Chapter 217 (Patreon)

Orochimaru was still wearing his white lab coat when Nawaki and the First Hokage arrived at the research institute.

Their unexpected visit surprised him. Their request surprised him even more.

They wanted him to bring back the Second Hokage with Edo Tensei?

He was certainly willing. The chance to speak with Tobirama Senju, a master who had created so many forbidden jutsu, was an opportunity he would welcome. There was much they could discuss—and much Orochimaru hoped to learn.

There was only one problem: Kizaru and Sarutobi-sensei had already given him explicit instructions about the technique.

Orochimaru was quite satisfied with his present circumstances. The research institute was growing steadily, and the village had provided ample support for his own projects.

He had no desire to jeopardize that relationship with the new Hokage. His future research would require Kizaru’s continued support, after all.

“I prepared the necessary sacrifice and everything else needed to reanimate Lord Second some time ago,” he said. “The procedure can be performed whenever it is required.”

Nawaki’s eyes lit up.

“Then let’s do it now, Orochimaru-sensei!”

Orochimaru maintained his faint smile.

“After I reanimated Lord First, both Kizaru and Sarutobi-sensei spoke to me. They instructed me not to use Edo Tensei again unless there was a genuine need.”

“But this is important!” Nawaki protested, his excitement giving way to disappointment.

Orochimaru shook his head gently, then turned to Hashirama.

“Lord First, if you have a reason to bring him back, perhaps you could discuss it with Kizaru. Without his approval, you would be putting me in a rather difficult position.”

Hashirama took no offense. Orochimaru’s refusal was perfectly reasonable. A forbidden jutsu that summoned the dead was hardly something to use on a whim.

“I understand. I’ll speak to Kizaru. There’s no need to put you in that position.”

“Thank you for understanding, Lord First.”

“Hahaha! Don’t worry about it. You’re right to follow the Hokage’s instructions!”

Hashirama found himself liking the young man even more.

Orochimaru had exceptional talent for both ninjutsu and research, yet he respected the Hokage’s authority without letting his ability go to his head. He was a fine shinobi.

Thinking of the two advisers’ misconduct, and of Hiruzen shielding his old companions, Hashirama sighed inwardly.

Hiruzen might have made a mess of a few things himself, but he had certainly done well with his students.

“Grandpa, Kizaru should still be at the Hokage’s office,” Nawaki said. “Let’s go see him now!”

Nawaki had never been patient when there was something he wanted to do. Once he made up his mind, he preferred to get on with it.

“All right, let’s go!”

They waved goodbye to Orochimaru and left the institute for the Hokage Building.

When they reached the open space in front of the building, Hashirama caught Nawaki by the arm.

“Gra—sir? What’s wrong?”

Nawaki stopped, catching himself just before he addressed his grandfather too familiarly in public.

“Once you take me to Kizaru’s office, wait outside. I’d like to speak with him alone.”

Hashirama still did not know how much Kizaru had been involved in the village’s problems, or whether the young Hokage had benefited from them himself.

There was also the possibility that Nawaki’s account reflected only his own impressions. As the First Hokage, Hashirama wanted to hear more than one side before reaching a conclusion.

He thought highly of Kizaru. That was precisely why he wanted to hear the young man’s own views on the uglier parts of the village’s affairs.

“Oh... all right.”

Nawaki would have liked to stay and listen, but he agreed without further protest.

With Nawaki leading the way, Hashirama passed through the building without being stopped or searched. They soon reached the Hokage’s office on the top floor.

Leaving his grandson outside, Hashirama entered.

Kizaru had already sensed his approach.

“Tani, would you keep Nawaki company?” he said from his seat. “Take him to the lounge next door.”

“Yes, Lord Hokage.”

Tani rose at once. He gave the unfamiliar middle-aged shinobi a curious glance as he passed, then stepped outside.

“I hope I’m not interrupting,” Hashirama said, approaching with a smile.

Kizaru stood and gestured toward the sofas in the sitting area.

“Ooh, Grandpa Hashirama... come and have a seat.”

Neither bothered with further formalities. They sat opposite each other, and Hashirama went straight to the point.

