The Revelation That Shook the Dead
Seeing the stunned expression on Senju Tobirama's face, Uchiha Fugaku felt an unfamiliar sensation rise within him—satisfaction. His clan had been systematically erased from history, their proud legacy reduced to whispers of treason and betrayal. Yet now, for the first time, he saw the Second Hokage—one of the key architects behind the oppression of the Uchiha—struggling to process the truth.
From the other side of the spiritual space, Uchiha Madara let out a low, mirthless chuckle, his crimson Sharingan flickering ominously.
"My Uchiha clan may have been slaughtered," he said, his voice laced with dark amusement, "but at least two of our bloodline remain. The Senju, however?" His smirk widened. "Not a single male heir exists. Not even one man to carry your name."
Tobirama's breath hitched. His mind raced to reject the notion. No, that can't be true. There must be a surviving bloodline, a hidden branch family, someone…
Yet the silence that followed his thoughts was damning.
Fugaku's smirk turned razor-sharp, savoring the rare moment where the once-imposing Second Hokage faltered. "You truly don't know, do you? The only one who still carries your Senju blood is Tsunade, the granddaughter of the First Hokage. And she abandoned Konoha."
A tense, suffocating silence settled over the space.
Then—
BANG!
A deafening crack echoed as Senju Tobirama slammed his fist against the table. The sheer force sent tremors through the space, his rage almost palpable. His normally composed, analytical demeanor shattered, replaced by a fury so raw it made even those around him uneasy.
"Damn them!" Tobirama roared, his voice thick with wrath. "Sarutobi Hiruzen! Shimura Danzo! Those damn traitors! What the hell have they done to Konoha?!"
Veins bulged on his forehead, his body trembling with barely contained rage. "They were entrusted with my teachings, my principles! And yet, they let Konoha rot from the inside out?! They allowed the Senju to vanish as if we never existed?!"
Across from him, Senju Hashirama, the man who once carried the dreams of a united shinobi world, stood in silence. The weight of his own failure hung over him like a leaden chain.
"…Tobirama." His voice was quiet, almost gentle.
Tobirama turned sharply, expecting his brother to rebuke his outburst. But instead, Hashirama's next words cut deeper than any blade.
"We failed."
The Second Hokage froze.
"The village we built…" Hashirama continued, his voice heavy with sorrow, "it is not the village we dreamed of. We believed in peace. We believed Konoha would be a home for all. But what has it become?" His hands clenched into fists. "The Uchiha were massacred. The Senju faded into nothingness. And Minato's son—our own Hokage's child—was treated as less than human."
A tense silence stretched between them.
Then, Hashirama spoke the words that sent a shiver down everyone's spine.
"…Perhaps Sarutobi was a failure as a Hokage."
The weight of that statement settled over them like an unshakable storm. For the First Hokage to call his successor a failure was no small thing. Tobirama, Madara, even Fugaku—all of them felt the impact of those words.
Tobirama's breath was shaky. He had trained Sarutobi Hiruzen himself, had placed his faith in him as his successor. But now, hearing his elder brother utter those words, doubt crept into his heart like a venomous snake.
"What made you realize this, Brother?" Tobirama finally asked, voice subdued.
Hashirama's gaze darkened. "It wasn't just what Souta said. It was the truth beneath his words. Hatake Sakumo's suicide… the death of Hyuga Hizashi to appease the Land of Lightning… the treatment of Minato's son, Naruto…" His fists clenched at his sides. "Konoha has become a place where power is feared, where loyalty is discarded when inconvenient. Where sacrifice is not honored, but exploited."
Hashirama shook his head, a cold edge creeping into his normally warm voice. "That is not the village I built."
Tobirama could say nothing.
Even Madara, though entertained, felt a sense of vindication. "Took you long enough to see it," he muttered, though there was no joy in his voice—only a lingering bitterness.
Before the conversation could escalate further—
A voice interrupted.
The Arrival of the Future
"It's so lively in here. What are you all talking about?"
All eyes turned toward the source.
Souta Kazuki stepped forward, his dark gaze sharp and unreadable. The spiritual space, once a realm of past legends, now held the presence of a future yet to be written. The moment he entered, the oppressive tension seemed to shift, drawn toward him as if he were the catalyst for something greater.
Behind him, another figure materialized.
Namikaze Minato.
The Fourth Hokage's usual gentle expression was hardened with unspoken urgency. His blue eyes, once filled with warmth, now carried an edge of uncertainty as they locked onto Souta.
"Souta," Minato said, his voice steady but firm. "What you said earlier—about Naruto. Is it true?"
Souta didn't answer immediately. Instead, he studied Minato carefully before responding.
"You don't need to hear it from me." A small, knowing smirk formed on Souta's lips. "You should see it for yourself."
Minato's brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"
Souta folded his arms. "You're my summoning beast now, aren't you? I can summon you into the real world. I'll use the Transformation Jutsu to make you look like Naruto. Walk through Konoha in that form. See how the people treat you."
Silence.
Then—
A sharp breath from Minato.
For the first time, he hesitated.
He had known his son had suffered. He had known that Naruto had been alone. But to experience it firsthand? To feel the cold stares, the whispered hatred, the sheer isolation?
Minato swallowed hard, his expression unreadable. "…Alright. I'll do it." His voice was steady, but there was a weight behind his words—a weight that only a father could carry.
Souta gave a satisfied nod, then turned his attention to Tobirama.
"As for you, Second Hokage," he said, his voice calm but carrying an unmistakable edge, "you wanted to know more about what happened to Konoha, didn't you?"
Tobirama narrowed his eyes. "Speak."
Souta smirked, his eyes gleaming with something unreadable. "Very well. Let me tell you about the sins of the Third Hokage… and the corruption that destroyed Konoha from within."