SWNOVELXO Chapter 89: Chapter 099
[Tobirama - Senju]: I've already understood the composition of Sunagakure's upper echelon.
[Tobirama - Senju]: The Third Great Ninja War began because the Third Kazekage disappeared, triggering an invasion.
[Tobirama - Senju]: Afterwards, Rasa was exceptionally promoted as the Fourth Kazekage due to his performance in protecting the village.
[Tobirama - Senju]: But Rasa's strength isn't at the Kage level.
[Tobirama - Senju]: I'd estimate he's not even as strong as Sarutobi.
[Kakashi Hatake]: …
Not even as strong as Sarutobi?
That means the new measuring unit is no longer me, but the Third Hokage now.
Kakashi felt a little relieved in his heart… then again, also as if he'd lost something.
Because apparently, once it's at the Kage level, there's no room for someone like him to get involved.
In other words, in front of Kage-level people, is he not even worth being a unit of measure?
Life is tough. Kakashi sighed.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: !??
[Minato Namikaze]: Kakashi, why are you suddenly feeling down?
[Kakashi Hatake]: It's nothing. You guys carry on.
[Tobirama - Senju]: Hm…
[Tobirama - Senju]: Rasa's strength is lacking, and the high-level officials in Sunagakure are just a bunch of jōnin. Also… one of them is someone I know.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Oh? You have acquaintances, Tobirama?
[Tobirama - Senju]: Of course.
[Tobirama - Senju]: More precisely, she was an opponent during the First Great Ninja War.
[Tobirama - Senju]: Chiyo.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Oh, Chiyo huh, is she pretty?
[Tobirama - Senju]: …
[Tobirama - Senju]: Big Brother, what are you thinking! It's been so many years, she's obviously an old hag by now.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Oh.
[Tobirama - Senju]: Though back in her youth, she did look decent.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: !?
Big Dumb - Hashirama was instantly intrigued.
Because his little brother had always been single. Tobirama's excuse was that being Hokage was exhausting and he had no time for a love life.
But now… it seems that wasn't the real reason?
[Tobirama - Senju]: That woman did look decent, but that's not why I remember her.
[Tobirama - Senju]: She didn't appreciate my Edo Tensei + Mutual Multiplying Explosive Tags combo.
[Tobirama - Senju]: Even called it a dirty trick.
[Tobirama - Senju]: I remembered that.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: …
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: …
Alright then, Tobirama's single status does seem to have a reason.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: So, Tobirama, keep going, I'm listening.
[Tobirama - Senju]: …
Though he found his brother's phrasing a bit odd, Tobirama still gave an explanation.
[Tobirama - Senju]: At the moment, the one person in Sunagakure who can make truly decisive decisions… is Chiyo.
[Tobirama - Senju]: And the sentence Kitahara Kaede wrote down is enough for Chiyo to betray Sunagakure.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: !?
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: ???
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Tobirama, explain that in more detail. Chiyo would betray Sunagakure? Didn't you just say she could represent the village?
[Tobirama - Senju]: Yes, which means if we either break her will or silence her, then Sunagakure basically belongs to Konoha.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Hm… but is it really that simple?
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: You know back during the Five Kage Summit, even kneeling didn't bring the others to peace.
[Tobirama - Senju]: …
[Tobirama - Senju]: Brother, can you not bring up the past?
[Tobirama - Senju]: I thought you gathered the other Kage to scold or threaten them, but you went straight to kneeling…
[Tobirama - Senju]: Forget it, no more riddles.
[Tobirama - Senju]: What Kitahara Kaede wrote in the letter to the Sand group was just one line.
[Tobirama - Senju]: "The Third Kazekage was killed by Sasori and turned into a puppet."
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: !??
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: The same Third Kazekage who disappeared and triggered the Third Great Ninja War?
[Tobirama - Senju]: Yep.
[Tobirama - Senju]: And Sasori is Chiyo's grandson.
