[Combat Ability Evaluation]
On the Sky Screen, the narration continued.
[From the perspective of combat ability, Sarutobi Hiruzen as Hokage is without a doubt qualified.]
---
[Konoha, Year 60, Konoha Village]
Hiruzen, his face marked with age spots, sat behind his desk. Hearing the evaluation from the Sky Screen, a smile appeared on his face.
He picked up his pipe, took a deep drag, then gently exhaled the smoke and let out a sigh.
"Qualified, huh…"
He murmured to himself.
"A fair assessment."
Even though it was only "qualified" rather than "excellent," considering the high standards the evaluator might have, this was already quite good.
Hiruzen set down his pipe, looked out the window, and continued to listen attentively to the Sky Screen's commentary on him.
Meanwhile, at the training ground.
Team 7 was resting in an open area.
"Of course!"
Naruto said loudly to the sky.
"Old man Third is the strongest Hokage! He knows every Ninjutsu there is. He's super amazing!"
Sakura nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, everyone says Lord Third mastered all five Chakra nature transformations. He's called the Professor of Ninjutsu."
Sasuke stood with his hands in his pockets, saying nothing, but his expression also showed approval.
Only Kakashi, leaning against a tree trunk, glanced at the excited Naruto, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.
'Strongest Hokage…'
Kakashi sighed inwardly, but said nothing.
Some truths were better left for the young to discover on their own.
The Sky Screen continued to play.
[He comprehensively mastered every existing Ninjutsu in Konoha, was proficient in all nature transformations and the five Chakra nature releases, and was hailed as the 'Professor of Ninjutsu.']
The scene shifted.
This time, it was a battle scene. The background appeared to be on a rooftop somewhere in Konoha.
The elderly Hiruzen, wearing his Hokage robe, formed hand seals rapidly, his movements fluid and seamless.
First, he crouched and slammed his hand on the ground:
[Earth Release: Great Mud River]
The roof tiles instantly turned into muddy torrents, surging toward the First and Second Hokage. Almost simultaneously, while maintaining the Earth Release with his left hand, he formed seals with his right hand alone.
[Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet]
[Fire Release: Fire Dragon Bullet]
The earth dragon and fire dragon merged, turning into scorching lava bullets that blanketed the entire battlefield.
Then, he took a deep breath, his chest swelling—
[Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bombs]
Blazing flames erupted from his mouth, shooting forward. The overwhelming firepower left his opponents with no room to evade.
"S-So strong!"
On the training ground, Naruto's mouth hung open, his eyes full of admiration.
Sasuke's eyes were locked on the screen, trying to record every detail of the hand seals and chakra flow.
'Switching between five natures seamlessly, connecting ninjutsu so fluidly… Is this the Third Hokage's strength?!'
Sakura, on the other hand, focused on the tactics.
"Lord Third is so calm. First he used Earth Release to restrict the enemy's movement, then attacked with combination ninjutsu, and finally covered the area with a large-scale Fire Release… It's incredible!"
But Kakashi's expression grew increasingly grave.
Because the Third Hokage's opponents—Orochimaru was one thing, but the other two figures are simply unbelievable.
---
"BAM—!!!"
In the Hokage Office, Hiruzen recovered from his shock. The hand holding his pipe slamming hard against the desk. His entire body trembled, unable to calm down for a long time.
He stared at the two familiar figures on the Sky Screen, anger and pain flashing in his eyes.
'Edo Tensei?'
That must be it!
"Orochimaru…"
He muttered the name, his voice filled with complex emotions.
Hiruzen quickly realized—the Sky Screen was definitely showing the future. And the near future at that.
Because judging by his own appearance in the image, he looked exactly the same as he did now.
Combined with what the Sky Screen had previously said about his term, this battle was likely going to happen soon—no later than Year 61 of Konoha.
Hiruzen stood up and walked to the window.
"Orochimaru… you finally laid your hands on Konoha."
Unlike the future, this time he knew in advance.
Hiruzen took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart.
The Sky Screen had revealed the future—that was an opportunity.
If Orochimaru truly planned to attack Konoha within a year, there was still time to prepare.
"Someone."
Hiruzen said in a deep voice.
An ANBU appeared instantly in the office.
"Sandaime-sama."
"Notify Danzō and the advisors. Have them come to my office after the content from the screen ends. Also…" Hiruzen paused.
"Strengthen surveillance on Orochimaru's movements. And have the heads of the Sealing Corps and Barrier Corps attend the meeting as well."
"Yes, sir!"
After the ANBU disappeared, Hiruzen turned his gaze back to the Sky Screen.
Looking at the lifeless faces of the First and Second Hokage, a pang of pain shot through his heart.
"Sensei… I'm sorry." He said softly.
"I failed to teach Orochimaru well. I failed to stop him from straying onto the wrong path. But this time… I won't let him succeed."
---
Otogakure (Sound Village) · Underground Base.
Orochimaru sat before his laboratory table, his golden vertical pupils fixed on the battle scene on the Sky Screen.
"So the surprise I prepared for Sensei has been revealed in advance…"
He extended his long tongue and licked his lips, but there was little surprise in his eyes.
"Not that it matters. Even if he knows, what can Sensei do about it?"
"Heh…"
"Sensei, you've always been like this."
Orochimaru said softly, as if speaking directly to Hiruzen.
"Always trying to protect everyone. Always wanting things to stay the same. Always choosing the safest path… but it's time to make the wheel spin."
He looked at the aged figure on the Sky Screen still fighting, a flicker of disdain in his eyes.
"I'll show you just how powerful the forbidden jutsus you always stopped me from researching truly are."
"Edo Tensei… is only the beginning."
---
Somewhere in the ninja world · A Hot Spring Inn.
Jiraiya was soaking in the hot spring, his long white hair floating on the water's surface.
He looked up at the Sky Screen, the smile on his face gradually fading.
"Old man…"
He said, watching his teacher simultaneously fighting the First and Second Hokage.
"Why are you still pushing yourself so hard?"
He remembered his childhood, when Hiruzen had personally taught him jutsus.
Back then, he was still young, full of energy, able to guide three problem children at once—him, Orochimaru, and Tsunade.
"That bastard Orochimaru… actually dared to lay a hand on the old man."
Jiraiya clenched his fist, the hot spring water rippling from his body's agitation.
"Looks like I need to speed up. The Child of Prophecy… where exactly is he?"
He rose from the hot spring, quickly dried himself, and changed into his clothes.
The future revealed by the Sky Screen had given him a sense of urgency.
If Orochimaru really attacked Konoha next year…
If that truly was his Sensei's final battle…
"I have to go back."
Jiraiya made his decision.
"At least at that moment… I want to be by his side."
---
Tanzaku Quarter · Outside a Gambling Hall.
Tsunade punched a wall, cracks spider-webbing across its surface instantly.
Shizune, holding Tonton, jumped back in fright.
"Orochimaru!!!"
Tsunade's roar made everyone on the street look over.
"How dare you!! How dare you use Edo Tensei to summon Grandpa and Granduncle!!!"
"Tsunade-sama, please calm down…"
Shizune whispered, trying to soothe her.
"How can I be calm?!"
Tsunade spun around, her eyes blazing with fury.
"Orochimaru knows full well… what this means to me!"
"We're going back to Konoha."
Tsunade suddenly said, her voice icy.
"Right now. Let's go."
"But Tsunade-sama, your illness—"
"I said, we're going back!"
Tsunade cut her off, her gaze terrifyingly resolute.
"If Orochimaru dares to show up, I will personally break every bone in his body."