With the souls id to rest, Masashi and Pakura left the ruins of southern gate behind.

  "We should sweep the area for any remaining Kumo squads," Pakura suggested. "If they're running regur patrols to their fortress, we o know their routes."

  Masashi nodded. Flying Thunder God would be faster, but we'd miss vital intelligence. Better to move on foot and map their movements. "Agreed. We 't let them establish new supply lines elsewhere."

  Handling the sacrifices wasn't difficult—fire took care of everything.

  "You're unusually thh with this," Pakura observed.

  "Some things are better left fotten," he replied simply.

  Whether ing or leaving, they kept everything silent. They moved through the terrain, avoiding the main paths where possible.

  They headed back to Yu along the same route.

  On the road, Pakura expressed sret. As a fellow former member of the Suna fa, she wished she could learn from the reanimated ninja who specialized in Mag Release.

  Unfortunately, their teiques offered her nothing to study.

  Masashi's luck, though, was something else. He stumbled upon a mission and vely discovered a batch of ready-made Edo Tensei subjects, which even included a fellow Uchiha.

  If that's luck, she was willing to call him the stro in the shinobi world.

  If it wasn't luck... thele of Hokage should belong to the Uchiha .

  paratively, she preferred to believe it was simply luck.

  "Your luck is unreal."

  "It is, isn't it…" Masashi sighed. "How one person's luck be this good?"

  "What kind of jutsu is it?" Pakura asked.

  "It enhances shape transformation," Masashi expined. "It's just a bit powerful."

  Kagutsuchi and Amaterasu were a perfect match. In the inal timeline, Sasuke was the only Uchiha to possess both of these ocur jutsu.

  In this timeline, who knows?

  He wasn't even sure if Itachi could awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan here.

  But that wasn't a signifit issue.

  If the Mangekyō was awakened by the wrong person, it was better off not being awake all.

  The two sped through the ndscape, unimpeded. No Kumo ninjas crossed their path—possibly because Konoha's ninja forces held the upper hand.

  Their assumption proved correct when they entered their first Konoha scout team.

  "Jiraiya-sama's ehe Raikage directly," the lead scout reported after they verified identities.

  "Casualties?" Masashi asked sharply.

  "We're holding, but barely. The bance could tip either way."

  As they left the mountainous area, they began to see signs of battles.

  They also came across fallen shinobi.

  Overall, more Kumo ninjas y dead than Konoha ninjas.

  "They're losing cohesion without proper supply lines," Pakura noted.

  "And they don't even know why yet," Masashi said.

  When they met Kumo ninjas, there was atiotacked immediately.

  When they met Konoha ninjas, they verified their identities again, exged information, aheir separate ways.

  In this process, the two gained a clearer picture of the situation.

  The main forces of the Kumo and Konoha armies had already cshed for the first time. Thanks to team support, Jiraiya had no problem activating Sage Mode and tearing through the Kumo ranks, rampaging until the Fourth Raikage blocked his path.

  The first csh didn't st long. Both sides quickly withdrew their forces.

  The battle caused losses for both sides. Despite their numerical superiority, Kumo's main force mao hold its ground in this e.

  However, Kumo's reaissanits were crushed by Konoha. Without the advantage of numbers, Kumo's small squads were overwhelmed by Konoha's teams.

  Konoha's forces retreated to Yu, and the Kumo forces also pulled back.

  Masashi believed Kumo's army had likely realized their supply lines were in trouble.

  The situation about the fortress wouldn't stay hidden from the Kumo forces for long. He o deliver this information to Yu quickly, to seize this opportunity and deal a heavy blow to the Kumo army.

  They quied their pace.

  Finally, before suhey saw the walls of Yu. The vilge's defenses had beeened, with additional sensor barriers and patrol units visible even from a distance.

  After verifying their identities, they ehe vilge. Masashi headed straight for Jiraiya's "office."

  Opening the door, he saw the white-haired Toad Sage slouched at the desk, looking like a middle-aged man dealing with a crisis.

  "Jiraiya."

  "Hmm? Masashi, wele back," Jiraiya mumbled, looking half-asleep.

  The fleeting sadness in his eyes betrayed his true feelings. This Kage-level ninja wasn't as listless as he seemed.

  "You've had a long journey. Rest early—you don't o report to me. Go enjoy the hot springs; they're excellent here," he said zily, waving his hand.

  "No, this 't wait," Masashi replied, already prepared to expin. He quickly reported everything about the vilge in one go.

  As the report unfolded, Jiraiya's demeanor shifted from disio something more serious, as if he wao smack himself awake.

  "Kumo's fortress is gohe man's eyes widened.

