Haseo was not some simple troublemaker or hothead. If he were, the Third Hokage and the other elites of Konoha wouldn't have had to struggle over how to deal with him—they could've just restrained him outright.
The real reason? Haseo thought in a way that was completely his own. His mindset wasn't bound by ninja rules or aligned with standard ninja practices. He would unintentionally stir things up, often leaving the Third in a state of back-and-forth shock—first thinking, "How could this guy act like this?" then following up with, "Wait, this actually worked?"
For this world, after all, Haseo wasn't a true native. His thinking didn't just stand out among ninjas—it fundamentally differed from the logic of this world itself.
Take the intelligence Haseo recently submitted to the Third Hokage as an example. It revealed that he had intentionally embedded Uchiha ninjas within Kirigakure as spies—a decision no normal commander would ever make.
Setting aside the importance of the Sharingan, the relationship between the Uchiha clan and Konoha had always been extremely delicate. If the Uchiha interpreted this mission as sending their own people to their deaths, it could easily worsen relations between the clan and the village, potentially shaking Konoha's very foundation.
You couldn't even blame the Uchiha for being oversensitive or close-minded for thinking like that, because objectively speaking, it really did look like a suicide mission... Yet Haseo still did it, and when arranging such things, he acted decisively, without hesitation.
Did Haseo fail to grasp the worst possible consequences? No, he definitely understood them well. However, his own decisions always came first.
Identify an issue, resolve it, and while doing so, create new problems—that was Haseo's classic behavioral pattern.
And this was exactly what made the Third Hokage worry the most… Haseo was undeniably capable, yet while completing missions, he also turned events into tangled messes.
If he were just a reckless fool or hot-headed idiot, everything would've been simpler.
Right now, the Third had no choice but to rely on Haseo's abilities. With Fire Country surrounded on all sides and its strategic environment rapidly deteriorating, strong ninja like Haseo were indispensable.
On the flip side, the Third also had to endure the jarring and unpredictable side effects naturally generated through Haseo's actions. Even at his age, feeling that familiar flutter of first love again turned out to be a uniquely intense experience.
The Third had a strong suspicion that dealing with Haseo might shorten his lifespan.
Currently, reports detailing the outcome of the Eastern Front's first major battle—and rough plans for Haseo's next operation—had both arrived on the Third's desk.
He was very pleased with how the first battle turned out. Though originally, he had hoped Haseo could stabilize the situation on the Eastern Front and halt Kirigakure's offensive… even if Mist managed to hold the coastline, it wouldn't pose a serious threat. All Konoha needed to do was pin them down on the beach.
Strictly speaking, Haseo's rapid and large-scale offensive on Konoha's Eastern Front had deviated significantly from the Third Hokage's original intentions. However, since their results were extremely satisfactory, the Third Hokage had no reason to reprimand them.
They not only drove Mist's army out of the Land of Fire, but also achieved victory at an extremely low cost—an accomplishment impressive enough to be directly reported to the Fire Daimyo.
Therefore, instead of punishment, the Third actually needed to reward the brave ninja who fought on the Eastern Front.
So far, so good—but just when it seemed calm, another storm was already brewing… This was precisely why Haseo had decided to send Uchiha into the Hidden Mist.
Leaving aside the risks and feasibility of Haseo's plan, the key point was that its first step had already begun before he even submitted his report to the Hokage. Abandoning this operation now would equal abandoning a Jonin from the Uchiha clan.
In this gamble of war, the first bet had already been placed on the table.
Of course, the Third Hokage had the authority to call a halt—it could arguably be considered damage control—but… Haseo's further explanation left him hesitating.
Haseo's reasoning was quite interesting. Since the Third was worried about his growing influence, the correct approach wasn't necessarily weakening or tarnishing him; those tactics were too cheap and unreliable… Just like now—even after being thrown under the bus, Haseo quickly bounced back and won again, making all those attacks pointless.
The proper way, therefore, was for the Sannin to earn battlefield victories greater than Haseo's—ones that could not be ignored. Real strength comes from within—one built on others' weaknesses is never truly solid. The Third's thinking, which aimed at making himself look strong by keeping others weak, was fundamentally flawed in direction.
Regardless of whether someone among the Sannin might become the next Hokage, both Haseo and the Third agreed there was no harm in increasing their reputation. In this aspect, Haseo stood with the Third, supporting his position wholeheartedly.
