The sunlight streamed through the wide windows, casting a warm glow over the Hokage's office. Minato leaned back in his chair, his brow furrowed as he studied the grim faces before him. Koharu and Homura wore matching expressions of concern, their age-lined features tight with worry. It had been four days since the attack.
Hiruzen puffed on his pipe, exhaling a cloud of fragrant smoke. "It's a troubling development, to be sure," he rumbled, his deep voice laced with weariness. "This 'Madara Uchiha' is not to be trifled with."
Minato nodded, his jaw set in a hard line. The memory of their encounter still burned fresh in his mind – the searing pain as his right arm was blown off, the shock of seeing that masked visage, the chilling words that followed beforehand. "The chain breaker," he murmured, his remaining hand clenching into a fist.
Koharu frowned, her brow creasing with worry. "And then there's the matter of Danzo's assassination. His position won't be easy to fill, the Root was vast." She shook her head slowly. "If this masked man is telling the truth and he is Madara, then the Fourth is lucky he got off with such an injury. It also makes sense that it could be Madara since he mastered Lord Second's jutsu, the Flying Raijin." Minato bit his bottom lip, he had to remove or destroy every marker he had within and surrounding the village. His greatest strength had also become his greatest weakness. How had the most infamous rouge ninja comeback from the dead? Was it Lord Second's reanimation jutsu? No, his arm didn't regenerate. He was alive for sure but how was that the case.
Homura stroked his chin thoughtfully. "It couldn't be a mere coincidence that both you and Danzo were attacked by a similar lightning-based jutsu." His eyes narrowed. "This 'chain breaker' seems to possess a deep knowledge of our village's techniques, that is true. But could there still be some falsehoods in his words?"
A heavy silence settled over the room, broken only by the soft crackle of Hiruzen's pipe. Minato's mind raced, piecing together the scant clues they had. "We know he possesses the Sharingan," he mused aloud. "And his mastery of lightning-based ninjutsu is unparalleled."
The aged third Hokage exhaled a plume of smoke, his eyes narrowed in thought. "I have an idea as to narrow down whether or not this chain breaker is speaking the truth."
Everyone focused on Hiruzen, Minato was the one to ask, "What do suggest?"
Hiruzen closed his eyes, "Why don't we ask someone with extensive knowledge on Madara Uchiha?" He seemed grim on what he was suggesting. "We can use Lord Second's reanimation jutsu to ask him everything."
Koharu and Hamura gasped, their mouths open wide in shock, what Hiruzen was suggesting was horrid, to defile the Second's corpse just for information.
Minato knew it was wrong but with no leads they had no choice. "What do you need to bring Lord Second back?"
Hiruzen sighed, "In order to use the reanimation jutsu one needs DNA of the one you want to bring back and a sacrifice. I'll gather volunteers from the root."
"Hiruzen, you can't be serious!" Hamura voiced out.
Minato held his hand up, "Lord second will no doubt have all the information we could need for Madara. If we limit ourselves now our enemies will gain the upper hand. Right now Lord Second is our only lead, and regardless of morality he would understand and likely understand our position."
Hamura and Koharu held their tongues, the two Hokage were correct. The chain breaker wasn't someone who was bogged by morals and he wouldn't hesitate to kill innocents for his goals. The Second would forgive them if the village was under threat, and if Madara was involved then by any means necessary was required.
"Very well, Fourth, do what you must for the sake of the village." Hamura said.
Koharu added, "But know that if it gets out that the two of you used a forbidden jutsu we will seek your resignation and your candidates for the Fifth Hokage."
Minato and Hiruzen nodded, "I understand, council members. I'll take the brunt of the punishment if the time arises."
The Third began leaving the office and going through with the plan, but he said to Minato one last thing. "With Danzo gone someone else will have to take up managing the Root. If you don't oppose then I'll take up management, at least it can keep me busy until I fall over dead."
Koharu and Hamura left the room as well, still uneasy about resurrecting the revered second Hokage.
Minato was left alone with his thoughts, "If it all goes sideways I'll have to give my recommendations for the Fifth Hokage..."
He started thinking about what his students were doing, it'd almost been two years since Obito and Rin left with members of the Sannin. Rin was likely a carbon copy of Tsunade with way more kindness.
Obito on the other hand... Jiraiya was a great teacher but Obito was in a troubled state when he left, Kakashi died saving him, Obito gained the attention of the Uchiha clan through his Mangekyou awakening but he'd lose his sight if overused, Rin left the village, and Obito learned he had family.