  "Yes."

  "You found reanimated shinobi? Were they left behind by one of the vilge's predecessors?"

  "Yes, but that's not important. For now, Kumo's supplies won't be replenished anytime soon."

  "No, Masashi, this is very important!" Jiraiya stood abruptly, seemingly about to eborate, but theated.

  He was fag an Uchiha.

  Though he had no prejudice against the Uchiha , he knew some topics weren't suitable for them.

  He had heard stories from the old man.

  There was someone, an important figure during the Sed Hokage's era, who had been a hero of Konoha and the interim principal of the Ninja Academy. This person had sacrificed himself in the First Great Ninja War and had mastered the Edo Tensei.

  And he had died hat fortress.

  "Did you find that predecessor's remains?" Jiraiya asked.

  "No." You want my body? Dream on! Even Kumo didn't get it. Keep dreaming.

  After spending half his life raiding graves, there was no way he'd let anyone have a ce at his own.

  He had strapped the st wave of exploding tags directly to his own body.

  "Are you sure?" Jiraiya pressed, clearly ed.

  "Of course not."

  "Is that so… No remains, then…" Jiraiya decided he'd check fortress after the war.

  If the body had left any remains, they couldn't be treated lightly. At the very least, they couldn't fall into the hands of any shinobi .

  From his personal perspective, Jiraiya hoped Muzo's remains could return to Konoha in a few decades to be buried in his homend.

  "I see. In that case, we'll o adjust our strategy against Kumo. Masashi, notify the Uchiha . We're holding a meeting."

  "Aren't we attag right now?" Masashi saw no need for a meeting. Fet the meeting—just march out and fight until they're unreizable.

  He was ready to sna some onigiris already.

  "We don't o rush. This opportunity must be fully utilized," Jiraiya said cryptically. "If we're too hasty, we might give ourselves away. This will be the decisive battle!"

  As an old hand at Konoha's tactics, he sidered himself quite knowledgeable about the Kumo ninjas.

  Kumo had a high tolerance for casualties in battle but also a critical weakness.

  Their tolerance was high because they were genuinely unafraid of tough battles. But their weakness y in their inability to sustain wars where the costs exceeded the gains. The moment their costs outweighed their bes, they would lose the ability to tinue fighting.

  That was when internal dissent started to rise.

  Masashi used Muzo's legacy to destroy the fortress and even killed the Eight-Tails jinchūriki.

  Regardless of how much of the legacy Masashi has gaihis victory will undoubtedly deal a severe blow to the Kumo ninja's morale.

  The loss of the Eight-Tails jinchūriki was a fual one.

  However, the upper echelons of Kumo would suppress this news, rallying their forces uhe banner of revenge, esg the war, and even colborating with Iwa to force the Land of Fire into peace talks to recoup their losses through war reparations.

  For this purpose, the Two-Tails jinchūriki would undoubtedly be sent to the front lines, especially since Konoha had never deployed jinchūriki in battle.

  As the ultimate on otlefield, a jinchūriki's power was undeniable.

  Fortunately, while Konoha's jinchūriki didn't leave the vilge, they always had access to giant summonis.

  But formalities had to still be observed. This wasn't the Warring States Period, where standing at the vilge gate and shouting "For the !" was enough to rally fighters for a mass skirmish.

  Moreover, the credit for this victory was moal. Konoha hadn't seen such a critical hit in years.

  Youth had its advantages. If it were a seasoned Kage-level ninja, they'd be closely monitored, and such opportunities wouldn't arise.

  From now on, Masashi would be someone all the ninja vilges keep an eye on. He wouldn't remain unknown.

  To wield the legacy effectively, one had to be at least Kage-level. Muzo's teiques weren't something just anyone could handle.

  And the legacy itself would undoubtedly bee a source of trouble. Many coveted it, not only in Konoha but in other vilges as well.

  No one believed someone would obtain such a legad not use it to further their power.

  Muzo was one of the most brilliant figures of the te Warring States Period. The ninjutsu he mastered was enough to create a sixth Great Ninja Vilge.

  This wouldn't be easy—there was much to hash out iure.

  The question was whether the Uchiha could withstand the pressure.

  Though he cimed there was no rush, Jiraiya acted swiftly, vening a meeting without dey.

  At the meeting, he first annouhe news.

  The room erupted in otion.

  "Muzo's legacy... in Uchiha hands?"

  The jonin of civilian background were shocked by the sheer scale of the victory, while the ninja representatives focused on the legauzo.

  After Madara left Konoha, Muzo was the one who, alongside the Sed Hokage, held actual power over Konoha, one openly, the other in the shadows.

