Konoha: Who's the good guy?

Below Hashirama Senju and the others in the stands.

Jiraiya, Orochimaru, Minato Namikaze, and others sat side by side.

"Why......"

Jiraiya let out a long sigh, closed his eyes, and stopped watching the one-sided beating in the arena.

Three days ago, he had already secretly returned to Konoha with Minato Namikaze.

At Nara Shikaku's urging, he also secretly participated in several so-called gatherings.

Faced with complaints from many ninja clans and Konoha Jonin.

He gained a deeper understanding of why there had been such unrest in Konoha over the years, and why many clans preferred to live frugally rather than register their ninjas as official Konoha ninjas to serve the village.

Look at the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, who have been allies with the Sarutobi clan for hundreds of years.

The new generation of pig-deer-butterfly seems to hold high positions of power.

However, among the older generation of clansmen, apart from Akimichi Torifu who didn't care about anything and spent his days loafing around in the clan's territory, those who survived were all physically disabled, deaf, or blind.

Looking at the ever-growing Sarutobi clan, who wouldn't feel a chill in their heart?

There's a saying in the mountains that's very true: "It's not scarcity that's worrisome, but inequality!"

The Shimura clan, under Danzo's leadership, has been continuously adding people to the family line.

The Sarutobi clan...

"Why lament? The world is about to undergo a tremendous transformation. Konoha, which has been stagnant like an old carriage, will embark on a new journey and forge a completely new path that no one has ever walked before. Aren't you looking forward to it too?"

Orochimaru's hoarse, magnetic voice rang out.

"...He looks much more normal than he did a while ago."

Jiraiya turned and gave Orochimaru a serious look. His tense face broke into a long-lost smile as he crossed his arms and leaned against the steps behind him.

"Hehe~ In the past, I wanted to be the one pushing the carriage, but now I just need to follow the caravan."

Orochimaru's lips also curled into a smile.

White Zetsu, Ten-Tails' husk, Sage Mode body, Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan, Rinnegan, the power of the Otsutsuki clan...

The truth and reality of the world are gradually unveiling their mysterious veil before him.

Immortality is within reach!

It seems he's already starting to think about the meaning of life more!

"Orochimaru-senpai, you seem to be injured?"

Minato Namikaze looked at his teacher's close friend, his gaze falling on the man's somewhat worn ninja shoes and belt.

The fresh marks of battle, the slightly weak final notes of long sentences...

Every single one of them is proof.

Orochimaru must have just been in a battle.

"...In the process of seeking the truth, there will always be some unexpected little surprises."

Orochimaru casually brushed aside the matter of his injury.

What could he say?

Should he tell Jiraiya and Minato that he was beaten up by the person he resurrected using Edo Tensei?

That damned second generation.

After seeing the First Hokage and Madara Uchiha resurrected together by Edo Tensei, he didn't say a word and went up to fight Madara Uchiha!

He only managed to stop it slightly by relying on the control of the Impure World Reincarnation technique.

Who would have thought that the Second Hokage wouldn't even listen to an explanation, and actually took advantage of his unpreparedness to break free of the Impure World Reincarnation's control, and attacked him as well!

If it weren't for the First Hokage holding back Madara Uchiha, and if Kagami Yamanaka hadn't been so lenient, he would have dragged the Second Hokage away for a lesson.

He might not even be able to sit here unscathed today!

Damn Tobirama Senju.

You just wait!

And that useless ninjutsu, Edo Tensei, we absolutely have to improve it again and again!

It's one thing that Tobirama Senju was able to break free of the control by using the release seal, but Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha were also able to resist and break free of the control by their own strength!

What kind of garbage control measures are these!

As Orochimaru cursed Tobirama Senju in his heart, the battle on the field gradually drew to a close.

As Hiruzen Sarutobi used his shadow clones to unleash the Five Elements: Great Combo Technique, it was completely destroyed by Tsunade's three punches and two kicks, and his main body also took a solid punch.

This refers to a legendary ninja who, many years ago, was appointed Hokage in a time of crisis when Tobirama Senju died in battle.

Unable to hold his companion, the ape demon, any longer, he collapsed amidst the devastation of the battlefield.

Looking at the clear sky without a single cloud.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, let the blood overflowing from his mouth flow down his cheeks.

Before my eyes seemed to be the scene from back then, in the forest on the border of the Land of Fire, when the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, decided to cover the rear alone.

Tobirama-sensei gave them instructions at the time.

The time will eventually come when they need to sacrifice themselves and protect the future; until then, cherish your own life.

He was also instructed to protect those who admired the village and trusted him, and then to cultivate people to whom he could entrust the next era.

From that day on...

He's the Hokage!

"I think I did a rather poor job, Tobirama-sensei..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi murmured, his eyes gradually becoming cloudy and dim.

Just when he thought his life was about to come to an end, Tsunade, bathed in sunlight and seemingly radiating holy light, walked to his side, squatted down, and used her palm technique to heal his sunken chest.

At this moment, those things that I had never been willing to let go of before seemed to collapse suddenly!

An indescribable feeling of exhaustion and relief washed over me at the same time.

Hiruzen Sarutobi closed his eyes and spoke softly.

Will Konoha become a better place?

"meeting."

Tsunade spoke softly, yet with a deep-seated conviction.

Why can't I just leave like this?

"Konoha only has Hokage who died in battle, killed by his own disciple. Don't you feel ashamed?"

"A battlefield? A good home."

"cut."

"..."

On the distant high platform, some people secretly breathed a sigh of relief as they watched Tsunade begin to treat Hiruzen Sarutobi, while others nodded slightly.

Regardless of merits or demerits, the Hokage is always the face of a village.

It's really not appropriate to die here.

"Boring, I'm going back."

Madara Uchiha indifferently watched everything before him, rose from the high platform, and voluntarily dispelled the Impure World Reincarnation technique, returning to the Pure Land.

"Madala~ Grandson-in-law, remember to call us in a few days! I'm off now~"

As soon as Hashirama Senju finished speaking, he left with Madara Uchiha.

"Uh, okay."

Yamanaka Kei responded, turned to look at the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju, whose mouth was still covered by Wood Release, gave an embarrassed smile, and released the restriction with a single hand seal.

As Tsunade's great-uncle, his relationship with her is somewhat ambiguous.

When respect is due, it should be shown.

"...Hmph! What did my older brother mean when he said he'd call them in a few days?"

Tobirama Senju gave a cold snort with an unpleasant expression and inquired about Hashirama Senju's words before he left.

He was still worried that this bastard who showed no respect for his elders might drag him out and beat him up in front of so many people, and then he, the second-generation leader, would lose all face.

"In a few days, we plan to send a group to Sunagakure to intimidate them."

Why didn't you call me?

"Ahem, since it's about intimidation, we definitely need to strike first. The First Hokage had the True Several Thousand Hands - Top Transformed Buddha, Madara had the Perfect Susanoo, Tsunade had the Slug, Jiraiya had Gamabunta, Orochimaru had Manda, Kushina had the Nine-Tails..."

"...grandson-in-law."

Tobirama Senju was silent for a moment, then uttered three words with great difficulty.

He wasn't included in Konoha's team building activities.

Is the eldest brother going to team up with Madara Uchiha?

What about Uchiha Izuna?

Don't think he didn't see it; that guy named Orochimaru or something, that pile of bones in his lab!

That dark and extreme aura that clung to the skull and eye sockets and never completely dissipated was undoubtedly Uchiha Izuna!

That guy, I'd recognize him even if he turned into a pile of ashes, let alone bones!

"..."