The war had been drawing to a close for a long time, and the three known as the Sannin were moving swiftly through the treetops toward Konoha.
They were on a reconnaissance mission under the orders of the Third Hokage. Ever since Jiraiya had stayed behind in Amegakure to train those children, she and Orochimaru had fought side by side.
She didn't understand Orochimaru's eagerness to bring him to Konoha so quickly. She tried to understand, but she couldn't.
Sometimes her teammate was like a puzzle, difficult to piece together.
But she admitted he was a man of great value among Konoha's armed forces.
Dan, Shizune, and Nawaki were surely waiting for her in the village. Her little brother would bombard her with questions.
"I see you're sure of your decision, Orochimaru. I hope you don't regret it. No offense, but it's not like abandoning a dog."
Jiraiya looked at his best friend, as well as his unrequited love. He didn't understand this. An unexpected burst of kindness in him
—You'll understand when we reach the village.
His cold, chilling voice broke the ice after a few seconds.
Cold and direct as always.
Upon arriving at the village, the guards greeted him with profound respect.
...
...
..
Hiruzen sat in his chair, leaning back and gazing at the Kage Monument.
He exhaled the smoke from his pipe, which danced, danced like a couple at a wedding, entwining themselves and surrendering to the moment.
The war was drawing to a close, and with it, its consequences.
The feudal lord was growing increasingly impatient with the war's prolonged duration.
For the feudal lord, financing an army to achieve victory in war meant constant losses.
And for him, it meant an increase in status.
He felt the weight of being Hokage, the constant pressure from various parties, along with dealing with those around him.
He examined his nails until he heard the sound of the door asking to be opened.
"Come in."
Through the doorway appeared his three students, the only ones he had ever had, and whom he didn't regret training personally.
The three had established themselves as the three Sannin after a battle with Hanzo the Salamander.
But Jiraiya's serious expression surprised him, indicating that something had happened.
"How was the mission?"
"We found few survivors from the Land of Flowers, who died within hours due to severe malnutrition."
Hiruzen listened to the words, his heart heavy with sadness.
He knew that, unfortunately, whether he liked it or not, small villages were often the epicenters of fighting.
"Anything else?"
" The three of them looked at each other and then at Orochimaru.
"I found a survivor in the village. He was a boy who looked about thirteen years old, malnourished and weak, who was struggling to see me."
An abrupt and unexpected silence fell.
"I brought him to the village. He's currently in the hospital recovering."
Hiruzen was surprised by his star student's actions.
He brought him to the village and didn't hesitate for a single minute in his decision.
"Alright, I'm very surprised by your actions, Orochimaru... Very well, you can go if you want."
Hiruzen said his respectful goodbyes as they disappeared through the door.
He looked again at the papers in front of him.
"Economic Restructuring of Konoha"
That was the title.
They had to present a project to get Konoha out of the state of war it was in.
According to estimates, the war would end in about three to six months. A lot.
The war had worn them down, especially the battles with Kumogakure, which led to the genin and chunin going to fight.
Furthermore, the ghost of the Uzumaki massacre always haunted him.
He regretted arriving too late to help them; as far as he knew, the only survivor was Miro Uzumaki, the deceased daughter of the now-deceased Hashirama Senju.
The jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails.
In addition, Danzo began to move, trying to find a vessel.
"This is annoying."