"No, there is one successful case."
Adult Kakashi spoke.
"A junior of mine in ANBU successfully inherited the First Hokage-sama's Wood Release."
He briefly explained the crimes of the future Danzō Shimura and what had happened with Tenzou.
When the three founders of Konoha heard that Danzō Shimura had used war orphans as experimental subjects, their expressions darkened to their limit. They had originally created the concept of a ninja village to protect innocent children!! Yet now they were hearing that the future village had secretly become a death ground for children?!!
They instinctively began reviewing the names of those future disciples again.
Hashirama Senju once more reconsidered the direction in which Konoha had developed.
Tobirama Senju did the same, his mind racing through systems, controls, and how to reduce risks.
Madara's expression remained grim, his thoughts unreadable.
"White Zetsu components can neutralize Hashirama's cells," Minato Namikaze said. "Based on Jiraiya-sensei's information, does this mean that if White Zetsu components are used to counter the invasive nature of Hashirama cells against human tissue, it would be possible to mass-produce Wood Release–capable users?"
"It seems likely," Tobirama replied, face grave. "Which is why I want you to destroy this scroll immediately, and do not disclose this information to anyone."
He felt immense relief that his elder brother possessed such overwhelming strength yet was wholeheartedly devoted to peace, his nature gentle and approachable.
If it were Madara Uchiha…
No—even Madara Uchiha's ultimate objective was still the pursuit of peace.
But if someone else obtained Wood Release…
It would be a disaster for the entire shinobi world. A catastrophe for the whole world.
Obito nodded and destroyed the miniature scroll on the spot, in full view of everyone.
Naruto asked, "Sasuke's brother, what exactly is that White Zetsu thing?"
"White Zetsu and Black Zetsu are subordinates of the masked man. White Zetsu appears to obey Black Zetsu and can multiply endlessly like plant spores. They lack blood and bones and are fundamentally different from humans."
Itachi's explanation reminded Minato Namikaze of his battle with the masked man in the parallel world during the Nine-Tails' attack.
After being struck by Rasengan, the orange-masked man's arm had peeled off like milky-white liquid?!
"White Zetsu himself isn't strong, but he has an information network that spans the entire shinobi world. Whenever he chooses, he can instantly acquire intelligence from Konoha, Kirigakure, Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Sunagakure." Itachi continued.
Adult Kakashi clenched his fists. If only he hadn't spoken impulsively at Rin and Obito's graves back then...
"You heard him, Kakashi. Even without you, the masked man would have been able to learn Kushina's delivery date whenever he wanted."
Minato sensed his student starting to blame himself again and quickly tried to reassure him.
"Our enemy is the masked man! He's the real culprit endangering the entire ninja world!" Obito declared. He truly couldn't stand how this grown-up, hopeless Kakashi had turned into someone so...
So pitiful—constantly taking the blame, acting like 'Everything is my fault, I deserve to die!!'
And then he goes and buys some ridiculous book like How a Ninja Should Die!
It was infuriating!!
With all that time, wouldn't it be better to focus on how to take down that damned masked man?!!
Minato gave Obito a subtle glance but said nothing.
Naruto followed Obito's lead. "Yeah! He also controlled the Fourth Mizukage, making Haku and the others grow up suffering like that!"
"And he left Madara with a terrible reputation in the generations that followed!" Hashirama Senju added unhappily!
Naruto: "He also made the rift between Sasuke's and Obito's clan and Konoha even worse!"
Watching the three of them echoing one another like that, Tobirama Senju let out a deep sigh, feeling as if two more idiots identical to his big brother had appeared in the world.
"That wraps up the intelligence for today," he said, turning to Minato Namikaze. "If you cannot return yet, you may stay here. I'll have Tōka arrange lodging for you."
"Members of the Uchiha clan will stay within Uchiha territory."
Madara shifted to place Itachi, Sasuke, and Obito Uchiha behind him.
