[Uzumaki Kushina: Thank you, everyone!
But that damn monkey still owes me an explanation. @Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen]
Konoha — Chūnin Exam Arena.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's face was as dark as the bottom of a pot.
There was no doubt—
he had angered everyone.
But how was he supposed to explain any of this?
He couldn't.
[Second Hokage Tobirama @ Hiruzen: Monkey! You've grown bold, huh? Didn't you hear me tell you to explain yourself!?]
[First Hokage Hashirama @ Hiruzen: Hiruzen! Hurry up and explain this properly! I still have other things for you to answer for afterward!]
[Uzumaki Mito @ Hiruzen: Monkey! Do you think the Uzumaki Clan is easy to bully!?]
[Uchiha Fugaku @ Hiruzen: You despicable old man!
Explain Naruto's situation first—
then the Uchiha clan will settle OUR account with you!]
[Senju Pica @ Hiruzen: Shameless filthy old geezer!
The Senju clan is also waiting for your explanation!]
Hiruzen collapsed to the ground.
He finally understood—
everything was over.
Not only had he angered the whole of Konoha,
but all the dirty deeds he had hidden in the past
had been exposed as well.
[Hiruzen: First Hokage-sama, teacher… I'm sorry. Everything I did was for the good of the village.]
[Tobirama: Monkey, you've disappointed me completely.
From now on, you will NOT remain Hokage.]
[Hiruzen: Teacher, I was wrong!
But everything I did truly was for the village!]
[Tobirama: Enough!
If you still have any dignity left, shut your mouth!]
[Hashirama: Since that's settled, it's time for us to address another matter—
why people call you the "Strongest Hokage in History."]
Hiruzen had just breathed a tiny sigh of relief—
only for cold sweat to explode all over his body again.
[Hiruzen: First Hokage-sama, it wasn't me!
These rumors were spread by the villagers! I had nothing to do with it!]
[Hashirama @ Everyone in Konoha: Who!?
Step forward!
Explain WHY the Third was called the Strongest Hokage!]
[Tobirama @ Everyone in Konoha: Yes! Who spread that nonsense!?
Stand up NOW!
When did my Water Style ever become "barely able to contend with the Monkey"!?"]
[Villager 6 @ ANBU Operative 1: First Hokage! Second Hokage!
I heard it from him!]
[Villager 8 @ ANBU Operative 2: I heard it from him too!
He said that although the First and Second were strong…
Compared to the Third—
ugh, I'm too embarrassed to repeat it!]
[Villager 4 @ ANBU Operative 3: He said it!
I can vouch for it!
My friends can too!]
Villagers kept standing up, @ mentioning ANBU members.
The ANBU who were pinged were terrified and rushed to explain.
[ANBU 1: Third Hokage-sama! You can't play dumb now!
You're the one who told us to spread those rumors!]
[ANBU 2: First Hokage-sama! Second Hokage-sama!
Please believe us—Hiruzen MADE us say that!]
[ANBU 3: I'm sorry, First and Second Hokage…
I was foolish.
I followed Hiruzen's orders and spread the lie that he was the strongest Hokage.]
With all ANBU confessing,
the main culprit surfaced—
Sarutobi Hiruzen.
[Hashirama @ Hiruzen:
Well?
Do you have ANY explanation left?]
[Hiruzen: First Hokage-sama… I'm sorry. I was wrong!]
[Hashirama: Sorry isn't enough.
Just wait.
Madara promised to resurrect me.
Once I'm revived, I won't bully you.
I'll only use one single jutsu:
Sage Art — Wood Release — True Several Thousand Hands!]
[Tobirama @ Hashirama: Big brother, if you use that, the Monkey will DIE!]
Hiruzen trembled uncontrollably.
Originally, he hadn't taken this seriously.
But Uchiha Madara really did obtain a Resurrection Coin.
Madara's power meant that if he said he would resurrect Hashirama,
he might actually succeed.
What then?
Even with his increased strength from the ranking rewards—
After watching the Valley of the End battle between Hashirama and Madara,
Hiruzen knew he had zero chance.
Even if he swallowed the Tenfold Stat-Boosting Pill still in his pocket—
No chance.
Unless…
Hiruzen glanced toward Naruto, who looked blissfully happy.
If he could obtain Naruto's Time-Screaming Chicken,
he might still survive.
But touching Naruto now
was practically suicide.
And lying his way to it was impossible too—
not with Minato, Kushina, and the entire ninja world watching the chat.
Hiruzen's heart filled with despair and unwillingness.
