While Uchiha Itachi was loyally serving Konoha in a different world, the "Strongest Hokage," the Third, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had just finished persuading his wayward student Orochimaru.
The once-defected Sannin of Konoha had, under his teacher's guidance, come to a great awakening. Filled with regret, Orochimaru vowed to dedicate the rest of his life to Konoha even in the next one.
He lamented how, in his youth, he had allowed his petty jealousy of his junior Namikaze Minato's brilliance to cloud his heart, how he'd fallen for Danzo's manipulations, and ultimately betrayed the village's trust.
News of Orochimaru's return spread quickly. Whether or not the Sand Village reacted like they'd swallowed a fly, at the very least, Danzo was cursing at the newspaper again.
Orochimaru's decision was easy to understand.
He had been wasting away in a special prison with impenetrable seals, where every day felt like a year. From inside, there was no hope of escape.
Outside, Orochimaru's forces had all but collapsed. The only one who could be called talented was Kimimaro and he was gravely ill, perhaps even dead by now.
There was no one left to count on. He certainly couldn't expect Pain to march the Akatsuki in to rescue him.
And his own body was deteriorating. His reckless use of an unrefined Living Corpse Reincarnation technique had left serious aftereffects, and he had been relying on body-swapping just to survive. But now…
It was like watching his health bar slowly shrink while being completely powerless to stop it.
Initially, when the Third Hokage came to persuade him to "turn back from the edge," Orochimaru intended to fake his repentance. Once he regained his freedom, he planned to strike back and mock Hiruzen for his predictable softness.
But after several deep conversations, the information Sarutobi shared completely overturned Orochimaru's worldview.
The boundless cosmos, the infinite timelines what wondrous discoveries for a scientist of the shinobi world.
The knowledge and resources of alternate worlds were like a fuzzy-bristled brush, constantly tickling Orochimaru's deepest curiosities.
After wrestling with himself, he finally gave in and penned a sincere letter of repentance that very night.
He cursed his younger self for failing to recognize a true leader, for being deceived by Danzo, for betraying his teacher's expectations how disgraceful!
He begged Hiruzen to forgive the past and welcome him home once more. He signed it with a respectful bow.
The Third replied simply: No matter when you return, you will always be my student. He even assigned Orochimaru a research project developing a civilian-friendly, village-wide communication system akin to a cell phone.
Hiruzen wanted to bring technological convenience to the people of Konoha.
With the primary offender now out on parole, the same applied to his accomplice, Kabuto Yakushi.
While that reunion played out, the ANBU received even more good news: Jiraiya had reported that Tsunade had agreed to return.
Konoha would have to cover her gambling debts first, of course. Jiraiya had already spent his years of royalty checks just to make this happen.
But that was a small matter. Ever since Hiruzen's last visit to the Fire Daimyo, Konoha's finances had become more robust than ever.
Unfortunately, another issue loomed.
Jiraiya had discovered that the Hidden Cloud was quietly moving elite shinobi into the Land of Fire and rallying them in secret.
True to his title as the king of intelligence, Jiraiya had first sensed something was off while visiting a red-light district. When he noticed the atmosphere had changed, he dug deeper. Many supposed "merchants" from the Land of Lightning were mixed with disguised shinobi.
A very dangerous sign.
Hiruzen immediately dispatched ANBU to reinforce Jiraiya and began contemplating his next move.
Given how active Konoha had been lately, was this just a probe?
Or had the Raikage actually decided to go to war?
Hiruzen puffed thoughtfully on his pipe, studying the ANBU reports.
Surely they're not planning to ambush Jiraiya and Tsunade? That would be suicide. Could the Raikage himself have come to the Land of Fire?
Maybe they're after Naruto. But with Jiraiya and Tsunade both present, would he really dare?
As absurd as it sounded, Hiruzen had to admit: if anyone was reckless enough to do it, it would be the Fourth Raikage.
This was the man who once caught Amaterasu with his bare hand, then casually severed his own arm. Even after the Fourth Great Ninja War, when Kizaru and Fujitora were still alive, he had the nerve to build a chakra cannon. Absolutely insane.
