Half a year had passed, and Danzo, now free from house arrest, was growing restless.
The Third Hokage had gained a new trump card as well.
At that moment, within the Sarutobi clan head's residence.
The Third Hokage, who had gotten off work early, was speaking with someone who looked ninety percent like him. However, the whites of this man's eyes were black.
His face was also covered in black cracks.
"That's the situation," the Third Hokage said quietly, his voice carrying a trace of weariness and helplessness.
The man opposite him—Sasuke Sarutobi—raised his eyes slightly, a cold glint flashing through his pitch-black sclera. His voice was calm, yet carried the steadiness of someone weathered by time. "I see... Because the Uchiha produced an unprecedented genius, you were even forced to trade the Flying Thunder God Technique and the Soul Transformation Art. In the end, you had no choice but to violate your principles and learn the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu?"
The reason the Third Hokage had learned the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu earlier and more easily than Orochimaru was entirely because he possessed Tobirama Senju's complete development notes on Impure World Reincarnation. Orochimaru, on the other hand, had only obtained the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu from the Scroll of Seals.
Furthermore, as a safeguard, the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu recorded in the Scroll of Seals had been simplified, with certain crucial details omitted.
That was why Orochimaru had spent so many years trying to learn the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu and still had yet to master it.
Just like Kabuto Yakushi in the future, who had easily learned the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu with Orochimaru's study notes and even improved upon it, the Third Hokage was the same.
The Third Hokage gave a bitter smile, his fingers unconsciously rubbing