Aftermath

Beside an abandoned bridge culvert, the three who had just earned the title of Sannin watched the three small, thin figures who had been silently following them not far away.

"Stop hiding, come out."

Tsunade's voice was stern, but it carried no killing intent.

The shadows stirred, and three small, thin figures trembled as they walked out. They were three children, soaked to the bone and emaciated.

The orange-haired boy at the front approached the Sannin and, in a tone that was almost begging yet filled with stubbornness, said, "Give us some food."

Jiraiya looked at the three children, his heart stirred, and he put down the water flask in his hand. "Where are your parents?"

The orange-haired boy lowered his head, his voice a little hoarse. "They were killed by ninja in this war."

The atmosphere instantly turned heavy.

Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru were also ninja, participants in this war.

"Here."

Without saying much, Jiraiya took out a bag of hard bread from his ninja pouch and handed it over. "This is hard bread. It's a bit tough, but it'll fill your stomachs."

Tsunade also took out her share and handed it to the boy.

Yahiko took the bread, a flicker of surprise in his eyes, but he didn't eat it immediately. Instead, he turned and called out to the shadows, "Nagato, Konan, come out. They don't seem like bad people."

Two smaller figures emerged. Nagato with red hair and Konan with blue hair exchanged a glance, then timidly looked at the three powerful adults before finally nodding and running towards the Sannin.

They took the remaining hard bread from Jiraiya and Tsunade, who were sitting, and wolfed it down.

A moment later, after the Sannin had walked some distance, they noticed the three children were still following them at a moderate distance.

Tsunade stopped, turning back with a hint of helplessness. "We already gave you food, and we don't have any more. Why are you still following us?"

In the rain, the little blue-haired girl didn't speak.

She walked slowly to Tsunade, her hands behind her back, and then prepared to reach out.

Tsunade's eyes instantly narrowed. As a ninja who had fought on the battlefield, her body reacted instinctively, and she was about to dodge and assume a defensive stance.

However, her shoulder was grasped by a large, thick hand.

It was Jiraiya.

"Don't be tense, Tsunade," Jiraiya said, shaking his head. His eyes gazed gently at Konan. "She means no harm."

Tsunade froze for a moment, then looked closely.

In the girl's outstretched hand from behind, there was no weapon, but a flower folded from a food wrapper.

Although slightly dampened by the rain, the paper flower was still folded exquisitely, with sharp creases, appearing particularly vibrant in the gloomy Land of Rain.

"Thank you, this is a return gift," Konan said, standing in the rain with a shy smile.

"It's origami... folded from the wrapper of the hard bread, isn't it?" Jiraiya recognized it at a glance, his tone carrying a hint of emotion.

Looking at the flower, the ice of vigilance in Tsunade's heart instantly melted.

Her voice softened as she bent down. "Are you giving this to us?"

Konan nodded vigorously.

Just then, Yahiko, who had been standing behind, suddenly stepped forward, his eyes stubborn. "Teach us ninjutsu! You're Konoha ninja, right!"

The air instantly froze.

Orochimaru, who had been watching coldly from the side, suddenly let out a chilling laugh.

"Are you going to kill these children?"

Orochimaru's voice was hoarse, his golden vertical pupils devoid of any pity, only absolute rationality and coldness.

"I've seen many war orphans, and their fates are always tragic. Rather than letting them suffer hunger, cold, and unknown torment in this cruel country, it would be better to kill them here. It might actually be better for these children..."

"Stop talking, Orochimaru."

Jiraiya abruptly cut Orochimaru off, his tone more serious than ever.

He looked at the three children in front of him, their eyes clear yet filled with longing, and the devastation of this land flashed in his mind.

"You and Tsunade go back first," Jiraiya said, taking a deep breath and making a decision. "I'll take temporary responsibility for these little ones."

"Huh?" Tsunade's eyes widened in disbelief. "Are you crazy? The war isn't over yet! You're going to stay in enemy territory and play nanny?"

"Until they can at least stand on their own."

