There's no way Nawaki can be allowed to die on the front line.
From the most self-centered standpoint, Haseo had convinced Tsunade to support Nawaki going to the front—though it really was the most logical choice in the end, it was still Nawaki's own decision. So even if he did eventually die in the Land of Rain, the blame wouldn't fall on Haseo.
Yet reason was one thing; emotions were another.
Haseo didn't want Tsunade to remember every time she thought about her younger brother dying in battle that it had been him who encouraged the decision… No matter what happened, Haseo deeply cared for those close to him and truly valued the life he had now.
While Tsunade focused on treating Yayoi, she also started making preparations for Nawaki's dispatch to the Land of Rain.
After Kagenami reported the results of the Uzumaki disappearance case to the Hokage, the Third Hokage still summoned Haseo… Any internal conflict within the village naturally warranted extra scrutiny—he wouldn't let the place fall apart during his tenure.
Remember, this was Haseo they were talking about—did anyone actually believe he'd just quietly back down?
So what would he do? Nothing more than a little "talk therapy."
Based entirely on Haseo's habitual character and past behavior, the Third Hokage's thinking regarding the current "Uzumaki incident" followed familiar patterns… Yet in reality, Haseo genuinely had decided to lay low—not for any other reason, but simply because his focus had already shifted beyond Konoha itself.
First there was the existence of "Root"; then came the benefits gained from independently leading armies since the start of the war; and even earlier, the vague connections built with Hanzō of Amegakure… In Konoha, certain individuals had undergone profound changes, yet the Third could do nothing to stop it.
Of course, for those directly involved, these changes weren't so obvious. But Haseo was someone who "knew the future," so he paid particular attention to certain ominous signs.
He had never truly felt strong attachment to Konoha, so when certain events occurred, he didn't think about stopping them or trying to make the village better… He knew there was no way he could stop everything anyway—and he wasn't about to waste himself on efforts that might just crash and burn… Instead, he realized his days in Konoha were numbered.
He had no intention of becoming a rogue ninja—it was merely that his current strength and abilities were more than sufficient to leave Konoha's system peacefully… Just like how Tsunade and Jiraiya were remembered.
"I'm still a Konoha ninja. Can't I take a little trip, maybe even a scenic one? I'm just stretching that journey out a bit longer."
What had Konoha given him? Haseo felt he had long repaid everything through consecutive wars. Comparing himself with every living person currently in the village—including even the highest authority, the Third Hokage—who else possessed achievements surpassing his?
The Hokage stabilizing the entire Land of Fire from within Konoha?
Danzo Shimura unifying the Western Front against three enemy forces… Well, that was somewhat laughable. At the war's beginning, if Haseo had been stationed on the Western rather than the Eastern Front, he would've crushed the enemies completely by now.
On the other hand, precisely because Haseo was prone to radical actions, the Third Hokage placed him at the Eastern Front rather than the Western Front. In such wartime matters, he trusted Shimura Danzō more… The Third Hokage was a measured man, so naturally he preferred someone equally steady—after all, at the very least, Danzo wouldn't march the whole Western Front into a slaughter, right?
Look at how the battlefield in the Land of Rain remained evenly matched against its enemies from beginning to end; Konoha demonstrated incredible stability. Isn't this proof of the Third's "wisdom in choosing people"? Even though Konoha is currently the strongest ninja village, being able to force a fifty-fifty outcome with rival villages still shows real skill.
The only risky operation during the war that the Third supported was the special mission to attack Kirigakure. But what was the basis for that decision?
It had nothing to do with military strategy. At that time, the Third made that decision mainly for his own "successor."
Thinking back to everything before, Haseo… didn't even feel anger—maybe because he wasn't in the position to act. After all, he wasn't the Hokage.
"Good afternoon, Lord Haseo."
"Oh, it's you, Kohei. Taking your younger brother out to play?"
"No, this kid played alone too long earlier; my mother asked me to bring him home… Excuse us, Lord Haseo."
On his way to the Hokage's office, Haseo ran into two kids.
