While the other shinobi villages were preparing intensively for war, on Mount Myoboku Jiraiya and Minato were training in Sage Mode. They had reached a basic level but had not yet fully mastered it.
"Little Jiraiya, little Minato, come quickly!" Fukasaku and Shima shouted, abruptly stopping their training. "The Great Sage is calling you! He has a new prophecy to share."
Hearing the word prophecy, Jiraiya immediately snapped out of his meditative state. Without a second thought, he grabbed Minato by the arm and ran into the great hall.
Although Minato sighed in resignation, his face showed a mix of seriousness and expectation.
While he was not as devoted to prophecies as Jiraiya, deep down he had a certain degree of trust in them.
...
In the imposing main hall of Mount Myoboku, the Great Toad Sage awaited them. With his eyes barely open, he began to speak slowly, describing the visions he had seen in his dreams.
"I saw a figure, a very blurry figure, I couldn't see his appearance clearly.
"That person possesses many kinds of powerful forces. His arrival will turn this world upside down, leading it to absolute chaos."
"He will be a child of prophecy who will emerge from the forbidden, someone who will speak of peace and future, but whose existence will bring war. I cannot clearly see how such a violent change will affect the future…"
"Jiraiya, I see that he and you have a master-disciple relationship. Don't reject him. Use the power of Mount Myoboku to guide him onto the right path, or else the world will face unimaginable terror, a crisis that could destroy everything."
Jiraiya listened in amazement to the new prophecy. His mind was blank.
Just then, an urgent message from Hiruzen arrived. Upon reading it, Jiraiya felt a chill run through his body.
The war had begun. He had to return immediately.
...
Back in Konoha, Jiraiya was stunned to hear of the village's recent decisions to show weakness towards the other shinobi villages. His expression reflected a mix of disbelief and frustration.
It's really crazy...
First, Konoha had taken an extremely firm stance, berating the other villages and attracting hatred and resentment alike. And then, without warning, it had made a complete 180-degree turn.
This is basically inviting them to declare war on Konoha!
Jiraiya really couldn't understand why the indecisive Hiruzen would do something like that...
"Old man, are you crazy?" Jiraiya blushed and shouted loudly: "You will make the whole shinobi world attack Konoha. How can we resist? The consequence of defeat will be the destruction of the village!"
"It would be fine if you were this harsh before. You would have only needed to show up the village elites and you could have deterred the other shinobi villages. Why are you taking such an extreme path now?"
Minato on the side was also stunned.
Konoha had always feared war. Even in the Second Great Shinobi War, despite winning, the village avoided demanding compensation as the victor, choosing to quickly defuse hostilities. The village had, in general, adopted a stance of absolute pacifism.
But this time, the situation was completely opposite. Konoha seemed eager for war, as if it could not tolerate it not breaking out. It was such a radical stance that it required involving all the shinobi of the world.
Even though he is a Konoha ninja with the will of fire, and has never questioned the decisions of the top leaders since he was a child, he can't help but start to question Sarutobi Hiruzen's decision now...
After just a few months of training in Mount Myoboku, Konoha has done such a big thing. Who can withstand this?
"Jiraiya, the village has full confidence in this war..."
Hiruzen coughed lightly and said in a deep voice: "Konoha has given the entire shinobi world a chance. Inviting various shinobi villages to sign a peace agreement is our sincerity, but if they choose to breach the contract, that's their business."
"And as I mentioned, the position of Fourth Hokage will be decided in this war, based on each individual's merits."
Jiraiya sighed. What can he do now?
The village has reached this critical situation and can only think of a way to overcome the difficulties first.
Jiraiya pondered deeply, 'It doesn't matter whether the old man has a plan or not. His way of thinking is wrong. He no longer seeks to prevent war; he is now obsessed with igniting the flames of conflict.'
'This change of mentality cannot be separated from the influence of that Uchiha brat, Kazuki.'
Jiraiya, Minato, and other people who witnessed Kazuki's rampage, combined with rumors from some older people in the village and Hiruzen's attitude, slowly began to piece together the loose ends and uncover certain secrets.
After all, the shinobi who are familiar with Senju Tobirama's chakra are not dead yet, and as long as one investigates carefully, one can still obtain relevant information.
In the private research of Minato, Jiraiya and Kushina, this small group of people came to a similar conclusion as Uzumaki Mito.
Kazuki was created by the second Hokage to solve the threat of the Uchiha clan to Konoha...
Although they had not come to such a shocking conclusion as Hiruzen, Jiraiya was convinced of one thing: Kazuki's existence had transformed the old man's thinking too much, and he was no longer fit to be Hokage.
If Kazuki were to become Hokage, Konoha would become even more extremist.
With that determination, Jiraiya set his sights on his disciple. Minato must become the Fourth Hokage. This is his chance to prove himself during the crisis and gain everyone's trust.
Jiraiya, who had sorted out his thoughts and logic, said in a deep voice: "Kazuki already has control of the Root. Therefore, in order for it to be fair, I and Minato must be on the same battlefield. Old man, you can't be biased. You must assign Minato some elite shinobi."
Jiraiya put pressure on Hiruzen.
Hiruzen snorted coldly. "This is a war, Jiraiya. This attitude of yours of choosing the best to gain merit is ridiculous."
Jiraiya had a stern face and did not accept any criticism. "It's not about merit. It's about the future of Konoha and staying on the right path."
Minato watched this scene silently without saying anything.
Like Jiraiya, Minato couldn't understand the village's decision and couldn't give up the idea of Hokage in his heart.
The position of Hokage has been his dream since he was a child, and the story of Shimura Danzo has told everyone in Konoha that if you don't take that position at the right time, you will never have another chance in this life.
Therefore, even if Hiruzen had already appointed Tsunade as an advisor, Minato was determined to give it a try if an opportunity arose to compete for the position of Hokage.
And the first step was to make sure his troops were strong and capable enough.
"In this war, Kazuki will lead the Root and some elites of the Uchiha clan to deal with Kirigakure. Is this fair?"
Hiruzen looked at Jiraiya sideways.
"He asked for it personally," Hiruzen continued. "But he mainly commands the Uchiha, who excel in Fire Release. Besides, the Sharingan will lose its effect when facing Kiri's silent assassins."
"Also..." Hiruzen said in a serious tone. "The leader of the Police Force, Uchiha Fugaku, and his men will also be under your and Minato's command."
Then, addressing Minato directly, he added:
"I have already chosen your disciples: Uchiha Rin, Uchiha Obito and Kakashi. These three young men will be under your charge."
"You understand what this means? This is a fair contest!"
Kazuki had explained to Hiruzen that although to deal with Kirigakure, the Uchiha's elite must be used to fight, but some young geniuses cannot withstand that intensity of battle.
And for the unity of the village, the shinobi of Minato and Jiraiya's faction must also establish a master-disciple inheritance with the Uchiha and let the Uchiha clan integrate into Konoha in a diversified way.
Hiruzen was greatly moved after hearing this, worthy of his sensei's pattern!
Minato's eyes lit up upon hearing this and he quickly replied, "I will not disappoint your expectations, Third Hokage!"
Accepting Kakashi, Uchiha Obito and Uchiha Rin as disciples means that Minato also has the support of the Uchiha clan behind him and has also established a connection with Hatake Sakumo.
Although this kind of connection makes no sense, from Minato's perspective, who has been kept in the dark, Konoha is in fact fair, and even a little biased towards him.
But in fact, Kazuki just wants to give Uchiha Obito and Black Zetsu a stage.
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