"Yes."
Tōshirō didn't hide it: "This jutsu is called the Dragon Life Reincarnation Jutsu, and it seems to have the effect of bringing the dead back to life."
"Where did you hear that?"
Tōshirō made something up: "I was bored and used my Sharingan to interrogate a ninja from the Grass Village I defeated in the past."
Putting aside their conflict, Hiruzen was intrigued by this jutsu: "So you can already..."
"It's still in the research phase..."
Tōshirō said with regret: "I don't know if this jutsu even works."
This statement was half-true, half-false.
Tōshirō had seen the Dragon Life Reincarnation Jutsu, but he felt there was something off about it. He felt like it was missing something, and he hadn't been able to figure it out yet.
Furthermore, this jutsu wasn't something he could just try out casually, as it might cost him his life. Tōshirō was being very careful.
He planned to find Orochimaru and have him help research the jutsu. Knowing Orochimaru's personality, he should be very interested in this jutsu, even if they had no personal relationship.
Hearing about the uncertainty of the jutsu, Hiruzen felt a bit of regret.
That made sense. A jutsu that could revive people was too much against the laws of nature.
Tōshirō probably got a jutsu that the Grass Village was still developing.
"I can understand your desire to revive Tsunade, but the dead cannot be brought back to life. This kind of behavior is against the laws of nature and can easily lead to extremes, even eternal damnation."
Hiruzen seemed to be understanding Tōshirō, but he was actually laying the groundwork for a future rebellion and finding a reason for it.
The precedent was Orochimaru.
Tōshirō sneered inwardly.
Understanding?
How could this old man have the audacity to say that?
"You'll only know if you try."
Tōshirō ignored Hiruzen's advice, taking it as hot air: "Hesitating will only lead to failure."
Hiruzen, feigning righteousness, criticized: "But you shouldn't have used such a brutal method."
Tōshirō scoffed: "It's too cold on the high ground of morality, and I get cold easily."
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes: "Please make yourself clear."
The air in the room suddenly solidified, so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
Anyone could see that Tōshirō was very unhappy with Lord Hokage.
Everyone held their breath, speculating in their minds whether Tōshirō had a conflict with the Third Hokage in the past, and that's why he was confronting the Hokage as soon as he returned to the village.
Of course, it was also possible that Tōshirō had returned to the village, learned about the injustice his clansmen had suffered, and wanted to seek justice for them.
Jiraiya's gaze was solemn as he looked at the two. What are you trying to do, Tōshirō—!
Tōshirō's face was cold as he exhaled and broke the silence: "A village as weak as the Grass Village, possessing the Dragon Life Reincarnation Jutsu... Even if I didn't take it, other great nations would.
"With this village's frail strength, it simply has no ability to protect such a jutsu. Since someone was going to take it, why couldn't that person be me?"
This shocking statement left everyone in the room speechless.
Since someone was going to take it, why couldn't that person be me?
Is that something a person would say?
Tōshirō was so lawless that he could justify robbery so righteously.
But upon careful thought, they would find that there was some truth to what he said.
He could sense that everyone around him had reservations, but Tōshirō was unconcerned. He would use his next words to shut them up and even make them support him.
"This is a jutsu that can revive people. Don't you want to bring back your deceased family, friends, and loved ones?"
Everyone present lowered their heads, complex emotions welling up in their hearts.
If they were to ask themselves, if they had the chance to revive their loved ones right in front of them, would they not be tempted?
The majority of them would be tempted. It was just that most of them were limited by their own strength and couldn't disregard the rules like Tōshirō could.
Tōshirō's gaze was arrogant as he slowly scanned the crowd, a cold smile on his face.
This is how people are. When it's not their problem, they stand on the high ground of morality and condemn others, but once their own interests are involved, their attitude completely changes.
He paused, then raised his head, looking directly at Hiruzen: "There's something I've always been confused about, Lord Hokage. Can you enlighten me?"
Hiruzen glanced at Tōshirō, vaguely sensing that the next question wouldn't be a good one. However, due to his position as Hokage, he had to respond: "What is it?"
Tōshirō's tone turned cold: "...When did our village become so weak?"
You can tell what someone means from what they say.
On the surface, Tōshirō was talking about the village, but in reality, he was directing his attack at Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The person primarily responsible for the village's weakness was obvious.
Hiruzen naturally understood this hidden meaning. He frowned slightly.
If he were to try to explain himself now, he would fall into Tōshirō's verbal trap. An explanation would mean he had lost.
The correct approach was to not respond, and someone who understood his intentions would respond on his behalf while he observed the situation.
Soon, a Jonin with thick eyebrows and large eyes stood up and made his point clear: "Tōshirō-sama, are you dissatisfied with the Third Hokage?
"Our village is thriving and flourishing like a vibrant, prosperous land. How can you say we're weak?
"Furthermore, Konoha has always been the strongest village. We've only ever been called strong, never weak. If even this is considered weak, then Tōshirō-sama, I'd like to hear what you would consider to be strong."
Tōshirō didn't respond right away. Instead of talking about the village's strength, he focused on its weakness: "Three years ago, Konoha had an alliance with the Cloud Village..."
Tōshirō hadn't even finished speaking, but a middle-aged man in the room seemed to have a vague sense of what he was talking about and frowned slightly.
The middle-aged man had a lean face and distinctive white eyes. This face would be recognizable even in a crowd because of its unique features.
He was the Hyuga clan leader, Hiashi Hyuga.
Three years ago, a major incident occurred in the village.
A certain ninja leader from the Cloud Village, which had a long history of conflict with Konoha, came to Konoha at that time to form an alliance.
However, in reality, the Cloud Village had no intention of forming an alliance. They were using the opportunity to infiltrate Konoha and kidnap a three-year-old from the Main House to obtain the secrets of the Byakugan.
Naturally, the Hyuga clan had to fight back and retrieve their child.
Since it was nighttime and the enemy was masked, Hiashi, desperate to save his daughter, did not hold back. After he killed the man, he was surprised to discover that the person was the Cloud Village ninja leader who had come to the village that day.
Unexpectedly, the Cloud Village turned the tables and demanded the corpse of the Hyuga clan leader, Hiashi Hyuga, or they would go to war.
The Konoha elders, for the sake of peace, agreed to this demand. Hiashi had already prepared to die for the greater good, but then some things happened, and his twin brother substituted himself and went to his death to maintain a superficial peace.
In a sense, the Konoha elders' handling of the situation at the time was quite weak.
After all, the Cloud Village was clearly in the wrong.
But since things were already done, there was nothing to do but accept it.
However, Hiashi still had one question about the matter: how could the Cloud Village ninja have avoided the eyes and ears of the Hyuga clan and accurately found and kidnapped the child in such a short amount of time?
So, the moment Tōshirō mentioned this incident, it immediately came to his mind.
And the result was just as he expected. Tōshirō was making a big deal out of this incident to prove his point about the village's weakness.
Tōshirō's face was stern as he questioned: "In this matter, it was clearly the Cloud Village's fault. Why did the village so weakly agree to their demand?"
Not satisfied, Tōshirō also pulled in the Hyuga clan leader, who had been watching him, to support him: "Isn't that right, the Hyuga clan leader, Hiashi Hyuga?"
(End of Chapter)
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