Impure World Reincarnation

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Swoosh!

 

In an instant, all eyes turned to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

 

In the past, many would have taken pleasure in his misfortune.

 

But now, they felt a sense of shared dread.

 

After all, Konohagakure was the village founded by the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama!

 

Yet here they were, with Konohagakure being the first to be put on the spot during the Four Kage Summit.

 

Looking at the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, one couldn't help but feel a bit of pity.

 

If even Konohagakure was in such a situation, who could possibly withstand this?

 

Across the table, Gaara's pupils trembled with fear. He was so terrified that he couldn't hear anything else around him.

 

What should I do?

 

Gaara had always searched for the meaning of life.

 

He had killed many people, each time believing he was helping them find peace.

 

But now, when it was his turn, he didn't see it as peace at all...

 

Fear.

 

Deep, overwhelming fear.

 

In this moment, Gaara realized his true feelings—he didn't want to die. He really didn't want to die!

 

But he couldn't think of any way out.

 

...

 

"The tailed beast of Konohagakure..."

 

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, felt his eyelid twitch violently. He knew this Four Kage Summit wouldn't go smoothly, but he hadn't expected things to start with him.

 

It was unbearable!

 

How was he supposed to explain this?

 

"The Nine-Tails, it..."

 

"Hmm..."

 

"Right now..."

 

Hiruzen struggled to find the right words. The issue of the Nine-Tails jinchūriki was the one he most wanted to avoid.

 

There was just too much involved.

 

The Nine-Tails' rampage years ago.

 

The death of Minato and Kushina.

 

The truth about the new jinchūriki, Naruto Uzumaki.

 

And then...

 

There was the issue of the Uchiha clan.

 

None of these matters were easy to explain, especially after the situations with Kumogakure and Sunagakure.

 

Hiruzen felt like these issues were daggers hanging over his head.

 

If he handled even one of them poorly...

 

That dagger would come crashing down, severing his head, and sending him to the Pure Land.

 

If he mishandled all of them...

 

He feared he'd be torn apart, piece by piece!

 

"Is there something you're hesitant to share?" Hashirama asked, his tone laced with meaning. Everyone in the room, upon hearing his words, felt a strange sensation.

 

It was as if this man, who had been dead for years, knew everything that had happened in the ninja world.

 

As if no one had any secrets in front of him.

 

This was like a court of confession!

 

"N-No... It's not that... I'm just thinking... where to begin!" Hiruzen stammered, waving his hands nervously. His forehead was already drenched in sweat. If not for his Hokage hat, everyone would have clearly seen it.

 

"Why not start with the Nine-Tails incident? What happened before that wasn't your fault—I'll deal with those issues separately. Let's begin with what happened after the Nine-Tails' attack," Hashirama suggested, giving Hiruzen a starting point.

 

"This..."

 

Hiruzen's mouth twitched violently.

 

It's over.

 

The First Hokage knows everything.

 

This is terrifying!

 

I just hope it ends quickly!

 

"Alright..." Hiruzen took a deep breath. He still harbored a bit of hope, thinking perhaps Hashirama didn't know every detail.

 

So, he decided to keep things vague.

 

"At the time, the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, Uzumaki Kushina, was giving birth. During her labor, the Nine-Tails broke free of its seal and attacked the village. This incident... was partly my responsibility," Hiruzen immediately took the blame.

 

Taking the initiative now is definitely better than deflecting blame.

 

"This matter does involve your responsibility, but the Nine-Tails is more to blame. I always thought the Nine-Tails was too powerful, which is why I had it sealed away. It seems I was right. I'll have to settle this with the Nine-Tails myself," Hashirama said calmly.

 

"..."

 

Hiruzen was stunned.

 

That statement...

 

Did it imply...

 

Could it be?

 

Was the Nine-Tails about to be released?

 

The image of Naruto Uzumaki suddenly flashed through Hiruzen's mind. Though he hadn't provided much warmth to Naruto over the years, the thought of Naruto potentially dying still tugged at his heartstrings.

 

"Continue," Hashirama gestured for Hiruzen to proceed. Every word he spoke seemed to deliver a massive impact on everyone present.

 

"Yes!" Hiruzen quickly nodded, his mind racing to find points where he could confess his faults.

 

"At that time, the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, used the Dead Demon Consuming Seal to contain the Nine-Tails. He sealed half of the Nine-Tails' chakra within himself and left the other half inside Naruto Uzumaki, his son, making him the new jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails. This decision was partly my fault. If I had reacted faster, I could have prevented Minato's unnecessary sacrifice and spared Naruto the burden of becoming a jinchūriki."

 

Hiruzen revealed the truth he had guarded for so long.

 

This truth, meant to protect Naruto, had kept the village aware that Naruto was the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki but oblivious to the fact that he was the son of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.

 

It was all done in the name of protection.

 

But...

 

No one had ever tried to target the Fourth Hokage's son.

 

"This wasn't your fault," Hashirama shook his head again, then delivered a statement that left Hiruzen utterly shocked.

 

"I just didn't expect the Fourth to be so weak that he'd die fighting something like the Nine-Tails!"

(End of Chapter)