Third Generation's Inner Disgust

At a single glance, Tobirama lost control of his emotions.

Staring at Kakashi, even through the mask, he could sense the deeply repulsive aura of the Sharingan beneath it.

"You..."

Tobirama's gaze was icy, his voice filled with undisguised hostility.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen, standing nearby, sensed the situation turning dire and quickly stepped forward, explaining anxiously...

"Master Tobirama, Kakashi is not of the Uchiha Clan; he is a descendant of the Hatake Clan. The Sharingan he possesses was not stolen, but obtained for a special reason."

However, Hiruzen's explanation did not immediately alleviate the displeasure and vigilance in Tobirama's heart.

As the Shinobi World's premier sensory ninja, Tobirama's hostility toward the Uchiha Clan was deep-rooted. Sensing such a potent Sharingan aura on Kakashi, he could not easily let it go just because of a few words from Hiruzen.

Kakashi sighed softly...

Tobirama spoke coldly: "Boy, although you are not an Uchiha, that Sharingan on you is far too dangerous. Especially in this current, extraordinary period, the power of the Sharingan is easily infected by the Withered Wood Style... Therefore..."

"Remove that eye immediately and destroy it."

The apocalypse had arrived...

The Sharingan possessed a virus-like infectious nature; anyone who owned a Sharingan was a target that had to be isolated and expelled.

Tobirama's judgment was correct...

But he had underestimated the weight Kakashi held in the hearts of those present. As soon as those words left his mouth, Jiraiya's expression turned grim.

He immediately stepped in front of Kakashi. Though he said nothing, his gaze was fierce.

Kakashi was stunned by Tobirama's harsh words, but he quickly snapped out of his daze...

"I am sorry, Lord Tobirama, but I cannot agree to that."

"Oh?"

Tobirama raised his brows slightly, his expression turning exceptionally dangerous. Killing intent radiated outward, and the air suddenly grew oppressive.

Sensing the situation spiraling, the Third Hokage stepped forward again, his face anxious as he continued...

"Master Tobirama, Kakashi's Sharingan was not a trophy of war, but was voluntarily entrusted to him by his teammate, Obito Uchiha, during the Third Shinobi World War."

"As for Obito, like Kagami Uchiha, he was a student of the Hokage. And if not for their heroic battle at Kannabi Bridge..."

These simple sentences condensed a great deal of information.

The Fourth Hokage...

Tobirama was slightly taken aback. Had Konoha actually developed to the point of having a Fourth Hokage?

He fell into a brief moment of contemplation, but quickly suppressed the thought to focus once more on the Kakashi before him.

At this moment, Kakashi finally spoke calmly: "This eye is a memento left behind by my comrade, Obito. It represents not just power, but the bonds and trust between comrades. I will never destroy it with my own hands."

Kakashi's words were resonant and powerful, shaking the hearts of everyone present.

Tsunade, who had been watching coldly from the side, suddenly recalled how Kakashi had traveled thousands of miles just days ago to persuade her to return to the village. A complex, indescribable sense of being moved welled up within her.

Without hesitation, she stepped in front of Kakashi, facing her grand-uncle with a resolute expression.

"Grand-uncle, aren't you going too far? Kakashi has always been loyal to Konoha and has never done anything to betray the village. For you to force him to gouge out his own eye—this is simply not the way of Konoha!"

Though Tsunade's words were not loud, they were firm and struck home, unlike those of Hiruzen and the others...

As a member of the Senju Clan, Tsunade had no qualms about directly confronting Tobirama.

Seeing Tsunade defend Kakashi so fiercely, Tobirama's expression shifted slightly, and he looked toward Hiruzen, who had remained silent.

But Hiruzen, at this moment...

His heart was already filled with resentment and disappointment toward Tobirama.

Hiruzen sighed deeply: "Master Tobirama, I am merely an incompetent disciple, a failed Hokage."

