"Seisui, we need to accelerate construction of the Flying Thunder God defensive base stations..."
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes.
"Judging by the established pattern of the Shinobi World Wars and the practices of the various villages, once their probing attacks and first wave of assaults fail, it'll be time for each village's elite shinobi to lead forces in search of a breakthrough..."
"You, the other Konoha Council members, and the members of Root will need to prepare to face them head-on..."
Tobirama nodded gravely. He was intimately familiar with this pattern.
It wasn't limited to the Shinobi World Wars. Clashes between shinobi clans during the Warring States Period had basically followed the same process. It was the optimal approach that the various factions had arrived at after countless wars.
If every major shinobi clan had fought to the death from the very beginning, they would all have been wiped out within three years.
Hiruzen continued predicting the course of the war: "Give it a little more time, and the other three Great Shinobi Villages will realize that the Kirigakure front has completely collapsed. They should gather their forces and launch one major offensive against Konoha's defensive lines."
"If we withstand that assault, the alliance between the three Great Shinobi Villages will basically fall apart on its own. They'll start stabbing each other in the back to grab whatever benefits they can and recover their losses. That's when we can try launching a counteroffensive."
"And remember: the moment any village's Kage appears on the battlefield, come to Kirigakure and inform me immediately!"
Under the current unwritten rules, aside from Kirigakure, the village that had gone mad, the Kage of the other Great Shinobi Villages would not casually appear on the battlefield during the early stages of the war, in order to avoid repeating what had happened during the First Shinobi World War.
There was a consensus on this among all Five Great Shinobi Villages.
Losing a Kage who was still in his prime would trigger terrifying internal strife within a village, causing losses far greater than any spoils they could seize through war.
But that didn't mean a Kage would never appear on the battlefield. Their absence during the early stages was simply meant to prevent the normal probing phase of the war from escalating in intensity for no reason.
When the time came to settle the outcome in one decisive blow, or when an important major battle took place, they would undoubtedly enter the fray.
"Yes!"
Tobirama raised no objections to Hiruzen's arrangements, because master and disciple were thinking along the same lines.
"Hokage-sama, the Land of Water and the Land of Fire have already concluded a permanent mutual defense alliance..."
Nakamaro seized the opportunity to interject: "Once things have stabilized here, take us with you to the northern front. That'll also help make up for Konoha's shortage of rank-and-file manpower."
Hiruzen smiled and nodded. "All right!"
That was exactly what he had in mind. By personally remaining in Kirigakure and winning over its people, he intended to reach the point where Kirigakure could be deployed as part of Konoha's forces.
The logic was the same as the cooperation between Amegakure and Konoha. The best way for two villages to build trust through cooperation was to fight side by side.
That way, not only would it ease the pressure on Konoha, it would also relieve some of Amegakure and Kirigakure's psychological burden, allowing them to work for Konoha without constantly worrying about what might happen to them.
"We've already brought one-third of the Land of Water's territory under control..."
Hiruzen pondered for a moment.
"Nakamaro, Tenzō, the two of you will be responsible for making sure the officials and shinobi in every region strictly follow Konoha's system. Take each area methodically, and stabilize each one as you go."
"If anyone needs me to personally step in, or wants to meet me, just tell me."
"Work through the Land of Water steadily and thoroughly. Once the joint regional defense network is in place, the areas where Kiritori and the other roaming bandits can operate will shrink dramatically. With me here, he won't dare expose himself."
"We need to learn from Kiritori's mistakes. Don't violate the objective laws of warfare by becoming overly aggressive or making pointless large-scale moves like sending out the entire army. Right now, establishing institutions and restoring order must take priority over everything else in the Land of Water."
"Also, keep in mind that anyone who actively instigated this war and colluded with the Third Mizukage shouldn't be given a chance to reform. Eliminate them without hesitation."
Hiruzen glanced at Nakamaro with a faint, knowing smile.
"Young man, remember this: don't bring the old Kirigakure Internal Affairs Department's way of doing things into your current work. Not a single person who deserves to die should be spared, and anyone who doesn't deserve to die must not be killed."
Nakamaro's heart jolted, and he hurriedly replied: "Don't worry, Hokage-sama! I'll follow your instructions to the letter..."
Perhaps Nakamaro had no such intentions consciously or objectively, but somewhere in his subconscious, he might have entertained the thought of using this opportunity to conveniently dispose of a few shinobi he disliked.
But after that slight warning from Hiruzen, any such thoughts vanished completely.
The more Hiruzen learned about Kirigakure and the Land of Water, the more satisfied he became.
