With just one glance, Tobirama lost control of his emotions.
Staring at Kakashi, he could feel the intensely detestable aura of the Sharingan beneath the eye patch.
"You..."
Tobirama's gaze turned icy, his voice filled with undisguised hostility.
Sensing that things were going badly, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen, quickly stepped forward and anxiously explained...
"Teacher Tobirama, Kakashi is not a member of the Uchiha Clan. He is a descendant of the Hatake Clan. The Sharingan on him was not taken by force; there are special circumstances behind it."
However, Hiruzen's explanation did not immediately ease Tobirama's displeasure and vigilance.
As one of the Shinobi World's foremost sensory-type ninja, Tobirama's hostility toward the Uchiha Clan had long been deeply ingrained. Now that he sensed such a powerful Sharingan aura from Kakashi, there was no way he could simply let it go after a few words from Hiruzen.
Kakashi let out a soft sigh...
Tobirama spoke coldly, "Kid, although you are not an Uchiha, the Sharingan in your possession is far too dangerous. Especially during this unusual time, Uchiha power can easily be infected by Withered Wood Style... So..."
"Remove that eye immediately, then destroy it."
The apocalypse had arrived...
The Sharingan also possessed contagious properties like a virus. Anyone with a Sharingan was a potential target for expulsion.
Tobirama's judgment was not wrong...
But he underestimated Kakashi's importance in the hearts of those present. The moment those words left his mouth, Jiraiya's expression darkened.
He immediately stepped in front of Kakashi. Though he said nothing, his gaze was anything but friendly.
Kakashi was stunned by Tobirama's forceful words, but quickly recovered from his daze...
"I'm sorry, Lord Tobirama, but I cannot agree to that."
"Oh?"
Tobirama raised an eyebrow slightly, and his expression became exceptionally dangerous. Killing intent spread outward, making the air instantly oppressive.
Realizing that the situation was worsening, the Third Hokage stepped forward another half-step and continued anxiously...
"Teacher Tobirama, Kakashi's Sharingan was not a trophy taken during war. During the Third Shinobi World War, his teammate, Uchiha Obito, willingly entrusted it to him."
"As for Obito, like Kagami Uchiha, he was a Hokage's student. And if not for their heroic battle at Kannabi Bridge..."
Just a few simple sentences contained a great deal of information.
The Fourth Hokage...
Tobirama was slightly startled. Konoha had already developed to the point of having a Fourth Hokage?
He briefly fell into thought, but quickly set that matter aside and fixed his gaze on Kakashi once more.
At that moment, Kakashi finally spoke calmly. "This eye is a memento left behind by my comrade Obito. It represents not only power, but also the bond and trust between comrades. I will never destroy it with my own hands."
Kakashi's words rang firm and clear, shaking everyone present.
Tsunade, who had been watching coldly from the side, suddenly recalled how Kakashi had traveled a great distance just days ago to persuade her to return to the village. Her heart was immediately filled with indescribable complexity and emotion.
Without hesitation, she stepped in front of Kakashi and faced her second grandfather with a resolute expression.
"Second Grandpa, aren't you going too far? Kakashi has always been loyal to Konoha and has never done anything to betray the village. Yet now you're forcing him to dig out his own eye. That is not the Konoha way at all!"
Tsunade's words were not loud, but they struck with force. Compared to Hiruzen and the others...
As a fellow member of the Senju Clan, Tsunade confronted Tobirama directly without any reservations.
Hearing Tsunade defend Kakashi so fiercely, Tobirama's expression shifted slightly as he looked toward the silent Hiruzen.
But Hiruzen now...
His heart had long been consumed by disgust and disappointment toward Tobirama.
Hiruzen let out a long sigh. "Teacher Tobirama, I am merely an incompetent disciple, a failed Hokage."
"As for this matter, handle it however you wish, Teacher. However, Kakashi is now my Hokage guard, and his status is the same as Tsunade's."
Though he detested his teacher...
The words Hiruzen spoke...
Were exceedingly clever, yet carried a profound implication...
Kakashi was, in truth, one of the candidates he had in mind for the next generation's Hokage.
If Tobirama pressed too hard...
Even someone as forceful as the Second Hokage would have to think twice.
Tobirama immediately understood Hiruzen's true meaning...
He reassessed the silver-haired ninja before him.
For Kakashi to be regarded as a Hokage candidate at such a young age, he clearly was no ordinary man.
At that moment, Tobirama felt a brief hesitation.
He might have been capable of temporarily taking control of Konoha's situation, but if he pushed too far, it would likely backfire and place him in opposition to Konoha's current core leadership. Clearly, that was not his original intention upon returning.
After all, he truly was only a dead man...
The current group of Konoha's higher-ups were already the people closest to him by blood in this world...
Not to mention Kakashi before him...
Just one sentence from Tobirama...
Had drawn opposition from so many people around him...
It showed that he... not only possessed outstanding strength...
But also enjoyed an extremely high reputation in the village, deeply loved and trusted by many ninja.
Forcibly handling this matter would very likely trigger an even greater crisis and internal conflict.
For a time, Tobirama fell silent...
Yet the more outstanding this junior was, the more Tobirama worried...
That he would be contaminated by the Sharingan...
As for Hiruzen...
Looking at Teacher Tobirama's sharp gaze...
He silently prepared to make a decision, one that would soon shock the entire Shinobi World...
A base in the Land of Fields, shrouded in night.
Orochimaru slowly entered the base, the snake-like pupils gleaming from the shadows cold and undisturbed.
The moment his feet crossed into the base, he suddenly sensed a bone-chilling killing intent closing in like a shadow.
"Oh?"
A spatial vortex silently opened, and Obito appeared behind Orochimaru like a ghost. The cold gleam of a kunai in his hand was pressed steadily against Orochimaru's pale, slender neck.
Obito's voice was low and icy, like a Demon crawling out of a dark abyss:
"Mr. Orochimaru, while I do not object to you reviving Senju Tobirama, what exactly is this Impure World Reincarnation Tobirama who can move freely?"
Though Obito's tone was calm, his kunai did not relax in the slightest...
The blade was less than a hair's breadth from Orochimaru's skin, and killing intent wound through the air like threads.
Orochimaru did not panic. He had clearly anticipated this and explained...
"Originally, I merely intended to create more chaos for Konoha. But unexpectedly, the White Zetsu sacrifice used for the Impure World Reincarnation was too exceptional. As a result, it granted Senju Tobirama strength close to his prime, allowing him to unexpectedly break free from my restraints."
Orochimaru turned and glanced at Obito's face hidden behind his mask.
"This also means that, with my current abilities, the strongest ninja I can perfectly control are only ordinary Kage Level fighters. As for people like Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara... I fear they would be difficult to control completely."
As he said this, a trace of unwillingness flashed through Orochimaru's eyes, as though he regretted being unable to fully master such power.
It had to be said...
For a ninja at Orochimaru's level, his acting was exceptionally convincing.
Obito believed him...
His killing intent eased slightly, and he slowly withdrew the kunai from Orochimaru's neck.
"I hope you understand that cooperation is built on mutual benefit. If you do anything that violates our agreement, you should know the consequences."
"Of course. I know my situation very well."
Obito nodded in satisfaction, then slowly pushed forward the upright figure of a youth from the spatial vortex.
"I have brought Uchiha Sasuke. What happens next is up to you."
Orochimaru looked at Sasuke's deep, cold Sharingan eyes, and a satisfied, greedy smile immediately appeared in his own...
"Hehehe, don't worry. I will teach him well."
In the darkness, Sasuke stared at Orochimaru. "This is the person who will guide me? Not you, Madara?"
Before you continue