"As for this matter, handle it however you wish, Master. However, Kakashi is currently my Hokage Guard, just like Tsunade."

Though he loathed his teacher...

The words Hiruzen spoke...

Were extremely clever, yet contained a profound subtext...

Kakashi was, in fact, one of the candidates for the next Hokage in his mind.

If he pushed too hard...

Even someone as formidable as the Second Hokage would have to weigh the consequences.

Tobirama immediately understood Hiruzen's true meaning...

He re-evaluated the silver-haired ninja before him.

For someone of Kakashi's age to be considered a candidate for Hokage meant this person was truly extraordinary.

At this moment, a brief hesitation arose in Tobirama's heart.

While he had the ability to temporarily seize control of Konoha, pushing too hard might prove counterproductive, placing him in opposition to the current core leadership of the village—which was clearly not his intention upon returning.

After all, he was indeed just a dead man...

The current high-ranking officials of Konoha were now the people most closely related to him by blood in this world...

Not to mention this Kakashi before him...

Just a moment ago, a single sentence from himself...

Had drawn opposition from so many people around him...

This showed that he... was not only outstanding in strength...

But also held high prestige within the village, deeply loved and trusted by many shinobi.

Forcing the issue would likely trigger an even greater crisis and internal conflict.

For a moment, Senju Tobirama fell into silence...

Yet, the more outstanding this junior was, the more Senju Tobirama worried...

That he would be corrupted by the Sharingan...

As for Hiruzen...

Looking at his teacher Senju Tobirama's sharp gaze...

He also silently prepared to make a decision, an event that would soon shock the entire Shinobi World...

The Land of Fields base was shrouded in night.

Orochimaru walked slowly into the interior of the base, the snake-like pupils peering from the shadows cold and ripple-free.

The moment his footsteps entered the base, he suddenly sensed a hair-raising killing intent, closing in like a shadow.

"Oh?"

A spatial vortex opened silently, and Obito appeared behind Orochimaru like a ghost, the cold, gleaming kunai in his hand pressed firmly against Orochimaru's fair, slender neck.

Obito's voice was low and cold, like a demon crawling out from a dark abyss:

"Mr. Orochimaru, while I do not object to you resurrecting Senju Tobirama, what is the meaning of that Impure World Reincarnation Tobirama who can move freely?"

Although Obito's tone was calm, the kunai did not loosen in the slightest...

The blade was less than a millimeter from Orochimaru's skin, and the killing intent coiled in the air like silk threads.

Orochimaru was not flustered by this, explaining as if he had expected it...

"I originally only intended to create more chaos for Konoha. But unexpectedly, the White Zetsu used as the sacrifice for the Impure World Reincarnation was too excellent, resulting in granting Senju Tobirama strength close to his prime, causing him to accidentally break free from my control."

Orochimaru glanced back at the face hidden behind Obito's mask.

"This also means that with my current abilities, the strongest ninja I can perfectly control are at most conventional Kage-level powerhouses. As for powerhouses like Senju Hashirama or Uchiha Madara... I fear they are difficult to control completely."

At this point, a trace of unwillingness flashed in Orochimaru's eyes, as if he felt regret for failing to fully master this power.

It must be said...

A ninja who has reached Orochimaru's level is an excellent actor.

Obito believed him...

The killing intent receded slightly, and he then slowly withdrew the kunai from Orochimaru's neck.

"I hope you understand that our cooperation is built on mutual benefit. Once you do something that violates our agreement, you should know the consequences."

"Of course, I am very clear about my situation."

Obito nodded with satisfaction, then slowly pushed a youthful, upright figure out from the spatial vortex.

"I have brought Uchiha Sasuke. From here on, it is up to you."

Orochimaru looked at Sasuke's deep, cold Sharingan, a look of satisfied greed immediately appearing in his eyes...

"Hehehe, rest assured, I will teach him well."

Sasuke, standing in the darkness, stared at Orochimaru: "Is this the one who will guide me? Not you, Madara?"