The Hokage's office was quieter than it had been in years.
Senju Tobirama stood behind the desk, a scroll in hand. His sharp eyes skimmed the final lines before he allowed himself a rare exhale.
"It's nearly over," he said calmly. "In one month, the formal alliance with the Raikage will be signed. This war will end."
For the first time in years, relief spread through the room.
Sarutobi Hiruzen straightened. "Really? That's confirmed?"
Another shinobi couldn't hold back a grin. "So it's finally over…"
Ever since Senju Hashirama's death, Konoha had stood alone beneath a storm.
While Hashirama lived, other nations had restrained themselves, wary of his overwhelming strength. But once he was gone, restraint disappeared with him. Borders ignited. Alliances fractured. Ambition sharpened into steel.
Kumogakure had struck first.
Under Tobirama's command, Konoha's elite shinobi fought on every front—defending the village while preserving the fragile peace Hashirama had once envisioned.
War forged talent quickly.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had matured at terrifying speed. So had Shimura Danzō. Uchiha Kagami's name had begun to circulate with respect.
Years of bloodshed had carved a new generation.
Just as the tension in the room eased, Danzō's voice cut in, measured and cautious.
"Teacher… even if we sign this alliance with the Raikage, the meeting will be held in the Land of Lightning. That alone demands vigilance."
Tobirama's gaze shifted to him. He nodded once.
"Caution is wise."
But his tone remained steady.
"The great villages have bled themselves dry. None of them have the supplies to sustain another prolonged conflict."
He didn't say the rest aloud.
And even if they tried—
He was still the fastest shinobi alive.
The Flying Thunder God Technique gave him confidence in any hostile scenario.
Danzō fell silent, though doubt lingered in his eyes.
Tobirama opened his mouth to continue—
When a foreign sound pierced his thoughts.
Ding.
A mechanical, emotionless voice followed.
[You have joined the Konoha Hokage Chat Group.]
[Group owner Ryuji has called for a round table meeting. Please attend on time.]
Tobirama's chakra surged instinctively.
He scanned the room.
No disturbance.
No genjutsu signature.
No hostile presence.
Sarutobi immediately noticed his shift. "Teacher? Is there an enemy?"
The ANBU outside stirred slightly, ready to move.
Tobirama's eyes narrowed.
The voice echoed again in his mind.
No chakra fluctuation.
No illusion.
Then this wasn't an attack.
It was something else.
Something he didn't understand.
And that irritated him far more than danger.
He made a decision instantly.
"If this is a trap," he thought, "I'll tear it apart from the inside."
Aloud, he said calmly—
"I'll attend."
The world folded inward.
Color swallowed him whole.
Timeline Two — The Gathering Storm Before Pain
Inside another era's Hokage office, the air was heavy.
Naruto Uzumaki stood before the Fifth Hokage, fists clenched.
"You let him go?" he demanded.
Tsunade didn't immediately answer.
"Yes," she finally said.
Naruto's voice rose. "You know where he's going! You know how dangerous it is! Pervy Sage isn't the kind of person who backs down!"
Kakashi stepped in gently. "Naruto… you don't understand Lady Tsunade's position."
Silence followed.
Naruto's expression trembled with frustration.
Then he turned toward the door.
"If Pervy Sage were Hokage," he said over his shoulder, "he would never let you go somewhere like that alone."
The door closed behind him.
The room fell quiet.
Tsunade remained seated, but the steel in her posture slowly dissolved.
When no one else was watching, the weight showed.
Jiraiya had gone alone.
And if the intelligence he gathered was correct, the enemy called Pain was moving toward the remaining tailed beasts.
She knew what that meant.
She also knew she might never see Jiraiya again.
The mask of leadership was heavier than ever.
And then—
Ding.
The mechanical tone cut through her thoughts.
[You have joined the Konoha Hokage Chat Group.]
[Group owner Ryuji has called for a round table meeting. Please attend on time.]
Tsunade's head snapped up.
She scanned the office.
No chakra movement.
No seal.
No technique.
The voice had come from within.
"Konoha Hokage Chat Group…?"
Her eyes darkened thoughtfully.
If this was an illusion, it was flawless.
If it was real—
Then perhaps it was the first piece of good news she'd had in weeks.
She didn't hesitate long.
"…I'll attend."
Light burst outward.
And the Hokage's office vanished.
The Round Table
Ryuji sat at the head of the vast circular table.
A curtain of multicolored light shimmered before him.
One figure stepped through first.
Long black hair. Casual kimono. A presence that felt like ancient roots and towering forests.
"Whoa!" the man exclaimed cheerfully. "What an interesting place!"
He flexed his hand and blinked in surprise.
"My injuries… they aren't getting worse anymore."
Ryuji's eyes sharpened.
Senju Hashirama.
Even weakened by illness in his own timeline, here he radiated vitality—restrained but undeniable.
Before Hashirama could say more, another figure stepped through.
Blue battle armor, scarred from war. White hair sharp as a blade. Eyes that assessed everything in an instant.
Senju Tobirama.
He stopped dead when he saw the first figure.
"…Brother?"
There was no coffin.
No cracks across the skin.
No sign of Impure World Reincarnation.
Hashirama was alive.
Fully alive.
"Hey, Tobirama!" Hashirama grinned. "You heard it too?"
Tobirama didn't answer immediately. His gaze had already shifted—calculating, measuring, analyzing the environment.
Then—
A third ripple of light opened.
A familiar blonde woman stepped through, green jacket fluttering slightly as she steadied herself.
Her eyes widened.
"…Grandpa?"
Then they shifted to the man in blue armor.
"And Second Grandpa?"
Tsunade stood frozen.
Across from her—
The First Hokage.
The Second Hokage.
Alive.
Ryuji rose slowly from his seat.
Three eras.
Three Hokage.
One table.
And this was only the beginning.
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