One was named Kohei Sarutobi, somewhat younger than Minato Namikaze, around eleven years old; the other, about Kakashi's age, was Asuma Sarutobi.
The eldest son of the Third Hokage was a truly well-mannered child—never mischievous, always honest, polite, quiet, and well-behaved. Haseo recognized him as a rare kid who wasn't a "brat." In fact, the boy was even more favored by Haseo than Minato Namikaze.
Seriously, fulfilling the responsibilities of Hokage must have delayed the Third's family life considerably—mathematically speaking, he could be considered a late-married and late-fathering man. Judging by age, his first child was born when he was thirty-four.
Still, when Haseo suddenly realized that while he was shedding blood on the battlefield, the Hokage had been busy fathering children back in Konoha, a flicker of irritation surfaced.
No wonder he became Jiraiya's mentor.
Haseo arrived at the Hokage's office, knocked, and entered. He rarely saw the Third not buried under paperwork at his desk, but instead standing by the window, gazing into the distance at the streetside view… most likely watching his sons leave.
"Hokage-sama."
"You ran into Kohei and them?"
"Yeah, exchanged greetings."
They merely passed each other briefly, so naturally Haseo didn't have time to teach anything strange to the Third's sons, hence the Third chose to believe him.
"What about that rescued Uzumaki child? How is she doing now?"
After the two sons disappeared from sight, the Third turned around, shifting to the topic—the reason he summoned Haseo.
"She's receiving treatment. Her mind is normal, though her experiences were awful. Hopefully, her body will recover soon," Haseo truthfully reported.
The Third Hokage sighed, "I never expected something like this to happen in the village. Regarding the handling of what comes next..."
"The person has been brought back safely. The kidnappers were killed on the spot, and the culprit received his deserved punishment. Therefore, the Uzumakis have calmed down. This matter... ends here," Haseo cut in first.
It wasn't because he was considerate; rather, he didn't want to hear any insincere or conciliatory words.
"And you—what do you think, Haseo?"
"Me? Since the Uzumakis involved have decided to drop the issue, I don't feel compelled to say more either. I'll just respect their decision."
The Third Hokage studied Haseo's expression. Seeing that these words didn't seem feigned but truly reflected his thoughts, he quietly nodded. "Indeed, Konoha shouldn't waste its strength through internal conflicts."
Haseo looked carefully at this old man. At this moment, he recalled the Third Tsuchikage from the "Hard Work Faction"... Both were elderly men with graying beards, yet they could be completely different from each other.
"What is it?"
After thinking for a while, Haseo still decided to voice what had been nagging him. "Hokage-sama, since I don't hold the position of Hokage myself, naturally I cannot fully understand the difficulties you face as its incumbent. You may take my remarks as mere empty theorizing if you wish. Yet some issues remain clearly distinguishable between right and wrong.
Every organization and institution within Konoha exists to serve the entire village. Ninja who feel a sense of belonging will constantly reflect upon how they might better help the village itself. However, there are always those who believe they alone work wholeheartedly for the village, considering themselves uniquely sincere and passionate, boasting of being the most loyal—believing they embody Konoha itself—and casting suspicion on everyone else, deeming fellow shinobi either insincere or burdens. Is that normal?
To carry out your will is called upholding the Will of Fire, but opposing your view is labeled as a threat to the entire village—a national cancer... haven't you put yourself on too high a pedestal?
Just believing in your own sincerity doesn't mean it's objectively true. Humans are naturally prone to overly positive self-evaluations deep inside."
Haseo paused momentarily, taking a deep breath before continuing, "As a subordinate, I can't openly express much—but Hokage-sama, whether you knew about this or not carries separate implications. Still...
As the Hokage, you must at least bear responsibility for such 'ignorance.'"
At this point, the Third Hokage couldn't help letting out a bitter smile. He called that holding back?
Each word Haseo spoke had cut straight to the point.
It wasn't until now that the Third Hokage realized Haseo had already reached his mid-thirties.
He was no longer a young ninja, but a seasoned warrior at his peak—one of Konoha's key defenders.
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