Konoha: The thirty-year-old Uchiha lacks motivation.

As compensation for relinquishing her Tailed Beast Knight privileges, Senju Hisa, with Tobirama Senju's recommendation, took on the role of administrative assistant, thus beginning her involvement in the village's high-level affairs.

The Third Hokage and others did not object. In their view, a woman who had never held a political position could not pose any threat to their impregnable regime.

The person they need to pay the most attention to now is Uchiha Setsuna, who betrayed them.

However, things didn't go as planned. Senju Hisama, upon assuming office, displayed exceptional political talent, even surpassing her father, Senju Tobirama, in her methods of handling state affairs.

Not only are they familiar with all the village's rules and regulations, but they also have a thorough understanding of all the problems that have accumulated since the village's establishment, and they have resolved them one by one through practical and effective solutions.

By the time Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others realized what was happening, it was too late. Hisana Senju had built a strong reputation in just one year, leaving a very positive impression on the villagers.

Furthermore, he won the Konoha Best Worker Award and the Konoha Villagers' Referendum Best Government Service Personnel Award for two consecutive years in the following two years, making him an unparalleled figure.

The current Tobirama Senju, with Setsuna Uchiha in martial arts and Hisana Senju in academics, is already showing signs of overshadowing the ninja alliance led by Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Fortunately, despite the conflict of interest, the two sides shared a deep bond of master and disciple that transcended blood ties, preventing the conflict from escalating to the point of armed conflict.

Hiruzen Sarutobi knew perfectly well that the Senju clan's glory days were over, and that his teacher had done so much primarily for the long-term stability and development of the village.

At just over forty, he is indeed too young, an age prone to arrogance and mistakes. Furthermore, lacking significant achievements and a reputation for stoicism, he finds it difficult to exert influence in international affairs.

Sure enough, as soon as news of Tobirama Senju's "resurrection" spread, Onoki, who was originally eager to fight Sunagakure due to his fear of this former fastest ninja in the world, instantly fell silent, and a bloody war was thus averted.

The Sand Village further increased its interactions with Konoha, sending envoys continuously throughout the year, demonstrating the high regard in which Tobirama Senju was held.

Due to the change of power, Kirigakure has become somewhat out of touch with the broader ninja world. However, according to rumors, they have inadvertently secured a powerful patron on a certain island and have been quietly developing their power overseas, remaining aloof from worldly affairs.

Even so, the newly appointed Third Mizukage still presented Tobirama Senju with a generous gift—winning the revival match—as a gesture of goodwill after his return.

The only place that might have reservations about Tobirama Senju's resurrection was probably the Hidden Cloud Village.

According to reliable sources, if the Fourth Raikage hadn't set off overnight to the neighboring Land of Hot Springs to bring out the First and Second Raikage, who had been in seclusion for many years, to suppress them, the infamous Silver and Gold Brothers would have stormed Konoha alone to demand an explanation from a certain white-haired man who had faked his death.

However, while Hiruzen Sarutobi could understand Tobirama Senju's good intentions, Danzo, who became a victim in the political struggle, might not.

First, the department's funding was cut, forcing him to use his own money to keep the department running.

Then there was the unresolved issue of budget overruns in the Tailed Beast Rider Management Department, which had regained control of the Rider System. It seemed as if Senju Hisa was holding a grudge, as she tightly controlled funding in this area.

Forget about recouping the 2 billion he used to bribe Uchiha Gin; he can't even guarantee a monthly salary of 10 million, and he has to sell pigs to cover the losses.

However, the world has been too stable in recent years, and pork prices have repeatedly hit new lows, making it increasingly difficult for Shimura Meat Processing Plant to operate.

Time was running out for Danzo. If he continued like this, he didn't know if Tobirama Senju would abdicate, but his family's business would likely go bankrupt prematurely.

Therefore, he would go to his best friend Hiruzen almost every day to complain. Faced with his childhood friend's tearful complaints, Hiruzen Sarutobi said that he had no choice but to advise him to persevere and wait for the right opportunity to show the value of Root to everyone in Konoha and let them know who the unsung heroes who have been silently protecting the village for many years are.

