The Three Sannin Gather

At the front lines in the Land of Rain, in Konoha's main camp, in the medical support area.

The instant his consciousness returned to his body, Nishikawa Tetsu first felt a searing pain in his chest, the aftereffects of broken ribs and damaged internal organs.

He struggled to open his eyes and found himself lying on a simple field cot. The air around him was thick with the smell of disinfectant and the stifled groans of wounded soldiers.

"...This is outrageous! Absolutely outrageous!"

Outside the tent, an angry woman's voice pierced through the rain and rang clearly in Nishikawa Tetsu's ears.

Next came a cold, hoarse male voice, edged with mockery:

"Tsunade is right, Jiraiya. You launched an all-out attack without any preparation just for three brats? Do you have any idea how much pressure that put on the western and central fronts?"

Nishikawa Tetsu's heart stirred.

Was that... Tsunade and Orochimaru?

He forced himself to endure the pain, turned his head slightly, and peered outside through a gap in the tent flap.

Beneath the dim lights of the camp, three figures radiating powerful auras stood facing off in the rain.

Jiraiya was soaked through. His red outer robe was caked with mud and gunpowder, and he looked thoroughly miserable.

Opposite him stood Orochimaru, arms crossed and face dark, and Tsunade, hands on her hips and looking furious.

"They're not 'three brats.'"

Jiraiya's voice was weary, but unusually firm. "They're my subordinates, and Konoha's hope for the future. Given the situation, if I hadn't created a diversion to hold Hanzō back, all three of them would have died."

"Hope?"

Orochimaru gave a cold laugh. A rational glint shone in his golden, serpentine eyes. "You threw the entire battle plan into disarray to save this so-called hope of yours. Do you understand the consequences?"

Orochimaru pointed toward the defensive line in the distance, where flames soared into the sky.

"Your sudden attack drove that old geezer Hanzō completely mad. His armory was blown up, his personal guard wiped out, and now he's like a venomous snake with its tail stepped on, lashing out wildly without regard for the cost."

"Just now, our front-line positions were forced to retreat twenty-five kilometers. The casualty count is rising rapidly."

Tsunade chimed in, her tone stern. "Jiraiya, you're the commander of the eastern front, not a babysitter. You completely disregarded the bigger picture! If the defensive line collapses, far more than three people will die."

Inside the tent, Nishikawa Tetsu listened to their argument. He didn't feel particularly guilty. Instead, he remained perfectly calm.

This was a gamble.

They had traded turmoil on the front lines and the deaths of ordinary shinobi for the survival of Namikaze Minato, the future Fourth Generation, Uchiha Fugaku, a Mangekyō Sharingan wielder, and himself.

From a utilitarian perspective, Konoha had actually come out ahead in this deal. Of course, they didn't know Minato would become the future Hokage. That was a story for another time.

"So what?"

Outside the tent, Jiraiya suddenly shouted, cutting off their accusations.

"The bigger picture? If I can't even protect my own students, how can I talk about protecting the village as a whole?"

Jiraiya drew a deep breath and lowered his voice, his tone turning unusually serious.

"They did it. Hanzō's armory was completely destroyed, and his supply lines were cut. This wild counterattack is just the last gasp of a spent force. If we can hold out through this wave, Amegakure will collapse from a lack of supplies."

At that, Orochimaru and Tsunade fell silent for a moment.

It was true. Blowing up Hanzō's armory right under his nose and making it back alive was enough of a feat to make up for some of Jiraiya's mistakes.

"And besides..." Jiraiya's voice dropped even lower, heavy with a gravity only the Sannin could understand. "That Uchiha brat Fugaku... something's happened to his eyes. If he'd died there, or if his body had fallen into Hanzō's hands, that would have been a real disaster for Konoha."

"His eyes?" Orochimaru licked his lips, a spark of curiosity in his gaze. "An Uchiha? How interesting."

"Enough. No more talk."

Jiraiya didn't seem to want to say more. He turned toward the tent where the three of them were, his voice softening with a hint of pleading.

"Tsunade, do me a favor. All three of them are badly injured, especially Fugaku and Minato. Ordinary Medical Ninja can't treat them. You're the only one who can save them."

