In the classroom, the atmosphere shifted dramatically as everyone turned their attention toward Hirofumi.
He glanced around, wide-eyed, taking in the unexpected scene.
Was that really the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi?
His father and grandfather were present, but more astonishingly, standing there was none other than the legendary First Hokage of Konoha, the wannabe Hokage, Danzo Shimura.
What was this old schemer doing here?
"Hello, everyone... What's all this excitement about?"
Hirofumi had prepared himself mentally for this moment. He had anticipated that his sudden disappearance from the classroom would raise a significant uproar.
This situation might even draw the attention of individuals with ulterior motives.
Although he now possessed Madara as a summoning beast, Hirofumi knew that commanding Madara would be no easy feat.
At present, it was simply impossible to issue direct orders to Madara.
The idea of turning this former terror of the ninja world into a subordinate was laughable; at best, Madara might intervene to save him in a life-threatening situation.
After all, if Hirofumi were to die, Madara would revert to a state of soul fire, a form of existence not much different from being truly resurrected.
In the spirit world, he had resolved to keep his secrets close.
He would never mention the system that had granted him this second chance at life, nor could he reveal the truth behind his resurrection. Instead, he would adopt the role of someone completely unaware, as if he had accidentally stumbled into a mysterious realm and returned without understanding how or why.
Ultimately, no one here would have any means to prove that he was lying.
As Hirofumi finished his thoughts, his grandfather, Taiga Itou, rushed toward him, enveloping him in a tight embrace.
"My dear grandson... You scared me to death! At my age, I can't endure such shocks. From now on, whatever you want to do, grandpa will support you, but you must promise me you won't just vanish like that again."
Aoyama Itou, Hirofumi's father, let out a long sigh of relief at the sight of his son's return.
If Hirofumi had truly disappeared without a trace, he could hardly imagine how he would explain it to his wife. Thank goodness he was back, safe and sound.
The father-son duo, Taiga and Aoyama, didn't concern themselves with the details of Hirofumi's so-called reverse summoning. To them, as long as he was unharmed, that was all that mattered.
Meanwhile, Hiruzen felt a growing anxiety within him. He was eager to understand what Hirofumi had experienced during his absence, yet, observing Taiga Itou's distress, he held his tongue.
In truth, Hiruzen could empathize with Taiga. If his own grandson had vanished without explanation, he would have been deeply troubled as well.
However, Danzo did not share such sensitivities. Leaning heavily on his cane, he approached Hirofumi directly.
"Hirofumi, I am Danzo Shimura, an elder of Konoha Village. You must tell me what you experienced. Why did you suddenly disappear, and what transpired after your vanishing?"
Hirofumi quickly patted his grandfather on the shoulder, noting how the old man's tears were nearly spilling over onto him.
"Grandpa, I'm okay. You don't need to worry."
"Hirofumi, I am asking you a question," Danzo insisted, his tone sharper this time.
Hearing the elder's stern voice, Hiruzen subtly furrowed his brows, feeling the tension rising.
"Danzo, this child has just returned. Give him a moment."
"Hmph. I understand," Danzo replied curtly.
Hirofumi first reassured his grandfather, then nodded to his father, Aoyama, indicating that he was alright.
Seeing this, Aoyama returned the nod, visibly calming.
"Hokage-sama," Hirofumi said, stepping boldly in front of Hiruzen, completely ignoring Danzo.
Seeing this interaction unfold, Hiruzen felt a wave of satisfaction wash over him. Hirofumi seemed like a well-behaved and understanding child.
"Hirofumi, is it? What a good and sensible young man you are. Your grandfather used to be my subordinate long ago, so there's no need for you to be so formal with me. You can call me 'Grandpa Hokage' or even 'Third Grandpa' if you like."
Hirofumi's expression shifted to one of surprise as he gazed at the Third Hokage.
With his solid family background, combined with his youthful appearance, he felt as if he was wearing a natural camouflage among the adults.
"Is it really okay to call you that? 'Grandpa Hokage'?" he asked, his curiosity evident.
"Haha… of course it is," Hiruzen chuckled, his eyes twinkling with affection.
It was clear to Hirofumi that Hiruzen was a masterful politician. If he weren't a reincarnator, such simple words would have been more than enough to win his favor.
Moreover, Hiruzen's words served to strengthen his bond with the Itou family, especially with both the current and former heads present. By first establishing his connection with Taiga Itou, he subtly closed the distance between himself and the Itou family while also implying that Hirofumi was of the same generation as his grandchildren, fostering a sense of familial kinship.
However, Danzo's expression darkened as he noted that Hirofumi had completely overlooked him, an elder of Konoha.
"Well then… Hirofumi, could you share with Grandpa Hokage what just happened? He and everyone here are quite curious," Danzo urged, his tone insistent.
Hirofumi scratched his head, feigning cluelessness.
"Uh… Grandpa Hokage, I'm not really sure what happened. Iruka-sensei was explaining some points about summoning techniques and hand seals. I tried to learn a bit, and then I ended up… well, I just mysteriously appeared in this strange space. I don't even know where that place was."
Upon hearing this, Hiruzen confirmed that Hirofumi's disappearance was indeed due to a reverse summoning technique. Moreover, the place Hirofumi had visited was likely one of the three great sacred lands.
"Did you encounter any strange creatures while you were there?" Hiruzen inquired, curious.
"Well… no. There was nothing there, and I didn't discover anything significant. After wandering around aimlessly for a bit, I just came back," Hirofumi replied, his tone casual.
This response made Hiruzen furrow his brow slightly.
How could there be absolutely nothing?
When Jiraiya entered Mount Myoboku, he encountered the toads that resided there and began to learn senjutsu. If Hirofumi had indeed entered a sacred place, it seemed implausible that he wouldn't have seen any other creatures.
Could it be that the place wasn't a so-called sacred land at all? Or perhaps Hirofumi had not gained the necessary recognition to interact with its inhabitants? Or was it possible that this child was concealing something?