Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama sized up Sarutobi Asuma.
"You are special!"
Senju Tobirama said.
He couldn't see through this young man.
Senju Hashirama smiled at Sarutobi Hiruzen, "Hiruzen, you have an excellent son!"
Sarutobi Asuma chuckled, "Thank you for the praise. I think so too."
"Also, please allow me to call you grandfathers."
Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama froze.
"Cough, cough..."
Namikaze Minato coughed lightly and said, "First Hokage, Second Hokage, Asuma married Tsunade, and Tsunade has already given birth to a son."
"Ah, is that so!"
Senju Hashirama gave an awkward smile, "I thought Hiruzen..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression twitched.
Clearly, the First Hokage thought that his original wife had passed away, and then he remarried a member of the Senju Clan who had a very close blood relation to Senju Hashirama.
Uzumaki Kushina couldn't help but mutter to herself, "The First Hokage seems a bit slow."
"Hahaha, I didn't expect Little Tsunade to be with your son, Hiruzen."
"Asuma, she hasn't caused you too much trouble, has she?"
Senju Hashirama laughed, "She was spoiled by me since she was little, and she even picked up my gambling habit."
Sarutobi Asuma smiled, "Tsunade has basically quit gambling."
After speaking, he looked at Senju Tobirama, "Lord Second, did you study Uchiha Madara's corpse back then?"
"Hmm?"
Before Senju Tobirama could answer, Senju Hashirama frowned, "Tobirama, you hid Madara's corpse?"
Senju Tobirama quickly replied, "Brother, this was also to understand the Uchiha better. You know this clan..."
"Tobirama!"
Senju Hashirama said sharply.
Senju Tobirama immediately shut up and turned his head in surrender.
Sarutobi Asuma immediately said, "It seems Lord Second did not study Uchiha Madara's corpse."
His attention drawn back, Senju Tobirama said, "Indeed."
"I couldn't study it when my brother was around, and after my brother passed, the ninja world's situation changed drastically, so I didn't have the time."
Namikaze Minato listened and said, "Then it makes sense."
Senju Tobirama asked, "What happened to Uchiha Madara's corpse?"
"Was he also resurrected using Impure World Reincarnation?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen said, "No, according to the intelligence we've gathered so far, he wasn't dead then!"
"What?"
Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama were both extremely shocked.
The former had personally killed Uchiha Madara, and the latter had hidden Uchiha Madara's corpse.
This could absolutely not be false!
"This is impossible, isn't it? Someone must be impersonating Uchiha Madara?"
"Is this a Uchiha conspiracy?"
Senju Tobirama frowned.
"Tobirama, don't be prejudiced against the Uchiha."
Senju Hashirama reprimanded him.
This time, Senju Tobirama did not compromise but said, "Brother, I am not prejudiced against the Uchiha. It's because I understand them and know the great hidden dangers within their hearts!"
Sarutobi Asuma helplessly and quickly interrupted the brothers' argument, saying, "It's not a Uchiha conspiracy. Lord Second knows a lot about the Uchiha, but I'm afraid he doesn't know that this clan has a dojutsu called Izanagi, and another called Transferring Seal."
"The former can turn any unfavorable situation into an illusion. This ultimate genjutsu can be said to bring people back from the dead, at the cost of one Sharingan completely losing its light."
"As for Transferring Seal, it allows one to seal a dojutsu within their eyes and then set specific conditions for its activation."
"It's quite obvious that Uchiha Madara had already prepared for his death in the Battle of the Valley of the End that year. He also expected that you, Lord Second, would keep his corpse for research."
"Therefore, after you hid his corpse, the forbidden jutsu Izanagi sealed in his eyes was triggered."
In fact, there were still doubts hidden within this.
Uchiha Madara's shadow clones would have been impossible to hide from Senju Tobirama during his research on the bodies.
At that time, Uchiha Madara would still have been exposed.
Unless…
Sarutobi Hiruzen said, "Looking back, the First Great Ninja War also has many suspicious points, especially the rebellion of the Cloud Ninja Gold and Silver Brothers!"
Namikaze Minato nodded in agreement, "If it weren't for their rebellion, the Second Hokage wouldn't have died. Although Uchiha Madara escaped, the fact that he was alive wouldn't have remained a secret."
Senju Hashirama listened with a complex expression and sighed, "So, the Ninja World is not peaceful even now!"
"No, there isn't a major war in the Ninja World right now."
Sarutobi Asuma said, "Instead, during the Battle of the Valley of the End, Uchiha Madara obtained what he wanted…"
Sharingan, Rinnegan, the Moon Eye Plan… Sarutobi Asuma listed them one by one.
Both Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama couldn't hide their shock.
Then, Senju Tobirama said, "If that's the case, then we should immediately and completely deal with the trouble that is Uchiha Madara."
"Second Hokage, according to the intelligence Asuma has, the key isn't Uchiha Madara. He's also just a pawn."
