Before the war had even begun, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, had already considered requesting reinforcements.
Jiraiya didn't know what to say. He didn't even know what to think. For a moment, he could only stare in silence, completely speechless.
"Sensei! Hokage-sama—after all, he's the Professor of Ninjutsu. He should be fine, right?"
Minato spoke from the side, his tone calm and confident, as if there were no doubt at all in his mind.
Jiraiya glanced at his genius disciple—this Minato who had clearly been thoroughly brainwashed by the Will of Fire and a vein popped slowly on his forehead.
My good apprentice… when did you become like this?
With a sigh, Jiraiya finally spoke, his expression serious.
"Prepare for the war with Iwagakure with peace of mind. Don't think about anything else."
"Yes!"
Minato answered just as seriously, without the slightest hesitation.
…
"Hah! The older that old man gets, the more indecisive and cowardly he becomes."
Orochimaru sneered openly, contempt written all over his face.
On the battlefield of Sunagakure, Tsunade received the news of the reinforcement request. Her expression didn't change in the slightest—utter indifference, as if the matter had nothing to do with her at all.
Orochimaru, who was accompanying her, couldn't help but laugh softly when he heard it.
"Just as expected. These days, that old man is only capable when it comes to internal power struggles inside Konoha. The moment it's an external war, he's completely useless. He's no longer fit to be Hokage."
As if suddenly remembering something, Tsunade tilted her head slightly and asked with mild curiosity,
"Oh, right. What about Shiki? How did he respond on the Kumogakure battlefield?"
Whether or not Sarutobi received support was irrelevant to her. Compared to Iwagakure, the battlefield here in the Land of Wind was nothing easier either. Even if they wanted to send people elsewhere, it would realistically be impossible.
She was simply curious.
After all, once news like this reached Shiki… how would he respond?
The ones responsible for reporting were several Konoha ninja from the Sarutobi clan, the same group that had previously appeared before Shiki.
The moment they were asked about it, their expressions turned ugly.
"That Shiki—he actually told us to get lost!"
"And someone like that is supposed to be one of our Konoha shinobi?!"
"Golden Lion? Hah! He's nothing but a coward. He doesn't deserve that title at all!"
One after another, complaints spilled out uncontrollably.
They hadn't dared to say any of this in front of Shiki, but now that he wasn't present, all their resentment finally burst forth.
What they didn't notice—
The instant the first sentence left their mouths, Tsunade's expression had already gone completely cold.
Even Orochimaru, standing beside her, narrowed his eyes slightly, a teasing glint flashing through them.
Boom!
"Enough!"
Tsunade slammed her fist down onto the table, the impact cracking the surface as her voice rang out coldly.
"The man I've chosen to acknowledge is beyond your right to judge."
"Are you trying to die?"
"…!"
These Sarutobi clan ninja had served within the clan for years, but they knew very little about the personal history between Tsunade and Shiki.
Now, faced with Tsunade's sudden fury, they were utterly confused.
"Tsunade-sama…?"
"Don't make me repeat myself. Get the hell out of my sight."
"Na—Nani?!"
Wasn't this supposed to be good news? How did it suddenly turn into this?
"What—still hoping someone will save you?" Tsunade scoffed coldly.
"Forget it. I'm not supporting anyone. Leave. Now. Or I'll throw you out myself."
As she spoke, Tsunade raised her fist, her killing intent completely undisguised.
"…!"
The group subconsciously swallowed.
Everyone in the ninja world knew about Tsunade's monstrous strength. There were even rumors that Jiraiya himself had nearly been beaten to death once when she lost her temper.
None of them had any desire to personally experience that fist.
Still...
If Shiki refused support, and Tsunade was the same…
Didn't that mean they had run back and forth for nothing?
"Tsunade-sama! P-Please, let's talk this out—!"
They genuinely didn't understand where they had gone wrong.
At that moment, Orochimaru suddenly let out a soft chuckle.
"Well… Shiki-kun and Tsunade do share something of a romantic relationship."
"…Huh?"
The Sarutobi clan ninja froze on the spot, completely dumbfounded.
"Lord Orochimaru…?"
With no other options left, they could only turn pleading eyes toward him.
Orochimaru merely smiled indifferently.
"Speaking of which, my own relationship with Shiki-kun is also quite good."
"…!"
That was enough.
There was no need to say anything else.
Support was absolutely impossible.
Tsunade and Orochimaru looked at them at the same time, their gazes making it clear that any further words would only worsen things.
Not daring to complain any longer, the group hurriedly retreated.
"Hmph. If they weren't from the Sarutobi clan, I'd have arrested them as spies already."
Tsunade snorted in disdain.
Orochimaru shrugged casually, clearly uninterested.
As for the Sarutobi clan?
He didn't care in the slightest.
In fact, Orochimaru didn't believe that Sarutobi Hiruzen would even remain Hokage once the Third Great Ninja War ended.
Before the war began, Shiki had already warned that Kirigakure might declare war on Konoha.
Hiruzen had ignored it completely.
A single mistake could be dismissed as coincidence but when combined with several others, it became more than enough to remove him from power… if someone chose to push.
Shiki-kun… was that your plan?
Orochimaru smiled faintly, saying nothing more.
…
Several days later, after rushing nonstop—
The battlefield of Kirigakure.
Sarutobi Hiruzen finally arrived.
"One year?"
When he heard the response delivered by his subordinates—Shiki's reply—Hiruzen nearly laughed in anger.
Does he think I'm an idiot?
Hiruzen could clearly see the situation on the Kumogakure front. If Shiki were serious, the Cloud Village wouldn't last a month.
A year?
It was an insult.
"Shiki…"
Hiruzen muttered through clenched teeth.
But there was nothing he could do.
As for Tsunade and Orochimaru on the Sunagakure battlefield…
After a long silence, Hiruzen could only sigh.
"…So even you chose Shiki in the end, Orochimaru."
Tsunade siding with Shiki didn't surprise him.
But Orochimaru?
That… he hadn't expected.
Just as Hiruzen was lost in thought, Uchiha Fugaku, the deputy commander of this war, hurried over.
"Hokage-sama! The Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, has led Kirigakure's forces straight toward our position!"
"What?!"
Hiruzen was stunned.
He had only just arrived—no warning, no negotiations, and they were already attacking?
Have they completely forgotten etiquette?! To bully an old man so brazenly—are they not ashamed of themselves?!
"Hokage-sama?"
Seeing Hiruzen momentarily frozen, Fugaku looked puzzled. To him, this was simply how war worked.
"Ahem!"
Realizing how awkward his reaction had been, Hiruzen quickly cleared his throat and forced himself to regain composure.
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