Chapter 45 : "Jiraiya, do you want to be a rogue ninja?"

When Tobirama Senju used the Flying Thunder God Technique again to enter the Four Violet Flames Formation, it signaled the end of the battle between the Third Hokage and Orochimaru, master and disciple.

"Eight Trigrams Seal·Revised"

Upon entering the scene, Tobirama Senju remained silent and immediately employed a modified version of the sealing technique aimed at Orochimaru's stomach.

This sealing technique had been specially refined by him to address the characteristics of the Impure World Reincarnation. Its purpose was to sever the connection between the caster and the Impure World body, allowing the soul of the Impure World body to return to the Pure Land.

"Sarutobi, I'm sorry to bother you."

"Who are you?"

As soon as the connection was severed, the consciousness of the First and Second Hokage in the Impure World Reincarnation was restored.

Seeing the Third Hokage with a swollen nose and a large mouth gasping for breath, the First Hokage felt a deep sense of regret.

However, the Second Hokage in the Impure World Reincarnation State showed little concern for the Third Hokage and instead regarded Senju Tobirama with a solemn expression.

"Just think of me as your half-brother."

Clearly, Senju Tobirama was unwilling to directly answer the question and chose to be mischievous for once.

Second Hokage: ?? 

"Ah? Why didn't I know Tobirama had a half-brother?"

The First Hokage was taken aback by Tobirama Senju's statement.

"Foolish brother, he's obviously jesting with us."

"Is that so?"

The dissolution of the Impure World bodies was quite rapid. By the time the First Hokage asked this question, the two Impure World bodies had already disintegrated, and their souls had returned to the Pure Land.

Without the aid of the resurrected First and Second Hokages, Orochimaru was captured by Senju Tobirama, and the Sound Ninjas and Sand Ninjas could not cause any further trouble. It can be said that Konoha Village achieved a great victory in this battle.

"Lord Orochimaru."

Seeing Orochimaru defeated, Tayuya and the other four Sound Ninjas withdrew the Four Violet Flames Formation in an attempt to rescue him.

Unfortunately, their strength was simply insufficient.

Before Senju Tobirama even had to act, Jiraiya and Sarutobi Hiruzen took care of the four Sound Ninjas.

Jiraiya and Sarutobi Hiruzen were not inclined to kill, so they didn't end their lives. Instead, they knocked them out and handed them over to the Third Hokage for later handling.

"Sarutobi, are you okay?"

The Third Hokage looked quite distressed, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. He replied, "Fortunately, I'm not dying."

After saying that, the Third Hokage cast a complicated glance at Orochimaru, who lay on the ground.

Trapped in Senju Tobirama's sealing technique, Orochimaru was unable to move. Even if he wished to use his Orochi-style substitution technique to escape, it was futile.

"You old man, you won this time, but I have a few questions for you, Lord Second."

Hearing this, Senju Tobirama replied, "If you have questions, ask your teacher later. We don't have much time."

Indeed.

The four members of Senju Tobirama's group, who had traveled through time, could only stay for an hour.

With some time remaining, Tobirama also had questions for the Third Hokage.

For example, with such a major event occurring in the village, why was Danzo absent? 

Could he be dead? 

And what about the Uchiha clan ninjas?

Why didn't they show up? 

And where is his granddaughter Tsunade? 

Is she dead or alive?

He had so many questions he wanted to ask the Third Hokage.

"Sarutobi."

"Damn Sarutobi, what the hell did you do?"

Just as Senju Tobirama was about to seize the opportunity to confront the Third Hokage, Uchiha Kagami, filled with anger, arrived on the roof of the viewing stand.

Without thinking, he grabbed the Third Hokage by the collar and demanded angrily, "Why was the Uchiha clan exterminated, and what role did you play in it?"

Uchiha Kagami's furious question stunned Sarutobi Hiruzen and Senju Tobirama. They wondered why there were no Uchiha ninjas on the battlefield.

It seemed that the entire clan had been wiped out.

So the question was, who had the power to annihilate the Uchiha clan within the village?

Considering the situation, it was clear that the Third Hokage must have played a significant and unsavory role in the event.

"It's Kagami; it's great to see you again."

The Third Hokage did not address Uchiha Kagami's question but instead reminisced about the days when Kagami was still alive.

This nonchalant attitude only further enraged Kagami.

"What? It's great to see you again? Didn't we just meet through the light curtain yesterday? You're getting old; do you have Alzheimer's or something?"

"You stupid monkey, don't think I won't kill you."

Kagami's eyes widened as they shifted into Mangekyō Sharingan, glaring at the Third Hokage.

"Kagami, did you unlock the Mangekyō Sharingan?"

The Third Hokage seemed to ignore Kagami's threat and was still astonished by the advancement of Kagami's Sharingan.

"Go to hell, you stupid monkey."

At first, Tobirama Senju ignored Kagami and allowed him to grab the collar of the Third Hokage and threaten him.

After all, he was also curious about why this elderly disciple was so intent on destroying the Uchiha clan.

Doesn't he know that the Uchiha clan's fighting strength is crucial to the village?

It wasn't until Uchiha Kagami seemed ready to kill the Third Hokage that Tobirama took action and pulled Kagami away.

"Kagami, calm down."

"Yes, Lord Kagami, the old man is still seriously injured. If you have any questions, you can wait until he recovers."

At this moment, Jiraiya also stepped in, positioning himself between Kagami and the Third Hokage.

If Kagami broke free from Tobirama Senju's hold and tried to attack the Third Hokage, Jiraiya would be the first to face him.

"We don't have much time left. I believe Sarutobi will explain everything to us soon. Even if he doesn't, we'll find out when the time comes, thanks to the light curtain."

Perhaps Tobirama Senju's words were effective.

The furious Uchiha Kagami gradually began to calm down.

"Well, as I mentioned earlier, we don't have much time, so I won't waste any more words. Sarutobi, you should step down. You are no longer fit to lead the village forward."

The Third Hokage smiled bitterly and replied, "I understand, Tobirama-sensei. I will pass on the position to Jiraiya once my injury heals."

The term "pass on" was significant, and Senju Tobirama frowned upon hearing it.

Wasn't the position of Hokage supposed to be obtained through election? When did it become something designated by the previous Hokage? 

He thought about it and realized that this practice seemed to have started with him.

"Well, that's okay."

He was fine, but Jiraiya was not. He shook his head and waved his hands in refusal. 

"I don't want to be Hokage. Besides, my personality isn't suited for the role. I also need to find the Child of the Prophecy. You should let Tsunade come back. She's more suitable for the position of Hokage than I am."

"Child of the Prophecy?"

"Yes," Jiraiya nodded and continued. "The Great Toad Sage of Mount Myoboku said that the Child of the Prophecy, who will bring change to the ninja world, will be my disciple. That's one of the reasons I haven't returned to the village for many years."

As for the other reasons for not returning to the village, those who understand will understand.

"So, Jiraiya, you want to be a rogue ninja?"

Jiraiya: ???

****

Support me on my ko-fi account and read upto 15 early chapters,

https://ko-fi.com/aayume