'I was just saying it, but you took it seriously... is that what you mean?'
Tobirama's brows instantly knitted together. Unable to suppress the killing intent in his body, a trace of it leaked out, causing the pressure in the consciousness space to plummet.
Someone who hasn't killed is different from someone who has. Someone who has killed is different from someone who has been on a battlefield. Having lived through two ninja wars and fought his way from the Warring States period, Tobirama's killing intent had long since solidified into substance.
Sean had never seen the old man display his killing intent, but it didn't stop him from recognizing... Tobirama's terror.
"Konoha's future... was really destroyed by those Uchiha scumbags?" Tobirama squinted at Sean.
Sean shrugged, meeting his gaze without fear, and smiled. "I can only say yes and no. There was a mastermind behind the scenes."
That was the truth. The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. The drama of Black Zetsu saving his mother...
Sean could only say that Kaguya Otsutsuki played her hand well.
"Who was it?" Although Tobirama deeply hated the Uchiha, he had never doubted their strength.
If not for them... he found it hard to imagine who else could destroy the village he and his elder brother had founded.
But, one's horizons inevitably limit one's perspective. Even if you beat Tobirama and Hashirama to death, the two brothers would never have imagined that the final enemy would be f---ing aliens!
"Sorry." Sean held up one finger and waved it in front of Tobirama. "One lesson, one question answered."
"Senpai, if you want the answer, you'll need to offer something genuine in exchange."
"'Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu.' It's yours." Tobirama snorted, unconcerned. When the safety of the village was at stake, a mere S-rank ninjutsu was nothing.
His hands moved like fluttering butterflies. Aided by the "Sage," Sean didn't miss a single detail, firmly imprinting the hand seals Tobirama performed in his mind.
Poof! Poof! Poof! Dozens of Tobiramas appeared in a line in front of Sean.
Sean copied him, attempting to perform it. His consciousness was still immersed in the "epiphany" state, but the "Nen" in his body, responding first, began to boil spontaneously.
This attracted the old man's attention.
"Brat, what are you spacing out for? You brush this old man off with 'no time'? Is your skin itching for a beating again?"
Seeing Sean just drop a sentence and then treat him like air... the more Maha thought about it, the angrier he got. The rocking chair wasn't appealing anymore. He wasn't looking at the H-manga in his hand either.
He ruthlessly tossed "Auntie" into the cornfield, floated over to Sean, and got closer. He let out a surprised "eh?"
He had sensed Sean's abnormality.
"This is... mind-body separation?"
'His body is spontaneously circulating its qi before his brain... Is this brat sleepwalking in broad daylight?'
Maha touched his bald head in surprise. Having lived for over three hundred years, this was a first for the old man.
"Then just wake him up, simple as that." With his white hair waving, Zeno poked his head in from the window and was about to slap Sean's shoulder.
Unexpectedly, Sean didn't wake up, but he was almost "put to sleep" by a big slap from Maha!
"You dog! Who allowed you to touch my grandson?" Maha was furious. He picked Zeno up and gave him another hard slap. "This old man said sleepwalking, and you actually believed it! This is an epiphany!"
"An epiphany, understand?!"
"If you had experienced this back then, would you be such a good-for-nothing?"
'Stop scolding... stop scolding... Grandfather, I'll crawl away, alright?'
'Being over sixty years old and still receiving Grandfather's "care"...' Zeno's face was swollen from the "affection." After taking two of Maha's slaps, he obediently retracted his hand.
He looked at Sean with a complicated expression. "To think this child is only ten and can encounter such a great opportunity. It really makes one envious."
"Heh! Envious?" Maha glared at Zeno, frustrated. "This is the brat's fourth epiphany recently!"
"How... how many times?!" Zeno was shocked. His hand trembled, almost pulling out his graying beard. He looked at Sean in disbelief. He knew that on matters like this, the old man never joked.
Sure enough, Maha listed them off like treasures. "The first time, it seemed to be the 'Eight Gates'."
"The second time, 'Expansion Jutsu'."
"The third time, 'Shadow Clone Jutsu'."
"And this time..." Maha squinted at Zeno and said meaningfully, "Perhaps the brat really did comprehend 'Edo Tensei'."
"Impossible!" Zeno's eyes narrowed, and he pondered. "'Edo Tensei' transcends common sense. With Sean's knowledge and experience, it's impossible for him to see through life and death at this stage."
"Although... I also really want Father to be saved."
At the mention of Zigg, the grandfather and grandson suddenly fell silent. After a long pause, Maha finally managed to say one word: "Perhaps."
The old man patted Zeno's shoulder and said emotionally, "If this brat really does figure it out, Zeno... Grandfather's happiness after death will all depend on you."
'Happiness after death? What does that mean?'
"Grandfather, you're not going to make me take your place, are you?"
'This inexplicable warmth... it's poison.'
Zeno looked at Maha suspiciously and said carefully, "I think..."
"Compared to 'reincarnating' me... it seems 'reincarnating' you is more cost-effective."
"After all, you're stronger than me. You're more useful alive, aren't you?"
'I really want to beat this turtle-grandson to death right now.' Maha almost choked on his breath, nearly dying of anger. The more he mulled over Zeno's words, the more he felt it was a possibility.
'But f---! When did "being strong" also become a "fatal" weakness?'
Even though Maha had lived for over three hundred years, he almost couldn't take it. He swung his hand and gave Zeno another hard slap. "Who told you to be so weak?"
"You dog! Why aren't you scrambling back to train? What are you standing here for, to mourn?"
"Yes... yes... yes... I'm going... I'm going." Zeno felt like his brains were about to be scrambled. He didn't even bother putting his hands behind his back, fleeing the scene of the disaster in disgrace. From a distance, he left Maha with one last sentence—
"Grandfather, you can't dare to die! The moment you die, you'll be playing right into that brat Sean's hands..."
"Scram!" A smelly shoe flew through the air, hitting Zeno square on the head. The former head of the Zoldyck family let out a miserable shriek... almost waking Sean up.
The vast white sea of consciousness also trembled violently because of this smelly shoe, almost collapsing.
Even Tobirama began to flicker unstably.
"It seems quite lively outside." After demonstrating the "Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu," Tobirama glanced at the crumbling consciousness space. He knew his time was short. He took a deep breath and stared at Sean. "Sean, next time, I will come to you with the 'Flying Thunder God Jutsu'."
"At that time, I hope you have prepared the answer I want."
'The Flying Thunder God Jutsu?' Sean returned from his epiphany. He hadn't expected the other party to offer such a high price, even taking out his famous, world-renowned technique. He immediately bowed deeply to Tobirama. "Of course. I look forward to our next meeting, Teacher."
"Please forgive me for not seeing you off."
The sea of clouds finally collapsed, completely submerging Tobirama.
Just before dissipating, the Nidaime's furrowed brow relaxed. It was unknown whether it was because of the "Teacher" or because he had received a definite guarantee. He grinned.
Unfortunately, encounters are always wonderful and brief. His consciousness returned to his body.
Sean missed seeing it by a second. When he woke up, he split into ten, forming a line, and suddenly appeared in front of Maha.
The old man's eyelids twitched. He blurted out, "Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu?"