As for our protagonist, Lao Yin, he wasn't interested in the petty squabbles among the higher-ups.

Of course, the same applies to going to work.

Going to work seriously is impossible for him, absolutely impossible in his life, especially since there's no stable job he can take. No matter how tempting the salary is, Uchiha Gin wouldn't want to work a single extra minute.

Since he handed over the responsibility of teaching his four children to the Yin-Yang Nine-Tails three years ago, his only motivation for going to the Tailed Beast Knight Management Department every day is to enjoy the desserts made by Ranka, the most popular girl in Root.

Inside the specially set-up dessert corner,

Uchiha Gin held a strawberry cake, gently scooped a spoonful and put it in his mouth. The smooth cream and sweet strawberries blended perfectly, and just one bite brought a look of satisfaction to this seasoned gourmand.

"Little Bei, with your skills, why are you still hanging around with Danzo? You could have opened your own shop and achieved financial freedom long ago."

With a look of enjoyment, Gin Uchiha squinted his eyes and quickly finished the cake in his hand. Then, he tilted his head and looked at Hiruko, who was in charge of baking and making custom desserts for him, with a sigh on his face.

"I'm sorry, but I will never betray Lord Danzo!"

Upon hearing this, Hiruko, dressed in a white baking uniform, put down his cake spatula and shook his head seriously. If he hadn't joined Root, he might have remained a mediocre, lowly Chunin for his entire life.

"I didn't expect you to be so loyal. No wonder you slept in the same bed as Jiraiya."

Even through the mask, Uchiha Gin could sense the loyalty emanating from Hiruko, and couldn't help but nod in appreciation.

"Ah! You, you're talking nonsense. It's not that I want to sleep with him. He always insists on squeezing in with me in the middle of the night."

"Well"

Seeing Hiruko suddenly become somewhat awkward, Gin Uchiha's eye twitched. He really wanted to ask him if he had dreamed about the unbreakable shit in the middle of the night.

But seeing the chocolate cake being made in the other person's hands, he suppressed his curiosity. To avoid affecting his appetite, Uchiha Gin casually inquired about Jiraiya and the others.

"Speaking of Jiraiya, are the others still on their mission?"

"this."

"Do I still need to keep this a secret from you?"

Seeing Hiruko's hesitant expression, Uchiha Gin raised an eyebrow.

"No, because I don't know about Jiraiya and the others' recent situation. It's been three months since their last mission report, and they haven't sent any new information back since."

Hiruko shook his head. Uchiha Gin, who had taken care of them since childhood, held a position in his heart no less important than his superior, Danzo. Even if it involved classified information, he wouldn't hide anything.

"Three months?"

Uchiha Gin calculated the time with his fingers, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly.

It is now Konoha Year 37, the very timeline when the Second Shinobi World War broke out. He hopes that those outside will be careful and not get involved in any unnecessary battles.

"Don't worry too much. I heard from Lord Danzo a few days ago that their mission is about to come to an end, and they should be able to return to the village safely soon."

Noticing the worry in Uchiha Ginkaku's eyes, Hiruko, who had picked up the wiping blade again, smiled slightly and shared the rumors she had recently heard.

"Okay, then! Shall we close the net?"

Uchiha Gin nodded slightly upon hearing this, but before he could even catch a breath, he suddenly noticed the words "closing the net" in Hiruko's message, and his expression instantly became incredibly complex.

If he remembered correctly, Jiraiya and his group's mission was to stir up trouble in secret, ideally getting the three factions of Kaze, Tochigo, and Azur Lane to fight each other in a real battle, and then have Konoha clean up the mess.

This would both deplete Iwagakure's surplus troops and reap the financial benefits of Sunagakure, while also forcing the Land of Rain, which was reaping huge profits from being caught between the three kingdoms, to choose sides and become a puppet secretly manipulated by Konoha.

"Are we really going to fight?"

