The familiar Warfare Operations Conference Room remained unchanged, the place where Kawakaze had first met Tsunade. This time, Kawakaze stood beside her, the two aligned in quiet anticipation. Nearby, Orochimaru and Sakumo observed, their expressions unreadable. More Jōnin were still on their way, and the Third Hokage had yet to arrive.
"Kawakaze is a master of deduction. I admire you," Orochimaru remarked, his tone grim, reflecting the gravity of the situation. The war had finally begun.
"It was just a bit of speculation," Kawakaze replied modestly, "but I didn't expect Hanzō of the Salamander to be so daring."
Kawakaze's knowledge extended beyond mere observation—he had read the original chronicles. A tiny nation like the Land of Rain, facing three simultaneous wars, was nearly unfathomable. Yet, Hanzō of the Salamander had achieved extraordinary feats. He had held his own against Granny Chiyo of Sunagakure, matched Mifune of the Land of Iron in combat but spared his life, and humiliated the disciples of the Third Hokage, bestowing upon them the infamous title of "Sannin." Truly, the title "Demigod" was no exaggeration for Hanzō.
Kawakaze couldn't help but think, This man embodies the reckless defiance of youth: unyielding, unafraid, determined to topple the great powers.
"The Land of Rain dared to provoke Konoha—Sensei must be furious!" Tsunade commented, glancing toward her office. She had seen the Third Hokage smash his pipe on the table earlier in frustration.
"We shouldn't underestimate Hanzō of the Salamander," Kawakaze cautioned her. He knew the danger well—Tsunade herself had narrowly escaped death at Hanzō's hands, saved only by Jiraiya's intervention.
"You're right, Kawakaze," Orochimaru admitted. "The Demi-God of the Ninja World have earned his reputation."
He believed there was no falsehood behind a name of such renown.
Meanwhile, Sakumo stood silently, his stoic demeanor unshaken. Kawakaze leaned against his elder brother's shoulder, disrupting his stillness.
"Brother, why don't you say something?"
"If the Land of Rain wants to fight, then let them fight," Sakumo replied curtly, his voice steady, his gaze unwavering.
Kawakaze smirked. "You're so arrogant," he teased, causing a crack in Sakumo's otherwise impenetrable composure.
"You—" Sakumo began, but his words were cut short as Kawakaze straightened abruptly.
"The Third Hokage is here."
Sakumo swallowed his retort, visibly annoyed. Tsunade, observing the brothers, felt an oncoming headache. At least her sister-in-law Nayuki was resting at home and wouldn't have to deal with this. Orochimaru, on the other hand, seemed entertained by the sibling antics—a rare moment of amusement for him.
The room fell silent as the Third Hokage entered, flanked by his trusted advisors, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado. The oppressive tension in the room was palpable as the meeting began.
The Third Hokage stood still for a moment before beginning to speak.
"The Land of Rain has declared war on Konoha, and the war has already begun. I have gathered you here today for one reason: to show Hanzō of the Salamander that Konoha's dignity cannot be violated. Led by Orochimaru, we will depart for the Land of Rain tomorrow. There is no room for defeat in this battle. Is that understood?"
This was no discussion—only the Third Hokage unilaterally issuing orders. His voice rose sharply at the end, commanding attention. His authority was undeniable, and the Jōnin in the room responded in unison:
"We will complete the mission at all costs!"
The atmosphere was charged, the group united by the Will of Fire.
"Orochimaru, organize the list of those who will deploy and those who will remain behind. Bring it to me later."
"Yes, Sensei," Orochimaru replied.
With that, the Third Hokage departed, flanked by his two silent advisors.
"I'll go," Sakumo announced, stepping forward.
Kawakaze could only sigh and follow, a wry smile on his face, unable to restrain his determined elder brother.
"Tsunade, you should remain in the village for now," Kawakaze suggested.
"The war is only beginning, and there shouldn't be any large-scale movements yet. You can join later if needed."
Kawakaze knew Tsunade had just received Hashirama's Cells, and she needed time to study it. There was no reason for her to rush to the battlefield because of him.
"Kawakaze," Orochimaru interjected, lightening the heavy mood. "Perhaps Tsunade won't need to join the fight at all. The war could end quickly."
"I hope so," Kawakaze replied, forcing a smile. He knew better—this war would likely drag on for years.
"Alright, I'll do as you say," Tsunade agreed, her eyes lingering on Kawakaze for a moment before conceding.
"I'll get going," Orochimaru said, excusing himself. He had much to prepare, and organizing the deployment list for the Jōnin alone would take him the entire day.
Kawakaze left with Sakumo and Tsunade. They had to set off the next day and still needed to pack their things.
"I'll go to the hospital first. See you tonight," Tsunade said as she parted ways after they left the Hokage building.
"Okay," Kawakaze replied, watching her leave before continuing the walk home with Sakumo.
"Big Brother, why are you in such a hurry?" Kawakaze asked, puzzled. His sister-in-law had just become pregnant, yet Sakumo seemed eager to join the war.
"If we don't fight to the death, how can the next generation live well?" Sakumo's eyes carried a rare depth of emotion. Only in front of his younger brother would he reveal his true thoughts.
Kawakaze understood then—his brother's actions were driven by a deep love for the village. This same devotion would later lead to his tragic end, abandoned by the village he cherished. But Kawakaze vowed this time would be different. Danzo was gone, and Sakumo still had him, Nayuki, and the unborn Kakashi.
"I didn't realize that you, someone so dull, had such lofty ideals," Kawakaze teased, trying to lighten the heavy atmosphere.
"I have nothing to say to you," Sakumo retorted, throwing a sideways glance before striding ahead, quickly disappearing from view.
Kawakaze chuckled, shaking his head. His Big Brother was always easy to tease.
When they arrived home, Nawaki and Minato were already back from training with Orochimaru, practicing in the dojo.
"Nawaki, Minato, come here," Kawakaze called out.
"Yes, Big Brother (Sensei)! What is it?" they responded, trotting over.
"How's your training coming along?"
"I'm still not making progress with developing Ninjutsu. I'm disappointing you, Sensei," Minato admitted, embarrassed. He had been studying materials with Orochimaru for a while now but hadn't found anything useful.
"Haha, it's fine. You're still young—you have plenty of time," Kawakaze reassured him. Developing Ninjutsu at ten years old was a lofty goal, and he had already lowered his expectations.
"Sensei, I'm doing great. I just need more practical experience. I'd say I'm at Chūnin level now," Nawaki boasted, brimming with pride. Since meeting Kawakaze, his progress had been remarkable.
"Not bad, not bad," Kawakaze said, nodding. His tone then grew serious. "We're at war with the Land of Rain. Did you know?"
Both boys shook their heads—the news hadn't reached them yet.
"I'm heading to the front tomorrow," Kawakaze continued. "And I'm taking you both with me. A Ninja who's never seen blood isn't a true Ninja."
His expression turned somber. War was no game, and he wasn't sure he could protect them at all times.
"Okay," the two replied in unison, their youthful enthusiasm bubbling over. They didn't yet understand the true horrors of war, but they would soon learn.
"That's all. Pack up tonight—we leave in the morning," Kawakaze instructed before adding, "Nawaki, stay for dinner. Your sister is coming over."
With that, Kawakaze got up and left, leaving the two boys still brimming with excitement. After he was gone, they continued chatting.