Seeing his youthful teacher, Orochimaru cracked a wide grin, his long tongue excitedly flicking across his cheeks.
Though his smile was creepy, you could tell he was genuinely thrilled.
"Teacher… you shouldn't be asking me about this. After all, I'm in the same boat as you! Everyone here is a soul that was already dead! Thanks to Hirofumi Ito, we've all been perfectly revived—and we've even gained a kind of… immortality!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen was floored.
"What?!"
After those two words, Hiruzen stared at Hirofumi Ito in disbelief.
This kid was hiding way too much!
When he'd used the Reaper Death Seal earlier, something had felt off. Why would the mighty Shinigami itself be scared of a kid?!
Clearly, Hirofumi Ito was keeping a lot of secrets Hiruzen didn't know about.
At that moment, Hirofumi received a system notification: he had successfully revived and summoned Sarutobi Hiruzen, earning an S-rank ninjutsu, the Five-Release Great Combo Technique!
The technique's power was impressive, and since Hirofumi had chakra of all five natures, he could use it effortlessly.
"Monkey…"
A low voice interrupted his thoughts. It was Tobirama Senju, the Second Hokage!
Hiruzen heard his teacher's voice but couldn't bring himself to meet his gaze. He'd been a failure as Hokage, hadn't he? His teacher must be furious about everything he'd done—or failed to do.
The fall of the Senju clan, the destruction of the Uchiha clan…
Sigh.
Hiruzen looked at Tobirama with a bitter expression.
"Teacher… I…"
"Monkey, I'm disappointed."
Tobirama didn't explode in anger as Hiruzen had expected, but his calm reaction made Hiruzen even more nervous.
"You've been a failure as Hokage!!!"
"I… I was wrong, Teacher!"
Tobirama waved a hand dismissively.
"Go deal with your own mess first. We'll talk later."
Hearing this, Hiruzen turned to Hirofumi, hoping for some clarity.
"Hirofumi, what's going on here?"
"Third Hokage, do you remember that time at the Ninja Academy when I reverse-summoned myself? That's when I made a contract with the spirit world. By paying a certain price, I can turn spirits into my summoning beasts! So everyone you see here, including you, is one of my summoning beasts…"
Hiruzen couldn't believe his ears.
"So… you're saying you orchestrated Orochimaru's attack on the Hidden Leaf?!"
Hirofumi's eyes widened in shock.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Third Hokage, you can't just throw accusations like that! Sure, these people are my summoning beasts, but I don't control them! Everyone here has their own thoughts and can make their own decisions—including you! You're just bound by a summoning contract, same as any regular summoning beast!
I just summoned you, and you're already trying to pin this huge mess on me?! Do you think I'm Danzo Shimura, the Shadow of All Scapegoats?!
The Hidden Leaf Collapse Plan was all Orochimaru's idea—it's got nothing to do with me! Your body out there probably hasn't even gone cold yet! So don't try to blame me!
Besides, you should be thanking me. I summoned you back to life, and you're not some old geezer now—you're in your prime!"
Hirofumi actually liked how the system worked. Everyone he revived came back in their peak physical condition, not as some frail old fossil.
Hiruzen paused, then quickly checked his body. Sure enough, it was just as Hirofumi said—he had full control over his thoughts and actions! The only difference was the summoning contract, which felt like a standard, equal partnership, no different from a typical summoning beast contract.
But even with this explanation, Hiruzen was still full of questions.
Orochimaru slinked over with a sly grin.
"Teacher… let me clear things up for you!"
Orochimaru then spilled everything about Hirofumi Ito and what had been happening in the summoning space and the outside world.
Hiruzen grew more bewildered with every word.
Naruto Uzumaki had gained the Nine-Tails' power.
Sasuke Uchiha had awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan!
Hirofumi's classmates—over a dozen of them—had been personally trained by the Second Hokage, who still made time to teach the kids when he wasn't busy!
And most shocking of all: Hirofumi Ito had ambitions to unify the entire ninja world?!
Was that even possible?!
But then Hiruzen thought of Hirofumi's teachers—the God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju, and the Shura of the Ninja World, Madara Uchiha. With those two backing him, maybe it was possible!
To think so much had changed in the Hidden Leaf right under his nose as Hokage… and he'd been completely clueless!
He really had gotten old.
If only he'd used his Telescope Technique to keep an eye on Hirofumi and the others, he might've noticed sooner. But no, he'd only ever used that jutsu for one thing—peeping on the hot springs…
Looking at Orochimaru beside him, Hiruzen wasn't sure whether to be angry or relieved.
Just before his death, he'd realized something: Orochimaru had personally come to "send him off" to ensure he didn't die with a tarnished legacy.
What a fine student…
Though that sword stab had really hurt!
"Orochimaru! You may be my most talented student, but attacking the Hidden Leaf is absolutely unforgivable! As your teacher, I think it's only fair I discipline you a bit! Plus, I want to test out my prime condition!!!"