Naruto stared directly at Madara Uchiha. "Hey, old man, you're not gonna bully Sasuke and Obito when we're not around, right?"
"How could you even say that?! I am the Uchiha Clan Head!!!" Madara roared, unable to hold back.
Minato pulled his son back.
Itachi was expressionless.
Obito and Sasuke blinked, indicating they didn't particularly mind either.
Madara then addressed the two brothers. "I don't care what happens in the future. As long as you exist in our era, I won't allow any rumors to spread, nor will I permit private fights between you."
His overwhelming presence pressed down on Sasuke and Itachi.
Itachi had no intention of harming Sasuke anyway, so he naturally voiced no objection.
Sasuke, having vented all his frustration earlier and still receiving no response from Itachi, now looked completely deflated—as if utterly abandoned. He offered no resistance to Madara's words.
However...
"Old Man!" Obito asked Madara, "What kind of physical condition do I need to meet to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan?!!"
He wanted power—enough to protect Rin and Kakashi. Enough to defeat the masked man. The future of Naruto's era must never happen to them.
Madara, already used to this brat calling him "Ancestor," shot him a sidelong glance. "When we get to the training grounds later, I'll test you myself."
"......"
Obito felt he had just pressed a catastrophic button.
...
Night fell over the newly established village of Konohagakure, peaceful and quiet. Fireflies flickered in the bushes, their lights blinking softly as the hum of insects filled the air.
Having slacked off since the afternoon, Hashirama Senju carried several flasks of sake and dragged along his outwardly cold but inwardly warm younger brother to chat with the visitors from the future.
Naruto, young Kakashi, Sakura, and Rin couldn't drink, so Hashirama had a household ninja fetch milk for them.
Jiraiya, Minato Namikaze, and adult Kakashi, however, had the rare honor of sharing drinks with the legendary First Hokage, the God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju, and his younger brother the Second Hokage.
Minato seized the chance to personally discuss space-time ninjutsu with Tobirama Senju. The two quickly found themselves engrossed in conversation, and before long, both were asking Naruto for his mission scrolls so they could study them together.
Jiraiya and Hashirama ended up debating whether Mount Myōboku Senjutsu or the Shikkotsu Forest Senjutsu was superior.
Adult Kakashi, who had looked dispirited earlier, quietly downed cup after cup of sake and was clearly tipsy.
Rin warned him to slow down, marveling that she had never imagined she would one day meet a grown-up Kakashi. It was surreal.
Kakashi said he was the one who found them surreal.
They had barely chatted for long when a messenger from the Senju residence arrived, reporting that two Uchiha youths were looking for someone.
No need to guess—it was Obito and Sasuke.
"Hahaha! I didn't think Sasuke would miss us this much!" Naruto puffed himself up proudly and followed the Second Hokage to greet them.
Whether they missed him or he just couldn't let go of Sasuke as a friend, he didn't stop to analyze.
Ever since revealing the Nine-Tails secret and not being rejected by Sakura, Sasuke, or his father's students, Naruto felt lighter—almost redeemed. It made him even closer to his companions.
"Sa—"
Naruto froze mid-word.
He wasn't sure if he had misidentified the people in front of him.
"You're wearing Sasuke's and Obito's clothes… but who the heck are you two?"
He stared at them, utterly confused.
Two swollen pig-headed faces. Bodies covered in bruises like they'd been tortured. Clothes torn like beggars. The two were leaning on each other for support.
The one in Sasuke's clothes turned his battered face away and snorted, "Hmph!" except the sound was so weak it was like a mosquito buzzing.
The one in Obito's navy track suit looked even worse—like he'd been dragged into hell, ground up, and tossed back out.
"Te Uchi-ba can'… can't stay dere!! H-Hokage-s'ma, p-pleez take us i-in!! A-ancestor's h-hands… wa ay t-too he avy!!!"
(The Uchiha can't stay there anymore! Please, Hokage-sama, take us in! The Ancestor's hands are too heavy!!!)