“Nawaki told me about a few things that have been happening in the village. Things that shouldn’t have happened. I want to hear what you think.”

Still smiling, Kizaru rested his right hand on the sofa’s armrest and tapped it lightly with his fingers.

“And what might those be?”

“He told me about the village’s two advisers, Koharu and Homura...”

Hashirama repeated what Nawaki had told him.

Kizaru listened without any outward change in expression. If anything, the account pleased him.

Nawaki was proving to be a very helpful future brother-in-law.

Kizaru had never held either adviser in particularly high regard. Giving Homura Mitokado a seat as a council elder and putting Koharu Utatane in charge of the Department of Culture had served several purposes: maintaining a balance within the leadership, making use of their abilities, and keeping their authority within clear limits.

He had intended to deal with the trouble they had caused eventually. Nawaki’s complaint had simply brought the opportunity to him sooner.

“The two advisers, Sarutobi-sensei, my uncle Danzō... all of them have done a great deal for the village,” Kizaru said. “They’re capable shinobi. That much is beyond doubt.”

When criticizing someone before a senior figure within the same organization, opening with an accusation was seldom wise. It made the speaker look petty, as though he merely wanted to disparage someone behind their back.

Kizaru had learned that from the elders in his previous life.

Hashirama nodded. Whatever their faults, Konoha’s present prosperity and strength were real. He could accept that assessment.

“The advisers have their merits,” Kizaru continued. “But, like Sarutobi-sensei, they care deeply about their old companions. Sometimes those feelings affect their judgment, and the village pays for it.

“Sarutobi-sensei, especially, has lived through terrible wars. He brought the village this far while watching his comrades and clansmen die, one after another. It’s only natural that he values the people who survived beside him.

“The difficulty comes when those people are involved in village affairs. He finds it hard to judge them impartially. His decisions become more lenient, and so do the consequences they face.”

Kizaru had identified the problem while also offering a sympathetic explanation for it. Even if this conversation reached the people involved, they would have little reason to resent him.

Hiruzen might even feel grateful that his student had taken such care to defend him.

Such a considerate young man, Kizaru.

Hashirama understood the feelings Kizaru described. Hearing him speak fairly of his elders only strengthened that sympathy.

“Though my uncle worries me more than Sarutobi-sensei or the advisers,” Kizaru said. “Danzō takes things much too far.

“He places the village above everything else, whatever the cost. He established Root and recruited shinobi from many of the clans. They carry out dangerous covert missions against other villages, and every year, more of them die.

“The clans are deeply unhappy about it. Even members of the Shimura clan resent what he’s doing. People come to me regularly, asking me to disband Root.

“I’ve tried speaking to him several times, but he won’t budge. As far as he’s concerned, every sacrifice is justified if it benefits Konoha.”

Kizaru looked at Hashirama.

“If you have the chance, Grandpa Hashirama, perhaps you could have a word with him. Lord Second’s teachings left a strong impression on him. His hostility toward the Uchiha and the other villages has become rather excessive.”

Hashirama had expected to discuss Hiruzen and the advisers. He had not expected Kizaru to ask him to reprimand his own uncle instead.

One part of that request concerned him more than the rest.

“You said Tobirama’s influence made Danzō hostile toward the Uchiha? Has the village been treating them this way since Tobirama became Hokage?”

Kizaru’s smile turned rueful.

“Lord Second believed the Uchiha’s power was dangerous, and that they were prone to extremes. He established the Konoha Military Police Force and placed it under their control.

“But the arrangement also moved their clan compound to the outskirts of the village. Their duties kept them from taking outside missions freely, and they were excluded from the Anbu, where they could have served the Hokage directly.

“My uncle and Sarutobi-sensei were both his students. They inherited his views, and the surveillance and restrictions on the Uchiha continued.”

Hashirama’s expression darkened. His palm struck the sofa’s armrest.

“I told Tobirama not to do that!”

“Perhaps the disappearance of Madara’s body made him more cautious,” Kizaru offered.

“Hmph!”

Now Hashirama wanted his younger brother brought back more than ever.

