Renya had been wondering why they hadn't returned after being gone for so many days.
So it turned out they had gone traveling to another space-time!
If Hiruzen hadn't reminded him, he would still be kept in the dark.
Having idled around the village for so long, it was indeed time to stretch his muscles properly.
Shimura Danzō looked at his good friend's eager expression and immediately felt a bad premonition.
This guy isn't going to cause trouble again, is he?!
If he ends up tricking me into going to another space-time, causing chaos there, and then gets discovered by Tobirama-sensei upon returning...
There's definitely no escaping a beating!
Ever since being hung from a tree and beaten by Tobirama-sensei years ago, Danzō had developed a psychological shadow toward time travel.
After all, when Tobirama-sensei gets angry, he really hits!
His body simply couldn't withstand Tobirama-sensei's iron-fist education...
"Danzō, should we go have some fun too?" Renya suggested. "Anyway, there's nothing to do staying at home basking in the sun."
Shimura Danzō: "..."
He knew his good friend would say something like this.
Should he agree or refuse?
Actually, there's nothing much about traveling through time. As long as they don't show their faces, it'll be fine.
That way, even if Tobirama-sensei knows, he won't say anything.
And if someone gets beaten, it'll only be Renya...
That should be right, right?
After a moment of hesitation, Danzō nodded.
It had been a long time since he traveled through time with Renya, so there shouldn't be any problems.
As long as he keeps Renya in check and prevents him from causing trouble, everything will be fine!
In the end, Danzō did not refuse Renya's invitation.
Seeing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen's mouth twitched slightly.
Didn't you say you'd never travel with Renya again?
Why are you going back on your word now?
That's not what you said after getting beaten by Tobirama-sensei back then!
Still not refusing, still not learning, still forgetting the pain once you've eaten!
"I'm going too!"
Seeing the two of them preparing to travel through time, Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't hold back anymore.
Why can they travel to other space-times while he has to stay in the office handling documents?
No way, he's going too!
After being Hokage for so many years, working himself to death every day, can't he enjoy himself for once?
"If you go, who's going to handle the documents?" Shimura Danzō frowned and asked.
Back when he traveled with Renya, he had arranged all his work before leaving.
If Hiruzen wants to leave, it won't be that easy!
Sarutobi Hiruzen: "..."
That's right, if he leaves, who will handle the documents?
Back then, Danzō had him, a workhorse Acting Hokage, but he doesn't have anyone to help him now!
Kagami, Homura, Koharu, Motoha?
No need to think—those guys would definitely refuse to slave away for him.
"Just stay in the village and handle the documents properly." Renya patted his shoulder. "When we come back, we'll share what we saw and experienced with you."
Sarutobi Hiruzen: "..."
That's killing without spilling blood!
If he can't go, what's the point of sharing?!
He didn't stay any longer and left with a gloomy expression.
There was still government work unfinished, so he clearly couldn't linger.
Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to get off work before dark.
...
Hokage Office.
Sarutobi Hiruzen sat at his desk, looking at the piled-up documents and sighing continuously.
Depressed—really too depressed.
Renya and Danzō went out to have fun again, while he could only stay in the village handling affairs.
Just thinking about the two of them sightseeing and experiencing the customs of other space-times...
He didn't even feel like processing documents anymore.
"What do you think people can do to ease their mood when they're sad?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly spoke toward the shadows.
An ANBU knelt on one knee and, after a moment of silence, said:
"Hokage-sama, you could try tobacco. It's said that it can make people feel relaxed and happy..."
Actually, he didn't know whether it worked; he had just seen advertisements say so.
"Smoking?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes flickered.
He might as well try—who knows, it might help.
...
On the other side.
Senju Tobirama and the others successfully arrived in another space-time through the Dragon Vein.
"So this is another space-time? It doesn't seem much different..."
Uchiha Kagami looked around and found that the environment was no different from before they traveled.
"Let's head to the nearest village to gather information first."
Uchiha Madara had traveled once with Renya before and instructed the group based on that experience.
"No problem!"
Senju Hashirama naturally didn't refuse and split into four groups to search for a village.
Soon, they learned the general time period.
It was currently Year 60 of Konoha, and they were in the Land of Lightning.
After understanding the situation, Senju Hashirama wanted to return to the village to take a look.
The others didn't refuse; they also wanted to see what this Konoha was like.
Perhaps it was twenty years after their own timeline...
...
Konoha Village.
"It seems this isn't the future of our timeline."
Senju Tobirama looked at the outdated architectural style and shook his head helplessly.
If he didn't know this was Year 60 of Konoha, he would have thought it was around Year 20.
"Wait, why are there two Tailed Beast chakra signatures?"
Senju Tobirama frowned.
His powerful perception allowed him to detect two Tailed Beasts' chakra within the village.
One was the Nine-Tails, and the other seemed to be...
Before he could continue thinking, a sudden change occurred!
In the distant Konoha forest, a gigantic tanuki covered in yellow sand suddenly appeared!
It was none other than Sunagakure's Tailed Beast!
"Why is Shukaku appearing in the village?"
Senju Hashirama's expression turned serious as he realized something was wrong.
"Madara, let's go take a look."
Even if it wasn't their timeline, Konoha was still the village he and Madara had founded.
They couldn't just let a Tailed Beast wreak havoc!
Uchiha Madara looked at his close friend's rare seriousness and nodded slightly.
He knew the village was Hashirama's reverse scale—no one was allowed to destroy it...
Meanwhile, Senju Tobirama did not follow them, instead looking toward the Hokage Building.
There, he sensed the chakra of Orochimaru and the monkey.
"Stay here. I'll be back soon."
After saying this to Uchiha Izuna, he dashed toward the Hokage Building.
"You old man, who are you looking down on?"
Uchiha Izuna said unhappily and also ran toward the Hokage Building.
If Renya were here, he would definitely understand what was happening...
Orochimaru had cooperated with Sunagakure and planned the Konoha Crush. In the end, the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen used [Dead Demon Consuming Seal] to seal the First and Second Hokage, and also sealed Orochimaru's arms.
Because of this, the souls of the Hokage from the First to the Fourth all ended up within the Shinigami.
In front of the Hokage Building.
"Sensei, you've grown old." Orochimaru smiled as his hands rapidly formed seals. "The current you can't stop me at all!"
As his voice fell, three coffins were about to rise from the ground.
Sarutobi Hiruzen did everything he could to stop them, ultimately preventing the third coffin.
"Stopped, huh?" Orochimaru smiled faintly. "But it doesn't matter."
In his view, the two inside were more than enough to deal with his teacher.
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