Land of Rain.
To stake everything on a single throw.
"Nawaki, you and Minato listen up." Jiraiya said seriously, looking at the two kids in front of him. "The battlefield is ever-changing. A single moment of carelessness could cost you your life. So, on the battlefield, apart from trusted comrades, no one else can be trusted."
Though it might not be the best time to say such things to these kids, now that they had stepped onto the battlefield, they needed to understand how dangerous mercy could be for a shinobi. Countless shinobi lost their lives every year in the ninja world due to misplaced compassion.
So...
This had to be made clear. Otherwise, if something happened, he would regret it forever.
"Got it, Jiraiya-nii." Nawaki waved his hand impatiently. "My father already told me all this. They even taught it at the academy. Stop nagging. And..."
"I've been on the battlefield for so long. Why haven't I seen my father or uncles?"
Where had all the Senju clansmen gone?
"Ahem!" Jiraiya coughed awkwardly, glancing at Orochimaru, who was pretending to study the sky. He had no choice but to steel himself and say, "Your sister will be here in a few days. When she arrives, I'll take you to where the Senju clan is."
He sighed inwardly. How was he supposed to explain this to Tsunade?
He patted his chest.
Maybe he should pad himself with extra steel plates?
Would steel plates even withstand Tsunade's monstrous strength?
"Sis is coming?" Nawaki's face immediately showed hesitation. Should he tell Jiraiya-nii that his sister already...
Had a boyfriend?!
And Jiraiya-nii's unrequited love was hopeless.
Sis would never like him.
"Don't worry, Jiraiya-nii." Nawaki sighed, sounding oddly mature. "I'm on your side."
"Huh?" Jiraiya blinked in confusion. What was he talking about?
"Oh, nothing." Nawaki noticed Orochimaru-sensei's subtle glare and quickly averted his eyes. "I just think Jiraiya-nii treats me really well. You bring me those... books, and take me to see... uh, never mind."
"I didn't say anything."
What was he even saying? Orochimaru-sensei's eyes were practically drilling into him.
Even Minato's expression...
Did he know something too?
"Ahem." Jiraiya coughed and solemnly patted Nawaki's shoulder. "Seems like you've finished reading all the ninjutsu books I gave you. Good job."
"Don't wander off today. Stay close to me and Orochimaru. If anything happens, we can protect you."
"Hmph." Nawaki pouted. "I'm strong, you know."
Now that he was on the battlefield, it was time for the ninja world to remember the name of the grandson of the God of Shinobi.
The name Nawaki would soon spread across the ninja world.
As for Orochimaru...
"Shinobi never fear war." Orochimaru licked his lips. "Don't listen to this idiot Jiraiya. Go."
"Hiding behind others will never make you a true shinobi."
So...
"I'll arrange for some Rain-nin to be your opponents." Orochimaru smiled at Minato and Nawaki, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "If you're careless..."
"You'll die."
To become strong, one must possess the necessary resolve. Relying on others' protection will never forge a true shinobi. So, Jiraiya's words shouldn't be said outright.
Otherwise...
What if they lost their sense of pressure?
Pressure was a crucial factor in a shinobi's growth. Even if you wanted to protect them, you shouldn't say it out loud.
Just do it secretly from the shadows.
"Yes!" Minato and Nawaki shuddered but nodded firmly. "We won't be afraid."
...
January, Year 33 of Konoha's calendar.
In this new year, another shocking event shook the ninja world...
The last male heir of the Senju clan, the grandson of the God of Shinobi, Nawaki, had fallen in battle in the Land of Rain.
Konoha was thrown into an uproar, condemning Iwagakure for breaking their alliance and secretly attacking their allies during the war.
In his grief, the Hokage declared war on Iwagakure, and thus...
The fragile alliance shattered instantly.
Konoha.
Hiruzen Sarutobi slammed his desk in fury, roaring, "Iwagakure and that big-nosed Ōnoki deserve to die!"
Nawaki was Konoha's future God of Shinobi!
Now...
"Declare war on Iwagakure immediately." Hiruzen said coldly. "They must answer to Konoha."
"I'll handle it." Koharu Utatane said, equally furious. "This is an outright insult to Konoha."
Nawaki was Konoha's...
The hope of the entire village!
Hiruzen took a deep drag from his pipe, forcing himself to calm down, though his face remained grim. "Lady Mito and Tsunade..."
"Do they know yet?"
"..."
Koharu fell silent for a moment before sighing. "Tsunade will find out soon, if she hasn't already."
"As for Lady Mito..."
"We haven't told her yet."
"Ah..." Hiruzen lowered his pipe, his expression heavy. "Lady Mito is already old. If she hears this news, her health might..."
Give out.
But...
"Nawaki is still Lady Mito's grandson." Koharu hesitated. "We have no right to hide it from her."
"Give it a few days." Hiruzen thought for a moment before sighing. "I'll tell her myself in a few days."
No matter what, the Nine-Tails must not be jeopardized. Preparations had to be made.
I wonder how that girl is doing these days...
...
Uzumaki Jun set down the ninja world newspaper in his hands and sighed.
Nawaki had...
Died too young.
Though this was Nawaki's fate, if not for his own behind-the-scenes manipulations, Nawaki might not have died. But for Uzushiogakure...
The ninja world had to be thrown into chaos.
Otherwise, if all eyes turned to Uzushiogakure, its fate might end up like the Land of Rain's.
Perhaps his own power was enough to crush the ninja world, but he didn't want outsiders to think Uzushiogakure's strength relied solely on him. Nor did he want Uzushiogakure's citizens to depend on him too much.
After all, for Uzushiogakure to truly rise, demonstrating its strength to the ninja world was inevitable. So...
A future war was unavoidable.
But the meaning of victory achieved by him alone versus victory achieved through the collective effort of Uzushiogakure was entirely different.
He didn't want to become a second Hashirama Senju...
So he had no choice but to become the kind of politician others would despise.
"Honestly, I just wanted to be a good person. But..."
He had no choice now.
Jun set the newspaper aside and shook his head. There was no point dwelling on it. Uzushiogakure still had plenty of internal affairs to handle, and...
"The Land of Rain is about to descend into war again. What is Kakuzu still doing there?"
It had been so many days, and he still hadn't returned.
Was there that much business in the Land of Rain?