Originally, he had hoped Tobirama could help him investigate and correct the problems in the village. Now he had another reason.

He wanted to give him a good thumping.

That stubborn little brother of his had agreed to his wishes! Had he forgotten everything Hashirama had told him before his death?

“Now, now, Grandpa Hashirama,” Kizaru said easily. “I’ve already changed those policies. The Uchiha receive the same treatment as the rest of Konoha’s shinobi. Their young clan head serves in my Hokage Guard, too.”

Hashirama’s anger eased almost at once.

The more he heard, the more satisfied he became with Kizaru. The young man seemed to understand exactly what he had hoped the village would become.

Konoha was fortunate to have a Hokage like him.

“The Uchiha feel things deeply,” Hashirama said earnestly. “If the village treats them well, they’ll come to see it as their home. Keep pushing them away, and you’ll only make the distance between them and the village grow.”

“My thoughts exactly.”

Kizaru smiled.

“Then answer me honestly,” Hashirama continued. “Have Hiruzen or those two advisers been getting in the way of your work?”

His trust in Kizaru had grown considerably. If the older generation was hindering the young Hokage, he intended to do something about it.

“Sarutobi-sensei is very respectful of my decisions. And the advisers are always offering guidance based on their years of experience. They’ve been quite... helpful.”

“I see.”

Hashirama might be easygoing and occasionally careless, but he was no fool. He had led both a clan and a village, and he had spent years with Tobirama at his side. He understood what Kizaru had left unsaid.

“Kizaru, I want you to allow Orochimaru to reanimate Tobirama. Once he’s here, I’ll take him, Hiruzen, and the others to the Uchiha compound. They’ll apologize in person.”

That was no excuse to obtain permission. Hashirama fully intended to do it.

Even Kizaru was surprised by the second half of his declaration.

Having Sarutobi-sensei and the advisers apologize to the Uchiha in person would be a considerable blow to their pride.

“Ooh... wouldn’t that put them in a rather difficult position, Grandpa Hashirama?”

“If you’ve done something wrong, you apologize. Then you do what you can to make it right,” Hashirama said firmly. “Correcting your behavior afterward doesn’t erase what happened. You still have to answer for your mistakes.”

He paused, then added, “I owe the One-Tail and Two-Tails an apology as well. The other tailed beasts, too. I’ll speak to them and try to earn their forgiveness.”

Kizaru’s admiration was sincere this time.

“You’re someone worth respecting, Grandpa Hashirama.”

“Hahaha! It’s only what I ought to do.”

Hashirama rubbed the back of his head, a little embarrassed by the praise.

“Very well. You have my approval to bring Lord Second back with Edo Tensei. I’ll let Orochimaru know.”

“Once Tobirama is here, we’ll have a proper talk with Hiruzen and the others,” Hashirama promised. “I’ll make sure they stop interfering with your work.”

Kizaru pictured his elderly teacher and the two advisers being lectured by their own long-dead teacher.

He couldn’t help chuckling.

“Ooh... that should be quite a sight.”

“Hahaha!”

Hashirama joined him, and their laughter filled the office.

At the same time, a similarly cheerful mood filled the command tent at the Land of Fire’s western front.

“Hahaha! Excellent news, Hiruzen!”

Homura Mitokado was delighted by what Hiruzen had brought back from the talks.

The meeting had gone much as they had hoped. Once Hiruzen presented the evidence concerning Madara Uchiha and his Eye of the Moon Plan, Ōnoki and the Third Raikage had reacted with both shock and anger. They had immediately agreed to a ceasefire.

Hiruzen had also proposed a Five Kage Summit in Konoha, where the villages could discuss how to deal with Madara. Neither Kage had committed to attending yet, but both seemed inclined to accept.

“Ōnoki and the Third Raikage will give us their answers before noon tomorrow,” Hiruzen said, smiling as he took his seat. “Unless something unexpected happens, the summit should be settled by then.”

Even he had not expected the mission to proceed so smoothly.

He had arrived at the front and proposed ceasefire negotiations, and the other side had agreed almost immediately. During the meeting, it had taken little effort to convince the two Kage that Madara’s conspiracy was real.

