"Impure World Reincarnation!"
The hoarse incantation echoed through the spacious security office of the Hidden Rain Village.
Orochimaru, master of forbidden jutsu, slammed his bloodied palm onto the floor, which was covered in intricate sealing tags. Four blue souls descended instantly, drawn toward the lifeless bodies of White Zetsu lying in a row.
At the same moment, Orochimaru—his belly torn and blood soaking his robes—turned to a nearby White Zetsu pinned by his own shadow clone. His mouth stretched impossibly wide.
A savage, white-scaled serpent erupted from Orochimaru at blinding speed, burrowing straight into the Zetsu's chest.
Across the room, the Zetsu possessed by the souls wailed and jerked upright, swirling in clouds of white dust.
As the sealing tags glowed brighter, four stern-faced men materialized before Shisui.
Orochimaru, his features reforming into his own, rose with a confident smirk, admiring his handiwork.
"Men who know everything—the previous Hokage!"
Dust drifted through the air as Senju Tobirama, scowling and clearly annoyed, spoke first.
"Is it that Orochimaru again?"
On the far left, Senju Hashirama turned to his brother, confusion on his face.
"What's happening?"
"Impure World Reincarnation again? He's just throwing around the jutsu I created!"
From the moment of his death, Hashirama had been summoned back three times. He was thoroughly fed up with this jutsu disturbing his peace.
"First Hokage, looks like we've been revived again," Minato observed, his tone analytical.
Hashirama tilted his head, blinked twice in dazed confusion, and asked, "Who are you?"
Minato gave an awkward grin, scratching his head. Then he turned, revealing the bold kanji on the back of his ceremonial robe.
"I'm the Fourth Hokage."
"Oh! You're the Fourth!" Hashirama's face lit up instantly.
His not-so-quick mind immediately categorized Minato as one of his own.
"The village must be pretty peaceful these days!"
"Uh... I was sealed before the Third, so I'm not sure," Minato replied.
"Then who's the Fifth?" Hashirama pressed.
Orochimaru chimed in, "Your granddaughter—Princess Tsunade!"
Hashirama's face darkened in an instant, a heavy pressure settling around him.
"Little... Tsuna... ah...
The village is alright, isn't it?"
"Don't worry. Lady Tsunade's done an excellent job," Shisui answered calmly.
Hashirama spun to face the speaker. "And you are?"
"Let me introduce myself. I'm Uchiha Shisui. Uchiha Kagami was my grandfather."
Tobirama's eyes narrowed sharply, and he stepped forward, voice tense. "You're from the Hidden Rain Village?!"
Shisui nodded, unflinching. "Prospective Second Amekage of the Hidden Rain. It's an honor to meet the previous Hokage."
Tobirama's tone turned imperious. "Where's Rinjin? Tell that kid to come see me!"
"The Daimyo is currently away from the village," Shisui replied.
Hashirama leaned toward Tobirama, whispering, "Who's Rinjin?"
Tobirama ignored his brother, eyes never leaving Shisui. "And Kagami? Where's your grandfather?"
Shisui shook his head. "Sorry, he's not in the village right now either."
"Kagami... Uchiha Kagami, right? What happened to him? And what's going on with the Hidden Rain Village?" Hashirama muttered.
"Big brother, stop babbling! I'm talking to the young man," Tobirama snapped.
"But—"
"Quiet!"
Hashirama, cowed by Tobirama's shout, staggered backward and went silent, retreating into himself.
Tobirama turned back to Shisui, his expression grave. "Since those two aren't here, can you tell me why you're using Impure World Reincarnation?"
He was starting to suspect this Uchiha kid might be planning a rebellion against the Rain.
But Shisui set him straight.
"The Fourth Great Ninja War. Uchiha Madara has declared war on the shinobi world. The battle's already begun..."
Shisui calmly laid out the current situation, detail by detail.
As his voice echoed through the office, the four resurrected Hokage lost their initial ease. Their faces grew somber, the weight of the world settling on their shoulders.
"In that case, what are we waiting for? Let's move!" Hashirama urged.
He had zero faith in his granddaughter's ability to handle Madara alone.
But Tobirama held him back.
"Shisui, that's your name, right?"
"Yes," Shisui replied.
"Which side do you expect us to help?"
Shisui's lips curled into a confident smile. "From the Hidden Rain's perspective, we'll support the Allied Shinobi Forces."
Tobirama's eyes narrowed, a flicker of approval passing through them.
It didn't matter whose side they took—they were all dead men, after all. But helping the Allied Forces? That answer was exactly what he'd hoped for. Kagami's grandson, through and through.
One last question lingered.
"Shisui, what do you believe love is?"
Shisui blinked, surprised by the question from the armored legend before him, and fell silent.
Though he was an Uchiha, he'd never held any grudge against Tobirama as Hokage.
When he was younger, he'd asked his grandfather why their branch had left Konoha.
From Kagami's answer, he'd learned many hidden truths.
Honestly, Tobirama had never been truly cruel to the Uchiha.
The Konoha Police Force—responsible for village security—was a cushy job.
If the Uchiha had played fair, treated everyone equally, maybe the villagers wouldn't have resented them.
If no one had stirred up trouble behind the scenes, maybe the Uchiha could have produced a Hokage.
*(Author's note: A lot of online clips mistranslate Tobirama's conversation with Sasuke. If you want Tobirama's actual words, check the manga. Frankly, his original lines are pretty fair.
He's a controversial character.
My personal view of Tobirama is straightforward.
To be chosen as a disciple by the First and Second Hokage, to enter the Hokage lineage, is itself a mark of recognition.
Of course, he did say "evil Uchiha brat" [](￣▽￣))
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