Namikaze Minato said.
Sarutobi Asuma nodded, "The Sage of Six Paths left behind a stone tablet, located within the Uchiha's Naka Shrine. It records matters concerning the evolution of the Sharingan and the Rinnegan."
"It was after Uchiha Madara obtained the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan and saw the contents within that he left Konoha and planned the Battle of the Valley of the End. However, I suspect the contents were altered by someone!"
Senju Hashirama frowned, "I know about that stone tablet in the Naka Shrine. It requires the Sharingan to read its contents."
"So, the person who could alter the contents should also be from the Uchiha Clan. But at that time, Madara was already the strongest existence in the Uchiha Clan."
Sarutobi Asuma shook his head, "That's not necessarily true."
"I went to the Naka Shrine before and altered the contents."
"Similarly, although I don't have the Sharingan, I was still able to read the contents."
As he spoke, he also revealed the matter of Ōtsutsuki Kaguya being sealed on the Moon.
Finally, he said, "Although it's currently impossible to determine who altered the stone tablet's contents and guided Uchiha Madara to carry out the Moon Eye Plan."
"The objective can already be determined. That Infinite Tsukuyomi was definitely not for the sake of peace, but to release Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, who is sealed on the Moon, from her seal."
Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama looked grave.
The Sage of Six Paths' mother, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, the origin of chakra…
The amount of information was immense!
Senju Hashirama looked at Sarutobi Asuma and said, "Your strength is formidable. If the entire Ninja World were to combine its power, could you defeat Ōtsutsuki Kaguya?"
Sarutobi Asuma chuckled upon hearing this, "That might require a Great Ninja War first."
Namikaze Minato also said, "Currently, there's much intelligence that we can't provide actual proof for."
As he spoke, he outlined Sarutobi Asuma's plan.
Senju Tobirama listened and looked at Sarutobi Asuma with great admiration, then said to Sarutobi Hiruzen, "Monkey, you have an excellent son!"
This plan was greatly to his liking.
Senju Hashirama, however, sighed, "It seems no era is without its wars!"
He then asked, "Since Madara is already dead, can we find his body and use the Reanimation Jutsu to revive him? I can persuade him."
Senju Tobirama immediately retorted, "Brother, you cannot persuade Uchiha Madara at all."
"Moreover, even if you persuade him to give up that Moon Eye Plan, the real disaster is Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, sealed on the Moon, and the black hand hiding in the shadows."
"This plan of Asuma and the others is to draw out that black hand. Otherwise, without Uchiha Madara, other Uchiha would do the same thing in the future."
Criticized by his younger brother, Senju Hashirama's shoulders slumped, "Alright, this method is indeed good."
"Then…"
Senju Hashirama looked at Sarutobi Asuma and the others, "What do you need us to do?"
"How about we first take a look at Konoha's young sprouts."
Sarutobi Asuma smiled and, with a wave of his hand, conjured a large water screen, displaying a scene.
Land of Rivers.
Sasori of the Red Sand was finally caught up to by Kakashi and the others.
However, before the battle could begin, Uka and Tobi appeared.
What was originally a three-on-one situation became a three-on-three.
"It looks like a battle is unavoidable today!"
"Wow, this must be the renowned Konoha technician, right?"
"By the way, Senior Sasori, can we win?"
Tobi exclaimed noisily.
Uka said, "We don't necessarily have to win; we just need to take the One-Tails Jinchuriki."
"Scorpion, hand the Jinchuriki over to me. Tobi, stay and cooperate with you to hold them off."
Sasori of the Red Sand lowered the unconscious Gaara with his tail and said, "Perfect, I also have some personal grudges to settle!"
Uka grabbed Gaara from the ground and vanished.
"Kurenai, Shizune, leave this place to me!"
Kakashi said.
"Understood!"
Yūhi Kurenai and Shizune nodded, then immediately pursued Uka.
"Hey, hey, this won't do."
Tobi immediately shouted and blocked Yūhi Kurenai and Shizune.
Meanwhile.
On the border of the Land of Fire and the Land of Rivers.
A great battle had already erupted.
Sarutobi Shinya VS Kakuzu!
Might Guy VS Kisame, who was without Samehada!
Inside the experimental base.
Sarutobi Asuma had now condensed two water screens, displaying a battlefield in each.
"Kakashi, he's Sakumo's son, and also my disciple," Namikaze Minato introduced.
"Sakumo, hmm!"
Senju Tobirama's eyes showed recollection. He certainly knew of Hatake Sakumo.
When he was around, Hatake Sakumo had already begun to make a name for himself.
"I never expected someone outside the Uchiha to master the Sharingan," Senju Tobirama said with some surprise, looking at the scene displayed in the water screen.
His understanding of the Uchiha was quite profound.
He had studied the Uchiha quite a bit back then.
