The Main World.
Autumn, Konoha Year Twenty-Two.
Konoha, the Hokage Building.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood before the window, looking down at Konoha below. He wore the Hokage hat on his head and the Hokage's white ceremonial robe. The character for "fire" was carved into the hat, carved by Tobirama Senju himself. In his hand, he held a freshly printed booklet. It was thin, only a dozen or so pages, with Tobirama Senju's portrait on the cover and a line printed beneath it-"Will of Fire: Doctrine."
Mitokado Homura stood behind him, holding an identical booklet, his expression somewhat conflicted.
"Third Hokage, isn't this... going too far?"
"Too far?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi turned around and looked at him.
"Master Tobirama Senju devoted his entire life to Konoha. He designed the Anbu, the Ninja Academy, and the Chunin Ninja Exams system. He developed Flying Thunder God, Shadow Clone, and Impure World Reincarnation. He trained us and protected Konoha. Doesn't he deserve to be a 'god'?"
Mitokado Homura opened his mouth, but no words came out.
"Besides, Konoha needs faith."
Hiruzen Sarutobi walked back to his desk and sat down.
"You saw Danzo's Rebellion. Those Anbu Ninja, those Root Ninja-they all shouted 'For Konoha' before they died. They truly believed. Completely and utterly. But what they believed in was Tobirama Senju, the Will of Fire, and Konoha, not Danzo, much less me, Hiruzen Sarutobi. So we must make what they believe in more powerful."
Mitokado Homura remained silent for a long time.
"Then... what do you intend to do?"
"Declare Tobirama Senju a 'god.'"
Hiruzen Sarutobi opened the booklet.
"Turn the Will of Fire into 'doctrine.' Turn Konoha's ninja into 'believers.' Sacrificing oneself for Konoha is 'martyrdom.' Martyrs ascend to the 'Pure Land,' to be with all the Hokage through the ages."
Mitokado Homura's pupils contracted