In the streets of Konohagakure,
Three familiar figures strolled side by side. Two of them engaged in lighthearted banter, their voices occasionally breaking the serene rhythm of their steps. The third figure was quieter, speaking less but visibly relaxed, savoring the rare moment of tranquility.
Passersby and shopkeepers occasionally recognized the trio, their faces lighting up with admiration as they whispered among themselves.
"Who would've thought? The three of us, hanging out like this again. It's been, what, over ten years?"
Jiraiya sneaked a glance at Tsunade, only to receive a disdainful look. Quickly averting his gaze, he slung an arm around Orochimaru's shoulders with a mischievous grin.
"Especially you, Orochimaru. It's like a miracle," Jiraiya chuckled, though his laughter carried a hint of nostalgia.
Decades of memories flooded back—three classmates starting at the academy together, him, the loser, inexplicably paired with prodigies like Orochimaru and the granddaughter of the First Hokage, Tsunade. He recalled the unexpected twist of fate that led him to sign a contract with Mount Myōboku through a fluke summoning.
Through countless missions and battles, their bond deepened. During the Second Shinobi World War, they stood together against Hanzo the Salamander, earning the title of Konoha's "Legendary Sannin."
Back then, Jiraiya had believed their friendship was unbreakable.
But life had other plans. One friend succumbed to darkness and defected from the village. Another, consumed by grief, withdrew into isolation. Even their revered teacher became unrecognizable, worn down by the passage of time.
Jiraiya often thought of himself as a failure—too timid to confess his feelings, unable to stop a friend from straying into darkness, and incapable of finding the prophesized "Child of Destiny" who could bring peace to the shinobi world.
Not even his proudest student, Minato Namikaze, could be saved in his final moments. Worse still, Jiraiya failed to protect Minato's child, Naruto.
But everything changed when a certain Hokage returned from the afterlife.
"Seriously, though," Tsunade smirked, "I've got to know—what kind of spell did my granduncle cast to make a venomous snake like you follow him so obediently? It's like... you're under genjutsu or something."
With a mock glare, she punched Orochimaru in the side—not hard enough to incapacitate him, but enough to make a point.
"Genjutsu? Hardly," Orochimaru replied, brushing Jiraiya's arm off his shoulder. He straightened his posture, his tone unusually earnest. "It's Hokage-sama's charisma. I follow him out of my own free will, compelled by his unparalleled vision."
After a pause, his lips curled into a faint smile.
"Besides, I want to see just how far this 'windmill'—left to rust for decades under Sarutobi-sensei—can spin under Hokage-sama's breeze."
Tsunade and Jiraiya exchanged looks, speechless at how much Orochimaru had changed.
Shifting the subject, they entered a familiar yakiniku restaurant, one they'd frequented during their time as a team. The aroma of grilled meat filled the air as they settled into a cozy corner. Soon, plates of sizzling meat and bottles of fine sake adorned their table.
Over food and drink, years of estrangement melted away, replaced by the camaraderie of old times. Inevitably, their conversation drifted to the topic dominating the shinobi world: Tobirama Senju's Fourth Shinobi World War.
In Konoha, it wasn't called a "world war" but rather the "Unification War."
"Hard to believe. In just two weeks, only a handful of nations are left standing," Jiraiya remarked as Orochimaru updated them on Konoha's campaign.
"It's not surprising," Orochimaru replied, savoring a piece of grilled meat. "The high-level combat power of the shinobi world has always centered around the Five Great Nations. Hokage-sama dealt with them a year ago—destroying or assimilating their villages. These smaller nations have no real strength to resist. Victory is inevitable."
"You know," Orochimaru continued, "Konoha could have unified the shinobi world long ago. When the First Hokage founded the village, he and Uchiha Madara had the power to do it. Madara even wanted to. I'll never understand what the First was thinking, letting that chance slip away—"
Orochimaru stopped mid-sentence as Tsunade shot him a death glare. One wrong word about her granduncle, and he knew he'd be eating her fist.
"What, cat got your tongue?" Tsunade teased, flipping her hair.
"Heh, some things never change," Orochimaru murmured with a smirk.
"But you two," he added, turning to his companions, "while the frontlines are stretched thin, you're sitting here without a care in the world."
Caught off guard by his sly smile, both Jiraiya and Tsunade looked sheepish.
"I haven't seen Granduncle Tobirama around the Senju compound lately," Tsunade remarked, changing the subject. "Wonder what he's been up to?"
...
Deep Underground, Konoha
In a hidden laboratory, Tobirama Senju wasn't idle.
"Edo Tensei!"
Clasping his hands together, Tobirama activated the forbidden technique. Before him, a White Zetsu he'd borrowed from Madara screamed in agony.
Moments later, the screams ceased. The pale flesh darkened to a bronze hue, and a familiar face took shape.
"Where... am I?"
The resurrected Fourth Raikage, A, opened his eyes, his expression a mix of confusion and anger. When he recognized the man before him, his gaze hardened into a glare.
"Tobirama Senju! You...!"
This was the man responsible for Kumogakure's destruction—the demon whose hands were stained with the blood of countless Kumo shinobi.
Though his fury was palpable, A remained still. He understood immediately: this was Tobirama's forbidden technique, Edo Tensei. Even with his soul chained, his anger burned brightly.
"Long time no see, Raikage," Tobirama greeted with a faint smirk.
"Hmph!"
A refused to respond, his pride wounded by his helpless state. Yet beneath his defiance, he marveled at Tobirama's genius. The Edo Tensei technique was beyond anything he'd imagined—his strength was nearly identical to his prime, and his chakra seemed inexhaustible, replenished by nature itself.
"So," Tobirama said, his smile deepening. "How about a deal, Raikage? I have a proposal you might find... interesting."
A's eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"What deal?"
"I've heard rumors," Tobirama began, "that Kumogakure was secretly developing a certain chakra weapon..."
A's shock was impossible to hide.