Amid the excited cheers of tens of thousands, Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yuhi walked to the center of the stage, both visibly moved.

The two exchanged a glance. Both of their faces flushed slightly red.

At the very beginning, Hirofumi Ito had simply invited them, saying something about holding a concert, and asked them to perform a romantic duet. Neither had thought too much about it and agreed right away.

They had never imagined the venue would turn out this electrifying. There were tens of thousands of people out there.

Wasn't this basically a public confession in front of tens of thousands of people?!

Just thinking about it made Asuma Sarutobi's heart race even harder.

From the VIP seats, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, watched the whole scene with a look of deep contentment spreading across that face.

A son who had reached the age to start a family and build a life...

The future of the Hidden Leaf Village was full of light.

So many mistakes in the past, but now there was a chance to make up for all of it.

Perhaps that was the opportunity heaven had given.

A chance to see what the future Shinobi World would look like.

Maybe Asuma's child should just be named Sarutobi Mirai someday...

The accompaniment kicked in, the same ferociously energetic DJ version as before.

After getting past the initial nerves, Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yuhi both completely let themselves go. madara uchiha and hashirama senju had already set a great precedent, after all.

"Who is my groom~~

Don't keep me looking all around~~

Don't keep me guessing every day~~

Who is my groom~~

Who is my groom~~

Ah hey~ come quickly to my side~~

..."

Down below the stage, Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes brimmed with tears. Up on that stage were a son and a future daughter-in-law.

And all around, couple after couple...

Over there, hashirama senju and madara uchiha were sitting together.

Hiruzen's own teacher, the Second Hokage, was sitting with Izuna Uchiha.

minato namikaze and Fugaku Uchiha were chatting happily about something.

Might Duy seemed to be going over the song with Sakumo Hatake, working out what to perform later.

Hirofumi Ito was huddled together with the Konoha 11 on the other side.

Looking around now, it seemed like Hiruzen was the only one sitting there completely alone.

A long sigh escaped.

Alas... out of nowhere, Hiruzen found himself missing Danzō Shimura a little...

That soul flame should still be inside Hirofumi's Summoning Space, right?

The Hidden Leaf Village was so lively now. It would be nice if Danzō could see it too.

Whether it was Hiruzen or Danzō... they had both been wrong.

Hirofumi Ito would definitely bring a bright future to the Hidden Leaf Village.

A conflicted look crossed Hiruzen Sarutobi's face. After a brief moment, Hiruzen stood up and walked toward Hirofumi Ito.

"Hirofumi..."

"What's wrong, Third Hokage? Is something the matter?!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression held a trace of bitterness.

"There is something... it's just... the Hidden Leaf Village is so lively right now, thriving and full of life. I hope Danzō can see it too.

The two of us have done so many wrong things over the years. It's not just that I changed — Danzō changed too. But I can guarantee that deep down, Danzō still cares about this village.

So... Hirofumi... could you let Danzō come out and take a look at the Hidden Leaf Village as it is now? Just consider it a request from this old man.

Don't worry. Once Danzō is out, I will personally keep watch. Absolutely no trouble — I promise."

Hirofumi Ito paused for a moment after hearing that. What does it mean to be a true best friend?! This, right here, was a true best friend!

He had to hand it to Hiruzen Sarutobi: the bond between Hiruzen and Danzō Shimura was genuinely something else. Even now, Hiruzen was still thinking of Danzō. And honestly, calling Danzō out wasn't impossible, as long as Danzō didn't cause any trouble, it would be fine.

The earnings from this concert alone would absolutely be no small sum. Resurrecting Danzō would only run fifty million.

And as long as Danzō stayed alive, the Sharingan implanted in that body wouldn't disappear. Those eyes could still be used for research.

Hirofumi Ito gave a nod.

"No problem, Third Hokage. For me it's a small matter. But you have to keep a close eye on Danzō — today is a major occasion for our Hidden Leaf Village, and my two masters are both very happy. I don't want Danzō spoiling everyone's mood..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi gave a vigorous, excited nod.

"Don't worry, Hirofumi! I absolutely won't let Danzō cause any trouble! And I'll make things clear to Danzō, we were both wrong, all these years. I'll make Danzō atone for the Hidden Leaf Village with whatever life remains!"

