Among those who graduated in the same class, he stood out for his intelligence. He often discussed the affairs of the village with his father.
But inside, his thoughts were complicated too.
The Senju clan...
During the chaos of the Warring States Period, that clan had once been the pillar of stability.
They were owed a great debt by the Ino-Shika-Cho alliance.
That much was undeniable.
But now?
What could they do?
He didn't know.
Minute by minute, time ticked by.
Finally, as a group approached from the far end of the training grounds, the crowd fell silent.
The Third Hokage of Konoha—Hiruzen Sarutobi.
He had arrived.
And those accompanying him immediately drew everyone's attention.
Two of his most celebrated students—Jiraiya and Orochimaru.
Trailing behind them was one of the village's top advisors—Danzo Shimura.
But noticeably… Tsunade was missing.
That was clearly out of the ordinary.
Jiraiya and Orochimaru had been called back to Konoha and given official appointments as jonin instructors—but no word had been given to Tsunade.
What was the Hokage trying to say?
Did he just not want the notoriously short-tempered princess of the Senju clan publicly confronting him in front of everyone?
Probably.
After all, the one being put on trial today—was her cousin.
"Still not here yet?"
Standing at the center of the spectator area, Danzo frowned slightly, a trace of displeasure crossing his face.
In his view, arriving later than the upper brass was nothing short of disrespectful.
And if such disrespect came from the Senju, it was even more intolerable.
Senju?
A name from the past.
Like Hiruzen, Danzo had no desire to see the Senju clan rise again.
"Don't tell me he's too scared to show?" Jiraiya quipped with a grin.
"He'll come," Orochimaru replied with a small shake of his head, far more certain than his teammate.
"You're confident."
Jiraiya shrugged, unconcerned, though his gaze drifted toward Minato Namikaze standing in the distance.
His student.
The one he believed surpassed all others.
The one he believed could change the entire shinobi world.
…He's here.
Just then, all eyes turned toward the entrance as a single figure stepped forward.
Silver-white hair. A cool, composed face. And most of all—those calm, deep eyes.
Danzo's pupils shrank. He turned sharply toward Hiruzen.
"Hiruzen… he looks just like him!"
The Third Hokage knew exactly who Danzo meant.
Yes.
In both demeanor and gaze, this boy was a perfect echo of the Second Hokage—Tobirama Senju.
The only difference was the natural ease and confidence he carried himself with.
But even that unshakable self-assurance… was something Tobirama himself had once exuded.
As Yukika walked through the falling leaves, it was as if Tobirama's shadow followed in his steps.
"To be honest… I was shocked too when I saw him a few days ago."
Hiruzen took a deep breath and spoke in a low voice.
He couldn't help it.
The pressure Tobirama once imposed on him and Danzo had been immense.
To feel that exact same force radiating from this boy again—it triggered something instinctual. A kind of reverence.
Tobirama had been a Hokage who tested them even on his deathbed.
But now—
Danzo, clearly unsettled, turned sharply toward Orochimaru.
"Go. He's yours."
So he'd arrived.
Orochimaru nodded calmly. "I'll do my best."
"It's not about doing your best. You must succeed!"
Danzo's voice was stern, almost a bark.
At this moment, he was Orochimaru's superior in name—the leader of the Root division.
Orochimaru, on the other hand, was merely a division captain.
"I'm sorry. I can't promise that," Orochimaru replied coolly, his eyes flashing with cold displeasure at Danzo's tone.
"Why not?"
Hiruzen suddenly lifted his head and looked at Orochimaru.
"Because he's inherited everything from Tobirama Senju," Orochimaru said plainly.
"His talent. His strength."
"And his will."
Taking a deep breath, Orochimaru leapt down from the spectator area, landing squarely in front of Yukika.
In just fifteen days, he had witnessed the growth of an absolute monster.
…Let's begin.