  Danzō might be the unscrupulous "Darkness of the Shinobi," but his methods, while shady, are nothing more than that. People cursed him when appropriate and took him down when evidence was solid.

  But Muzo? Only Tobirama dared criticize him.

  Otherwise, why else would the vilgers turn a blind eye when this sdrel flirted with women all over the pce? Did they really think ninja ehat easy to charm? That they'd let things slide with just a sp on the wrist?

  The truth eople preferred him being "Muzo the Sdrel" over him reverting to the "Hollow" of their memories.

  "Masashi, did none of the reanimated individuals survive?" a jonin asked Masashi.

  "Of course not. What, should I ihem to the hot springs for a soak?" Masashi retorted.

  Though his tone wasly friendly, no one minded.

  After all, with such a moal achievement, it was uandable to feel a being questioned.

  But questions still o be asked.

  During the Warring States Period, everyone was wicked, their sces lost. Landlords went bankrupt, samurai roamed aimlessly, and the weak fell victim to the strong in widespread starvation.

  In the endless battles among ninja s, corpses piled up like mountains.

  And among the Senju an lost all his siblings, parents, and even his lover. By the time people noticed him, he had grown from an obscure member of the to the ultimate evil of the Senju .

  Not many people knew his birth name; he was only known as Muzo.

  After the founding of the vilge, he abruptly seemed to have a ge of heart and started pursuing love.

  Who would dare stop him? If they did, they'd end up strung from a fgpole as an to the heavens.

  And many s even genuinely sidered marrying into his family, givereasures he possessed.

  In the end, however, his st knowionship was with a woman from the Uchiha .

  "The timing is... iing," a Hyūga elder ented softly. "An Uchiha wielding Muzo's power, just when we most."

  The ninja representatives firmly believed that Muzo must have left a method of utilizing his legacy with the Uchiha .

  Some even suspected Masashi might be his desdant.

  After all, Muzo was infamous for rarely returning home at night during his prime.

  Even with precautions, there must have been hts.

  The s tried to recall Muzo's likeness from their records. Unfortunately, they couldn't find any simirities in Masashi's appearance.

  "Ahem!" Jiraiya coughed heavily, interrupting their musings. "Let's focus. I propose ung the decisive battle against the Kumo ninja ahead of schedule. Does anyone object?"

  "Wouldn't that be too aggressive?" a jonin from the Sarutobi asked. "Our military supplies have been heavily ed retly, and resupply hasn't caught up. If the Kumo ninja set a trap, the situation could favor them."

  "I think it's feasible," a Hyūga representative tered. "The Kumo ninja's supplies are even tighter. The fortress held more than half their stockpile. Their camp supplies probably barely suffice for defense."

  "But they still have the Two-Tails jinchūriki, which could turide."

  "We trate our jonin forces," another head suggested. "With Jiraiya-sama and Masashi both having giant summonis, we won't be weaker than a jinchūriki. If we kill the Two-Tails, the death of the Eight-Tails jinchūriki will bee impossible to hide. The Kumo ninja would have to sue for peace, and Iwa's focus would shift to them."

  "Not necessarily." An intelligence officer stepped forward. "Ret intelligence suggests Iwa is in tact with Suna. They might attack Konoha instead."

  The room engaged in serious debate. Politics as usual, Jiraiya thought. Everyone wants glory, but no one wants to risk too much.

  However, the majority learadually applying pressure through superior strength to er the Kumo ninja before delivering a decisive blow.

  He observed this quietly.

  This wasn't fear of battle; it stemmed from deeper motivations.

  Merit.

  Masashi's achievements were not only massive but also swift, disrupting many ninja s' strategies for this war.

  Of course, everyone waheir vilge to win, but they also hoped to meet their expected returns.

  Laung the decisive battle early carried risks. For those prioritizing stability, opposition was natural.

  Although Jiraiya was the ander, he had to sider everyone's demands.

  Everyone present represented more than just themselves.

  "Alright, I uand your views." Waving his hand to end the discussion, Jiraiya decided on a promise that would satisfy most. "Expedite the transport of supplies from the rear. Meanwhile, the front lines must not s. Starting now, we'll increase the number of deployed squads to elimihe Kumo ninja's scouts."

  He surveyed the room. "Before we unch the decisive battle, we'll do everything possible to fihe Kumo ninja forces to their strongholds. This is my strategy. Any objes?"

  "No objes, Jiraiya-sama."

  "Agreed."

  "The Hyūga will handle reaissance."

  The representatives voiced their support. The civilian jonin, beiively straightforward, had fewer objes.

  With sensus achieved, Jiraiya waved dismissively, signaling the end of the meeting.