Bad News

Upon seeing her, Aokiji thought, So this was the First Hokage's wife, Uzumaki Mito—the woman who stole Uchiha Madara's best friend?

Perhaps because she had the Nine-Tails sealed inside her and feared it might go berserk, she had remained indoors for long periods. This was Aokiji's first time seeing her since coming to this world. Though she was already advanced in years, she was still a beauty, her elegance undiminished by time.

Seeing the diamond-shaped mark on her forehead, Aokiji guessed that Tsunade's future Strength of a Hundred Seal might have been learned from her and further improved.

If he had the chance later, Aokiji would steal that technique for himself. Eternal youth was a good thing.

Mito wore a grave expression, as though shrouded in gloom.

Though Mito held a high position, she never put on airs and always greeted others with a warm smile. It was Biwako's first time seeing such an expression on her face, and she vaguely sensed that something bad had happened.

Tsunade ran happily toward her and threw herself into her arms, raising her little head. "Grandma Mito, why are you here?"

Seeing her adorable, spoiled manner, Aokiji found it hard to connect her with the violent, hot-tempered big sister she usually was.

"Tsunade..."

Mito parted her lips slightly, wanting to speak but unable to. After something like that had happened, she truly did not know how to break the news.

Tsunade sensed that something was wrong and asked carefully, "What happened?"

After a long while, Mito's face darkened as she heavily revealed the truth. "Your second grandfather was suddenly ambushed while negotiating with the Second Raikage... He died..."

Upon hearing this, Tsunade froze. Then her mind went blank. By the time she came back to herself, her body had already collapsed to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut.

"Tsunade."

"Tsunade."

"Tsunade."

Within a secluded residence in the Uchiha Clan Compound.

Uchiha Madara had been considering how to train Aokiji next when he suddenly seemed to sense something and slowly raised his head.

Before long, a low voice came from outside the door. "My apologies for disturbing your rest so suddenly, but there is extremely important news that must be reported to you."

"What is it?"

Uchiha Madara controlled Elder Itachi and replied in an indifferent tone.

Normally, the person reporting from outside would not open the door, as that would be disrespectful. Therefore, Uchiha Madara had not bothered to hide somewhere inconspicuous to avoid being seen.

But even if someone saw him, it did not matter. At worst, he could simply use the Sharingan to erase their memories.

"The Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, has died..."

At this news, even Uchiha Madara's pupils rapidly dilated in shock. He asked incredulously, "What did you say!?"

Tobirama had long been known as the fastest shinobi in the Ninja World. Even Uchiha Madara admitted he could not match him in that regard. In this world, other than himself, who could kill him head-on? Uchiha Madara pondered for a moment. "How did he die?"

"It seems..."

Uchiha Madara frowned and cut him off. "Don't tell me 'it seems.' I want accurate intelligence."

"Yes."

The ninja outside was somewhat frightened by the overwhelming aura Elder Itachi suddenly released. After organizing his thoughts, he said, "According... according to the accounts of those involved, while the Second Hokage and the Second Raikage were discussing an alliance, Kinkaku and Ginkaku of Kirigakure suddenly launched a coup, causing the Second Raikage to die on the spot. The Second Hokage was severely injured. While fleeing, he chose to stay behind to protect several of his disciples and unfortunately perished."

Uchiha Madara fell silent for a while. "You may leave."

After dismissing the subordinate outside, he clenched his fist slightly, unwilling to accept it.

Tobirama had killed his younger brother Izuna. Uchiha Madara had originally planned to cause Tobirama some trouble while he was still in office, let him suffer properly, play with him for a while, and then kill him in the end.

Now that Tobirama was dead, all of that had become meaningless.

News of the Second Hokage's death quickly swept through all of Konoha.

Before the martyrs' memorial, the hearts of those who had come to mourn were as gray and gloomy as the clouds blanketing the sky.

Aokiji wore the same black mourning clothes as everyone else and blended into the crowd.

Standing in the first row before the memorial were Tsunade and the other relatives.