Hirofumi Ito stopped hesitating.

Last time, three billion had come from Shisui Uchiha, the Logistics Department head, and that three billion had gone into three separate Prismatic Reanimations, reviving three Otsutsuki members.

Those three were still alive. Sealed up and hanging in the Research and Development Department like cocoons, subjected every day to Orochimaru's relentless scientific experiments.

Those revived through Prismatic Reanimation possess entirely new bodies, while their original corpses continue to exist. When a Prismatic Reanimation subject dies again, though, the new body turns to a soul flame.

And previously, Orochimaru had already used Urashiki Otsutsuki's corpse to produce a Chakra Fruit. That corpse was gone.

The three currently under Prismatic Reanimation couldn't go through the same operation, if they died, any Chakra Fruit produced would vanish along with them. But cells and Chakra could still be extracted from them for cloning experiments.

As long as all three originals were kept alive, that was all that mattered.

After spending three billion back then, the Wealth Value remaining on the system panel had been nine hundred million.

Hirofumi Ito reached out to the system.

"System! Consume fifty million Wealth Value to resurrect Danzō Shimura!"

[50,000,000 Wealth Value consumed!]

[Summoning System

Host: Hirofumi Ito

Wealth Value: 850,000,000

White Summon: 0

Green Summon: 0

Blue Summon: 0

Purple Summon: 0

Gold Summon: 0

Prismatic Reanimation: 0]

Eight hundred and fifty million in remaining Wealth Value. Hirofumi Ito wasn't worried in the slightest, the earnings from this concert alone would definitely be no small number.

"Summoning Technique!"

BOOM!

Danzō Shimura's soul flame erupted out. Inside the golden summoning circle, that flame slowly took shape, solidifying, filling out, resolving into a body once more.

Watching from the side, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt something overwhelming surge through that chest.

A dear friend...

Had finally come back.

And now that dear friend would get to see it, the Hidden Leaf Village, loud and alive and thriving.

➤ Next: Asuma Sarutobi's Face Turns Green

Chapter 234 - Asuma Sarutobi's Face Turns Green

The young version of Danzō Shimura, possessing a Mangekyō and an entire arm covered in Sharingan, appeared before Hirofumi Ito once again.

"Sarutobi! I am the Hokage!"

BOOM!

Hiruzen Sarutobi reached out and knocked Danzō hard on the head.

"Danzō! Have you still not come to your senses?!"

"Damn you, Sarutobi! How dare you hit me?! You will regret this!"

BOOM!

Without a word, Hiruzen Sarutobi delivered another rocket headbutt straight to the skull.

"Danzō! I... no, wait — Hirofumi is the Hokage!"

Only then did Danzō realize: this was yet another resurrection.

Last time, Danzō had barely been revived before getting cut down. Every last trump card had been played out in front of madara uchiha, only to end up looking like a clown, not even worthy of giving madara uchiha a proper fight.

Now Danzō looked around in some confusion.

What had happened to the Hidden Leaf Village?

Why were so many people gathered here?

What were all these people cheering about?

And why was the lighting so blindingly bright?

What on earth had happened to the village all this time?

And what was that enormous stage over there?

The two people on it, were those... Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yuhi? Those two were up there singing?!

For a moment, Danzō Shimura was completely at a loss.

It seemed like not much time had passed since the death, and yet somehow the Hidden Leaf Village felt like an entirely different place from the one Danzō had known.

"Sarutobi... what in the world is going on?!"

"Danzō... I know you're eager, but hold on a moment! Our village is in the middle of a concert right now!"

"A concert?!"

"That's right... and it's not just everyone from the Hidden Leaf Village gathered here — merchants and wealthy figures from many other countries have come to the Hidden Leaf Village as well!

I thought the village was so lively right now, so I found Hirofumi and asked to have you come see it...

Danzō... both of us made mistakes in the past. The Hidden Leaf Village today is completely different from the one we knew during our time.

The Hidden Leaf Village of the future will be unimaginably strong...

So... Danzō... let it go. Let us atone together for the sins we once committed.

Let us witness together just how far the future Hidden Leaf Village will go!"

Hearing those words, Danzō Shimura's expression grew complicated.

To think that this old friend would actually stand here and admit past mistakes face to face.

