Father and Son Come Clean

"Come in."

The wooden door was pushed open. Jiraiya and Orochimaru looked at the smoke filling the room and could not help frowning.

It was not because they found it unpleasant, but because they knew the old man only chain-smoked when he was especially troubled.

"Teacher Sarutobi, is war really about to break out?"

Orochimaru spoke first, getting straight to the point.

"Soon. Hidden Sand Village has been watching us closely.

Twenty years ago, Second Kazekage Shamon withdrew early from the First Shinobi World War. After adopting many of Lord Tobirama's policies, he led Sand Village through years of recovery and development. They have long coveted Konoha's fertile land."

"What about Hidden Rain Village? Why did Hidden Rain Village clash with Hidden Sand first?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed, took out an intelligence report, and handed it to the two of them.

"The current leader of Hidden Rain Village is a man known as Hanzo the Salamander. You know of him, right?"

"We have only heard of him."

"Hidden Rain Village lies at the border between Konoha, Hidden Sand Village, and Hidden Stone Village. As a small village caught between great powers, it has always become a buffer zone for their wars.

Hanzo is a man who grew up amid war. Not only is he ambitious, but he is also quite formidable!

For the sake of Hidden Rain Village's peace, he led his subordinates in expanding outward. Among those conflicts, the one with Sand Village has been the fiercest."

"What about Konoha? When will the flames of war reach us?"

"Not much longer. According to intelligence from the front lines, not many of Sand Village's famous jonin seem to have shown themselves. Not even a quarter of them."

"That certainly says a lot. Hidden Sand's ambitions are probably considerable as well. Both sides have their eyes on Konoha!"

"That is why, Jiraiya, Orochimaru."

Hiruzen Sarutobi opened his clouded eyes. When he looked at his disciples, his gaze held a trace of worry and helplessness.

"The situation at the border cannot wait. We need to prepare for war...

You three are my proudest disciples. With you here, I believe Konoha will survive this war."

"Old man..."

The two fell silent, staring at the Hokage's desk with countless thoughts running through their minds.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had expected it. They surely resisted the idea of war, but he had no choice. Otherwise, they would not have enough manpower.

"Orochimaru, I have considered Xuanhui's matter."

Orochimaru raised his head, staring directly at Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Teacher Sarutobi, what do you think?"

"At the very least, he needs to show me sufficient strength...

If even you agree with what he said, then he must have made no small resolution and put in considerable effort for it."

Orochimaru thought back on it. It was indeed just as Hiruzen Sarutobi had said.

He had witnessed Xuanhui's talent and hard work firsthand.

Speaking of which...

"Teacher Sarutobi, we are leaving tomorrow, right?"

"Yes. This matter cannot be delayed for too long."

"Then... Teacher Sarutobi, you can teach Xuanhui some Lightning and Fire Release ninjutsu. He is very talented and learns especially fast. You will see his talent for yourself."

"I am rather curious about that as well, Orochimaru. Compared with you..."

"He surpasses me."

Orochimaru answered without the slightest hesitation, as if he were merely stating an established fact.

Even more unexpectedly, Jiraiya nodded along at the side.

Had he not only met Orochimaru and Xuanhui yesterday?

In other words, Xuanhui had won the recognition of his two prized disciples in just one day?

"What a talent... I understand, Orochimaru. I will do as you asked."

Orochimaru nodded, and the atmosphere fell silent once more.

After listening from the side for so long, Jiraiya suddenly thought of something.

"Old man, what about Tsunade? Have you told her already?"

"I have. She is packing at home."

"Old man, if I remember correctly, you should be off work by now, right?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Jiraiya and vaguely guessed what he was planning.

"Yes."

"Then let's go find Tsunade. The four of us, master and disciples, can have a little gathering."

To the surprise of the other two, Orochimaru immediately agreed.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had no objections either. He also wanted to spend time with the disciples he had not seen in so long.

That only left Tsunade.

The three tidied up a little, opened the windows and door to air out the office, and only after most of the smoke had dispersed did they shut the doors and windows tightly before leaving.

At Xuanhui's home, father and son were kneeling before the sofa. Sitting on it was his wife, his mother.

When Nara Yamanaka heard that the two of them had something important to discuss, she had already begun to feel uneasy.

When she saw that neither of them sat on the sofa and instead knelt on the carpet, she grew even more uneasy. Her hands tightly gripped the hem of her pajamas, and even her legs trembled slightly.

"Honey, I have to go on a long journey..."

"I know... Didn't you mention it before?"

Uchiha Uzumaki's mouth seemed to be burning, making it hard for him to speak clearly.

"Yes... to Hidden Rain Village... to deal with the war that is about to break out..."

War?

The word struck Nara Yamanaka like a thunderbolt, making her whole body tremble. Even her vision as she looked at the two of them became blurred.

"Xuanhui... what about you?"

She did not dare listen any further. If Xuanhui was not involved in such a matter, why would he be kneeling together with her husband?

"I applied to Teacher Hiruzen. As long as I become a chunin within a year, I can go to the front lines."

Thump!

Thump!

Thump!

The air instantly fell silent, with only the fierce pounding of her heartbeat echoing in her ears.

Father and son exchanged a glance but did not continue.

They knew that continuing would only have the opposite effect. At a time like this, they needed to guide her into letting out her emotions first.

Sure enough, when they looked up, Nara Yamanaka was already weeping. The veins on the backs of her hands stood out clearly, making the two of them ache with worry.

"You two... don't want me anymore?"

Her voice choked with sobs, sounding both resentful and warning.

"Why... why?"

Uchiha Uzumaki spoke first.

"Honey, I am among the stronger chunin. To resist foreign enemies, to protect Konoha's people, and to protect you, I have to go.

If I do not step forward, if no one steps forward, then once the flames of war spread across our land, ordinary people will suffer."

Nara Yamanaka wiped away her tears, then immediately rose and knelt before Uchiha Uzumaki, her fists repeatedly pounding against his chest.

He kept letting out muffled grunts.

Xuanhui did not dare stop her. He knew he would be next.

"How can you be so selfless! Say something! Can't you be a little selfish?

That is war! If you die, what am I supposed to do? Say something!"

"Don't worry, honey... I will be fine..."