Seeing Sasuke running toward them, Itachi's heart jolted.
But in the distance, he also spotted multiple ANBU converging on the scene.
Sasuke, panting heavily, was about to speak—
"Brother… Father and Mother, they—"
"Tsukuyomi."
Itachi cast Tsukuyomi instantly.
Within three seconds of real time, Sasuke's mind was forced to relive the massacre over and over again.
The young boy could not withstand it.
He collapsed.
Moments later, Itachi's body dissolved into a flock of crows and vanished.
"He escaped…"
Tobirama sighed inwardly.
A veteran of the Warring States Period, his combat experience far exceeded that of the two young Uchiha. But if the opponent's sole intention was escape, pursuing him in Nagi's current body was unrealistic.
Nagi placed the mask back on.
The ANBU quickly surrounded the area.
Kakashi Hatake stepped forward.
"May I ask who you are? And what happened here? We request your cooperation."
Yūgao Uzuki gently lifted the unconscious Sasuke from the ground.
Tobirama crossed his arms and swept a sharp gaze over the ANBU.
"Where is your Third Hokage?"
The pressure in his eyes made several ANBU uncomfortable.
Just as someone was about to protest, the so-called Konoha's Council of Elders approached.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, at the front, frowned deeply at the sight of corpses covering the ground. Then he saw the masked figure surrounded by ANBU.
The posture.
The presence.
Hiruzen felt his scalp go numb.
I'm finished. I'm going to be scolded to death.
Tobirama merely glanced at him before addressing the ANBU:
"At a time like this, shouldn't you be searching for survivors?!"
The ANBU hesitated. Who was this unidentified man to command them?
Koharu Utatane was about to rebuke him—
But Hiruzen hurriedly intervened.
"He's right. The priority is locating survivors. Move!"
"Yes, sir!" ×n
Tobirama said lightly to Hiruzen:
"Come."
The tone was calm—
But Hiruzen could feel the storm of fury behind it.
He turned to Danzō and the others.
"You're coming too. And Danzō—no schemes."
If I'm going to be scolded, I'm not taking the blame alone, Hiruzen thought bitterly.
Inside the Hokage Tower
After returning, Hiruzen dismissed all guards and ordered that no one disturb them, no matter what happened.
Nagi removed the mask, revealing his true face.
Hiruzen had just opened his mouth—
Smack!
A resounding slap landed across the Third Hokage's face.
The burning sting spread instantly, yet Hiruzen did not dare protest.
Homura Mitokado froze in shock.
Danzō stepped forward angrily.
"You brat—"
Smack!
Another slap.
Danzō was stunned.
Then Koharu and Homura each received a slap as well.
"You dare—!" Danzō roared, attempting to retaliate.
"Danzō, stop!" Hiruzen restrained him immediately.
Smack!
A third slap landed on Danzō, leaving both cheeks swollen.
"Danzō," Tobirama's voice was icy, "you've grown quite bold over the years."
"…What?"
A surge of chakra erupted.
The sheer pressure in the room made all four tremble.
Danzō's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Th-this chakra… You're the Second Hokage?!"
At his words, Koharu and Homura went pale.
"T-Teacher… is it really you?" ×2
"Silence!"
Tobirama barked.
They obeyed instantly—the instinctive response confirming what they already knew.
Their teacher, the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju, had returned.
Tobirama's voice was glacial.
"What exactly happened tonight? I gave my life holding the rear guard for you—and this is how you govern Konoha?!"
The four exchanged uneasy glances.
Whoever spoke first would bear the brunt.
Receiving no answer, Tobirama slammed his palm onto the desk.
"Speak!"
Koharu forced herself to answer.
"Teacher… we followed your policies regarding the Uchiha. Assigning them to the Military Police Force—none of us expected it to escalate this far."
Hiruzen's heart dropped.
That's a terrible answer…
Tobirama let out a cold laugh.
"So this is my fault?"
Koharu immediately tried to backtrack.
The destruction of the Uchiha clan was equivalent to Konoha severing one of its own arms.
Tobirama may have distrusted the Uchiha—
But he would never have permitted their extermination.
Yet his own students had gone further than he ever did.
"Hmph. Explain in detail how you've managed the Uchiha all these years."
The four recounted everything truthfully.
Lying before the Second Hokage?
That would be suicidal.
They spoke of suspecting the Uchiha after the Nine-Tails' Attack.
Of pushing them to the outskirts.
Of isolating and alienating them.
The entire village treating them with distrust.
Veins bulged faintly at Tobirama's temple.
You learned only my vigilance—
But none of my balancing measures.
A stick must be paired with a carrot.
Instead, you applied pressure without relief.
Cornered people rebel.
Tobirama asked coldly:
"And Itachi Uchiha's massacre? You were involved."
Such a prodigy—wasted.
Hiruzen answered quickly.
"Teacher, we truly did not expect him to annihilate the clan."
And in truth, he hadn't.
He had hesitated, wavering over how to handle the brewing coup.
Danzō had acted decisively.
Koharu and Homura, lacking firm conviction, had sided with Danzō's hardline approach.
Tobirama read their expressions easily.
Danzō proposed the ruthless solution.
The other two enabled it.
Hiruzen hesitated—and Danzō exploited that hesitation.
"Danzō," Tobirama said evenly, "you issued the order for the massacre."
It sounded like a question.
It wasn't.
"…Yes, Teacher. I did."
Danzō admitted it without flinching.
Reactions Across the Shinobi World
[Ōnoki: Tch. So there really was more to the massacre.]
[Fourth Raikage (A): We should thank Konoha's leadership. One less Uchiha problem for the rest of us.]
[Rasa: Konoha's internal strife is impressive.]
Gaara's killing intent flared as he stared at the man labeled "father."
And you dare say that?
[Sasuke Uchiha: What… is going on?!]
[Danzō Shimura: Hmph. Evil Uchiha brat. If you have the ability, come at me.]
[Shisui Uchiha: Danzō!!!]
[Kabuto Yakushi: ...]
Kabuto's killing intent surfaced as well.
A pale hand rested on his shoulder.
"Calm yourself, Kabuto," came a hoarse voice.
Kabuto steadied himself instantly.
"My apologies, Orochimaru-sama."