After everyone left.
Three Anbu wearing animal masks returned. Apart from the Third, they were now the only people in the Hokage Building.
"You suspect two Shinobi at least as strong as Jiraiya and the others fought outside the village?"
After hearing their report, the Third asked another question.
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
"Who do you think they were? How strong, exactly?"
The Sensor Shinobi knelt on one knee and said, "Judging by the destruction at the scene, the Taijutsu user was no weaker than Lady Tsunade. As for the Fire Style user, we have no point of comparison. I've never seen Fire Release Ninjutsu that powerful."
He paused before continuing, "Besides, they only exchanged one move, and there was nothing at the scene that could establish their identities."
The Third nodded slightly. "Two Shinobi no weaker than the Sannin, perhaps even stronger. One only used Taijutsu, while the other may possess a Fire Style kekkei genkai."
He understood what the three meant. The destruction at the scene rivaled what the Sannin could do, but no one knew whether either fighter had used their full strength. Most importantly, each had used only one move.
"You may go. Pass this information to the Sannin and the Three Advisors, as well as the Hyuga Clan and the Uchiha Clan."
Normally, he would have kept something like this from the Uchiha and Hyuga if possible.
But one of the people present belonged to the Hyuga Clan.
And it wouldn't do to inform the Hyuga while keeping the Uchiha in the dark.
This was his only option.
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
With that, the three vanished.
"Two powerful fighters appearing at a time like this. Fire Style and Taijutsu, yet I've never heard of either of them!"
Alone in the Hokage Building, the Third gazed out the window, troubled, and added more tobacco to his pipe.
Meanwhile.
"Father..."
"Second Uncle..."
"Time to eat."
Ling Tian and Dai returned, and by the time they had each changed clothes, White Fang had finished cooking.
White Fang's face was resolute, his gaze cool. If not for the two plates of sushi in his hands, he would have looked every bit the aloof heartthrob.
"Sorry for imposing, Senior White Fang."
Might Duy was still dressed in a green bodysuit. At the sight of White Fang, he greeted him respectfully.
Strong though he was, his standing in the Leaf Village was another story entirely!
"Ah, Shinobi Dai!"
White Fang smiled warmly. "No need to be so formal. I'm just an ordinary villager now, and I'll be troubling you for your help."
"Big brother, you two know each other?"
Ling Tian had changed into a white kimono, his ponytail jutting skyward behind his head. If he had been holding a white fan, someone would surely have declared, "A gentleman fair as jade, a young master without equal."
"Yes. We met Might Guy and his father before, when I was dropping Kakashi off," White Fang said with a nod.
"We're digging in!"
While the three chatted, Might Guy and Obito had already lost patience and started eating.
"All right, I'll dig in too!"
"..."
The three members of the Hatake Clan watched the beaming father and son shovel food into their mouths, unsure what to say.
Would there even be enough food?
"You go ahead. I'll head out for a bit."
Ling Tian's mouth twitched as he watched them busy themselves with demolishing the food.
"I'll go!" White Fang smiled at his younger brother.
Ling Tian nodded.
He was still hiding his abilities. If he walked there and back, they would probably have eaten everything before he returned.
"Where's Father going?"
Once White Fang had left, Kakashi asked innocently.
"To pick up food from the restaurant. There are a few dishes we can't make at home, so they have to prepare them there."
Ling Tian stroked his eldest nephew's hair. "If you like your dad's cooking, eat plenty. If you don't, wait a little. Those dishes are made by a professional chef, so they'll definitely taste better than his."
Soon, just as the food had been polished off, White Fang returned laden with bags.
"What's wrong?"
Ling Tian had been marveling at how convenient it was to be a Shinobi when he noticed that his formerly cheerful elder brother now looked rather grim.
White Fang shook his head. "Someone from the Uchiha Clan is here to see you. I took him to the main hall."
Ling Tian frowned, feeling that his brother was hiding something. Still, he didn't ask and went straight out.
In the main hall.
"Lord Xianyu."
"And you are?"
Ling Tian looked at the impeccably behaved Uchiha Shinobi before him, puzzled.
I'm just a good-for-nothing. You're wearing a damn Jonin Vest, so why are you being so respectful? You're going to break character.
"My name is Uchiha Island. The Clan Leader sent me to inform you, Lord Xianyu, that he and the Sannin will be leaving for the front lines tomorrow."
"The front lines?"
"Yes." Uchiha Island nodded. "The Clan Leader asked me to let you know and to ask about the situation with Lord Orochimaru."
Seeing Ling Tian's confusion, he also explained what Fugaku had told him after returning about the matters discussed at today's meeting.
"All right, I understand."
Ling Tian smiled. "Go back and tell your Clan Leader that I'll visit the Uchiha Clan Compound tonight and speak to him in person."
"Yes, my lord."
As Ling Tian watched Uchiha Island leave, his brows drew tightly together.
The front lines.
How had I forgotten the last battle of the Second Shinobi World War, when that old hag Chiyo came to take revenge on my brother?
That bitch was saying just this afternoon that the Sunagakure Shinobi were going to war because of my brother. How had I forgotten?
Orochimaru leaving was fine, but without the Uchiha Clan around, those Anbu bastards could take on White Fang if they joined forces.
And I still hadn't spoken to the Hyuga or the Pig, Deer, and Butterfly clans.
"All I'm trying to do is stage a coup. Why does it have to be so hard?"
Muttering to himself, Ling Tian headed for the kitchen.
Time to eat.
After dinner.
Once everyone else had left, the brothers sat on the threshold, watching the sun slowly sink.
Seeing that his brother hadn't uttered so much as a peep, Ling Tian said flatly, "If something's bothering you, spit it out. Bottle it up and you'll make yourself sick."
White Fang smiled bitterly. He watched the sunset for a while before finally saying, "I've done so much for the village over the years. Can they really forget all of it because of one incident?"
Ling Tian scoffed. "That's how people are. No one remembers the past. No matter how much you've done, once you're no longer useful, they'll start forgetting. And if something juicy comes up then, how can gratitude compete with the pleasure of running their mouths?"
He recalled the keyboard warriors he had encountered while writing novels in his previous life.
They read his novels while complaining that this was wrong and that was wrong, then came back the next day to read and complain some more. Once the novel became paid, they hunted down pirated copies, then returned to keep hurling abuse.
If not for the many dear readers who comforted him and supported him with recommendation votes, he would have quit writing long ago and gone home to farm.
The memories left Ling Tian melancholy. Then he continued, "The First Hokage wasn't exactly bright, but it's not as though people don't know how strong he was or how much he gave to the village. And what happened? The Third has long since become the Strongest Hokage in history. Who still remembers the First or the Second?"
"You've said that before."
White Fang smiled bitterly. "I know what kind of person the Third is too. What I care about are the villagers I risked my life to protect."
"What, you didn't hear those villagers talking about your accomplishments today? All you heard was them saying you'd caused a war?"
"..."
"You're still the same. You never let anything slide."
All I did was ignore your advice back then. Did you really have to be like this?
"Forget it. I can't be bothered with you. If you want to kill yourself, go ahead. Once you're dead, I'll make the Leaf Village join you in the grave and send your son along to keep you company."
Ling Tian waved a hand as he spoke, then called loudly, "Nephew, have you finished washing the dishes? Your Second Uncle is taking you to meet your future wife."
Before you continue