Chapter 25 26 27 28 29 Hatake Tatsuya in Naruto (Patreon)

Jiraiya, Namikaze Minato, and Uzumaki Naruto

These three generations of Shinobi represent three eras of Shinobi after the era of Hashirama and Uchiha Madara. It can be confidently said that the realm of Naruto's world has been marked by them.

However, Jiraiya is an exception, and he is not a Genius like Minato nor he has the chakra generator such as Nine tails in his body like Naruto. He found himself at Mount Myoboku, the abode of one of three Sage regions, following a childhood mishap.

He firmly believes in the proclaimed prophecy of a creature known as the [Great Toad Sage]. He assessed Nagato, Minato, and Naruto as the heirs of that prophecy.

There existed an opportunity for escape during the clash with Pain as narrated in the original chronicles. Nevertheless, Jiraiya, resolute in his faith in the prophecy of the Great Toad Sage, willingly embraced his fate.

As he looked upon Tatsuya's path, Jiraiya's life seemed dedicated to serving others.

For those who try to control fate, their end is never good. Jiraya tried to train a student who will bring peace to the Shinobi world. But he died in the hands of his own students.

Though he is often described as carefree, the reality contrasts with Tsunade and Orochimaru's dispositions.

Jiraiya attempted to counter, "That entity is the Great Toad Sage, whose existence spans back to the era of the Sage of Six Paths. It—"

"It's quite peculiar to assign the moniker 'Sage' to creatures like toads. After all, they aren't humans in the first place, are they?"

Tatsuya chuckled before removing her hand from Konan's visage, " Bid farewell to your students, let us embark."

Once again, Tatsuya heaved a sigh. No use arguing; ever since my youth, debating with this white-haired individual has proved futile.

You can't win arguments with idiots after all.

Shifting his focus to his trio of disciples, he bestowed greater attention upon Nagato due to his possession of the Rinnegan. Jiraiya had unreservedly embraced the belief that the other party was the foretold progeny of the Fate.

"Now that you stand united, I can depart with confidence, Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato."

Jiraiya's smile resonated with relief.

"Teacher..."

Yahiko wiped his tear-moistened eyes with his sleeve. Konan's gaze involuntarily settled upon the setting sun's golden hues. While Nagato remained silent, his clenched teeth revealed the emotions he held within.

"Let's proceed."

Tatsuya, leading the way, softly articulated two words.

"Our paths shall cross again."

With these parting words, Jiraiya concluded his departing message for his three disciples.

Then, he faded into the distance, alongside Tatsuya's figure.

...

...

"Are you truly involving yourself in the mission of this level? Isn't this your first venture out of village since the age of 6?"

Two Kage-level shinobi raced along the road from the Land of Rain to the Land of Wind. Jiraiya mirrored Tsunade's perplexity.

More than two decades later, he once again took to the field. Certainly, a compelling reason underlies this decision.

"My foolish brother's tangled in a mess, leaving me no recourse but to intervene and lend aid."

Jiraiya's countenance portrayed bewilderment at this response. Before he could inquire further, Tatsuya interjected:

"I abhor redundant explanations. When you return to the village, consult a Konoha shinobi for specifics. Ironically, this super S-rank mission has stirred up quite the commotion."

Observing the faint mockery in Tatsuya's expression, Jiraiya involuntarily furrowed his brows, his curiosity piqued and a vigilant watch over his heart maintained.

Two days later.

Rumor had it that 90% of the Land of Wind was draped in yellow sand. However, as Tatsuya and Jiraiya set foot here, the reality seemed even more overwhelming. A staggering 95% of the land appeared to be an unrelenting desert.

A desert devoid of any sign of life, where no plant dared to thrive.

While the Land of Wind appeared as one of the largest of the five nations, the truth unveiled its status as the smallest.

"No wonder, during the two Ninja Wars, no nation took the initiative to assail the Wind Kingdom. Who would covet such a place?"

Tatsuya's words carried a hint of amusement.

"Indeed, this is why the Kingdom of Wind perpetually stirs the cauldron of war, seeking expansion outward."

Jiraiya, the Advocate of Peace, sighed contemplatively once more.

Tatsuya, disinclined to delve further into this discussion, swiftly transitioned to the core subject, "Proceeding onward, we'll encounter Sunagakure's vigilant shinobi guards. Have you formulated a viable assassination strategy?"

