Naruto: The Hyuga Mastermind

Chapter 54: The Uchiha Must Not Be Linked to Madara!

Jiraiya felt deeply frustrated.

After Minato's arrival yesterday, he had joined the frontlines, only to immediately draw the attention of the Third Mizukage.

That wouldn't have been much of a problem—after all, their strengths were roughly equal. But the Mizukage's bodyguards were far stronger than the companions Jiraiya had brought with him!

"Water Release: Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"

A massive surge of water spread across the battlefield, a tsunami-like wave threatening to engulf everything in its path.

Agilely leaping out of harm's way, Jiraiya landed on the surface of the water and couldn't help but sigh.

"No wonder they call him the Tailed Beast without a tail. His chakra reserves are truly monstrous, just like an actual Tailed Beast."

"Water Release: Water Gun Jutsu!"

From behind Jiraiya, the Third Mizukage silently emerged from the water created by Kisame. He launched a high-pressure water bullet, sharp as steel, straight at Jiraiya.

Bang!

The bullet struck what appeared to be Jiraiya but instead burst into white smoke—a shadow clone. From above the Mizukage, a wave of scorching heat descended. Reacting instantly, the Mizukage formed a series of seals and pressed his hand to the water's surface.

"Water Release: Water Wall!"

The rising wall of water neutralized the incoming fire, but in that moment, Jiraiya had closed the distance. His hair transformed into sharp needles, shooting toward the Mizukage—only to strike nothing but an afterimage.

Meanwhile, Kisame charged forward again from another direction.

"Having an abundance of chakra really lets you fight as you please," Jiraiya muttered, sidestepping another shark-shaped water projectile and sighing.

The battlefield created by Kisame's water release gave both him and the Mizukage a tremendous advantage.

Where are Orochimaru and Sensei? Why haven't they arrived yet?

Seeing no better option, Jiraiya quickly formed the seals for the Summoning Jutsu, pressing his hands to the water's surface.

Boom!

In a puff of smoke, two toads appeared, one on either of Jiraiya's shoulders.

"Great Elder Sages, I'll have to trouble you both again…"

Before Jiraiya could finish his sentence, one of the toads immediately leaped away, forming the reverse summoning seal and disappearing on the spot.

"???"

"Don't worry about him," Fukasaku reassured Jiraiya, intercepting a water dragon launched by the Mizukage. "The old fool has some other task for him. Seems like he's had another prophecy."

Jiraiya twitched at the corners of his mouth.

Fukasaku was as blunt about the Great Toad Sage as ever, despite the sage's ability to predict the future.

Still, he couldn't help but question aloud, "Did I even need to summon you both in the first place?"

Fukasaku's expression shifted slightly as he glanced in a particular direction, where the water didn't extend. A squad of shinobi was rapidly approaching, and among them, he sensed several familiar chakra signatures.

Jiraiya hadn't noticed yet, but as the group drew closer, his face lit up with a mix of shock and delight.

"Tsunade?"

Orochimaru and Tsunade landed behind Jiraiya, accompanied by a squad of reinforcements. Their sudden arrival forced the Third Mizukage and Kisame to retreat slightly.

"You didn't even notice me, Jiraiya. How rude." Orochimaru smirked faintly.

Jiraiya gave an awkward laugh, his gaze fixed on Tsunade. She looked tired but no longer carried the defeated expression she once had. A tangle of emotions stirred within him, but all he managed to say was:

"Welcome back, Tsunade."

"Don't be too happy about it," Tsunade grumbled, though the corners of her mouth curved upward. "I barely arrived before Orochimaru and Sensei dragged me straight onto the battlefield. Not exactly a warm welcome."

Still, her smile grew. "But I'll let it slide. After all, today marks the first time in ten years that the three of us have fought side by side. You haven't gotten rusty, have you?"

"I should be asking you that," Orochimaru teased, licking his lips. For once, a rare smile crossed his face.

