Chapter 083: Suppressing Dissent

Hashirama Senju looked around, confirming this was Konoha, and said in surprise, "What's going on? Wasn't I dead?"

"It must be the Impure World Reincarnation technique, big brother."

Just then, a low voice came from beside Hashirama Senju. He turned and saw a familiar man: silver hair, red eyes, an iron forehead protector shaped like a mask, three red marks on his cheeks, wearing a black tight-fitting combat suit with blue layered armor and a white fur collar attached to his back at the shoulders.

This man was none other than his younger brother... Tobirama Senju.

"So, our return to Konoha is because of the jutsu you developed?" Hashirama Senju said angrily. "Look at what you've done. Why create a jutsu that toys with the souls of the dead?"

Tobirama Senju curled his lip, ignoring his brother, and turned his attention to Hiruzen Sarutobi. "Is it you, Hiruzen?"

Hashirama Senju, hearing his brother's words, couldn't help but glance at the old man before him.

"So it's you, little monkey. I never thought you'd get this old."

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled bitterly.

Hashirama Senju turned to look at another blond man beside him. "And who is this?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "He is the Fourth Hokage, Lord First."

"Fourth Hokage?" Hashirama Senju was taken aback. "Died so young? What a pity. By the way, Fourth Hokage, how did you die?"

The blond Minato Namikaze said, "I died to subdue the Nine-Tails."

"Nine-Tails?" Hashirama Senju looked baffled. "People die fighting that thing?"

Minato Namikaze smiled wryly, truly at a loss for words.

Sakumo Hatake, standing nearby, spoke up. "For you, Lord First, the Nine-Tails is nothing, but for us, it is an invincible enemy."

"Enough, let's drop it." Hashirama Senju, sensing the Fourth's embarrassment, laughed it off and turned to Hiruzen Sarutobi. "Alright, Hiruzen, send us back."

He couldn't accept desecrating the dead.

Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head. "That won't do, Lord First. Konoha faces a great crisis and needs the power of the Hokages."

"Crisis? What crisis?"

Tobirama Senju was not too angry about being summoned. When he originally developed the Impure World Reincarnation technique, he had this in mind.

Should Konoha ever be in danger, they could summon past Hokages to overcome the difficulty.

So, more than returning to the world of the dead, he cared about Konoha's crisis.

Hearing that Konoha was in danger, Hashirama Senju was somewhat surprised and no longer wanted Hiruzen to undo the jutsu. He stared intently at Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly explained the danger Konoha faced and who the enemy was.

"Conquer Konoha and overthrow the daimyo?"

After listening quietly, Hashirama Senju couldn't help but laugh heartily. "I never thought there would be such a hero in this era."

Tobirama Senju said calmly, "No matter what kind of hero, he is Konoha's enemy."

Minato Namikaze smiled slightly. "Though I am dead, I still wish to contribute to Konoha. But Lord Third, may I see my child?"

Hearing this, Hashirama Senju also tilted his head toward Hiruzen Sarutobi. "Right, speaking of children, why haven't I seen Tsunade? Where is she?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a bitter smile, "Tsunade left Konoha for some reasons and is traveling the ninja world. But I believe she will return as quickly as possible once she hears the news."

He paused, then said to Minato Namikaze, "Naruto just graduated from the Ninja Academy and is already an excellent ninja."

Hearing this, Minato Namikaze broke into a delighted smile. That Naruto Uzumaki had grown up well was the best news for him.

Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "In short, we must defeat the enemy as soon as possible and protect Konoha."

Tobirama Senju turned to his brother. "Big brother, what do you plan to do?"

Hashirama Senju sighed. "Since we're here, let's meet this hero of the era."

After all, he had deep feelings for the Konoha he had founded.

Thus, under Hiruzen Sarutobi's arrangements, Konoha mobilized its remaining strength, determined to crush the enemy in one blow.

...

When Wang Bo approached Konoha, he saw Hiruzen Sarutobi leading the past Hokages, with a dense crowd of ninjas behind them.

Judging by numbers, they seemed to have sent out all their forces.

Defeating these ninjas would leave Konoha with no resistance.

Wang Bo led Bai and his subordinates forward, smiling at the ninjas opposite. "It seems you're determined to resist to the end. You've even summoned the past Hokages. That's quite surprising."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "The Will of Fire is passed down through generations. Konoha will never surrender."

Wang Bo rolled his eyes. "Come on, you just say that. Have you lived up to it?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi snorted, refusing to argue.

Wang Bo didn't let up. "Konoha has been declining under your leadership. Don't you have any idea why?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's face reddened. Before he could speak, Hashirama Senju asked, "Monkey, what's this all about?"

Among the ninjas, he indeed didn't see the Uchiha or Senju clans.

When he was Hokage, both clans were thriving.

Wang Bo smiled. "You must be the First Hokage. Let me answer your question. After you and your brother Tobirama Senju died, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, took power and began suppressing the Senju and Uchiha clans, crushing dissent with shocking cruelty."

"You may not know that after your deaths, to consolidate his power and control Konoha, the Third Hokage subtly purged the Senju clan."

"Whenever Konoha clashed with other nations, the Senju were sent to the front lines."

"Gradually, the Senju clan dwindled."

Before Wang Bo could finish, Hiruzen Sarutobi shouted, "Nonsense!"