Konoha, the Senju Cn.

  "Sister Tsunade!"

  The normally bright research b was unusually dim today, with only the blinking lights of the instruments illuminating the space.

  As soon as Shirou returned, the first thing he received was a notification for a Jōnin meeting. The second was a summons from Tsunade.

  "Shirou, you're back."

  The calm voice of Tsunade, cd in her white b coat, echoed in the room. Yet, as someone who knew her best, Shirou's expression turned grave.

  Just from her silhouette and the tone of her voice, Shirou could already guess what was going on. He took a deep breath and said in a steady voice:

  "Although I haven't returned to my cn yet, just by looking at you, Sister Tsunade, I can tell that the Third Hokage has already visited you and the other major cns, hasn't he?"

  Shirou's calm voice lingered in the b. Tsunade's hand, which was holding a gss test tube, trembled slightly. She quietly pced it into an instrument before turning around with her usual carefree smile.

  "Well, since you've already guessed, it makes things easier. After all, your position isn't simple now—deputy head of the Konoha Police Force and deputy head of the Medical Division."

  "Of course, that's in the past. After tonight's Jōnin meeting, you'll officially be the head of the Medical Division."

  With her rexed expression, Tsunade walked over and sat on the couch. Shirou sighed softly and, with practiced ease, stepped forward to massage her temples.

  This familiar gesture of intimacy caused Tsunade's smile to stiffen, and she let out a long, weary sigh.

  "Shirou, the elders in the vilge may be rotten, but with war breaking out, not just me—everyone in Konoha, even your Uchiha cn's leader—has chosen silence…"

  Shirou quietly listened to Tsunade's words.

  Although the major cns were dissatisfied with the Third Hokage's regime, when war erupted, all the major cns of Konoha treated this pce as their home.

  Even the often-radical Uchiha cn, despite facing significant injustice, thought of revolt rather than betrayal.

  Because this was their home.

  "If we continue to fight against the Third Hokage's regime during wartime, it would only bring turmoil to the vilge and allow the enemy to exploit us. The Third has already visited us and promised to fulfill the terms he agreed on during the First Great Ninja War.

  Right now, our priority is to win this war. The alliance between the Kumo and the Suna has decred war. The Iwa's involvement is only a matter of time, leaving the Kiri as the only unknown factor…"

  As Tsunade spoke with exhaustion and weariness, Shirou smiled faintly behind her.

  "Sister Tsunade, I understand what you mean."

  Though Shirou's face wore a rexed smile, his heart was full of mockery. The Third Hokage, that old fox, truly excelled at using the concept of vilge unity to manipute others.

  But this time, his greed during the Third Great Ninja War would bring him the harshest lesson.

  Of course, Tsunade and the other major cns were unaware of this. Persuaded by the Third Hokage, they were even prepared to select the Fourth Hokage in the next two or three years—had war not broken out so suddenly.

  Simirly, the sudden onset of war had turned all accusations toward the Third Hokage. If this war was not handled properly… the dissatisfaction the cns had long buried in their hearts, coupled with any decision-making failures, would finally erupt.

  "Sister Tsunade, this vilge is ours, so we will protect it together."

  Shirou spoke with a smile, but his expression also turned serious.

  "But starting a war for personal gain—those so-called higher-ups have gone too far this time!"

  As he said this, Shirou looked as though he were barely restraining his anger.

  "Don't they realize the consequences of their actions? Or perhaps they've considered them and still went ahead, believing everything is within their control!

  Ciming they're retaliating against the Kumo for kidnapping Kushina, the Jinchūriki, or trying to weaken rival vilges by orchestrating a tailed beast rampage—I can understand that!"

  "But how could they target the Third Kazekage from the Sunagakure? That's one of the Five Kage!"

  Shirou appeared shocked as if he couldn't fathom such actions.

  The Kumo's tailed beast rampage pn? Fine. Such dirty schemes are common behind the scenes. If Konoha cimed this war was retaliation, the Kumo couldn't exactly deny it.

  But targeting the Third Kazekage? That was a whole new level of boldness. It crossed a line no one wanted to cross.

  Because if one vilge could assassinate another vilge's Kage so easily, what vilge wouldn't fear that their own Kage might be next?

  "I can already imagine the excuses they'll come up with!"

  Shirou's mocking smile grew wider as he gestured toward the Hokage Rock outside the window, his tone dripping with sarcasm:

  "When the time comes, those greedy higher-ups will cim to the world that the Kumo incident had nothing to do with Konoha. Instead, they'll say the Kumo abducted Konoha's Jinchūriki years ago.

  And as for the Third Kazekage's disappearance? They'll pin it on the incompetence of the Suna, accusing them of losing their own Kage and using it as an excuse for war…"

  Shirou's impassioned speech perfectly captured the hypocrisy of Konoha's higher-ups.

  "But in reality? They're recklessly provoking war to dey the selection of a new Hokage. And of course, they'll justify it all with the noble excuse of doing it for the vilge during wartime!"

  Shirou's fury was palpable as he exposed the ugliness of the current regime as if spping their ambitions right across the face.