Yet their approaches differed completely. Haseo's mindset was bold and aggressive—macho in nature—while the Third's thinking was more feminine: subtle, meticulous, full of small moves and petty manipulations.
As the Third looked over Haseo's submitted plan for the next operation, his thoughts drifted into broader contemplation.
Being someone who particularly enjoyed observation—or rather, eavesdropping—the Third couldn't possibly ignore the relationship between Haseo and Tsunade. If Haseo married Tsunade, it would completely erase any negative implications stemming from his outsider status. Tsunade represented Konoha's most trusted insider—symbolically, even more "family" than the Third himself.
As the "husband of the granddaughter of the First Hokage," Haseo would possess a status allowing him to firmly establish himself in Konoha.
Combined with his personal prestige, this would eliminate any grassroots opposition toward him becoming the next Hokage—and likely earn overwhelming public support.
Yet viewed from top-down perspectives, Haseo still wasn't seen as a suitable candidate. His thinking seemed too complex, unfathomable, and unpredictable. Konoha shouldn't be handed over to someone like him.
So... the Third Hokage could only return his focus to Haseo's original plan.
To shape the personas of the "Sannin," Haseo proposed that his next operation would have Tsunade and the other two take part. And precisely because of this, he, as the Front Line commander with full authority, had already explained the plan to the Third.
The Third's support was necessary; otherwise, he would've acted on his own already, just like in the recently concluded mission.
As for the Third himself, even though the upcoming Eastern Front operation came with risks, could the potential gains make it worthwhile?
Was it not worth taking the chance after all?
The normally cautious and steady Third Hokage finally found himself straying from his usual mindset.
Then he began justifying internally:
First, the Sannin possessed summoning techniques, allowing them to escape the battlefield instantly even in extreme danger.
Second, Haseo himself would participate in the mission, which also served as one of the guarantees for the Sannin's safety (this thought made the Third feel a bit guilty, but he still allowed himself to think that way).
Third, Haseo was known for being rather stingy by nature, so an opportunity like this where he willingly invested wasn't common. If not for Tsunade's involvement, he probably wouldn't be proactive about such matters. So... their relationship actually turned out positively once in a while.
Fourth...
Anyway, after thinking through each point for half an hour, the Third Hokage decided to approve Haseo's plan... although he felt certain details required further discussion, he agreed in principle.
It remained unclear whether Haseo had truly persuaded him or he had merely talked himself into agreeing.
Although somewhat agonizing, once the Third Hokage reached his decision, he immediately began cooperating with Haseo's new plan. The first thing he needed to do was...
Declare war.
Specifically, Fire Country would formally declare war against Water Country.
Currently, despite brutal combat already erupting on the West Front and two confrontations having occurred on the East Front, all nations still maintained a de facto state of non-declaration warfare. Therefore, Fire Country's declaration against Water Country would become the first official proclamation of war in this entire conflict.
Striking first let you control the narrative. Fire Country defined this war as self-defense in response to aggression—an accurate account that also ensured legal justification and shaped favorable public opinion.
Simultaneously, this declaration demonstrated Konoha's unwavering stance against Mist at this stage: no ambiguity now, followed by no easy peace talks later.
This was a declaration leaving no room for compromise, symbolizing Konoha's determination to fight Mist until the bitter end, exuding a "fight-to-the-death" kind of resolve—in honesty, exactly the attitude a great nation should have taken from the very start.
It might even mislead outsiders into believing Konoha's primary war focus had shifted from the West Front to the East Front.
...
Three days later, the Third Hokage departed Konoha and set off toward the Daimyo's Castle in the Land of Fire.
After serious communication with the Daimyo, two days later, the Daimyo's envoy carried the Land of Fire's declaration of war to the Land of Water—the document bore the Daimyo's signature above and the Third Hokage's name beneath.
Though it was purely symbolic, it was still an official and formal document.
During wartime, while the Hokage as the military leader would quickly gain increased authority over the nation, the Daimyo remained the country's head of state.
This figure represented the living embodiment and voice of the nation itself.
That's why the ninjas couldn't officially go all out until the representative clearly said, "Crush them."
P.S.: Final day to cast your monthly votes, folks!
<><><><><><><><>
Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!
~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** this weekend!
<><><><><><><><>
~ 100+ Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!
~ More *Free* Chapters and Books Available on Patreon!
patreon.com/Tansnovel
<><><><><><><><>