The stagnant air in the Sealing Team office was suddenly broken.
The heavy wooden door was pushed open without announcement, and a tall, unkempt figure strode in casually, as if entering his own backyard.
The on-duty Ninja hesitated, but ultimately no one dared to stop this legendary figure.
Takuno looked up, put down the scroll in his hand, and his gaze calmly landed on the distinctive face of the visitor.
Conspicuous face paint, long white hair freely flowing, and an attire that, even covered in dust, could not hide the aura of a powerful individual.
Understanding dawned on him, he nodded slightly and tentatively spoke, "You must be—Jiraiya-sama, one of the Legendary Sannin of Konoha, the legendary Toad Sage?"
"Hah!" Jiraiya's eyes instantly narrowed like crescent moons, his mouth stretched to his ears, revealing his characteristic hearty laugh, and he even took an exaggerated stage step forward spontaneously.
"Smart! As expected of an elite from Konoha's intelligence department! Not bad, not bad, you know your stuff! This Sage is indeed Jiraiya-sama, the Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku, famous throughout the Ninja World! Hahahahaha!"
The loud and slightly exaggerated laughter echoed in the somewhat solemn office. Takuno silently watched the powerful individual's "performance," almost imperceptibly rubbing his forehead, a trace of indescribable helplessness flashing in his eyes.
He truly couldn't understand how this person could act so unburdened, as if they were on a stage at a village festival.
Takuno composed his expression, smoothly bringing the conversation back to the main topic.
"Jiraiya-sama, your sudden visit means you plan to depart for the border immediately?" His desk was already tidy, and the necessary equipment was neatly strapped to his body.
"That's right! But I think you might still need some preparation time?" Jiraiya's laughter abruptly ceased, replaced by a serious expression. "This Sage will wait for you here."
"No need to wait, this subordinate is fully prepared and can depart at any time."
"Oh? Good boy, quick on your feet!" Jiraiya nodded in satisfaction. Beneath his thick white brows, his gaze suddenly became solemn, locking directly onto Takuno.
That sudden solemnity made him seem like a completely different person from his earlier joviality.
Takuno felt the weight in his gaze, slightly puzzled: "Jiraiya-sama, do you have any other instructions?"
Jiraiya took a deep breath, his tone becoming unusually low and sincere: "I learned from Minato about everything you did during the Nine-Tails' attack."
"This is what I should—"
Before Takuno could finish, Jiraiya nodded slightly and bowed deeply. "No one 'should' risk their life like that. Takuno—thank you very much for saving Kushina."
His voice carried a barely perceptible tremor, "Without you stepping forward, I simply can't imagine what would have become of that child and Minato."
This sudden deep bow caught Takuno off guard, and he quickly stepped aside.
"Jiraiya-sama, you overstate it! This is my duty, both by reason and by sentiment. I absolutely cannot accept such a grand gesture from you; it shames this subordinate."
Jiraiya straightened up. After a brief silence, he understood the other party's thoughts. He could choose not to do it, but this gratitude must be remembered in his heart.
He suddenly raised his hand and vigorously scratched his head of white hair. The heavy solemnity from earlier instantly faded, and his characteristic hearty smile reappeared.
"Hehe, alright, alright!" He thoroughly scrutinized the young, handsome, and composed youth before him, then suddenly winked mischievously, his expression returning to that of a playful old rascal.
"No wonder Minato praises you so highly; you're indeed a fine specimen! Tsk tsk, it's just a pity—"
He drew out his words, leaned in half a step with ill intent, and whispered, winking.
"Such a fine young talent is still single? Do you want this Sage to introduce you to a few pretty little frogs from Mount Myōboku? Or new nurses from Konoha Hospital? Guaranteed to satisfy you!"
"—About this matter, I earnestly request Jiraiya-sama to please drop it." Takuno's eyelid twitched almost imperceptibly, his tone maintaining polite distance, but his heart was filled with icy speechlessness.
To discuss marriage so improperly upon their first meeting, only this legendary Sannin could do it. And what the hell are 'little frogs from Mount Myōboku'?
He emphasized the point again: "The military situation on the front line is urgent, I think we should depart."
"Ah! Right, right! Haha, important matters, important matters!" Jiraiya slapped his forehead and turned to walk out the door with a swagger.
That unique duck-like waddle made Takuno, who was already speechless behind him, shake his head subconsciously again.
If not for his memories of Jiraiya's glorious battle record and tragic end from his previous life, based solely on this flippant first impression, Takuno might truly doubt whether choosing such a commander to lead the team was the correct decision.
Suppressing the turbulent thoughts in his mind, Takuno quickly finished assigning the follow-up work to the Sealing Team, nodded slightly to the solemn-faced members, and then, without hesitation, strode to catch up with the nonchalant figure ahead.
In the distance, at the top floor of the Hokage Building.
Minato stood by the railing, his gaze fixed on the two receding figures below.
One with wild white hair, his steps casual yet firm; the other with calm black hair, his gait composed like a pine tree.
Minato's lips were tightly pressed, and he silently prayed for their safety in his heart.
The cold wind howled, stirring up the vast yellow sands and the scent of blood at the border.
The border of the Land of Fire had, by now, become a grinder of flesh and blood.
On the wilderness, the Ninja of Kumogakure and Konoha fiercely clashed and slaughtered each other.
Accompanied by deafening roars, the piercing clang of metal, and the unrestrained screams of pain from the Ninja, war, this cruel behemoth, for the first time truly extended its claws to both sides, who had already experienced localized friction.
——————
The full-scale war between Konoha and Kumogakure has erupted!
Everywhere the eye could see, there were scenes of desperate struggle.
