Bonus chapter
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"Is that you, Isamu? To think the last person I see at the end of my life is an Uchiha… how ironic. You're here to watch me make a fool of myself, aren't you?" Tobirama wheezed, speaking slowly.
"You're overthinking it. Ever since I awakened my Mangekyo Sharingan, you were no longer my match. Besides, you're barely breathing right now. I'm just here to collect your body so you don't end up rotting in the wilderness and becoming a joke to others." Looking at Tobirama—once a mighty powerhouse—in such a miserable state, Isamu felt a complicated mix of emotions.
"Is that so? When I die, take me back to the Village. From now on, the Village… it's in your hands. I…" Before Tobirama could finish his sentence, he breathed his last.
Watching Tobirama pass away, Isamu couldn't help but sigh.
"I never expected life to be so fragile. No wonder Orochimaru turned dark in the original story. Anyone would be shaken after watching a legendary powerhouse die right in front of them."
"My thoughts were wandering… I almost forgot there was still someone alive here."
Isamu looked at Kinkaku lying on the ground. By now, both Kinkaku and Ginkaku had reverted from their Nine-Tails forms to their normal states. Their bodies were covered in severe burns, though it was unclear whether the injuries came from the explosion or the backlash of using Nine-Tails chakra.
"Anyway, you'll be killed by the Third Raikage later on. Rather than waiting for that, I might as well do Tobirama a favor and avenge him now. Sigh… who told me to be such a kind person? No need to thank me, Tobirama."
Looking at the unconscious Kinkaku, Isamu drew the horizontal-bladed sword from his back.
With a single slash, he cut toward Kinkaku's neck.
In an instant, Kinkaku's head separated from his body.
A legendary powerhouse had his life end quietly while still unconscious.
Isamu stored Tobirama's body inside the Kamui dimension and glanced around.
"Where are the Six Paths tools? They'd be interesting to play with. Oh well… who knows where they ended up. Forget it."
With that, Isamu turned and left, heading toward the Konoha camp.
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A day after Isamu left, the Cloud Ninja arrived to retrieve the bodies of Kinkaku and Ginkaku.
Of course, that was a day later.
At the moment, Isamu was leaping through the forest, and before long the Konoha army appeared in front of him.
"Isamu? You weren't at the camp. What are you doing here?" Hiruzen asked immediately when he saw him.
"It's like this. A few days after you left, my eyelid kept twitching. I had a bad feeling something terrible was about to happen, so I followed this route to look for you. Unfortunately… I couldn't find you." Isamu casually made up an excuse.
"Oh, I see." Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't doubt him. After all, they had worked together for a long time, and there was a basic level of trust between them.
"Hmph. If you were searching for us, why didn't we see you on the way back? You're definitely suspicious!" Unlike Hiruzen, Danzo was in a foul mood and seemed irritated with everyone. The reason was simple—he had failed to become Hokage.
Isamu ignored Danzo completely, and neither Hiruzen nor the others paid Danzo any attention.
"Isamu, you don't know what's happened yet. Hurry, come with us! Nidaime-sama is in danger. We must rush to rescue him!" Hiruzen suddenly remembered the urgent matter and grabbed Isamu, preparing to leave immediately.
"Big Brother Hiruzen, there's no need to go. It's already over." Isamu stopped him.
"What do you mean it's over? You don't even know what happened! The Cloud Ninja's Kinkaku and Ginkaku staged a coup. The Raikage is already dead, and Nidaime-sama is fighting alone to cover our retreat. We must hurry to support him!" Hiruzen explained anxiously.
"I know all of that, Big Brother Hiruzen. Calm down. Let me show you something. After you see it, I guarantee you won't want to go anymore."
With that, Isamu activated his Mangekyo Sharingan and released Tobirama from the Kamui dimension.
Tobirama's body appeared before the Konoha shinobi, and everyone stared in shock.
"Teacher! Teacher!"
"Nidaime-sama!"
"Hokage-sama!"
Cries of grief erupted immediately. Tobirama's disciples and members of the Senju Clan were especially devastated. Even Uchiha Kagami showed a sorrowful expression.
"Isamu! What exactly happened?! How could Nidaime… tell me everything! How did this happen?!" Hiruzen shouted angrily, grabbing Isamu by the shoulders.
"It happened like this…"
Isamu briefly recounted the events, deliberately omitting both the beginning and the end, and saying nothing about how he had been watching from the sidelines.
"Damn Cloud Ninja! Damn Kinkaku and Ginkaku!" Hiruzen slammed his fist into the ground, venting his anger.
"Hiruzen, we must avenge our teacher, avenge the fallen Konoha shinobi, and wipe out the Cloud Ninja. Give the order!" Seeing his mentor dead, Danzo spoke angrily. He didn't care whether Isamu's story was true or not—his only concern was revenge.
Several disciples nodded in agreement, except for Kagami.
"No, absolutely not. If we start a war now, it will only lead to mutual destruction. Other villages will take advantage of the chaos." Seeing Hiruzen wavering, Kagami quickly stepped forward to stop him.
"Uchiha Kagami, what do you mean by that?! The teacher treated you well while he was alive. He never looked down on you because you were an Uchiha. On the contrary, he acknowledged your abilities. Aren't you afraid of breaking his heart by saying this now?!" Danzo shouted.
"It is precisely because the teacher acknowledged me that I must stop this. I absolutely refuse to start another war. If you want war today, you'll have to step over my corpse first."
It was rare for Kagami to talk back to Danzo, but as someone who valued peace, he would never allow another war to begin.
"Damn Uchiha! Today I will—"
After hearing Kagami's words, Danzo pulled out a kunai and prepared to attack him.
At that moment, Isamu stepped forward and grabbed Danzo's wrist.
"Uchiha Isamu, what are you trying to do?! Are you planning to rebel with Kagami as well?!" Danzo became even angrier.
Isamu ignored him and looked directly at Hiruzen.
"Big Brother Hiruzen, I know Tobirama appointed you as Hokage. You're now the leader of the Village. Even if you don't think about the shinobi, at least think about the civilians."
"The losses from this war have already exceeded half. People in the Village have lost parents, siblings, and loved ones. Do you really want more families to suffer just for revenge?"
"Before he died, Tobirama hoped you would protect Konoha—not avenge him."
"Third Hokage… you must think carefully."
After speaking, Isamu looked at Hiruzen with a serious expression. He knew Hiruzen would make the right choice.
Sure enough, Hiruzen slowly calmed down after hearing his words.
That's right.
He was no longer just a shinobi following orders.
He was the Third Hokage, the leader of the Village.
He had to take responsibility for the people of Konoha.
"All forces, retreat! Return to Konoha and bury Nidaime-sama. After that, we will discuss the next steps."
Once he made up his mind, Hiruzen immediately issued the order.
"You! You! Hiruzen, you will regret this decision!" Danzo shouted angrily before storming off toward Konoha. Despite his anger, he had no choice but to obey—the Hokage had already given the order.
Seeing Danzo leave, the others stopped insisting and followed the main force back to Konoha.
Kagami nodded toward Isamu, giving him a grateful look.
Isamu ignored him and walked after Hiruzen.
It was best to keep his distance from Uchiha Kagami—that overly peace-loving fool.