In Leaf Village: Starting by Slapping White Fang

"Dad, do we really need to fight that hellhole called Sunagakure? There's nothing worth taking there, is there?"

The future Fourth Hokage A asked in confusion.

He had no objections to fighting.

But even if they were going to war, they should be targeting prosperous Leaf Village or Rock Village.

Was there really any point in attacking that barren wasteland of Sunagakure?

Even if they captured it, there would be nothing worth looting.

"Sunagakure and Leaf Village are allies now. If we attack Sunagakure, do you think Leaf Village will send reinforcements?"

The Third Raikage asked his son in return.

"Uh... there's a ninety-percent chance they will."

After thinking for two seconds, the Fourth Raikage nodded.

At that moment, Raikage Assistant Dodai spoke up from the side.

"Lord Raikage will lead a force in a surprise attack on the Land of Wind, making it look like Kumogakure intends to go to war with Sunagakure. At that point, Leaf Village, as their ally, will definitely dispatch troops to reinforce Sunagakure.

"When that happens, the defenses in the northern Land of Fire will inevitably weaken. Then, A, you and Bi will..."

The Fourth Raikage suddenly understood and exclaimed in delight, "I see! On the surface, we're attacking Sunagakure, but in reality, we're drawing Leaf Village's attention away so we can launch a surprise attack on the Land of Fire, right?"

"Correct."

The Third Raikage nodded approvingly and grinned. "That sand-filled hellhole called the Land of Wind isn't worth celebrating over even if we take it. The rich Land of Fire is what we truly need!"

Even though Leaf Village was filled with powerful fighters.

What did the Strongest Raikage have to fear?

Under his leadership, the Third Raikage was confident that Kumogakure could now go Fifty-Fifty with Leaf Village.

Inside the Supreme Conference Room of the Hokage Administrative Building.

At this moment, representatives from every level of Leaf Village's leadership had gathered in the conference room.

Besides the Elder Council F4, who had held Leaf Village's highest authority for nearly thirty years.

The heads of major shinobi clans, such as Fugaku Uchiha, Hyuga Hiashi, and Nara Shikaku, had also been summoned.

"I assume everyone has already heard that the Third Kazekage has disappeared?"

In an exceptionally rare occurrence, Hiruzen Sarutobi did not take out his Pipe for a puff. With a solemn expression, he said in a deep voice, "The crucial problem now is that the Third Raikage of Kumogakure has personally led troops in a surprise attack against Sunagakure. As everyone knows, the Land of Fire recently established an alliance with the Land of Wind, to which Sunagakure belongs."

"Under these circumstances, we must send reinforcements."

The anger in Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart was no small matter either.

That traitorous disciple Orochimaru had actually kidnapped his son!

Clearly, this was revenge against him.

With his only blood relative captured, Hiruzen Sarutobi naturally could no longer uphold his earlier promise not to truly pursue him.

He immediately decided to dispatch Anbu to investigate Orochimaru's whereabouts.

However, the Anbu had barely left when news arrived.

The Third Kazekage of Sunagakure had vanished.

Immediately afterward came the urgent report that the Third Raikage of Kumogakure had personally led troops into the Land of Wind.

Anyone could sense that the Third Great Ninja War had officially begun.

Under such circumstances, Hiruzen Sarutobi had no time to worry about Orochimaru.

He could only leave a small team to continue investigating Orochimaru's whereabouts while recalling most of his people to Leaf Village.

They discussed a strategy for reinforcing Sunagakure.

"Black Blade and White Fang of the Hatake Clan... are probably unsuitable."

Nara Shikaku, the strategist, was the first to speak. "If we reinforce the Land of Wind, we will inevitably have dealings with Sunagakure's shinobi.

"Those two formed no small grudge with Sunagakure during the previous Ninja War. I think it would be best to avoid having both sides meet, wouldn't it?"

Hatake Sakumo had killed the son and daughter-in-law of Chiyo, an elder of Sunagakure.

And Hatake Gengetsu had even cut off the head of Saimon, the Second Kazekage.

If those two went to reinforce Sunagakure, who knew what kind of chemical reaction it would cause?

"Correct. Those who participated in the war against Sunagakure last time are all unsuitable."

Yamanaka Inoichi also chimed in.

As soon as he said this, everyone's eyes turned toward clans like the Uchiha and Inuzuka, who had not fought Sunagakure during the previous Ninja War.

"In that case... how about Minato serves as commander-in-chief, with Fugaku as deputy commander, leading the reinforcements to Sunagakure?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi turned his gaze toward Fugaku Uchiha.

