"It's all thanks to your teachings, sensei. I cannot take credit for it..." Sarutobi Hiruzen modestly replied.
Tobirama frowned at the Third Hokage's appearance, sensing that Hiruzen was hiding something from him.
"Hiruzen, you..." Just as Tobirama was about to ask a question, Ibiki arrived with two teams of Anbu ninjas.
"Third Hokage-sama! Are you alright?" Ibiki shouted and looked at his state.
Ibiki felt relieved upon seeing that the Third Hokage was slightly injured but safe. However, the paper he held in his hand made him uneasy.
"Ibiki, I'm fine... By the way, has the invasion of Sunagakure been resolved?" Hiruzen inquired.
"With the assistance of the Fourth Hokage, it has been resolved. We are currently rounding up those who slipped through the grasp," Ibiki nodded.
"Thank you, Fourth Hokage-sama! These two are... the First Hokage? Second Hokage?!" Ibiki respectfully thanked Minato, and then his gaze fell upon two individuals who appeared rather peculiar. Yet, their faces seemed strangely familiar, leading him to exclaim in recognition.
"Anbu?" Tobirama looked at the masked ninja in front of him and nodded in acknowledgment.
"By the way, Third Hokage... I have discovered something..." Ibiki struggled to find the right words, unsure whether to share the information or not.
"What is it?" Third Hokage asked with a furrowed brow, his voice filled with concern.
Could there be traitors?
"It's just... well..." Ibiki hesitated, finding it difficult to broach the subject.
"Ibiki, now that the First Hokage and Second Hokage are here, if you have something to say, you might as well speak to them," Minato suddenly interjected.
"Fourth Hokage... but, but..." Ibiki grew more anxious.
"Ibiki, do you not trust the First Hokage and Second Hokage?" Minato questioned.
"Well..." Ibiki stepped forward hesitantly and handed the paper in his hand to the First Hokage.
He believed that if the Third Hokage couldn't explain the situation adequately, it would not only have a significant impact on him but also Konoha. With the presence of the First Hokage and Second Hokage, perhaps they could better address the bigger picture.
If the Third Hokage is truly innocent, then they can seek vengeance for him more effectively!
With this thought in mind, Ibiki felt that the Fourth Hokage's suggestion was indeed a good one! He stepped forward with more determination.
The curious Anbu members watched Ibiki intently, wondering what important discovery he had made that had caused him to hesitate so much. But now, with all four Hokages of Konoha present, they felt reassured that no matter how serious the matter was, it could be resolved with their collective strength.
However, Hiruzen's heart sank as he realized that Ibiki's discovery might have something to do with him. He had a sudden feeling of dread, especially with Minato proposing that Ibiki show his findings to the First and Second Hokage. He suspected that it might be directed at himself.
"Ibiki, you..." Hiruzen wanted to intervene, but it was too late, and the paper was already in Hashirama's hands.
"Oh? What's wrong? Ah, yes, speaking of which, Konoha's current Hokage is the Fourth Hokage, Minato, right?" Hashirama spoke casually before reaching out and taking the few pieces of paper that Ibiki had handed over.
As the First Hokage, the founder of Konoha, and the most prominent figure present, he was more than qualified to read the contents, even if it contained the most classified information.
Having heard the Third Hokage's earlier words and looking down at the papers while speaking, Hashirama's expression suddenly halted upon reading the first one. He continued flipping through the pages, his expression changing continuously.
The actions and expression of Hashirama caused the surroundings to fall into a sudden silence. They sensed that whatever Ibiki had discovered was likely very serious, or else the First Hokage wouldn't react in such a manner. Even Tobirama gazed curiously at the papers in Hashirama's hands.
"What is it?" Tobirama wondered in a hushed voice.
Boom!
An immense and majestic force suddenly erupted, causing the frightened ninjas to take several steps back. Even a few logs beneath Hashirama's feet were shattered.
"Is this... the aura of the Legendary Ninja God?!"
"So powerful!"
"Such majestic chakra... Naruto had won in a fight with him?!"
"It's almost like the aura of a tailed beast!"
The surrounding individuals, including the Elite Jonin, felt insignificant in the face of Senju Hashirama's overwhelming aura.
And there are a few Elite Jonin who had believed their strength was comparable to that of a Kage-level, but now they found themselves overwhelmed by Hashirama's power, realizing that the gap between Elite Jonin and Kage-level is not a mere small difference. It's an enormous chasm!
"Hiruzen! Is this true?!" Hashirama angrily held the paper, glaring at the Third Hokage, and shouted.
"I... I..." Sarutobi Hiruzen mumbled, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
"Brother!" Tobirama raised his hand and calmly restrained the enraged Hashirama.
"What's the matter? Why are you so furious?" Tobirama asked Hashirama to calm down.
Suppressing his aura, Hashirama gave the papers in his hand to Tobirama, wanting to read them himself.
Tobirama accepted it with skepticism, wondering what could have caused his usually composed elder brother to be so angry.
After a few seconds...
Boom!
A surge of power, no less formidable than Hashirama's, emanated from Tobirama's body.
"Hiruzen! Is it all true?!" Tobirama looked down again in disbelief, his voice filled with fury, and he roared at the Third Hokage.
"I... I... Tobirama-sensei, what's wrong?" Hiruzen, unaware of the contents of the paper that had angered the two elders, didn't dare to respond casually, afraid of making matters worse.
"Don't call me sensei! And see this for yourself!" Tobirama threw the paper directly at the Third Hokage, who hastily caught it, but a few pages slipped from his grasp and fell to the ground.
The Third Hokage couldn't contain his emotions and quickly looked up, trembling more and more as he read the contents.
"This... this is..."
Noticing a few more papers on the ground, the Third Hokage anxiously knelt, picking them up and scanning through them.
"It's all over now..." His face turned pale, unable to meet anyone's gaze.
"Speak up! Hiruzen!! Are these things true?" Tobirama growled.
"I..."
"Tobirama-sama! Please calm down. What is happening?" Several Elite Jonin attempted to pacify the Second Hokage.
"Are there more of these papers?" Tobirama stared at Ibiki.
"Huh? Oh, yes, there are more!" Startled by Tobirama's intense gaze, Ibiki quickly realized what he meant.
"Show them!"
"Yes, of course!"
Ibiki waved, signaling the ANBU ninja who had accompanied him to distribute the papers to everyone present.
Upon reading the contents, everyone's faces underwent a drastic change, their expressions filled with disbelief.
"Hiruzen! Let me ask you one more time. Is this true?!" Tobirama asked again, his anger barely contained.
"Yes... it's true..." Confronting his teacher's intense gaze, Hiruzen admitted.
"You fool!"
Snap!
In an instant, Tobirama vanished and appeared in front of the Third Hokage, delivering a powerful slap that sent him rolling over several buildings.
…