The Horn of War

Not long after Orochimaru left, the Third Training Ground became lively. Namikaze Minato brought Kakashi and others to the Third Training Ground. Soon after, Kushina also arrived.

"Minato, why did Jiraiya-sensei call us to the Third Training Ground? I was out shopping with Mikoto!" Kushina said with a dissatisfied look.

"Don't be angry, Kushina! Jiraiya-sensei must have a reason for calling us to the Third Training Ground. However, he only sent a toad to notify me, and didn't say what it was. We just need to wait patiently."

Namikaze Minato appeased Kushina while pleading on Jiraiya's behalf. He was also puzzled as to why their teacher would suddenly summon everyone to the Third Training Ground.

"Smug Yamanaka Tohru, why don't you have a supervising teacher? Or your own team?" Obito found it strange that Yamanaka Tohru was alone without a team.

"I do have a supervising teacher! Look! The red-haired beauty next to Minato-bro is my teacher!"

"Minato-bro! You're calling him Minato-bro?" Yamanaka Tohru's words made Obito explode.

"My supervising teacher, I call her Kushina-sis. Kushina-sis is your supervising teacher's girlfriend. That's why I call her that," Yamanaka Tohru explained.

"I don't care! Being a generation lower than you for no reason, I'm not convinced! Smug Yamanaka Tohru, I challenge you to a duel!"

"Obito, save it. You'll be instantly killed!" Kakashi's retort from the side angered Obito, making him jump.

Obito ignored him and unleashed the Uchiha Clan's signature ninjutsu, Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu, at Yamanaka Tohru.

Yamanaka Tohru shook his head helplessly. Chidori bloomed, easily splitting the fireball. He then used Lightning Body Flicker to appear behind Obito.

"Obito, game over!" Yamanaka Tohru's voice came from behind him. Obito broke out in a cold sweat from the scare.

"Hmph! Smug Yamanaka Tohru! I will definitely defeat you one day!" Obito lost the fight but not the spirit, never admitting defeat verbally.

"En, how did you do that just now? Is it a space-time ninjutsu like Minato-sensei's? You disappeared like that at the Ninja Academy last time too!"

Nohara Rin was also startled by Yamanaka Tohru's sudden appearance. She remembered Yamanaka Tohru doing something similar at the Ninja Academy before. It looked like teleportation.

"This is a type of Body Flicker Technique, Lightning Body Flicker. It stimulates cell activity with Lightning Release Chakra, pushing the Body Flicker Technique's speed to the extreme. It's completely different from Minato-bro's Flying Thunder God Technique. Besides, Kakashi left the Ninja Academy the same way back then," Yamanaka Tohru explained.

"Why could we vaguely see Kakashi when that bastard Kakashi used Lightning Body Flicker?" Obito's question was also what Nohara Rin wanted to ask. If Kakashi also used Lightning Body Flicker to leave the Ninja Academy, why could they vaguely see his figure?

"Heh heh, that's because his technique wasn't well-practiced!" Yamanaka Tohru said with a smile.

Hearing Yamanaka Tohru's words, Kakashi didn't know how to retort for a moment. He could only snort coldly and glare at Yamanaka Tohru with his dead fish eyes.

"En, hurry over here! Jiraiya-sensei is back," Namikaze Minato called out to Yamanaka Tohru.

"Are these two brats your students, Minato?" Jiraiya asked, glancing at Obito and Rin.

"Yes, Jiraiya-sensei! This is Uchiha Obito, and this is Nohara Rin. Obito, Rin, greet Jiraiya-sensei," Namikaze Minato introduced the two to Jiraiya.

"Greetings, Lord Jiraiya!" Facing Jiraiya, one of the Sannin, Obito didn't dare to be reckless and greeted him obediently.

The fearsome reputation of the Sannin during the Second Shinobi War was well-known throughout Konoha. Even the Uchiha Clan repeatedly warned their members to show respect to the Sannin.