Hearing Obito Uchiha's exaggerated cry, Naruto finally snapped to attention.
"You guys… Sasuke? Obito?"
Tobirama Senju sighed. "That Madara… even with his own clan's children, he hits far too hard."
If he thought that would win people over, he might as well write his surname backward.
Sakura Haruno and Rin Nohara began treating the two of them. Obito nearly cried from the pain.
After regaining a little strength, Sasuke jabbed a finger at Obito and snapped, "If you hadn't run your mouth—!"
"I only asked how to gain the physique to awaken the Mangekyō!!" Obito protested miserably. He never imagined the old man would be that ruthless!
Sasuke: "Calling him 'Ancestor' wasn't enough—you called him 'old man'?!! If you want to die, don't drag me with you!!!"
The two clan youths immediately fractured into chaos again.
Thankfully, Naruto and young Kakashi stepped in front of them.
Hashirama Senju, meanwhile, clasped his hands happily. "Wonderful! Madara must be having more fun than he has in years!"
Sasuke and Obito both wanted to curse at him. But considering the man's identity and overwhelming strength…
They swallowed it.
Before the ceiling of power, what grievances couldn't be endured?
"This is great…" Naruto sighed.
Sasuke: "How is any of this great, you complete idiot?!"
He had never been beaten this badly in his life! And that bastard Itachi had sat there the whole time drinking tea!!
He asked Madara why he didn't beat up Itachi too.
Madara's explanation was—
"I'm afraid I might accidentally kill him."
That one sentence shut the Second Young Master up completely. A heavy, suffocating frustration sat in his chest.
Naruto's competitive streak kicked in. "The Chūnin Exams are coming up soon. I kinda want a Clan Head or something to give me special training too, dattebayo."
Hashirama burst into hearty laughter. "The Uzumaki clan will be visiting Konoha in a while. If Mito comes, she can train you."
Naruto nodded rapidly like a bobblehead.
But the person who truly snapped to attention wasn't Naruto Uzumaki—it was the Uzumaki clan's future son-in-law, Minato Namikaze.
The Yellow Flash of Konoha, the future Fourth Hokage, instantly straightened his spine like a steel rod. He asked cautiously, "How many will be coming?"
"Usually around a dozen," Hashirama said with a grin. "Don't worry. Most of them have hot tempers, but as long as your personalities click, they're actually easy to get along with! Hahahaha!"
Minato swallowed hard, his heart already pounding.
...
Meanwhile, after Obito and Sasuke left, Madara went to find Itachi.
He asked for Itachi's thoughts on Konoha and the Hokage.
To be honest, Itachi didn't understand it himself, but this man called Madara Uchiha felt entirely different from the masked man. Speaking to him felt strangely like speaking to Sasuke as an adult.
So when Madara asked him what he thought of the Uchiha, of Konoha, of the Hokage, and of the ninja world...
Itachi—who had long since sealed away his true feelings as a double agent—found himself actually talking with Madara Uchiha, one of Konoha's founders.
"When I was little, my dream was to join the Uchiha Police Force like my father. I felt genuine pride and honor seeing how respected he was as the police force captain."
"When I was four, my father brought me along during the Third Shinobi World War to toughen me up. It was only cleanup work, but it showed me how cruel this world really is."
"Too young," Madara cut in. "Even in the Warring States era, we weren't sent to the battlefield until six."
Itachi didn't react and continued.
"For a long time after that, I felt depressed, like I didn't belong anywhere. Until Sasuke was born. And later, after entering the Academy and doing missions with peers from other clans..."
Madara could see genuine joy surface on the young man's face.
Yet the moment he remembered that the Uchiha would one day be annihilated, that the clan and Konoha would fall apart, that he himself would fail to uphold Izuna's trust… Madara couldn't help but think deeper.
What was the meaning of creating Konoha?
Was the dream he and Hashirama pursued truly the right one?