"Indeed, he's outstanding. Is that Lightning Style Chakra Mode? I didn't expect someone in Konoha to have cultivated it, and also mastered the Storm Style Kekkei Genkai. Did Sakumo's child develop it?" Senju Hashirama also praised.
"No, Kakashi trained it himself," Namikaze Minato said with a smile. "Of course, Asuma deserves half the credit."
"He passed on his experience in developing Kekkei Genkai, and many Jonin in the village have now developed their own Kekkei Genkai."
"Also, the Lightning Style Chakra Mode was developed by Asuma, and it's different from the Cloud Ninja's version."
Senju Hashirama couldn't help but laugh heartily upon hearing this. "It seems Little Tsunade found a very excellent husband!"
Uzumaki Kushina then said, "Scorpion, that fellow, he'll probably turn the Fourth Kazekage into a puppet too, won't he?"
Sarutobi Asuma chuckled, "He probably won't get the chance!"
"Turning people into puppets is the puppet technique of Sunagakure," Senju Tobirama said, looking at Sasori of the Red Sand with a frown. "It seems this fellow's technique has surpassed the originator of Puppet Technique."
"Indeed it has," Sarutobi Asuma nodded.
He believed the upcoming battle would open everyone's eyes.
Three against two, but Tobi alone had held off Kurenai and Shizune with his elusive techniques.
It was undoubtedly a no-contest battle.
The main event was the fierce battle between Kakashi and Sasori of the Red Sand.
One was an extremely skilled puppeteer, controlling the Third Kazekage puppet, wielding Magnet Release, and manipulating Iron Sand.
Kakashi, on the other hand, had mastered Lightning Style Chakra Mode. Although his Lightning Style Chakra Mode was far inferior to Sarutobi Asuma's and also quite a bit behind the Fourth Raikage's, he also mastered Storm Style.
Moreover, his application of Storm Style was extremely proficient. He had also received the true teachings of Sword Technique from his father, Konoha's White Fang, and had a Sharingan to assist him, allowing him to unleash his speed to its fullest.
Even the Third Kazekage puppet, along with the powerful hidden weapons from Sasori's Hiruko, could not hit him.
"Fourth, you taught him very well!" Senju Hashirama praised him without reservation.
Kakashi's combat was extremely fluid; his speed and grasp of the enemy were truly a pleasure to behold.
After becoming familiar with the Third Kazekage's puppet and Sasori of the Red Sand's Hiruko, Kakashi finally revealed his trump card.
While moving at high speed to dodge, he found an opening and threw his kunai at Hiruko.
"This kind of thing is useless against me!"
Sasori of the Red Sand snorted. With a flick of his scorpion tail, he was about to knock the kunai away.
But Kakashi suddenly stopped and pulled slightly on the kunai, changing its trajectory to avoid the scorpion tail.
At the same time, however, the Third Kazekage puppet seized Kakashi's opening. Iron Sand whistled through the air, an impenetrable defense.
The next moment, Kakashi disappeared and reappeared above Hiruko, grabbing the kunai with one hand and swinging his sword with the other.
"Tobirama, your Flying Thunder God Technique!"
Senju Hashirama laughed.
Senju Tobirama said, "He's using it well. It looks like the battle is about to end."
He could naturally tell that the puppeteer named Sasori had hidden his body inside that puppet. A very clever idea.
As they spoke, the sword imbued with Storm Style chakra had already severed the scorpion tail.
"What?"
Sasori of the Red Sand was shocked, but it was too late to avoid it.
Kakashi's sword split Hiruko in two, and the power of Storm Style extended through the blade.
Boom!
The entire Hiruko exploded, shattering into pieces.
At the same time, a dark figure shot out in a flash of light.
"Huh?"
Kakashi was startled, not expecting to have failed to injure Sasori, who was hidden within the puppet.
"Is that the Fourth Hokage's Body Flicker Technique?"
"He's hidden himself really well!"
Sasori exclaimed from beneath his black cloak before moving his fingers.
Behind Kakashi, Hiruko's head jumped up, its neck elongating towards Kakashi as a dense spray of senbon shot out.
Dodging the projectiles, Kakashi's pupils constricted.
Meanwhile.
At the experimental base, before the water screen.
Senju Hashirama and the others were also greatly surprised.
"This guy, did he turn himself into a puppet too?"
Uzumaki Kushina couldn't help but swallow.
Because at that moment, Sasori had lifted his black cloak, revealing his true body.
However, it was easily identifiable as a puppet!
Namikaze Minato nodded. "It certainly seems so now. How crazy!"
"It was also an idea from the genius class."
Senju Tobirama said, "However, a puppet like this shouldn't be able to completely discard its flesh and blood."
"His chakra source should be his fatal weakness."
"Fourth, this intelligence should be relayed to the front lines immediately."
Truly worthy of the Second Hokage!
Sarutobi Asuma praised inwardly, then smiled. "Second Hokage, Kakashi's combat intelligence is outstanding. Even I can't compare to him. He probably doesn't need our reminder for this situation."
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