The moment Shouta Kazuki's words reached Senju Tobirama's ears, his pupils contracted sharply, his mind unable to process the shocking revelation. His usually steady hands trembled unconsciously, a reaction that he hadn't experienced in a long time.
"What did you say?!" Tobirama's voice carried both disbelief and urgency. His sharp gaze bore into Shouta as if trying to discern whether this was some elaborate joke.
Uchiha Madara, standing beside them, scoffed. "Heh, what? Surprised? Weren't you always calling us 'evil Uchiha'? Now that we're gone, shouldn't you be celebrating?"
Tobirama didn't even acknowledge Madara's words. His mind was too occupied with the implications of what he had just learned. The Uchiha clan, exterminated? That was impossible.
The Uchiha clan was one of the strongest in the entire shinobi world. They had stood alongside the Senju in the Warring States period, unshakable even in the bloodiest conflicts. They had built Konohagakure together. The idea that such a powerful clan could simply be wiped out was absurd.
No... There had to be a mistake.
Tobirama's thoughts raced. Did Konoha suffer a catastrophic attack? Had multiple Great Nations banded together to destroy the village? That was the only plausible explanation.
"Shouta Kazuki!" Tobirama took a step forward, his sharp eyes filled with rare unease. "Explain! How could the Uchiha clan be exterminated?! What the hell happened to Konoha?!"
But before Shouta could speak, Madara let out a harsh chuckle.
"Look at you, acting all concerned now," Madara sneered. "Tobirama, don't act like you actually cared about my clan. You spent your entire life trying to suppress us, treating us like criminals. And now you want answers?"
"Shut up, Madara!" Tobirama snapped, his voice filled with rare emotion. "I may not have trusted the Uchiha, but I never wanted them gone! No matter what, the Uchiha were still Konoha's strength! Their destruction is a loss for the entire village!"
His fists clenched tightly. "Damn it! Who did this?!" He gritted his teeth. "Was it the Land of Lightning? The Land of Wind? Or maybe all the Great Nations attacked together?! Is that it?!"
Shouta sighed internally. He had expected this reaction.
Tobirama didn't know.
He didn't know that it wasn't some external enemy that had wiped out the Uchiha. He didn't know that it was Konoha's own leaders—his very own students—who had orchestrated their downfall.
Tobirama was brilliant. He had already grasped the weight of the situation within moments. But the truth... The truth would shake him to his core.
Shouta decided not to reveal everything just yet.
"Second Hokage-sama," Shouta said calmly, "This is a long and complicated story. It cannot be explained in just a few words. But for now, you should know that Konoha has not fallen. The village still stands. The current Hokage is your student, Sarutobi Hiruzen. He took up the mantle again after the death of the Fourth Hokage."
Tobirama's expression darkened. "The Fourth Hokage... is dead?"
Shouta nodded. "Yes. But Konoha is still standing strong. If you want to understand everything, you can use my summoning contract to observe the current world. There's no need to rush. The truth will reveal itself in time."
Tobirama exhaled sharply, trying to calm himself. Shouta was right. No matter how much he demanded answers now, it wouldn't change the reality of the present. He had to gather information first before acting.
And more importantly...
"You said you have four more summonings left?" Tobirama asked, his voice steady once more.
Shouta nodded. "Yes. If I'm lucky, I might be able to summon your elder brother."
Tobirama's sharp eyes flickered with an emotion that was rare for him—hope. "Then what are you waiting for?"
Shouta didn't respond immediately. Instead, he turned his attention back to the golden summoning array. Without hesitation, he activated the next summoning, once again channeling the immense energy required.
The golden circle flared to life, illuminating the surroundings with a dazzling brilliance. The very air seemed to hum with power.
Madara and Tobirama both watched intently. Even Madara, despite his usual arrogance, found himself fascinated by this process. He couldn't sense any chakra fluctuations. This summoning was unlike any jutsu he had ever encountered.
And then, it began.
A small wisp of blue flame emerged within the golden circle, slowly growing larger. As it did, the shape of a person started forming.
A towering figure clad in red armor. Long black hair cascading down his back. A calm yet powerful presence that immediately dominated the space around him.
A man who was once called the God of Shinobi.
Senju Hashirama had returned.
Shouta's heart pounded as he took in the sight before him.
Uchiha Madara, on the other hand, had a very different reaction.
"HASHIRAMA!!!"
His voice was filled with a mixture of excitement and frustration. For the first time in a long while, Uchiha Madara's composure broke. His lifelong rival—his best friend and greatest enemy—stood before him once more.
Meanwhile, Tobirama's expression softened ever so slightly.
"Nii-san…"
For all his cold logic and pragmatism, Senju Tobirama had always respected and loved his older brother. Seeing him again, even in death, stirred something deep within him.
As the golden glow faded, Hashirama blinked, his gaze shifting between the familiar faces in front of him.
"Eh? Madara? Tobirama?" Hashirama scratched his head. "Wait a second... I'm dead, aren't I?"
Shouta couldn't help but chuckle at how quickly Hashirama accepted his situation. Unlike Madara and Tobirama, who had both reacted with intensity, Hashirama seemed more curious than anything else.
"Well," Hashirama said, looking around, "I guess I should say—nice to see you guys again?"
The atmosphere shifted instantly. Madara clenched his fists, his emotions visibly complicated, while Tobirama sighed deeply, already exasperated by his brother's carefree attitude.
Shouta smiled.
One step closer.
Now, with Hashirama in the picture, things were about to get a lot more interesting.