The Situation and the Jinchuriki

Shiraha immediately activated the Sixth Sense.

Within his sensory range, Kushina stood out like a spotlight in the darkness, with the Energy Field around her exceptionally active.

But what Shiraha noticed was another unknown energy that seemed to be watching this place.

Could it be the Third Hokage's Telescope Technique?! Shiraha suddenly realized.

It was a technique that used a Crystal Ball made of special material to monitor a specific person from afar, requiring knowledge of that person's Chakra characteristics.

Clearly, the Third Hokage had mastered the Chakra characteristics of someone present and could monitor them at any time.

As a result, everyone else within the observation range was being watched as well.

"I haven't come into close contact with the Third Hokage yet, so he doesn't know my Chakra characteristics. He probably can't monitor me alone. Besides, I had no value worth monitoring before."

Shiraha asked himself whether he had done anything strange since coming to this world. He had always been cautious, and everything he said aligned with the mainstream values of the Will of Fire. He had been completely politically correct.

Just as Shiraha had thought, Sarutobi Hiruzen was watching the battle through the Telescope Technique in the Hokage Office.

As the best candidate to become the next Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki, Kushina's Chakra characteristics had been recorded by him when she arrived in Konoha, making it easier to monitor her in the future.

However, this time, he mainly wanted to observe the outstanding talents of the new generation.

The students of this class were of high quality.

Hyuga Toma, Sarutobi Keita, Minato Namikaze, Yagami Shiraha.

Minato Namikaze in particular. Born a commoner and suspected of possessing Senju Clan bloodline, though it had never been confirmed, his growth rate was simply too fast!

"Exceptional reflexes, incredibly fast instantaneous reactions, and an extremely high level of ideological awareness." This was Sarutobi Hiruzen's assessment of Minato Namikaze.

"Decent talent as a Medical Ninja, powerful Chakra control, excellent stamina, solid practical combat skills, and an ideological awareness comparable to an adult's. This child is quite like Tsunade." Sarutobi Hiruzen's assessment of Shiraha was not low either.

Although Shiraha had defeated Minato, in the Third Hokage's eyes, Shiraha seemed to have used the precise Chakra control techniques of Medical Ninjutsu. His combat talent was good, but someone like Minato clearly had greater potential in battle so long as he received guidance from the strong.

Watching Kushina converse with Shiraha in the image shown by the Crystal Ball, Sarutobi Hiruzen let out a quiet sigh.

"Ah."

Kushina had not yet become the Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki, so there was no need to keep a close watch on her. He only needed a general grasp of her movements.

More importantly, above him, the Third Hokage, there was still someone with even greater status and standing: the "Retired Emperor," Uzumaki Mito.

Because he had not sent the main force to support the Land of Whirlpools, resulting in the destruction of the Uzumaki Clan, Uzumaki Mito had already become dissatisfied.

Now that Kushina, who was of Mito's granddaughter's generation, had come to Konoha, closely monitoring her before she even became the Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki would clearly provoke Mito's displeasure.

To be fair, not rescuing an ally during the Land of Whirlpools incident had not been a good choice. It had betrayed the Uzumaki Clan's devotion to Konoha.

But for Konoha, it had preserved their strength.

His choice had been rational.

"Lady Mito. I will do my best to ensure that Kushina lives out her life peacefully under my protection."

"Yagami Shiraha and Minato Namikaze are both exceptionally promising candidates."

Sarutobi Hiruzen made his decision.

It would depend on how the two performed in the future.

At that moment, the door to the Hokage Office was pushed open.

A middle-aged man with a gloomy expression entered. His right eye was wrapped in bandages, and an X-shaped scar marked his chin.

There was only one person who could enter Sarutobi Hiruzen's office like this—the leader of Root, Shimura Danzō.

Danzo walked to the desk, saw the image displayed in the Crystal Ball, and said in a low voice, "It seems this year's new students have produced more geniuses. Have they all caught your attention?"

Hearing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen deactivated the Telescope Technique and said sternly, "I recall that several outstanding graduates from this class have already been assigned to Root. You should cultivate them properly and not waste their talents."

Sarutobi Hiruzen did not finish what he wanted to say, but how could Danzo fail to understand?

Danzo's brow creased slightly, and he felt somewhat displeased. He had indeed intended to test him.

"I came to bring you the latest reports from the front lines, as well as a letter from Hanzo." Danzo changed the subject and took two sealed scrolls from his robes.

