[Onoki: MEidara Uchiha!! H-He… how is he revived too?! Did Nagi resurrect MEidara in the future as well?!]
[Little V: No.]
[Onoki: Phew—]
[Little V: He revived himself through his own plan.]
[Onoki: ... ]
[Black Zetsu: !!!]
[Retsudo: Senju Hashirama… I didn't expect even he would return.]
[Ishikawa: Naturally. If one possesses resurrection abilities, failing to revive Lord Hashirama would be strange.]
[ByaShiranui Kūren: Given that he's Nagi's grand-senior, the likelihood was already high.]
[First Raikage: Hahaha! What a luxurious resurrection lineup!]
[Hashirama Senju: Hahaha! MEidara, we're both alive again!]
[MEidara Uchiha: Don't misunderstand. You were revived by that brat Nagi. I revived myself through my own plan.]
[Tobirama Senju: Heh. Is that so? I think you should thank my disciple for staying alive. Otherwise, you might've been refined into a chakra pill and eaten.]
[MEidara Uchiha: ... ]
"Brother!"
Izuna Uchiha suddenly ran toward MEidara.
"Izuna…"
MEidara turned, arms open, forcing the widest smile he could manage.
The two brothers embraced tightly.
Hashirama watched, deeply moved. When Izuna died, he had truly not known how to face the grief-stricken MEidara.
Hashirama turned toward Tobirama, who sensed his gaze.
Hashirama slowly opened his arms—
"You can forget it."
"Clang—"
Hashirama instantly turned grayscale in disappointment.
Minato Namikaze, meanwhile, stood awkwardly. All he wanted now was to see his son.
After the Uchiha brothers parted—
[Tobirama Senju: MEidara Uchiha, you don't still intend to carry out that ridiculous Eye of the Moon Plan, do you?]
[MEidara Uchiha: Hmph. Before that—Black Zetsu, you're finished.]
[Izuna Uchiha: And you, Itachi Uchiha. Didn't you claim the Uchiha Clan lacked capacity? I'd like to see how vast your own is.]
[Itachi Uchiha: ... ]
[Sasuke Uchiha: Wait! Itachi Uchiha is mine to kill!]
[Nagato: Itachi is a member of the Akatsuki. If you want to touch him, come.]
[MEidara Uchiha: Fine. I'll retrieve my Rinnegan while I'm at it. These current eyes are inconvenient.]
(At present, MEidara's eyes were the ones he possessed before unplugging himself from the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. His body, however, had been restored to his prime.)
[Nagato: ... ]
Right. Forgot about that.
[Tobirama Senju: MEidara, wait. This matter can be postponed.]
[MEidara Uchiha: Speak.]
[Tobirama Senju: Your brother was revived by my disciple. That means you owe us a favor.]
[MEidara Uchiha: ... Very well. What is it?]
MEidara Uchiha was not one to shirk debts. A resurrection was a resurrection—future or otherwise.
[Tobirama Senju: For the next month, you will remain in KonohagaShiranui Kūre (Hidden Leaf Village) and protect my disciple at all times.]
[MEidara Uchiha: Oh? That's the condition? Frankly, Hashirama alone should suffice. Why involve me?]
[Hashirama Senju: That's right, Tobirama! I'll protect my grand-disciple!]
[Tobirama Senju: Brother, if someone grows desperate enough to strike recklessly, even you might not be able to stop them alone. I suspect our resurrection serves precisely to ensure Nagi's safety.]
[Little V: As expected of the Second Hokage. You immediately discerned the purpose behind your revival.]
[Onoki: What?! There's actually someone even Lord Hashirama might not stop?!]
[Tsunade: And who would dare target Nagi? He's the Shinobi World's hope!]
[A (Fourth Raikage): Damn it—who is it?!]
[Mei Terumi: Do they not fear becoming the enemy of the entire Shinobi World?]
[MEidara Uchiha: Interesting. I'd like to see who it is. Very well—I agree. But only because Nagi revived my brother.]
Somewhere in the Shinobi WorldA Hidden Underground Base
Jigen frowned as he watched Tobirama's analysis.
Originally, he had intended to lead Kara in a direct assault on Konoha and seize Nagi.
Nagi's body had become his most desirable vessel.
But now—
Hashirama Senju and MEidara Uchiha had both returned.
These were titans forged in the Warring States Period. Together, their combined power was far greater than the sum of its parts. Even Isshiki Ōtsutsuki, manifesting through Jigen, would need caution.
And beyond them, Konoha still housed numerous elite shinobi.
If he forced reincarnation into Jigen's body prematurely, he could very well be stalled to death.
"It seems Tobirama Senju has detected our presence."
Amado stepped forward.
"If we launch a frontal assault now, Kara would suffer devastating losses. The Five Great Nations would unite against us. Your reincarnation would become even more difficult."
Amado had seen the technique Shiranui Shiranui Kū used earlier. Perhaps in the future, he himself would defect to Nagi's side. As for why—
He knew the answer.
"Hmph. I'm aware. That despicable Tobirama Senju."
Jigen shot Amado a glance before turning away.
He remained wary of this man.
Konoha Training Grounds
Hashirama laughed.
"Alright! I'd like to meet my adorable grand-disciple. Tobirama, wasn't it you who founded the Academy?"
"Yes. Let's go. Nagi's safety is the priority."
Tobirama nodded.
MEidara glanced at Izuna.
"In that case, I'll observe this boy's uniqueness as well. Izuna?"
"I'm going to the Uchiha Clan Compound first. I want to see what has become of the clan. As for Itachi Uchiha—I'll spare him for now. I'm curious about his future. If his end is miserable enough, killing him would only let him off easily."
Izuna's words were not idle threats. A veteran of endless battlefield slaughter, his insight far surpassed that of any modern Uchiha youth.
"Then I'll accompany you," MEidara said quietly.
Now that Izuna had returned, MEidara wished only to remain by his brother's side. He would never again endure that crushing loneliness.
Minato smiled faintly.
At last—he could see his son.
Konoha Streets
Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived with the two elders and a group of jōnin to welcome them.
From afar, they saw three approaching figures. Since the Uchiha Clan Compound lay at the village outskirts, MEidara and Izuna had already separated from the others.
Hiruzen stepped forward.
"Teachers… and Minato. I'm truly grateful for your return. To see you again, I—"
"Enough with the sentimentalities. I'm going to see my disciple."
Tobirama cut him off bluntly.
"Cough—very well. Please, follow me."
Hiruzen coughed awkwardly and led them toward the Ninja Academy.
Yet in his heart, he silently lamented:
Sensei… I'm your disciple too…
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