The Future Third Hokage and Fifth and a Half Hokage of Konoha!

Outside the Hokage Building.

Young Danzo was a little nervous as he left.

As he walked away, the boy even secretly glanced back at the Hokage Building.

"Danzo!"

Young Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly leaped out!

"!!!"

His friend's sudden appearance nearly scared young Danzo out of his wits!

"Don't mind it..."

Young Sarutobi Hiruzen had not gone home. Worried that Tobirama Senju would harshly reprimand Shimura Danzo, he had stayed behind to comfort his friend. Instead, he saw his friend secretly looking back at the Hokage Building as he left.

There was no need to say it...

He had definitely been frightened.

Being a good friend, young Sarutobi Hiruzen loyally comforted him. "Don't mind what Teacher Tobirama said. That move couldn't have hurt me at all. Actually, the timing of that seemingly dangerous Wind Release Ninjutsu during our spar was absolutely perfect!"

"..."

A vein throbbed on young Danzo's forehead.

Those words made it sound...

As though this bastard had been the winner!

Clearly, he had won the ninja training match!

And Teacher Tobirama had not scolded him at all. He had even praised his performance in the match and secretly entrusted him with a rather important mission!

Unfortunately...

He could not tell this guy any of that.

After all, he was carrying an important responsibility.

Young Danzo suddenly felt a sense of superiority. He was the true core of the mission to protect Lord Shirou; Sarutobi Hiruzen was merely a decoy Teacher Tobirama had sent to cover for his secret execution of this important mission.

What a pity.

He could not share this delight and pride with anyone.

"What's wrong, Danzo?"

Young Sarutobi Hiruzen waved a hand in front of Danzo's face, somewhat worried that Tobirama Senju's reprimand had addled his friend.

"I'm fine."

Young Danzo quickly pushed aside the hand before him and spoke gravely, like an adult. "Let's go back and prepare first. The mission could begin at any time..."

"That's true."

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded, stroking his chin as he muttered about the situation at Konoha Hospital. "I heard there are hardly any patients left at the village hospital..."

Konoha Hospital had no patients.

Shirou Emiya seemed to have no reason to remain in Konoha any longer.

As a great Medical Ninja, he could not possibly stay in this village with nothing to do. He would surely travel the Shinobi World practicing medicine, just as he had in the stories told about him.

However...

The villagers did not know any of this.

Konoha's villagers only knew that Konoha Hospital had an exceptional Medical Ninja whose skills were superb enough to cure any illness. What concerned them more was something else.

Moving.

The village of Konoha was gradually becoming livelier.

Because more and more people in the village were beginning to relocate.

As the architect of Konoha's internal relocation plan, Tobirama Senju had not expected it to proceed so smoothly. After seeing the Senju Clan take the initiative to change, the heads of the various ninja clans had quickly agreed to his proposal.

The times had changed.

Other countries had already established ninja villages.

The ninja village system was the inevitable future. They could no longer cling to the gains and losses of their individual clans; protecting Konoha would be the future purpose of these ninja.

That was one reason, of course. Another was that these clans had long been won over by Hashirama Senju's magnanimity. Especially during the implementation of this plan, they had even seen the Senju Clan abandon the Senju name and allow its members to freely and completely integrate into Konoha.

"From this day onward..."

"There will no longer be conflicts between ninja clans."

"Everyone will unite beneath Konoha's emblem."

"Konoha Ninja can peacefully enjoy the shelter beneath this great tree, and their growth will allow it to flourish even more."

Tobirama Senju was extremely satisfied with the results of his work during this period. As he accompanied Shirou Emiya and Hashirama Senju on an inspection of the thriving village, he hoped Shirou Emiya would see that Konoha's future was even more worth anticipating than the Ninja Sect of the Ancient Era.

Even...

They had sacrificed the Senju Clan for this.

The Senju Clan would become the greatest nourishment for Konoha's flourishing.

Beginning with the next generation, many Senju Clan ninja would no longer be allowed to use the Senju surname. They would have to choose new surnames for their children, and these ninja would gradually become completely integrated into Konoha.

"The Senju surname will disappear from this day onward."

Tobirama Senju recalled the origins of the Senju Clan and said solemnly, "Perhaps this is somewhat disrespectful to Lord Shirou, who bestowed this surname upon us, but it is a necessary choice..."

"Back then, the Sage of Six Paths did not allow his sons to use his surname. Perhaps it was also so that other ninja could integrate into the Ninja Sect..."

