Leaving the Village

"What? Tobirama Senju had been revived? And he'd become Hokage again!?"

Within Kumogakure, Fourth Raikage A listened to the information sent back by the spies they had planted in Konoha, his face full of disbelief.

"Damn it, that cursed Konoha can develop any jutsu they want. Why don't they revive Hashirama Senju too!"

"The Second Hokage, that old fox, had returned? He wasn't as weak as Hiruzen Sarutobi."

In Iwagakure, Ōnoki fell into thought.

All four great nations learned that Tobirama Senju had been revived, and they were deeply shocked.

Inside a secluded cave.

"Obito, the Second Hokage has been revived. We need to speed up our plan."

White Zetsu had spread throughout the ninja world, gathering intelligence for Black Zetsu. Black Zetsu learned this news immediately and hurried to meet Obito.

"The Second Hokage? He's nothing more than a dead man. Once the Tailed Beasts are gathered and the Ten-Tails is revived, what can he do to me? Even if Hashirama Senju himself came back to life, so what? No one can stop the Eye of the Moon Plan..."

Obito spoke without the slightest fear.

"Still, the plan's progress does need to be accelerated. I need to go see Nagato."

With that, Obito put on his spiral mask and became the lively Tobi once more.

His whole body vanished into a black vortex.

"Hmph. Once Mother is revived, the entire ninja world will tremble."

After watching Obito leave, Black Zetsu muttered softly to himself. Then he burrowed into the ground and disappeared.

Konoha.

After arranging all the village's affairs, Tobirama Senju had Shikaku Nara handle official duties on his behalf and prepared to travel to the Land of Fire's capital to meet with the daimyo and discuss the change in Hokage.

After taking office, every Hokage needed to travel to the Land of Fire to meet the daimyo and maintain their relationship.

Although Konoha was not under the daimyo's control, ninja villages were nominally regarded as a nation's military force.

The First and Second Hokage had both gone before.

But for the reincarnated Tobirama, this was his first time.

Although he scorned the ninja world's one-country, one-village system, he still had to put on the necessary show.

Once Tobirama unified the entire ninja world, he would certainly reform its system.

Accompanying Tobirama Senju were members of his Shadow Guard Squad.

Back in the day, Tobirama Senju's Shadow Guard Squad had consisted of his six disciples. But now, some were dead while others held high positions. They had all become Konoha's older generation, so naturally they could no longer accompany Tobirama.

Tobirama simply brought the Fourth Hokage's former guards under his command.

They were Genma Shiranui, Namiashi Raidō, and Iwashi Tatami—the three-man group known as Konoha's gatekeepers. Together, they could use the Flying Thunder Formation Technique.

"Lord Hokage, you're only taking the three of them with you. Isn't that defensive force too thin? I'm worried that someone with ulterior motives might plot against you."

Shikaku Nara tried to dissuade him.

"Heh, Shikaku, if we truly encounter a crisis that even I can't stop, what use would more guards be?"

Tobirama Senju replied with a faint smile. With his current strength, unless the entire Akatsuki, together with Obito, joined forces to assassinate him, no one could truly do anything to him. Even if he could not win, he could flee using the Flying Thunder God.

Tobirama had even considered going to the Land of Fire's capital alone. If the village had not strongly insisted, he would not have wanted to bring these three guards at all.

"That's true. Lord Hokage is so powerful. It seems I was overthinking it."

Shikaku Nara nodded. Recalling Tobirama Senju's invincible bearing when facing one of the Legendary Sannin, Orochimaru, he finally relaxed.

If this trip could draw out some of the village's hidden rats, or those covetous outsiders, Tobirama would welcome it.

Tobirama Senju's era had been far too long ago. Even though he was the Ninja God's younger brother, aside from Ōnoki, who belonged to his generation, who in the ninja world still remembered Tobirama's formidable reputation?

In those people's eyes, he had merely ridden on his brother's coattails and luckily become Hokage.

Therefore, Tobirama Senju wanted to see which rats would test him once he left the village.

He would let everyone know that as long as Tobirama Senju remained, Konoha's Hokage could only be him. No one could shake his position.

Konoha's entrance.

Dressed in the Hokage's ceremonial robe and wearing the Hokage's conical hat, Tobirama exchanged a few words with the Konoha villagers who had come to see him off before saying to Shikaku Nara:

"Shikaku, I'll leave the village to you for the time being. If there's anything you don't understand, ask Hiruzen. If anything major happens in the village, pour chakra into the kunai I left behind, and I'll return immediately."

"Understood. Please rest assured, Lord Hokage!"

Shikaku Nara answered solemnly. As an intelligent man, he naturally understood that the Hokage delegating authority to him was a sign of trust. As long as he chose the right side, the Ino–Shika–Chō clans could prosper as well.

Tobirama nodded.

"All right, everyone. Return to the village and attend to your duties."

Tobirama bid everyone farewell and slowly left Konoha amid a burst of cheers.

His three Shadow Guard Squad members followed him in secret.

"Tobirama Senju has left the village. Spread the news." A soft voice emerged from the shadows.