Jiraiya shook his head and responded succinctly, "No, strategy isn't my strong suit."

I doubt you'd be able to conjure up anything truly practical, anyway. Tatsuya's expression matched expectations, as she delved into thought.

Much like Konoha, every shinobi village erected unique barriers. The intrusion of foreign chakra immediately triggers an alert.

In the original tale, the young Sasori arranged for internal operatives, to infiltrate Sand Shinobi Village without rousing any suspicion.

"How about it? Do you have any ideas?"

Minutes later, observing Tatsuya's prolonged silence, Jiraiya couldn't suppress his curiosity.

"Well, let's move."

Tatsuya donned his sand-resistant hat once more.

...

...

Sunagakure.

Sand dunes formed walls at its rear and flanks, while a colossal mound, nearly a hundred meters tall, stood as a fortress before it. Only a lengthy trough in the center served as the sole entry and exit point.

Any attempt to enter or exit would invariably attract the attention of the guard ninja positioned atop the mound.

Resistance warranted immediate aerial bombardment from these guard ninjas, who held the advantageous high ground.

On a tall rock, a mile from the entrance stood two figures.

Jiraiya shielded his eyes with his raised right hand, gazing upon Sunagakure in the distance, his voice tinged with admiration, "Penetrating the village through such a towering mound is no small feat."

He then turned to Tatsuya beside him and inquired, "So, what's your plan?"

Tatsuya's sudden smile sent a ripple of unpredictability through Jiraiya. This demeanor often signaled good things via unpredictable methods from this enigmatic individual.

In the next heartbeat, Tatsuya seized Jiraiya's collar from behind and propelled him toward Sunagakure's entrance, akin to pitching a baseball.

Simultaneously, Chakra converged in her throat as he shouted, his voice piercing eardrums:

"Intruders! Intruders!! It's Jiraiya from the Village Hidden in the Leaves!"

"Eh!?"

As Jiraiya hurtled toward Sunagakure, his eyes widened like bells, an expletive escaping his lips, "You're using me for this, Tatsuya!!!"

Inside Sunagakure's sensory perception division:

The sensory ninja in charge of the enchantment control room shouted in a state of panic:

"Intruder detected! One individual, estimated strength... Kage level!"

As the word "Kage" was spoken, the surrounding Sand Shinobi abruptly rose from their seats.

Meanwhile, a Sand Shinobi who managed the barrier at the village's outer defense called out, "Jiraiya, one of the Konoha Sannin, has breached the barrier! Everyone, prepare for reinforcement!"

"Jiraiya!?"

The faces of the other Sand Shinobi swiftly contorted.

[Konoha's White Fang] and [Konoha Sannin] both gained fame during the Second Ninja World War. All of them held Kage-level power. This fact stirred envy in the hearts of shinobi from other villages. Undoubtedly, Konoha was a cradle of geniuses.

"Is it truly just Jiraiya alone? Could there be any other ambushes?"

With fiery red hair reminiscent of the Uzumaki clan's hue but darker, a young Sand Shinobi around the same age as Senju Nawaki hurried to the village entrance. He stood beside another Sand Shinobi and posed the question.

His name was "Rasa," one of the few village ninjas proficient in Magnet Release.

While not on par with another Sand Shinobi who could manipulate black sand, Rasa's mastery was commendable.

"Based on the Intelligence Division's report, no other Konoha Shinobi have been detected. Given the border's vigilance, it's unlikely there are many more. He's probably alone."

"Jiraiya alone dares to trespass on our sands? Even if he is one of the Sannin, it reeks of arrogance."

Rasa clenched his teeth, his resolve firm. To be fair, that in itself was a testament to his prowess.

Sealing a tailed beast within his son's body was a feat few could fathom, let alone attempt repeatedly, ultimately culminating in sending his brother-in-law to eliminate him outright. To test the Control of Gaara and Seal he could do anything.

All of which resulted in Gaara's descent into darkness.

Tatsuya, whose prior knowledge stemmed from being a reader in his previous life, was awed by Rasa's intricate maneuvers.

Tatsuya couldn't resist asking Rasa, Is Gaara really his own son?

...

...

Sunagakure's main gate entrance:

A gargantuan toad, dwarfing even-tailed beasts, swayed its bony ribs and exerted itself to halt the advancing Sand Shinobi.

"What on earth is this? Jiraiya! He always calls me at the worst times!"