The second row consisted of the Second Hokage's disciples: Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shimura Danzō, Torifu Akimichi, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu. Only Kagami Uchiha was absent.

"Dad..."

A young boy wept bitterly, tears streaming down his face.

The boy was named Suikyo. He was Kagami Uchiha's only son.

Tobirama had chosen to stay behind and draw most of the enemy fire, but some enemies had still bypassed the Second Hokage and pursued his disciples. Kagami Uchiha had heroically died while protecting his companions. The enemy fire had been so fierce that not even his body could be recovered.

A young woman patted Suikyo on the shoulder. She was Kagami's wife. She wanted to say something to comfort Suikyo, but the words caught in her throat. Her grief was no less than Suikyo's, but her duty as a mother drove her onward. She took a deep breath and was just about to speak when she suddenly saw a pair of scarlet, blazing eyes.

"Suikyo, your eyes..."

"Mom, what's wrong with my eyes?"

"The Sharingan..."

Opening the Sharingan required intense emotions. Now that Suikyo had learned the terrible news of his father's death, he naturally opened his Sharingan.

Though it was improper to be distracted during a memorial service, Uchiha Suikyo successfully opening his eyes still drew the attention of many Uchiha Clan members. Every pair of Sharingan was a precious asset to the clan.

Upon hearing the conversation between the mother and son behind him, a young man with bandages wrapped around the right side of his face and a fork-shaped scar on his chin twitched his ears slightly. His left eye narrowed, his gaze deep and unfathomable.

Danzo, one of the Second Hokage's disciples.

During this escape, he had been ambushed by the enemy and unfortunately lost his right eye. The bandages that now covered his once-handsome face gave him an added air of mystery and darkness.

"Sharingan... Mangekyō Sharingan..."

Danzo murmured inwardly. A wary look unlike any before surfaced in his remaining left eye.

Under normal circumstances, even with the Second Hokage's heroic sacrifice, it would have been difficult for the few of them to escape being surrounded and annihilated.

Yet at that moment of crisis, one of them, Kagami Uchiha, had been mentally stimulated upon hearing that the Second Hokage had died at the hands of Kinkaku and Ginkaku, unleashing an unprecedented and terrifying power.

The Second Hokage's disciples had witnessed the entire process of Kagami opening his eyes. It was hard to imagine that the normally gentle and refined Kagami could suddenly become so unfamiliar. His chakra had turned incomparably cold and abnormal, as though he had become a completely different person.

In the past, they had been wary of the Uchiha Clan mostly because of their teacher's influence. At times, they had even wondered whether their teacher had been making too much of it.

But after witnessing the entire process of Kagami opening his Mangekyō Sharingan, they suddenly understood why Teacher Tobirama had been so wary of the Uchiha Clan. Even a gentle and refined man like Kagami became so unfamiliar the instant he opened the Mangekyō Sharingan, let alone the other members of the Uchiha Clan.

Moreover, an Uchiha who awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan would see their strength skyrocket instantly. Kagami Uchiha was a living example.

Every Uchiha Clan member with the Sharingan was an unstable ticking time bomb... They had to be strictly guarded against.

The Second Hokage's disciples all unconsciously branded that belief into their minds.

The mourning did not last long. Everyone began to leave one after another. Their grief was real, but there were even more important matters that needed handling next, matters that took priority over mourning the dead.

With the Second Hokage dead, the position of Hokage stood vacant. To prevent enemies from exploiting the situation, the most urgent task was to select a Hokage immediately and stabilize the village internally.

Aokiji left with his clansmen as well. Before leaving, he glanced at Tsunade, who was shedding large tears one after another. He did not go over to comfort her. Time was the best painkiller...

After that, Konoha immediately began the election for the Third Hokage. With the Second Hokage's appointment before his death and the support of the major forces behind him, Sarutobi Hiruzen became the Third Hokage without dispute despite encountering some resistance along the way.

Thus, Konohagakure entered a new chapter.