After the Uchiha Clan members happily left.
Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado questioned the Third Hokage: "Hiruzen, why did you agree to the Uchiha's demands? Don't you know that our teacher always told us to be wary of them?"
The Third Hokage took a puff from his pipe and said, "The most crucial thing now is to stabilize the Uchiha. Even if Danzo were here, he could only stabilize the Uchiha."
Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado fell silent. The Third Hokage was right.
Madara was a Sword of Damocles hanging over their heads, capable of destroying Konoha at any moment.
Their main priority now was to focus all their energy on dealing with the impending conflict with Madara.
As for the Uchiha's problems, they were far from significant enough in front of Madara.
Furthermore, the Third Hokage transferring them to Kirigakure was partly to keep them away from the main battlefield and prevent them from colluding with Madara.
It was also to leave this stage to Minato.
With the Sannin either dead or crippled, the answer was clear: whoever achieved great merit in the upcoming war against Madara would be the next Hokage.
The Third Hokage believed that Minato, with his Flying Thunder God Technique, would be the protagonist of this war.
Uchiha Fugaku was still too green.
"Minato, come with me, I have something to tell you!"
"Understood!"
In the Hokage Building.
The Third Hokage sat in his office chair, smoking. He said in a drawn-out tone, "Minato, I want you to investigate Uchiha Madara. Even Uchiha Madara has no way to deal with your Flying Thunder God Technique."
"I still don't believe Uchiha Madara's goal is to rule the Five Great Nations. He must have a deeper purpose."
Madara was a very complex person in the eyes of the Third Hokage and others.
Years ago, he led the Uchiha Clan to contend with the Senju Clan for control of the Land of Fire, then joined forces with the First Hokage to establish Konoha, laying the foundation for the one-country, one-Village Ninja system.
The name Konoha was even given by Madara.
Later, Madara betrayed Konoha, and when he returned, he fought alongside the Nine-Tails against the First Hokage at the Valley of the End, and was subsequently killed.
Why did he betray Konoha? Why did he restart the war with the First Hokage?
The Second Hokage hadn't clearly explained it to the Third Hokage and the others. Most likely, Madara believed that the First Hokage's system couldn't effectively resolve the deeper conflicts of the Ninja World.
He had a better way.
But could ruling the Five Great Nations truly resolve the wars in the Ninja World?
Looking back at Madara's life, he never married, had no children, and all his relatives died during the Warring States Period.
Such a person would not be so vulgar as to rule the world and establish an eternal dynasty; he must have a deeper purpose.
As for what that purpose was? Only he himself or those close to him would know.
The Third Hokage and the others could only deduce his purpose based on Madara's actions.
Minato rubbed his head, somewhat hesitant, because he already had plans, something Jiraiya had entrusted him with.
The Third Hokage noticed Minato's hesitation and was a bit puzzled: "What's wrong, Minato? Is there a problem?"
Minato quickly said, "Hokage-sama, it's about what Jiraiya-sensei told me that day."
The Third Hokage became curious: "Jiraiya? What did he have to tell you?"
At this point, Minato could only tell the Third Hokage. In his eyes, the Third Hokage was a trustworthy leader.
"Hokage-sama, it's like this: Jiraiya-sensei took in three disciples in the Land of Rain years ago!"
The Third Hokage nodded. After the Second Great Ninja War ended, Jiraiya didn't return to the Village to perform missions; instead, he stayed in the Land of Rain to care for war orphans.
At that time, there were some rumors in the Village criticizing Jiraiya for being idle.
"One of the disciples is named Nagato, and he is very special."
"How special could he be?"
The Third Hokage took a sip of the tea on his desk.
"His eyes are the Rinnegan!"
"Pfft—"
The Third Hokage immediately spat out his tea and stood up, his eyes wide: "What—"
...Minato told the Third Hokage about Nagato, though he hadn't heard much detail from Jiraiya.
Roughly, the Great Toad Sage said that Madara possessed Six Paths Power, and Jiraiya was somewhat suspicious that the Rinnegan in Nagato's eyes belonged to Madara.
But it was just a suspicion, because Jiraiya also believed that someone as evil as Madara couldn't awaken the eyes of the Sage of Six Paths.
However, if they really were Madara's eyes, then Madara must be stopped from getting his eyes back as soon as possible.
Otherwise, even if the First Hokage was revived, he wouldn't be able to stop Madara's ambition.
The Third Hokage stood up, pacing back and forth angrily: "Why didn't that 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? Can they be ranked alongside the eyes of the Sage of Six Paths!
It's purely because only the Sharingan and Byakugan could be placed there in the Ninja World.
Moreover, the Rinnegan was just a legend, and the Sage of Six Paths was a mythical figure in the eyes of most people.
It wasn't even clear if such a person existed in the past.
The Third Hokage had trained under the Second Hokage and had heard Tobirama speak of it.
The Sage of Six Paths existed and was the ancestor of the Senju Clan and the Uzumaki Clan.
The Rinnegan was too important; anything connected to the Sage of Six Paths was important.
The Third Hokage was somewhat angry at Jiraiya's recklessness. The Rinnegan was something the Village had to control, no matter what!
The Third Hokage suddenly had a thought: Danzo, that old man, lost contact in the Land of Rain. Could it be that he discovered the whereabouts of the Rinnegan and hasn't reported back?
The Third Hokage felt it was very possible. Given the importance of the Rinnegan and Danzo's greed, he would surely try to claim it for himself.
Minato stood awkwardly beside him, unsure how to respond.
Perhaps that was why Jiraiya only told him and not the Third Hokage!
The Third Hokage was Konoha's Hokage and always put the Village's interests first. Knowing that a person like Nagato existed, he wouldn't allow him to become a force for other Ninja Villages.
Jiraiya, on the other hand, believed that the child of prophecy's actions shouldn't be interfered with; he had his own path to follow.
Konoha's interests were certainly important, but the Great Toad Sage's prophecy must take precedence over Konoha's interests.
The Hokage could only see immediate interests, but the Great Toad Sage saw the past and the future.
The Third Hokage approached Minato, placing a hand on his shoulder: "Minato, I will arrange for others to investigate Madara's matter, but the Rinnegan absolutely cannot be left unchecked."
"You are a Hokage candidate, and I hope you think about the Village's interests with a Hokage's mindset. You understand what the Rinnegan truly signifies, don't you?"
Minato nodded. Legend had it that the eyes of the Sage of Six Paths controlled life and death. If such eyes fell into enemy hands, especially Madara's, how difficult would he be to deal with?
Minato couldn't imagine how terrifying Madara would be with Wood Release + Rinnegan.
"Minato, go pick a few Jonin to form a squad and bring Jiraiya's disciples back from the Land of Rain. Even if you can't bring them back, you must—"
The Third Hokage squeezed the cup on his desk hard, and it shattered.
He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear: destroy the Rinnegan.
This was the Hokage's way of thinking: to nip all negative threats to the Village in the bud.
Minato nodded: "Understood, Hokage-sama! However, we don't need too many Jonin. My squad plus one Genjutsu user should be enough."
"Alright, go! The Rinnegan is urgent!"
"Yes!"
After Minato left, the Third Hokage sat in his seat, smoking his pipe, his brows furrowed.
First Madara, now the Rinnegan.
He was looking forward to retiring this year, but why were all these troubles suddenly erupting?
This was the Year of the Snake, not his birth year, the Year of the Monkey!
An Anbu member reported again: "Bad news, Hokage-sama, the tombs of the previous Hokage have been robbed!"
"Ah—"
"Who dares to disrespect the previous Hokage?!"
The Third Hokage was so angry he swore.