Chapter 263: Short Term Plan

Kannabi Bridge Battle holds a particularly prominent place in the Third Shinobi World War.

Before this battle, the Third Shinobi World War mainly involved skirmishes along borders or took place in small nations. Iwagakure, Konohagakure, and Sunagakure were all clashing in the Land of Rain, in a way not too different from the Second Shinobi World War. Because Hanzō did nothing about it, the Akatsuki organization was able to grow.

However, the "black swan" event of this war occurred when Iwagakure lost ten thousand shinobi in its showdown with Kumogakure.

No longer having the manpower for a protracted conflict, Iwagakure's ties to the fickle Kusagakure were exposed; then a thousand Iwa-nin were redeployed to invade the Land of Fire via Grass.

Hoping to reap enough gains from the wealthy Land of Fire to end the war and compensate for their own losses, they instead met with utter defeat.

From that point, the Third Shinobi World War ramped straight into the highest-intensity "meat grinder" stage.

Following an internal strife, plus a war with Kirigakure (which saw the death of Pakura) and prolonged fighting in the Land of Rain, Sunagakure ended up thinking along the same lines as Iwagakure. Around the same time—maybe slightly later—they triggered the Battle of Kikyō Pass. Their objective was near-identical to Iwagakure's.

The ruins of Kikyō Castle, near Kikyō Pass, happen to sit right by Konoha. Essentially, Sunagakure took advantage of Konoha being attacked by Kirigakure and Iwagakure, drove straight into the Land of Fire's heartland, and fought a terribly brutal battle. In failing, Sunagakure concluded a treaty with Konoha (which had likewise suffered huge casualties)—something resembling the eventual "Konoha Crush" plan that Orochimaru carried out in the future.

Meanwhile, the front opposing Kirigakure was also collapsing due to the extremely horrific Battle of Kikyō Pass. Uchiha Madara, exerting influence on Kirigakure's internal affairs, launched a plan for the Three-Tails to wreak havoc on Konoha.

So, although the Kannabi Bridge Battle comes rather late in the Third Shinobi World War, in truth it was at that point that the war escalated to its climax.

Even so, the person who truly changed the course of the war was Namikaze Minato. First, he led his people to repel Ai, the Raikage-candidate of Kumogakure, along with Gyūki's jinchūriki. Then, all on his own, he annihilated an Iwa unit at Kannabi Bridge that had nearly wiped out Konoha's frontline forces. After that, he rushed to the Battle of Kikyō Pass and directly affected the final outcome.

A minor footnote: because the Kusagakure betrayed Konoha, it wound up being attacked by three nations. Shimura Danzō, representing Root, immediately departed for the Land of Rain, ensuring that allied Rain would not shift allegiance to another power. Together with Hanzō, he killed Yahiko, breaking the Akatsuki's hold over Amegakure.

On the main battlefield, three great nations' invasions were successively foiled. Sunagakure and Konoha signed a treaty, Iwagakure withdrew, while Kirigakure—having lost the Three-Tails and a large number of elites (Obito killed them)—had the Seven Ninja Swordsmen reduced to "Three," and, with Uchiha involvement, was no longer able to continue attacking.

At that point, the Third Shinobi World War effectively ended. With Namikaze Minato's achievements and prestige, who else but him could become Hokage?

But the repercussions of that war ran even deeper.

Once Minato became Hokage, the Nine-Tails Rampage cost him his life. Konoha, bereft of the Fourth Hokage who had performed so brilliantly in the war, suffered devastating losses. Kumogakure—largely unscathed in the Third War—launched a brazen invasion, forcing a retired Third Hokage to resume his post, and fighting dragged on for three more years.

It was only on the Hyūga family heiress Hinata's third birthday that Kumogakure and Konoha ceased hostilities and formed an alliance.

"So no need to ask whether I'm allowed to go there directly, I guess," Link said with a shrug. If a war was coming, it would surely be that much harder for him to visit.

"No." Senju Tobirama shook his head. "You'll accompany the Uchiha Clan as part of the first wave to set up a stronghold in that world."

"Me?" Link was taken aback. He hadn't expected the village to send him there.

Nearby, the "young" Namikaze Minato, seeing Tobirama shoot him a look that basically said, "You can step out," raised his hand sensibly. "I can walk around the village some, right?"

He'd come carrying a few tasks: clarifying the alternate world's status, gathering whatever intel he could about "the past," and so forth.

As for why some random kid had the authority to participate in top-level negotiations… perhaps he'd figure that out in time?

Taking notes—taking notes.

"Yamato," Tsunade said calmly. The Wood-Style jōnin, no longer part of the Anbu, stepped forward. Glancing at Minato, Tsunade said, "He'll be taking care of you."

A.K.A. monitoring him.

When the outsiders had left the room, Tobirama revealed the plan he'd drawn up. "I've obtained the other world's 'Big Brother's' DNA," he said with a faint smile. "I know you'd definitely want to go have fun in that parallel world—go ahead and prepare for Big Brother's reanimation."

"If that world's 'Big Brother' can serve as war power, then the Uchiha Clan—"

He looked at Uchiha Sasuke behind him. "Seeing as they don't feel too attached to this village now, better they develop in another world."

