"Where is this?"
The memory of death surged back in an instant.
He had drawn away Kinkaku and Ginkaku's elite unit alone—to cover Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others.
Those two… monsters.
To think they could briefly enter a Nine-Tails chakra state. If not for that, perhaps—
A trace of regret flickered within Tobirama Senju.
He knew it clearly.
He was already dead.
And yet…
Where was this place?
His current state—
Edo Tensei.
As the creator of the technique, he recognized it immediately. Within moments, he understood exactly what had happened to his body.
Then that meant—
Someone had summoned him back.
His expression hardened.
No matter the situation, he had to assess it first.
Caution was his nature.
He slowly lifted his gaze—
And saw Uchiha Ren standing before him.
Wearing the Hokage's robes.
Smiling.
Watching him.
Tobirama's pupils contracted sharply.
His gaze locked onto Ren, storm waves crashing through his mind. The lines on Tobirama's face tightened instantly.
Impossible.
How could the Hokage's robes… be on Uchiha Ren?
Tobirama remembered him clearly.
An Uchiha like Uchiha Kagami.
One who had transcended the narrow boundaries of his clan—someone who genuinely worked for Konoha.
He had even once extended an olive branch, intending to take Ren as a disciple.
"…Hello, Second Hokage."
Ren greeted him casually.
But there was no response.
Only killing intent.
"You damned Uchiha brat!"
"I'll execute you here and now!"
"And you dare defile my soul with such a technique?!"
Tobirama's hands blurred.
Seals formed at a terrifying speed—he went straight for a killing move.
Ren sighed.
With a single-handed seal—
Tobirama froze.
His body locked in place, completely immobile.
"Lord Tobirama… was that really necessary?"
"I came to meet you with good intentions."
Though his body wouldn't respond, the killing intent in Tobirama's eyes only intensified.
If looks could kill—
Ren would already be torn to pieces.
"Shut up!"
"You think I can't see through you?"
"Everything you showed in the past… all of it was a disguise!"
A bitter fury surged within him.
"To think I spent my life hunting hawks… only to be blinded by one in the end."
How had he not seen it?
He prided himself on reading people—on distinguishing loyalty from treachery, on keeping the Uchiha firmly in check.
And yet—
One oversight.
Just one.
"Now that's an unfair accusation," Ren replied, his smile widening—innocent, almost childlike.
"I've never disguised anything. I've always been devoted to Konoha."
That smile—
To Tobirama, it was grotesque.
Behind that false purity, he saw only mockery. Malice. A quiet, triumphant ridicule.
A slap to the face.
"Traitor… villain!"
A chill ran down his spine.
An Uchiha who had deceived him for years—
What kind of twisted, monstrous soul lay beneath that mask?
When had such a creature appeared within the Uchiha?
Was this…
Heaven abandoning Konoha?
Then—
A thought struck him like lightning.
Hiruzen.
His eyes sharpened.
Ren was wearing the Hokage's robes.
But he had already appointed Hiruzen as the Third Hokage—
A terrible possibility rose in his mind.
Tobirama stared at Ren, teeth clenched.
"…Where is Hiruzen?"
"What did you do to him?!"
His voice grew harsher, anxiety rising uncontrollably.
He needed answers.
Needed to know what had happened to Konoha after his death.
How could this be?!
Even if Hiruzen had failed—
There was still Mito Uzumaki.
She knew his stance toward the Uchiha.
She would never allow an Uchiha to become Hokage.
By his expectations—
Hiruzen should have sought her immediately.
She would have secured his position.
Unless—
Something had happened to her too.
Tobirama's thoughts spiraled.
No.
Impossible.
She was the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki.
Even he wasn't certain he could defeat her.
Unless—
Mangekyō Sharingan.
Ren had awakened it.
Yes.
That had to be it.
Only the Mangekyō could defeat Mito.
"Madman…"
Tobirama's judgment fell instantly.
Every Uchiha who awakened the Mangekyō—
Was a lunatic.
Not insanity in the simple sense.
But something deeper.
A darkness.
A distortion.
A mind driven to extremes.
He understood the Uchiha better than anyone.
This one—
A master of deception.
Powerful.
Unstable.
Now sitting in the Hokage's seat.
Despair crept in.
Konoha…
Was finished.
Ren would drag it into an abyss beyond comprehension.
Perhaps even the entire shinobi world would fall into chaos.
No.
Absolutely not.
Tobirama would never allow it.
Konoha—
Built through Hashirama's blood and sacrifice.
Sustained by his own tireless effort.
Their life's work—
Would not be destroyed like this.
"You mean Hiruzen?" Ren finally answered.
A calm tone.
"Dead."
Silence.
Tobirama's heart sank.
He had already known.
But hearing it confirmed—
Still hurt.
He had placed great expectations on Hiruzen.
That was why he chose him.
But now—
There was no time to grieve.
A single thought crystallized in his mind.
Escape.
He had to escape.
No matter the cost.
Then—
Kill Uchiha Ren.
Restore order.
Choose a new Hokage.
Correct his mistake.
And finally—
Erase the Uchiha threat completely.
He had been cautious.
More cautious than anyone.
And still—
He had failed.
"Calm down…"
Tobirama forced himself to think.
He needed patience.
Restraint.
The right moment.
Right now—
He was nothing more than meat on a cutting board.
No resistance.
No control.
So he would wait.
Wait until Ren lowered his guard.
And when that moment came—
He would strike.
Without hesitation.
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