So yes, this man was unhinged. There was no telling what he might attempt.
Which meant there was a very real possibility he intended to seize the Nine-Tails and trigger a full-scale war.
Right now, the Hidden Cloud was the only village with the capacity and motive to start a war. The Sand had essentially become Konoha's vassal, the Mist was plagued by internal conflict, and the Stone… well, Onoki was practically a fossil. He didn't even have a successor, and all their Jinchuriki had fled.
Hiruzen recalled the Cloud's attempt to abduct a Hyuga child years ago, a time when Konoha was already struggling.
I wanted to prioritize the greater peace of the shinobi world, but this this is lawlessness.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became.
Damn it, it's time to gather the Five Grand Generals and bring the Raikage to heel!
Hiruzen issued immediate orders: Kakashi Hatake, Yamato of the Wood Release, and Might Guy were to each lead five ANBU squads. Kakashi would serve as Supreme Commander, Yamato as Deputy, and Guy as the Vanguard.
They were tasked with sweeping the Land of Fire and eradicating any Hidden Cloud presence.
They were also granted unlimited combat authorization if deemed necessary, the commanders could declare full-scale war.
In other words, if the Raikage himself had entered the Land of Fire, he was not to leave.
When Kakashi arrived at the Hokage's office and received his orders, he couldn't help but ask, "Lord Third… is war really coming again?"
Kakashi knew war. He had lived it. He had been a hero of the last one.
In the Third Great Ninja War, he had lost his best friends Obito during a battle with the Stone, Rin during a mission against the Mist. A cursed star, that's what he had become.
If there was another war, who would he lose this time?
The faces of Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura appeared in his mind.
Hiruzen's face darkened. "Maybe. I hope the Raikage doesn't make the wrong move. But if he does... the Fourth Great Ninja War may start ahead of schedule."
Kakashi didn't ask any further. He knew Hiruzen would never joke about something .
After a moment of silence, he nodded and said, "Understood, Lord Hokage."
If the leader of another village's military strength was secretly operating inside the Land of Fire, spying on the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, it was an act of war. Konoha had no choice but to respond. And if war was inevitable, then eliminating the enemy's top general was a strategic necessity.
"Kakashi, this won't be easy. But show them the brilliance of Minato's student," said Hiruzen, puffing slowly on his pipe, eyes filled with resolve.
He tapped the pipe on the ashtray, smoke drifting lazily, and added, "After this mission, I intend to appoint you as one of Konoha's Five Grand Generals."
Kakashi blinked. A question mark practically floated above his head.
"The Five Grand Generals are a new rank I've created," Hiruzen explained. "They will be the village's five leading jonin. If something happens to me, the village will fall under your collective leadership, and from among you, the next Hokage will be chosen."
It was standard practice to promote before a major battle. Now that the council of elders had been dissolved, the Hokage needed new advisors.
Besides, Five Grand Generals sounded really cool, Hiruzen thought.
"Who are the others?" Kakashi asked.
"As of now, it's you, Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Might Guy. The fifth… is yet to be decided."
Orochimaru had just returned and still needed time to prove himself.
There was no need to offer any hollow flattery about "your potential to become Hokage" Kakashi was already a true contender.
As for future crises in the shinobi world… that was a problem for another day. With enough time to develop, and with prodigies like Naruto and Sasuke maturing, what was there to fear?
Promoted so suddenly, Kakashi immediately reviewed all intel and available personnel, then left to rally his team.
That day, Hiruzen had no mood to browse mission reports or manga posts.
With the Akatsuki threat and the looming possibility of war tangled together, his mind was a storm.
There was still much work to be done. In these uncertain times, Konoha would have to make some economic concessions to the Sand. As for Kisame, the rogue ninja from the Mist Hiruzen had been cordial with him out of respect for Itachi, but now, it might be time for a real meeting.
The original course of history had shifted, guided by the monkey wielding his staff.
The sun over the Hidden Leaf would have to work overtime today.
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