Naruto: I Survived Two Wars Without You, System!

Below the observation platform where Hashirama Senju and others sat,

Jiraiya, Orochimaru, Minato Namikaze, and others were seated side by side.

"Sigh…"

Jiraiya let out a long sigh and tightly shut his eyes, no longer watching the one-sided beating happening in the arena.

He had secretly returned to Konoha with Minato three days prior.

After being persuaded by Nara Shikaku, he'd quietly attended several of these so-called gatherings.

Faced with grumbles from many ninja clans and Konoha Jonin,

he had come to deeply understand why unrest had been growing within the village in recent years, and why many families preferred living in hardship instead of officially registering their ninja with Konoha.

Consider the Ino–Shika–Cho triad clans—who have been allied with the Sarutobi Clan for centuries.

The current generation of Ino–Shika–Cho seemed to possess high rank and great influence.

Yet among the older generation, aside from Torifu Akimichi—who did nothing but idle away his time in the clan compound—all the survivors bore missing limbs, or had lost their hearing and sight.

Then look at how the Sarutobi Clan has grown stronger recently. Who wouldn't feel uneasy about it?

Kei Yamanaka put it best—people aren't afraid of having little, only of being treated unfairly.

Look at the Shimura Clan—they've kept replenishing Root with new recruits, generation after generation.

As for the Sarutobi Clan...

"Why the sigh? The world is on the brink of monumental change. Konoha, like an ancient cart rusting in place, will finally begin a new journey, forging a completely new path never walked before. Aren't you also looking forward to this?"

Orochimaru's raspy yet magnetic voice rose.

"...Seems much more composed than last time."

Jiraiya turned his head and looked carefully at Orochimaru, then—his normally stern expression finally softened into a rare smile as he leaned back against the steps behind him, arms crossed over his chest.

"Heheh～ Before, I longed to be the one steering the cart forward. Now, simply following alongside the caravan is enough for me."

A small grin curled Orochimaru's lips as well.

White Zetsu, Ten-Tails vessel, Sage Transformation, Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, Rinnegan, the power of the Otsutsuki Clan…

The truth and secrets of this world were gradually unveiling themselves before his eyes.

Immortality was closing in!

It almost felt as if he could finally start pondering the deeper truths of existence itself.

"Senior Orochimaru, you seem injured?"

Minato asked, glancing at his teacher's dear friend, his gaze lingering on the damaged ninja shoes and torn belt.

Fresh battle wounds, the slight fatigue lingering at the end of his speech—

All clear indicators.

Orochimaru must have just gone through combat recently.

"...Just some unexpected little incidents along the way of seeking truth."

Orochimaru casually brushed off the topic of being hurt.

How was he supposed to explain it?

Could he really tell Jiraiya and Minato that he'd been defeated by someone he'd brought back using the Impure World Reincarnation technique?

Damn that Second.

After bringing back both the First and Madara Uchiha using Impure World Reincarnation, without even saying a word, they immediately jumped into a fight with each other!

All he did was subtly intervene—just enough to halt their fight, thanks to his control over the reincarnated bodies.

Who could have imagined that Tobirama wouldn't even hear him out, instead catching him off guard, breaking free from the Impure World Reincarnation's control, and turning his own technique against him?

If it hadn't been for Hashirama restraining Madara and Kei Yamanaka intervening to reprimand Tobirama, he probably wouldn't be sitting here whole today!

Damn you, Tobirama Senju.

Just you wait!

As for this lousy jutsu, the Impure World Reincarnation—I'll make damn sure to reinforce it, again and again, next time!

Fine, if Tobirama used the Sealing Release to break the seal, that's one thing. But how did both Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha manage to resist and force themselves free using sheer willpower?!

What kind of shoddy control technique is this anyway!

As Orochimaru silently cursed Tobirama under his breath, the battle on the battlefield was slowly drawing to a close.

After Sarutobi Hiruzen unleashed his Five-Element Grand Bullet Technique using shadow clones, Tsunade effortlessly shattered every attack with just a few punches and kicks, landing a devastating blow straight on his original body.

