Dragged into an illusion similar to Infinite Tsukuyomi by Sasuke Uchiha's Dōjutsu, everyone—ninja and civilian alike—became Sasuke Uchiha.
It wasn't just sight and hearing. Even their physical sensations and emotions became Sasuke Uchiha's, exactly as he'd felt them back then.
So when the entire ninja world felt that orange-haired man force a strange power into "their" body, they experienced it firsthand. The tall orange-haired man suddenly shrank, and then—right out of "their" body—six gross, pale-white humanoid things oozed into view.
What the hell is this?
Why is it coming out of my body?!
And I'm not even freaking out… is that because I'm using a ninja's body and mind right now?
Compared to everyone else, Obito Uchiha stayed much calmer. They were just White Zetsu, the kind without independent thought.
Right then, Orochimaru at "Sasuke Uchiha's" side spoke up.
"No need to panic. These are White Zetsu that Tobi left on Sasuke to keep watch on him. They're only showing their true forms because they're responding to the call of Senjutsu chakra."
White Zetsu: "How do you know that?!"
"Because I've done more experiments than I can count on what you're made of, and on Hashirama's cells." Orochimaru's tone was casual, almost amused. "I just didn't expect he'd stuffed six White Zetsu inside Sasuke. Looks like Tobi never trusted him in the first place."
At the same time, someone else was also seeing everything from Sasuke Uchiha's first-person perspective.
Obito Uchiha: …
He, too, was forced to watch through the eyes of Sasuke Uchiha from the Fourth Shinobi World War, watching future Orochimaru use four of those White Zetsu as containers for the Edo Tensei Reincarnation, "loading" the four souls released from the Shinigami's seal into them.
His stomach twisted with unease. He could only pray Sasuke would, for the sake of being from the same clan, stop making him die of embarrassment in front of the entire world.
["Edo Tensei Reincarnation Technique!!"]
Something deeply unsettling unfolded.
Because everyone in the world was riding on Sasuke Uchiha's emotions, their own moods didn't fluctuate much. But they still retained a sliver of their original awareness, and when they saw those weird, chalk-white things screaming and writhing on the ground, they all felt a cold jolt of dread at the same time.
Are those vengeful spirits?!
Ninjas can do something like this?!
Edo Tensei Reincarnation… are they trying to bring back the dead?!
That Orochimaru guy turned into a snake! He crawled into that white thing! That's disgusting!
The shapes of those four "vengeful spirits" are finally showing up!
Minato Namikaze: …
Hiruzen Sarutobi: cough cough…
Konoha: Holy shit?
Shinobi from other nations: Holy shit!
["Appear! Humans who know everything! The Hokage of previous generations!!"]
Fourth Raikage A: The Fourth Shinobi World War? Even the dead Fourth Hokage took part?
Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki: That man with the long black hair… the First Hokage! The legendary God of Shinobi! The only one who could stand against Madara Uchiha!
Kirigakure ninja Ao: "That's the Second Hokage! The legendary shinobi who couldn't use Fire Release, but whose Water Release didn't lose to a Mizukage!"
Konoha ninja: "More importantly… the Third Hokage is dead?! In just the next few years? Then who became the Fifth?!"
["Is that the First Hokage… the legendary God of Shinobi himself?!"]
The one who blurted it out was a young man named Suigetsu. The Kirigakure shinobi recognized him immediately as a missing-nin from their own village.
The God of Shinobi being pointed at looked a little stunned, like he hadn't quite processed what was happening yet.
But Minato's Team and Kakashi's Team, who were familiar with the Hokage, knew it was definitely Hashirama.
["That ninja… Orochimaru?"]
It's the Second Hokage! It's definitely the Second Hokage!!
Oh my god… they really used Edo Tensei Reincarnation to summon that man?!!
["What's going on, Tobirama?"]
["My guess is the Uzumaki Clan's Reaper Death Seal Technique that bound us was broken. After that, we were all brought back into the living world through the Edo Tensei Reincarnation technique… First Hokage-sama, Second Hokage-sama."]