Through all of it Obito changed vastly since Kanabi Bridge, the bright boy seemed to be less confident in his abilities than before, he hadn't said a word about becoming the Hokage. Obito probably gave up on that dream, believing that he wasn't worthy of such a role if he couldn't save his friend. It made Minato sad, he could never relate to Obito, everything was perfect in his life, his only failure was being unable to save Kakashi. But one failure was acceptable compared to everything else he'd done.
Minato sighed, "I wonder how much he's changed. Would he be ready to become Hokage? Probably not but wishful thinking."
The Land of Frost was a desolate and unforgiving place, its harsh winters and biting winds making even the hardiest of souls shiver. Tsunade, the legendary Sannin, led her young apprentices, Shizune and Rin, through the frozen tundra, their footsteps crunching on the crisp snow.
Shizune, a slender girl with short, dark hair, huddled close to Tsunade, her teeth chattering. "Lady Tsunade, are you sure we should be traveling through such a hostile land?"
Tsunade, her blonde hair whipping in the wind, shot Shizune a reassuring smile. "Relax, Shizune. A little cold never hurt anyone." She glanced over her shoulder at Rin, who trudged behind them, her dark eyes focused and determined.
Rin Nohara, a student of the Fourth Hokage, was a true prodigy. Despite her youth and lack of a prestigious bloodline, her chakra control was unmatched, a testament to her unwavering dedication and natural talent.
"How are you holding up, Rin?" Tsunade called out, her voice nearly drowned out by the howling wind.
Rin lifted her head, her cheeks flushed from the biting cold. "I'm fine, Lady Tsunade," she replied, her voice steady and resolute.
Tsunade couldn't help but admire the girl's resilience. Rin had been through so much, witnessing the horrors of war at such a tender age, yet she remained steadfast and unwavering in her pursuit of strength.
As they pressed on, the landscape grew even more treacherous, with jagged peaks and deep ravines obscured by swirling snowdrifts. Tsunade's brow furrowed as she scanned the horizon, searching for any sign of shelter or respite from the unrelenting cold.
"Lady Tsunade," Shizune spoke up, her voice tinged with concern. "Perhaps we should find a place to rest for the night. The weather is only getting worse."
Tsunade nodded, her golden eyes narrowing against the stinging wind. "You're right, Shizune. We'll need to find shelter soon." She turned to Rin, who met her gaze with a determined nod.
The closest town was in a valley, but recently bandits came through killing and injuring anyone they wanted. Tsunade took shelter in the town hall, she was frozen in fear. There was so much blood everywhere.
The harsh winds howled, whipping snow into a blinding frenzy against the buildings windows. Shizune and Rin immediately jumped into action, helping anyone they could.
Shizune's brow furrowed in concentration as she tended to a young man's wounds, her nimble fingers deftly applying bandages to his broken arm. The man winced, but Shizune's gentle touch and soothing words seemed to calm him.
Nearby, Rin knelt beside a woman cradling a whimpering child. The girl's leg was twisted at an unnatural angle, and Rin's dark eyes narrowed as she assessed the injury.
A familiar metallic scent wafted through the air, and Tsunade felt her stomach churn. Yet, even as she watched them work with such poise and proficiency, Tsunade felt a familiar tightness in her chest. The scent of blood hung heavy in the air, and her hands trembled ever so slightly.
Memories threatened to surface – flashes of crimson, the lifeless body of her beloved Dan. She clenched her fists, trying to steady her trembling hands.
"Tsunade-Sensei?" Rin's voice cut through the haze, laced with concern. "Are you alright?"
Tsunade blinked, her gaze refocusing on the present. Rin's brow was furrowed, her hands poised over the child's injured leg. Tsunade squeezed her eyes shut, trying to will the memories away. She had sworn never to let herself be consumed by fear again, but the scent of blood still sent a chill down her spine.
"I... yes, I'm fine," Tsunade replied, her voice wavering slightly. She took a deep breath, willing herself to remain calm.
Rin's eyes softened with understanding. "Blood..." she murmured, her gaze flickering to the child's wound.
Tsunade nodded, her jaw tightening. She had worked so hard to overcome her phobia, but the scent of blood still triggered a visceral reaction.
Rin offered a gentle smile. "Watch me," she said, her hands glowing with a soft green light.
