Chapter 336: Minato

Everyone present wore solemn expressions.

After all, the enemy they were about to face was too extraordinary—Six Paths Sage was a figure of legend!

Even…

Had they not heard that name come from Uchiha Jin’s mouth, all three of them would have assumed the Six Paths Sage was merely a myth.

But now,

they were about to fight this legendary sage!

Of course,

they felt no fear—after all, all three stood at the pinnacle of the ninja world; even the Six Paths Sage could not intimidate them with his name alone.

Especially after learning that the Six Paths Sage viewed the ninja world as a field, and its people as crops to be harvested again and again…

They were utterly enraged!

Tobirama Senju slammed his hand on the table, his voice icy: “I’ve always wondered—why, after all these centuries, do ninja keep fighting? Why can’t peace ever take root?”

“I once thought my ancestors were narrow-minded and inept, but I never imagined the true obstacle to peace in the ninja world would be the legendary Six Paths Sage!”

“Damn it!”

“I admit the threat of the Otsutsuki, but to treat the ninja world as a field—this I, Tobirama Senju, will never accept!”

“No more talk—let’s fight him!”

Tobirama Senju voiced his stance first—no fear, no despair, only hatred for the Six Paths Sage and a burning desire to clash with him.

Clearly,

after Uchiha Jin’s revelations, he finally understood why the ninja world had remained mired in war for so long, why every glimmer of peace was always shattered by sudden misfortune.

In fact, he had witnessed it firsthand!

When the Hidden Leaf Village was first founded, it was the closest the world had ever come to peace.

Though Tobirama Senju disliked the Uchiha and had always distrusted them, he was far from as foolish as Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Back then, though the Uchiha occasionally caused trouble under his watch, they were never wiped out—that alone proved it!

After all, to be blunt,

if Tobirama Senju had truly wanted to destroy the Uchiha, he needed no one’s help—he possessed the absolute power and means to do it himself.

Though he had once been wary of the Uchiha, he never showed it openly; otherwise, even with Hashirama Senju protecting him, Madara Uchiha would have killed him without hesitation.

So,

for years he had been unable to understand: if Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha had joined forces, why not let the Hidden Leaf develop quietly for twenty years…

No—ten years!

If the Hidden Leaf had simply developed quietly for ten years back then, with Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha’s strength, plus his own intellect and strategy…

Would it have been hard to eliminate the daimyo houses and other ninja villages?

No!

Not at all!

In fact, Tobirama Senju was confident he could minimize casualties during the unification war.

But that perfect opportunity was ruined by an accident.

Just moments before, Madara Uchiha had been willing to cooperate with Tobirama Senju—then suddenly, as if possessed, he insisted on forcibly unifying the ninja world.

At the time, both he and his brother Hashirama Senju had confronted Madara Uchiha, even revealing their original plan: wait ten years.

But it was useless!

Madara Uchiha refused to listen, then fought Hashirama Senju, ultimately leading to Hashirama’s death after the battle—and Madara vanished into hiding.

Only after he revived did he learn the truth inscribed on the Uchiha stone tablet, and the scheme of Black Zetsu.

Now?

He now knew Black Zetsu was most likely a pawn of the Six Paths Sage!

So, no more words.

Unification was not just Uchiha Jin’s goal—it was his and Hashirama Senju’s goal too. They would see peace come to the ninja world, no matter what.

Even the Six Paths Sage could not stop them!

“Truly—sigh!”

“I don’t know what to say, but the task assigned to me—I guarantee I will complete it.”

“No one will stop me!”

Tsunade, brows furrowed, crossed her arms; her expression was equally grave.

She was not angry, nor shaken.

After all, this level of battle was far beyond her strength—she had no need to participate in such a confrontation…

Yet,

the task assigned to her by Uchiha Jin, she vowed to carry out with all her might.

On the other side, Minato Namikaze said nothing, sinking deep into thought.

Earlier, he had not understood why he had been brought here.

He had no interest in power, no clan behind him needing his support—he had spent this time with Kushina and Naruto…

But he had never expected

that being brought here would reveal such a secret.

Still,

having once been Hokage, he quickly calmed himself and began silently pondering: was there another way to break this deadlock?

After long silence, he finally spoke.

“Everyone…”

“Could we try convincing my master, Jiraiya?”

“I know the Toad Mountain well—aside from the Great Toad Sage, who has never fought, there are no true masters there.”

“Even Shima and Sanosuke are merely at Kage level.”

“So unless the Six Paths Sage intervenes personally, he can only use my master Jiraiya to carry out his scheme.”

“If we can convince my master, won’t this whole matter be resolved?”

With Minato Namikaze’s words, the room fell silent.

Tobirama Senju said nothing.

He knew little of Jiraiya—only that he was Hiruzen Sarutobi’s student, and seemed to have a decent relationship with his granddaughter Tsunade.

Uchiha Jin remained silent.

He knew Jiraiya could not be convinced, but as Hokage, he was not suited to voice opinions on every matter.

So,

unless silence became impossible, he usually chose to keep quiet.

Seeing no one speak, Tsunade sighed and slowly explained.

“Minato, give it up.”

“It won’t work!”

“Itachi may be Jiraiya’s student, but Itachi two have had little contact.”

“He never taught Itachi much; then the Third Shinobi World War broke out, and though Itachi interacted during that time, your conversations were mostly about war.”

“After the war ended, once Itachi became the Fourth Hokage, that man Jiraiya left the Hidden Leaf to wander again.”

“So Itachi see him through a filter—Itachi don’t know the real Jiraiya.”

“I was his teammate—I’ve had the most contact with him.”

“I know the real Jiraiya, so I can tell Itachi for certain…”

“It won’t work!”