  The more he did so, the more it proved that the mask of the Third Hokage and his council was slipping.

  Starting a war for personal gain.

  Does the truth even matter anymore? The entire ninja world was already pointing fingers at Konoha.

  Tsunade gently patted Shirou's hand, calming him down. Only after he finished venting did Shirou shrug helplessly.

  "At least I got that off my chest. I feel better now. So, Sister Tsunade, what benefits did the Third offer this time?"

  The sudden shift in tone made Tsunade smile. Her light brown eyes gazed at the handsome figure before her, filled with trust.

  "I knew you'd eventually compromise, just like me—for the vilge."

  But Shirou pouted in dissatisfaction.

  "This isn't compromise. It's for the vilge. But I'll never approve of the current Will of Fire!"

  As he said this, Shirou's eyes burned with determination.

  The hypocrisy of the Third Hokage and his council was becoming increasingly exposed. It was time for him to begin revealing his ambitions and slowly rise to power.

  "I assume the higher-ups have a pn for how to end this war, seeing as they dared to provoke it in the first pce."

  With a cold, mocking smile, Shirou knew that the Third Hokage and his council were now most eager to stabilize the current situation.

  But whatever they tried would only be seen as part of their premeditated pn.

  For example, Tsunade, now looking grim, nodded in agreement.

  "They have indeed devised a pn: the 'Kumogakure Colpse Pn.' If all goes well, the Kumo will be forced to withdraw from the war."

  Hearing this, Shirou's expression betrayed no surprise. He had expected as much.

  From Konoha's perspective, the best course of action was to quickly eliminate one of the opposing vilges to avoid fighting four at once.

  Under normal circumstances, this would be difficult. But with the Kumo's internal turmoil, they had become the best target.

  "The Kumogakure Colpse Pn?" Shirou asked, prompting Tsunade to nod gravely before expining in detail.

  "The Third Hokage's visits to the major cns were precisely for this… All the cns are pulling their elites to the frontlines for a swift and decisive strike… Especially with the Third Raikage already at the frontlines… and Root's spies…"

  At this moment, Shirou was listening to the "Kumogakure Colpse Pn," but his expression was somewhat peculiar. Could he say, "As expected of master and apprentice"? Even the name and strategy of the pn were so strikingly simir.

  That said, the pn was indeed feasible—almost perfect. The ambush could perfectly pinpoint the location of the Third Raikage. Simply put, it was a decapitation pn.

  As long as the Third Raikage was assassinated and the Kumo forces were severely damaged on the battlefield, all Konoha needed to do was halt their offensive. At that point, the internal structure of the Kumogakure would inevitably fall into chaos.

  With the added provocations of racial conflicts and the instability following the death of a vilge leader, the Kumogakure could essentially be kicked out of the war.

  "This pn is indeed brilliant, but the hardest and most crucial part is the assassination attempt. This is the Kage of one of the Five Great Shinobi Vilges. Even if you can locate him, killing him won't be easy!"

  Battling a Kage was one thing; defeating them was manageable, but killing one was a whole other matter.

  Tsunade, however, shook her head and said, "That part is cssified. Either way, it's their business now."

  Even Tsunade dispyed a blind confidence that made Shirou's eyes twitch. At the same time, he could understand.

  After all, over the years, the so-called "Halo of the Third Hokage" had been far too prominent. Titles like "Shinobi Hero" and "Professor of Ninjutsu" had draped a shroud of mysterious confidence over Konoha. And to be fair, during his prime, the Third Hokage's strength wasn't weak at all.

  But compared to the Third Raikage, a Kage who had refined taijutsu to its absolute peak, there was simply no comparison!

  Thinking about this, Shirou couldn't help but reveal a peculiar expression. This was a case of overestimating their power while underestimating their opponent. If something went wrong, it would be an absolute joke.

  The information they had on the Third Raikage was mostly from his younger years. While the Kumogakure referred to him as the "Strongest Raikage," wasn't every Kage of every vilge given such a title by their people?

  There were no particurly eye-catching accomplishments. As for his supposed hand-to-hand combat with a tailed beast? That cim was widely ridiculed in the shinobi world as the Kumo exaggerating their glory. After all, the terror of tailed beasts was something few could believe could be withstood by sheer physical strength.

  It seems everyone has underestimated the strength of this Third Raikage. But that's understandable. In the original work, when this guy was resurrected by the Edo Tensei, the major shinobi vilges were all caught off guard. They only learned the truth thanks to the Kumogakure's shinobi spilling the beans.

  Shirou reflected quietly. The best protection for a shinobi was to ensure that their information remained hidden—or to spread false information to the outside world.

  According to the pns of these old-timers, if the Third Raikage could be killed, the Kumogakure would fall into chaos and withdraw from the war. Konoha would emerge victorious and intimidate the shinobi world in one fell swoop.

  Who wouldn't fear the might of Konoha? The title of "Shinobi Hero" for the Third Hokage would be cemented, and Konoha's prestige would once again reach its peak.

  At that point, the morale of the Sunagakure would undoubtedly plummet, the Iwagakure would hesitate, and the Kirigakure would continue to observe from the sidelines.

