Chapter 42

One look at her expression told Xuan Zhe she was getting jealous over nothing again.

He hurried to explain:

"If you don't go, Minato will get the greatest credit for this war. Don't forget, I plan to make you the Fourth Hokage once this war is over."

Uchiha Mikoto froze.

Xuan Zhe and the others... that was what they were planning?!

"...Didn't I do enough in the last war?"

Tsunade puffed out her cheeks, looking thoroughly unconvinced.

"People are like fish. Their memories are short, and they only see what's right in front of them. Otherwise, how could the Third have landed the title of 'strongest Hokage'?"

That left Tsunade with nothing to say.

Of the three Hokage before him, no matter how you ranked them, the word "strongest" would never apply to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

So how had he ended up with that title? The Elders Council singing his praises everywhere was one thing, but more importantly, how many people in Konoha now actually knew what had happened in Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju's time?

Who still remembered the past? People only ever cared about the present.

"So you're not going?"

After holding it in for a while, Tsunade pressed him again.

This guy probably wanted to laze around at home again.

"What are you thinking? Of course I'm going. When those Kumogakure guys sneak down from the north to attack the Land of Fire, I'll deal with them."

Xuan Zhe thought, If I don't show off my new abilities on the battlefield, won't the readers curse the author into quitting?

"Um... Lord Xuan Zhe, what do you mean?"

"Isn't Kumogakure fighting Sunagakure? Why would they attack the Land of Fire?"

The three little girls beside them-Rin Nohara, Kurenai Yuhi, and Shizune-looked utterly confused.

Kumogakure was going to attack the Land of Fire? Weren't they charging toward the Land of Wind?

"Use your heads. Sunagakure is dirt-poor. Would those hulking brutes from Kumogakure even want it?"

Xuan Zhe flicked each of the three girls on the forehead.

Kumogakure hadn't participated in the Second Shinobi World War, and its forces were now strong and well supplied. There was nothing surprising about it being the first to start a war.

But targeting the Land of Wind? Who would believe that?

Anyone could figure it out without even thinking.

Why leave the nearby, fabulously wealthy Land of Fire alone and take a long detour to attack an utterly impoverished Sunagakure?

The successive Raikage might have had muscles for brains, but they weren't that stupid.

"So you mean... Kumogakure is only pretending to attack Sunagakure, and once Konoha's reinforcements have all been lured to the Land of Wind, they'll double back and strike from the north?!"

Kurenai Yuhi caught on immediately. "Then we need to hurry and tell Lord Hokage!"

"There's no need at all."

Xuan Zhe put a hand on Kurenai Yuhi's little head, stopping her.

"Wh-why?"

Her big red eyes were full of confusion.

"If we don't let our Lord Hokage stumble a few more times, how will your teacher Tsunade ever get the chance to sit in that Hokage chair?"

Xuan Zhe wore a wicked grin.

Simply helping Konoha win the Third Shinobi World War wasn't difficult at all.

He himself, Hatake Sakumo, and Tsunade-none of them had originally appeared in the Third Shinobi World War. Once they joined the fighting, they could turn the situation around immediately.

But winning alone wasn't enough. In fact, winning too quickly and too decisively would be trouble.

It might end up like the last war, with all the credit going to someone else and nothing to show for it in the end.

Konoha's main forces would risk their lives on the front lines while the four grandees of the Elders Council drank tea and manicured their nails in the rear.

He had to dig a pit for Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Force him to give up the position of Hokage.

Now things were looking good. His failure to see through Kumogakure's surprise attack plan would be his first stumble.

By this point, Uchiha Mikoto could no longer keep up.

Her husband had always had his eye on the Hokage's chair.

Unfortunately, he lacked the strength and could only watch helplessly.

Only after hearing Xuan Zhe's plans today did she truly understand.

What her husband lacked wasn't just strength. His mind couldn't keep up either.

This move alone would let Xuan Zhe keep Hiruzen Sarutobi firmly under his thumb.

Someone with strength alone could, at most, make people afraid.

But someone who had strength and could scheme against you down to your very bones-

All you could do was steer clear.

"Mikoto, once you get home, make sure you know what you should and shouldn't say."

Nawaki suddenly spoke up to warn his old classmate.

"I... I promise I won't breathe a word!"

Uchiha Mikoto trembled in fright.

She bowed, then turned and ran.

She had been frightened so badly. Hopefully it wouldn't affect her pregnancy...

The next day, at Konoha's gates.

"We're finally setting off!"

Following his teacher Minato Namikaze, Obito was beside himself with excitement.

"Did the sun rise in the west? You're actually not late."

Kakashi gave him a sidelong look of utter disdain.

Of course he knew why this perpetually late idiot had arrived so early today.

As the head of the medical corps, Lady Tsunade would be traveling with them to the battlefield in the Land of Wind.

Naturally, the three little girls in Rin Nohara's medical class would be coming along too.

He would finally get to go on a mission with the girl he liked.

Obito had been so excited last night that he hadn't slept a wink.

Anyone who didn't know better would think he was going on a spring outing.

"Oh! They're here! They're here!"

Obito's eyes lit up, and he waved hard as he shouted:

"Rin! Over here! Over here!"

The four girls slowly walked toward them.

Obito's eyes were practically glued to Rin Nohara.

"Lady Tsunade, thank you for your efforts again."

Minato Namikaze lowered his head in greeting.

"Wouldn't you have an easier time if I didn't come? Then I wouldn't be competing with you for credit."

Tsunade's words had an edge to them.

"Not at all. I absolutely didn't mean that."

Minato Namikaze hurriedly waved his hands.

Tsunade didn't needle him any further.

She disliked Minato Namikaze purely because he was too close to old man Sarutobi.

"Hehe, Rin, we'll be going on missions together now."

Obito grinned foolishly.

As always, Rin Nohara smiled and nodded.

"Disgusting."

Kakashi muttered beside him.

"Here, Obito."

Rin Nohara took a white medical pouch from behind her back and handed it over.

"F-for me?"

Obito's ears grew warm, and he even started stammering.

Rin Nohara paused for a second, but ultimately nodded.

Just as Obito felt as though he were floating, Rin's next words came like a bucket of cold water, instantly extinguishing the little flame in his heart:

"Yes, it's for you and Kakashi. Do your best, both of you."

"Lord Xuan Zhe."

Just then, Minato Namikaze and the others spotted Xuan Zhe strolling over with a wine flask in hand. They immediately straightened up and greeted him.

"No need to be so formal. I'm just a Genin here to see you off."

The moment Xuan Zhe said "Genin," a bead of cold sweat appeared on everyone's forehead.

Thinking about it carefully... he really wasn't wrong.

"Um... Rin, what exactly did you mean when you said to do our best?"

Obito still looked bewildered.

"I'm not going with you this time. I'm staying in the village with Lord Xuan Zhe."

Rin Nohara pressed her palms together, her tone apologetic.

Obito froze on the spot, feeling as though his world had collapsed.

So it was all just wishful thinking on my part!

"Uncle, this..."

Kakashi frowned, a trace of confusion appearing on his face as he turned toward Xuan Zhe.

"It's a long story. I'll tell you later."

Xuan Zhe brushed him off casually.

He couldn't exactly tell Kakashi the truth-that this was to stop Madara Uchiha from going after Rin, could he?

Tell him he was keeping her close to save her life?

Who would believe that? They would just think he was crazy.