When the topic of war came up, Gin Uchiha's first thought was of his cousins ​​who had just invested a large sum of money in real estate in the Land of Rain. He hoped they wouldn't be heartbroken by the real estate bubble.

The next thing that came to mind was the loans that the Bank of Waves had made in Iwagakure. If a real war broke out, wouldn't these loans just go to waste?

The thought of losing a considerable amount of money for no reason made Uchiha Gin uneasy.

"Xiao Bei, pack up the cake for me, I need to go home for a bit."

"Huh? What about them?"

Hiruko, who was decorating the last little flower for the chocolate cake maker, looked up in surprise upon hearing this. His gaze swept over the four children in the classroom who were attentively listening to the two Nine-Tails' lesson. Although he appeared to be baking desserts for Uchiha Gin, he was actually also supervising the teaching.

"There's a teaching assistant here, no problem~"

"Okay, just a moment."

For the past three years, Uchiha Gin's absenteeism in class has become commonplace. Hiruko couldn't really report him, so she could only nod helplessly and quickly pack up the chocolate cakes she was holding.

Bye-bye~

Mentioning the cake, Uchiha Gin greeted the others in the classroom and vanished in an instant amidst their habitual gazes.

"Don't get distracted! Next, I'm going to teach you the most important training subject for Tailed Beast Riders."

Noticing that several children were distracted by Uchiha Gin's departure, the Nine-Tails, wearing Minato's DIY glasses, angrily slammed its claw on the podium.

"How to transform into the most stylish person with the simplest posture."

Upon hearing this, the four children immediately sat up straight. At their age, who wouldn't want to show off their skills?

The country of waves,

With his hair and beard completely white, Uchiha Tajima abandoned his usual serious attire, unusually donning a beach outfit and sunglasses. He leisurely reclined on a lounge chair in the palace courtyard, enjoying a rare midday sunbath.

blow!

As a golden lightning bolt appeared out of nowhere, Uchiha Tajima's hand, which was just holding a coconut, suddenly froze.

"Uncle, Sasipuri~"

Following the Flying Thunder God seal he left inside the palace, Uchiha Gin landed and greeted them with a smile.

"Oh, it's Ah Yin. You've come all this way, why bring a gift? That's too much of a formality."

Seeing his nephew carrying a large cake, Uchiha Tajima pushed his sunglasses up to his forehead, his aged face filled with a kind smile.

"What are you saying? Every time I come, do I not bring you a souvenir?"

He placed the chocolate cake he'd gotten for free from work on the table beside him, shook his head, and casually picked up the coconut that Uchiha Tajima had just tasted, taking a big, unabashed sip.

"Slurp~ It tastes good, is it from the Mizuno region?"

I smacked my lips; it tasted familiar.

"Looks like you've had quite a bit to drink."

Uchiha Tajima nodded, indirectly acknowledging the coconut's origin.

"Should we take some with us when we leave?"

"No need for that."

He has plenty of places to drink this, there's no need for him to carry it with him.

"I came to ask if anything unusual has happened in Iwagakure and Sunagakure recently?"

After politely declining his uncle's offer, Uchiha Gin wiped his mouth, a rare seriousness appearing on his usually ashen face.

"Something special?"

Seeing Uchiha Gin's serious expression, Uchiha Tajima straightened up, a look of doubt appearing on his face.

Why are you asking this?

"According to my unreliable information, Iwagakure and Sunagakure are about to go to war in the Land of Rain."

"ha?"

One sentence nearly made Uchiha Tajima's sunglasses fall off. He adjusted his nearly slipped sunglasses, his old face full of astonishment.

"Impossible, right? Sunagakure just placed a long-term order with us a while ago, and when they placed the order, it didn't seem like they were about to go to war at all."

"A long-term order? It's not for strategic materials, is it?"

"I wouldn't be so surprised if it were strategic materials; they ordered simulated silicone material."

Simulated silicone?

Uchiha Gin blinked in confusion. What would Sunagakure do with this thing?

However, since it wasn't a strategic resource, he didn't delve further into Sunagakure's use of silicone, and instead inquired about the situation in Iwagakure.