Ending my service to Konoha in a battle like this... it's not such a bad way to go.

As they exchanged lighthearted banter, the Third Mizukage's reinforcements arrived. Among them was Yagura, who led a group of Mist shinobi to their side.

"Yagura, what's going on?"

At the Mizukage's inquiry, Yagura lowered his head respectfully and reported, "Konoha reinforcements have reached the battlefield. The Third Hokage is leading his forces toward our command center. I came to inform you."

"..."

Facing the legendary Sannin, the Third Mizukage's expression remained icy as he said, "Was that really necessary to report? We're still far from defeated. Fight on."

"...The Fourth Hokage's whereabouts are unknown," Yagura said softly. "With the Flying Thunder God Technique, he poses too great a threat to our forces. If we continue this battle, Kirigakure may suffer irreparable losses."

The Third Mizukage turned his frosty gaze toward Yagura's boyish face. "Are you questioning my decisions?"

"I wouldn't dare," Yagura replied, keeping his head bowed, his eyes void of emotion.

The Mizukage frowned and turned to Kisame, who remained calm and watchful.

"Kisame, what do you think?"

Kisame's expression was neutral as he responded, "Compared to the three before us, I'm merely a no-name shinobi. I've been of some use so far, but if the battle continues, I'll only become a burden."

Though Kisame's words were factual, they carried a subtle echo of Yagura's concerns, which the Mizukage couldn't help but interpret as evasive.

His face darkened as he looked between the two of them. "Hold this line. That's an order!"

Yagura and Kisame exchanged glances but said nothing.

"Are they seriously arguing among themselves?" Jiraiya laughed, hoping to lower Kirigakure's morale.

But his mirth faded when Tsunade shot him a cold glare.

"What's the matter, Tsunade?"

"I don't want to hear the word 'infighting' right now," she snapped.

So much division…

Since she had developed the Splitting Technique, everything seemed to be falling apart. The Hyuga clan, the shinobi clans, even Konoha itself—it all felt fractured.

Konoha had too many of its own problems to mock others.

Unaware of recent events, Jiraiya blinked in confusion. "What's going on? Has there been some sort of infighting in Konoha?"

Tsunade's scowl deepened. "Jiraiya, I'm not here to compete with your student for the Hokage position if that's what you're implying. Don't bother trying to cheer me up."

Ignoring Jiraiya's feeble attempt at humor, Tsunade cracked her knuckles, her gaze fixed on the Mist shinobi.

"I'll vent my frustrations with my fists."

If I've been suffocating in the village, I'll take it all out here.

...

Elsewhere, Minato deflected the Three-Tails' Tailed Beast Bomb with the Flying Thunder God Technique, creating another opening for Uchiha Fugaku.

"Are you holding up, Fugaku?"

Minato glanced at Fugaku, whose blood-red eyes seemed to burn even brighter. He then looked at the now-calm Three-Tails.

"Maybe I should handle the sealing," Minato suggested. "The Uchiha have already sacrificed enough in this war. There's no need for you to push yourself so hard."

"No," Fugaku insisted. "The one controlling these Tailed Beasts isn't here. That ocular power is like a rootless weed—I can expel it!"

Fugaku's tone turned resolute. "Minato, if Uchiha Madara is truly behind all of this, as the head of the Uchiha clan, I must give you an explanation."

Fugaku had little doubt that Madara might still be alive.

After all, the Uchiha clan's inherited ocular techniques included the Izanagi, a jutsu that could rewrite death itself.

Fugaku understood better than most how terrifying Madara's power was. A man of that caliber, absent from the ninja world for decades, wouldn't merely stop at controlling two Tailed Beasts or manipulating a single war.

Though Fugaku couldn't fully comprehend Madara's intentions, one thing was certain:

With the Uchiha clan about to ascend to Konoha's core leadership, they could not afford to be linked to Uchiha Madara.

They must not!

(Chapter ends)