thought of the Northern Front and the message Jiraiya had sent back.
Fugaku...
He also wanted to go to the Uchiha Clan Compound to see Fugaku's situation and find out what happened, but he was stopped by a group of Uchiha clan members led by Shinka.
A bunch of Red Eye, mostly old men and disabled, Hiruzen Sarutobi too ashamed to force his way in.
Danzo is not here again.
These issues should be resolved after the war ends; we can't leave them for the fourth generation.
Mirror...
You've let me down, you've wasted the last chance I gave you...