The night was quiet, yet a restless energy buzzed through the Uchiha district. A gathering of young shinobi—Konoha's future—sat together in one of the abandoned halls of the once-thriving Uchiha compound. Since their first gathering here, this place had become their unofficial base. With its vast courtyards, numerous training grounds, and no elders around to scold them, it was the perfect hideout.
But tonight was different. Everyone's blood ran hot with excitement. Their hands clenched into fists as they processed what had just transpired hours ago. They had infiltrated the Hokage's office and copied down every forbidden technique stored within the Scroll of Seals. A crime that, if discovered, could have them all labeled as rogue shinobi. But none of them regretted it. Not when they now possessed the training methods for some of the most powerful jutsu in existence.
Souta Kazuki, the de facto leader of their group, stood before them with a serious expression. Unlike the others, who were still caught in the thrill of what they had done, his mind was already thinking about the next step.
"Everyone," Souta began, his voice steady yet commanding. "We've all memorized the forbidden jutsu, but learning them is an entirely different matter. These techniques aren't just powerful—they're dangerous. If used improperly, they can destroy the user. We'll need proper guidance if we ever hope to master them."
The room fell silent. Every shinobi present understood this well. Even geniuses like Uchiha Sasuke and Hyūga Neji knew there were limits to what they could achieve alone.
Souta took a breath before dropping a revelation that sent a chill through the room.
"I've already found a teacher for us. A master of forbidden techniques. A shinobi who created many of the jutsu inside the Scroll of Seals."
The tension thickened. Naruto, Sasuke, and even Shikamaru leaned forward in anticipation.
"There's something I haven't told you all before," Souta continued, his gaze sweeping across his comrades. "You remember the incident during our time at the Academy, when I disappeared for a short time? When everyone thought I was reverse-summoned?"
They all nodded. That had been one of the strangest events back then.
"Well... I wasn't summoned to a place in this world." Souta's voice lowered slightly, making the others instinctively lean in closer. "I was summoned... to the realm of the dead."
A heavy silence fell upon the room. Even the usually composed Shino adjusted his glasses, his fingers twitching slightly.
"What... what do you mean?" Naruto finally asked, his throat dry.
Souta exhaled slowly before delivering the next bombshell.
"I made a contract. A summoning contract… not with beasts, but with the spirits of the dead. And because of this, I can bring back some of the strongest shinobi in history."
Eyes widened. Kiba nearly fell off his seat. Chōji stopped munching on his snack.
Sasuke's breath hitched. "Does that mean—?"
"Yes," Souta nodded, knowing exactly what Sasuke and Naruto were thinking. "There's a chance. A real chance… that I can summon back your families."
Naruto's grip on Souta's sleeve tightened. His normally bright blue eyes were shadowed with an emotion even he didn't understand—hope mixed with fear.
"Not just them," Souta continued. "I've already summoned two powerful shinobi. Two legends. And one of them is going to be our teacher."
Silence.
Then Shikamaru, who had been deep in thought, finally spoke. "…Wait. No way. You're not saying…?"
Souta smirked. "The Second Hokage—Senju Tobirama."
The room exploded in chaos.
"The Second Hokage?!"
"Impossible! He's been dead for decades!"
"You mean the guy who invented the Shadow Clone Jutsu and Edo Tensei?!"
Naruto was shaking, his eyes darting between everyone as if trying to confirm that he wasn't dreaming. "But… but then that means… my dad…?"
Souta hesitated before answering, choosing his words carefully. "I haven't summoned your father yet, Naruto. Nor Sasuke's parents. The summoning process isn't as simple as I'd like it to be. But trust me, I'm working on it."
Despite this, Sasuke and Naruto exchanged a glance filled with unspoken words. For the first time since their parents' deaths, they had something to hold onto. A possibility.
Souta decided to push forward before emotions overwhelmed the group.
"The Second Hokage is going to train us," he reiterated, bringing the conversation back to its original purpose. "Tomorrow, we'll start splitting into training groups. With his knowledge, we'll master the forbidden techniques we stole."
He crossed his arms, meeting each person's gaze one by one. "This isn't just about getting stronger. This is about preparing for the future. No matter what happens, I want you all to promise me—stick together. No one gets left behind."
A solemn agreement settled over the group. Even the normally indifferent Neji and Shino gave slight nods.
Then, after a moment, Kiba grinned. "Well, if the Second Hokage is our teacher, does that mean we'll all be Hokage-level soon?"
Naruto grinned back. "Tch. I was gonna be Hokage anyway. This just speeds things up!"
Sasuke smirked, his Sharingan flashing. "We'll see about that, dobe."
Souta chuckled, feeling an immense sense of satisfaction.
Tomorrow marked the beginning of their true journey. And with Senju Tobirama as their mentor, the entire world would soon witness the rise of Konoha's next generation.