"What do you mean, Uchiha Sasuke is dead?" Are you kidding? Senju Tobirama asked dumbfounded, looking at the people standing in front of him. There was a look of utter bewilderment on his face. Had he misheard?
Orochimaru, who was standing next to him, also froze in utter amazement.
How is Uchiha Sasuke dead?
Senju Tobirama returned to Konoha not only to assess her condition. His main goal was to study the Uchiha clan's bloodline, research sharingan, and find a way to defeat the monster named Uchiha Yue. And Sasuke, the only member of the clan who was in their hands, was a key figure in this plan.
On the way to the village, Tobirama and Orochimaru enthusiastically discussed that by studying Sasuke's eyes, they were highly likely to be able to develop a way to kill Uchiha Yue. They placed special hopes on Izanami, believing that this particular technique would be the key to victory.
They never worried about Sasuke's own safety. In the Shinobi world, it was believed that Uchiha Yue did not destroy Konoha only because Uchiha Sasuke, the last offspring of his clan, still lived in it.
No one could look into Yue's soul and know for sure whether it was true or not. But what if it is? Therefore, no one would ever dare to touch Sasuke. What if his death enrages the monster?
That's how it was supposed to be, but now... What does "Uchiha Sasuke is dead" mean?
It was beyond comprehension. Were all their hopes of finding the key to saving the world in vain? Will they really be told now that this key has been lost for a long time?
"We're not joking, Second Hokage,— Jiraiya stammered. — The death of Uchiha Sasuke... It was in the name of Konoha! We never imagined that Uchiha Yue would be so cruel and cold-blooded, even when we used Sasuke to threaten...
Jiraiya, who was sitting in a wheelchair, was wrapped in bandages. All that remained of him was the upper body and one arm. At his sign, the ninja standing behind rolled him closer to Tobirama.
Actually, it wasn't Jiraiya who was supposed to meet the Second Hokage. It's just that Senju Tobirama, barely returning to Konoha, bumped into him when he went out for fresh air. Jiraiya, of course, recognized Tobirama, and he had already heard from Orochimaru that he had been summoned with the help of Edo Tensei. This explained why Tsunade's attempt to summon the Second Hokage had failed—Orochimaru had simply beaten her to it.
Upon learning that this cripple was a student of Sarutobi Hiruzen, Tobirama paused for a moment, sighed, and then moved on to his most troubling question — the condition of Uchiha Sasuke. Time was running out. He was a dead man himself and couldn't do anything else. He wanted to start researching as soon as possible.
And now, after learning the cause of Sasuke's death, he was ready to explode.
— Uchiha Sasuke is dead, so why didn't you die yourself?! — He growled. - Huh?! Do you even realize how important he was? Sacrifice him to save Konoha?
— And what, saved?! Eh?! You idiots! Do you even understand what you've done?!
— Did dogs eat your brains?! Such a valuable specimen, the last Uchiha in the entire Shinobi world, and he died so stupidly!
"You... you.".. Senju Tobirama pointed a trembling finger at Jiraiya, cursing. If he wasn't already dead, he would have died of a heart attack again.
Their act was the height of stupidity. It's like finding the only plant in the world that can cure a deadly disease, and then finding out that it was just boiled in soup and eaten.
They cooked it... And they ate it. He's gone.
That's exactly what Tobirama was feeling right now. As great as his hopes were, so deep was his despair. He didn't know if, by studying Sasuke, he would be able to find a way to defeat Uchiha Yue or not. But it didn't matter now.
—Jiraiya! Orochimaru hissed, looking at his former comrade as if he had committed blasphemy. — What... What have you done?! Do you want to destroy this world?!
He had come to Konoha to gather information for Nagato, but deep down he hoped that Sasuke's research would help him find a way to get rid of Uchiha Yue. And then, with the support of the Second Hokage, he could become the new ruler of the village himself. Now it turned out that this plan had been a pipe dream from the very beginning.
— The second Hokage, Orochimaru... What's the matter with you? Jiraiya asked in confusion. He genuinely didn't understand their reactions. — Well, Uchiha Sasuke died, so what? He's from a cursed clan that's been evil since birth. Isn't his death a blessing?
Jiraiya really thought so.
"Second Hokage," he thought, looking at Tobirama's face distorted with rage, "didn't you hate the Uchiha clan the most? What has changed?"