The battlefield echoed with Hashirama's hearty laughter, cutting through the oppressive atmosphere.
"Hahaha! Tobirama, look at this! Your little experiment with Impure World Reincarnation actually worked! Who would've thought?"
Tobirama smirked sharply, unimpressed. "Yes, brother, congratulations on us being resurrected as Orochimaru's puppets. Truly the highlight of my afterlife."
Hashirama laughed even harder, ignoring Tobirama's deadpan response. "If Madara could see this! He'd probably die of laughter—again. Can you imagine? All of us, back here, bickering like old times!" His expression softened briefly, a flicker of nostalgia crossing his face. Memories of the early days resurfaced—when he and Madara had dreamed of a village where children could grow up free of fear and war.
But the dream had splintered. The village grew, and so did the conflicts. Hashirama had believed in change, yet Madara saw things differently. Now here they were, surrounded by chaos—a testament to the fractured legacy they'd left behind.
Snapping out of his reverie, Hashirama clapped his hands together, summoning wooden vines that snaked across the battlefield like massive serpents. They tightened around Hiruzen, who struggled fiercely, wielding Enma in his staff form. Despite his age, Sarutobi smashed through the vines with sheer determination, breaking them piece by piece.
"You're fighting well for an old man," Tobirama sneered as he observed his former student's struggle. "The best news I've heard since dying? Uchiha's downfall. Not surprised—it was only a matter of time."
He exhaled a torrent of water, the surge rolling toward Hiruzen like a tidal wave, ready to engulf him.
"Oh, don't stop on my account," Tobirama snapped, casting a frigid glare at Orochimaru, who stood watching with a wicked grin.
Orochimaru's eyes glinted with excitement. "Why would I, Tobirama-sensei? Watching you legends clash with your student is a rare privilege. Besides, it gives me a better look at this jutsu in action. Even weakened, your willpower is astonishing." His grin widened, sharp and calculating.
"Uchiha," Tobirama muttered with disdain, "a clan fueled by hatred, born for vengeance. They are a threat to everyone."
Hashirama's expression darkened, his tone firm. "Tobirama, enough. Watch what you say—you'll poison the younger generation with that kind of hatred. The Uchiha are loyal to their loved ones, even if they sometimes go to extremes. You know that."
"Oh?" a voice drawled from above.
Gojo sat casually on the edge of the barrier, a dango stick in hand, watching the scene with detached amusement. "Careful with those sweeping statements, Tobirama. Not all Uchihas are created equal."
Hashirama's stern expression softened, but Tobirama scoffed. "And who are you to judge, Gojo? Some wandering tourist?"
Unfazed, Gojo shrugged. "I'm just here for the entertainment, really." He popped another dango into his mouth and tilted his head. "Although, I did hear about an Uchiha who wiped out his entire family for the sake of this so-called village loyalty. Now that, my friends, is commitment."
The air grew heavy as silence fell over the battlefield. Hashirama's eyes widened in disbelief. "Impossible! No Uchiha would… would turn on their family like that."
Gojo grinned, his tone light yet sharp. "Oh, I'm serious. Itachi Uchiha, the village's 'hero.' Quite the patriot, huh?"
Hiruzen staggered to his feet, blood seeping from a wound on his abdomen, his gaze fixed on Gojo. "Enough, Gojo! Itachi did what he had to for the village. You wouldn't understand the burden he carries—the Will of Fire."
Gojo raised an eyebrow, his gaze cool. "Ah, the 'Will of Fire' thing again." He twirled his dango stick between his fingers and smirked. "Sure, why not? But let me tell you something, old man. A hero isn't someone who sacrifices everyone around them for some abstract ideal. Real heroes protect the people they care about first." His tone softened slightly as he jabbed the dango stick toward Hiruzen. "And to me? That's family. Nothing more, nothing less."
Orochimaru's smirk grew, his chakra coiling as he watched Gojo with a calculating eye. "So, Gojo, you'll just sit back and watch, then? Perfect! That makes things easy for me."
Gojo waved him off lazily. "By all means, Orochimaru, go wild. I'm not losing sleep over you trying to trash this village. I'm just the spectator."
Outside the barrier, Kurenai stood watching the scene unfold, her eyes lingering on Gojo. "Does he… really care about anyone? Or is this all just a joke to him?"
Asuma chuckled beside her, scratching his head. "I'd say it's a little of both. But who knows with Gojo? He's impossible to figure out."