Some roared as they formed hand signs, and violent Lightning Release, scorching fireballs exploded on the ground like dazzling yet deadly flowers;
More often, they clashed in the most primitive and brutal ways: the wail of shuriken cutting through the air, sparks flying from clashing Kunai, each encounter potentially bringing a spray of blood.
The status of a Ninja brought no mercy; the fragility of life was fully exposed under the blade.
Every minute, every second, someone fell, their warm blood soaking into the scorched earth, leaving behind glaring, mottled stains.
"It seems—we are still one step too late." Jiraiya stood on high, his white hair fluttering, his expression more solemn than ever.
The continuous flashes of Ninjutsu and sounds of explosions in the distance clearly indicated the brutality of the battle. "Takuno kid, no time to rest! Speed up!"
"Yes, Jiraiya-sama. Don't worry about me." Takuno's expression was calm, but his breathing was steady and long, revealing extraordinary stamina.
Jiraiya glanced at him, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes: "Heh, good boy, good physique!"
Before his words finished, he had made a decision.
Entering the core command area through normal procedures would waste valuable combat opportunities just by checking identities.
He needed a more direct, more powerful way to appear, one that would sufficiently prove his identity, deter the enemy, and invigorate his own side!
He bit his thumb without hesitation, and his hands instantly completed the hand signs.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
Boom—!
The sky above the battlefield suddenly darkened! An enormous dark shadow, large enough to obscure a small portion of the sky, plummeted from nowhere like a meteorite, crashing down with terrifying, mountain-crushing force precisely into the dense area of Kumogakure Ninja!
"W-what is that?!"
"Oh my god! Run—!"
Both warring sides looked up in horror. The Kumogakure Ninja's faces instantly drained of color, and they screamed in terror, scrambling and crawling, trying to escape the death zone shrouded in shadow.
However, the speed of mortals seemed so insignificant before absolute power.
Accompanied by an earth-shattering 'thump' and violent tremors of the ground, several figures who couldn't escape in time were instantly crushed by the massive body of the behemoth, their lives extinguished!
"It's a toad! It's the Fourth Hokage-sama's summoned beast!" In the Konoha ranks, a sharp-eyed Ninja excitedly pointed at the giant toad, his voice trembling with euphoria.
"Fourth! It's the Fourth Hokage-sama!"
"Yellow Flash! It must be Yellow Flash-sama himself on the front line!"
"We're going to win! We're going to win! Brothers, charge—!!!"
In an instant, despair and exhaustion were swept away!
The Konoha Ninja erupted in earth-shattering cheers, their morale instantly soaring like a raging wildfire.
In contrast, the Kumogakure Ninja all looked terrified, their morale completely collapsing like a punctured balloon!
Anyone who sees the Yellow Flash can directly abandon their mission or flee for their lives!
That name, renowned throughout the Ninja World, rang like an alarm bell in everyone's hearts.
The name of the Fourth Hokage itself represented an unassailable deterrent!
Jiraiya, standing atop Gamabunta, listened to the fervent shouts of "Fourth Hokage" and "Yellow Flash" rising like a tide from below. He couldn't help but rub his brow, his expression subtly embarrassed.
"Cough, although the goal was achieved," he mused inwardly, "It certainly proved my identity and gave our side a boost. But this momentum, why is it all attributed to that kid Minato? I'm clearly Gamabunta's closest companion, the man who summons him the most times—"
However, he quickly adjusted his mindset, looking at the Konoha forces below, whose morale was soaring, and finally smiled with relief:
Who cares whose name it is? As long as it deters the enemy and boosts our morale, it's the best tactic!
Let this morale boost, born from a "misunderstanding," play its greatest role.
Takuno, on Gamabunta's shoulder, calmly surveyed the retreating Kumogakure Ninja forces, his tone flat: "Kumogakure's top combatants have not appeared; this should be an organized probing attack."
"Mm." Jiraiya's expression returned to seriousness, and he nodded in agreement. "My arrival is both good news and, perhaps, bad news."
His eyes deepened a few shades. "Kumogakure's intelligence network wouldn't be unaware that I've been traveling outside the village. The fact that they sent me, a wanderer, instead of Orochimaru, is enough for them to analyze some of Konoha's internal difficulties."
He did not choose to personally pursue the remaining enemies.
Allowing the Konoha Ninja to complete this counterattack themselves, using the enemy's blood and the glory of victory to cultivate their confidence, was more precious than the strength of any powerful reinforcement.
As Gamabunta dispersed in a huge puff of white smoke, Jiraiya and Takuno landed lightly.
Ahead, several core Konoha high-ranking officials quickly came forward to greet them: "Jiraiya-sama!"
The arrivals were none other than the current leaders of the Ino–Shika–Chō families—Inoichi Yamanaka, Nara Shikaku, Akimichi Choza, and the current head of the Uchiha Clan, Uchiha Fugaku!
Their faces were a mixture of surprise and relief.
They knew that Minato would find it difficult to personally oversee the front line, so Jiraiya's timely arrival was an absolute surprise, and the problem of the absent supreme decision-maker was instantly resolved.
"Jiraiya-sama, I will report to the logistics medical area first." Takuno bowed slightly, requesting permission.
In the eyes of high-ranking officials like Shikaku and Fugaku, this young Sealing Team leader, though a confidant of the Fourth, had not yet truly entered the core decision-making circle, so his departure did not attract much attention.
"Mm, go ahead, that area is equally crucial." Jiraiya nodded.
The intelligence obtained from Minato was not the latest due to the considerable distance between Konoha and the border.
Even for Minato as Hokage, it was difficult to get the latest intelligence, and outdated intelligence was fatal.
So he urgently needed to fully understand the situation here and the rapidly changing battlefield.