Gamabunta grumbled and bellowed.

"I got duped by that schemer Tatsuya. Anyway, please help me buy some time."

Jiraiya wore a wry expression. He hadn't anticipated Tatsuya's plan to be so straightforward and audacious.

Wasn't the idea just to draw the attention of Sand Shinobi and then proceed to assassinate the Second Kazekage?

"Sand Waterfall!"

A cascade of quicksand suddenly cascaded from the sky above.

Jiraiya glanced upward. "Could that be the Magnet Release rumored around here?"

"Bunta!"

Jiraiya cast his gaze downward and bellowed at the toad beneath him, his hands engaging in swift seals.

"Understood, but what a hassle!"

Gamabunta grumbled though the pudgy cheeks on either side of his face inflated rapidly.

"Fire Style—Fire Dragon Flame Bomb!"

"Toad Oil Bullet!"

A fusion of ninjutsu and toad oil bullets!

The sudden eruption of intense flames instantly consumed the onslaught of quicksand rain.

Utilizing a sand wall as a protective barrier proved invaluable.

Rasa found himself sprawled on the ground, a touch of embarrassment in his demeanor. Fortunately, his injuries were minor, prompting him to comment with a hint of bitterness, "Dealing with one of the Sannin is undeniably challenging!"

...

...

"Just Jiraiya on his own!"

Sunagakure Administrative Building, Kazekage's Office.

Upon receiving the report from his subordinates, the bald man adorned with dragon tattoos experienced an abrupt shift in countenance.

A surprise attack from Konoha wasn't entirely unexpected.

Previously, Konoha's White Fangya had led a small team to covertly infiltrate Sunagakure for an assassination attempt, nearly succeeding.

Thus, the choice of Jiraiya this time wasn't surprising. However, the assertion that only Jiraiya was involved prompted skepticism in Shamon's mind.

"Kazekage-Sama, with most of the village's ninjas engaged in thwarting Jiraiya, what is the next course of action?"

A Sand Shinobi Anbu, kneeling before the Sand Gate, sought guidance.

Shamen contemplated silently, then after roughly half a minute, issued his order:

"Exercise caution and keep me informed of any changes."

"Yes!"

The Sand Shinobi Anbu bowed his head in acknowledgment before employing the Body Flicker Technique to vanish.

Shamen, a man of shadows, wasn't as gullible as Rasa. He didn't truly believe that the intruder was solely Jiraiya. Unless one reached the realm of Super Shadow, a single individual couldn't confront an entire village.

Sand Shinobi had dispatched more than half of their forces to the frontlines, mirroring their adversary. Personal intervention from Shamon wasn't necessary; deploying village ninjas was sufficient to handle Jiraiya.

"Ahem!"

Suddenly, a violent cough seized Shamon's attention, causing him to convulse twice. Unbidden, a trickle of blood escaped from the corner of his eye.

Yet, this wasn't the sole reason he couldn't engage in battle. His body teetered on the brink of exhaustion.

"Boom!!"

A sudden burst of white light manifested, shearing off the upper portion of the administrative building. Shamon's position in the Kazekage office crumbled like a vehicle transformed into a convertible.

As if slicing through butter, the scene unfolded.

Still reeling from illness, Shamon cast an incredulous gaze skyward, where the radiant sun bathed his surroundings.

Quicker than the sun's rays, a lengthy strand of silver hair rushed into his field of vision.

"Your physical condition doesn't appear optimal, Master Kazekage."

Tatsuya stood at the seamless cut atop the building, brandishing a sunlit blade. "To avenge Hokage-Sama's son, your life is forfeit."

As anticipated, there were others involved!

Tatsuya's appearance didn't elicit much shock from Shamon. He hadn't assumed Konoha would dispatch only Jiraiya. However, what unsettled Shamon was Tatsuya's recent statement?

Revenge for the Hokage's son?

Hokage's son... That should pertain to the individual who, together with the White Fang, had plotted his assassination in the past. Ultimately, his attempt had been thwarted by Shamon himself, and the White Fang had abandoned their mission to rescue him, right?

Hadn't that person been saved by the White Fang?

Then why was the person standing before him now claiming to seek vengeance for that failure?

"What are you insinuating?"

Shamon's curiosity got the best of him.

"You needn't grasp the full picture, Master Kazekage; one detail suffices."

