"Hiruzen, what exactly do you mean?"
Homura Mitokado spoke up immediately. If it had been in the past, when the Third Hokage mentioned Minato Namikaze's name, they wouldn't have thought much of it.
But now, no one could regard Minato Namikaze as just an ordinary ninja anymore.
An eleven-year-old ninja or younger who could play such a critical role on the battlefield.
With the war over and time for him to grow, his value to Konoha might even rival that of the Nine-Tails itself.
Tailed Beasts served as balancing forces among nations, and Minato Namikaze had already shown potential to hold similar significance.
This was the unspoken judgment held by both elders.
Minato Namikaze truly deserved such recognition.
"If possible," said the Third, "I hope both advisors can understand the relationship between Minato Namikaze and Kushina. What I mean is, Kushina means a lot to Minato. She's really special to him. This was something Lady Mito told me before her passing."
"Did you say Lady Mito!?" Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane exchanged puzzled looks, not understanding the connection.
The Third added, "There's absolutely no risk in sharing information about the Nine-Tails with Minato Namikaze, because this kid would never do anything to harm Kushina."
The intelligence regarding the Nine-Tails was strictly managed to protect Kushina's safety and prevent enemy nations from discovering it.
Since Kushina was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, revealing this information endangered her life—but naturally, Minato would never disclose such a secret.
Although the two advisors didn't understand the implication behind Lady Mito's words, they sensed the firm determination in the Third's tone. After a moment of thought, they nodded.
Nearby, Danzo's expression darkened as he realized even the other two elders had accepted Minato Namikaze.
Minato Namikaze was Jiraiya's apprentice and the Third Hokage's protégé.
Their recognition meant nothing good for Danzo.
Having received confirmation from Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, the Third looked over at Danzo and asked, "And you?"
"Do whatever you want," Danzo replied.
The Third gave a slight chuckle, then said, "You should all make preparations too. The Sunagakure peace envoy has already arrived at the Fire Daimyo's residence in the Land of Fire."
Although Konoha's forces had already returned, this war went beyond a mere battle between Konoha and Sunagakure.
Behind each village stood the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire, and as the defeated side, the former would certainly have to pay some price.
That was the unwritten rule of their world. Furthermore, Konoha's performance on the battlefield had already made the Land of Wind's daimyo and high command deeply fearful.
A hidden village represented a ninja nation's military force, and although Sunagakure's losses weren't utterly devastating, they were still severely weakened.
So no matter what price the Land of Wind had to pay, they were desperate not to anger the Land of Fire and Konoha again.
...
Several days later, in the Land of Earth.
Among the desolate rocky cliffs, troops from Kumogakure were stationed there.
In a military tent, the Third Raikage's brother finished reading an intelligence report from the village and his expression shifted instantly.
Seeing his reaction, the others in the tent looked on in confusion.
The Third Raikage's brother tossed the intelligence onto the nearby rock. Ryo Yagura picked it up, and after reading for a moment, his eyes narrowed sharply.
"Ceasefire!?" He immediately exclaimed in shock.
"What?" Others reacted with disbelief upon hearing this. After all, they clearly held the advantage in the war—why would talk of ceasefire arise?
Yet when they saw the contents of the battle report pressed again onto the stone by Ryo Yagura, shock appeared across their faces.
The Konoha forces who invaded Wind Country had inflicted heavy losses on Chiyo's Sand Ninja unit.
Two strong shinobi of Sunagakure—Kouhi and Liufei—had died instantly on the battlefield.
These two already carried considerable reputations in the ninja world.
Their deaths stunned everyone present—not least because these two were Chiyo's son and daughter-in-law.
To take down such powerful figures right under her nose...
Since the legendary clash between the Sannin and Hanzo, this was the second time Konoha ninja had shaken the nations.
Wind Country had already made peace with Fire Country. Under such circumstances, continuing to fight Earth Country—even with an advantage—was clearly unwise.
"Minato Namikaze…"
Amidst the shock, many found themselves murmuring the name that once again appeared on the battlefield report.
They hadn't paid much attention the first time—but this time was different…
Because Kouhi and Liufei had fallen beneath him and Sakumo Hatake.
According to the report, this Konoha ninja named Minato Namikaze was merely a boy no older than eleven or twelve.
"Could it really be him?" Ryo Yagura wore a horrified expression. He simply couldn't believe that the "Minato" mentioned twice on the report was actually the same person he met previously in Hot Springs Country.
Beside him, Daigo—who would later become the Fourth Raikage—also wore an expression of disbelief.
Clearly, this time around, no one could ignore the name Minato written on the report.
At the same time, a deep wariness of Konoha took root in their minds.
There were the Konoha Sannin—and then there was Sakumo Hatake, who had earned the title "Legend of the White Fang" across the ninja world.
This title originated from Iwa Ninja due to Sakumo's white hair and the white chakra-infused blade he wielded.
When that blade blazed with light, it signaled the moment the "Legend of the White Fang" unleashed his wrath.
Iwagakure's Tsuchigawa and Sunagakure's Kouhi had both perished beneath that white blade.
Ever since the end of the First Great Ninja War, when the Second Hokage fell, Konoha entered a period of decline—only improving after the emergence of The Third Hokage, the so-called Hero of the Ninja World.
And after the Second Great Ninja War, under the deterrence of the Sannin and the Legend of the White Fang, Konoha was poised to stun the nations once more.
"The Iwa forces have been retreating without battle these past two days. It seems they must've received this news earlier and have just been waiting for us to withdraw."
The Third Raikage's brother narrowed his eyes. Iwagakure's intel network has always had an edge over the others.
All of this was due to the leadership of the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki of the Two Scales.
"Send word. Clean things up and prepare to retreat back to Kumogakure."
He continued, with a hint of irritation in his voice. Yet this was the order from the Third Raikage, and under current circumstances, it was a necessary decision.
"Yes!" answered a Cloud Ninja as he dashed out of the tent.
Those left in the tent also wore looks of dissatisfaction. Still… they had no choice.
"Minato Namikaze..."
Yagura Ai, who would later become the Fourth Raikage, murmured that name, his eyes showing an interesting flicker.
...
Land of Rain.
Before the fully prepared Konoha forces, Jiraiya instead shouldered his pack and turned toward another direction.
"Jiraiya, are you really not going back to the village?" Kai Uchiha asked, watching his receding back.
Jiraiya glanced sideways with a smile and replied, "You guys go back first. I need to stay here for a while and do something—make amends for my past mistakes."
Whoosh!
With those words, he quickly dashed forward, leaping onto a nearby cliff dozens of meters high.
Within the woods of that cliff, three small figures wearing backpacks walked out from among the trees.
Suddenly appearing before them, Jiraiya smiled and said, "Let's go, Konan, Yahiko... Nagato!"
"Yes, sensei!" the three children answered in unison before walking slowly into the woods alongside Jiraiya.
Not long after, truces were declared between the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire, and between the Land of Earth and the Land of Lightning—peace agreements now binding each pair.
Meanwhile, the Land of Water—one of the Five Great Hidden Villages located far overseas—had gone silent, taking no action throughout the entire war.
However, by this point... The Second Great Ninja World War officially ended!
...
Sorry everyone—it's gotten pretty late. I've just been super busy lately. My bad.
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