"What about Iwagakure (Hidden Rock Village)?"

"It's still in that half-dead state. Most people have started to learn to use loans to pay off other loans. The village is also secretly selling state-owned assets. We have already obtained mining rights for several mining sites, and now Fuyou is leading people to work overtime to mine them."

The situation in Iwagakure was far more difficult than Uchiha Gin had imagined. Despite being economically sanctioned by Sunagakure for so many years, they hadn't gone bankrupt only by selling people and land.

"In that case, the village of Iwagakure is the most likely to make the first move."

Beset by internal and external troubles, the only option left for Onoki was to fight.

"A-Yin, you're oversimplifying war."

Seeing Uchiha Gin's confident expression, Uchiha Tajima gently shook his head.

"The peace agreement between the five great nations is not just for show. I don't know how the other great nations will react if Iwagakure acts without a legitimate reason, but the daimyo of the Land of Earth alone will definitely not give him a good beating."

The daimyo of the Land of Earth had been harboring resentment for years, because Iwagakure had been utterly humiliated in its competition with Sunagakure, and he had been ridiculed by the daimyo of the Land of Wind, whom he had once looked down upon.

Now that they've resorted to war like cornered dogs, it's like crushing their pride and trampling it on the ground.

Let's put it this way: if Onoki dared to start a war without provocation this morning, the daimyo of the Land of Earth would dare to cut off their money and supplies this afternoon.

"We have no legitimate reason to attack."

Uchiha Gin stroked his chin thoughtfully. Unlike the chaotic ninja world of the original timeline, the ninja world in his parallel universe was remarkably orderly, with the major nations developing steadily.

If it weren't for the struggle for control of the Land of Rain, Sunagakure wouldn't have bothered with an economic war with Iwagakure.

"What if some brain-dead martial arts faction in Iwagakure causes trouble?"

Every village should have its own cliques, and Uchiha Gin didn't believe that Onoki didn't have hawkish factions under his command.

"Yes, it did exist before."

Uchiha Tajima nodded with a strange expression upon hearing this.

If it existed before, does that mean it doesn't exist now?

That's right. The most troublesome group of martial arts advisors in Iwagakure were all wiped out along with their entire clan by Onoki, who was touched on a sore spot by instigating war. Now, only his voice is heard throughout the village.

"Phew, that puts my mind at ease."

Without the instigating militant faction, even if the cautious Onoki were to die from overwork, he would never dare to become the eternal sinner who started the war.

"Now my older cousin's property is safe."

"Gintoki, Madara and Izuna are in your care from now on, your uncle."

Mentioning the Uchiha brothers, Uchiha Tajima, who had been full of energy, suddenly looked gloomy, a look of defeat appearing on his aged face.

The sudden change startled Uchiha Gin, who quickly looked him up and down, only to find that he wasn't as lifeless as he had imagined.

"Uncle, are you feeling alright? Isn't it a bit too hasty to suddenly make arrangements for your funeral?"

Nourished by the system's equipment, Uchiha Tajima's body, while unable to withstand the erosion of time, certainly possesses more vitality than before. As long as he doesn't go all out, living until Boruto shouldn't be a problem.

"You brat, who said I was going to die? I just want to find a place to retire peacefully!"

Uchiha Tajima was so angered by Uchiha Gin's words that his mustache stood on end. He was simply tired of his busy life; now that there was a successor, it was time for him to lighten his load.

"Uncle, have you chosen a location yet?"

Uchiha Gin scratched his head awkwardly.

"I think Yu-no-Kuni is a great place. The climate is pleasant, it's like spring all year round, and there are hot spring spas. It's the perfect place to retire and enjoy life."

"Uh, you're really just going there to retire?"

Looking his energetic uncle up and down, Uchiha Gin's gaze gradually turned strange. Going to a place like that, even a ghost wouldn't believe it if he said he was just retiring.

"Mind your own business!"

Leaf Village

Sarutobi House

Danzo stood expressionless at the front door of his childhood friend's house, repeatedly pounding on the door, which was covered in handprints.

