At Konoha's command post on the Land of Hot Water front lines, the war headquarters wasn't as advanced as it would be in the future Fourth Great Shinobi War. It was just a massive field tent, enough to provide some shelter from the wind and rain, preventing documents and other items from being scattered or soaked.
It was very simple, but Torifu Akimichi and another personal guard stood at the entrance, letting others know that Konohagakure's leader, the Hokage, was sitting inside this humble tent.
Tobirama was indeed inside. On a plain desk, some intelligence and messages from various battlefields were piled up. He himself was sitting on a rough-looking chair made casually from wood, offering no comfort whatsoever.
However, it was likely that Tobirama, having emerged from the Warring States period, didn't have high demands for such things.
As Tobirama was reading a report, Torifu quietly walked in and said, "Hokage-sama, the Anbu Second, Third, and Fourth Squads have arrived. Deputy Commander Hibari is also here."
Upon hearing this, Tobirama looked up and smiled, saying, "Has that kid Hibari finally learned some manners? He's not barging in without a word this time?"
Hearing Tobirama's words, Torifu chuckled and said, "Hibari was originally going to barge in, but Hitenn stopped him, so he didn't succeed..."
"Hahaha, still no progress, it seems. Alright, tell them to come in..." Tobirama said with a smile.
Torifu nodded, then retreated. Not long after, Hibari and his group walked in. Hibari first glanced at his grandfather, whom he hadn't seen in a while, then immediately put on his sycophant act, expressing great dissatisfaction, "Look, look at the mess you've made! Is this an environment for our Hokage to work comfortably? There isn't even a decent chair. Don't your buttocks and back hurt from sitting? Aren't you tired? Aren't you sore?"
Without giving Hiruzen or Torifu a chance to speak, Hibari continued with a look of heartache, "What if you ruin our Hokage's back? Then what if he gets a sudden backache on the battlefield and something unexpected happens? Who will be able to take responsibility for that? Are you even human?"
Everyone else was stunned by Hibari's 'show of loyalty' and performance the moment he walked in, then they all had a wry smile.
Even Tobirama looked a little helpless, smiling as he said, "You brat, you start with a comical act the moment you come in. Everyone else is fighting bloody battles on the front lines, so who has the extra energy to think about all this random stuff? Do you think everyone is as idle as you are? I'm comfortable sitting, my back doesn't hurt. Don't stir up trouble for no reason."
Hibari chuckled, teasingly saying, "I'm just worried about you, Ojiisan. Really, and you're not even grateful..."
As he spoke, Hibari also unstrapped the large scroll on his back, spread it on the ground, and while dispelling the seal with his hand, he said, "Only I think about you all the time. Who else would care if you're comfortable here? There isn't even a bed. I bet you're sleeping on the ground at night, huh?"
As Hibari's words fell, with a light 'poof!', a cloud of smoke burst from the scroll. When the smoke cleared, a high-end desk, a plush-looking, comfortable chair, and a large bed appeared in front of Hibari.
Then Hibari stood up and said, "Hitenn, Kagami, give me a hand. Let's switch out the equipment for our Hokage-sama so he doesn't have to suffer here..."
The others were all stunned to see that Hibari had actually brought out a set of high-end furniture. Can't you put some useful stuff in that big scroll? What kind of shinobi leaves home with a bed and a chair? You're a lunatic!
Even Tobirama was a little surprised, but then he remembered that Hibari was always doing these unexpected things, and he felt it was understandable.
And although he found Hibari's behavior a bit quirky, Tobirama's heart felt warm, as if the end of winter had already passed. He hadn't doted on Hibari for nothing. On these small details, it was indeed only him who would still be thinking of him.
After everyone scrambled to replace the shabby desk and chair, Hibari also brought out some guest chairs, so no one had to stand while talking in the tent.
Finally, after everyone sat down, Tobirama looked at Hibari and said with a smile, "We're not short on manpower on the front lines, and the war is going very smoothly. It's clear we're about to win. Why did you suddenly come running over, you brat? Couldn't sit still?"
"What do you mean, 'sit still'? I'm very busy in the village, alright? I even developed a new technique recently. I'll show it to you when I have the chance. As for coming to the front lines, it's precisely because the war is almost over. If our Second, Third, and Fourth Squads didn't come now, we'd truly be seen as 'deserters'. We have to at least show our faces..." Hibari said casually with a chuckle.