As the words left Tatsuya's lips, he blurred into motion, materializing before his adversary. In a swift action, his blade descended, accompanied by the words, "That is, I require your head for my purpose."

Puff-boom!

The clash's reverberations shook the office's walls, causing them to crumble under intense turbulence.

Tatsuya scrutinized the sand particles trapped between the blade and Shamen's form, his lips curling with amusement. He remarked, "I seem to have encountered opponents quite fond of sand lately. It's becoming rather mundane..."

"Hmm!"

Shamon grunted, manipulating the quicksand into action. A massive wave of sand surged forth, ensnaring Tatsuya within its embrace.

"Sandfall Funeral!"

In the following instant, as the sands closed in around him, Shamon clenched his fist with determination.

Yet, Tatsuya proved a step ahead!

Puff--

The blade's tip punctured through the quicksand, executing a swift backhand motion.

In the blink of an eye, the sand bore a gaping hole.

"Sand manipulation doesn't compare to the Banpaku. It appears your human head is more valuable than imagined."

Tatsuya's laughter was light as he instantly reappeared before Kazekage.

The second blade descended relentlessly. Sparks ignited upon impact.

This time, a puppet, half-human, half-beast in form, intervened to staunchly resist Tatsuya's assault. It was then that Tatsuya recalled.

The figure before him, the Second Kazekage, wasn't solely a pioneer of Magnet Style; he also possessed a profound understanding of puppetry.

However, the puppets manipulated by Shamon lacked the intricate design of Chiyo's puppets or Akasuna no Sasori's creations.

Not to mention Red Sand Sasori utilizes living individuals to craft puppets that emulate a rudimentary version of Impure World Reincarnation.

Magnet Style fell short compared to Gaara. Puppetry lagged behind Chiyo and Sasori's craft. In each domain, Shamon's proficiency existed, yet none had reached its zenith.

Tatsuya's grin widened; the blade in his hand morphed into pure black, and he surged forward.

Click!

The puppet's raised arm emitted a cracking sound as the joint gave way.

Subsequently, Shamon's, controlling the puppet, sensed the force he exerted to manipulate the puppet amplifying it at an exaggerated pace.

Bang--

Two seconds later, a figure burst through the window of the Kazekage's office, hurtling into the wall of a neighboring structure.

The sound of movement drew the attention of many Sand Shinobi gathered there, causing them to lift their gazes toward the figure embedded in the wall, their exclamations filling the air:

"Master Kazekage!?"

As Tatsuya caught up, he glanced at the increasing number of approaching Sand Shinobi and remarked, "Indeed, more arrivals. If they interfere, things could get complicated."

Booming--

The blade of Tatsuya's sword resonated with the shrill sound of flames, but these flames weren't accompanied by the searing heat typical of fire.

Eternal Flame: Amaterasu!

"Yeah~"

With a swing of his sword, Tatsuya unleashed Amaterasu's flames, conjuring a towering wall of fire, ten meters high, across the path leading outside.

"Uh-ahhhhh."

A portion of the rushing Sand Shinobi was caught unprepared and started slamming the Sand barrier.

But in an instant, they were engulfed by Amaterasu.

Rolling on the ground, they desperately sought to quell the flames, yet the sinister black blaze showed no signs of relenting.

Short of reducing its target to ash, the flames raged on ceaselessly.

"Wind Style: Sand Bullets!"

At that moment, Shamon sprang into action.

He condensed boundless sand into bullet-sized projectiles, firing them in rapid succession akin to a machine gun's burst.

Was Wind Style being employed in conjunction with Magnet Style for a composite technique?

Tatsuya's eyes narrowed slightly, his black blade poised defensively before him.

Under these onyx pupils, the dense barrage of sand bullets seemed almost stationary. In the blink of an eye, Tatsuya surged forward, his movements abrupt.

The black blade in his grip pivoted subtly.

As the sand bullets grazed the blade's edge, they seemed to rebound like springs, diverting in a different direction.

None of the projectiles connected with Tatsuya.

"Why? What's happening!? Bouncing off the bullets with a blade?"

Sandman couldn't fathom it. Was that blade crafted of metal or cotton? How could it effortlessly deflect the loose sand bombs that effortlessly pierced rocks?

Cutting through was reasonable; after all, the White Fang had managed it previously.

But deflecting them was astounding!

"A rigid sword can never attain true strength."

Tatsuya elucidated a martial insight from the master swordsman.