This legendary ninja hero—who once stepped forward to take the Hokage title years ago during a time of crisis after Tobirama fell in battle...

He finally released his companion Enma and crumpled onto the ruined battlefield.

Staring blankly at the clear blue sky, not a single cloud in sight.

Blood trickled from the corners of Sarutobi's mouth as he lay still, running gently down his face.

Before his eyes played the memory from long ago—the day Tobirama chose to stay behind alone in the border forest of the Land of Fire.

At that time, Master Tobirama had warned them:

A time would come when self-sacrifice would be necessary to protect the future. Until then, they were to value their lives above all else.

He also told Sarutobi specifically to protect those who believed in and trusted the village—and to nurture those worthy of carrying the next generation forward.

From that day on...

He had become the Hokage!

"I guess… I didn't do such a great job, did I, Master Tobirama..."

Sarutobi whispered, his gaze growing increasingly dim and unfocused.

Just when he thought his life was about to end, Tsunade approached, standing in sunlight like she radiated holy light. She knelt beside him and began healing his collapsed chest with Mystical Palm Technique.

In that moment, something deep inside him—an emotional burden he had always refused and never truly let go of—seemed to shatter and collapse!

A wave of indescribable exhaustion and relief overwhelmed him together.

Sarutobi shut his eyes tightly and softly spoke.

"Will Konoha become better?"

"It will."

Tsunade's voice was soft but unwavering, filled with genuine conviction.

"Why didn't you just let me leave?"

"Konoha has never had a Hokage die by their own student's hand. That would be disgraceful. We only have Hokages who fall in battle."

"A battlefield huh... Not a bad place to go."

"Tch."

"…"

On the distant high platform, seeing Tsunade starting to heal Sarutobi, someone secretly exhaled in relief while another nodded slightly.

No matter one's achievements or faults, the Hokage had always been the symbol of the entire village.

Dying here just wasn't right.

"Boring. I'm leaving."

Madara Uchiha gazed coldly at the scene before him, rose from the platform, and personally dispelled the Impure World Reincarnation, returning to the Pure Land.

"Madara~son-in-law, remember to give us a call in a few days! I'm off for now~"

As Hashirama Senju finished speaking, he left together with Madara Uchiha.

"Uh... sure."

Kei Yamanaka replied awkwardly, then turned his head toward Tobirama Senju, who was still gagged by Wood Release. He gave an apologetic smile and performed a one-handed seal to release the restraint.

After all, this man was Tsunade's granduncle. Considering their currently ambiguous relationship with Tsunade, he needed to show some respect when necessary.

"...Hmph! What did my Big Bro mean just now when he said 'call us in a few days'?"

Tobirama let out a cold snort with an unpleasant expression, echoing Hashirama's parting words.

He was still worried that this disrespectful bastard wouldn't actually respect elders, and if he dragged him out for another thrashing in front of everyone, then Tobirama, as the Second Hokage, would completely lose all face.

"In a few days, we're planning to form a team to pay Sunagakure a visit for some deterrence."

"Why wasn't I invited?"

"Cough cough, since it's about intimidation, naturally we need to make a powerful first impression. The First Generation has [Thousand Hands Manipulation Force: Summit Enlightened Thousand-Armed Cannon], Madara has [Perfect Susanoo], Tsunade has Katsuyu, Jiraiya has Gamabunta, Orochimaru has Manda, Kushina has Nine-Tails..."

"...Son... son-in-law?"

Tobirama remained silent for a moment before finally managing to speak those three words with great difficulty.

Konoha was having a team-building event without him. His older brother was even forming a team with Madara Uchiha? What about Izuna Uchiha then?

Don't think he hadn't noticed - that guy called Orochimaru or whatever, the pile of white bones in his lab!

The lingering, dark, and malevolent presence clinging to the eye sockets of that skull could only belong to Izuna Uchiha!

Even if that man had turned to bone, or been reduced to ash, he'd still recognize him!

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