My Sign-in System in Naruto

A had never dreamed that he would one day be defeated by a kid like Haru.

Not only had they failed to gain anything from this meeting, but they had also lost Yugito, a Jinchūriki.

According to Mifune, Hiruzen had already left the Land of Iron. Even if they chased after them now, it was unlikely they would catch up.

Even if they did, given A's current state, not only would he be unable to reclaim Yugito from Haru, but he might also lose Shi and Darui due to such an unwise decision.

"Konoha."

A clenched his fists tightly. He couldn't just pretend that what had happened today was nothing.

"If they want to start a war, then we'll fight to the end."

A's voice was low as he turned to Shi and Darui. "Come back to Kumogakure with me. This time, we won't just reclaim Yugito. We'll also uncover the secrets of the Hyūga clan and take Konoha's Nine-Tails."

Seeing the furious Fourth Raikage, Mifune opened his mouth but hesitated to speak.

This was ultimately a conflict between Konoha and Kumogakure.

Whether it was to rebuild peace through a new alliance or to reignite the flames of war, it was a decision for the Kage of both villages to make.

As the general of a neutral nation, the only thing Mifune could do was try to dissuade them through persuasion.

But neither Konoha nor Kumogakure was willing to compromise or back down on this matter.

"Let's go back."

After delivering the message, Mifune didn't linger any longer. He simply assigned a samurai to escort the Raikage out of the Land of Iron.

In truth, while the Land of Iron's territory was vast, its people lived deep in the mountains.

The actual purpose of that territory was to serve as a buffer zone for the great nations during war.

This was the extent of what Mifune could do for the Land of Iron.

"How I wish to see the Five Kage set aside their prejudices and truly reach a consensus for peace."

Mifune looked up at the sky, though he knew in his heart.

Perhaps that day would never come.

Just as only the Land of Iron could remain neutral.

After weighing the pros and cons, A made his decision.

He would take Shi and Darui back to Kumogakure and declare war on Konoha.

Since they had abandoned this hard-won peace, he would destroy them with all his might.

Even if Haru's strength was indeed formidable and his talent extraordinary, no matter how powerful a shinobi was, they would still fall when faced with overwhelming numbers.

Just like his father, the Third Raikage.

His body was indestructible, and his attacks were unstoppable.

Even when facing a powerful tailed beast like the Eight-Tails, he could still suppress its rampage.

Yet even such a powerful shinobi had ultimately fallen to the encirclement of a shinobi army.

He had died from exhaustion.

Meanwhile, after leaving the Land of Iron, Haru and his group hurried back to the village.

Especially Hiruzen, whose emotions were complex.

Although he had made his stance clear in the Land of Iron, the thought of an impending war still troubled him.

Was this decision truly the right one?

If they had compromised with Kumogakure and simply handed over Hizashi's body, would the outcome have been different?

"Once you've made up your mind, there's no need to hesitate."

Haru noticed the change in Hiruzen's expression and spoke up.

When it came to Hiruzen, Haru felt that he sometimes struggled with indecision.

"Besides, our strength clearly surpasses Kumogakure's. There's nothing to worry about."

Haru said without hesitation.

If he could awaken the Sharingan or achieve Bankai with his Zanpakutō before the war fully erupted, the boost in strength would be immense.

Especially since Bankai wasn't a simple addition of power but a multiplication.

However…

Even Tōshirō Hitsugaya, known as a prodigy among Shinigami, had taken a long time to master Bankai.

Only Ichigo Kurosaki, the protagonist of Bleach, had managed to learn Bankai in just three days through sheer plot armor.

"I wish I could cheat like that too…"

Haru couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

Given his circumstances, mastering Bankai would probably take decades.

Rather than hoping to learn it, it would be better to rely on the check-in rewards to grant him Bankai directly.

"I understand."

Hiruzen nodded. "I'm not worried about the war between Kumogakure and Konoha."

"I'm just concerned that other villages might take advantage of the situation and strike while we're vulnerable."

After a series of events, Hiruzen no longer saw Haru as an ordinary teenager.

In Hiruzen's heart, Haru was already an outstanding shinobi of Konoha.

This was also why he had decided to appoint Haru as the commander of Root.

Especially in the current situation, Hiruzen felt it necessary to share his concerns with Haru.

"The Land of Earth isn't something to worry about. Their territory doesn't border ours. If they want to attack us, they'll have to go through smaller nations first."

Haru paused. "As long as we establish defensive lines in the Land of Grass and the Land of Waterfalls, they'll likely launch their attack from Amegakure."

And once the Land of Earth dragged Amegakure into the conflict, they would undoubtedly experience unprecedented suffering.

However, this explanation only confused Hiruzen further.

Haru had said something similar before.

It was clear that he had absolute confidence in Amegakure's strength.

But Hiruzen couldn't understand where Haru's confidence came from.

"Alright." Haru thought for a moment. After all, Hiruzen didn't have much longer to live.

By the time Jiraiya returned to the village, it would be around the time Hiruzen sacrificed himself.

"From what I know, Jiraiya is in Amegakure."

"Jiraiya?" Hiruzen was taken aback. No one understood Jiraiya better than he did.

Jiraiya was an exceptional shinobi who had inherited the teachings of Mount Myōboku.

If he hadn't left the village, Hiruzen might have even considered passing the title of Hokage to him.

"How do you know this?" Hiruzen couldn't help but ask, eager to learn more about Jiraiya.

"Well… I happened to find out. Jiraiya took on a few disciples in Amegakure and didn't return to the village with Tsunade. Do you remember that?"

Hiruzen nodded. That period was still fresh in his memory.

Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade had made a name for themselves during that time, earning the title of the Sannin.

"So I think Jiraiya and his disciples… can delay the shinobi from the Land of Earth." Haru spoke with conviction.

"Indeed…" Hiruzen agreed. "If Jiraiya is there, he could definitely do that."

"But… Jiraiya's disciples, huh? I'd really like to meet them someday." Hiruzen smiled warmly, a kind expression on his face.