Since the group of young ninjas was tucked away in a corner, the events unfolding there didn't draw anyone else's attention.
Meanwhile, Hiruzen Sarutobi, after giving a quick nod to the young ninjas, walked toward his son, Asuma Sarutobi…
Seeing his son's dazed expression and red-rimmed eyes, completely unresponsive even as he stood right beside him, Hiruzen felt a pang of heartache.
He gently placed a hand on Asuma's shoulder…
"Asuma!"
The familiar voice snapped Asuma out of his stupor. He froze for a moment before lifting his head in disbelief!
Noticing his son's incredulous look, Hiruzen spoke softly again.
"Asuma! Your father's back! This isn't like you at all! My son is a strong ninja, isn't he?!"
But the warm, heartfelt reunion Hiruzen had imagined didn't happen. Instead, Asuma erupted with murderous intent!!!
"You damned bastard!!! Unforgivable!!!
How dare you disguise yourself as my father to trick me?! Who the hell are you?!
That's some Transformation Jutsu, huh?! Even an elite Jonin like me can't spot a flaw!
And you even turned into my father's younger self?!
Speak!!! Which village sent you to mess with Konoha?! I'm gonna kill you!!!"
At this moment, Asuma was genuinely furious. His father's body wasn't even cold yet, and someone was already impersonating him to mock him!
This was a blatant insult to the Sarutobi clan and an affront to the Hidden Leaf Village—like spitting in Konoha's face!!!
"You damned bastard!!! Go to hell!!!"
Boom!!!
Hiruzen had been hoping for a warm embrace with his son, but instead, he was met with Asuma's iron-hard fist!
"Asuma! Calm down!!! I'm really your dad!"
"I'm up at dawn!!! I'm your dad!!!"
The commotion quickly drew the attention of every ninja present. Konoha's ninjas stared in disbelief as Asuma argued furiously with a young-looking Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi!
What the heck was going on?!
Weren't they all here for the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi's funeral?!
So who was this young Third Hokage?!
Had he… come back from the dead?!
But who'd ever heard of a corpse coming back younger?!
The ninjas sensed something was off and subtly surrounded the young Hiruzen Sarutobi. At the same time, Root ninjas appeared!
Danzō, wearing a Hokage hat, arrived with a grim expression.
Today was his big day to become the Fifth Hokage, and he wouldn't let anyone ruin it!
But when Danzō saw the young Third Hokage, he froze…
"Saru… Sarutobi?!!!"
"Heh! Danzō! I've barely been gone, and you're already itching to wear the Hokage hat?!"
Danzō's face twisted with fear!
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!
Sarutobi's dead!!! You can't be the real Hiruzen Sarutobi!!!
Seize this imposter pretending to be the Third Hokage!!!"
But Hiruzen wasn't fazed. He just stood there with a cold smile…
"Danzō! You'll regret this!!!"
"Sarutobi! I'm the Hokage!!!"
Boom!!!!
A loud crash grabbed both their attention, leaving them puzzled. Who'd be slamming a door at a time like this?!
But it wasn't a door—it was the sound of Hirofumi Ito performing a Summoning Jutsu!
"Summoning Jutsu!!!"
Boom, boom, boom, boom…
The sounds echoed endlessly…
Konoha's legendary heroes appeared before everyone's eyes!
Every ninja who witnessed this was utterly dumbfounded!
The First Hokage, the Second Hokage, the Third Hokage, the Fourth Hokage—all the past Hokages stood before them!
Hiashi Hyuga, head of the Hyuga clan, trembled uncontrollably with excitement. Among the crowd, he spotted his ancestor, Tennin Hyuga!!!
The Konoha 12 hurried back to their respective clans, explaining the situation to their fathers and clan leaders…
The clan heads were beyond shocked at what they heard!
Naruto Uzumaki stood before Minato Namikaze and his wife.
Sasuke Uchiha approached Fugaku Uchiha and his wife…
Might Guy clenched his fists tightly, staring in disbelief at the father before him!
"F-Father!!!"
"Ah! Guy! Looks like you've done well over the years! Using ninjutsu to protect what you cherish, to guard what matters most! That's youth!!!!"
Tears streamed down Might Guy's face…
"Father!!! This is youth!!!!"
Danzō's expression grew darker as he watched the scene unfold!
What the hell was happening?!
Someone, please tell him what was going on?!
Hiruzen Sarutobi was real! This was no Transformation Jutsu!
Even his sensei was here…
And the First and Fourth Hokages!
Why now, of all times?!
Why?!!
He was so close to becoming Hokage!
So close to success!
Why did these guys have to show up?!
Damn it!!!
Danzō glared at Hirofumi Ito with murderous intent. That brat had used the Summoning Jutsu, bringing back all these dead legends!
This was all because of that damned kid!
If he could take him down, everything would be fine!!!
"You damned brat!!!"
In an instant, Danzō appeared before Hirofumi Ito and ripped off his eye patch!
"Kotoamatsukami!!!"
After activating Kotoamatsukami, Danzō confidently put his eye patch back on, smirking at everyone present…
"Heh… I'm still the Hokage!"
"Hey, one-eyed Root elder?! Did you come here just to show me that wrinkly old face of yours?!"
Danzō was stunned!
"Impossible?! I used Kotoamatsukami! Why aren't you under my control?!"
"Heh… Because I've got a Mangekyo Sharingan too! And since yours is the female one, and mine's the male one, your Mangekyo doesn't work when it sees mine!"
As he spoke, Hirofumi Ito's eyes revealed the distinctive pinwheel pattern of the Mangekyo Sharingan!
…