Changing Tides of War

Meanwhile.

Inside the Hokage's Office.

"Third Hokage-sama, Elder Mitokado has sent an urgent report from the Land of Rain. Hanzo of the Salamander appears to be showing signs of joining forces with Iwa. The situation is critical, and he requests reinforcements."

An ANBU agent knelt on one knee and delivered the report to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"I understand. You may go. Oh, and summon Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade."

Hiruzen Sarutobi waved a hand, signaling the ANBU to withdraw and notify Orochimaru and the others. Then he picked up his pipe and began to ponder carefully.

Recently, two major events had occurred in Konoha. One was widely known, while the other had been kept within a limited circle.

The first was that Konoha White Fang Hatake Sakumo had led an elite ninja squad deep behind enemy lines and slain two high-ranking figures from Sunagakure. This had greatly salvaged the unfavorable situation on the western front. Hatake Sakumo had become famous in a single battle, his name shaking the Ninja World.

The second matter was a longer story.

Kumogakure in the northeast had attempted to invade the Land of Fire, and the Third Raikage himself was exceptionally powerful. Left with no alternative, Hiruzen Sarutobi had personally taken the field and driven Kumogakure back. In the end, neither side could break the stalemate, so Kumogakure chose to negotiate, and Hiruzen Sarutobi gladly accepted.

Yet this so-called negotiation had merely been a trap laid by Kumogakure. They had wanted to abduct Konoha's Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, but fortunately, his beloved grandstudent Minato Namikaze had rescued her.

He had originally thought the matter was over, but afterward, Kumogakure prepared to deploy troops again, claiming that Konoha had killed the envoys they had sent for the negotiations.

Combined with the battlefield in the Land of Rain, Konoha was effectively fighting on three fronts and was stretched beyond its limits.

Hiruzen Sarutobi himself would soon lead troops into battle. To ensure that he, the Hokage, would not suffer defeat, he had already sent a considerable portion of the village's main forces north. At the same time, to ensure that missions within the village would still be handled and to prevent the village from becoming excessively undermanned, he had begun allowing some upperclassmen from the Ninja Academy to graduate early.

Now Mitokado Homura was requesting additional reinforcements as well. It was foreseeable that Konoha would soon face another shortage of troops.

At that thought, Hiruzen Sarutobi swept out a hand and signed an order requiring the Ninja Academy to begin early graduation examinations for fourth- and fifth-year students.

As for why there were no sixth-years...

That was because the sixth-years had already graduated early. There were no sixth-year students at the Ninja Academy that year.

Bang!

The door to the Hokage's Office was kicked open.

The one who had kicked it open was Tsunade. Behind her stood Orochimaru and Jiraiya.

"Old Man, we're here!"

Tsunade casually dropped into the seat opposite Hiruzen Sarutobi, as though she had returned home upon entering the Hokage's Office.

Strictly speaking, Konoha really was her home. When the First Hokage and Second Hokage had still been alive, she had often played in this very office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had long since grown accustomed to it. He removed the pipe from his mouth and looked at his three prized disciples.

"I have an extremely important task to entrust to the three of you," Hiruzen Sarutobi said solemnly.

"In the Land of Rain, Hanzo appears to be showing signs of joining forces with Iwa. Suna is also scheming behind the scenes. Elder Mitokado cannot hold on alone, so I intend to have you lead two thousand ninja from the Reserve Force there as reinforcements."

"The Land of Rain..."

Tsunade's expression turned complicated as she glanced at Orochimaru.

Her younger brother Nawaki, who had also been Orochimaru's student, had fallen into an Iwa trap in the Land of Rain two years ago and been killed by Explosive Tags.

Orochimaru fell silent for a moment before asking:

"Old Man, what exactly do you intend to do?"

"The situation in the Land of Rain is chaotic. Not only are there armies from the three great nations, but with Hanzo present, Amegakure, the Land of Rain's local power, cannot be underestimated either. It has practically become Konoha's quagmire of war."

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed and continued:

"What I want you to do is assist Homura in stabilizing the situation, with the priority being to preserve the village's main forces. Before long, I will lead another group of ninja north to hold back Kumogakure. On the eastern front, after Sakumo accomplished that feat, we have also gained a major advantage. As long as we achieve a certain breakthrough on those two fronts, we can open up the situation and improve the village's circumstances."

"Teacher Hiruzen."

Orochimaru suddenly interrupted:

"Why not consider opening up the situation directly from the Land of Rain?"

"The situation in the Land of Rain is rather chaotic..."

"It is precisely because it is chaotic that it is the place most likely to yield a breakthrough."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked into the eyes of his most outstanding disciple.

They were rational, confident eyes, filled with the light of wisdom. That gaze always reminded the Third Hokage of his own teacher, the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju.

He had been a perfect ninja, even more gifted than Orochimaru.

"Four countries, four forces. As long as one of them changes, the situation within the Land of Rain will immediately shift."

"What do you intend to do?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi asked.

"Seek cooperation with Hanzo. The positions of the three great nations are the hardest to change, and they have fundamental conflicts of interest. But as a local force, Hanzo is likely the one who most wants to break the current deadlock. If this continues, Amegakure will completely lose its potential for war within a few years."

"But Hanzo is currently attempting to join forces with Iwa..."

"That is because Konoha is too strong, while Suna is too poor and therefore overly aggressive. Hanzo also hopes to find a relatively weaker ally to ensure his position within the alliance."

Several years ago, Iwa and Kirigakure had gone to war. The Second Mizukage and Second Tsuchikage had perished together. After that, the war between the two villages had continued to expand. Most of Iwa's main forces were fighting Kirigakure under the Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki, leaving relatively weak forces behind in the Land of Rain.

"What do you intend to do?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi asked as he looked at Orochimaru.

"Very simple."

Orochimaru licked his lips, and a smug smile spread across his pale face.

"We only need to make Hanzo believe that Konoha will inevitably be the final victor. He will take the initiative to join forces with us."

"Hanzo is very powerful, no weaker than I am. Even if the three of you join hands, you may not necessarily defeat him. Still, this can serve as an alternative plan. If there is room to maneuver, you may give it a try."

Hiruzen Sarutobi was still uneasy, so he gave his disciples one final warning.

He understood the strength and talent of his three students deeply. He had no doubt that they would one day become ninja no weaker than himself, but for now, they were still somewhat short of being able to stand shoulder to shoulder with a Kage.