This applied not only to swordsmanship but to life as well. Excess rigidity makes one brittle.

"Don't assume my defeat so easily!"

As a Kage-level warrior, Shamon swiftly recuperated from astonishment, raising his hands.

The sand under Tatsuya's feet surged upward as if imbued with life.

In the next heartbeat, it plummeted, hurtling toward its target like a tidal wave. The landscape's advantage was apparent.

This factor also contributed to Sunagakure's perceived military weakness, discouraging Shinobi from daring to assail it.

Leveraging the terrain, these adept sand manipulators could inundate invaders with a sea of sand.

Such a tactic could decimate over half the enemy's forces outright.

However, Tatsuya remained unperturbed by the cascading sand. Instead, he lowered the tip of his black blade, gliding his left hand along its edge.

"Are you determined to surpass everyone?"

Shamen disregarded Tatsuya's languid question, his hand a fierce blur.

The colossal quicksand tsunami, capable of engulfing half the village, surged downward, akin to a ravenous sea beast on the hunt.

In an instant, Tatsuya vanished.

When he reappeared, he stood behind Shamen.

The blade's tip, initially hanging low, now angled towards the back of Shamen's neck, reminiscent of a hawk's talon poised for a decisive strike.

The torrent of sand descending all around them halted abruptly, frozen in place.

Puff-puff!

As Tatsuya's sword reverted to its normal shade, a horizontal bloodstain marred Shamen's neck.

Uncontrolled, a stream of crimson welled forth.

Before Shamon's head severed from his neck and descended to the ground, Tatsuya's right hand withdrew the sword back into its sheath, while his left hand swiftly snatched it backward. He caught the head before it hit the ground, holding it in his grasp.

As the Chakra supply to the surrounding sand ceased, the once-rampant sand sea disintegrated into a dispersion that faded with the breeze, losing its aggressive intent and drifting aimlessly.

With the sand wall's collapse, the assembly of Sand Shinobi ninjas refocused their gaze ahead.

They bore witness to Tatsuya clutching their Master Kazekage's head in his left hand, with the headless body falling behind him.

This shockingly impactful scene left hundreds of Sand Shinobi in a stupefied daze.

Amidst this momentary lull, Tatsuya's form flickered and vanished from his position.

Finally, someone among the Sand Shinobi reacted and cried out,

"Master Kazekage has been slain!"

Master Kazekage had fallen.

This proclamation propagated like wildfire throughout Sunagakure.

The ensuing panic rapidly spread to every corner of the village.

...

...

"Jiraiya, when can we retreat? My Chakra's nearly depleted!"

At the entrance to Sunagakure, Gamabunta struggled to dodge the onslaught, employing a short blade as a makeshift defense against a barrage of ninjutsu from all directions.

Each swing of the blade accompanied spurts of uncontrollable blood from his wounds.

Despite its size advantage, Gamabunta was unequivocally a living target.

Unlike the Nine-Tails, this Summoning Beast lacked unparalleled regenerative abilities.

"Apologies, hold on!"

Jiraiya responded, his expression tinged with regret, his attention alternately shifting between the entrance and exit.

Is Tatsuya alright? What if he doesn't emerge anymore? I can't last much longer. Suddenly, sand waves surged beneath Gamabunta ensnaring his legs.

"Uh!?"

Gamabunta's pupils constricted, his gaze dropping to his ensnared feet.

Before him stood a red-haired youth, manipulating the quicksand in a bid to hinder his movements.

"You little brat!"

Exasperation brimmed within Gamabunta, his short blade aiming for the sand at his feet.

Since earlier, this kid's sand had been causing hindrances. Upon landing and becoming ensnared, considerable effort was required to break free.

He initially managed, yet as the injury worsened, Rasa seized the opportunity.

"Sand-bound Hazel!"

At the same moment, Rasa swiftly clasped his hands together.

The sand waves entwining Gamabunta's feet twisted akin to a wrung towel.

"Uh!!"

The excruciating agony of fractured bones forced Gamabunta to tumble to the ground, his posture undignified.

"Gamabunta!"

Jiraiya exclaimed.

"There's no surviving this time; I'll retreat."

With this declaration, Gamabunta reverse-summoned itself and turned into smoke, and fled back to the realm of Summoning.

"Capture Jiraiya!"

Finally freed from the troublesome toad, Rasa extended his arm towards Jiraiya, who was the next target.