Jiraiya, like the Third Hokage, treated all ninjas in the village equally and held no animosity towards the Uchiha Clan. After introductions, Jiraiya began to discuss the main business.

"Not long ago, I received a mission from Hiruzen-sensei to gather intelligence in Sunagakure. In fact, I had infiltrated Sunagakure once three months before this reconnaissance. At that time, Sunagakure was experiencing internal strife."

"Internal strife? Jiraiya-sensei, are you saying that Sunagakure's sudden halt to their actions against Konoha three months ago was because of problems within the village?" Namikaze Minato asked.

"That's right. At that time, Sunagakure's genius Puppeteer, Sasori of the Red Sands, defected. Sasori of the Red Sands was not only Sunagakure's genius Puppeteer, but also Grandma Chiyo's grandson. His defection was a huge blow to Sunagakure's reputation. Sunagakure had to halt all deployments to mitigate the impact of this event."

After speaking, Jiraiya paused and looked at Namikaze Minato. Minato was his diligently trained disciple and had strong intelligence analysis skills. Jiraiya's pause was to give Minato time to process this information.

"Jiraiya-sensei, did something happen to an important figure in Sunagakure?"

Minato did not disappoint Jiraiya. Based solely on the news from three months ago and the ninja movements within the village, he deduced that there was a problem with Sunagakure's higher-ups.

"Minato is correct. Just a few days ago, I infiltrated Sunagakure for the second time. The atmosphere in the village was somewhat strange. The ninjas of Sunagakure were agitated, all clamoring for revenge against Konoha. I took the opportunity to capture a ninja and, using a special method, forced out the information that the Third Kazekage had gone missing while tracking Sasori of the Red Sands to the border of the Land of Fire," Jiraiya said with a grave expression.

"What? The Third Kazekage went missing on the border of the Land of Fire?" Kushina exclaimed involuntarily after hearing this.

The disappearance of a village leader was no small matter. Moreover, the relationship between Sunagakure and Konoha was already precarious. Now, with the Kazekage missing on the border of the Land of Fire, even Kushina knew what this implied.

"No wonder Sunagakure suddenly mobilized a large number of ninjas at the border. It seems they are just waiting to elect the Fourth Kazekage before launching a full-scale war against Konoha," Namikaze Minato said.

"Alas, war is coming!" Jiraiya sighed.

In the original story, the disappearance of the Third Kazekage was the signal that ignited the Third Shinobi War. Yamanaka Tohru had already made some guesses when he learned Jiraiya had summoned them to the Third Training Ground.

"Minato-bro, Jiraiya-uncle! Here are 50 Healing Talismans. I kept them myself, so use them sparingly."

After speaking, Yamanaka Tohru handed the 50 Healing Talismans to Namikaze Minato and Jiraiya.

"Kushina-sis, here are 50 Healing Talismans. Use them as you please, and ask me for more when you run out."

Initially, the two who received the Healing Talismans looked at Yamanaka Tohru with relief and gratitude. Konoha also distributed Healing Talismans, but Jonin only received 5 each, and veteran Kage-level ninja like Jiraiya received 10.

No one would ever have too many life-saving items like Healing Talismans. Yamanaka Tohru's ability to produce 50 for the two of them had already moved them greatly.

But they didn't expect Yamanaka Tohru to turn around and give 50 to Kushina alone, and from the sound of it, she could ask for more after using them.

Namikaze Minato was fine with it, as Kushina was his girlfriend, and their relationship was so good that they had long considered each other as one. Jiraiya, however, was not having it.

"Hey! Brat! Kushina doesn't even know if she'll be sent to the battlefield, yet you're giving her so many? I, this immortal, risked my life for the village and only got 25! Besides, my contribution was also part of your successful development of the Healing Talismans!"

Jiraiya's indignant argument was ignored by Yamanaka Tohru, who now just wanted to return to the Yamanaka Clan quickly to check on the situation there.

Seeking collection, seeking recommendation.