As soon as the Third Hokage said this, the Ninjas present who had been kept in the dark were immediately shocked.
"What—?!"
"The Nine-Tails belongs to the Village! How is that possible?"
"If the Village has the Nine-Tails, why wasn't it released to participate in the war? That way, the war wouldn't have had to be fought so arduously."
Some Jonin began to question the Village's higher-ups.
Indeed, since they had the strongest Tailed Beast, why hide it? Just release it and fire off a Map Cannon!
Homura Mitokado shouted, "Quiet!"
Everyone immediately fell silent.
The Third Hokage said slowly, "When Konoha was first established, Uchiha Madara attacked Konoha with the Nine-Tails. The First Hokage defeated Uchiha Madara and captured the Nine-Tails."
"The Nine-Tails is the strongest Tailed Beast. After the First Hokage passed away, Konoha also lost the Wood Release; the power of the Nine-Tails is not something we can control."
Not true!
Mikoto looked at the Third Hokage.
Wood Release and the Sharingan are the best weapons for dealing with Tailed Beasts. Even without Wood Release, the Uchiha's Sharingan could control the Nine-Tails.
But the higher-ups' wariness of the Uchiha directly ruled out the method of using the Sharingan to control the Nine-Tails.
The Third Hokage took a puff of smoke and continued slowly, "Afterward, the First Hokage sealed the Nine-Tails inside Mito-sama, using the Uzumaki Clan's Chakra to suppress the Nine-Tails's Chakra."
"After Mito-sama passed away, the Nine-Tails welcomed its second Jinchuriki."
The Third Hokage looked at Kushina.
Minato squeezed Kushina's hand, giving her encouragement.
Kushina stepped forward: "That's right, I am the second Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails, Kushina!"
Everyone was startled; some even wanted to strip off Kushina's clothes to see her stomach.
Kushina said, "I was born with immense Chakra and a talent for Sealing Jutsu. When Grandma Mito was nearing the end of her life, I was chosen as the Jinchuriki and moved to Konoha."
"Uchiha Madara's target is the Nine-Tails inside me. If, if—"
Kushina's words were interrupted by Minato.
"Kushina, I will not give up on you."
Kushina didn't want everyone to fight and die because of her. If her life could calm the war, she would step forward without hesitation.
Even with a child in her womb.
The Third Hokage also stepped forward and said, "Kushina, you are a Ninja of Konoha, our compatriot. The Nine-Tails sealed within you is a legacy left to us by the First Hokage."
"This time, I am not only protecting you but also fighting for our relatives and children. We will never accept an illusory world."
Jiraiya also comforted her, "Kushina, don't worry. If that construct of Ryou's wants to snatch you, he'll have to step over Minato's and my corpses first."
Ryou's clone, the white cat, wanted to jump out and say something, but was held tightly by Mikoto and couldn't move an inch.
The Senju Clan also voiced their stance, stating they wouldn't mind Kushina's status as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
The Ino-Shika-Chō clans, who were on good terms with Minato, also expressed one by one that they would fight for Kushina.
Finally, Mikoto looked at Kushina and said, "Kushina, you are my best friend. Our Uchiha Clan will fight for you."
Everyone was stunned. The one they were going to crusade against was Madara, the Uchiha ancestor.
That big villain, Ryou, was also among them.
Would the Uchiha Clan betray them halfway?
Mikoto said, "Everyone, there's no need to worry about Uchiha's betrayal. The Uchiha Clan's goal has always been the Hokage position. We could never agree to the Eye of the Moon Plan."
Hearing this, everyone felt relieved.
For three generations, the Uchiha Clan's heart's desire had been the position of Hokage.
They wouldn't go into a dream to be their Hokage.
The Third Hokage dismissed some of the Jonin first, then discussed with department heads and clan leaders about uniting with other hidden Villages to form the Shinobi Allied Forces.
They were in a hurry. Madara had already reclaimed the Rinnegan, yet there was no sign of the Shinobi Allied Forces.
If they continued to procrastinate, they would be picked off one by one by Madara.
It was simply too slow!
This situation was like someone blocking a bridge; they were using secret signals like jumping to form a team, but everyone was wary of each other.
Fearing someone would act like a scumbag and backstab them.