Judging by their responses, arranging the summit would be just as straightforward.

It was a relief. He had completed his task without difficulty and made the contribution the village needed from him.

Hiruzen was pleased. Homura, the front’s deputy commander, was even more so.

In Homura’s own estimation, he and Jiraiya had worked together exceptionally well. With only two thousand shinobi, they had held the combined forces of Iwagakure and Kumogakure in the Land of Grass. It was a record he could take pride in.

Hiruzen had told him that the First Hokage had been brought back with Edo Tensei. Ever since hearing that, Homura had wanted to return to Konoha and report his accomplishments to him in person.

At his age, there was little room left to advance in strength or position. What he wanted now was recognition, and recognition from the First Hokage would mean a great deal.

If only Tobirama-sensei were here as well.

After everything Homura had done for the village, and after his achievements on this battlefield, surely both of those great men would acknowledge his efforts.

Standing beside Hiruzen, Homura wore an unabashed smile. Anticipation—and a trace of excitement—shone in his eyes.

Back in Konoha, Kizaru, Hashirama, and Nawaki stood in Orochimaru’s private underground laboratory, watching him perform Edo Tensei.

The technique ordinarily required a living person as its sacrifice. Kizaru, however, knew from the anime that a White Zetsu body was an ideal substitute, allowing the reanimated shinobi to wield power much closer to what they had possessed in life.

He had therefore suggested using White Zetsu to bring back Tobirama.

Orochimaru was already fascinated by the body’s extraordinary vitality and the Hashirama cells it contained. After hearing Kizaru’s proposal, he readily agreed.

Under their watchful eyes, paper bearing the technique’s formula and swirling dust enveloped the White Zetsu at the center of the ritual. Its shape changed, gradually taking on Tobirama Senju’s appearance.

Within seconds, the Second Hokage stood before them in his armor, fine cracks marking his reanimated body.

His eyes moved as awareness returned.

Unlike his elder brother, who had been bewildered upon first waking, Tobirama remained composed—until he saw Hashirama standing directly ahead of him.

“Brother. You’ve been brought back with Edo Tensei as well?”

He had recognized the jutsu the moment he regained consciousness. It was his own creation, after all.

“Hahaha!”

Hashirama laughed and walked toward the younger brother he had not seen in so long.

Tobirama folded his arms. His expression remained stern as his attention shifted to the three people behind Hashirama.

Konoha shinobi. And that chakra... Nawaki?

What had happened to the village?

Edo Tensei was a forbidden jutsu, one he had left unfinished. He doubted Konoha’s shinobi would summon both him and his elder brother without a pressing reason.

The most likely explanation was that the village faced a serious crisis.

Had Konoha weakened to the point that it could no longer defend itself? Or had the Uchiha rebelled?

Several possibilities passed through his mind in the space of a second or two.

“Has something happened to the village?” he asked his approaching brother.

“The village is doing well. Bringing you back was my idea.”

Hashirama was still smiling.

For the first time, Tobirama’s composure faltered. What was his brother thinking? Surely he hadn’t summoned him merely to reminisce.

“Why?”

“Because you need a lesson!”

Without losing his smile, Hashirama raised his right fist and brought it down on Tobirama’s head.

He used no ninjutsu. His physical strength, reinforced by a burst of chakra, was enough to knock away half of Tobirama’s head before his brother could dodge.

Dust gathered as the damaged head began to reform. Tobirama kept his arms folded.

“Brother! What has gotten into you?”

Hashirama stopped there. Folding his own arms, he fixed his younger brother with a stern look.

“Tobirama, what did I tell you? And what did you promise me?”

“You’re talking about the Uchiha.”

Tobirama understood at once.

“Why did you treat them that way? Before I died, I told you to treat the Uchiha as members of the village!”

“I gave them duties suited to their abilities and a position from which they could contribute to Konoha.”

“Then why move their compound to the outskirts?”

“The Police Force maintains order within the village. Placing their compound near the perimeter also makes it easier for them to protect it.”

“You...!”

Tobirama always had an answer. Hashirama was furious.

