81: In the 56th year of Konoha, master and disciple reunited.

Konoha, year 47.

Sasori transformed himself into a human puppet and secretly eliminated the Third Kazekage.

The Hidden Sand Village searched for the Kazekage throughout the Ninja World, causing a series of incidents, which ultimately led to the Third Great Ninja War.

Konoha, year 50.

The Battle of Kannabi Bridge erupted, and Obito Uchiha was brainwashed by Madara Uchiha.

At the end of the year, Minato Namikaze became the Fourth Hokage.

Konoha, year 51.

The Nine-Tails attack occurred.

Minato Namikaze and his wife died after leaving Naruto Uzumaki to become the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

In the same year, Hyuga Hinata was born.

Konoha, year 52.

Orochimaru defected.

Konoha, year 54.

Hyuga Hizashi died in place of his brother.

Konoha, year 56.

Hyuga Hanabi, five years younger than Hinata, was born.

......

"Finally!"

"I've finally waited for this day!"

Late at night.

Above the clouds.

Joa spread his arms, closing his eyes and breathing in the peaceful air.

Behind him was a space-time gate, two meters in width and length.

Inside the gate, on Blacklight Star, were the deceased of the Ninja World, poised and ready.

And to his sides, Konan, 20, and Rin Nohara, 15, stood silently in the high sky.

"Begin, my warriors."

"Take this World!"

"Gather all the Tailed Beasts and offer me the God Tree fruit!"

"Understood! Great and Supreme black light will!"

After Joa's command was given.

A black torrent poured into the Ninja World.

Two hundred Blacklight Warriors, led by the guiding ninja of various villages, flew towards the entire Ninja World.

Konoha.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's residence.

'Among the Uchiha, the voices of dissatisfaction are growing louder...'

"Monkey!"

"I entrusted Konoha to you, and this is how you respond to my expectations?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was sitting cross-legged on the tatami, eyes closed in contemplation, puffing on his pipe.

Hearing the familiar voice, he suddenly opened his eyes.

"Old! Teacher?!"

"How... how could this be..."

"What, what on earth is going on?"

His teacher, the Second Hokage, who should have died long ago, appeared in the room, making Hiruzen Sarutobi's mind go blank instantly.

Master and disciple reunited?

Is this right?

Didn't Teacher die a long time ago?

"I'm asking you a question! Monkey!"

"Do you know how I feel when Konoha Ninja who died from Konoha's persecution come before me every few minutes, every few hours?"

Yes, that's right, it's unmistakable.

This familiar feeling, it is indeed Teacher!

He swallowed with a gulp.

Facing Tobirama Senju's interrogation, the already aged Hiruzen Sarutobi felt as anxious as a child.

"I... I don't know... It was all... Danzo doing it behind my back."

"By the time I found out, it was too late to stop him."

Hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's words, Tobirama Senju was so angry he chuckled.

"You say you don't know?"

"Sakumo Hatake, the one crowned with the title Konoha's White Fang by the enemy, was blamed by everyone in the village for protecting his comrades and abandoning a mission."

"This led to a severe conflict between his Fire Will and reality, and even his own son didn't understand him."

"What were you doing when his faith collapsed and he committed suicide?"

"Where was your Fire Will? Why did you allow everyone to slander a hero who struck fear into the hearts of enemies during the Second Great Ninja War?"

"Hmm? Tell me!"

"Look me in the eyes! Speak!"

Cold sweat broke out on Hiruzen Sarutobi's forehead from nervousness; Tobirama Senju's interrogation left him at a loss for how to defend himself.

Should he say he didn't expect Sakumo Hatake's spirit to be so fragile?

Or should he say he was afraid Sakumo's prestige would be too high and steal the Hokage position from his own lineage, Minato Namikaze?

Seeing that Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't know how to defend himself, Tobirama Senju continued to question him.

"You allowed Danzo to establish Root, an organization separate from the Anbu, in Konoha, taking in orphans and forcing them to kill each other until only the strongest remained to become Root ninja."

"Since when did Konoha have a Blood Mist policy?"

"You didn't know about this either?"

"During the Nine-Tails attack, why did Minato Namikaze die in battle?"

"Why did you drag things out until the Fourth Hokage arrived? Couldn't you use the Reaper Death Seal?"

"Where were Danzo and his Root that night? Guarding the Uchiha? Preventing them from participating in the battle?"

"When did I ever teach you this? And Uchiha Kagami... to think he was... by Danzo..."

The more Tobirama Senju spoke, the more enraged he became.

"Hiruzen Sarutobi!"

"Hyuga Hizashi also shouldn't have died! If you had been firmer then, Konoha was not without fighting strength, and the Hidden Cloud Village would not have started another war."

"And you chose to hand over your village's ninja to appease the anger of the invaders."

"Good! Truly good!"

"Before Minato Namikaze and his wife passed away, they entrusted their son to your care. Tell me, what did you do?"

"You allowed the villagers to slander and insult him, constantly targeting the son of a hero who sacrificed for Konoha."

"Don't talk about protecting the Jinchuriki."

"Everyone in the Hidden Sand Village knows that Gaara is a Jinchuriki, so what? Hmm?"

"What about Killer B of the Hidden Cloud Village?"

"You hired nannies and tutors for your grandson, Konohamaru, who was born not long ago."

"You neglected Naruto Uzumaki, letting a child of a few years fend for himself, eating expired food—these are all your good deeds!"

"How can you be so selfish?!"

This barrage of questions made Hiruzen Sarutobi feel dizzy and disoriented, wishing he could faint on the spot to avoid facing this terrifying reality.

"I... I..."

He had no rebuttal.

Because everything Tobirama Senju said was true.

"I... was wrong... Teacher..."

The aged Hiruzen Sarutobi looked back at the past and couldn't help but shed tears.

When did it start?

He had become so weak; he was once known as the Professor.

'Teacher is right, during the Nine-Tails attack, it should have been me who sealed the Nine-Tails.'

"I'm sorry... Teacher... I failed your expectations of me."

He looked up at Tobirama Senju, whose appearance remained unchanged.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, lost in memories, felt as if he had returned to his youth.

A smile appeared on his wrinkled face.

The next moment.

Hiruzen Sarutobi quickly formed hand signs, and all the neutral chakra in his body transformed into wind nature, raging violently and tearing his internal organs to shreds.

A trace of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke.

"Teacher... seeing you again... I'm truly happy."

"I... will apologize to them properly..."

"Konoha, cough!"

"From now on... cough cough! I'll leave it to you!"

With that, Hiruzen Sarutobi, with a smile on his face, fell forward with a thud, collapsing before Tobirama Senju.

"Monkey... you..."

"Sigh..."

"Go apologize to them yourself."

Supporting the fallen Hiruzen Sarutobi, a black-red tendril emerged from Tobirama Senju's palm.

It pierced into Hiruzen Sarutobi's body, continuously injecting the Blacklight Virus into him.

"Teacher...?"

He endured the pain.

After a long while.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, his appearance restored to youth, stood up and looked at Tobirama Senju in disbelief.

'My body...'

'These numerous abilities...'

'What exactly is going on?'

Hiruzen Sarutobi's suicide had significantly calmed Tobirama Senju's anger, but he still had strong opinions about this disciple.

He explained coldly, not caring if Hiruzen Sarutobi understood.

Tobirama Senju spoke coldly.

"Come with me to find Danzo!"

Upon hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi cast aside his still-unclear thoughts and quickly replied.

"Uh... Yes! Teacher!"

'Danzo... please don't do anything foolish!'