After hearing these words, everyone fell silent.
Especially the Hyūga Clan, which was also a clan with a bloodline limit of Dōjutsu; they appeared calm on the surface, but internally, a storm was raging.
Danzō Shimura had such a ruthless heart, and Hiruzen Sarutobi had played a clever move by using others to kill!
As fellow Dōjutsu clans who also hadn’t integrated smoothly into Konoha, they couldn’t help but feel a fear of shared fate.
Coupled with Danzō Shimura’s history of gouging out eyes, how could they ever trust Konoha again?!
Although Danzō Shimura was not synonymous with Konoha, the Third Hokage could not have been unaware of his actions; in other words, the Third Hokage had tacitly allowed everything to happen.
This was the most alarming part.
Fortunately, the one in charge here now was not the Third Hokage, but the resurrected Second Hokage.
Otherwise, Konoha would likely have already fallen into chaos.
Senju Tobirama took in the expressions of everyone present.
His own expression remained unchanged as he let out a long sigh and softened his voice, “I apologize for my prejudice against the Uchiha Clan.”
“Lord Second Hokage?”
Everyone was shocked, staring at him in disbelief.
Especially Hiruzen Sarutobi, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado; as the teacher’s disciples, having their teacher apologize for what they had done was a tremendous shame for them.
The few of them lowered their heads, unable to face anyone; their already aged expressions lost even more vitality.
Senju Tobirama saw this, but chose to ignore it; the urgent priority was to appease the other clans of Konoha.
“My original intention was not to isolate the Uchiha Clan, but because the incident of Uchiha Madara defecting had occurred at the time, that was why I established the Konoha Military Police Force.”
“I gave the Uchiha Clan tasks they were capable of doing, and I hoped that through this method, the Uchiha could slowly eliminate their isolation from the village.”
“Facts proved that this strategy was effective in the beginning, but after the Kyūbi Incident occurred, the existence of the Uchiha Konoha Military Police Force was no longer suitable.”
Although he disdained to explain, the necessary justification still had to be made; otherwise, there would be no way to dispel the wariness of the other clans.
Senju Tobirama, cleaning up the mess for his disciples, felt mentally exhausted.
“The path the Uchiha Clan has taken to get to where they are now involves both coincidence and inevitability; it is due to the Konoha Military Police Force I established, the reasons of my disciples, and also the reasons of the Uchiha Clan themselves.”
“But regardless, what has happened has happened; what we need to think about now is the future.”
“Lord Second Hokage is right.”
No matter how wary they were, they couldn’t deny one point: it was true that the Uchiha Clan wanted to stage a coup.
They wouldn’t be as stupid as the Uchiha; at the very least, they shouldn’t end up in that kind of outcome.
Shikaku Nara secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
He admired Lord Second Hokage a bit; he knew when to yield and when to stand firm—worthy of being the Second Hokage.
“Then I will continue.
Listening to the interview on the screen regarding the Sixth Hokage and Mr.
Tomikawa, they intend to write the Uchiha Clan Massacre and the series of top-secret events revealed subsequently into the history textbooks.”
“To prevent the same thing from happening again in the future.”
“And then there is the Fourth Shinobi World War; this is the most critical part.
Currently, we only know that the Fourth Shinobi World War took place in the 68th year of Konoha, and the enemy was Uchiha Madara.”
The name Uchiha Madara made everyone tense up, especially Senju Tobirama.
“Hasn’t Uchiha Madara already…” The Clan Head of the Yamanaka Clan spoke up, looking at the Second Hokage with uncertainty.
“Without a doubt, in the battle at the Valley of the End, I confirmed that he was dead,” Senju Tobirama said, his eyes filled with exhaustion, “but the Uchiha Clan might possess a secret technique for resurrection.”
“Danzō used it when he escaped; perhaps it has something to do with the Sharingan.”
Senju Tobirama continued: “My guess is that Uchiha Madara was resurrected at that time and was hiding in the shadows, plotting something.”
“Calculating by age, even if he was resurrected after the battle at the Valley of the End, he could at most live until the 40th or 50th year of Konoha.”
“I speculate that he found a successor at that time—the one mentioned above, the Uchiha best friend of the future Sixth Hokage—and then died, only to be resurrected again in the 68th year of Konoha through some method.”
This method, most likely, was his Edo Tensei.
Kakashi Hatake’s expression tightened, his fists clenched until his knuckles turned white.
He had only one Uchiha best friend.
Seeing his breathing almost come to a standstill, Tsunade patted his shoulder hard, “Calm down, have you forgotten to breathe?”
“Apologies,” Kakashi, having lost his composure, quickly collected himself, “Among the Uchiha I know, besides Itachi and Sasuke, there is only Obito, but he…”
Even through his mask, one could perceive his pale complexion.
Jiraiya sighed, “I remember Uchiha Obito died in the 46th year of Konoha, during the Battle of Kannabi Bridge at the end of the Third Shinobi World War.”
“Although it is unlikely that the boy’s personality would lead him to be Uchiha Madara’s successor, if we follow the claims revealed by Lord Second Hokage and that screen, he is the one who best fits the criteria.”
Tsunade: “I remember his body was never recovered?”
Jiraiya: “That’s correct.”
“But…” Kakashi still subconsciously defended Obito.
His appearance, filled with personal feelings, was completely different from the Kakashi who was usually a ninja so qualified he seemed like a tool.
“Let’s reserve this theory for now,” Senju Tobirama stopped him from continuing, “Whoever it is, it would be best to dig him out before the Fourth Shinobi World War breaks out.”
“From now on, the village will maintain a wartime state of alert.
Although the Fourth Shinobi World War on the screen breaks out in three years, for us now, everything is uncertain.”
“Because the future has already changed.”
This was true; everyone became nervous.
After the meeting adjourned, the Second Hokage ordered Hiruzen to summon Uchiha Itachi back, “Konoha is very short on manpower right now.
Revoke his status as a rogue ninja.
Regarding the Uchiha matter, I will apologize to him personally.”
Third Hokage: “…Yes.”
“If the Fourth Shinobi World War is really going to break out in three years, I’m afraid the generation of Uzumaki Naruto will be the main fighting force.”
“Kakashi, you will assist me in handling Hokage affairs; also, your Sharingan, and investigating the identity and hiding place of Uchiha Madara’s successor.”
“As for your team, let Jiraiya lead it; Tsunade, you are responsible for quickly training medical ninja; as for Orochimaru, I have other instructions for him.”
Jiraiya could act shamelessly in front of the Third Hokage, but he didn’t dare do so in front of the Second Hokage.
He said timidly, “Teaching Uzumaki Naruto is fine, but for Sakura Haruno and Uchiha Sasuke, why not leave them to Tsunade and Orochimaru?”
Teaching one was much less of a headache than teaching three.
Kakashi thought for a moment, “Naruto is indeed very suitable to follow Lord Jiraiya.
As for Sasuke, he is more proficient in Lightning Release and the Sharingan; perhaps it would be better to let his older brother teach him personally.”
“Sakura Haruno’s combat style is quite similar to Lady Tsunade’s, and her fine Chakra control ability is also excellent; developing towards becoming a medical ninja is a good idea.”
Second Hokage: “Then Sakura Haruno will follow Tsunade.
It’s worth a try; if she lacks the talent, then forget it.”
Tsunade: “…”
That’s easy to say, but has no one considered my hemophobia?