If it weren't to tie Link to Konoha, he'd never even have proposed bringing back a treasonous Uchiha clan that had essentially been wiped out.

The final bargain was a compromise—both sides had grudges, but now that they were setting up a foothold in the parallel world, might as well toss all these little Uchiha sprouts over there.

Out of sight, out of mind.

Supporting the other Konoha #2, from the start, Tobirama had never intended for "our" village to send troops or exert themselves. On the contrary, he'd wracked his brain for how to gain benefits.

The reanimation of his brother had been delayed a long time by the village's general lack of fighting force, the threat of Black Zetsu and the masked man. Happily, that other world also had "Big Brother."

Simple then: reanimate his own "idiot brother," leave the other Konoha's "Big Brother" as temporary war power.

Three fronts remain: Kannabi Bridge was settled by "Young Tobirama," leaving the battles at Kikyō Pass and Kirigakure's invasion. "Our" side had the Fourth Hokage Minato; that side had the First Hokage Hashirama. Problem solved.

Along the way, they'd show off a bit, solidifying cooperation with Konoha #2.

Heaps of reanimated individuals could all be stationed in that other world, preventing intelligence leaks in the main world, while Link got to hide out from Black Zetsu and the masked man—a multi-pronged solution.

Once the reanimated grew stronger, they could return and hopefully deal with Black Zetsu, the masked man, plus maybe do a little "quieting" in the rowdy ninja world.

Tobirama reiterated his plan to Link and Sasuke, then concluded: "However, I need you to create as much chakra as possible today so that travel between the two worlds remains smooth."

"What about Jiraiya-sama? No word from him?" Link asked. He was at least a bit concerned for Naruto's mentor—plus the Great Toad Sage's pal. Suddenly disappearing was no trivial matter.

Tobirama shook his head. "Minato went searching, but still hasn't found him." His expression soured at the mention of that irresponsible old perv.

In Tobirama's view, the man should never have gone to the parallel world in the first place, but he hadn't been there to intervene. Among the current Hokage, Hiruzen's manner was too soft, Tsunade was Jiraiya's teammate, and Minato was Jiraiya's student, with no standing to oppose him. Meanwhile, Hashirama just didn't care about anything.

Hence, Jiraiya had basically roamed free in the village.

"We needn't bother about him," Tobirama said, his youthful face drawn tight in a faint scowl. "Once the war's over, that other village can help us look for the two Jiraiyas."

They'd both vanished, so might as well search for them together.

Over at her desk, Tsunade idly toyed with a photo of her and her boyfriend taken a couple of days ago, bored out of her mind. As Hokage, she rarely had much to do—there were too many people higher in seniority whose word carried more weight. She was basically a nominal leader, especially with Tobirama around. She just sat in the office, stamping documents like a machine.

[Speaking of which, Dan's been avoiding me lately…?]

"Tsunade. Tsunade!" Tobirama's voice snapped her out of her daze. She looked up to see his fierce little face, which—contrary to his gruff tone—looked rather cute, and she couldn't help letting out a slight laugh.

"What are you laughing at?"

"Uh, nothing." Hastily, Tsunade changed the subject. "So, Lord Second Hokage—did you need something?"

"Just call me Tobirama." He sighed, evidently not vying for any power. If it weren't that these "later generations" were all such disappointments, why not remain carefree, living as a child day by day, developing forbidden jutsu alongside Link?

Whether the kid liked gory jutsu or not wasn't his problem.

Yet they insisted on "Lord Second Hokage" day in and day out, as though they weren't worried about intelligence leaks.

"Yes—" Tsunade practically clicked her heels together.

Tobirama hopped off the desk. "When that side's 'Big Brother' is summoned, my brother, Sarutobi, and Minato will be next in line for reanimation."

"I'll go tomorrow to the parallel world with Link and them. I'm leaving things here to you."

In Tobirama's judgment, Tsunade could handle the village just fine with her mastery of Sage Mode and thoroughly honed skills, putting her nearly on par with him in his prime for defense. As long as she didn't run into someone who specifically countered her style, like Orochimaru messing with that Sage Mode, she was entirely adequate as Hokage.

"As for Orochimaru…" He paused in thought. He remained unsure about how to deal with that genius junior. Someone who could so swiftly absorb and grasp his jutsu posed a huge threat, yet he currently seemed harmless—plus he'd been helpful in retrieving Tobirama.

Executing him as soon as he was no longer needed wasn't an option, but leaving him here was also risky. "Let's assign him to the second wave, along with the reanimated, and send him to the other world."

Once in the other world, if Orochimaru caused trouble, so be it. It wouldn't threaten the main village.

He was also quite comfortable letting Link travel to the parallel world. That jutsu's best user candidate was Link, who could keep a drawn-up formula on his person, inject it with chakra, and instantly flee the current world—functionally a space-time ninjutsu. Not great offensively, but more than enough to escape.

To block it, the enemy would need to be strong enough to distort space itself, match or exceed him and Minato's speed, or match Hashirama and Madara in power. If none of those was satisfied, they'd have to watch helplessly, just like how the "Sasori of the Red Sand" once used Summoning to escape, leaving everyone else with no choice but to stand by.

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