Chapter 222 (Patreon)

At dinner that evening, Tobirama was initially rather cold toward his two former students.

“If Kizaru and Tsunade hadn’t persuaded me, I wouldn’t have invited those two good-for-nothing fools to dinner,” he said bluntly.

They were all clever people. Kizaru understood what Tobirama meant, so he and Tsunade spoke up for the two former advisers.

Their help—and the goodwill it earned them—was only part of it. More importantly, Koharu and Homura now owed Kizaru and Tsunade a debt they could never repay.

With that favor between them, the two former advisers could hardly stand before Kizaru and Tsunade with any dignity. They would have little choice but to follow Kizaru’s instructions and offer their advice when asked.

Three days after the dinner, Sarutobi Hiruzen arrived at the camp on the western front. Unaware that his two old friends had been reprimanded by their former teacher and brought under Kizaru’s authority, he met with the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, and the Third Raikage, A.

Ōnoki and A had each brought only two subordinates. Neither had brought his son; they had both left their heirs in their respective villages in case anything unexpected happened.

After exchanging brief greetings, Hiruzen got straight to business. The ninja forces were already prepared, so he ordered them to set out for Konoha.

Meanwhile, a highly confidential operation was underway at Konoha Hospital.

Nagato was undergoing surgery to receive a new eye.

Because the Rinnegan was involved, the hospital floor containing the operating room had been cleared of anyone not directly involved. Hatake Sakumo, the current captain of the ANBU, had taken personal charge of the guards stationed throughout the hospital, especially outside the operating room.

Kizaru, now the Hokage, waited outside with Nagato’s parents.

An eye transplant was a difficult and delicate operation. It only seemed effortless in the anime because the people involved were extraordinary. Nagato’s parents were both doctors, so they understood the risks better than most. From the moment their son had been taken into the operating room, they hadn’t been able to put their worries aside.

Kizaru tried to reassure them, but his words did little to ease their anxiety. In the end, he said no more and waited quietly with them.

The operation lasted just over half an hour. At last, it was finished successfully, and Nagato was wheeled out, still unconscious, his head wrapped in bandages.

Tsunade followed him from the operating room.

“The operation went well,” she told Nagato’s parents. “He should wake up in about half an hour.”

Only then did they begin to relax. They followed the medical staff as they wheeled Nagato toward the ward at the end of the corridor.

Kizaru stayed behind. Once everyone had gone, he turned to Tsunade.

“Thank you for all your hard work.”

Tsunade took off her mask and smiled. “Come with me.”

She led him back into the operating room, where the Rinnegan rested in a glass container filled with preservative fluid.

Tsunade picked it up and handed it to Kizaru. She hesitated before asking, “Are you really going to return it to Madara?”

She was worried that Madara would reclaim the Rinnegan—and that she would be no match for him if he did.

Kizaru smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry. Even with the Rinnegan, that old man Madara won’t be able to defeat me.”

Tsunade placed the container in his hand. “Whatever happens from here on, I’ll stay by your side.”

Kizaru drew her into his arms and lowered his voice. “I’ll take you with me and build a better world—a beautiful one.”

Tsunade stepped back, smiling at him. “Go on. You have work to do.”

“I’ll come and get you this afternoon,” Kizaru said with a wave before turning to leave.

When he returned to the Hokage’s office, Hashirama, Tobirama, and Danzō were already waiting. All three knew about his plan.

“Is that Madara’s Rinnegan?” Hashirama asked, leaning closer to the glass container in Kizaru’s hand.

Tobirama was just as interested, but mindful of his dignity, he refrained from crowding around his elder brother like a child.

“This is the power of the Sage of Six Paths,” Kizaru said, handing the Rinnegan to Hashirama.

Hashirama had barely taken a closer look when Tobirama snatched the container from his hand.

“So the chakra of Indra and Asura can give rise to eyes like these,” Tobirama murmured, studying the Rinnegan intently. “Remarkable.”

Ignoring his brother’s protest, he continued examining it.

“Grandpa Tobirama, would you like to try wearing it?” Kizaru asked with a teasing smile.

“Power that doesn’t belong to you is poison, no matter how tempting it may be,” Tobirama replied disdainfully. He returned the Rinnegan to Hashirama.

Danzō had been eyeing it with the greatest greed. But as soon as Tobirama finished speaking, he quickly hid his expression and stood quietly to one side.

“Black Zetsu, come out,” Kizaru called while Hashirama examined the Rinnegan.

At once, Black Zetsu emerged from the wall. He walked up to Kizaru with a faint, cold smile, glanced at the Rinnegan, then looked at him.

“Kizaru-sama, the Rinnegan’s power comes from the Sage of Six Paths. Do you really intend to give up a power worthy of a god? With your body, you could use it without any burden.”

