Chapter 101: I'm Leaving
"Finally, Monkey. Do you think the dead should interfere in this world?"
Looking at the almost completely destroyed world, Tobirama crossed his arms and regarded his aged disciple as if he were administering an exam.
As the younger brother of the God of Shinobi, Tobirama was not merely a shadow of his elder brother; on the contrary, the two were almost complementary. Without Tobirama, the God of Shinobi might have remained nothing more than a legend people would laugh about many years later.
The majority of the credit for Hashirama becoming the founder of Konoha, the true God of Shinobi, and leaving behind an immortal legacy, in truth, belonged to Tobirama, who had the ability to see the essence of things. Although he always seemed indifferent to everything, Tobirama, at his core, worried about everything and everyone.
Even though he harbored deep prejudice against the Uchiha clan, Tobirama did not arbitrarily act on that prejudice. As the village leader, he had to confront the Uchiha, an internal threat characterized by extreme emotions; eliminating them was almost an instinctive judgment for a Hokage. For Tobirama, Konoha's forbidden techniques were already sufficient with him alone; he did not need an unstable bomb like the Uchiha clan.
If the Uchiha had accepted their position and become just another ordinary clan in Konoha, Tobirama might not have cared. But they did not do that, so as the one in power, he was destined to make a choice.
Faced with the support of more clans, including the Uchiha, he simply chose the larger number of clans. It was that simple.
However, in the eyes of others, this decision became extreme indifference and unfairness.
Tobirama did not care about those rumors. He had only ever been responsible for Konoha, and nothing else. Now, as someone who had died and been brought back, looking at his aged disciple in front of him, his gaze sharpened as he repeated the question he had asked before leaving.
Did he think it was normal for the dead to interfere in the world of the living?
"...No. If that were the case, the world would fall into a rigid spiral. Life and death are the best selection mechanism in the world, constantly pushing those in high positions away so that those behind them can rise to the top."
"The theory Aizen mentioned is his theory of natural metabolism. But since you accept this theory, I will consider you to have passed."
Looking at the disciple in front of him who seemed unsure what to say, Tobirama nodded and turned his gaze to the shattered world in the distance.
It seemed the civil war was finally over. The faint rumbling and the terrifying sounds of jutsu being cast had gradually faded, and the whole world was beginning to quiet down. It felt as if only Hiruzen and Tobirama were left.
Aizen's Seireitei had ultimately left its mark on Konoha, and his organization had come to an end within the village. The various remnants within this space, created using Aizen's unknown and mysterious technology, were unimaginable treasures for Konoha.
It was hard to imagine what an elegant and tranquil place the Seireitei must have been before this great battle. It was probably the dream home of every ninja, yet it had been so easily ravaged by war into its current ruined state. High buildings burned in the flames, and the ground was choked with broken fragments and indescribable debris.
Looking at that wreckage, Tobirama turned back to Hiruzen, a faint change in his expression.
"But what Aizen said is indeed correct. Those who have died, or who have abandoned their power, should no longer interfere in this world."
"No matter how reluctant they are, no matter how unwilling, once they give up everything with their own hands, whatever the world becomes has nothing to do with them. It belongs to those who come after."
"It is completely unacceptable to be endlessly dissatisfied with the choices of later generations, to regret one's own decisions, or even to meddle and interfere, creating endless war and suffering in this world and forcing them into so-called duels."
"Whether it is Big Brother, Uchiha Madara, us, or even the entire ninja world, life and death may be nothing but a deception, but people still live with dignity. Since it is a deception, then let us maintain it. If death is merely a stepping stone toward growth, then those who refuse to die and insist on interfering in this world are nothing more than spoiled children who refuse to stop playing."
"Don't you think so, Hiruzen? Clinging to your position, pointing fingers at things you don't understand, treating every change as a blasphemy against yourself. I will not accept that."
"..."
I get the feeling you're hinting at quite a lot here… and maybe even criticizing me.
