The sealing ritual ended, and the weak Kushina gasped for air.
"It really works!" she said, filled with relief.
With his deep understanding of Grandmaster Yang Style and Medical Ninjutsu, Hashirama quickly assessed her condition. Although she was still weak, her remaining vitality was no longer fading away—no more threat of death.
"Kushina, how are you feeling?" Minato asked with concern.
"It's… it's okay. I… I don't feel like I have to die anymore!" Kushina replied, struggling but overjoyed as she sensed her renewed life force.
"Really?!" Minato's eyes filled with tears of intense relief. He had been just moments away from making the final sacrifice, ready to seal the Nine Tails and perish with Kushina. Now, unexpectedly, they both would survive!
The solution—to seal the Nine Tails back into Kushina—seemed incredibly simple. Why hadn't anyone thought of it before? Misguided by rumors, he'd believed Jinchūriki would die if separated from their tailed beast.
Tobirama, watching this scene, felt joy but also discomfort.
He recalled Wakato's words about the Tailed Beast Deterrence System, realizing how complacency had stunted Konoha's progress. For years, Konoha had viewed Jinchūriki as nothing more than containers, showing no initiative to research or manage them. Now, they didn't even know how to re-seal a tailed beast to save a Jinchūriki's life.
What had Monkey and his generation been doing all these years?
If not for Wakato, the Fourth Hokage and his wife would have died tonight, shamed by an attempt to seal the Nine Tails. It was absurd to think the creature they'd once sealed to protect Konoha had become its source of danger.
...
"Thank you, thank you both!" Minato expressed his gratitude with deep emotion. "Shodai, your help saved Kushina's life… I can't thank you enough."
"Hahaha! Think nothing of it," Hashirama chuckled warmly. "You're all strong shinobi of Konoha; none of you deserve to die here. The Nine Tails' power is impressive, I'll give it that! Hahaha..."
The others couldn't help but feel a bit of pity for the Nine Tails, subdued by such overwhelming strength.
"But, Shodai, Nidaime… how did you even get here?"
Hashirama and Tobirama looked to Wakato, awaiting his permission to reveal the truth.
Wakato responded, "Fourth Hokage, please take your wife and child home first. I'll explain everything once you return."
Minato nodded, looking at Kushina and baby Naruto, feeling more grateful than ever. "Alright! I'll be back soon," he said, lifting them and disappearing with a flash of the Flying Thunder God.
...
"Sir, is it really fine to contact younger generations from the future?" Tobirama asked Wakato.
"It's alright. You may speak with key figures, but avoid widespread exposure. Your time here is limited."
"Understood!" Tobirama replied, already forming a plan.
Then, turning his head, he called out loudly to a nearby figure: "Monkey! Get over here for a scolding!"
With Minato's departure, the barriers began to lift.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had been anxiously waiting outside, heard Tobirama's voice and sensed his familiar chakra. It was surreal—Shodai and Nidaime were really here!
Hiruzen had already suspected as much when he saw the Myojin Gates and Wood Style holding down the Nine Tails. No one but the God of Shinobi had such power.
But how could they have returned? Did Minato use the Ultimate Earth Reincarnation? Unlikely—Minato didn't know that technique, and no other Earth user had that kind of power.
These questions swirled in Hiruzen's mind, interrupted by Tobirama's command.
Without delay, Hiruzen ordered the nearby Anbu to follow and swiftly approached Tobirama.
"Shodai, Nidaime… it really is you!" Hiruzen exclaimed, feeling a surge of emotion.
"Monkey, it's good to see you—older, but still you," Tobirama remarked, feeling the oddness of reuniting with someone he'd only recently appointed as his successor, now decades older.
"Nidaime, how did this happen? Did someone use a forbidden jutsu to summon you?"
"Monkey, have your senses dulled? Do we look like we're in a summoned state?"
"Ah… does that mean you're truly… resurrected?" Hiruzen's shock grew.
"Wait for Fourth Hokage to return, then we'll explain," Tobirama said. "And, why are you alone? Where's Danzo and the others?"
"Danzo and Koharu are back in the village, leading the rescue…" Hiruzen replied.
"And where's Kagami?" Tobirama asked.
A flash of panic crossed Hiruzen's face, sweat forming on his brow.
"Kagami… he's gone, isn't he?" Tobirama realized instantly from Hiruzen's hesitation.
"Yes," Hiruzen confirmed, his voice heavy. "He died in the First Ninja War, covering our retreat."
"Right after I stayed to face the Golden Horn troops?"
"Yes… we were being pursued by Kumo ninjas."
Though Kagami's death was an accident, he had stayed behind to protect them. Given the close bonds he shared with Danzo and Hiruzen, there was no question of betrayal.
Back then, Danzo would never have left a comrade behind. His desire to protect others was real, even if fear sometimes held him back.
However, when Anbu retrieved Kagami's body, they discovered his [Sharingan] had mysteriously disappeared. Hiruzen had a good idea of who might have taken it. This was why he felt uneasy as Tobirama inquired about Kagami.
It was dishonorable to defile a comrade's corpse.
He had failed to hold Danzo accountable for the theft. Revealing it would've caused a rift with the Uchiha, who had strict traditions around the 'eye pupils' of fallen kin. Madara had already taken many Sharingan with him upon leaving Konoha.
"I see!" Tobirama replied, piecing together the situation.
Now, it all made sense.
No wonder Konoha feared the Uchiha and had ordered them to stay out of the battle with the Nine Tails. With Kagami, an influential Uchiha, gone, the clan had lost an essential link to the village.
Tobirama had always been aware of the hawkish radicals in the Uchiha who aligned with Madara. Without someone like Kagami to bridge the divide, conflict was inevitable.
Only—
Tobirama hadn't expected Kagami to die so early, disrupting his plans to bring harmony between the village and the Uchiha.
But with a chance to change the past, and a glimpse into the future, Tobirama was determined to alter this course