"What is it you want to know, Hokage-sama?" Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane asked nervously.
"Human experimentation with Hashirama cells. The extinction of the Senju and Uzumaki clans. The corruption of the four high-ranking advisors. The Uchiha's forced expulsion from the village. Sakumo Hatake and Hizashi Hyūga being driven to suicide… There's so much you could talk about. Just speak freely," Hashirama Senju said calmly.
"Sorry we're late," said Minato as he entered the room, accompanied by Kushina, Uchiha Itachi, and Kakashi. Behind them were several figures cloaked in black.
"And these people are…?" Tobirama Senju frowned. One of them gave off a murderous intent—directed at him.
Hashirama also sensed a familiar chakra. He stood up in surprise.
"Hashirama, long time no see," said Uchiha Madara, removing his hood and cloak to reveal his face.
"Madara!"
Hashirama rushed forward with excitement. "You were brought back by Edo Tensei too? That's great! I've got so much to say to you—"
The others present looked… uncomfortable.
"Don't act so close," Madara muttered, embarrassed. "I'll never forget the time you stabbed me in the back." He shot Hashirama a glare. Not in front of everyone. Save it for later.
"Izuna Uchiha?!" Tobirama jumped to his feet, shocked.
"Heh, I thought you'd forgotten me." Izuna removed his hood, his tone ice cold. "Tobirama, I'll never forget the time you stabbed me straight through the chest."
"We'll definitely have a rematch when we get the chance. This time, I won't lose."
Everyone: "…"
"All right, enough of that nonsense," said Uchiha Tajima, stepping forward. "Whatever grudges you're carrying, settle them later. Right now, we need to determine who's actually in charge of Konoha."
These two sons of his—one stabbed in the front, the other stabbed in the back—and they had the nerve to admit it out loud?
They were a disgrace to the Uchiha name.
"This…" Hashirama and Tobirama were both caught off guard. They never expected Itachi to bring all the Uchiha powerhouses back.
What were they trying to do?
Stage a coup?
"Hashirama," Madara said firmly, "we agreed, back then, that the Hokage position would rotate. This year, it's the Uchiha's turn. Don't tell me you're thinking of going back on your word—again."
"This…" Hashirama looked awkward.
"Not that it matters," Madara sneered. "Even if you wanted to go back on it, there's no one left. The Senju clan is down to one—Tsunade. What, you planning to have her take over from that damned monkey Sarutobi?"
That hit the mark. Hashirama and Tobirama had considered it. In fact, they'd already sent people to look for her—but apparently, the Uchiha had caught wind of it.
"I think we dead folks should avoid meddling too much in the world of the living," Hashirama said, trying to de-escalate.
"I object!" Tobirama said immediately. "The Senju and Uzumaki clans were wronged too deeply. If I don't get justice, I'll never rest in peace!"
Hashirama: "…"
"We object too!" said Minato and Kushina. They weren't about to leave either. They wanted to be there for Naruto, to watch him grow, make up for the years they'd missed, raise him into a fine shinobi, see him marry and start a family.
Besides, Danzo was still lurking in the shadows. How could they just vanish now?
"Hah. You're still as naïve as ever, Hashirama," Madara scoffed. "Don't interfere with the world of the living? You'd just stand there and watch as the village we built together—the home we created—gets destroyed?"
The home we created… Hashirama froze.
That's right. This village was his and Madara's shared dream.
He couldn't let anyone destroy it.
Anyone who tried—would die.
"Konoha is in chaos," said Inuzuka Tsume. "Its leadership is rotten to the core. Someone needs to step up and take control. I propose Uchiha Fugaku as the Fifth Hokage."
"I support it," said Aburame Shibi and Hiashi Hyūga, exchanging a glance.
"I agree as well," Minato and Kushina said.
"…Fine," Tobirama closed his eyes. The tide had turned.
They couldn't argue.
At this point, outside of the Ino–Shika–Chō trio, the rest of the clans—and even the common ninja—were all leaning toward the Uchiha.
It was all the fault of Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado.
They'd taken a winning hand and turned it to garbage.
"Then let's continue from where we left off," Hiashi Hyūga said.
Hashirama and Tobirama hesitated. What followed would be nothing short of disgraceful for their entire bloodline.
Tobirama's face darkened as he noticed Izuna's smug expression.
"Go on," Izuna said with a wicked grin. "Tell us how the Senju and Uzumaki clans were pushed to extinction."
As expected, that old fool from the Senju clan had it right—grief and joy never overlap. Their sorrow was his delight. He was loving every second of this.
"I'll handle it," a frail voice came from the doorway.
It was Hiruzen Sarutobi, carried in on a stretcher by Yamato and Might Guy.
"You're awake?" Tobirama snapped, thoroughly irritated.
Why had he ever chosen this man to be Hokage? Just thinking about it made his blood boil. He wanted nothing more than to finish him off right then and there.
"…I'm sorry."
Tears streamed down Hiruzen's face. Missing both arms and legs, he tried to bow his head—but couldn't.
"Just talk," Tobirama sighed. He knew it—Hiruzen was already living a fate worse than death.
"If I said I didn't intentionally destroy the Senju and Uzumaki clans… that everything I did was for the sake of Konoha… would you believe me?" Hiruzen said hoarsely.
Everyone: "…"
Do you think we're idiots?
"Here's the evidence! What's left to deny?!" Tobirama snarled, slamming a stack of experimental records right into Hiruzen's face.
This old bastard still has no shame. Might as well kill him.
"Yes, I did it all," Hiruzen admitted. "But everything I did—I did for Konoha."
"After the First Hokage died, there was a lingering threat in the village—the Nine-Tails sealed inside Lady Mito.
"You know as well as I do that only Wood Style can suppress the Nine-Tails. That's why Danzo and I mobilized the entire village to research Hashirama's cells. We wanted to restore Wood Style to the village… to bring Konoha back to its former glory."
"Hold it, hold it," Madara interrupted. "Who said only Wood Style can suppress the Nine-Tails?"
"Are you trying to insult the Uchiha?"
"Let me tell you something. Back when I was alive, the Nine-Tails was practically my pet. I could stroke it, beat it, play with it however I pleased. Don't tell me the Sharingan can't suppress it.
"Also, let's get something straight. That wasn't Konoha's Nine-Tails—it was my Nine-Tails. It only ended up with that bastard Hashirama because he stole it from me!"
Everyone: "…"