Not only were its fisheries and mineral resources exceptionally abundant, but its terrain also made it highly suitable as a production base that was easy to defend and difficult to attack. Its craftsmen were also remarkably skilled.
After all, this was a village whose legacy revolved around the Seven Ninja Swords.
If he properly tapped into the region's potential, it would not only bring enormous benefits to Konoha, but also greatly increase the potential of his own Nindō.
"Let's get to work!"
Hiruzen waved his hand decisively.
However, while Hiruzen was in no hurry to find Kiritori, Hōzuki Gengetsu was extremely anxious to do so.
Through Hi-kun's covert arrangements, he and Mū had already taken a force of White Zetsu and were scouring the Land of Water, determined to dig three feet into the ground if that was what it took to find him.
Meanwhile, Madara was also studying the course of the Shinobi World War.
"Mm..."
"Hiruzen is actually thinking about pacifying the chaos in the Land of Water? That's certainly his style..."
"His way of fighting is clearly so similar to mine when I was young, yet his thinking doesn't just carry traces of me—it has Hashirama's style too. I really don't know what to say about him..."
Madara complained aloud, but Hi-kun could see the corners of his mouth rising.
Hi-kun curled his lips. He didn't know what to say about Madara-sama either.
When Gengetsu had previously called for Madara, Hi-kun had promptly reported it to him.
But Madara had merely waved him off dismissively, signaling him not to bother him...
Because from Madara's perspective, before Gengetsu could even put any pressure on Hiruzen, Kirigakure had already been smashed to pieces.
Judging by the strength Hiruzen had displayed, Gengetsu might be powerful, but there was little point in him intervening anymore. So for the time being, Madara had simply left him and Mū to their own devices.
That was simply the style of the Shura of the Shinobi World...
Never mind leaving Gengetsu and Mū to fend for themselves for a month or two.
His previous plan for his representative had involved leaving him to his own devices for more than a decade. His entire approach could be summed up as doing whatever he pleased without ever quite crossing the line.
Don't ask. The answer was simply that the Shura of the Shinobi World saw the bigger picture...
"Hiruzen intends to take complete control of Kirigakure. There's nothing wrong with that."
"That treaty he signed with the Land of Water's Daimyō has, in essence, made him the 'new First Mizukage.' In this war, Konoha has already gained an entire major nation as a reserve of resources."
Madara considered the implications.
"This also gives me a chance to see what Konoha is like without Hiruzen, and whether this so-called Will of Fire can temper a force of shinobi capable of withstanding the other five Great Shinobi Villages..."
"They can't keep expecting the Hokage to shoulder everything."
The better Hiruzen performed, the higher Madara's standards and expectations became.
Konoha still needed to become even better!
...
"Hey, hey, Senju Tobirama!"
"Let me meet Sarutobi Hiruzen! He must have mastered the Ten Thousand Seals Body Integration Seal. Let this old man pass the last of my secret knowledge on to him. I'm begging you!"
Aside from Gengetsu, yet another veteran powerhouse was now pleading with 'Tobirama-sama'...
It was none other than Uzumaki Ashina.
The Six Paths puppets Gengetsu and Mū were essentially an extremely advanced form of 'intelligence-gathering White Zetsu,' providing Madara and the other Kage with a live feed.
Madara was generous enough to let everyone watch Hiruzen's performance together.
After all, what fun was watching a live feed alone compared to watching it with a whole group?
A lonely old man liked having company...
But once Ashina started watching, he became thoroughly excited. With his extraordinary familiarity with Fūinjutsu, he could tell at a glance that there was something highly unusual about Hiruzen.
Whether it was neutralizing Water Release or dealing with the Third Mizukage's genjutsu, Ashina was certain that Hiruzen had accomplished it through Fūinjutsu—and the kind engraved directly into his own body at that.
Considering that his daughter Mito was still enjoying her extraordinarily extended lifespan in Konoha, and that Hiruzen was Tobirama's disciple, Ashina was certain...
The Hokage had absolutely mastered the Ten Thousand Seals Body Integration Seal he had pursued his entire life!
That revelation left the other Kage dumbfounded as well.
They usually treated the old man's ideas as a joke and mocked him for them...
Turning a person into a living Fūinjutsu array—how could that possibly be right?
No, seriously, why did Konoha have so many monsters...?
Even a technique that sounded like someone had come up with it on a whim could actually be mastered by someone?!
...
"This old bastard..."
Madara, in a rare moment of open exasperation, muttered, "He's seriously annoying..."
In terms of seniority, Ashina really was a generation above him, belonging to the same generation as his father, Tajima.