Tsunade watched, transfixed, as Rin's chakra flowed into the child's leg. The bones slowly shifted back into place, the girl's cries subsiding as the pain ebbed away.
"See?" Rin said, her voice soothing. "Blood doesn't always mean death. It can also mean healing or rebirth. We all must bleed in order to grow."
Tsunade felt her breath catch in her throat as the weight of Rin's words sank in. All these years, she had associated blood with loss and grief, but Rin painted a different picture – one of hope and renewal. There was this brightness that Rin had, like everything would wash away in her presence. Her reassuring smile calming, it reminded Tsunade of her brother Nawaki.
With a shaky exhale, Tsunade stepped forward, kneeling beside Rin. The metallic scent still lingered, but she pushed past the fear, focusing instead on the warmth radiating from Rin's hands.
"If that's the case, then guide my hands on the next one." Tsunade said, her voice steady.
Rin's smile widened, and she nodded, guiding Tsunade's hands to rest over a man's stomach. Tsunade closed her eyes, trying not to freeze. Together, their chakra flowed, mending bone and flesh with gentle precision.
As the wound closed, leaving only a faint scar, Tsunade felt a weight lift from her shoulders. The fear still lingered, but it had been lessened by the core rules she made for medic Shinobi – they were a reminder of the power they held to heal and protect. But there was another memory Tsunade that resurfaced, one from her childhood.
A memory of her grandfather bringing a bloodied woman into their home, Tsunade was ushered into a different room by her grandmother. But Tsunade peeked through the door and watched as both her grandparents tried to save the woman. The woman's black clothes stained in blood, her grandfather's hands glowing green upon a wound on her chest.
Tsunade watched the sadness and sorrow wash away into happiness, a smile with tears streaming down his face. He hugged the woman with black hair, her skin paler than the moon. Her eyes black as coal, and an emotion that was annoyed and thankful. The words she said that day to her grandfather always perplexed Tsunade.
"Hashirama, did the assassin die?" Her tone was respectful yet casual, something that no one dared addressed the First Hokage.
"I stopped him, he won't be hurting anyone in the future." He replied.
Tsunade's grandmother interrupted, "But you shouldn't be worried about that now, you must rest. Even though we healed you, your body could still tear the wound."
The mystery woman laid down, "Fine, but only for one night. Tomorrow morning I will take leave. I do not wish to add fuel to the rumors by my staying." She closed her eyes.
Hashirama stepped away from the bed, "It'll be fine... Those rumors haven't had any validity in the past. So stay as long as you want, the Senju family is willing to have you for as long as you need." He had hopeful smile.
Mito walked to the closet, "Let's get you something else to wear for later, bloodied clothes won't do." She grabbed a red kimono and a couple of towels. "Get dressed when you feel better, for now just rest..." She sat them at the foot of the bed.
Mito walked toward the door, Tsunade stepped away but she heard one last thing, "Get better... The village needs you... Your clan needs you... I need you..."
"Just go, Hashirama. The Uzumaki is right, I do need rest." The woman sighed.
Tsunade tiptoed down the hall after that, unseen and unheard. But the memory was peculiar, why did her grandfather treat the woman with such respect that he brought her home? It never made sense.
Tsunade refocused herself on the present, she couldn't falter, especially when others needed help. Just like how her grandfather helped people, like that woman. Tsunade stood up and walked away.
"Rin, Shizune," she called out, her voice steady despite the turmoil within. "Once you've treated everyone here, we need to move on to the next village. The bandits have likely left a trail of destruction in their wake. We're gonna stop them before they hurt anyone else."
Rin was surprised by Tsunade's tone but there was some actual emotion there that made Rin happy. Something must've snapped that caused her to shift, maybe she remembered something that made her happy, enough to drown her fear of blood.
Rin nodded and continued working, people needed her help so she couldn't lollygag for very long. "Yes, Sensei!"
Within a dark room, three men sat inside, a man with long black hair, a man with flowy red hair, and a man with grey hair with black spots.
The black haired one spoke up, "The Mist will back you my Lord, but we wish to know why the Rain? We won't be able to enforce our hold on it, not with it being dead center of the Leaf, Sand, and Stone."
