Danzo rolled his eyes after hearing that. For once, he couldn't refute Isamu's words. If Isamu truly could mass-produce creatures like White Zetsu, there would indeed be no reason for him to hide here.
"Fine, fine. From now on, if you need to move around Konoha, use the name Sani. I'll handle your identity paperwork. Now get out of here already. My subordinates will arrange your accommodations," Danzo said impatiently, waving him away.
"I won't say much more. Danzo… thanks."
For the first time, Isamu sincerely thanked him before turning and leaving the office.
"Sigh… this brat really never stops causing trouble," Danzo muttered with a bitter smile as he watched Isamu leave.
Thus, Isamu and the White Zetsu settled within Root.
Time passed quickly, and an entire year slipped by.
In the 32nd year of Konoha, economic imbalance between nations caused the militant factions within the major villages to rise in influence, and the Second Great Ninja War officially erupted.
The three great villages fought fiercely within the Land of Rain. During this war, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade were granted the title of the Legendary Sannin by Hanzo of the Salamander.
After a year of brutal warfare, Konoha finally emerged victorious.
That same year, the hot-blooded Senju Nawaki died while carrying out a mission under Orochimaru's command.
Tsunade was devastated by her younger brother's death.
Watching his disciple die also deepened Orochimaru's obsession with the fragility of life.
"I didn't expect Nawaki to die after all," Isamu sighed as he looked at the intelligence report in Root headquarters. "As expected, fate still follows its destined path. What's meant to happen will eventually happen."
Originally, Isamu had thought Nawaki might survive due to the timeline changes, but in the end, destiny still caught up to him.
"You're not by Tsunade's side, and now even her younger brother has died. She must be suffering terribly," Danzo remarked while glancing at Isamu teasingly. "Don't you want to comfort her?"
"Stop joking around," Isamu replied helplessly. "Leaving aside whether Tsunade would even believe me in this state, she's still fighting in the Land of Rain. How exactly am I supposed to comfort her?"
Over the past year, aside from carrying out a few missions for Danzo under the alias Sani, Isamu had never once gone to see his child.
Honestly, it drove him crazy.
He wanted to watch his son grow up more than anything, but Uzumaki Mito remained beside the child at all times, leaving him with no opportunities whatsoever.
Tsunade and Mito had named the child Senju Senba.
As for why the child didn't carry the Uchiha surname, Isamu could roughly guess the reason. The Uchiha Clan's growing arrogance likely made them unwilling to associate the child with the clan.
Though no one ever openly explained it.
"Sigh… truly chaotic times," Danzo muttered while looking through reports. "The First Great Ninja War ended only a few years ago, and now the Second Great Ninja War has already erupted. The Ninja World is becoming more unstable by the day."
"Heh. Hanzo really overestimates himself," Isamu sneered. "With strength like his, he actually dares call himself a demigod and dreams of creating a sixth great Ninja Village. Ridiculous."
Then Isamu narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Still, isn't this exactly the kind of chaos you enjoy seeing?"
Danzo stiffened for a moment.
Isamu understood Danzo too well.
Danzo absolutely wanted the Ninja World thrown into chaos. The more the other villages weakened each other, the better. The only thing he didn't want was for Konoha itself to suffer heavy losses.
"What nonsense are you spouting?" Danzo immediately denied it. "Konoha's combat strength has been heavily depleted. Of course this isn't what I want to see."
"Sure, you don't want Konoha exhausted," Isamu said with a smirk. "But as for the other villages? That's another story. Stop pretending to care about world peace. It's too fake."
After saying that, Isamu simply turned around and left, leaving Danzo sitting there with twitching lips.
"This brat is seriously annoying," Danzo muttered. "Even if you see through me, do you really have to say it out loud?"
Still, he had to admit something.
Isamu understood him frighteningly well.
In the 33rd year of Konoha, the second year of the Second Great Ninja War, the conflict gradually shifted into localized battles.
The Land of Fire invaded the Land of Wind.
The Land of Lightning invaded the Land of Earth.
The great villages became entangled in warfare across multiple fronts.
Only the Land of Water remained uninvolved on the surface.
However, the Hidden Mist Village was far from peaceful internally.
For unknown reasons, the Third Mizukage, Hozuki Eiji, suddenly changed drastically and began purging many of the major clans within Kirigakure. Several prominent bloodline clans were slowly eradicated.
As the war transitioned into smaller-scale conflicts, Sakumo Hatake led Konoha's forces into the Land of Wind.
Orochimaru and Tsunade also returned to Konoha with a portion of the troops.
As for Jiraiya, rumors said he stayed behind in the Land of Rain to travel.
Konoha held a grand ceremony welcoming the returning Ninja.
Wearing a cat mask, Isamu silently observed the returning Orochimaru and Tsunade from the shadows.
"After experiencing the cruelty of war, the two of you should've matured by now," he murmured quietly.
Then his gaze lingered on Tsunade.
"Tsunade… there's still a long road ahead. You need to endure it."
There wasn't even the slightest trace of a smile on her face anymore.
If not for the system mission back then, he could have remained beside his wife and child all this time.
Unfortunately, there were no "what ifs" in life.
After returning to Konoha, Tsunade buried herself entirely in medical research due to the losses of both Isamu and Nawaki.
During this period, she met Kato Dan.
Perhaps because Kato Dan constantly talked about becoming Hokage, reminding her of Nawaki, the two gradually became close.
Isamu watched them together many times.
But he never felt jealous.
Even when Tsunade gave Kato Dan the Senju family heirloom necklace, Isamu remained completely calm.
After all, that necklace's nickname was the Necklace of Death for a reason.
Anyone who received it usually didn't live long afterward.
There was no point being jealous of a doomed man.
In the 36th year of Konoha, one year before the Second Great Ninja War ended, Sakumo Hatake led Konoha to repeated victories across the Land of Wind.
At the same time, Tsunade successfully developed a cure for Chiyo's poisons through her medical research.
During one major battle, Sakumo personally killed Chiyo's son and daughter-in-law, planting the seeds for the Third Great Ninja War in the future.
That same year, Kato Dan also died.
After losing both Nawaki and Kato Dan, Tsunade developed severe hemophobia and became unable to continue participating in medical treatment or warfare.
Completely disillusioned, she took Kato Dan's young niece, Shizune, and left Konoha Village.
And just like that, five-year-old Senju Senba was left behind in the village.