  The shinobi world would belong to Konoha. The undisputed "Shinobi Hero Sarutobi"? Thinking of this, Shirou's expression grew even more peculiar.

  These old-timers are aiming to end the war with a thunderous strike. They've completely blinded themselves with the victory of the Second Shinobi World War. This pn is indeed brilliant, but it has one fatal fw: the success of the first step is critical!

  The Third Hokage isn't the First Hokage, the God of Shinobi. Nor is he invincible. To succeed, the first step must involve decisively killing the Third Raikage with overwhelming force…

  Thinking of this, Shirou couldn't help but look forward to this battle.

  Is this blind arrogance? Have they truly taken the title of 'Shinobi Hero' too seriously, or do these old-timers have some hidden trump card for a decisive kill?

  Shirou squinted and pondered deeply. However, there was one thing he was certain of: behind the scenes of the Third Shinobi World War, there was still Uchiha Madara, the mastermind pulling all the strings.

  Would that old schemer simply sit back and watch Konoha achieve a thunderous victory and continue to sit on the throne of the strongest shinobi vilge?

  "How to lead Konoha to victory in this war is something these old-timers need to figure out. Whether they retain their dignity and step down gracefully or face the consequences of their grave miscalcutions after the war, that's not something for us to worry about."

  Tsunade, lying on the sofa, closed her eyes, her face dispying an indifferent expression.

  At this moment, not just Tsunade but everyone in Konoha had yet to grasp the brutal reality of the Third Shinobi World War.

  The two of them sat quietly in the dimly lit research boratory.

  With the sudden onset of war, all the major cns had chosen to pause their internal conflicts and focus on external threats. This was an instinctive reaction shared by all.

  This was also why, when internal conflicts became nearly irreconcible, war was often unched against external enemies. After a war, internal tensions would often either vanish or significantly diminish.

  War created new interests and often reshuffled existing ones, both internally and externally.

  "At a time like this, if we forcibly push for a new Hokage, the power shifts and cshes of interests could destabilize the vilge and allow the enemy to exploit."

  Tsunade's weary voice echoed in the dim research b until the sound of a beeping instrument broke the silence, prompting her to open her eyes.

  "Shirou, it's almost time. We should head to tonight's jōnin meeting."

  At Tsunade's reminder, Shirou calmly nodded.

  "Alright, I'll stop by the cn first. See you at the meeting."

  Shirou didn't share the information about his trip to the Kumogakure with Tsunade. That matter alone wasn't enough to become the straw that broke the camel's back.

  But when everything accumuted, the final eruption would be the most devastating.

  As Shirou's figure disappeared and the boratory door closed, Tsunade stood silently in front of an instrument, looking at the data report in her hand.

  "This… this is an enormous joke. The Senju and Uchiha… they share the same origin!"

  At this moment, Tsunade's face was tinged with a smile, alongside a trace of excitement at unraveling one of the shinobi world's thousand-year-old secrets.

  "The evil and extreme Uchiha… and the Senju? What does that make us? This is a cruel joke."

  In the dimly lit research b, Tsunade slowly lifted her head, her smile reflected in the gss test tubes. In the reflection, a pair of blood-red Sharingan with spinning tomoe appeared.

  "So this is what the Sharingan feels like."

  Through the gss, Tsunade's conflicted expression softened as she touched the corners of her eyes. She saw her own Sharingan.

  "Is it because the curse mark carries Shirou's genetic material that it completed the dormant or incomplete kekkei genkai in my Senju bloodline, awakening the Sharingan under intense emotional conditions…"

  In the dim research b, Tsunade murmured to herself, holding the research data that had just confirmed her findings.

  Especially the Sharingan. After the Third Hokage's recent visit, his hypocritical and shameless attitude had angered her so much that she awakened the Sharingan.

  Her research showed that the Sharingan could bance Wood Release abilities. Shirou, without using forbidden techniques, had shown signs of weakly integrating Wood Release cells. Combined with her awakening of the Sharingan, all the evidence pointed to one conclusion:

  The Senju and Uchiha, thousands of years ago or even further back, were of the same lineage—perhaps even sharing the same ancestor.

  In the original story, Orochimaru had specuted this through his research in ter years, but Tsunade now had far more evidence than he ever did.

  "But next time! Next time, I won't give you old bastards another chance! This is the st time I'll act for the sake of the vilge!"

  In the dim research b, Tsunade's expression hardened, and the tomoe in her Sharingan spun coldly, exuding a sinister glow.

  Finally, she tossed the research report into the air, letting it disintegrate into dust. She donned her Senju cn armor with determination and left the b.

  As the door closed behind her, the Sharingan in her eyes fshed and disappeared, as though it had been an illusion.

  PS: Third Raikage vs. Third Hokage. Pce your bets: Raikage or Hokage?

  Personal opinion: The Third Hokage is a master of all trades—excellent in taijutsu, capable of tangling with the Nine-Tails, and proficient in all five chakra natures. However, he doesn't excel in any single discipline. The Third Raikage, on the other hand, has taken shinobi body techniques to the absolute pinnacle of a Kage—a one-trick specialist.