If the younger generation hadn’t been standing there watching, he would have been tempted to make his point with another, more direct lesson.

Kizaru watched the brothers argue, then reached out and gave the stunned Nawaki a gentle push forward.

After stumbling a few steps, Nawaki turned back with a puzzled expression.

Why was Kizaru pushing him?

Kizaru said nothing. He simply tipped his chin toward the two brothers.

Understanding at last, Nawaki nodded and approached them.

“Grandpa! Grandpa Tobirama! Please stop arguing!”

At the sound of his voice, Tobirama looked over. He studied the boy for a moment before allowing a small smile to soften his face.

“Nawaki. You’ve grown.”

“I’ve really missed you, Grandpa Tobirama!”

Nawaki felt closer to his great-uncle than to his own grandfather. Hashirama had died so early that Nawaki barely remembered him, while his memories of Tobirama were much clearer.

With Nawaki between them, the brothers put their argument aside for the time being. He took them over to Kizaru and Orochimaru.

“Grandpa Tobirama, this is my teacher, Orochimaru. He’s a student of your disciple, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage. Orochimaru-sensei learned and improved the Edo Tensei you created. He’s the reason you could come back today.

“And this is Kizaru. He’s another of Uncle Hiruzen’s students, and he’s just become the Fourth Hokage. He’s also my sister’s boyfriend. They’ll be getting married soon!”

Since when had he and Tsunade decided they were getting married soon?

Kizaru would have liked to ask, but with both of her grandfathers standing before him, he chose to let that last remark pass.

“Lord Second... it’s a pleasure,” he said with a warm smile. “I’ve been looking forward to meeting the man who built so much of the village’s system.”

He meant it.

In Kizaru’s view, the institutions Tobirama had established were a major reason Konoha had remained the strongest hidden village after Hashirama’s death.

Hashirama had founded the village. Tobirama had given it the structure it needed to endure, while introducing reforms that helped it flourish. Hiruzen had taken over at a difficult time, but he had also inherited the solid foundation those two had laid. Much of his rule had benefited from their work, even as his judgment grew less reliable in later years.

“Kizaru has been introducing reforms for the past few years,” Nawaki added eagerly. “The village’s economy is much stronger, and people’s lives have improved. Konoha can support itself financially now!”

Nawaki admired Kizaru enormously. He wanted his great-uncle to hear about those achievements before his stern manner led him to underestimate the new Hokage.

Tobirama’s expression changed slightly.

He had effectively managed the village’s affairs from its founding. He knew better than most how difficult financial independence would be to achieve.

Konoha had relied on funding from the Land of Fire’s daimyō and nobles since its creation. That support had allowed the village to grow quickly, but it had also given those benefactors influence over its affairs.

If Kizaru’s reforms had truly made the village self-sufficient, Konoha would hold a stronger position within the Land of Fire. Its dealings with the daimyō and nobility would come with far greater freedom to make its own decisions.

That was a remarkable achievement—one Tobirama himself had never managed.

“Then has something happened that required you to summon my brother and me?” he asked Kizaru.

If the village was doing so well, why bring both former Hokage back? He wanted an answer from the current one.

“Grandpa Hashirama was brought back because of Madara Uchiha,” Kizaru said. “Madara survived. He took some of Grandpa Hashirama’s power, and his eyes evolved again. He now possesses the legendary Rinnegan.

“He’s been operating from the shadows. He used genjutsu to seize control of Kirigakure, then formed an alliance with Kumogakure and Iwagakure. Together, they launched a war against Konoha.”

“So he is still alive.”

When Madara’s recovered body had vanished before Tobirama could examine it, he had suspected that the man might not be dead. That incident had also influenced his approach to the Uchiha.

“The war is only a means to an end,” Kizaru continued. “He intends to collect all nine tailed beasts and become the Ten-Tails’ jinchūriki. Then he’ll cast the Infinite Tsukuyomi, a genjutsu that traps the entire world in a dream where everyone gets the life they want.

“A world where everyone wins... that’s his answer to war. He believes it will bring lasting peace.”

That, in broad terms, was Madara’s plan.

Tobirama’s expression filled with contempt.