Because the old Hiruzen Sarutobi had almost never admitted to being wrong, even when there clearly was a mistake, the only response was ever: I am the Hokage!

The incident with the Land of Lightning. The death of Hizashi Hyūga. Danzō had been completely against what happened that day.

Danzō had wanted to go to war with the Land of Lightning right then and there.

But Hiruzen Sarutobi had refused.

There had been many reasons Danzō wanted to go to war back then. First and foremost, if war broke out, Danzō could use battlefield achievements as a stepping stone toward becoming a Hokage candidate. And through an opportunity like that, Danzō could also win the friendship of the Hyūga Clan.

That was the selfish part.

The rest came from something else entirely, not wanting the Hidden Leaf Village to suffer such humiliation. Not wanting the village to offer up the life of one of its own people in exchange for so-called peace.

That affair was a complete disgrace. An absolute, unforgivable disgrace!

And yet Hiruzen Sarutobi had chosen to bow the head anyway.

That good friend had lost the courage to face Kumogakure of the Land of Lightning. After the Second Great Ninja War, after the death of their teacher, Hiruzen had simply lost the will to confront the Land of Lightning ever again.

But Danzō had never once been able to forget that humiliation.

That was also why Danzō had kept striving to become Hokage all along.

If Danzō had ever become Hokage, the very first order of business would have been to make Kumogakure pay!

What a shame. Danzō had never become Hokage, not to the very end.

Never fulfilled that dream.

Gazing out at the extraordinarily lively scene, Danzō's mind went blank for just a moment. Right now Danzō was young, and Hiruzen Sarutobi was young too, perhaps getting a look at the Hidden Leaf Village of the future wasn't such a bad thing after all.

Thinking this, the young Danzō, who was actually a little good-looking, tilted that chin up with a haughty air.

"Hmph! Sarutobi..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi broke into an excited grin and grabbed Danzō by the arm.

"Hey! Danzō~ come on, let's go watch the concert!"

"Damn it! Shut your mouth! The name is Danzō! Not Danzō-chan!"

"Ahh~ I know, I know! Danzō-chan!"

BOOM!

"Shut up! Sarutobi!"

..............

And so, bodily dragged along by Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzō Shimura ended up sitting down right beside Hiruzen, while Hirofumi Ito watched the whole scene with a deeply strange look on his face.

Right then... another pair of best buddies had materialized.

And that nickname "Danzō-chan" felt incredibly weird no matter how Hirofumi thought about it.

Especially the sight of Hiruzen Sarutobi tugging on Danzō's arm with that dopey grin, calling out "Danzō-chan" over and over again.

Just picturing it gave Hirofumi goosebumps all over.

That said, young Danzō actually was kind of good-looking. Credit where it's due.

Especially that little scar on the chin. It had a genuinely rugged, masculine quality to it. No wonder both Tsunade and Shizune had turned red in the face when they saw photos of young Danzō.

Up on stage, the performance by Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yuhi was approaching its finale.

Kurenai Yuhi's striking figure and flawless looks had won quite a few fans. Asuma Sarutobi, by comparison, had left something to be desired.

"Kurenai Yuhi is gorgeous!"

"Kurenai! I should be your groom!"

"Kick that bearded guy to the curb! I've got plenty of money!"

"How can that despicable bearded guy just walk off with a beauty like that?!"

"An absolute goddess like her ended up as that bearded guy's girlfriend?!"

"Damn it all!"

"God, my heart is bleeding!"

"That beard looks like the face of a total creep — one look and you can tell he's a shrimp-head! Greasy, oily shrimp-head!"

"..."

Standing up on the stage, Asuma Sarutobi's face had gone practically green hearing all of this. Asuma was privately wondering whether to shave off that dashing little beard afterward.

Kurenai Yuhi looked at Asuma Sarutobi's fuming expression and barely suppressed a laugh, gently reaching over to take Asuma's hand.

"Asuma... you're not actually jealous, are you?!"

"Ha... don't be ridiculous! Me, jealous?!

You know exactly what kind of man I am, Kurenai!

It's just... is this beard of mine really that ugly..."

Kurenai Yuhi looked at Asuma Sarutobi with a small smile.

"Mm... it really isn't very attractive..."

"Hmph! I'm shaving it off tomorrow!"

➤ Next: Cutting to a Live-Read Advertisement