The grey haired one replied, "It is for that exact reason it interests me. The Mist are formidable but we lack the numbers, the land, the loyalty. With Hanzo's death there's a power vacuum that we'd be idiots not to take up. None of the other nations would bat an eye as long as we appeal to those wishing to escape their villages, then we would have all the manpower we would ever need. Is that a suitable answer, Mizukage?"
The blacked haired Mizukage nodded, "Of course, Lord Hanma." He was nervous, "I'll give you all the supplies you need to takeover the Rain."
Hanma, the grey and black haired man stood up. "I won't need a thing. I know individuals that will help, Sasori here is one of them."
The redhead tapped his finger and nodded, "As long as I can work on my art you have my loyalty."
Hanma walked toward the door, his figure now cloaked in light. A black scarf covering his face from the nose to his neck. His eyes mismatched, the right black and the left white. The white eye belonged to a Mist Shinobi named Aoi, but he gladly gave it to Hanma, who was the envoy of the Mizukage. But nobody knew it was the other way around.
Sasori stood up and followed wearing a black cloak with a broken red chain pattern. It was the same as Hanma's cloak but slimmer.
Hanma turned around, "If you receive a letter from the Rain you best listen to it." With his remaining arm he closed the door.
Days, weeks, months, hell it could have been a year and yet Obito wouldn't have noticed. Training to be a toad sage was something that was difficult for sure but with how disconnected Obito was to his body time seemed mute, like every day of training he did was tenfold.
The training was grueling, each waking moment spent attempting to harness the power of nature chakra.
Obito's brow furrowed in intense concentration as he sat cross-legged on the atop a slab atop a spikey peak, his hands forming the intricate seal required for Sage Mode. Beads of sweat trickled down his face.
Jiraiya watched from a distance, his expression a mix of pride and anticipation. He had seen the potential in the young Uchiha from the very beginning, and witnessing his growth filled him with a sense of accomplishment. "He might be the one..."
Suddenly, a shift in the air signaled a change. Obito's eyes snapped open, their color now a vibrant yellow, a stark contrast to their usual onyx hue. His entire being seemed to radiate a newfound power, an aura of natural energy, of strength unseen.
"Well done, Obito," Jiraiya said, his voice tinged with admiration. "You've finally achieved Sage Mode."
Obito rose to his feet and jumped off the slab, his movements fluid and controlled. A small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he nodded in acknowledgment.
Jiraiya clapped a hand on Obito's shoulder, his eyes shining with a mixture of pride and something more profound. "There's one final step in your training," he said. "A meeting with the Grand Elder Toad."
Obito's eyebrows raised in surprise, but he remained silent, his curiosity piqued.
Together, they ascended the winding staircase that led to the highest peak of Mount Myoboku, where a cavernous entrance awaited them. The air inside was thick with ancient power, and Obito found himself holding his breath as they ventured deeper into the dimly lit chamber.
Obito was prepared to meet the elder toad, though ready to him was willing. He thought he'd never be ready for anything, least of all being honored to meet the elder toad.
Jiraiya had yet to tell Obito that the ancient Toad had the ability to see visions into the future. Many nights ago, Fukasaku described one to him that immediately had his attention, but a second hand explanation wasn't perfect. That's why he brought Obito with him.
At last, they came upon a aged toad, its wizened features etched with the weight of countless years. The Elder Toad regarded them with foggy eyes that seemed to pierce through to their very souls.
"Jiraiya," the toad rumbled, its voice echoing off the cavern walls. "I see you have brought your student before me."
Jiraiya inclined his head respectfully. "Indeed, Elder. Obito has proven himself worthy of your wisdom."
The toad turned its gaze upon Obito, and the young shinobi felt a shiver run down his spine. "Years ago, I foretold of a student of Jiraiya's who would bring peace to the world through the words," the toad spoke, its words heavy with significance. "However, a new vision has come to me."
Obito held his breath, his heart pounding in his chest. What did the future hold for him?
"I see two figures clashing," the toad continued. "One garbed in a green vest and a blue shirt, the other in a black cloak with a red pattern. One possessing eyes of crimson, the other of violet. One with hair as dark as night, the other wearing a mask."
A heavy silence settled over the cavern, the weight of the toad's words was stronger than the earth's gravitational pull.
A darkened night, full of rain and lightning. Two figures moved sparaticlly through night, only appearing as shadows before trading blows and flashes of steel sparking against each other.
