Deidara, Hashirama Senju, and Jiraiya returned to the battlefield. The scene remained chaotic, with members of Akatsuki bearing various injuries. Fortunately, the fight had been called off before it escalated into a full-blown tragedy.
"Yo! Everyone!" Hashirama, as thick-skinned as ever, greeted them as if nothing had happened.
Tobirama Senju, on the other hand, stood with his arms crossed, his face cold and unapproachable.
"Grandfather, what exactly happened?" Tsunade asked in confusion.
"We made peace!" Hashirama waved his hand nonchalantly, summing it up in just three words before leisurely repeating his explanation.
Tsunade and Hiruzen Sarutobi were both left stunned. Just moments ago, these people had been sworn enemies fighting to the death—now they were suddenly one big family?
"Lord Hashirama…" Hiruzen wanted to say something. Among everyone present, he was the most deeply attached to Konohagakure and, consequently, the most narrow-minded when it came to its interests.
To him, there was only Konoha and the Land of Fire. The idea of peace across the entire shinobi world was incomprehensible.
In his eyes, if such a situation was inevitable, then why not have Amegakure and Akatsuki join Konoha instead of Konoha joining them?
"Sarutobi, say no more."
"Konoha is indeed my legacy, but true peace has always been my ultimate goal. Konoha is merely a stepping stone along that path—never forget that." Hashirama's voice carried unwavering resolve.
"I once believed that by uniting the wandering shinobi and various clans into villages, war would cease, and peace would come."
"But I was wrong. Perhaps Madara was right back then."
"True peace can only exist when there is but one shinobi village left in the world."
He was a man with an exceptionally broad vision. Even if peace did not center around Konoha, he would still support it.
"Fine…" Hiruzen sighed in frustration. But what could he say? His influence was already minimal in this situation.
"Since we've chosen peace, why don't you all come and take a look around Amegakure? See for yourselves if this peace is real." Deidara suggested.
This was the best way to dispel the last remnants of doubt from Jiraiya and Tsunade. As for Kabuto…
Wait, where was that guy?
"No idea!" Hidan scratched his head. "That guy was lurking in the back the whole time. If you hadn't mentioned him, I wouldn't have even noticed he was gone! When did he slip away?"
Kakuzu picked up the conversation. "Speak for yourself. You're the only idiot who wouldn't notice the battlefield properly."
"He sneaked off the moment you called for a ceasefire," Sasori added. "But at the time, the situation was uncertain, so we didn't bother stopping him. One less enemy was still a win for us."
Deidara felt a headache coming on. Kabuto wasn't someone to be taken lightly, especially now that he had gained the White Snake Sage's power and mastered the Impure World Reincarnation technique. Letting him escape was bound to be a huge problem.
"Forget it. Let's just head into the village for now."
As they walked through Amegakure, the sight of ninjas from different villages and clans interacting was evident. While old grudges weren't entirely erased, at least they were coexisting relatively peacefully.
"By the way, how many Uchiha are left?" Despite his broad-mindedness, Hashirama still felt a stronger attachment to Konoha's people.
Deidara glanced at Itachi. "Two."
"Him, and his younger brother. Though, last I heard, the younger one was with Orochimaru."
"…Two?" Hashirama was shocked. He had heard about the Uchiha Clan Massacre before, but he had assumed at least some had escaped. To hear there were only two left?
"Sarutobi, was this your doing?" He turned to Hiruzen with an accusatory look.
Hiruzen's face twisted in guilt. "Lord First, it was indeed my mistake. I failed to keep Danzo in check, which led to this tragedy."
Well, Hiruzen had once been a cherished junior of his. The past couldn't be changed, and there was no use pointing fingers now.
"Hey, isn't that a girl from the Hyuga Clan? Bring her over!" Hashirama pointed to a figure in the distance—it was Hinata Hyuga, accompanied by Kiba Inuzuka and Shino Aburame.
Faced with such legendary figures, the three young shinobi were stunned. What was going on? The First, Second, Third, and Fourth Hokage were all here—alive? Along with the Sixth Hokage Jiraiya and Lady Tsunade—chatting casually with Akatsuki?
"Is this some kind of prank using the Transformation Jutsu?" Kiba speculated.
"No… they're real. My insects are too afraid to move." Shino corrected him.
"Woof! Woof!" Akamaru barked in agreement.
"Ugh! The Caged Bird Seal again? The Hyuga Clan is still doing this nonsense?" Hashirama frowned in disapproval.
"Bring your clan leader to see me!"
A short while later, Hiashi Hyuga arrived, looking just as bewildered.
But Hashirama was even more baffled. "Since when could branch members become clan heads?"
"Ahem! The situation is a bit complicated." Deidara gave a brief summary of what had happened to the Hyuga Clan.
"Damn that Danzo!" For the first time, Hashirama openly expressed his disdain for someone.
"You two are from the Inuzuka and Aburame Clans, right? How are your clans doing now?"
"Not well… most of us are dead."
"What happened?" Hashirama asked, bewildered.
"Ahem! It's like this…" Once again, Deidara summarized what had happened to their clans.
"Damn that Danzo!"
"By the way, you two didn't participate in the battle earlier. Why not?" Hashirama turned his attention to Kakashi and Might Guy.
"Because they used to be Konoha shinobi," Deidara answered on their behalf.
"Regular shinobi defecting is one thing, but you two? With your level of strength, why would you join Akatsuki?" Hashirama asked, though his tone carried no hostility—just curiosity.
"Ahem! It's because—"
Before they could finish, Hashirama cut them off. "Let me guess—Danzo again?"
"Mmhmm."
Hashirama shot a resentful look at Tobirama. "You see what kind of subordinates you left behind? At this rate, it seems like Danzo is the biggest reason for how messed up things have gotten."
"If not for Danzo, fate would still favor Konoha."
Tobirama remained cold as ever. "What does that have to do with me? If you want to blame someone, blame Sarutobi."
"I handed the Hokage title to him, not Danzo."
And so, the blame circled back to Hiruzen once again. He could only grimace.
"Yes, Lord First, Lord Second… it was my fault."
Hashirama sighed. "Enough. It's time we returned to the world of the dead."
"But doesn't the Impure World Reincarnation require the summoner to release it?" Hidan asked, puzzled.
Hashirama chuckled. "Tobirama's jutsu was never strong enough to restrain me. I am his older brother, after all."
With a light tap on the bodies of Minato, Hiruzen, and Tobirama, he forcibly freed them from the technique's influence.
Lastly, he turned to Tsunade. "Tsunade, make sure you live a long life. Watch over this peaceful world for me."
Tsunade's eyes reddened. Just as she had regained her family, she had to lose them again.
Meanwhile, Minato turned to Jiraiya. "Jiraiya-sensei, how is Naruto?"
Jiraiya smiled. "Don't worry, Minato. Naruto is safe in Mount Myoboku."
"That's good to hear."
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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