[Tobirama - Senju]: Which means the origin and cause of the Third Great Ninja War are now fully exposed to Chiyo.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: This…
[Tobirama Achievement - Izuna]: So the enemy was inside her house all along!?
[Tobirama - Senju]: Yep.
[Tobirama - Senju]: Exactly.
[Tobirama - Senju]: That old woman Chiyo will probably be furious when she sees this letter.
[Tobirama - Senju]: Her own family's actions brought disaster to the village. She has only two choices left.
[Tobirama - Senju]: 1. Surrender. 2. Surrender.
[Tobirama - Senju]: She can't refuse Konoha. If she does, this information will spread, and panic will erupt in Sunagakure.
[Tobirama - Senju]: If war breaks out, Sunagakure will absolutely lose.
[Tobirama - Senju]: With her intelligence, she should understand—there's no other option.
So… is Sunagakure about to become a Konoha branch village?
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: …
Big Dumb - Hashirama took a deep breath.
He felt… conflicted.
So his dream of peace between the Five Great Shinobi Villages… was really the wrong approach?
[Tobirama - Senju]: But let's set Sunagakure aside for now. I have more important things to do on my end.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Okay.
[Tobirama - Senju]: Indeed.
········
At this moment—
In the Hokage Office.
Kitahara Kaede had been summoned by Kakashi Hatake, and from outside the door, he could hear voices from inside—Edo Tensei'd Second Hokage, and the Third and others.
Tobirama's happy little war planning session had gone on for quite a while.
Kitahara Kaede felt that Tobirama was honestly… a bit of a pain.
Why make things so complicated?
Yes.
Look—
At this moment, Tobirama was in the Hokage Office with four sheets of paper laid out on the desk.
Alongside a single pen.
It seemed he was about to write names or make some kind of mark.
Tobirama had adopted Kitahara Kaede's previous plan—to reignite Konoha's morale—and then… toss one of his four disciples under the bus.
Take all the outrageous, shameful matters from over the years, and lay them out in the open.
And make someone take the fall.
The price of taking the fall… would be death.
But who should it be?
Tobirama didn't immediately decide.
He invited Kitahara Kaede over.
"Let's draw lots," Tobirama said. "Whoever draws the short one… will take responsibility for Konoha's sins."
"And then…"
"I won't hold back," Tobirama added. "I'll stay until I watch them die—don't underestimate my resolve."
In other words, the Second Hokage himself would send off one of his disciples.
This time, he would bring a disciple with him on the path to death.
"…"
"…"
And Danzō, Koharu, Homura, and the Third Hokage… they all understood now.
Their teacher had made up his mind.
And there was nothing wrong with him doing this.
Because in the past, Second Lord had stayed behind to cover their escape, believing they were the future of Konoha, embodying the First Hokage's Will of Fire.
To protect the village and the next generation—if the Hokage dies, so be it.
Back then, they thought their cold and decisive teacher would have them cover the rear.
But instead, he stayed behind himself and embraced death.
They were moved.
And then… they almost destroyed the village.
"…"
Now, it seems their teacher believed his sacrifice back then… wasn't worth it.
And it's not like he's trying to kill all of them—just pick one person… to shoulder all the accumulated wrongs and public outrage over the years.
From the Uchiha Clan Massacre, to Naruto being shunned by the whole village despite being the Fourth Hokage's son…
From the suicide of Kakashi's father, the White Fang, to Uchiha Itachi being forced to carry everything on his own and make such a foolish sacrifice…
From Danzō's eleven Sharingan, to the Third Hokage's repeated leniency toward Orochimaru and so many examples of double standards…
No matter where you look in time… there's a mountain of things that need to be brought to light.
The Third has serious problems, Danzō's crimes are numerous, and even Koharu and Homura—though just advisors—never righted any wrongs, and joined Sarutobi and Danzō in doing stupid, destructive things.
So… they must take responsibility.
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