Looking at Tobirama, who seemed to be gazing at him, yet also through him at something far beyond, Hiruzen did not dare say a word.
After all, this was the Nidaime Hokage, and he undoubtedly knew far more than Hiruzen. Even now, as the Sandaime, with countless secrets and theories in his grasp, Hiruzen still felt like an ignorant child in front of Tobirama.
He could sense that the Second Hokage was subtly implying something, but it was as if some unseen restraint prevented him from speaking clearly. Just imagining that possibility sent a chill down Hiruzen's spine.
What kind of terrifying event could allow Aizen Sosuke to remain hidden until now, gain the full support of the Second Hokage, and even cause Konoha itself to abandon opposing him?
Thinking back to the experiments Aizen had conducted and the terrifying information hinted at in their brief exchanges, Hiruzen did not dare to think any deeper.
Such matters were already too much for an old, frail man like him. He was already much older than Tobirama had been at his death.
Even Tobirama's sarcasm now felt like nothing more than a passing breeze. Hiruzen's greatest wish was simply to ensure that Konoha could survive in this chaotic world without being destroyed.
"Konoha cannot survive the storm alone. Everyone in this world will face the same problem. No one can escape it, and no one can distance themselves from it. I cannot explain to you directly what those crises are, but you only need to remember this much: no one in this world can escape them. Remember that."
Looking at Hiruzen, who seemed to understand yet not fully grasp his words, Tobirama sighed.
He knew that his choice back then had been a last resort, but he had not expected his disciple to remain stuck in this state for so many years.
True, the circumstances now were very different from the past, and people today were not like those from that era. Back then, simply staying alive had been enough. Now, being able to go on living was the true demand.
People's thoughts had changed, and naturally, so had their judgments. Tobirama had no intention of acting like certain other people—scheming in the shadows, pulling strings for the sake of some so-called dream. For the moment, his goals and Aizen's were aligned. In the distant future they might diverge, but right now, they pointed in the same direction.
They both wanted to cut off that invisible hand above the shinobi world and give this world true freedom.
"Then I leave the Seireitei to you. You and Konoha must make good use of this world. There are still remnants of Aizen's experiments here. I've recorded the methods for entering and leaving, the techniques for constructing this space, and the related procedures."
Tobirama casually tossed a small sealing scroll into Hiruzen's hands, then stood up. His tall figure loomed over the slightly hunched Hiruzen, as if he were looking at a restless child.
"You don't need to think about everything. The future of Konoha belongs to you and to the people of Konoha. As for the rest, let us, the dead, handle what we can."
"To live in ignorance, or to die with full awareness—both are choices. There is no absolute right or wrong."
"See you on the other side of grudges, Monkey."
After taking one last look at his disciple, who was not exactly worthy of pride but still brought him a measure of comfort, black matter surged from Tobirama's body and enveloped him in an instant.
When the darkness receded, the sound of pouring rain rushed back in. Along with it came a calm, reliable voice.
"Oh? So the touching farewells with your disciple are finished? Perfect timing."
"That is your disciple?"
Rising slowly from the black mass, Tobirama looked at the shinobi standing in the downpour.
The blond figure at the very front, desperately trying to break through the teleportation array, stood out the most. Tobirama could not help but look closely at that stubborn, shining figure.
"Minato Namikaze? Is he the successor you have chosen for Konoha?"
"No. Just a failed fellow."
What a pity.
Looking at the increasingly terrified, disbelieving Konoha ninja before them, Tobirama snorted and moved to stand behind Aizen Sosuke.
The intricate array beneath their feet began to glow. Once this teleportation array, specially designed by Aizen, was deployed at its designated time and place, it was nearly impossible for it to be disrupted by any technique or destroyed through normal means.
Still unwilling to accept his fate, Minato charged forward, roaring up at Aizen in the sky.
"Aizen!!! Answer me!!! What is going on!!!"
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