Then Shiyu Uchiha sensed that Minato Namikaze wanted to investigate further. While this would benefit him, the timing wasn't right at the moment, so Shiyu Uchiha interrupted his thoughts. He told Minato firmly, "Minato, I believe the Third Great Ninja War is about to erupt. All other plans must be postponed for now."
After all, as long as Hiruzen Sarutobi remained in power, even under the worst conditions, Konoha still maintained order. If this matter were brought into the open, it would be difficult to maintain peace, and the Third War might be triggered immediately because of it.
"How could this happen? It can't come so soon, right? The Second Ninja War only ended a few years ago!" Minato asked disbelievingly, his voice somewhat unsettled.
Shiyu Uchiha then seriously analyzed the situation for Minato Namikaze: "At the end of the Second War, Iwa Village had already changed its ninja training methods, pursuing quantity over quality. After several years of development, their resources are stretched to the breaking point.
Kumo Village isn't much different either. They've never stopped preparing for war and have been aggressively stealing secret jutsu from rival villages—they're essentially practicing militarism.
As for Kiri Village, they plundered centuries of accumulation from the Uzumaki clan of the Land of Whirlpool back then. By now, they should have mostly recovered.
As for Suna Village, located in a desert area with scarce resources, the only way for them to continue developing is through external expansion to obtain more resources, and expansion inevitably leads to war.
Most importantly, the current Kages are all about the same age and have reached the peak of their careers. If they don't start a war now, they might never get another chance."
After saying this, Shiyu Uchiha further explained, "Therefore, I estimate that the Ninja World War will break out within at most three more years. Our Konoha needs to prepare in advance." Hearing this, Minato Namikaze's expression became increasingly serious.
After hearing Shiyu Uchiha's words, Minato Namikaze's face turned extremely grave. He originally hadn't realized how closely these seemingly ordinary pieces of intelligence were connected. But now, this information was like a key, unlocking something deep within his mind that had been sealed away.
He couldn't help but admire Shiyu Uchiha's insight and analytical ability while beginning to seriously consider the seriousness of the issue.
"Have you reported this to them?" Minato stared intently at Shiyu Uchiha, his eyes revealing a hint of expectation. He knew that if this problem really was that severe, the higher-ups needed to be informed and take action quickly. However, Shiyu Uchiha's response disappointed him.
"I did, but nothing came of it," Shiyu Uchiha replied. The two fell into silence again, and a heavy silence settled over the room.
After a long time, Minato finally broke the silence. He took a deep breath and slowly said, "Let's stop here for today. I need to find an opportunity to meet my teacher. Perhaps he can give us some advice or provide support. Also, I plan to visit Elder Sumao tomorrow. Do you want to come along?"
"Alright, that's no problem. Actually, I had this idea too. Seems like we're on the same page, Shiyu," said Shiyu Uchiha, voicing his inner thoughts.
"Then see you tomorrow." Shiyu Uchiha waved goodbye to Minato Namikaze, then left the Hokage building together with Ling Uzumaki.
Early the next morning, Shiyu Uchiha got up early, freshened up, and after breakfast, made his way toward the meeting spot where he'd arranged to meet Minato Namikaze. When he got there, Minato was already waiting for him.
After the two met up, they headed directly to Sakumo Hatake's house. They exchanged just a few casual words along the way before arriving at Sakumo's doorstep.
Just as they were about to knock, the door suddenly opened, and a young boy stepped out. He had short silver hair and a resolute look in his eyes. This was Kakashi, Sakumo Hatake's son.
When Kakashi saw Shiyu Uchiha and Minato Namikaze, a flicker of surprise crossed his face, but it quickly faded into calmness. He greeted them politely, and upon learning their purpose, said, "Father is in the yard right now." Then, after watching them walk into the house, he nodded politely and turned to leave.
As Shiyu Uchiha recalled Kakashi's polite behavior just now, a sense of pride rose within him. Because he knew that without him stepping in, Kakashi could have become cold and humorless. But now, he still kept that purity and kindness.
Soon after, Shiyu Uchiha and Minato Namikaze arrived in the yard and found Sakumo Hatake already sitting there, clearly expecting them. As soon as they approached, Sakumo spoke first: "I figured you two would come visit sometime these days.
Coincidentally, I also had a plan—to go out and clear my mind. Also, there's one more thing I'd like to ask of you both." Upon hearing this, Minato's heart sank slightly, but he chose to stay silent, unsure of what to say.
After all, he completely understood Sakumo's nature and how much this must've hurt him.
Shiyu Uchiha, however, had already braced himself and wasn't surprised. Calmly, he asked, "Then may I ask where exactly you're planning to go?"
Sakumo Hatake smiled and replied, "First, I'd like to take a tour of the Land of Iron. I've wanted to properly visit that country for a long time, but time always seemed too tight, and I ended up only passing through hurriedly each time. Finally, I have the chance to fulfill this wish."
Shiyu Uchiha politely clasped his hands together to express his blessing and said, "I hope you have a pleasant journey."
Sakumo Hatake responded calmly, "I'll take that as a good sign."
At this moment, Minato added, "Senior, I imagine your main concern right now is Kakashi. If possible, I'd like to be his team leader and take him under my tutelage."
Upon hearing this, Shiyu Uchiha's heart skipped a beat. After all, just moments ago he had been thinking whether he had already beaten Minato to Kakashi and wanted to keep Minato from stepping into this pit. But Minato didn't just take initiative—he was as fast as always, leaving Shiyu Uchiha no time to react and forcing him to quickly shift the conversation.
Sakumo Hatake had no objections to this matter. After all, both Minato Namikaze and Shiyu Uchiha were trustworthy individuals. They were both not only powerful but also men of integrity. However, from a certain perspective, Minato Namikaze might be a slightly more suitable choice.
After all, Minato Namikaze had more time to guide Kakashi. If Kakashi were placed under Shiyu Uchiha's tutelage, he would likely end up working in the Police Force. But Kakashi loved his freedom — that just wouldn't suit him.
Minato Namikaze, on the other hand, could fulfill Kakashi's need for independent growth. So Sakumo Hatake didn't hesitate to agree.
Finally, Minato Namikaze spoke, "Actually, I'm planning to marry Kushina soon. I'll talk to the Third later and resign from ANBU to become a team-leading jonin. Assigning Kakashi to my team would be ideal — and besides, I've always wanted to lead a squad."
<><><><><><><><>
Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!
~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** this weekend!
<><><><><><><><>
Want to read the subsequent content in advance?
Please follow my Patreon:patreon/Tansnovel
Tans Novel - The Fastest-Updating Naruto Fanfiction Account
Read 100+ chapters in advance, with at least 3 new chapters updated every day! More free chapters! 20+ Naruto fanfictions!
Just three steps:
1. Download and open the "Patreon" app
2. Search for "Tans Novel"
3. Click on the collection and enjoy to your heart's content
<><><><><><><><>