Hiruzen The Professor!

Just moments earlier, the tide of battle had shifted dramatically.

Guy's Daytime Tiger shattered the octopus tentacles of the Eight-Tails, and Tsunade sent the Tailed Beast-transformed Killer B crashing into the mountainside with a punch of monstrous strength. Jiraiya seized the opportunity to throw a sealing technique.

The three of them finally forced the fully transformed Killer B back into human form. He was covered in injuries, slung over Guy's shoulder, completely incapacitated.

"The Eight Gates… truly astonishing." Jiraiya looked at the steam rising from Guy and couldn't help but marvel.

Guy wiped the sweat from his forehead and grinned, "Kakashi and the others are cleaning up the Kumo ninjas in the rear."

He then explained in detail to Jiraiya and Tsunade how Kakashi was leading a team to sweep the remaining Kumo forces, and the follow-up plan to take down the Raikage.

Tsunade gave a cold snort. "The shinobi world hasn't changed at all after all these years."

So it's war, huh.

Jiraiya suddenly thought of the war-torn streets of the Land of Rain back then, the orphans he had seen, and his own students from the Toad Team. After a brief silence, he finally shook his head. "This is enough."

With the Eight-Tails captured, the conflict could now be classified as a "border skirmish." Kumo suffered heavy losses, and the Raikage would be unable to act again anytime soon. Continuing the pursuit might truly spark the Fourth Great Ninja War.

If it had been Kakashi or Yamato leading the team, maybe they could have reasoned things out and persuaded Jiraiya. But Guy didn't have that kind of eloquence.

---

Of the three Sannin, Jiraiya was arguably the one who hated war the most. The evil mad scientist Orochimaru went without saying. Tsunade detested war primarily because her lover and brother had died in it. In other words, if Dan hadn't died, or if Nawaki had become a Konoha hero, her attitude might've been different... But Jiraiya, he despised senseless slaughter from the bottom of his heart.

No matter how seasoned or tactical he seemed in action, at his core, he was still a bit idealistic. So, he decided to agree to a prisoner exchange. In his heart, there was no comparison between Shizune and Killer B, Shizune's life meant far more.

"Then let's exchange hostages," Jiraiya said in a low voice.

This mission had been a complete failure for A, utterly frustrating. With a cold snort, he was about to agree. At this point, saving B was the best outcome they could hope for.

"Fine." The lightning around him faded as he returned to normal, shouting, "Throw over B first!"

Though clearly the weaker side, he acted as though he held the upper hand.

Lose the fight, not the pride.

"You think this is a market stall for haggling?" Tsunade smashed a giant boulder beside her with a punch in frustration. "Say one more word and I'll snap his neck."

Jiraiya was speechless. "You hand over Shizune first. If not, go ahead, start the fight again!"

The situation was no longer in A's favor, especially since the expected Kumo reinforcements had yet to arrive, something had clearly gone wrong. He was already thinking of retreat.

Clicking his tongue in annoyance, he signaled to Darui. "Give her back."

The two sides exchanged hostages.

Killer B had the temporary seal removed by a Kumo jonin. With a hint of resignation, he sang to A.

"Konoha ninja~ ganging up on me~ poor little Eighty~ couldn't win, you see~"

"Shut it," A barked.

Shizune stumbled back to the Konoha side clutching Tonton, still shaken. She turned to Tsunade and said, "Lady Tsunade, I'm sorry."

Tsunade looked around at the bloodstained battlefield, her hands clenched in trembling fists, still, she forced a calm voice. "It's okay, you did great."

A crossed his arms and said coldly, "If Konoha doesn't want to continue the fight, we'll leave now."

Jiraiya stared him down. "Kumo must compensate Konoha."

A replied irritably: "We'll compensate you! I'll send an envoy later!"

The battle seemed to be over. The conflict was about to dissipate.

At that moment, a pair of scarlet eyes watched everything unfold. Is the fight really about to end? That won't do. Let's begin.

Just as A prepared to lead his forces in retreat, there was a sudden upheaval.

"Ah!" Screams erupted from the rear Konoha ranks. The ANBU members were ambushed by a large number of suddenly appearing Kumo ninjas.

They emerged eerily from underground and treetops, silent and merciless, cutting down anyone they saw.

Completely unprepared, the ANBU suffered heavy losses.

They seemed to have been lurking all along, waiting for the right moment.

"Damn you, A!" Jiraiya's furious roar echoed across the battlefield, senjutsu chakra surging like wildfire.

A's eyes widened in shock. Had the Kumo reinforcements finally arrived? But what was going on?

Though he recognized most of these Kumo ninjas by appearance, he had never ordered them to continue fighting, why had they suddenly attacked?

"Charge!" Despite his inner doubts, he still shouted a battle command, and his Lightning Release Chakra Mode activated reflexively. He knew all too well that trying to explain now was pointless, the battlefield only acknowledged blood, not reason.

