Answer me this: if every nation was fighting, where the fuck would they fight? Would they:

A) Fight in an area in their own land.

B) Go into a smaller ninja land and fight there.

If you chose B, you are correct. So yes, they were fighting in the Land of Rain, because the Land of Rain had the horrible placement of being between Konoha, Suna, and Iwa.

It was that picture once more: surrounded by your enemies, getting fucked on all sides.

Oh well. None of his business now.

Though... probably still was.

A month had passed since he started learning the Flying Raijin... and as for his progress? With 200 shadow clones working on it, that was like 200 months of learning it. And he had like 400 clones again.

So, yeah. He'd say his control of that jutsu was pretty wide.

Anyway, the Land of Rain, although getting dicked down real good, was still being defended by Hanzo the Salamander. Well... let's hope it stays that way.

Inside the Hokage Tower

The halls echoed with the shuffle of messengers, advisors, and shinobi. Reports were flying in from every front—fire, blood, death, and victory tangled together.

Inside Hiruzen's Office

The Third Hokage stood near his map-laden desk, fingers pressed together, eyes studying a string of reports.

Seijuro entered quietly.

Still in uniform. His mask currently on his face.

He was currently Fox once more.

"You called for me, Lord Third?"

Hiruzen looked up, relief flickering briefly behind his tired gaze.

"I did. This... is important."

He stepped aside, revealing a mission scroll stamped in red and gold—high priority.

"Tsunade is currently leading a medic corps into the Rain Village. Intelligence says she'll soon engage... Hanzo the Salamander."

Even Seijuro blinked at that.

Hanzo wasn't just strong. He was infamous. The kind of name that made even elite ninja tread lightly.

"Your assignment," Hiruzen continued, "is to support Tsunade. Ensure her survival. Assist in coordination. Offer any and all aid she needs."

Seijuro gave a respectful bow.

"Understood."

"You won't need your ANBU mask," Hiruzen added, waving off the protocol. "This isn't infiltration. This is protection and direct aid. You go as a fellow commander. A trusted ally."

"Still," Seijuro replied quietly, slipping the mask over his head, "I'd feel more comfortable taking it."

Hiruzen gave a tired smile. He didn't argue.

Hanzo was known to be powerful. If Seijuro's illusion could help, so be it. Bet—he might even do his wife later just to celebrate this good news.

POV Change: Uchiha District

Seijuro made a stop before departure.

Mikoto stood outside the Uchiha compound, arms folded, waiting for him like she knew he would come.

She always knew.

"The Rain Village, huh?"

"Just a temporary post," Seijuro said. "I'll be assisting Tsunade. Hanzo might be involved."

Her brow furrowed slightly.

Hanzo was quite stronk.

"Please be safe," she said softly.

He smiled.

"Sure," he said with a grin.

"I'll make sure to be extra careful. I can't die... not unless I marry you, after all."

Her cheeks flushed, though she steeled her resolve. She got in close and kissed him on the cheek.

He froze, his own cheeks turning a slight shade of red.

"Be safe, okay?" she said softly.

He gave her a smile before putting on his mask and Shunpoing away.

Day One

Rain.

Not a drizzle. Not a light downpour.

But ceaseless, bone-deep, grinding rain.

Seijuro adjusted his cloak slightly, droplets sliding from the brim of his hood as he walked through the shin-high waters of a narrow causeway.

The sky was a flat sheet of slate. The air smelled like steel and blood.

He glanced up once.

"Rain every day, huh?"

A dry chuckle left his lips.

"Figures."

He was soaked already, but didn't care.

He was closing in on the Konoha front in Amegakure. The intel said Tsunade was less than ten kilometers ahead.

Time to get into position.

Time to make sure the Slug Princess didn't become Salamander Soup.

Hanzo had the title of a demigod. This got Seijuro's blood pumping. If he could take down someone so strong...

Heh, this would be so nice.

Maybe he could study the man's poison and all. Find his likes and dislikes type shit...

Hm, yeah. He needed to get some Hashirama Cells. Some guy was selling it for a ridiculous price on the black market. Though no Sharingan though. Hm.

Maybe it was time to blame Danzo once more. Have the Hyūga seal fall into enemy territory. Make Konoha think the enemy was attacking or some shit.

By using this, hopefully he could help the Hyūga clan. They had potential, and he wanted to see them grow. Plus there was just something more alien about them. He felt it in his bones—if awakened, they could truly be monsters.

Hm. Well, until then, he'd just relax. Not like his shenanigans would get exposed for now. It wasn't like future enemies could come to the past to beat his ass because his future self was too strong or something.

A device to travel back in time didn't exist.

Somewhere out there... a random turtle sneezed. But that wasn't anything to worry about.

{I know I shouldn't do this, but for the people with lack of reading comprehension: this is a foreshadowing. Meaning this shit will happen. I better not hear shit when a future villain/Boruto villain tries to jump him in the future.}

A/N...