“A defeated man’s fantasy. Cowardice dressed up as a solution. He’s lost his mind if he thinks running from reality will solve anything.”

“Tobirama. Madara chose the wrong path.”

Hashirama disliked hearing his old friend and comrade dismissed so harshly.

“And what part of what I said was wrong, Brother?”

Tobirama turned to him without a trace of uncertainty.

“His ideas have become extreme. He lost his way, that’s all.”

“If you’d finished him off when you had the chance, none of this would have happened. Do you realize how much trouble your soft heart has left for the generations after us?”

“I...”

Under his younger brother’s accusation, Hashirama rubbed his head awkwardly. Then he turned to Kizaru.

“I’m sorry, Kizaru. This is my fault.”

“Madara is responsible for what Madara does,” Kizaru replied, shaking his head. “You don’t need to take the blame for him.”

Tobirama approved of that answer. He appreciated a younger shinobi willing to shoulder the problems before him instead of blaming his predecessors.

“What can I do to help?”

As he spoke, he moved his limbs, assessing his reanimated body.

“This is an excellent sacrifice. My present strength is very close to what it was when I was alive.”

Then he looked at Hashirama. His keen sensory abilities made the difference between their bodies obvious.

“Brother, you have less than half your former strength, don’t you?”

“About that! It’s enough for now.”

Hashirama smiled.

Orochimaru, who had remained silent throughout the exchange, finally spoke.

“If you wish, Lord First, I can perform the reanimation again, using a White Zetsu body as the sacrifice.”

“White Zetsu?”

Tobirama examined the condition of his own body more closely. The sacrifice contained an abundance of Hashirama’s cells.

“You developed a living weapon using my brother’s cells?”

“No. Madara Uchiha created White Zetsu using Lord First’s cells,” Orochimaru explained.

“That bastard!”

Tobirama had studied his brother’s cells himself, but he disliked the thought of someone else exploiting them—especially Madara.

“Don’t let it bother you. It’s a small matter,” Hashirama said, entirely unconcerned. “This body will do for now. I’ll have it replaced when the battle with Madara begins.”

Orochimaru respected his decision and nodded.

Since his brother did not wish to change bodies yet, Tobirama let the subject drop. He turned back to Kizaru.

“What’s the situation in the shinobi world?”

“Grandpa Hashirama captured Kirigakure’s forces and brought them back to Konoha. Sarutobi-sensei went to the other front, where he’s already secured a ceasefire with Kumogakure and Iwagakure. If all goes well, we’ll soon hold a Five Kage Summit here to discuss how to deal with Madara.”

“Have you fought him yourself?”

“We met once. He invited me to join his organization. I declined, and he attacked me.”

Kizaru’s tone remained unhurried.

“I defeated him. He escaped by using the Uchiha’s forbidden jutsu, Izanagi.”

Tobirama’s estimation of the Fourth Hokage rose again.

Madara had lost to this young man and been forced to use Izanagi to survive.

However old he had become, Madara Uchiha was still Madara Uchiha. An ordinary shinobi could not hope to stand against him, much less defeat him.

Studying Kizaru, Tobirama found himself asking another question.

“Why can’t I sense any chakra in your body?”

“Kizaru practices senjutsu,” Hashirama answered for him. “There’s an extraordinary amount of natural energy inside him.”

Tobirama was surprised. Kizaru didn’t train with ordinary chakra at all, instead relying entirely on senjutsu?

How had a young shinobi from the village accomplished that?

“Ooh... I just happen to have a little talent for senjutsu,” Kizaru said with a modest chuckle.

Tobirama nodded without pressing him. There was probably some secret behind it.

That was hardly unusual. Konoha’s shinobi and clans had countless private techniques, secrets, and opportunities. He couldn’t pry into all of them.

Hiruzen had accepted Kizaru as a student and entrusted him with the position of Hokage. That alone spoke well of his reliability.

And he was Tsunade’s future husband. That connection made Tobirama regard him even more favorably.

“What needs to be done?”

They had talked long enough for Tobirama to understand the broad circumstances of his return. He wanted to get to work.