"A new Ninjutsu? Then I'll have to see it when I get the chance..." Tobirama also said with interest.
After chatting about these things for a while, Tobirama then looked at Hiruzen and said, "Hiruzen, from the looks of it, your mission must have been a success? Nothing happened to the wounded team?"
Hearing Tobirama bring this up, Hiruzen's expression became a little more serious, then he said, "Hokage-sama, nothing happened to the wounded, but there's something fishy about this matter. I suspect our intelligence system has been deciphered, or even... this was a decoy trap. The enemy had a ten-man Anbu squad ambushing us in that area."
As Hiruzen's words fell, Tobirama didn't express any doubt. He immediately said, "Change to the third set of intelligence language. Tell Harano to thoroughly investigate the situation of the intelligence department. This matter cannot be underestimated. We absolutely cannot suffer any huge losses at this final moment!"
"Yes!" Hiruzen quickly replied. Then, without further delay, he nodded to Hibari and the others and went to carry out the order.
After Hiruzen left, Hibari's eyes darted around, then he said, "Ahem, everyone worked hard on the way here. Hitenn, Kagami, I'm sure you're all tired. Go get some rest. I'll just chat with my ojiisan..."
Hitenn Hyūga, being his rigid self, sat bolt upright on the chair, completely missing the implied meaning in Hibari's words. He said very seriously, "Deputy Commander, I'm not tired. I can still..."
But before he could finish, Kagami Uchiha directly covered his mouth. Then he said with a chuckle, "See, Hitenn is so tired he's starting to talk nonsense. I'll take him down to rest now..."
After saying that, he didn't give Hitenn a chance to resist. He hooked his left hand under his armpit, restraining Hitenn, and together with Torifu, they forcibly dragged the rigid man out.
Seeing this scene, Hibari couldn't help but smile wryly, but he didn't say much. After everyone had left, Hibari moved his small stool and sat down with a grin in front of Tobirama's desk.
Tobirama glanced at Hibari, then said exasperatedly, "Why did you send everyone away?"
"Ojiisan, the public opinion in the village has been very strange lately..." Hibari said, raising an eyebrow.
Tobirama, seeing the playful expression on Hibari's face, knew it wasn't a serious matter. So, he also raised an eyebrow and asked, "What's strange?"
"Hehehe, Hiruzen-jisan's prestige in the village is about to skyrocket. It's almost as if he won the war all by himself. Something's not right, very not right..." Hibari said with a smile.
Tobirama still maintained a very normal expression, saying, "What's not right?"
Hibari feigned looking left and right, then whispered, "I suspect Hiruzen-jisan wants to usurp your position as Hokage..."
As soon as Hibari's words fell, Tobirama chopped him on the head with a hand blade, then he said, "You brat, you're never serious. If you have something to ask or say, just get to the point. Don't mess around with these twisted things..."
Hibari rubbed his head, then smiled and said, "I've deliberately observed, and someone is specifically guiding this public opinion. Since it's not Hiruzen-jisan, it must be you, Ojiisan, right? What? From the looks of it, you're preparing to build momentum for Hiruzen-jisan..."
"Hiruzen is very capable himself, and you've long known that I've been hoping for him to become my successor. So? Why bring this up now? Or are you, you brat, changing your mind and wanting to contend for it yourself?" Tobirama looked at Hibari and replied.
Hibari shook his head, then said, "That's not it. It's just that you're young and strong, and there's nothing wrong with your health. Why are you suddenly building momentum for Hiruzen-jisan? From the looks of it, are you preparing to step down as Hokage? That doesn't seem right..."
Tobirama glanced at Hibari. Although he looked young, this was just one of the Senju clan's traits. In reality, Tobirama was already over fifty years old. Perhaps not old, but definitely not young.
However, being in his fifties and serving as Hokage was still quite normal. No one would say much about his age...
Tobirama was silent for a moment, then said, "The war is about to be won, Hibari..."
Hibari was stunned upon hearing this, not immediately understanding the meaning of Tobirama's words. But his mind was very flexible. He might not have noticed it before, but now that his grandfather had given him a hint, he naturally started to think more deeply...
Then Hibari's expression changed slightly, and he asked softly, "Ojiisan, are you worried about the Daimyō's office causing some trouble again?"
Tobirama didn't deny it. Instead, he nodded calmly and said, "The power of a great victory... It is correct to know when to retreat from the torrent."
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