"This can't be good news, can it?" The Edo Tensei Fourth Hokage straightened his face. "Alright, speak. If you were me, you'd know I can handle quite a bit."
"But this matter is extraordinary," Minato from the Kannabi Bridge Timeline said. "First, if we hadn't appeared in this world, barring any surprises, the Fourth Shinobi World War would break out in three years. Its instigator is the true leader of Akatsuki."
"The Fourth Shinobi World War in just three years?!!"
Most people present were stunned by this revelation.
However, some could do the math. The Naruto Uzumaki they had met from the Fourth War was only three or four years older than the current Naruto—at most five. This meant that the Fourth Shinobi World War would give them, at best, only about four years to prepare.
Orochimaru, who had once been part of Akatsuki and still had the ring, noticed another piece of information in Minato's words—
"You mean besides Pain, Akatsuki has another true mastermind behind the scenes?"
Even he couldn't think of anyone stronger than Pain, who possessed the Rinnegan. He ran through every Akatsuki member in his mind. Could it be Konan? That didn't seem likely...
The Edo Tensei-reincarnated Minato pondered.
"So you're saying I know this mastermind behind Akatsuki?"
"A masked man calling himself 'Madara Uchiha,' classified as an outsider within Akatsuki."
"Madara Uchiha?!!"
At the mere mention of that name, the two Edo Tensei-reincarnated Senju brothers reacted intensely.
Hashirama Senju was the first to object.
"Back then, I personally killed Madara. Tobirama even sealed his corpse with several layers of protection to ensure no one could exploit it."
"That is indeed correct," Tobirama Senju nodded.
Hashirama was utterly certain.
"If you say the man claiming to be Madara Uchiha is a masked man, then I can guarantee that person is absolutely not Madara."
As several people who didn't know the details shot questioning glances his way, Hashirama explained.
"If it were Madara, he would never wear a mask. Madara was a man of integrity. If he had something to do... even if it meant opposing the entire world, he wouldn't hide his identity behind a mask."
Tobirama didn't speak, but his understanding of that man likely mirrored his elder brother's.
Orochimaru didn't have strong impressions of 'Tobi,' but he wasn't entirely unfamiliar with him.
If pressed on what he remembered about the man...
-- A fool.
That was it.
Nothing more.
Orochimaru's expression darkened, as if suspecting they were deceiving him.
"If you claim Tobi is Akatsuki's true mastermind—Madara Uchiha—I'd sooner believe Itachi Uchiha is Madara's reincarnation, the true mastermind behind Akatsuki."
Mainly because Tobi's usual image within Akatsuki... was utterly non-existent. He was either despised or chased around and beaten up. If Madara Uchiha were still alive, no matter how much he lowered his standards, he wouldn't stoop this low.
After hearing Orochimaru's description of "Tobi," Hashirama Senju nearly swore an oath on his former self.
"Madara is sensitive at heart. He would never destroy his own image by pretending to be a clown and acting silly all day. If someone were using his name to do that, Madara would be extremely displeased."
…
Inside Kamui's Dimension – –
Adult Obito Uchiha: "..."
What self-sabotage! What fool! That's White Zetsu!! He just occasionally uses Zetsu's curly-mask identity as cover! That's all!!
At that moment, the Edo Tensei Fourth Hokage spoke up.
He said, "You claim the mastermind behind Akatsuki is a masked man?!"
Seeing several people nod in agreement, Genma Shiranui added, "Including the mission scrolls for Obito and Naruto, even the top-tier S-rank missions are connected to the masked man."
The Edo Tensei Fourth Hokage nodded.
"I don't know if you're aware, but the one responsible for my and Kushina's deaths, and the Nine-Tails incident that rocked Konoha back then, was a masked man possessing Sharingan capable of controlling the Nine-Tails."
"Control the Nine-Tails..." Tobirama remarked. "That would require at least a powerful three-tomoe Sharingan—possibly even a Mangekyo level."
Orochimaru, who had come from the future, cast a meaningful glance toward the youth seated in the southern region—Obito Uchiha.
Besides Orochimaru from the future, several others present knew the masked man's true identity. Their gazes turned simultaneously toward Obito Uchiha.
The chief war criminal of the Fourth Shinobi World War, Obito Uchiha, Sharingan, the mask... All the clues seemed to point toward one possibility.
The Edo Tensei Fourth Hokage, reincarnated through the Edo Tensei technique, felt an ominous foreboding—something both unbelievable and unbearably unsettling.
"Obito, you...?"
In response, the young Obito Uchiha activated his own Mangekyō Sharingan. Watching Obito's three-tomoe Sharingan rapidly spin into the windmill-shaped pattern of the Mangekyō, the Edo Tensei Fourth Hokage's expression could only be described as utterly stunned!
Immediately after, a vortex of air currents appeared before the young Obito Uchiha's eyes. He released Dan Katō, Nawaki, and Kimimaro from his Kamui's Dimension. He also controlled it perfectly, preventing White Zetsu from coming out as well.
This ability of the Mangekyō Sharingan, along with the space-time dōjutsu. Indeed, it was identical to the masked man from back then!!
Suddenly released by the young Obito Uchiha, Dan Katō, Nawaki, and Kimimaro hadn't yet grasped the situation. All they heard was the young Obito Uchiha's listless "Hmm. I was devastated when I found out too, but that's the reality."