"Summon another toad?"

Observing the oncoming swarm with rapidity, Jiraiya swiftly formulated a battle strategy in his mind.

Had this been Anbu or Root operatives, they would have likely retreated by this point.

This differentiation underscored why a select few, like Jiraiya, persisted in pushing on.

"Step aside, all of you."

Abruptly, a voice echoed from behind.

Rasa, acting on instinct, preemptively deployed a shield of sand to defend against the looming menace, an aura of dread cloaking the intruder.

A gleaming aura of blades materialized, meeting the sand shield halfway before blossoming into innumerable sword flowers, embodying a shinigami reaping lives.

The Sand Shinobi, their focus fixed solely on Jiraiya, were caught off guard, succumbing to a potent strike that spelled their swift defeat.

"Blocked?"

Meeting the sand shield's resistance for the second time, Tatsuya cast an appraising glance toward Rasa.

When he observed the red-haired figure at the opposite end, reminiscent of the Uzumaki clan, Tatsuya had already deduced the other's identity.

"It's you."

With a knowing smile, Tatsuya offered a four-word appraisal upon unraveling the other's identity.

No time was squandered in pleasantries as he passed directly by Rasa.

Simultaneously, Rasa's realization dawned.

Adjacent to him, suspended from Tatsuya's waist, was a bare forehead—the severed head of a human, blood still dripping!

"Retreat!"

Tatsuya patted Jiraiya on the shoulder, sprinting towards the Land of Rivers without faltering.

"Quickly!"

Jiraiya reacted instantaneously, pivoting on his heels to flee as well.

"They've slain Master Kazekage! Pursue them!!!"

Rasa, regaining his senses, rallied the remaining Sand Shinobi and bellowed the order.

...

...

Three days later.

The frontline battlefield straddles the Land of Wind and the Land of Rivers.

Blue arcs of electricity voraciously claimed the lives of Sand Shinobi on the battlefield, akin to a bloodthirsty predator.

Whoosh—

Abruptly, three puppets clad in white attire configured themselves in a triangular formation in midair. Manipulated by Chakra strings, they arced through the sky, intercepting the oncoming electrical onslaught.

In the ensuing second, the three white-clad puppets exhaled copious amounts of purple mist.

"Poison?!"

Confronted with this unforeseen development, Hatake relinquished his pursuit, his left hand instinctively covering his mouth and nose as he swiftly retreated.

"Is this a new toxin? It would be perilous to engage prior to Tsunade-sama concocting an antidote."

Nara Shikaku, turning towards the frontline commander Orochimaru, sought guidance, "Master Orochimaru, might it be prudent to disengage from this confrontation?"

Orochimaru, without much contemplation, was about to nod in agreement.

Over the years of stagnated strife with the Sand Shinobi, such scenarios had become all too familiar.

With every new poison concocted by Chiyo, Tsunade's medical expertise was indispensably enlisted to counteract its effects.

"It's unnecessary."

At that instant, two figures materialized on the periphery of the battlefield.

One of them elevated an object high, projecting their voice to reach both the warring Sand Shinobi and Konoha forces:

"Second Kazekage, Shamon's head is here."

The battlefield, once resonant with the cacophony of death, suddenly hushed as if the cry of cicadas had ceased.

In unison, thousands of eyes swiveled toward the source of the disturbance.

Two figures, draped in white, perched upon a lofty rock at the edge of the battleground.

Tatsuya cradled a bald head in his palm, resembling a basketball, an audacious display before the two village shinobi, as if to flaunt his triumph.

"Second... Kazekage... Second Generation..."

As the future Third Kazekage beheld the severed head held aloft by Tatsuya, his legs buckled, causing him to stagger and collapse.

"Yes, is this... real, Lord Second Generation?"

"No, it can't be; even White Fang failed."

The Sunagakure shinobi stood stupefied, unable to fathom the reality before them. To a shinobi village, their Kage symbolized their very core, the lynchpin of the village's unity.

Especially in times of conflict.

The sight conjured a similar mixture of astonishment among the Konoha shinobi, rivaling that of their Sand counterparts.

Hyuga Hiashi: "Is this... Is Kazekage truly..."

Akamichi Choza, catching sight of Jiraiya behind Tatsuya, gasped, "Master Tatsuya... and Master Jiraiya behind him? How did he get there?"

