Malphegor
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HTP: Ch. 25
🕑 Added 2025-05-27 18:01:22 +0000 UTCAfter Kakashi left the Hokage's office, he immediately summoned Guy and Yamato. The three of them stood atop the Hokage Rock, overlooking the entire Konoha.
He was preparing to brief them for battle.
"If war breaks out, scenes like this will become rare," he said, hands in his pockets.
"Is the situation really that bad?" Guy asked, arms crossed and brow furrowed, a rare moment when he didn't display his usual passionate energy. Even he couldn't maintain his cheerfulness at the mention of possible war. He, too, had lived through the Third Great Ninja War.
"Yes, Kakashi-senpai," Yamato said.
The happy days of leading Team 7 through training and missions were about to come to an abrupt end. He felt a sense of loss, he hadn't even had his fill of being the acting captain. He was also a bit worried about Sakura and Sasuke's training.
"Be mentally prepared. At least for now, the intel indicates that war could break out at any moment," Kakashi nodded. "Hopefully, it's all just a misunderstanding. But I'm telling you now so you can prepare for the worst."
"The worst-case scenario?" Guy clenched his fists. "Are we really heading toward a Fourth Great Ninja War? Is Kumo so eager for war?"
"If the Raikage personally leads an infiltration team, it's clearly a declaration of war," Kakashi said calmly and firmly. "We have no choice but to eliminate the biggest threat to the village first."
Yamato spoke with composure, "Let's discuss strategy. The Raikage not someone we can easily deal with. He's a high-speed type ninja on par with the Fourth Hokage."
"We have the advantage in numbers, and the enemy doesn't know their operation was discovered by Jiraiya-sama." Kakashi formed a hand seal and summoned a scroll. "These are records left behind after the Fourth Hokage fought the A–B Combo."
Yamato quickly got into a tactical mindset as he took the scroll. "If the Raikage moves, there's a high chance he'll be accompanied by Killer B, the Eight-Tails' jinchūriki. That's probably why the Hokage involved me in this."
Kakashi nodded. "Jiraiya-sama and Lady Tsunade will support us. We don't need to worry too much about combat strength."
Guy sighed, "I hope things don't escalate that far."
"Let's hope so," Kakashi looked into the distance, the last rays of sunlight reflecting off his mask, and added, "Also, regarding the Five Generals."
"Huh?" Guy and Yamato both turned their attention to him.
"After this mission, the Hokage will be appointing the Five Generals of the Leaf," Kakashi explained.
Guy stroked his chin and speculated, "Like the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist?"
Kakashi pointed to an empty spot on the Hokage Rock, "More than that. These five will be the village's most important jonin. The future Fifth Hokage might be chosen from among them. Most likely, both you and I will be on the list. The other two confirmed spots are Jiraiya-sama and Lady Tsunade. One position remains undecided."
Kakashi truly carried the bearing of a Hokage, promotions handed out on the eve of battle, practical and timely.
After the initial shock, Guy brightened up, his dazzling white teeth sparkling, "So I could become Hokage too! Finally, I can promote the power of youthful tights!"
"Uh, let's not go that far." Yamato suddenly turned serious. He thought to himself. There's still one spot left. Does that mean they're waiting for me to prove myself?
On the streets below, people continued to move about, and children's laughter still echoed. Konoha was thriving. But if war broke out, this beautiful atmosphere would vanish in an instant.
---
Jiraiya and Tsunade were hurrying back toward the village with Naruto and Shizune. Jiraiya looked grim, while Tsunade seemed a bit weary, she had lost another bet with the blond kid. It was unbelievable that such a simple-minded boy could master the Rasengan in just seven days.
"Are you sure the Kumo ninjas have already infiltrated the Land of Fire?" Tsunade asked as they rushed forward.
"There's no mistake," Jiraiya nodded. "After noticing some strange activity in one of my usual intel-gathering spots, I investigated further. Among those so-called 'merchants' were at least a dozen jonin-level ninjas, and their numbers are still increasing."
"What exactly is Kumo trying to do?" Tsunade frowned. "Aren't they afraid of triggering a war?"
"The Raikage is capable of anything," Jiraiya said with a trace of helplessness in his voice. "We need to get Naruto back to Konoha as soon as possible. His identity may already be exposed."
Naruto followed behind the two of them. Though he didn't fully grasp how serious the situation was, he could sense the tension from their expressions.
"Hey, are we really about to go to war?" Naruto couldn't help but ask.
Jiraiya looked back at him and forced a smile. "Don't worry, Naruto. As long as we're around, no matter what they're plotting, it won't succeed."
Everything had seemed to be improving, Hiruzen had recovered and was coming up with good plans, Orochimaru and Tsunade had returned, and Naruto was showing the same potential as Minato had back in the day.
If things continued peacefully, Konoha could have achieved victory through cultural strength alone.
But now... Having lived through two Great Ninja Wars, he was deeply troubled. He knew exactly how devastating war could be.
Tsunade patted Naruto on the shoulder. "Don't think too much. What you need to do now is get stronger, strong enough to protect yourself and those around you."
Naruto nodded confidently and thumped his chest. "I will get stronger! I'm gonna be the next Hokage, after all!"
"You don't even have a clue how to use Minato's signature jutsu!" Jiraiya couldn't help but bring him back down a notch.
"You don't know how to use it either, even though you were Dad's teacher!" Naruto shouted back.
"Minato didn't need me to teach him back then!" Jiraiya replied with righteous indignation.
Shizune, holding her little piglet, had witnessed Naruto sparring against Tsunade and even lasting dozens of moves. Now he was planning to master the legendary Flying Thunder God?
She couldn't help but think to herself. You're already strong enough for your age… if you get any stronger, I'm really going to start feeling useless.
---
At the same moment, deep within the forests of the Land of Fire, the Kumo ninjas were moving swiftly. Leading the group was the Fourth Raikage flanked by Killer B and over a dozen jonin. Only the most capable had been allowed to follow Raikage directly, behind them, even more Kumo ninjas were infiltrating the Land of Fire disguised as merchants.
They were pursuing Jiraiya's group. A could've caught up quickly on his own, but going solo would've been suicide.
"Are we really doing this?" Killer B asked in his usual rapping rhythm. "That masked guy who gave us intel on the Nine-Tails doesn't look like someone we can trust."
"Shut up! As long as the intel is legit, it doesn't matter," A waved his hand impatiently. "This mission concerns the future of Kumo. There can't be any slip-ups."
"But with Jiraiya and Tsunade on Konoha's side, isn't this way too risky?" B continued to nag.
"No matter how strong Konoha is, as long as we move fast, they won't have time to react." A sneered.
He wasn't expecting to kill Jiraiya or Tsunade. Their real target was Naruto, either to abduct him or take him out.
As long as they made it a fait accompli, they could always apologize later! Surely, Konoha wouldn't dare launch a full-scale retaliatory war.
The masked man's intel was clear: Naruto wasn't just the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, he was the son of the Yellow Flash, and already a genius capable of summoning the Enma and the Toads of Mount Myōboku at a young age.
Their spies had confirmed it all, it was true.
A Nine-Tails jinchūriki plus the Yellow Flash's heir?
Far too dangerous. Someone like that must never be allowed to grow up.