Sarutobi Hiruzen accepted the scrolls and examined them.

"The battle at the front is deadlocked. After Orochimaru and the others secured their initial victories, Sunagakure and Iwagakure kept deploying more troops. It looks like Konoha truly has to commit fully to this war."

Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned slightly. His original plan had been to make Sunagakure and Iwagakure suffer a little, then use war to seek peace. He had not expected the two villages to be prepared to fight Konoha to the bitter end.

"Sunagakure and Iwagakure did not experience Konoha's strength during the First Shinobi World War. This time, we can make them suffer!" Killing intent flashed in Danzo's eyes. "The follow-up reinforcements will soon head to the front."

"What concerns me is not that, but Hanzo!" Sarutobi Hiruzen said gravely. With Konoha's current strength, they still had a chance of victory even against Sunagakure and Iwagakure at the same time. Besides, the two villages could not truly be united as one.

"Hanzo?"

"Look at this!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen handed the other scroll to Danzo.

"Hanzo actually has the nerve?!" The contents of the letter caused a slight change in Danzo's expression.

"If we continue using the Land of Rain as the main battlefield and expand the scale of the war, he cannot guarantee that he will not act against Konoha's ninja."

"Amegakure is insignificant, but Hanzo is indeed troublesome. Even Tsunade may not be able to cure Ibuse's poison."

"If Hanzo takes action, Orochimaru and the other two may not be able to defeat him." After pondering for a moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen said, "Order the frontline troops to avoid the towns of the Land of Rain whenever possible. The killing of civilians is strictly forbidden."

"I'm afraid that alone won't be enough. I'll go remind Hanzo." Danzo said in a deep voice.

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded. "Then I'll leave this matter to you. So long as Ōnoki and the Third Kazekage do not take action, Konoha will certainly achieve final victory in this war."

"If they do not appear, neither will we go to the front." Danzo said, "That old fox Ōnoki will not lightly cross that line.

"As for the Third Kazekage's capabilities, they are still unclear.

"But if he dares to go to the front, have Sakumo lead a Jōnin squad deep into the heart of the Land of Wind.

"Let's see whether he comes back!"

"Mm!" At the mention of Hatake Sakumo, Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression relaxed as well.

Among Konoha's current generation of Jōnin, the strongest was not Orochimaru, in whom he had placed great hopes, but Hatake Sakumo.

Even if the Kage of the other villages went to the front and forced him to go as well, Konoha still had Hatake Sakumo.

In a direct confrontation, Hatake Sakumo might not be the Third Kazekage's match, but as a surprise force, he could drive straight into Sunagakure's heart.

Although Iwagakure had not fought Konoha directly in a large-scale battle during the First Shinobi World War, they had witnessed Konoha crush Kumogakure. So long as the front suffered setbacks, Ōnoki would certainly have his reservations.

Sunagakure, on the other hand, was the one whose situation remained unclear.

"Oh, right, Hiruzen. I heard Lady Mito's health is not looking optimistic. Shouldn't you make preparations early?" As he was leaving, Danzo asked seemingly casually.

"You need not worry about that. Lady Mito and I reached an understanding long ago. Kurama's transfer will be completed smoothly."

Sarutobi Hiruzen answered, but even given his decades-long relationship with Danzo, he did not wish to say more. He had no intention of revealing who this generation's Jinchuriki would be, which could also be considered a small form of compensation to Kushina.

"Mm, I'll be leaving first." Not receiving a definite answer was within Danzo's expectations.

Lady Mito had indeed been a pillar of support when Hiruzen first became Hokage, but now she had become a constraint.

It seemed Hiruzen wanted to keep the Jinchuriki firmly in his own hands.

Given Kurama's power, only ninja of the Uzumaki Clan or Senju Clan could withstand it.

Sooner or later, he would uncover the truth.

For now, winning the war was the foremost priority.

"It seems we need to accelerate the training of Medical Ninja!" After Danzo left, Sarutobi Hiruzen quickly began signing new documents.

No one knew how many years this war would last. Konoha's Medical Ninja system was ahead of the other villages, but it was still far from complete. They had to train a large number of Medical Ninja so that more of the wounded could survive.

PS: I'm not whitewashing anyone, nor will I deliberately vilify Konoha High-Level. Draw your own conclusions. Konoha High-Level cannot simply be judged in terms of black and white. If you cannot accept even a little political scheming, then there is nothing I can do.