The Uchiha clansmen cheering in excitement, the Girl Group members laughing through their tears.
The girls calling out, "Genya!"
And those strange guys in green jumpsuits, waving their fists and shouting about "youth"...
The corners of his mouth twitched.
"Those ones over there..."
He pointed in one direction.
"The loudest one, wearing a green jumpsuit, who keeps shouting something about Genya setting his youth ablaze..."
The Third Hokage followed his finger.
Sure enough, Guy was weeping with excitement, while Rock Lee had dropped to his knees beside him, palms pressed together as though worshipping a deity.
"And over there."
Tobirama Senju pointed in another direction.
"The Hyuga Clan's leader, his daughter, and those kids Genya's age... there's no fear in their eyes when they look at him. There's trust. Admiration."
The Third Hokage fell silent.
Tobirama Senju withdrew his gaze, his voice heavy with mixed emotions.
"That boy's bonds run deep in Konoha. Family, friends, comrades, even rivals... he hasn't just won through strength. He's won their hearts."
"If he really were a second Madara Uchiha, with his current strength, he would probably have conquered the shinobi world by force already. But he hasn't. He cares about these people. He cares about this village."
"An Uchiha like that..."
Tobirama Senju let out a rare sigh.
"He's more frightening than Madara, and luckier, too."
The Third Hokage listened in a daze, a jumble of emotions swirling inside him.
Just then!
BOOM!!!
A violent explosion from the battlefield interrupted their conversation!
Both men whipped their heads around to see Genya attacking again!
"Kick them while they're down!"
Genya's voice rang across the sky.
"First Hokage, take this!"
Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!
A massive fire dragon erupted from his mouth, charging straight toward the crater in the mountainside!
A slash followed right