Kizaru took the container from Hashirama and casually tossed it toward Black Zetsu.

The sudden throw nearly made Black Zetsu fumble the container. Danzō watched the exchange with alarm.

“Don’t waste your time with those tricks,” Kizaru said. “I have no interest in your precious Rinnegan.”

A trace of pressure rolled off him. Black Zetsu’s head dipped, and his back bent under the force.

Had Kizaru not restrained himself at once, Black Zetsu would have been driven to the ground.

Hashirama, Tobirama, and Danzō weren’t the targets of that pressure, but they felt its weight all the same. The sheer force of it was enough to overwhelm an ordinary ninja. Tobirama’s first impression was that Kizaru’s pressure came close to Hashirama’s, though it still fell short.

He had no idea that Kizaru had shown them only the faintest trace of his strength.

“I wouldn’t dare,” Black Zetsu replied in a low voice.

“Take the Rinnegan and leave when you’re ready,” Kizaru said, stepping forward to pat him on the shoulder. “Don’t forget your mission. I’ll be watching you.”

“I understand,” Black Zetsu replied respectfully.

After one final warning, Kizaru let him go.

Once Black Zetsu had left, Danzō—who rarely trusted anyone—approached Kizaru and asked, “Are we really going to let him leave with the Rinnegan so easily?”

“Don’t worry. I left a mark on him. I can track him wherever he goes,” Kizaru replied calmly. “Besides, he has a fatal weakness, and I know what it is.”

“Can you tell us?” Danzō asked, unable to hide his curiosity.

Hashirama and Tobirama were curious too. Neither said a word, but all three pairs of eyes were fixed on Kizaru.

“You want to know?” Kizaru asked with a smile.

Hashirama, the worst at hiding his thoughts, nodded eagerly.

“That’s a secret,” Kizaru said, pausing just long enough to make them wait. “I’ll tell you next time.”

“Oh, come on, little Kizaru! You can’t leave me hanging like that!” Hashirama protested.

Kizaru slipped out of his reach.

“Brother, Kizaru will tell us when the time is right,” Tobirama said, trying to calm him down.

“This is terrible! I won’t be able to eat or sleep for days!” Hashirama lamented.

He turned back to Kizaru. “Little Kizaru, if you’re worried someone might overhear, you can just tell me privately. I’m very good at keeping secrets.”

Tobirama pressed a hand to his forehead. His elder brother’s words were too embarrassing to bear. He stepped forward, grabbed Hashirama by the arm, and dragged him back.

“Come along. Stop making a scene.”

“Tobirama, let go!”

“Brother, show some dignity!”

Watching the two brothers bicker, Kizaru found the whole exchange amusing. His smile widened.

That afternoon, after Black Zetsu left with the Rinnegan, Hiruzen returned to Konoha with Ōnoki, the Third Raikage, and the ninja forces.

Konoha had already received word of their arrival. The Fourth Hokage came out in person, leading the village’s senior officials to welcome the two Kage and the returning troops.

“Konoha really is full of talented people,” Ōnoki remarked, looking at the young Kizaru. His praise was partly sincere and partly flattery.

“Fourth Hokage, when will the conference be held?” the Third Raikage asked, cutting in without regard for Ōnoki’s comment.

“It’ll be the day after tomorrow,” Kizaru replied.

The Third Raikage nodded and said nothing more.

Looking at A’s stern expression, Kizaru smiled. “Third Raikage, do you still remember our five-year agreement?”

For a moment, A looked puzzled. Then he recalled what Kizaru meant.

“The time hasn’t come yet,” he said. “Why bring it up now? Are you suggesting we settle our match early?”

Kizaru’s exchange with the Third Raikage drew everyone’s attention. They were all curious about the wager between them.

“Ooh, settling it early wouldn’t be a problem,” Kizaru said. “I only wanted to share some good news. My disciple, Might Duy, fought the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and defeated four of them by himself.”

“You’ve trained an impressive disciple,” the Third Raikage replied.

He couldn’t deny feeling envious. He knew how formidable the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were. With their swords and teamwork, each of them was at least an elite jōnin, and together they were one of Kirigakure’s greatest weapons.

For Konoha’s Might Duy to defeat four of them in a fight against all seven was an astonishing feat. The young man’s strength had to rank among the best in the shinobi world.

A wasn’t the only one who felt envious. Ōnoki, standing beside him, looked just as impressed.

How many prodigies did Konoha have? Were the other villages ever going to catch up?

“Kizaru, we can talk once we’re back,” Hiruzen said, interrupting at the right moment. “The Third Tsuchikage and the Third Raikage have had a long journey.”

“Sarutobi-sensei is right. Please, this way,” Kizaru replied, gesturing for them to follow.