There was nothing to do but fight it out.

He dodged Jiraiya's Rasengan and struck directly at Tsunade. During the earlier negotiations, he had keenly sensed something odd about her.

At this moment, she seemed to react half a beat too slow, barely managing to defend herself. Jiraiya was forced to rush back to support her, his white hair bristling like an enraged hedgehog, turning into a flurry of silver light that rained down on A.

The forces of Konoha and the Kumo engaged in full-scale combat.

Meanwhile, a masked man watching from a hidden location revealed a satisfied smile.

---

In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen received an intelligence report from the ANBU: war had broken out.

Under Jiraiya's lead, Konoha had defeated the Raikage's forces. The enemy had suffered devastating losses, less than one in ten of the invading Kumo ninjas had escaped, fleeing toward the Land of Lightning. However, Tsunade was in abnormal condition and likely unable to continue fighting. Shizune had been seriously injured during the battle. Also, Naruto was part of the squad.

Jiraiya ultimately chose not to pursue the retreating Raikage, and instead led his team back to the village.

Guy led an ANBU squad to continue chasing the remnants of the Raikage's forces. Meanwhile, Kakashi and Yamato's team, having received word of the Kumo forces' defeat, had laid a massive trap on the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning, waiting for the Raikage to fall in.

Hiruzen tapped the ash from his pipe, exhaled a puff of smoke, and issued an order to the ANBU. "Put all departments and ninja clans on immediate war readiness."

Then, he turned to the next intelligence report.

Iwa ninjas had appeared at the border between the Land of Earth and the Land of Fire. At the same time, there was suspicious activity from Iwa near both the Land of Lightning and the Land of Wind borders.

It was clear what Ōnoki was trying to do, taking advantage wherever he could.

Ōnoki. Akatsuki is practically in your face already, and you still don't believe my intel! Truly blind to right and wrong. Just wait until all your tailed beasts are taken, you'll be crying then.

He silently cursed, then ordered the ANBU to continue surveillance and approved the funding upgrade request from the ANBU stationed at the border.

The next report concerned Suna: they would formally send Gara, Temari and Kankurō to Konoha to learn the Will of Fire. A departure date was confirmed. In essence, they were sending hostages. Beyond the symbolic value of sending the Kazekage's children, just sending the One-Tail jinchūriki alone was enough to demonstrate sincerity.

It seemed that even though conflict between Konoha and the Kumo had escalated, the resource-strapped Suna did not back out of its alliance. Likely, they saw Ōnoki's border movements and now hoped to rely on Konoha's protection.

So, who should be sent to receive them? There was a high chance Akatsuki would make a move during the journey.

Currently, four of the Five Generals of the Leaf and Yamato were deployed elsewhere. Orochimaru was also unsuitable to lead troops for now.

Sigh... if only Kisame could defect to Konoha. Hiruzen had tried to recruit him several times, but Kisame had remained completely unmoved, showing no interest and insisting on only seeing Itachi.

What a joke! Even someone like Obito could manipulate Kisame, yet he, the embodiment of the Will of Fire, couldn't sway him.

There was no choice but to wait for Itachi to return from his mission.

Against Deidara and Sasori, most others in Konoha would struggle.

He, as Hokage, had to remain in the village. Though the administration was running smoothly now, any absence could trigger latent fallout from prior policy crackdowns.

Sending the old Ino-Shika-Chō trio might work, but if Shikaku left, the Hokage's secretariat would be without leadership, and administrative efficiency would drop sharply.

Perhaps the Hyūga clan was the right call.

The Byakugan was an excellent match against Sasori's puppets, it could directly see the chakra threads. But against someone like Deidara, a long-range fighter, it would be tricky.

So the plan: have Asuma and Kurenai lead a team, supplemented by the Hyūga clan. That formation, along with Suna's own forces, should suffice for now.

Asuma... try to live up to expectations this time. If not, I'll have to count on Konohamaru in the future…

The next file was a funding request for the next phase of the Academy's construction.

He stamped it for approval and moved on to the next.

At this moment, sitting in his office issuing orders, Hiruzen resembled a player commanding a sandbox strategy game, analyzing Konoha's intel reports and making decisions accordingly.

By nightfall, all Hokage paperwork was complete.

After finishing work, he entered the hyperspace and inquired about the situation in the One Piece world.

[Hiruzen]: How's it going? Did Itachi succeed?

[Ace]: I'm about to get executed. Itachi didn't seem to succeed. But I heard Pops is bringing the whole fleet to rescue me!

As for how Ace got that info, being in prison, his only source could be Garp.

[Hiruzen]: If you escape, what are you planning to do?

[Ace]: Of course, I'll activate my hacks, train hard, gather power, and Luffy, Sabo and I will storm Mary Geoise together!

[Hiruzen]: Badass.