Regardless of the outcome, in the Third Great Shinobi War, Konoha would not be easily defeated. Seeing the fiery, almost eager glint in the Third's eyes, Mikami knew the old man wasn't truly afraid.
In fact, Mikami suspected the Third might even be hoping for the invading forces to strike Konoha directly—giving him a justifiable reason to unleash the Nine-Tails and resurrect the First and Second Hokages in a dramatic, last-stand counterattack. Of course, that was just his own speculation.
"Old man, I've made you a promise. I won't go back on it. Don't lump me in with someone like Uchiha Fugaku. That kind of man, blinded by ambition, has lost his most basic judgment."
Mikami shot a cold glance at the Third, his voice calm and measured. He understood the real reason for the Hokage's late-night visit: to gauge his sincerity. A teammate who betrays from within is far more dangerous than any enemy.
---
"I am aware of Fugaku's ambitions. It's a pity he lacks your… clarity of vision."
The Third's purpose had been served. For now, at least, Mikami was an ally in the trenches. While Uchiha Fugaku was nominally on the same side, his double-dealing and cold calculation of clan interests made him unreliable. Could the Uchiha truly remain neutral in this conflict?
The old man looked at Mikami with a hint of relief, inwardly praising the boy's sharp intellect.
At the same time, a thread of apprehension wound through him. An Uchiha with the Mangekyō Sharingan possessed unpredictable potential.
Since Mikami held no inherent hostility toward Konoha, the Third would be a fool not to try and secure his loyalty.
After all, it was the Uchiha who had caused Mikami's suffering, not Konoha.
"Pity."
He sighed inwardly, the earlier spark of hope cooling. Though Konoha was a great power, it had little to offer Mikami that he couldn't obtain himself.
And judging by the boy's demeanor, he likely wouldn't accept favors anyway.
"Come see me tomorrow. I will give you the details of your mission."
Pushing down his complex emotions, the pragmatic Hokage took a deep breath. "Your abilities are… unique. Assigning you a standard team would be pointless. So-called comrades would only be a burden to you."
"All the better."
Mikami gave a curt nod. He had been half-expecting the Third to saddle him with a team of rookies—comrades in name, spies in reality.
"That's all for today."
The Third Hokage seemed weary. With a wave of his hand, he vanished in a swirl of leaves, leaving Mikami alone in the silent night.
---
"The Third Great Shinobi War…"
With the Third gone, Mikami closed his eyes, sifting through memories of the war from his past life. After a moment of silent contemplation, his eyes snapped open, gleaming with clarity.
The catalyst for the Third War had been the disappearance of the Third Kazekage. In truth, he'd been turned into a puppet by Sasori of the Red Sand. His vanishing act had lit the fuse.
"I suspect the old man wants me to infiltrate Sunagakure."
Mikami's thoughts were clear. The unexplained loss of a Kage would naturally point suspicion at Konoha—the strongest village, and a long-time rival. Suna wouldn't hesitate to cast the first stone, launching the war's opening offensive.
Mikami clearly recalled that the Battle of Kikyō Pass happened around this time.
It was because Suna dumped all the blame on Konoha that the numerically inferior village dared to throw everything it had at the Leaf. Under the leadership of the new Fourth Kazekage, their initial assault nearly shattered Konoha's defenses, sending them reeling.
---
The Konoha forces, battered by Suna's offensive, were naturally furious. The Third Hokage, swearing vengeance, would naturally send someone like Mikami to give Suna a taste of its own medicine.
Orochimaru, one of the famed "Sannin" leading the main front against Suna, had been severely reprimanded by the Third for successive losses.
To be fair, Orochimaru was in an impossible position. He wasn't just facing a Kage; he was facing the mobilized might of an entire village, essentially alone.
The Third knew Orochimaru's situation, of course. Sending him to single-handedly counter a Kazekage—along with rumors of veteran Suna elites joining the fray, powerhouses like Chiyo—was a brutal assignment.
Even Orochimaru's formidable strength had its limits against the concentrated force of a hidden village. The ninjas under his command were only a fraction of Konoha's total strength.
---
"No matter what traps you've laid, you're nothing but a whetstone for my blade."
Mikami's eyes turned cold as sharpened steel, his murmur carrying a chill that felt like a knife at the throat. The reason he chose to participate in this war was to temper his strength.
No amount of training could match the forge of real combat. Only through battle could the powers of the Mangekyō Sharingan and the Pika Pika no Mi be fully honed and understood.
Feeling the night breeze grow colder, signaling the approach of dawn, Mikami frowned slightly. He then retired to his room. Even the strongest shinobi needed proper rest.
Especially since, in a few days' time, opportunities for relaxation would be few. Until then, he needed to conserve his energy.