"Hi-kun, go make him shut up. There'll be a time for him to make an appearance later."
Madara waved his hand. Although he normally enjoyed listening to Ashina curse Tobirama out, the old man had simply become far too talkative lately, periodically launching into another bout of crazed ranting.
"Yes, Madara-sama!"
Hi-kun immediately went to placate Ashina.
Without him around, this whole household would fall apart sooner or later...
Madara narrowed his eyes.
"Hiruzen is gathering Fūinjutsu within his own body? For someone without Uchiha or Senju blood, that's certainly a good approach. Unfortunately, the greatest power in the shinobi world doesn't lie in the Five Releases..."
"Nor does it have anything to do with genjutsu or Kekkei Genkai. It lies in the power that gives rise to all things, born from the fusion and opposition of Yin and Yang."
"But you're still only a mortal. Can you really go any further?"
Madara shook his head. He had the faint feeling that the situation was beginning to slip slightly beyond his control.
Still, Madara felt that the main problem was simply that the Third Mizukage's stupidity had exceeded even his imagination...
Could someone really be that extreme?
He had actually abandoned his own village and become a roaming bandit!
"Once this war is over, the body I've been preparing for Izuna should be almost ready as well. Using the vitality of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and the essence of Hashirama's cells as its foundation..."
Madara looked toward the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. Within the lotus cradled in the statue's hands, a humanoid form was currently being nurtured.
Thinking of that, Madara relaxed considerably.
No matter how many extraordinary people emerged in the shinobi world, with Izuna there to assist him, everything would work out...
Hidden in the shadows, Black Zetsu gritted its teeth as it watched life force continuously pour out of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, yet didn't dare make a sound.
This was despicable betrayal!
A desecration of the Infinite Tsukuyomi!
And this was precisely why Black Zetsu had decided to help Hiruzen with his training and gather all the Tailed Beasts...
Madara still talked about the Infinite Tsukuyomi, yet he had already started siphoning away the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path's fundamental life force...
As far as Black Zetsu was concerned, Madara's convictions were slipping!
In Madara's understanding, the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path was supposed to be absolutely crucial to activating the Infinite Tsukuyomi. It should have been carefully protected, not squandered like this...
If things continued this way, Black Zetsu felt that Madara might someday drain the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path completely dry!
If he actually did that, he would be no different from the Sage of Six Paths. He would effectively be sealing Mother away for good...
'Sarutobi Hiruzen...'
'You'd better come through! I'm begging you, you absolutely have to master it...'
Black Zetsu prayed inwardly.
It understood that if Madara really did resurrect Izuna, then once the external brain of this reincarnation of Indra came online, everything would change.
As things stood, Black Zetsu could barely make a move and was limited to placing a few stumbling blocks in their path.
Once that happened, Black Zetsu would have no choice but to play dumb.
Otherwise, if it slipped up even slightly, based on its many years of observing Madara and Izuna, even claiming to be a Yin–Yang Release creation made by Madara would inevitably draw suspicion...
Izuna was officially certified as a smart man in Black Zetsu's book.
...
One month later.
Konoha.
Ichiraku Ramen.
A little fox sat on a swivel stool. After polishing off every last bit of the ramen in front of him, he wiped his mouth, still wanting more.
"Not bad..."
The Sage of Six Paths smiled cheerfully at the Nine-Tails. "Glad you liked it! That'll be ninety ryō..."
"Why do I have to pay?! Didn't you say the first three thousand bowls were free?"
The Nine-Tails stared at him in surprise. "You bastard, don't tell me you're making things difficult for yours truly because you always lose whenever we argue!"
For some inexplicable reason, the Nine-Tails had taken quite a liking to Ichiraku Ramen's new co-owner.
He always felt as though he'd seen him somewhere before...
Since the Sage of Six Paths also liked hanging around the Uchiha district, playing with the little "Indras" and reading the notice boards, the Nine-Tails gradually picked up a few ideas of his own. Before long, he had grown familiar enough with the man to seek him out and show off what he'd learned...
And so, the Sage and the Tailed Beast ended up sitting around arguing politics. Whenever their views didn't align, they'd even get into little squabbles.
Still, none of those arguments had ever soured their relationship. If anything, the two had only grown closer.
"Those three thousand bowls of ramen are for the shinobi fighting for Konoha..."
"You're just a little fox who doesn't even fight for the village, and you still expect to eat without paying?" the Sage of Six Paths said in amusement.
The speed at which the Nine-Tails had integrated into Konoha had exceeded his expectations.