With the two Kage, the group passed through Konoha and made their way to the village center.

Kizaru didn’t rush into discussing official matters. He first took the visitors to their assigned lodgings so they could rest. After leaving a receptionist to attend to them, he said goodbye and departed.

Once Ōnoki and the Third Raikage had been settled in, Hiruzen followed Kizaru back to the Hokage Building.

“Kizaru, where are Koharu and Homura?” Hiruzen asked, confused when he didn’t see his two old friends among the officials who had come out to welcome them.

Hiruzen had sent the two of them back to Konoha with the logistics unit so they could help Kizaru prepare for what lay ahead.

“Something happened,” Kizaru replied as he opened the office door. “They aren’t in a position to handle these matters for now.”

“What happened to them?” Hiruzen asked. A sense of unease had begun to creep over him.

“Their corruption, bribery, and abuse of power were exposed, so I dealt with them.”

“Kizaru, why would you do that?” Hiruzen exclaimed.

What his old friends had done was wrong, but after all these years, he had hoped they could still be given a chance to make things right.

“I told Kizaru to do it. Do you have a problem with that, Hiruzen?”

The familiar, cold voice made Hiruzen frown.

Something was wrong. Very wrong. Why did that voice sound so familiar?

Hiruzen followed Kizaru into the office. A middle-aged man he didn’t recognize was waiting inside.

He looked at the stranger, then back at Kizaru, silently waiting for his former student to explain.

“Grandpa Tobirama, I’ve brought someone to see you,” Kizaru said with a smile.

The words struck Hiruzen like a bolt of lightning. He froze in place.

Then he turned toward the man who had spoken. His expression twisted with shock, joy, and a trace of fear.

“Teacher Tobirama… what are you doing here?”

“Have you not wanted to see me?” Tobirama asked. “I’m here now. Don’t tell me I’ve disappointed you, Hiruzen.”

“That’s not what I meant, Teacher Tobirama!” Hiruzen hurried forward, barely able to contain his excitement. “Ever since you sacrificed yourself for us, I’ve missed you every day!”

Tobirama raised a hand, asking him to calm down. He studied his former student with a critical eye.

“Hiruzen, I’m very disappointed in you.”

Hiruzen’s body trembled. Tobirama’s words hit him like a blow to the head, leaving him stunned.

“Teacher, I…” He started to explain, but stopped himself. After so many years as Hokage, Hiruzen knew there was no point in making excuses. He lowered his head and admitted, “I’m sorry, Teacher. I let you down.”

“Do you know where you went wrong?”

“I shouldn’t have covered for Koharu and Homura,” Hiruzen replied. “As Hokage, I failed to deal with their misconduct fairly. I didn’t uphold my responsibilities.”

“Did you think you were helping them by protecting them?” Tobirama asked. “Is that how you preserve a friendship?”

“I knew it was wrong,” Hiruzen said, lowering his head in shame. “But when Koharu and Homura came to me and pleaded for help, I couldn’t bring myself to refuse.”

“You weren’t helping them. You were harming them. A true friend points out when the other has gone astray, urges them to make amends, and makes sure they don’t repeat the same mistake. That’s what friendship requires.”

“I was wrong.”

“Hiruzen, Kizaru and Danzō have told me about your years as Hokage and all you’ve done for the village. I’m pleased. You haven’t betrayed the trust I placed in you. But what you did for Koharu and Homura has disappointed me deeply.

“You were the Hokage, the leader of the village. You let your personal feelings cloud your judgment and protected your friends instead of dealing with them fairly. How could anyone accept that? What do you think the other shinobi would make of it?

“Have you considered how much the village lost because you were too soft-hearted? You used the village’s interests to pay for their favors. Can you truly be at ease with that?”

Can you truly be at ease?

Tobirama’s final words echoed in Hiruzen’s mind. He had no answer.

Tobirama stared at his former student. For a time, he said nothing. The office fell into silence.

At last, Hiruzen raised his head.

“Teacher, I’ll correct my mistakes. I’ll—”

“No. I’ve already dealt with Koharu and Homura. They’ll return the money they embezzled over the years, and they’ve been stripped of their positions. Kizaru will decide what they do from here.”

Hiruzen glanced at Kizaru. Standing before the student he was proudest of, he felt his shame deepen. He wanted to disappear into the floor.

“I’ve given them more suitable assignments,” Kizaru said calmly. “They’ll assist Orochimaru and Tsunade and work to atone for what they’ve done.”

Then he turned to his former teacher and offered a quiet reassurance.

“Sarutobi-sensei, I understand how difficult this was for you. You’re a good man…but this world can be cruel to good people, can’t it?”

Kizaru’s words moved Hiruzen. He looked at his student and opened his mouth, but couldn’t think of anything to say. In the end, he fell silent.