Because the group of young ninja were in a corner at this moment, what was happening here did not immediately attract the attention of others. Souta Kazuki observed the unfolding scene with mild amusement, standing at a distance with his arms crossed. He had expected chaos after summoning Sarutobi Hiruzen, but this? This was on a whole different level.
After greeting the group of young ninja, Sarutobi Hiruzen walked toward his son, Sarutobi Asuma. His expression softened when he saw the grief-stricken young man, standing still with dull eyes and red-rimmed eyelids. Asuma had yet to react, even as his father stepped beside him.
Sarutobi Hiruzen placed a firm yet gentle hand on his son's shoulder.
"Asuma..."
The moment Asuma heard that familiar voice, his body stiffened. Slowly, he lifted his head, his gaze locking onto the impossibly young version of his father. His breath hitched, disbelief flashing across his face.
"Asuma, it's me," Hiruzen continued in a calm tone. "Your father has returned. I—"
Before he could finish, an overwhelming killing intent exploded from Asuma. His expression twisted in rage.
"You bastard!!!" Asuma roared, his chakra surging violently. "You dare transform into my father's appearance?! Is this some kind of sick joke?!"
Hiruzen's eyes widened in surprise, but before he could react, Asuma's fist was already flying toward him.
"Die, you damn imposter!!!"
Bang!
The punch landed squarely on Hiruzen's face, sending him staggering backward. Hiruzen, more confused than hurt, rubbed his cheek and looked at his son in bewilderment.
"Asuma, calm down! It's really me!"
"Lies!!!" Asuma snarled, his fists clenching tightly. "How dare you use my father's face to deceive me?! You even disguised yourself as his younger self! What village sent you?! Which enemy dared to insult Konoha like this?!"
By now, the surrounding ninja had noticed the commotion. Confused murmurs spread through the crowd as they stared in shock at the young Hiruzen. Some recognized him instantly, while others wondered if this was some kind of elaborate genjutsu.
The air grew tense as more shinobi gathered, their hands resting on their weapons, uncertain of what was happening.
And then, Danzo arrived.
Danzo's Arrival and the Clash of Power
Shimura Danzo walked toward the scene with a grim expression, a Hokage hat resting on his head. Today was meant to be his day. The day he finally took the position that was rightfully his. Yet now, a ghost from the past had appeared to ruin everything.
When Danzo's eyes landed on the young Sarutobi Hiruzen, his breath hitched. His pupils shrank in shock, his mind racing to make sense of the situation.
"Saru... Sarutobi?!"
Hiruzen scoffed at Danzo's stunned expression. "Hah! Danzo, I just died, and you already have the Hokage hat on your head? You truly waste no time."
Danzo gritted his teeth. "Impossible! You are dead! This must be a deception!" He turned to his subordinates. "Take down this imposter at once!"
Before anyone could move, a loud BOOM shook the area.
Souta Kazuki had slammed his hand onto the ground, activating his Summoning Jutsu.
"Summoning Jutsu!!!"
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The battlefield trembled as multiple golden summoning circles erupted across the ground. The air hummed with an ancient power, and with each successive bang, legendary figures emerged one after another. The First Hokage, Senju Hashirama. The Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama. The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen. The Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato.
And it wasn't just the Hokage. The most powerful shinobi of Konoha's past, long thought to have faded into history, stood before the stunned crowd.
The assembled ninjas could hardly process what they were witnessing. The sight of these legendary figures standing in the flesh was something that defied all logic. Whispers spread like wildfire through the ranks, a mixture of awe, confusion, and disbelief.
Among those trembling in shock was Hyuga Hiashi. His Byakugan flared involuntarily as he laid eyes on a man standing amidst the summoned figures—Hyuga Tennin, the greatest of their clan's history. His hands clenched into fists, his voice wavering. "A-Ancestor Tennin… it cannot be…"
Elsewhere, Naruto Uzumaki found himself standing before Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki. His lips quivered, words failing him. Meanwhile, Uchiha Sasuke approached his father, Uchiha Fugaku, and his mother, Mikoto, both of whom regarded him with unreadable expressions.
Might Guy's body trembled as his wide eyes locked onto the form of a man he thought he'd never see again—Might Duy, his father. His hands clenched, his voice breaking. "F-Father… Father!!!"
Might Duy, the eternal optimist, grinned as he placed his hands on his hips. "Ah, Gai! It seems you have lived a splendid youth! To use your strength to protect those you cherish, that is the true path of youth!!!"
Tears streamed down Might Guy's face as he clenched his fists even tighter. "Father!!! This is youth!!!!"
But not everyone was celebrating.
Shimura Danzo stood frozen, his face darkening by the second. His eyes darted over the resurrected legends, then towards the stunned crowd of Konoha's present-day shinobi. Everything he had worked for, every careful plan, every political maneuver—shattered in an instant.
This was the moment he had been waiting for his entire life. Hiruzen was dead, and soon, he was meant to ascend as the undisputed ruler of Konoha. But now… now these dead men walked again, and with them came the ruin of all his ambitions.
His hands clenched into fists. "No… No, this is impossible. It can't end here…"
Danzo's fury boiled over. His gaze locked onto Souta Kazuki, the boy who had caused this disaster. If not for him, none of these ghosts would have returned.
"You damn brat!!!" Danzo snarled as he launched himself toward Souta in a blur of speed. His hand shot up, ripping off his bandages to reveal his hidden eye.
"Kotoamatsukami!!!"
A pulse of invisible chakra erupted from Danzo's Sharingan, targeting Souta.
Danzo smirked. With this, he would rewrite Souta's thoughts, forcing him to undo whatever technique had resurrected these legendary shinobi.
But the smirk vanished instantly.
Nothing happened.
Souta stood there, completely unaffected, his expression unreadable.
"What?!" Danzo's eye twitched in disbelief. "How... how can you resist Kotoamatsukami?!"
Souta let out a chuckle. "You really thought I wouldn't have countermeasures against such a cheap trick?"
Danzo gritted his teeth. "That's impossible! Kotoamatsukami is absolute! It controls even the strongest minds!"
Souta's smirk widened. "Perhaps against the weak-willed, but against me? You should have done your research, Danzo."
His eyes gleamed dangerously.
"I am the master of the Scroll of Seals."
Danzo's blood ran cold.
"One of the first things I learned," Souta continued, "was how to create a counter-seal against Kotoamatsukami's effects. Your technique? It's worthless against me."
Realization dawned upon the crowd. The Scroll of Seals... that forbidden knowledge, known only to a select few, held the secrets to countering even the strongest illusions.
Danzo took a step back, his breath uneven.
"Tch... damn brat..."
Souta tilted his head. "I could kill you right now, Danzo. But where's the fun in that?" He turned to the assembled Hokage and clan heads. "Shall we put this traitor on trial instead?"
Murmurs of agreement spread among the Konoha leaders.
Danzo clenched his fists, knowing he had lost.
For the first time in his life, Shimura Danzo felt true fear.