Hiruzen Sarutobi was not wearing the white Hokage's Robe at that moment, but a dark, close-fitting combat outfit.
"What exactly happened?"
"Nothing much, really."
Shikaku Nara relayed the latest information he had just received from the Sensory Unit ninja.
"The Nine-Tails' chakra appeared over at the Naka River Reservoir-a complete chakra signature.
"Just like the Two-Tails, Three-Tails, and Eight-Tails before.
"I think the Fifth Hokage simply did what he would do."
He unsealed the Nine-Tails...?
The figure of a little blond boy flashed instinctively through Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind.
I wonder how Naruto...
Just then.
A commotion suddenly came from outside the Hokage Building.
Even from some distance away, the cheers erupting outside could be heard clearly inside the building.
Uchiha Minamoto teleported from the Naka River Reservoir to the foot of the Hokage Building with Tsunade and the others. The Fifth Hokage's white Hokage's Robe stood out unmistakably among the crowd.
Back at the Naka River Reservoir.
Uchiha Minamoto's [Heavenly Net] had already sensed the widespread shock erupting among the villagers.
To reassure the villagers, he deliberately appeared at the foot of the Hokage Building this time instead of teleporting straight back to the Hokage's Office.
The instant the villagers on Konoha's streets and the members of the Konoha Military Police Force saw that white Hokage's Robe, their cheers quickly drowned out every other reaction.
"Light of Konoha!"
"Lord Fifth Hokage!"
"The Fifth Hokage is back! Everything will be fine!"
Even though Uchiha Minamoto had merely shown his face and had yet to explain anything.
The panic among the Konoha villagers gathered in the streets quickly subsided.
"Don't panic, everyone."
Uchiha Minamoto glanced around at the villagers, then raised his right hand and pressed it downward twice in the air.
"The village is safe."
Only two sentences, but coming from