Yamanaka, taken aback, remarked with a quiver, "A mission even beyond White Fang's prowess... He actually succeeded?"

"It merely underscores the prowess of the [Black Knife] in comparison to [White Fang]."

Nara Shikaku's gaze oscillated between Hatake Sakumo ahead and the Hatake brothers in the distance—Tatsuya and Jiraiya—and proclaimed:

"White Fang, Black Knife; both brothers are on the level of monsters... or should it be Black Knife is a bigger monster compared to White Fang?"

Observing both sides halt, Tatsuya and Jiraiya descended from the high rock, advancing into the heart of the battlefield.

Each step Tatsuya took toward the opposing forces bearing Shamon's head provoked involuntary tremors in the hearts of the Sand Shinobi.

"Observing this, it seems you lack the appetite for further combat."

With a toss, Tatsuya flung the bald head towards Chiyo, equating the act to passing a ball.

Shamon's severed head was like a bucket of icy water, its impact splashing across Chiyo's consciousness.

No matter the fervent fires that had burned within her, they could kindle no more. There could be no continuation of the battle.

Such was Chiyo's inner realization.

This was no longer a decision within the realm of her jurisdiction as the puppet master.

"Return and prepare the terms of the ceasefire."

Orochimaru advanced, a smirk gracing his lips as he delivered the final decree. Instantly, Konoha's forces pivoted and retreated to their base camp.

On the side of the Sand Shinobi, a protracted gaze lingered upon the head cradled in Chiyo's hands.

Gradually, they regained their composure, readying themselves to withdraw to their quarters.

...

...

At the rear, within the Konoha encampment

"Jiraiya, I assumed you'd met your end in the Land of Rain."

Tsunade, confronting her old friend whom she hadn't seen in years, was relentless in her jest.

"Haha, I've managed to train those three youngsters into rather exceptional ninjas."

Jiraiya replied with an air of joviality.

"In this era of war, shrouded in obscurity, countless children succumb daily. Yet here you are, frittering away your time like this."

Orochimaru stepped forward, his disapproval of Jiraiya's actions evident.

After three years, the Konoha Sannin found themselves reunited once again.

However, the trio sensed a subtle shift in the dynamics that bound them together.

...

On the opposite side of the encampment

The Hatake brothers now acknowledged as [Black Knife] and [White Fang], sat facing each other.

"I didn't spot Shinnosuke-kun. What happened to him, Tatsuya?"

Noticing the absence of his usual subordinate, Hatake furrowed his brow and directed the query at Tatsuya.

"Unfortunately, during the battle in Sunagakure, he was struck by Shamon's sand shots, and his movements were restrained."

Tatsuya, casually draped across a wooden chair with an air of nonchalance, succinctly replied, "He's dead."

As they tidied the aftermath of the conflict, the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, coincidentally passing by, overheard Tatsuya's brief statement.

Nara Shikaku signaled for his comrades to halt, and briefly exchanged glances.

"Didn't you save him?"

Hatake instinctively inquired.

"Consider the outcome the last time you saved him."

Tatsuya responded to Hatake's rhetorical question.

Hatake's prompt query rendered him momentarily speechless.

"Was this also Shinnosuke's wish? Didn't he himself proclaim that ninjas who can't fulfill their mission are wastes?"

Tatsuya produced a jug of rice wine, procured during his return from the Land of Wind, and poured a few sips before tossing it to Hatake Sakumo.

"Isn't this a fitting end? His death marks him not as a waste, but as a hero of Konoha. His name will be inscribed on the memorial monument as a hero—a distinguished honor."

As he articulated this sentiment, a faint trace of a smile flickered across Tatsuya's countenance.

Yet, was there any true honor in death?

Could the same be said for the original Namikaze Minato?

What befitting treatment had his son received?

Hatake Sakumo accepted the jug that Tatsuya had tossed his way.

Amidst a prolonged silence, he took a few sips, allowing the liquid to course down his throat.

Perhaps Tatsuya's perspective was valid after all.

"This fool... Can he truly believe that?"

Gazing upon his brother's obtuse expression, skepticism failed to take root. Tatsuya couldn't help but ponder inwardly.

Perhaps it's not bad. Look at Might Guy, he forgot the names of Kisame, Uchiha Obito, and Uchiha Madara. How can someone forget Uchiha Madara's name? Perhaps he didn't want to pass on the hatred against the evil Uchiha. Is he smart or an idiot we don't know.