Fugaku Uchiha's expression did not look very pleasant.

After Shisui Uchiha's "death," the relationship between the Uchiha and the Hokage faction had worsened by another degree.

So much so that when he heard not long ago that Hiruzen Sarutobi's son Asuma had been abducted by Orochimaru.

He had been so delighted that he ate two extra large bowls of rice.

And now, he was being made the deputy of a brat not even twenty years old. How could he be happy about that?

But regardless of his feelings, Fugaku Uchiha did not dare openly defy Hiruzen Sarutobi's wishes and could only nod to accept the order.

"If possible, could Lady Tsunade accompany us?"

Although he accepted the assignment, Fugaku Uchiha still had to fight for his clan's interests.

Tsunade's presence could increase the frontline soldiers' odds of victory by at least fifty percent.

"This... if you can persuade her, then naturally there will be no problem."

Hiruzen Sarutobi hesitated for several seconds before finally nodding in agreement.

To be honest, he had wanted to use this war to let Minato Namikaze earn more merits and suppress the arrogance of Genetsu and the others.

Letting Tsunade go to the battlefield would undoubtedly give her a chance to earn merit as well.

But Tsunade's medical skills were simply too exceptional. Even the Uchiha, the mortal enemies of the Senju Clan, had no choice but to rely on her.

No matter how unwilling Hiruzen Sarutobi was, he could not find any reason to refuse Tsunade's deployment to the battlefield.

"Go to the battlefield? Not interested!"

Two hours after the meeting ended.

Mikoto Uchiha, the pregnant wife of the Uchiha clan head, came to make the request.

But what she received was Tsunade's irritated response.

After the Senju Clan had suffered a devastating calamity during the Second Shinobi World War, Tsunade had already intended to leave for good.

Remaining until this final moment was already more than enough.

And now they wanted her to work herself to the bone again? Dream on!

Nawaki scratched his head beside them and said nothing.

Mikoto Uchiha had been his classmate, which was why she had come to him to pull some strings.

"Lady Tsunade, this..."

Unable to persuade Tsunade no matter what she said, the anxious Mikoto Uchiha could only turn her pleading eyes toward Genetsu.

Noticing the imploring gaze Mikoto Uchiha sent his way, Genetsu thought, Could you, a pregnant woman, stop looking at me like that?

Still, when he had learned that Nawaki and Mikoto Uchiha were classmates back then, Genetsu had gossiped about it a little.

One was Senju, the other Uchiha.

By the usual Japanese light novel trope, why had they not ended up together?

"No, Tsunade. You should go."

Genetsu walked over and said.

Tsunade's beautiful eyes immediately widened as if to say, You're speaking up for another woman?!

The moment he saw that look in Tsunade's eyes, Genetsu guessed that she was jealous again.

He quickly explained, "If you don't go, Minato will claim the greatest merit in this war. Don't forget, I plan to make you the Fourth Hokage after this war."

Mikoto Uchiha's expression froze.

Genetsu and the others... actually had such plans!?

"...Wasn't what I did in the last war enough?"

Tsunade puffed out her cheeks, sounding somewhat unconvinced.

"People have the memories of fish. They only remember what happened recently. Otherwise, how could the title of Strongest Hokage have fallen to the Third Hokage?"

Genetsu's words left Tsunade completely speechless.

After all, among the first three Hokage, there was no possible way the title of strongest could have gone to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Then why did he have that nickname?

Other than the Elder Council's deliberate propaganda, was it not because most people in the shinobi villages no longer knew about the era of Senju Hashirama and Tobirama Senju?

No one remembered the past. Everyone only cared about the present.

"Aren't you going?"

At last, Tsunade could not help asking one more question.

This guy was not planning to stay home and loaf around again, was he?

"How could I not? I'll deal with the Cloud Army that will later launch a surprise attack on the northern Land of Fire."

Genetsu figured that if he did not hurry up and show off his new power on the battlefield, the readers would hang the dog of an author up and beat him.

"W-What do you mean, Lord Genetsu?"

"Isn't Kumogakure attacking Sunagakure right now? How could they launch a surprise attack on the Land of Fire?"

The three Big Lolis, including Nohara Rin, listened to Genetsu's words in disbelief.

Kumogakure was going to launch a surprise attack on the Land of Fire?

Were they not marching toward the Land of Wind?

"Use your brains and think it through. Do you really think those crude, barbaric brutes from Kumogakure would care about a hellhole like Sunagakure?"

Genetsu rapped each of the three girls on the head.