[Hiruzen Sarutobi lifts the scroll again.]
[He pores over it meticulously.]
[His fingers drum lightly on the desk.]
[A long moment passes.]
[Hiruzen raises his head and glances out at Konoha through the window.]
[Before he knows it, seven years have slipped by since the Uchiha massacre.]
[The other shinobi villages have stirred, but nothing serious.]
[The recent accidents drew no opportunistic troublemakers.]
[Hiruzen is satisfied.]
[As long as he remains in office, every clan will stay bowed—even the Hyuga keep quiet and serve as enforcers.]
[They also bear the pressure of being Konoha's premier clan.]
[Nowadays the Sarutobi Clan has long since replaced them as number one.]
[Simple: win by sheer numbers.]
[Win by overwhelming resource superiority.]
Ino Yamanaka: "Old geezer!"
Temari: "Until he dies, Konoha can't truly develop."
Kankuro: "So that's why Orochimaru used us?"
Orochimaru: "Exactly."
Orochimaru: "Once you see through certain things, it's disillusioning—worse, no one bothers to change."
Orochimaru: "I mean, they have the power to change, yet ignore it and pin their hopes on some vague prophecy."
Orochimaru: "As I see it, it's inevitable that Sasuke will come to me."
Orochimaru: "Naruto might chase Sasuke forever, just like that man."
Orochimaru: "But fundamentally they're worlds apart—our Naruto can do it, and… forget it, no point saying more."
Everyone could tell who Orochimaru was Taking a Jab at.
They thought Kushina would speak up at once.
Unexpectedly…
Kushina and Minato both fell silent.
From what everyone knew of them, they probably didn't care—just let it pass like a fart.
En route back to the village, Tsunade…
…furrowed her pretty brows, looking rather gloomy.
But on second thought, she herself had been one of the victims.
At the time she'd had none of these thoughts.
Sometimes, looking back after the fact, you really do spot a lot that felt off.
Tobirama Senju had actually quieted down quite a bit too.
Tracing the root of the problem, it truly was a Legacy they'd left behind.
But…
…soon the matter veered in another direction.
Tobirama Senju: "I bear much blame; after this viewing ends I'll atone for the wrongs I committed."
The moment the words left his mouth…
…Hashirama Senju suddenly spoke up.
Hashirama Senju: "Mm… Tobirama, think more clearly."
Tobirama Senju: "What's wrong, big brother?"
Hashirama Senju: "Just as you say, tracing back, it truly is a problem we left behind."
Hashirama Senju: "But that's hindsight—Konoha's development after we died… Let's trace further, to our own era… and then to the present."
Hashirama Senju: "Several major decisions, major events… I keep feeling they can all be strung together."
Tobirama Senju: "Indeed."
Uchiha Izuna: "I sensed something was off ages ago."
Hashirama Senju: "So I feel as if an Invisible Hand has been fanning the flames."
Tobirama Senju: "That… seems unlikely?"
Tobirama Senju: "Anyone capable of scheming against us would have to be the legendary Six Paths Sage."
Uchiha Izuna: "You've got a point… tsk—"
Uchiha Izuna: "After Black-Framed Naruto read through mountains of Historical Documents, he had a similar feeling."
Uchiha Izuna: "Big brother, what do you think?"
Uchiha Madara: "…"
Black Zetsu: "…"
Ino Yamanaka: "Then Black-framed Naruto-kun has to face… the legendary Six Paths Sage?!"
Uchiha Izuna: "We can't rule it out."
The Chat Room fell dead silent.
The black-framed large screen continued:
['Since I'm going to give it, there's no stopping.']
['Multiple Shadow Clone…']
['Maybe Naruto can even learn Flying Thunder God.']
['If I drag this on, I may not be able to keep him in check.']
['Might as well speed things up; have everything ready so we'll have more room to react if anything goes wrong.']
['Asuma… don't let me down!']
[Whoosh—]
[Hiruzen exhales a great cloud of smoke.]
[Then he smiles. "Does that sound appropriate to you?"]
["Teaching Naruto the Multiple Shadow Clone?"]
["It's appropriate—he's an outstanding Ninja."]
[Kakashi doesn't answer at once; otherwise it would be too obvious.]
[With Kakashi's affirmation, Hiruzen sets down the last weight on his mind.]
[He has confidence not only in Naruto but, more importantly, in Kakashi's complete allegiance to his camp.]
[Otherwise Kakashi wouldn't have gone twelve years until yesterday to finally see Minato and Kushina's child.]
['Good.']
['Then it's settled.']
['I'm getting old… hesitating over such a thing for so long.']
[Kakashi hesitates a moment, then says, "Multiple Shadow Clone carries considerable risk—else it wouldn't be a Forbidden Jutsu."]
["Chakra Capacity and Mental Endurance—"]
["Naruto lacks neither."]
[To grow up under these circumstances yet remain this stable proves his Stress Tolerance is no weaker than mine.]
[Hiruzen naturally understands Kakashi's implication.]
["Sasuke and Sakura have also been influenced by him… perhaps Sasuke will one day grasp the Will of Fire thanks to Naruto."]
[Ultimate move!!!]
[This is definitely an ultimate move!]
[After that, Kakashi says no more—any more would be unwise.]
[Besides, he's already played his Trump Card.]
[As expected, Hiruzen's expression changes.]
[Don't forget, outside the village lurks a handy tool—Uchiha Itachi.]
['Excellent, the Uchiha… Sasuke, huh?']
['In the future, besides Kakashi, there'll also be Sasuke.']
['A balance, then.']
[Tailed Beast and Sharingan, checking each other.]
[Hiruzen's eyes light up; he takes several deep puffs.]
["All right, I understand. You're dismissed."]
[Kakashi quietly exhales in relief.]
[It's done!]
[In the future Hiruzen will be utterly in the dark!]
[Kakashi thanks him with a calm face, then turns and leaves.]
[Inside, however, his mind is racing.]
[He can't hide his joy.]
['I'm not useless!']
['Teacher Minato and Sister Kushina are gone… Obito and Rin are gone too…']
['I have to be of use!']
['No one else is reliable… I can't fall so easily!']
[His thoughts clear,]
[Kakashi strides out as if walking on air.]
[Gone is the lifeless air he used to carry.]
[At this moment he feels reborn.]
[Halfway he runs into Might Guy and even initiates one of their 'silly' best-buddy spars.]
[Might Guy is puzzled, but with nothing else to do he spends the whole day going wild with his best friend.]
The sight left Kakashi staring blankly for a long while.
On the black-framed screen he saw the version of himself from that world—strange yet familiar.
Yes, he had recovered.
His best-bro Might Guy could only keep him breathing.
But he could never achieve this.
Not even Uchiha Obito back then could have done it.
He had recovered—reborn.
The boy who had 'died' alongside his father the night the latter committed suicide… had come back to life!
[After Kakashi leaves,]
[Hiruzen taps the desk.]
[Moments later an Anbu Ninja wearing an animal mask appears before him.]
[Looking at the Anbu kneeling on one knee,]
[Hiruzen's lips curl slightly.]
["Bring me the scroll of seals."]
[Since doubts are gone,]
[let everything be brought to perfection.]
[Multiple Shadow Clone, hm?]
[Only the beginning!]
[My lifetime of knowledge… finally has a successor!]
[In the future it will blaze across the Ninja World with a brilliance no one can keep their eyes open against!]
[Heh, besides the title of Strongest Hokage, my fame will gain another—on par with the Professor of Ninjutsu… the Greatest Mentor!]