On the contrary, Madara's side was no longer in a rush.
Shikaku's intelligence showed that Madara seemed to have quieted down. In the Land of Rain, only Ryou was stirring up trouble in the Hidden Rain Village.
Perhaps Madara hadn't come out unscathed from the previous Divine Punishment from the Heavens and had also suffered heavy injuries.
Then this was an opportunity.
The Third Hokage formed two reconnaissance teams.
This time, he made Minato the captain of the reconnaissance team, responsible for finding Madara's whereabouts and gathering intelligence on him.
The main members were his squad: Kakashi, Obito, and Rin.
Plus two Jonin from the Senju Clan and two reconnaissance Ninjas.
Senju Gyokushun has a Summoned Ninja Hawk and can fly into the sky for rapid movement.
Senju Takemo has amazing Taijutsu and Monster Strength, able to both deal and take damage.
Hyuga Hizashi has the Byakugan and is capable of long-range reconnaissance.
Aburame Shibi has the Parasitic Insects Secret Technique and can covertly infiltrate the enemy camp.
Jiraiya insisted on joining.
The Third Hokage was worried: "Jiraiya, what about your injuries?"
Jiraiya said, "It's fine, my injuries are mostly healed!"
The Third Hokage nodded, "Alright then. You must be careful this time. You absolutely must not engage Uchiha Madara in battle."
Even with Jiraiya joining Minato's squad, the Third Hokage had no intention of making Jiraiya the captain. Jiraiya sometimes acted on impulse.
He might even go to some shady brothel for a couple of rounds during the mission.
He was more like a rogue ninja, while Minato was more mature and possessed the excellent qualities of a Hokage.
Kushina also wanted to join. This was a battle to protect her; how could she stand by like a bystander?
But both Minato and Jiraiya refused her.
Strictly speaking, for a Ninja of Madara's level, the most effective way to deal with him was sealing. Kushina was a sealing genius of the Uzumaki Clan.
She was the best counter to Madara.
But Minato had his own reasons: "Kushina, you're pregnant. Stay home and take good care of the baby!"
Jiraiya intimidated Kushina, "If you go, Uchiha Madara will capture you. Then, just like Tsunade, you'll be taken to bear children for Ryou."
Speaking of Tsunade, Jiraiya suddenly fell silent.
The Ninjas of the Senju Clan also looked at the Third Hokage.
The Third Hokage took a puff of smoke and fell into a long silence.
How could they save Tsunade? Who would go?
Haven't enough people died already?
"I think her marrying Ryou is the best protection for her! Ryou is now Uchiha Madara's greatest helper. Madara still needs to use Ryou, so it's impossible for them to have a falling out!"
Everyone looked at each other and could only listen to the Third Hokage's arrangements.
Although his arrangement wasn't explicitly stated, it was already clear: abandon Tsunade and do not make meaningless sacrifices.
"A Ninja, no matter the situation... must not show emotion... put the mission first... no matter when... must not shed tears!" — Ninja Rules.
Even if the incident with the White Fang happened again, the villagers and the Ninjas of the same camp would still despise him.
Because Ninjas must prioritize the mission, and the collective must stand above the individual.
The White Fang chose his comrades, causing Konoha to suffer heavy losses, and committed suicide because he couldn't stand the rumors after making a mistake.
His tragedy was his own doing from start to finish.
Jiraiya fell into a deep silence.
Abandoning comrades he had gone through life and death with, his beloved... such a choice was too cruel for Jiraiya.
A group of people looked at Jiraiya.
Kakashi looked at Jiraiya's tall shadow, which seemed about to shrink into a ball.
He had also experienced such things. When Rin was captured by Iwagakure, Kakashi put the mission first and abandoned Rin.
But it wasn't a complete abandonment; he would complete the mission first, then come back to find a way to save Rin.
After all, Rin was a Medical Ninja and possessed important intelligence; the enemy wouldn't kill her easily.
No matter how you looked at it, Kakashi's decision was the most correct one.
But right and wrong cannot answer all the questions in this world.
A person's life experiences three growths.
The first is understanding the right and wrong of things.
The second is understanding that some things are not just about right and wrong.
The third is that after understanding that some things have no right or wrong, one still firmly does what they believe in and takes responsibility for it.