The Second Great Ninja War Begins

"Come in."

The Third Hokage's voice came from inside the door.

Tsunade entered the office. There was only her teacher inside, which made it easier for her to speak.

"Teacher."

"Hmm? What is it?"

"You never come to the temple without a reason."

The Third Hokage chuckled as he removed the pipe from his mouth.

"Teacher, I'd like to ask you for something."

"What is it?"

The Third Hokage was still smiling. As long as it was not too excessive, he would agree to Tsunade's request.

"My Grandfather's Cells, and the sealed research materials."

Tsunade was as blunt as ever.

"What are you planning to do?"

Only then did the Third Hokage's expression turn serious, his brows knitting together.

He knew all too well how many people Konoha had lost to that experiment.

"I want to restart the project."

"No. Go back."

The Third Hokage refused without hesitation. He did not want that experiment to cause any more innocent casualties.

The losses caused by that experiment still felt like a thorn lodged in his heart.

That was why he had been so furious over Orochimaru's unauthorized research later on.

Had it been anyone else, he would likely have killed them on the spot.

"Teacher, I won't act recklessly."

"No."

The Third Hokage's attitude was firm, his face darkening.

"Teacher, I promise I won't conduct human experiments before achieving results."

"There will absolutely be no innocent casualties."

"Your experiment back then was too eager for results, which was why the losses were so severe."

"I definitely won't let something like that happen again."

"Besides, once the research succeeds, it can bring Konoha more ninja capable of Wood Style."

"Is Konoha without Wood Style still Konoha?"

"Wherever leaves dance, fire will burn."

"The Will of Fire will continue to be passed down through the mighty power of Wood Style."

Tsunade poured out a great deal in one breath. Her final words struck the Third Hokage's heart.

The Will of Fire was what he had spent his entire life fighting for.

"Ah..."

The Third Hokage sighed.

"I can give them to you, but you must guarantee that no innocent people will be harmed."

There was plenty of room for interpretation in the Third Hokage's words. He knew that the final results of an experiment had to be demonstrated on living subjects.

If it could not be avoided, then he could only draw the line at innocent people.

"Fine. I can do that."

Tsunade agreed. This was also what she had told Kawafune from the beginning.

"Also, I will send people to participate."

Kawafune had seen right through the Third Hokage's intentions.

"No. I need absolute autonomy."

"Right now, I am Konoha's best medical researcher."

Tsunade's attitude was resolute. This was what Kawafune had instructed.

"..."

The Third Hokage could not refute her. What Tsunade said was the truth.

"Fine. I'll take you to get them."

Since he had already decided to hand them over, the Third Hokage chose to trust Tsunade. In terms of bloodline, she was even more legitimate than he was as Hokage.

Her family was one of the main forces that had founded Konoha.

The Third Hokage rose and took a long-sealed iron box from the safe, removing an intricately crafted key from within.

"Let's go."

After closing the safe, the Third Hokage left the office first.

Tsunade silently followed behind him.

After leaving the Hokage Building, the Third Hokage waved away the Anbu ninja who had been following them.

He led Tsunade alone toward the depths of Konoha's forest.

"Do you know where your Grandfather's Cells came from?"

The Third Hokage quietly broke the silence between them.

"I don't."

Tsunade had never considered that question before.

"Your Second Grandfather left them behind. He believed the First Hokage's Cells held unimaginable strategic value for Konoha."

The Third Hokage revealed this secret.

"If it was him, that isn't surprising."

Tsunade was not shocked. She knew her Second Grandfather was someone who valued benefits over personal feelings, possessing extraordinary wisdom and a cool head.

"Unfortunately, your Second Grandfather died young and never completed this experiment."

"Later, Konoha lacked high-end combat power. I was too eager for results, and that led to a grave mistake."

"Do you understand why I'm telling you this?"

The Third Hokage stared intently into Tsunade's eyes.

"I understand, Teacher. I won't repeat the mistakes you made."

Tsunade did not spare the Third Hokage's feelings. Wrong was wrong.

"That's good."

A self-mocking smile appeared on the Third Hokage's face as he continued forward.

They traveled far and deep before arriving before a massive mountain. The Third Hokage walked up and felt around for a hidden mechanism.

He opened the entrance to a cave.

"To prevent hostile nations from discovering it, your Second Grandfather personally led people in building this cave."

The Third Hokage led Tsunade through the dark cave, turning on the lights along the way. Everything here was self-sufficient.

After all these years, the lights could still turn on. Second Grandfather really was talented.

"It's up ahead. You brought a Storage Scroll, right?"

Tsunade nodded.

When they reached a huge iron door, the Third Hokage took out the key and unlocked it.

Too much time had passed, and it was already somewhat difficult to use.

It took quite a while before the door finally opened.

Before them were aging experimental equipment and scattered unimportant documents.

The Third Hokage continued inward and opened another secret chamber.

There was only a single cabinet inside, packed with neatly arranged materials.

Experiment One, Experiment Two, Senju Clan, Uchiha Clan, Shimura Clan, Sarutobi Clan...

They were all records of Live Experiments. Tsunade was horrified as she read them, finally realizing the immense price Konoha had paid for that experiment.

"Take them. They are all this old man's sins."

Tsunade felt that her teacher seemed to have aged several years in that moment.

"Teacher, I will succeed."

Without another word, Tsunade took out her Storage Scroll and stored the entire cabinet inside.

As the Third Hokage watched the cabinet vanish, the burden in his heart somehow lessened slightly. Yet he would never be able to atone for these sins in his lifetime.

He then took Tsunade to the freezing chamber and retrieved the Hashirama Cells.

"There is no need for this place to exist anymore. It is nothing but painful memories."

After leaving the cave, the Third Hokage spoke, then used Earth Style to fill the entire cave completely.

He alone could bear this sin.

Seeing that her teacher was still somewhat downcast, Tsunade did not leave immediately.

She quietly walked alongside the Third Hokage. It was also the first time she had seen his vulnerable side.

He really had grown old. The days she remembered, when he had guided her, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya in their studies, were gone forever.

Back then, he had been full of spirit. He had become Hokage in his twenties, and under his leadership, the village had flourished more and more.

Next, it was time for Tsunade to take up her teacher's burden.

After returning to the Hokage Building, they had only just entered the office and sat down.

Before the Third Hokage could light his pipe, an Anbu barged in.

"Third Hokage, urgent report."

"Hanzō the Salamander of the Land of Rain has declared war on Konoha, Sunagakure, and the Land of Iron at the same time."

"War has already erupted at the front lines."

Tsunade was shocked by the report. Kawafune had actually guessed right, and it had not even been fifteen days.

"Gather every Jonin in the village at the Operations Department for a meeting."

"Immediately. At once."

The Third Hokage abruptly rose to his feet, slamming his pipe onto the desk.

At that moment, he had regained the bearing of a great commander, his imposing authority beyond challenge.