Naruto: Help Madara rejuvenate and launch a counterattack on Konoha

After the Uchiha clan members left happily.

Koharu and Homura questioned the Third Hokage: "Hiruzen, why did you agree to the Uchiha's demands? Didn't you know our teacher always told us to be wary of them?"

The Third Hokage took a drag of his cigarette and said, "The most important thing now is to keep the Uchiha stable. Even if Danzo is here, he can only keep the Uchiha stable."

Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado fell silent; the Third Hokage was right.

Madara Uchiha was like a Damocles' sword hanging over Konoha's head, threatening to destroy it at any moment.

Their primary focus now is to concentrate all their efforts on dealing with the upcoming conflict with Uchiha Madara.

As for the Uchiha clan, they are far from being a match for Madara Uchiha.

Furthermore, the Third Hokage transferred them to Kirigakure partly to keep them away from the main battlefield and prevent them from colluding with Madara Uchiha.

On the one hand, it also leaves this stage for the water gate.

The three legendary Sannin are either dead or crippled, so the answer is clear: whoever makes the greatest contribution in the upcoming battle against Madara Uchiha will be the next Hokage.

The Third Hokage believed that Minato, who possessed the Flying Thunder God Technique, would be the protagonist of this war.

Fugaku Uchiha is still too green.

"Minato, come with me, I have something to tell you!"

"OK!"

Inside the Hokage Building.

The Third Hokage sat in his office chair, smoking a cigarette. He said in a long, drawn-out tone, "Minato, I want you to investigate Madara Uchiha. Even Madara Uchiha couldn't do anything about your Flying Thunder God Technique."

"I have never believed that Madara Uchiha's purpose was to rule the five great ninja nations; he must have had a deeper purpose."

Madara Uchiha was a very complex person in the eyes of people like the Third Hokage.

In his early years, he led the Uchiha clan in a struggle with the Senju clan for control of the Land of Fire. Later, he joined forces with the First Hokage to establish Konoha, laying the foundation for the ninja system of one village per country.

The name Konoha was given by Madara Uchiha.

Then Madara Uchiha betrayed Konoha. When he returned, he joined forces with Kurama (the Nine-Tails) to fight the First Hokage at the Valley of the End, and was subsequently killed.

Why did he betray Konoha? Why did he start a new war with the First Hokage?

The Second Hokage didn't explain this clearly to the Third Hokage and the others, most likely because Madara Uchiha believed that the First Hokage's system couldn't effectively resolve the deeper conflicts in the ninja world.

He has a better way.

Could ruling the five great ninja nations truly resolve the wars in the ninja world?

Throughout Madara Uchiha's life, he never married, never had children, and all his relatives perished in the Warring States period.

Such a person wouldn't stoop so low as to rule the world and establish an eternal dynasty; he must have a deeper purpose.

As for his purpose? Only he or those around him know.

The Third Hokage and the others could only determine Madara Uchiha's purpose based on his actions.

Minato scratched his head, somewhat hesitant, because he already had a plan; it was something Jiraiya had instructed him to do.

The Third Hokage noticed Minato's hesitation and asked, somewhat puzzled, "What's wrong, Minato? Is there some problem?"

Minato quickly said, "Hokage-sama, it's something Jiraiya-sensei told me about that day."

The Third Hokage became curious: "Jiraiya? What does he want to tell you?"

Now that things had come to this, Minato could only tell the Third Hokage, whom he considered a trustworthy Hokage.

"Lord Hokage, it's like this, Jiraiya-sensei took in three disciples in the Land of Rain a few years ago!"

The Third Hokage nodded. After the Second Shinobi World War ended, Jiraiya did not return to the village to carry out missions. Instead, he took care of war orphans in the Land of Rain.

At that time, there were some rumors in the village attacking Jiraiya for being idle.

"One of the disciples was named Nagato, and he was very special."

"What could be so special about it?"

The Third Hokage sipped his tea from the cup on his desk.

"His eyes are—the Rinnegan!"

"puff--"

The Third Hokage spat out his tea, stood up, and stared wide-eyed: "What—"

……

Minato told the Third Hokage about Nagato, but he didn't get a clear explanation from Jiraiya.