Kizaru merely smiled and looked toward Hashirama, leaving the man who had requested the summoning to answer.

“Hahaha! I told you, didn’t I? Bringing you back was my idea. Don’t worry. I’ll explain everything later.”

Hashirama slipped an arm around his brother’s shoulders.

Tobirama had little patience for that sort of affection at his age. He shifted out from under the arm and gave his brother a cool look.

Hashirama laughed awkwardly and rubbed the back of his head.

“Tobirama, only a few of the village’s senior officials know that we’re here. Use the Transformation Jutsu for now, and come back to the Senju compound with me.”

With Kizaru and Orochimaru present, Hashirama preferred not to explain his real reason for summoning his brother.

Tobirama formed the hand seals and transformed into an unremarkable middle-aged shinobi, then looked to Hashirama.

His elder brother nodded in satisfaction and used the same jutsu, assuming the middle-aged disguise he usually wore around the village.

“Kizaru, I’ll take Tobirama and Nawaki home first. Remember to come over for dinner tonight.”

“Of course.”

“And thank you, Orochimaru.”

“Take care, Lord First. Lord Second.”

Orochimaru smiled at the two former Hokage.

Nawaki added his own thanks to Kizaru and his teacher, then eagerly left the underground laboratory with both of his grandfathers.

Kizaru watched the three of them leave, but made no move to follow. Instead, he turned to Orochimaru.

“Now, Orochimaru... was there something you wanted to ask?”

“The secrets of the Rinnegan. And Rinne Tensei—the technique that can truly restore the dead to life.”

Orochimaru had wanted to ask about them for some time. Now that Kizaru had invited the question, he wasted no time.

“The Rinnegan... that power comes from the Sage of Six Paths,” Kizaru said. “It reaches beyond what ordinary shinobi and ninjutsu can achieve.”

“Why does combining the powers of the Uchiha and Senju produce it?”

“Both clans descend from the Sage of Six Paths. The Senju inherited his Yang power, and the Uchiha his Yin power. Though there’s one detail I should correct.”

Kizaru smiled faintly.

“Combining the power of just any Uchiha and Senju won’t awaken the Rinnegan. It was the combination of Madara Uchiha’s power and Hashirama Senju’s that made it possible.”

Orochimaru’s eyes gleamed. He could feel an extraordinary secret coming within reach.

“Why those two?”

“The Sage of Six Paths had two sons. The elder, Indra, became the ancestor of the Uchiha. The younger, Ashura, became the ancestor of the Senju.

“The Sage chose his younger son as his successor. His elder son, who had been more gifted and powerful, couldn’t accept that decision. The brothers fought for the rest of their lives.

“Even death didn’t end their conflict. Their chakra continued to reincarnate among their descendants. Hashirama is Ashura’s reincarnation. Madara is Indra’s.”

Orochimaru’s excitement grew with every word. His tongue slipped out to wet his lips almost unconsciously.

“Can the Sage of Six Paths’ power grant immortality?”

“If you mean being impossible to kill, I couldn’t say,” Kizaru replied. “But it can let you live indefinitely.”

That faint, unchanging smile made him seem increasingly inscrutable to Orochimaru.

“Then why did the Sage of Six Paths die?”

“Because he gave up that power.”

“He passed it on to his younger son?”

“No. He relinquished most of it. Only part of his power went to his younger son.”

“What was that power?”

Orochimaru stared at Kizaru, barely containing his anticipation. A thread of unease ran beneath it. They had finally reached the crucial question, and he dreaded hearing “I don’t know”—or, worse, “Take a guess.”

Fortunately, when it came to a serious explanation, Kizaru could be dependable. He answered without teasing him.

“The nine tailed beasts. Remember Madara’s plan to become the Ten-Tails’ jinchūriki? The Sage of Six Paths was the second person to hold that power.”

Orochimaru’s eyes widened.

He had never imagined that the shinobi world’s history concealed something so extraordinary.

“Who was the first?”

Kizaru’s smile slowly widened.

“Ooh... take a guess.”

For a moment, Orochimaru felt a powerful urge to hit him.

If only the difference in their strength weren’t quite so great.