He really thought everything he did was for Konoha—
yet this was his ending?
After a brief silence, more @s appeared.
[Senju Pica @ Hiruzen:
Our entire Senju clan was nearly wiped out because of you.
Shouldn't you explain that too!?]
[Senju Luozhu @ Hashirama @ Tobirama:
Please, great ancestors, stand up for us!
We suffered terribly because of that filthy old monkey!]
[Hashirama @ Tobirama: Little brother—
he's your student,
and the Senju are our clan.
How do you want to deal with him?]
[Tobirama: Big brother, calm down!
Since I was blind enough to take him as my student,
I will handle this myself.]
[Tobirama @ Senju Clan:
Don't worry.
Once Orochimaru summons me with Edo Tensei,
I'll give you all a proper explanation.]
Pure Land.
[Senju Pica: But Second Hokage, once you're reanimated, won't Orochimaru control you? You won't be able to fight!]
[Tobirama: Don't worry.
I created Edo Tensei.
I already developed a method to break free after being summoned.]
[Senju Qingyin: As expected of Second Hokage-sama!]
Konoha — Chūnin Exam Arena.
Sasuke looked at Naruto, who was beaming with happiness, and felt a pang of envy.
"Sasuke: Naruto… you finally have your parents back. Congratulations."
Naruto smiled.
"Thanks, Sasuke! By the way… your parents should be in the chat too, right?
Why haven't they @ed you?"
Sasuke lifted his chin with classic tsundere pride.
"I don't need them to @ me!
I don't want to talk to them!"
Chat Group
[Uchiha Fugaku @ Hashirama @ Tobirama:
Our Uchiha clan was destroyed thanks to Hiruzen and Danzō!
Shouldn't we also get an explanation!?]
[Uchiha Mikoto @ Uchiha Madara:
Madara-sama!
Please stand up for the Uchiha clan!]
Madara thought:
Stand up for you?
If you knew the Uchiha massacre was part of my plan…
would you still want my help?
[Madara @ Hashirama:
Hashirama!
Since you still consider yourself part of Konoha—
you give them the explanation.]
[Hashirama:
Madara…
You do still see yourself as part of the village after all.
Don't worry—
once you resurrect me,
I'll handle the Uchiha's grievances!]
[Naruto @ Uchiha Clan:
Sasuke's thinking about his parents!
Whose parents are they? Hurry and speak up!]
[Sasuke @ Naruto: Naruto! Don't make stuff up! I'm NOT thinking about them!]
[Fugaku @ Sasuke:
Son…
You've suffered.
Your father is here.]
[Mikoto @ Sasuke:
Mom's here!
We never forgot you!
After seeing you in the footage, your father and I have been watching over you!
Sasuke, you've grown so much… and you're so talented.
We're both proud of you.
Right, dear? @Fugaku]
[Sasuke: Hmph!
As if I need your attention!]
[Mikoto:
By the way!
Didn't you get the Shapeshifting Pill?
Did you eat it yet?
Have you tried crossdressing?
Mom REALLY wants to see!]
[Sasuke: I WILL NOT crossdress!!]
And so—
Sasuke's parents continued chatting with him warmly.
In the Rain Village, inside the Akatsuki base—
Itachi watched silently.
Envious.
So envious.
He wanted to join them.
He wanted to speak.
But he didn't.
[Mikoto @ Itachi:
Son… why aren't you saying anything?
Don't you miss us?]
[Itachi:
My foolish little brother…]
[Fugaku @ Itachi:
What's with that attitude!?]
[Sasuke @ Itachi:
Itachi!
You DO miss Mom and Dad, don't you!?
You're just too afraid to face them!]
[Itachi @ Sasuke:
Hmph.
My foolish little brother…]
[Sasuke:
I don't have a brother like you!
Should I really say what you did!?]
[Itachi:
Sasuke…
It's been a while, and now you think your wings have grown, is that it?]
[Sasuke: Itachi!
Just you wait!
I know you're in the Akatsuki, and I know their base is in the Rain Village!
I'm coming to kill you RIGHT NOW!]
[Itachi:
Don't make me laugh.
With your strength?
You think you can kill me?]
[Sasuke: Shut up!
I'm not who I used to be!]
[Itachi:
Is that so…?
Then I look forward to it.]
Inside, though, Itachi thought:
Sasuke…
Go on hating me.
That's fine.
But no matter what—
you will always be my beloved foolish little brother.
Senju, Uchiha, Uzumaki — All Clans Declare War on Hiruzen
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