Jiraiya looked at Yahiko, a light called "responsibility" flickering in his eyes. "This can be considered a small act of atonement."

"But..." Tsunade hesitated.

"This must also be fate."

Jiraiya walked up to Yahiko, crouched down, and placed his large, thick hand on Yahiko's thin shoulder, thinking this to himself. The Great Toad Sage's prophecy... perhaps it starts here.

"And besides..."

Jiraiya suddenly thought of something and turned to look at Nishikawa Tetsu and Namikaze Minato, who were waiting for orders not far away. He scratched his head awkwardly.

"Right, Tsunade, help me keep Minato and Tetsu, those two brats, here too."

"As their teacher, I haven't properly taught them anything these past few months. I'm truly incompetent."

Jiraiya grinned, "Perfect. While I'm teaching these three kids, I'll teach those two geniuses as well."

The moment of parting.

Uchiha Fugaku sat on a stretcher, his eyes covered with bandages. Beside him were Orochimaru and Tsunade, ready to escort him back to the village.

"You're really not coming back with us?" Although Fugaku couldn't see, he still turned his head towards Nishikawa Tetsu and Minato.

"No, Senior." Nishikawa Tetsu stepped forward and draped a raincoat over Fugaku. "Your current condition means returning to the village for treatment is the top priority. Besides..."

Nishikawa Tetsu lowered his voice, "Your eyes are too important. Going with Orochimaru and Lord Tsunade is the safest option. If we stay, we can actually help divert some attention from the shadows."

Fugaku was silent for a moment, then nodded.

Nishikawa Tetsu stepped forward and gently patted Fugaku's shoulder. "Moreover, in your current situation, the fewer people around you, the better. Once you return to the village, the battlefield you face will be more dangerous than here. If the two of us, commoners with no backing, get involved, we'll only become your weakness."

Fugaku knew Nishikawa Tetsu was right. The awakening of the Mangekyo Sharingan meant he would become a target for Konoha's higher-ups. The Hokage faction, the elders, and various other powers would all be watching him.

"I understand."

Fugaku took a deep breath, pulled out two scrolls bearing the Uchiha clan crest from his bosom, and threw them to the two.

"These are the Uchiha clan's secret techniques and insights on Fire Style Chakra nature transformation, as well as advanced techniques for shurikenjutsu. Even though you don't have the Sharingan, well... don't embarrass me."

These were secrets of a prestigious clan, yet he was throwing them out like trash.

"Thanks, Senior." Minato caught them carefully, his eyes filled with emotion. "Your eyes... you must get them healed."

"Hmph, you don't need to worry about that. And... "

"Come back alive."

As expected of an Uchiha, always so tsundere right from the start.

"We will."

As the carriage started to move, Orochimaru glanced meaningfully at Nishikawa Tetsu, who remained behind. The chilling gaze sent a shiver down Tetsu's spine.

But he said nothing, merely turning to follow the group.

Tsunade waved to the two of them. "Take care of that idiot Jiraiya!"

Watching the main group gradually disappear into the distance, the noisy battlefield finally fell completely silent.

"Alright! Stop staring!"

With the departure of the main force, only Jiraiya, Nishikawa Tetsu, Namikaze Minato, and the three orphaned children of the Hidden Rain were left in the desolate wilderness of the Land of Rain.

Jiraiya stood up and stretched, regaining his unrestrained and heroic demeanor.

"Since the main group is gone, our Jiraiya Special Training Class is officially established!"

He pointed to a cave in the distance.

"From today on, you will all obey this immortal's commands! Let's go, first, we need to fix that leaky hole. Otherwise, no one's sleeping tonight!"

Nishikawa Tetsu looked at Nagato, who had a head of red hair and was hiding behind Yahiko, a barely perceptible smile curving the corner of his lips.

The Sannin parted ways, legends going their separate directions.

And I, I remained at the turning point of history, standing beside a god.

"Let's go, Minato." Nishikawa Tetsu patted his friend's shoulder.