And in a certain sense, the Sage of Six Paths could see in him a tangible example of Tailed Beasts and shinobi living together in harmony...
"I don't fight for the village, huh?"
The Nine-Tails immediately bristled.
"I'm protecting the village from threats within! Got it?! If Mito weren't so old now that she couldn't handle too much of my chakra, and I wasn't worried something might happen to her—not to mention that her position makes it inconvenient for her to fight right now—I would've gone to the front lines ages ago!"
"Do you have any idea how many spies I've caught with my Negative Emotions Sensing?"
"Besides, do you even know what mission the Hokage gave me?"
"I'm not afraid to tell you. Once those two idiots, the Three-Tails and Six-Tails, wake up, I'm going to win them over with the Will of Fire and make them understand that Tailed Beasts and shinobi can live together peacefully..."
After being controlled by the Third Mizukage for so long and then taking a brutal beating from Hiruzen, the Three-Tails and Six-Tails had been pushed almost to the point of dissipating.
After they were brought to Konoha, there were no suitable vessels available to seal them into, so Mito could only take her time applying seals one after another to restrain them, preventing them from becoming overly agitated once they regained consciousness.
After all, although the Nine-Tails had confidently insisted he could handle them, what if he couldn't?
Konoha currently had plenty of shinobi capable of serving as vessels for Tailed Beasts.
But they were all fighting on the front lines, and suddenly turning one of them into a jinchūriki would still carry considerable risks.
They would need time to adjust to each other, after all...
"Hmph..."
"Right now, the Hokage is helping the Kiri shinobi rebuild their homes. Mito showed me all the intelligence reports. The Will of Fire is about to spread throughout the entire Land of Water. Once I've won over the Three-Tails and Six-Tails, I'll speak on behalf of the Hokage and rally all of Konoha's shinobi!"
The Nine-Tails crossed his arms.
"Forget it. I can't really blame you. You haven't even been in Konoha that long. You have no idea how important yours truly is to this village..."
The Sage of Six Paths chuckled inwardly.
Hiruzen's actions in the Land of Water had also left the Sage of Six Paths extremely satisfied.
Rather than taking advantage of the chaos for his own gain, Hiruzen was methodically pacifying the unrest and consistently emphasizing that restoring order came first. The Sage of Six Paths couldn't help but sigh in admiration:
The Hokage truly has the character of the benevolent sages of old!
As for exactly which benevolent sage of old he meant, that was harder to say...
"Then you really are impressive..."
The Sage of Six Paths gave the Nine-Tails a thumbs-up. "All right, Ichiraku Ramen is free for you from now on!"
"Hokage-sama really is a different kind of shinobi. The way he does things reminds me of the ancient sages, of ideals said to have existed only during the era of Ninshū..."
The Sage of Six Paths quietly slipped in a little promotion of his own.
"You should read fewer of those useless books and spend more time reading Hokage-sama's quotations. You said Ninshū?"
The Nine-Tails chuckled. "I can't even be bothered..."
Having witnessed who knew how many clashes between Asura and Indra, the Nine-Tails really had very little interest in Ninshū's ideals.
The Sage of Six Paths' expression darkened. "Hey, how can you say that?"
"Nine-Tails-sama, the Three-Tails and Six-Tails have awakened..." An ANBU appeared beside the Nine-Tails.
"Good!"
The Nine-Tails' eyes lit up. He waved a paw at the Sage of Six Paths with considerable swagger. "I've got work to do for the village. You stay here and keep making ramen!"
The Sage of Six Paths watched the Nine-Tails leave and suddenly smiled.
Ninshū...
Although it remained an obsession in the Sage of Six Paths' heart, even he had to admit that if Ninshū were still the most advanced set of ideals after a thousand years, that would instead be an extremely unhealthy sign.
'The Hokage...'
'The Will of Fire... Sarutobi Hiruzen...'
The Sage of Six Paths kneaded the dough as he sank into thought.
...
Senju Ancestral Residence.
The Nine-Tails stood beside Mito, smiling as he looked at the Three-Tails and Six-Tails, whose bodies had been compressed down in size.
"Yo. Finally awake?"
In truth, rather than saying they had awakened, it would be more accurate to say that the Three-Tails and Six-Tails had finally finished healing themselves.
The two Tailed Beasts had endured mental torment for far too long, and their bodies had also suffered severe injuries.
"Long time no see, brothers..."
"How'd you two end up in such a sorry state? Looks like neither of you took the old man's words to heart back then!"
The Nine-Tails' expression suddenly changed as he spoke with an air of bitter disappointment.
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