Hatake Tatsuya in Naruto

In the past two days, Koharu, who was responsible for heading north for assistance, and Homura, who was searching for Jiraiya, returned to the southeast coastal front where Hiruzen was facing the Mist occupying the Uzunokuni ruins.

Both of their missions failed.

"I believe Ino-Shika-Chō and the Hyuga clan have already considered rebellion! Hiruzen, after this war ends, be sure to deal with these clans individually," Koharu exclaimed with bitterness upon her return.

Hiruzen, however, merely let her words pass through one ear and out the other, not taking them to heart.

Koharu's concerns were somewhat comical. Did she think that Clans of that size would just let themselves be manipulated like gullible civilians?

Even the Uchiha clan can only be massacred. After Konoha accused them of having participated in controlling the Nine-Tails, which completely tarnished their reputation within the village. It was only then that the higher-ups began to look for an opportunity to act.

What was even more crucial was that it would be a reckless move for the senior leadership to target these neutral families at this point. Their suppression of the Shinobi clans would only push them towards Tatsuya's side.

Hiruzen shifted his attention to Homura. "What did Jiraiya have to say?"

"He intends to remain on the Northwest battlefield and resist the combined assault of Rock Shinobi and Cloud Shinobi alongside Minato and Tsunade," Homura reported. "He insists on staying there, and there's little I can do to persuade him otherwise."

Jiraiya was a civilian but he was famous as the Sage of Mount Myoboku, free-spirited, and challenging to control, making him one of the most unpredictable figures in politics due to the lack of leverage the elders had over him.

"The situation on the western front is also perilous, but Jiraiya's decision is justified," Hiruzen commented. "If the Rock Shinobi and Cloud Shinobi break through into Konoha, the responsibility will fall on the Hokage's shoulders."

"The last time the Northern battlefield faced difficulties in the initial battle, I could shift the blame to Danzo because the enemy had not yet entered the Land of Fire. But if the enemy attacks our territory, regardless of which front they come from, the responsibility falls squarely on me as Hokage. I won't be able to shift the blame onto anyone else."

"Hiruzen, how do you plan to defend against Mist Shinobi's attack now?" After venting his frustrations towards Tatsuya, Sakumo, and other Shinobi clans, Koharu returned to the main topic and inquired about Hiruzen's strategy.

"Stay and hold our ground," Hiruzen decided after a few minutes of contemplation. "Order the entire army to establish strongholds along the coastline. Unless Mist Shinobi launches an attack, we will not initiate one ourselves."

It was evident that he was preparing for a war of attrition, aiming to buy time for the conclusion of the battle involving Jiraiya and Minato's side so that reinforcements could be sent. Yet, the situation on the other battlefield was precarious, and they were unable to spare any help. 

As for reinforcements from the Northern Army, with Tatsuya in the south, the chances of them arriving within half a year were slim. Even a decade might not suffice. Unless the elders were somehow eliminated, the situation seemed dire.

"It seems Tobirama's students inherited everything from Tobirama except his strength."

In the ruins of Uzi no Kuni, the "Third Mizukage" spoke in the voice of Uchiha Madara.

"The situation on the western front is exceptionally dire. The Sand Shinobi are gradually retreating from the battlefield. In the face of the combined assault by the Rock Shinobi and Cloud Shinobi, the defence of the Land of Fire may be breached at any moment."

White Zetsu emerged, half of his head protruding, and remarked, "Is this what you call mutual understanding among people? Hashirama... how absurd."

Elderly Madara smirked mockingly.

"Master Madara, what should I do next?" White Zetsu inquired, seeking guidance.

"First, devise a plan to secure, Obito, and then seize an opportunity to abduct the girl," Uchiha Madara's tone, as confided by the "Third Mizukage," remained eerily composed.

As if he held control over every aspect.

...

...

From this point onward, the Third Ninja World War escalated into full-scale warfare.

In the northwest, the Konoha Shinobi Army, led by Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Minato at the Kage level, faced off against the Third Raikage and the combined forces of Cloud Shinobi and Rock Shinobi, led by the Third Tsuchikage Onoki, who had yet to personally join the battle.

The cunning old fox, who had lived from the Sengoku era until now, had yet to reveal his intentions.

Even without Onoki's direct involvement, the Konoha forces faced a daunting task, confronting a coalition army of Cloud Shinobi and Rock Shinobi that outnumbered them threefold. Tsunade and her comrades had to endure and persevere.

On the southeastern coastal front, where the Third Hokage Hiruzen was positioned, the situation was slightly more favourable. After all, he had twice the military strength of the Mist Shinobi.

However, Hiruzen had adopted a defensive strategy, choosing not to initiate attacks. Consequently, the two sides remained locked in a standoff.

Hiruzen was biding his time, awaiting the resolution of the Western conflict involving Jiraiya and Minato so they could reinforce his position.

He did not lead his troops in an offensive campaign, indicating his lack of confidence in defeating the Third Mizukage, who was several years older than him.

The Third Mizukage was from the Sengoku era after all. he was the only bodyguard of the first Mizukage during the First Five Kage Summit that didn't become the Second Kage of his village, although he did eventually become the Third.

As for the northern battlefield, Tatsuya had led his army, pushing the Cloud Shinobi back into the Land of Lightning's territory. The Cloud Shinobi established a defensive line at the border, capitalizing on the high ground to prevent Konoha's forces from advancing. Tatsuya, too, refrained from hasty attacks and set up camp just outside the Land of Lightning's borders.

Both sides remained in a tense standoff. Tatsuya was awaiting news of either the enemy's incursion into the Land of Fire or the demise of the elders at the enemy's hands. As the situation continued to drag on, half a year had already passed.

In the camp where Tatsuya resided, there was Nohara Rin, who was Fifteen and a half years old, soon to turn sixteen, though she hadn't grown much. She wasn't as big as Tsunade, but she took comfort in knowing that she was no bigger than every other girl in their age group.

"Need assistance?" Rin heard Tatsuya's voice coming from outside the camp at that moment. She hastily finished what she was doing and rushed outside.

Upon exiting the camp, Rin spotted Tatsuya engaged in conversation with Hatake Sakumo, Nara Shikaku, and others. They were a group of Konoha Shinobi, dressed in standard vests and bearing the Sarutobi family armband on their shoulders.

The leader was a Sarutobi Jōnin wore an envious expression, but he refrained from expressing it openly, bearing in mind the death order from the head of the family, Master Hokage himself.

He stammered, "Yes, Master Tatsuya, you mentioned half a year ago that it would take only half a year to gather reinforcements for the southern battlefield. Now that time has passed, you see."

Tatsuya, disinterested in his rambling, asked, "How are the old Konoha four members faring?"

The Sarutobi Jōnin was bewildered. Old Konoha four? What was that?

Tatsuya clarified, "Oh, it's our Third Hokage, the man who can be blamed for everything wrong in Konoha, and the two battlefield consultants who have made a name for themselves. Koharu and Homura, the two eccentric figures who've become a jest in Konoha and throughout the Ninja World."

"Hokage-sama and elders are putting up a fierce fight on the southern battlefield to repel Mist Shinobi's incursion."

The Sarutobi Jōnin lowered his head, and he nearly believed his own words.

At this moment, Senju Nawaki, standing to the right of Tatsuya, muttered with a disgusted look, "Can this third Hokage even do anything? It's been so long, and they haven't achieved anything yet."

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