At noon, a figure entered the quiet conference room. It was Uzumaki Kuming, who had returned from outside the village after retrieving the Rinnegan. Just over ten minutes earlier, in the name of the Fourth Hokage, he had summoned all of Konoha's middle and upper ranks. This conference room was the gathering place.
Portraits of every Hokage hung on the walls of the conference room. At the very front was Konoha's founder, the First, Senju Hashirama.
Uzumaki Kuming entered the conference room, his pair of Rinnegan silently fixed on Senju Hashirama's portrait for a long while without a word.
All enemies from Madara Uchiha's line have been eliminated. The only threats that remain will come from beyond this world.
Before the crisis arrives, it is necessary to gather the strength of the entire shinobi world. To achieve that, some sacrifices are unavoidable.
Your way of maintaining peace in the shinobi world was wrong. I will correct your mistake.
Uzumaki Kuming looked at Senju Hashirama's portrait and thought to himself.
"Kuming, why did you suddenly summon the village's key personnel? What exactly happened?"
At that moment, the conference room door opened. A slightly stooped figure entered and looked at Uzumaki Kuming, who stood before the portraits of the previous Hokage, before asking aloud.
"Teacher Sarutobi, it has been a long time. You have aged quite a bit."
Uzumaki Kuming turned toward the doorway. His red bangs covered his forehead, making his face impossible to see clearly.
The one who had entered the conference room was none other than Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, who had retired many years ago.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was seventy-four this year. Thanks to his comfortable life over the years, his complexion was actually quite good. Other than his graying beard and pale hair, his face alone did