Tsunade furrowed her brow. She glanced at Jiraiya's pleading expression, then finally sighed.

"I really owe you one."

She tossed her long blond hair and strode toward the tent. "Move aside. If they die, it'll be your fault!"

The tent flap was abruptly swept open.

Before Nishikawa Tetsu could close his eyes and pretend to be asleep, he met Tsunade's gaze as she entered.

The legendary kunoichi was clearly in a bad mood, but when she saw the still-bleeding wound that pierced Nishikawa Tetsu's chest, her professionalism kicked in at once.

"If you're awake, don't move around."

Tsunade walked to the bedside. Green Chakra glowed in her hands as she pressed them against Nishikawa Tetsu's chest.

"Three broken ribs, a punctured lung, and severe blood loss. You're lucky to be alive, brat. How are you not in shock?"

Warm Chakra flowed into his body, and the pain quickly eased.

"Thank you, Lady Tsunade," Nishikawa Tetsu said weakly.

"Save your breath. You need to rest."

As she treated him, Tsunade glanced at the two beds beside his.

Minato was still unconscious, his right shoulder blackened around the wound.

Fugaku's eyes were covered with bandages. Even unconscious, his brow was tightly furrowed, clearly enduring tremendous pain.

"A Lightning Release puncture wound, and this is..."

Tsunade went to Fugaku's bedside and reached out to uncover the bandages so she could examine his eyes.

"Don't touch his eyes."

Jiraiya and Orochimaru had entered as well.

Jiraiya hurriedly stopped Tsunade's hand and shook his head gravely. "Treat the external wounds and the poison first. We'll deal with his eyes when we get back to the village."

Tsunade was clever enough to understand at once.

She gave Fugaku a long look, then withdrew her hand.

"Understood."

Just then, Orochimaru, who had been silent in the back, suddenly walked over to Nishikawa Tetsu's bed.

His golden, slit-pupiled eyes looked down at Nishikawa Tetsu as if examining a fine work of art.

"So this is the brat who came up with Dust Explosion and Poison Gas Warfare?"

Orochimaru's voice was hoarse and resonant, with a chill that sent a shiver down one's spine. "Jiraiya said you wanted to combine my ninjutsu with science? And that you turned down his recommendation?"

Nishikawa Tetsu's heart tightened.

Having that venomous snake take an interest in him was no good.

"Cough, cough... You flatter me, Lord Orochimaru," Nishikawa Tetsu said, forcing himself to speak. "I'm just... afraid of dying, so I think things through a little more."

"Being afraid of death is a good thing."

Orochimaru's lips curled into an amused smile. "Only those who fear death will desperately explore the meaning of life. I'm... becoming more and more interested in you."

Jiraiya shoved Orochimaru aside and stood in front of Nishikawa Tetsu. "Hey! Don't scare my subordinates! Get out of here. The front line needs you to hold off Hanzō!"

"Hmph."

Orochimaru snorted coldly and turned to leave. "Jiraiya, this time you owe us. I'd advise you to keep a close eye on that Uchiha brat."

Orochimaru left, and after stabilizing the three of them, Tsunade hurried off to the front lines to treat the wounded.

Only Jiraiya and the three of them remained in the tent.

Jiraiya dragged over a stool and sat down between their beds. Looking at his weakened students, he let out a long sigh.

"Sensei..." Nishikawa Tetsu looked at Jiraiya's exhausted face.

"Don't talk. Get some rest."

Jiraiya patted Nishikawa Tetsu on the shoulder.

"Don't worry about what's happening outside. Hanzō may have gone mad, but he's already a spent force. You completed your mission—and you did it perfectly."

Jiraiya gazed up at the roof of the tent, his eyes unfocused.

"Once you've recovered a little, you'll return to the village. You don't need to risk your lives in this war anymore."

Nishikawa Tetsu closed his eyes and felt the life force within him slowly returning.

He knew Jiraiya was hurrying them back to the village not because the war was about to end, but because of Fugaku's eyes.

The Mangekyō Sharingan had appeared.

Konoha's higher-ups were bound to get restless. After all, the current leadership consisted of the Second's old guard. Whatever else could be said, their wariness of the Uchiha had surely been passed down.