Tobirama Senju, Fallen in This World

The meeting room fell into dead silence.

No one wanted to accept this outcome, yet they had to admit that Toji's deduction was very likely to become reality.

[To cover the Shadow Guard's retreat, Tobirama had voluntarily given up the Flying Thunder God and his hope of survival. The Shadow Guard, meant to protect the Shadow, had instead become the root cause of the Shadow's sacrifice.]

What kind of absurd reversal was this?

Under Toji's guidance, everyone could not help but ponder that question.

Senju Touka's eyes reddened as she stood there blankly, unable to say a word. She could not accept that the ones who had driven her husband into a dead end were the very disciples he had painstakingly trained.

Toji glanced around the room and secretly laughed.

Preconceived notions were important, and he had successfully planted the "correct" idea in Konoha's upper ranks.

Even if the Shadow Guard returned to Konoha alive and brought back Tobirama's final orders, they would not be able to overturn that perception.

Did guards who had failed in their duty deserve to inherit the Hokage's position?

Toji Zenin abruptly changed tack, displaying the responsibility expected of Tobirama's close friend and the acting Hokage. "But! No matter how dangerous the situation is, the rescue force must depart. The Hokage is in danger. We absolutely cannot stand by and watch."

"Operation: Bring Back the Second Shadow!"

Toji immediately announced the formation of a special rescue unit, drawing elite ninja still in the village to rescue the Hokage's party.

The rescue force had only one objective: bring him back alive if possible; bring back his body if not. In other words, "bring back the Second Shadow."

If the Second Hokage was still alive, they would escort him safely home. If the Second Hokage