A loud boom resonated through the night as both combatants went flying into stone. A man with short black hair and crimson eyes with different patterns struggled to get out of the indent his body made. He wore a Hidden Leaf headband that was struggling to stay tied together. He wore a Jounin uniform with padded steel along his shins, shoulders, and wrists. He was covered in dirt, mud, and blood.
The Leaf Shinobi stumbled out of the indent and fell to one knee, instead of pulling himself up he looked to his opponent who was in a much better shape than himself. His opponent wore a black cloak and bore one indigo colored eye concealed by a hood and a mask. His other eye was recently slashed, rendering the eye useless. His clothes were just as muddy and dirty as his opponent.
The man was holding a kunai that he'd dropped previously. He glared at the Sharingan bearer before charging in.
The Leaf Shinobi got to his feet, and grabbed his saber, charging at his opponent. Their weapons clashing once again.
The two locked fists, unable to break off from one another. The masked Shinobi spoke, "Even with your advanced Sharingan you still can't see my intentions."
The Uchiha grit his teeth, "I know your intentions, war and death. That's why you attacked the Hokage and tried to genocide the Uchiha clan."
"The Fourth Hokage was a failure, a deadly Shinobi who never used his position to tear out the rot within his own village. You are very different from him, Obito Uchiha. You're the only member of the Leaf who has any chance to make real change, yet instead of taking up that offer you're here, infiltrating my organization. Such low tactics coming from the dead last crybaby."
Obito grit his teeth and slammed his head into the mask, cracking it and giving both of them headaches.
Stumbling back the masked man noted his mask was beyond repair, he chuckled. "It seems you finally get to see who I am." He discarded the mask and his face was laid bare.
From what Jiraiya heard, Obito was going to battle this masked man, and he had a high chance of being the same man who killed Hanzo and Danzo. Whatever, that didn't matter. Jiraiya had to train Obito until he was confident he could handle Hanzo's killer.
"Obito, there's one final technique I should teach you." Jiraiya crossed his arms, "I wasn't willing to teach you it before because I was hoping Minato would teach you since it's his jutsu but I don't think we've got time to be sentimental."
Obito knew what Jiraiya meant, Minato's jutsu. "You want to teach me the rasengan?"
Jiraiya nodded holding up a finger, "You're already skilled enough right now, but you need more jutsu under your belt. The rasengan can be used as a lethal and non-lethal jutsu, just depends on what you need in the moment."
Obito looked at his right hand, his palm had many different crevices. He narrowed his eyes, "Why do I want to get stronger? To protect everyone? To fight for the Leaf? To not rely on others?To avenge Kakashi?" Obito hadn't thought about it since before Kanabi Bridge. That day changed him so much that the lines blurred to him. He was two different people at once, the before and after. But yet he had no reason to keep going besides being moved by Jiraiya, Minato, and the Uchiha council. Obito wasn't doing anything because he wanted to but because he was following orders, he was following the rules, the rules Kakashi upheld.
Jiraiya sensed turmoil, "It's alright, Obito, we can do it another day. You're probably still exhausted from your sage training."
"No," Obito replied. "I'll try it now, but can I ask something, Jiraiya-Sensei? Why are you a Shinobi?"
Jiraiya stroked his chin, "Hmm, well it all started back when I was in seven or so. I was inspired by stories of the greatest, the First Hokage, the Second, and Kagami Uchiha."
There was that name again, Obito's grandfather. What was his significance? Obito had heard of Kagami offhandedly but not the stories of why he was revered.
"Those men did everything they could to protect others, even at the cost of their happiness and their bodies. I'm sure you know the story of the Second's death, surrounded by a group of a thousand Cloud Shinobi. The Second was in his late fifties when it happened, he was in a group of six, the Third, Danzo, Koharu, Hamura, and Kagami. The Second declared the bravest of the group the Third Hokage, Tobirama then acted as a distraction so the others could escape. He almost killed all one thousand Shinobi but he was too wounded and exhausted to keep up the fight, but he retreated with the help of Kagami. The Second lived for another year before passing away, but the battle he fought went down in history. I wanted to be just like him." Jiraiya was smiling.
Obito looked at the ground, the Hokage, it's not merely a title of the strongest or the smartest, it was a mantle that only benevolent people could reach. Could Obito ever reach that level? To put his needs below the needs of the many? Was that what separated the Hokage from the Shinobi?
Obito looked at the sky, "Kakashi wanted me to become the Hokage, I'll make sure he gets his wish. Even if I'm unsure about myself.."