After he finished speaking, a figure began to appear on the screen of light. Everyone watched eagerly as the figure gradually grew more and more solid.
Finally, Hatake Sakumo was brought back to life.
As for Hatake Sakumo's death, some believed the Third Hokage had feared him and sent people to frame him, leading to his death. Others believed Hatake Sakumo had been unable to bear the rumors in the village and had taken his own life.
But now that Hatake Sakumo stood before Kakashi, Kakashi was overcome with a tangle of emotions and didn't know where to begin.
Kakashi had not yet come to understand his father. Later, when Pain attacked Konoha and Kakashi died, he saw Hatake Sakumo and was able to understand the choice his father had made.
"Is this Konoha? But I already..." When Hatake Sakumo opened his eyes, he saw many familiar faces, including his son, Kakashi Hatake.
"Congratulations, Sakumo!" Hiruzen Sarutobi came over and spoke with great delight.
Hatake Sakumo was a little surprised to see the Third Hokage, but he soon set his mind at ease. He had already died once.
Hatake Sakumo also learned about the Inventory System upon being revived. He then looked at the little boy who had brought him back.
"Thank you for teaching my Kakashi a lesson," Hatake Sakumo said.
Obito waved a hand. "Not at all. Kakashi has always been my best friend."
Hatake Sakumo smiled. It seemed Kakashi hadn't remained despondent after his death.
"Now that Sakumo is back, let's put him in charge of the Anbu as its head."
Hearing that Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted to put him in charge of the Anbu again, Hatake Sakumo declined. "No, Lord Third Hokage. I haven't spent time with Kakashi for a long while. For now, I'd like to stay by his side."
Hatake Sakumo had also come to terms with things and no longer wanted a position in the Anbu.
Kakashi looked mortified. He hadn't expected his father to say something like that in front of the Third Hokage.
[Shinobi World inventory, top 18 Kage Level fighters of the Shinobi World—Kakuzu]
[The Man Who Fought a God]
[Fourth Raikage: What? He actually dares call himself The Man Who Fought a God? Just how arrogant is he!]
[Hanzo of the Salamander: Could he be someone I fought in the past?]
[Mei Terumi: What? If that's the case, wouldn't Hanzo of the Salamander rank even higher?]
The others also looked curiously at The Man Who Fought a God. If they remembered correctly, the Sannin had also survived an encounter with Hanzo of the Salamander and earned their title from him.
If so, could the Sannin make the list too?
By now, the Sannin could be said to be falling apart. Tsunade had left Konoha, Jiraiya was traveling far and wide in search of the so-called Child of Destiny, and Orochimaru was already turning into a madman obsessed with human experimentation.
Kakuzu hadn't expected to be exposed, let alone that his battle with that man would be revealed as well.
Although Kakuzu had not yet joined the Akatsuki, he was already a famous figure in the underground bounty world.
[Kakuzu, a former elite member of Takigakure and a member of the Akatsuki. Hidan's partner, he possesses the secret technique Earth Grudge Fear, which allows him to use Chakra to control black tendrils released from his body and steal other people's hearts. Including his own, he can store up to five hearts in his body and extend his lifespan by replacing them. He is known as "the man who lives as long as heaven and earth."]
"What? Doesn't that mean he can keep living as long as he keeps taking other people's hearts?" Obito said in disbelief.
"There's no telling how long this man called Kakuzu has lived," Minato Namikaze said gravely. That Ninjutsu alone could let him live forever.
[Kakuzu: I never expected the Inventory System to know about me, or that I would join the Akatsuki in the future. Interesting.]
By now, the Akatsuki founded by Yahiko had become famous in the Shinobi World. Many people well versed in intelligence knew that an organization seeking peace existed in the Shinobi World.
[Hanzo of the Salamander: Are you one of the opponents I defeated in the past? How laughable. I don't remember you at all.]
When Kakuzu saw Hanzo of the Salamander proclaiming on the screen that he had defeated him, his face darkened.
Where did this stinking salted fish come from? Trying to draw attention to yourself through a screen? And you say you beat me? How shameless can you get?
[Kakuzu: Shut up, you old fool. You think you're worthy?]
No one had expected Kakuzu to react so strongly, least of all Hanzo of the Salamander, who had been called an old fool in front of so many people in the Shinobi World.
[Hanzo of the Salamander: Fine, kid, you've got guts. If you dare come to Amegakure, you'll be sorry.]
Kakuzu didn't care in the slightest. In his eyes, Hanzo of the Salamander had once been a worthy man, but now he was just a head with a sizable bounty hiding in Amegakure.
[Ōnoki: Wasn't this gentleman named Kakuzu referring to a fight with Hanzo of the Salamander?]
The others were curious too. Who besides Hanzo of the Salamander could be called a god?
Kakuzu curled his lips into a crooked smile, seeming to disdain the comparison between himself and Hanzo of the Salamander.
[Kakuzu: I can still remember the first Konoha Ninja I fought. It was the First Hokage—Hashirama Senju.]
[Ōnoki: What! How could it have been him?]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi: If what the Inventory System says is true, then this fellow probably really did live in Lord Hashirama's time.]
Other people didn't understand the First Hokage's strength, but some of the older ones, such as Ōnoki, would never forget how they had been awed by the power Konoha's First Hokage had displayed.
If other people's Ninjutsu were trickling streams, then Hashirama Senju's Ninjutsu was as deep and vast as an ocean. The man seemed to have no flaws, though if one had to name one, it was that he wasn't very bright.
The people of Konoha were the most shocked. This man named Kakuzu had fought Lord Hashirama and survived.
Kakuzu felt as though he had returned to that battle. He had been on a mission to assassinate the First Hokage, and he would never forget that godlike Ninjutsu for as long as he lived.
"Sage Art: Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands!"
Hashirama Senju entered Sage Mode in an instant and pressed his palms together, summoning a gigantic statue of Guanyin with countless enormous arms. The statue stood hundreds of meters tall. Even the Tailed Beasts, regarded as ultimate weapons, were nothing but toys before that man.
[Hanzo of the Salamander: Hashirama Senju? He's just trying to make himself look good. If he'd lived in my era, I'd have shown him what godlike power really is.]
Kakuzu was utterly shocked. Was Hanzō really that arrogant? He truly had never been beaten to a pulp by the First Hokage.
Only Ōnoki had seen the strength of Konoha's two founders. As for Hanzō...
Ōnoki held him in contempt. He was merely a fellow placed on a pedestal by mortals who had never seen a god.
Hanzō was nowhere near Lord Hashirama's level.