"For Konoha, our descendants will likewise no longer be permitted to continue using the Senju surname. Everything of the Senju will become one with Konoha..."

"You truly are..."

Shirou Emiya could only express his respect for that.

Back then, the Sage of Six Paths had not allowed his children to use the Otsutsuki surname mainly because he feared that people of that era would learn of his family's connection to Kaguya Otsutsuki, preventing later generations from forever remembering the existence of Kaguya Otsutsuki, the Rabbit Goddess.

"Lord Shirou is leaving, isn't he?"

Tobirama Senju suddenly changed the subject, bringing up the matter that concerned him most. With a grave expression, he said thankfully, "These past days, Lord Shirou has practiced medicine at Konoha Hospital. Konoha will forever be grateful for Lord Shirou's kindness..."

"Tobirama..."

Hashirama Senju wanted to stop his younger brother.

"I do indeed wish to see this world..."

Shirou Emiya did not deny that he intended to leave Konoha. He even gave an appropriate reason. "I also wish to search for a way to treat the First Hokage. Perhaps the Shinobi World still contains precious materials capable of healing his body."

"At the very least..."

"They existed in the Ancient Era."

"!!!"

Tobirama Senju's heart jolted. Since it concerned his older brother, he could not help sounding impatient. "What material? Where can it be found?"

"God Tree Remnants."

"They must be living God Tree Remnants."

"The God Tree is the origin of Wood Release, and even the origin of Chakra."

"If living God Tree Remnants can be found, perhaps the First Hokage can be treated, and you will no longer need to worry about his lifespan."

Shirou Emiya did not hide this information, merely adding a reminder. "In the Ancient Era, the Sage of Six Paths and the Ninja Sect cleared away all the God Tree Remnants. I do not know whether any remnants have survived into this era..."

"..."

Tobirama Senju nodded thoughtfully.

Very good.

Another secret.

Especially one concerning the Wood Release Bloodline Limit.

Tobirama Senju silently committed the matter of the God Tree Remnants to memory before finally revealing his true intention.

"Now that I mention it, Lord Shirou ultimately does not know enough about this era. As thanks to Lord Shirou, Konoha wishes to send two genin to assist you..."

"In theory..."

"We should send stronger ninja."

"However, Lord Shirou does not like conflict. Konoha is the strongest ninja village of this era, and having two genin at Lord Shirou's side would not arouse the vigilance of enemy nations..."

"This..."

Shirou Emiya hesitated.

Actually...

If Tobirama Senju had not brought it up first...

Shirou Emiya had also wanted to ask Konoha to assign ninja to remain by his side.

Black Zetsu was always harboring ill intentions, wanting to turn him into a sacrifice for reviving Kaguya.

If two Konoha Ninja were always nearby monitoring him, then in order to conceal its identity and secrets, Black Zetsu would not dare appear rashly to urge him to speed up the Eye of the Moon Plan.

During this time, in order for Madara Uchiha to awaken the Rinnegan and to carry out the Eye of the Moon Plan sooner, Black Zetsu had frequently lurked around Shirou Emiya's residence in Konoha, urging him to leave Konoha quickly.

What was it nagging for...

Did it really think he was some model filial son...

Reviving Kaguya Otsutsuki would only make everyone unhappy...

Even with Shirou Emiya's broad-mindedness, he was starting to lose patience with Black Zetsu's nagging.

Now...

Tobirama Senju's arrangement would also spare him from having to constantly listen to Black Zetsu's chatter.

"Monkey, Danzo."

Tobirama Senju called over Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo, whom he had arranged beforehand. Pointing at the two boys who had leapt out, he introduced them, "Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo. These two youngsters are Konoha's finest rising-generation shinobi."

"..."

Shirou Emiya looked at Tobirama Senju with some hesitation.

No...

Was he serious?

He wanted Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzo to come?

These were Konoha's future Third Hokage and Fifth and a Half Hokage.

"Having these two youngsters stay by Lord Shirou's side is also because I hope they can follow Lord Shirou and learn from him."

Worried that Shirou Emiya might refuse, Tobirama Senju stroked the heads of the young Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo, explaining earnestly, "If they are fortunate enough to receive Lord Shirou's guidance and inherit Lord Shirou's Ninja Way, then perhaps they too can bring change to Konoha in the future..."

"Lord Shirou."

"Konoha hopes to bring everlasting peace to the Shinobi World."

Relying on Shirou Emiya's good heart, Tobirama Senju once again resorted to moral pressure. "But the children of the next generation ultimately need guidance. Only then can the ideal of peace in the Shinobi World be passed down without end..."