The gibberish is roughly that the Great Toad Sage said that Madara Uchiha possessed the power of the Six Paths, and Jiraiya had some suspicion that Nagato's Rinnegan belonged to Madara Uchiha.

However, it was just a suspicion, because Jiraiya also believed that someone as evil as Madara Uchiha could not possibly awaken the eyes of the Sage of Six Paths.

But if it really is Madara Uchiha's eye, then we must stop Madara Uchiha from getting his eye as soon as possible.

Otherwise, even if the First Hokage were resurrected, it wouldn't have stopped Madara Uchiha's ambition.

The Third Hokage stood up, pacing back and forth angrily: "Why didn't Jiraiya tell me about the Rinnegan?"

The Rinnegan, Sharingan, and Byakugan are known as the three great dojutsu of the ninja world.

What level are the Sharingan and Byakugan? They're on par with the eyes of the Sage of Six Paths!

It's simply because only the Sharingan and Byakugan can be included in the ninja world.

Moreover, the Rinnegan is just a legend, and the Sage of Six Paths is a legend in most people's eyes, belonging to mythological figures.

It's unclear whether such a person ever existed.

The Third Hokage trained under the Second Hokage, as Tobirama Senju mentioned.

The Sage of Six Paths does exist; he is the ancestor of the Senju and Uzumaki families.

The Rinnegan is extremely important; anything related to the Sage of Six Paths is crucial.

The Third Hokage was somewhat angry at Jiraiya's willfulness. The Rinnegan was something the village had to keep under its control no matter what.

The Third Hokage suddenly had a thought: Danzo had lost contact in the Land of Rain. Had he discovered the Rinnegan's whereabouts but hadn't replied?

The Third Hokage thought it was very likely; given the importance of the Rinnegan, Danzo, with his greed, would definitely try to seize it for himself.

Minato stood awkwardly to the side, unsure of how to respond.

This is probably why Jiraiya only told him, but not the Third Hokage!

The Third Hokage was the Hokage of Konoha, and he always put the interests of the village first. Knowing that someone like Nagato existed, he would not allow him to become a force for other ninja villages.

Jiraiya, however, believed that one should not interfere with the actions of the prophesied child, for he had his own path to follow.

Konoha's interests are naturally important, and the Great Toad Sage's prophecy must take precedence over Konoha's interests.

The Hokage can only see immediate benefits, but the Great Toad Sage sees the past and the future.

The Third Hokage approached Minato and placed a hand on his shoulder: "Minato, I will arrange for someone else to investigate Madara's matter, but the Rinnegan cannot be left unattended under any circumstances."

"You're a Hokage candidate, and I expect you to think about the village's interests from the Hokage's perspective. You understand what the Rinnegan truly means, right?"

Minato nodded. Legend has it that the Sage of Six Paths' eyes hold the power of life and death. If an enemy were to obtain such eyes, especially Madara Uchiha, how difficult would it be to deal with them?

Minato couldn't imagine how terrifying Madara Uchiha would be if he possessed Wood Release and the Rinnegan.

"Minato, go and select a few Jonin to form a team to go to the Land of Rain and bring back Jiraiya's disciple. Even if you can't bring him back, you must—"

The Third Hokage grabbed the cup on the table and squeezed it hard, shattering the teacup.

He didn't say it clearly, but the meaning was obvious: destroy the Rinnegan.

This is the Hokage's mindset: nipping any potential threats to the village in the bud.

Minato nodded: "Understood, Hokage-sama! But we don't need too many Jonin. My team plus one genjutsu ninja will suffice."

"Alright, go ahead! The Rinnegan is more important!"

"yes!"

After Minato left, the Third Hokage sat in his seat, smoking his pipe with his brows furrowed.

It's Madara Uchiha again, and it's the Rinnegan again.

Just when I thought I could retire this year, a whole series of troubles suddenly came to light.

This year is the Year of the Snake, not his birth year, the Year of the Monkey.

Another report came from the Anbu: "It's terrible, Hokage-sama! The tomb of the previous Hokage has been robbed!"

"ah--"

"Who dares to offend the former Hokage?!"

The Third Hokage was so angry that he cursed out loud.