Starting with rogue ninjas, building the insect kingdom.

Chapter 100 Two Powerful Families Ask for a Battle

He walked up to the three men, squatted down, and looked at them, saying, "How's your training going lately?"

Yahiko puffed out his chest: "I'm fine! I can already unleash three water arrows with my Water Release technique!"

Xiao Nan held up the paper flower in her hand: "My paper magic has improved too!"

Jiraiya nodded, his gaze falling on Nagato. Nagato remained silent, only nodding slightly. Jiraiya looked at him, then suddenly reached out and ruffled his red hair.

"Nagato, you have to do your best too."

Nagato suddenly froze, then lowered her head and softly hummed in agreement.

Jiraiya rose and looked into the distance, towards Konoha. He murmured, "Old man, forgive me for not being able to obey your orders this time. There's no reason to fight this battle."

Meanwhile, somewhere in the capital of the Land of Fire.

Tsunade was unusually away from the gambling table, but instead in her laboratory, surrounded by her recently completed books. Her boyfriend, Dan Kato, was naturally following her around, though his expression was somewhat helpless.

Just then, an ANBU member appeared behind her: "Lady Tsunade, the Hokage urgently summons you. He needs you to lead troops to suppress the Land of Grass."

Tsunade, who was busy, didn't even look up: "I'm not going."

"Lady Tsunade, that was the Hokage's order..."

"I said I'm not doing it, and that's final." Tsunade grabbed her collar and casually tossed the ANBU ninja out the window. "I'm busy building the medical system right now, I don't have time for that kind of thing. He wants revenge for his son, then let him do it himself!"

The ANBU ninja in the tree outside the window looked bewildered and could only turn away dejectedly to report the situation to the Third Hokage.

At this moment, Kato Dan stepped forward and said, "Why don't you let me go? After all, it's a mission assigned by the Hokage."

"You're not allowed to go either."

"But he is, after all, your teacher," Kato Dan said understandingly. "And he has just experienced the pain of losing his son."

Upon hearing this, Tsunade paused in her actions: "So what if I'm a teacher? Who hasn't lost loved ones? My younger brother died on the battlefield too!"

Kato Dan's smile vanished. He remained silent for a moment, then stepped forward and gently took Tsunade's hand.

"Tsunade..."

Tsunade forced a smile: "Don't worry about it. I have boundless energy right now, I don't have time to think about such nonsense."

She paused, then suddenly pulled Kato Dan back.

"Come on, help me organize the study materials. Those students are so clueless; they still don't understand even when I explain things so clearly. I need to go and refine the textbook a bit more!"

Kato Dan was being dragged along by her, a wry smile on his face. Those textbooks were already thick enough; if they were to go any further, when would it ever get finished?

But seeing the rare smile on Tsunade's face, he said nothing, only holding her hand tightly and letting her lead him away. After all, she was his future wife, and he had to pamper her for now.

In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat at his desk, his face turning extremely grim as he listened to the report from the Anbu ninja.

When he issued the task this time, none of his apprentices responded. Was this a rebellion against his decision, or dissatisfaction with their teacher?

At this point, he felt that he had failed as a teacher, and he never expected that all his disciples would become alienated from him.

Orochimaru said he was seriously injured, Jiraiya didn't reply at all, and Tsunade said she didn't have time.

He took a deep drag of his cigarette and slowly exhaled.

At that moment, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado pushed open the door and entered. Hiruzen Sarutobi looked up at his two old friends.

"You've arrived."

"We've heard about it." Koharu Utatane sat down opposite him. "You want to send troops to the Land of Grass?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded: "Shin-no-suke's death cannot be left like this. The Grass Ninja Village has dared to challenge the dignity of Konoha, and they must pay the price."

Mitokado Homura frowned: "Hiruzen, why would we need to get involved in such a trivial matter? Just send any Jonin. The war has just ended, and our clan and Konoha have many things to take care of."

"Yes," Koharu Utatane chimed in. "Isn't Danzo quite free lately? Why not let him go? Doesn't he really like fighting?"

Sending Danzo would be tantamount to giving credit to the Root Clan.

Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head and said, "You guys go ahead. I'll figure something out myself."

Koharu and Homura exchanged a glance, said nothing more, and turned to leave.

The office fell silent again. Hiruzen Sarutobi stared out the window, his brow furrowed.

He hadn't expected that the vast village of Yimuye would be so short of capable people. Did he really have to do it himself?

But he's the Hokage! If he takes action himself, wouldn't that confirm those previous statements?

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

The door opened, and two figures walked in.

The leader was a young man with a serious expression, wearing the Uchiha clan's uniform with a fan emblem embroidered on his chest: Uchiha Fugaku.

Behind him followed an older man with long, flowing black hair and a pair of white eyes that exuded a faint aura of power—the Byakugan, the symbol of the Hyuga clan.

Hyuga Tennin, father of Hyuga Hiashi, is the current head of the Hyuga clan.

"Lord Hokage." The two bowed simultaneously.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was quite surprised. He sat back down and asked, "What are you doing here?"

Fugaku Uchiha stepped forward and said, "We have heard about the events in the Land of Grass. The Uchiha clan is willing to fight for Konoha."

Uchiha... Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned slightly.

He naturally didn't want to give the credit to the Uchiha. Over the years, the Uchiha clan had become increasingly restless, and allowing them to gain merit would only embolden them.

He looked at Hyuga Tennin: "Could it be that the Hyuga clan came here because of this matter?"

Hyuga Tennin bowed slightly: "The Hyuga clan obeys the Hokage's orders."

Hiruzen Sarutobi remained silent for a long time. With both major clans requesting to fight at the same time, he could not refuse.

But... he suddenly had a thought: it wouldn't be a bad idea to have the two families join forces and check each other.

The Uchiha want to make a name for themselves? Let them go. The Hyuga can go along, both to share the burden and to keep an eye on the Uchiha.

As for credit—we'll talk about that after the war is over.

"Alright." He spoke slowly, "Then your two clans will join forces and send troops to the Grass Kingdom."

He stood up, walked to the two men, and said, "Remember. The purpose of my sending you here is to suppress the instigators and maintain peace in the ninja world. The Grass Ninja Village has openly challenged the order of the great powers and intended to provoke a war; they must be severely punished. Also, make them hand over the bloodline of Yuan Fei."

They both nodded simultaneously: "Understood."

Hiruzen Sarutobi watched their departing figures before sitting back down in his chair.

The reasons given for suppressing instigation and maintaining peace are far-fetched; anyone can see that he is avenging his son.

But no one would expose them, because the Grass Ninja Village had indeed jumped too high, so high that they deserved to be slapped to death.

He picked up his pipe, took another deep drag, and amidst the swirling smoke, his expression was complex: "Shin-nosuke... this is all your father can do for you."