"Monkey, open the door! I know you're home."

Creak~

Unable to endure Danzo's constant harassment any longer, the person inside suddenly flung open the door, revealing a pretty face filled with annoyance.

"Stop knocking! We've already changed doors three times this month, you know that?"

"Biwako, this time I really have something to discuss with the monkey."

Ignoring Sarutobi Biwako's murderous gaze, Danzo nodded solemnly.

"So you mean you came here before just to kill time because you had nothing else to do?"

Sarutobi Biwako's face showed displeasure. Even though she had already found out that Danzo was a straight man with a family, she still harbored great suspicion towards this man who was estranged from her husband.

"Biwako, let him in."

Just as she was pressing her advantage, Hiruzen Sarutobi's weary voice rang out from inside the house.

"Hmph! You'd better leave before nine o'clock."

After setting a time, Sarutobi Biwako reluctantly let the person in. Looking at her husband, who had crawled into the small dark room with Danzo, she gave a helpless, bitter smile.

"Danzo, what is it now? Didn't I tell you yesterday that I'll find a way to solve the Root organization's funding problem?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had pulled Danzo into the secret room, brewed a cup of tea for his persistent childhood friend, his tone full of helplessness.

"No, that's not it, monkey, look at this!"

Unexpectedly, Danzo didn't immediately start complaining about being poor as usual. Instead, he mysteriously pulled a sweaty scroll from his backside and handed it to him.

"."

"Just tell me what it is, I trust you."

Hiruzen Sarutobi pulled at the dough, not taking the scroll that carried Danzo's ambitions.

"War is about to break out."

"puff!"

Just as he picked up his teacup, ready to hear some gossip, Danzo's concise remark startled him so much that he spat out a mouthful of tea.

"Monkey, could I borrow your bathroom later?"

With a blank expression, Danzo wiped the tea leaves from his face and continued,

"This is firsthand information sent back by your disciple. I came to find you as soon as I received it."

"Is that Jiraiya and the others? Are they alright?"

Upon hearing that it concerned his disciple, Hiruzen Sarutobi's face immediately showed deep worry. He knew all too well the difficulties of infiltrating, especially a mission like this one that lasted for several years, which was fraught with danger.

"They are safe and can be evacuated at any time."

"That's good. Tell me quickly, what's going on with the war?"

After confirming that his disciple was safe for the time being, he immediately inquired about the war.

"Hanzo the Salamander of Amegakure is preparing to declare war on Iwagakure."

Danzo, his expression unchanged, slowly revealed a shocking piece of news: Hanzo, the leader of Amegakure, was actually going to turn against his former mentor who had helped him.

"Specific reasons."

Hiruzen Sarutobi did not doubt the veracity of Danzo's information; even if it was false, such information was by no means baseless.

"It's unclear, but based on Orochimaru's in-depth investigation, it's very likely related to the forbidden area of ​​Amegakure."

"The forbidden area of ​​Amegakure? Isn't that it?"

Upon hearing that Amegakure was a forbidden area, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression changed several times.

He not only knew about the area that Rain Village had designated as a forbidden zone, but he had also been there in person and witnessed the most intense battle he had ever seen in his life.

Danzo, who had also been there, nodded solemnly. His eyes, gleaming with a hidden light, held not only worry but also a yearning for opportunity.

"That's right, it's the place where the Tailed Beast Rider battle took place. Monkey, get ready, the big one is coming."

Hidden Rock Village

"Snapped!"

The marble desk that had served in the Tsuchikage's office for nearly forty years finally came to an end after years of relentless abuse by Onoki.

"Boom!"

"Do you really think we, Iwagakure, are easy to bully?"

Ignoring the uneven stones scattered on the ground, Onoki crumpled the letter of accusation signed by Hanzo the Salamander into a ball, his deeply lined face filled with icy killing intent.

"Even a starved camel is bigger than a horse. Since you want to kick us when we're down, don't blame us for being ruthless!" (End of Chapter)