The Edo Tensei Fourth Hokage, summoned from the Edo Tensei, demanded of his counterpart from another timeline, "What the hell is going on?! How could Obito be the masked man?!"
He loved Konoha and everyone in it more than anything. Wasn't his dream to become Hokage? How could he become the war criminal responsible for the Fourth Shinobi World War?
"Many events unfolded, but the primary catalyst was likely Obito Uchiha's near-death experience at Kannabi Bridge. He was saved by Madara Uchiha, who exploited his deep love for Konoha and his devotion to his comrades..."
Some couldn't grasp it. Exploiting his love for Konoha?
"Setting aside your claim that Madara Uchiha is still alive, it's true that Uchiha who awaken the Sharingan often undergo a near complete personality shift after losing their loved ones—a phenomenon prevalent within the Uchiha clan," the Second Hokage, resurrected via the Edo Tensei technique, stated.
Kakashi, Obito, and Minato's Team were unfazed. Having arrived during Konoha's founding era, they'd met figures like Hashirama, Tobirama, and Madara, and had long heard Tobirama Senju speak of such cases.
"Tobirama! There are two Uchiha youths here—don't speak like that!" Edo Tensei Hashirama stopped his younger brother, fearing it might leave a negative impression of their clan on the boys.
Sasuke: "In this era, only three Uchiha remain: myself, Itachi Uchiha, and the masked man."
Edo Tensei Fourth: "What's going on?" He turned to his counterpart from another time.
"It's a long story. I'll explain in detail later." The main issue was the crowded space—not suitable for discussing the Uchiha Clan's near-treasonous coup attempt.
The future Orochimaru removed the cursed seals from Dan Katō and Nawaki.
"Meeting you and Kimimaro has been a worthwhile experience in this world," he told Nawaki.
Though the Orochimaru-sensei of this era had used him to harm his own sister, the Orochimaru before him now evoked the feeling of his former Orochimaru-sensei.
Nawaki apologized for his reckless actions back then, "Because I gained my sister's approval and obtained Grandfather's necklace, I was consumed by the desire to show off, dragging my companions into trouble."
The future Orochimaru ruffled Nawaki's hair, "It's just a pity you died too soon, never witnessing the day when this Ninja World finally achieved peace."
When Hashirama died, Nawaki hadn't even been born yet. Though initially shy and awkward, grandfather and grandson quickly found their rhythm once they grew familiar. Hashirama even tried teaching Nawaki Senju gambling skills, only to be silenced by a stern glare from his brother, Tobirama Senju.
Poor Kimimaro glanced at the familiar Orochimaru-sama before him, then at the younger, more beautiful... "Snake Auntie" Orochimaru.
Logically, he should obey the commands of the more familiar Orochimaru-sama. But...
Emotionally, he felt that this future Orochimaru seemed more real. As if this were the state Orochimaru was truly meant to be in.
"Kimimaro."
"Long time no see, Kimimaro."
Both called out to Kimimaro simultaneously. Uncle Snake Orochimaru looked at Aunt Snake Orochimaru.
Aunt Snake: "I should have a way to cure this child's Kekkei Genkai disease. His blood is quite unique. Given the chance, I'd like to take him back to the future for proper study."
Orochimaru emitted a mocking whisper, "You think I'd agree?"
Aunt Snake Orochimaru shrugged, "I suppose not."
"Heh, seems you still know me well."
"After all, we're just the same person flowing through different timelines." Auntie Snake Orochimaru glanced at the rather cute little frog perched atop Naruto's head.
"Edo Tensei was developed by the Second Hokage. It shouldn't require my help to break. Let that little frog carry us out of this era. I have plenty of research projects waiting."
"Though the writing on his hat looks like mine, I never kept a frog like that," Naruto said, still a bit confused. "My real hobby is growing plants—I even added goldfish Dad gave me recently."
The Edo Tensei Fourth Hokage from the Kannabi Bridge Timeline looked at Minato from the Kannabi Bridge.
Minato's considerate laughter conveyed, "When I have time, I'll recount every detail of my life with Naruto during this period."
"Thank you." The Edo Tensei Fourth Hokage of the Edo Tensei smiled gently. Even within the Edo Tensei body, his inherently gentle and kind nature remained unshaken.
Naruto carefully cradled the little frog from his head and asked earnestly, "Can you really make Orochimaru follow Mitsuki back to his own era?"
The adorable little frog volunteered, pounding its tiny chest.
"Ribbit!"
Though it couldn't speak like Gamakichi, this frog in his palm was surprisingly easy to communicate with.
"How wonderful. I don't even have a frog my own age."
Minato from the Kannabi Bridge Timeline: "This little frog possesses powerful space-time chakra. Combined with the characters on his hat and his affinity towards you, he might be a summoned beast raised by your counterpart in another parallel world?"
The Edo Tensei versions of Minato and the Edo Tensei Tobirama shared this conjecture.
The little frog hopped onto Mitsuki's head several times, seemingly focused on completing the mission Naruto had given it.
After repeated jumps, as if locating the coordinates of space-time, it croaked twice.
Then immediately...
The little frog leaped onto this world's Orochimaru's head...
"!!?"