["So the Reaper Death Seal Technique actually has a way to undo it…"]
Fourth Hokage Minato: That's right! Even I, the Uzumaki clan's son-in-law, didn't know it!
Kannabi Bridge Minato: Orochimaru even managed to research something like this… if only he'd put that kind of ability to good use.
Everyone trapped in the genjutsu watched the four Hokage get reincarnated at the same time, and they couldn't help being shocked.
Most of them guessed the Fourth Shinobi World War must have been so desperate that they had no choice but to deal with the Edo Tensei Reincarnation of Madara Uchiha, so they'd brought in the one person who could oppose him—the God of Shinobi, the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju.
From Sasuke's point of view, they watched the once imposing First Hokage narrow his eyes in a look of pure existential confusion.
["Huh? Wait a second… who are you?"]
["???" The Fourth Hokage turned around so the other man could see the large characters on the back of his cloak. "I am the Fourth Hokage."]
["Ohhh! The Fourth! So that means all of us Hokage were inside the Uzumaki Clan's Reaper Death Seal Technique, huh? Hahahaha!"]
The Konoha Twelve: The Uzumaki Clan…?!
The legendary four Hokage…
…all died to a single sealing technique. And the Uzumaki Clan…
In their minds, they pictured that unpopular kid, Naruto Uzumaki.
Could it be the Uzumaki were disliked because someone from their clan killed a Hokage?
They didn't even have time to think it through, because the God of Shinobi's reaction was too shocking.
["Oh, right! Fourth Hokage, how's the village doing now?"]
["I can't say. I was sealed away before the Third Hokage's era."]
["Oh, so you were even earlier than Sarutobi…"]
["Yes. I was sealed because of a different incident…"]
["Then… who's the Fifth? He should still be alive, right?"]
[Orochimaru: "It's your granddaughter, Princess Tsunade."]
Tsunade, in the middle of gambling: "Hah?! Me?!!"
Jiraiya: …
Orochimaru: The future really is interesting.
Third Hokage: My student who made a name for herself through gambling… the Fifth Hokage? So a lot must have happened in the future. Her hemophobia was probably cured too. I wonder who treated it.
When everyone heard "Fifth Hokage Tsunade," they all had their own thoughts.
But what none of them expected was the reaction from the "other side," from the First Hokage himself…
It was hard to put into words.
Duang—
Hashirama Senju's whole mood crashed straight into deep despair.
["What… Tsuna? The village is still there, right…?"]
…
Konoha ninja: What is this feeling… like I can't trust any of this?
Tsunade: My fists are getting hard!
["Is something worrying you, First Hokage-sama?"]
["Because she's my eldest granddaughter, I've always doted on her…"] Hashirama Senju rubbed the back of his head and laughed. ["But I guess I spoiled her a little too much. She even inherited my gambling habit. That's really… ahahahaha!"]
…
The God of Shinobi…
He was surprisingly approachable.
Just… completely different from what everyone had imagined.
Though he felt friendly and down-to-earth, it also gave people a weird sense of disillusionment.
Konoha really was full of naive types.
Was it "pure and innocent," or was it just "sweetly clueless"?
Either way, the First Hokage didn't match the image in their heads.
For ordinary civilians who didn't know what Tsunade was like, it was still fine.
But for shinobi from various villages who knew the legendary Sannin, it was like they could already see it: a little girl with twin ponytails losing money nonstop at the gambling table.
Fourth Raikage A: Seriously… what is this?
Medical-nin across the major villages who idolized Tsunade: Wait, so… is my Medical Ninjutsu not strong enough because my gambling is not terrible enough? Because I'm not losing enough?
["Orochimaru, you're abusing the Edo Tensei Reincarnation technique I created!"]
["Second Hokage-sama… honestly, you never should've developed that jutsu in the first place."]
["What?! You're planning to attack Konoha again?!"]
["Sigh. No matter the era, war is unavoidable. Tobirama, you really should've listened to me…"]
["Big brother, quiet down. I'm talking to this young man."]
["But listen…"]
["Shut up!!"]
["Ugh! Tobirama, you're being mean to your big brother again…"]
"…"
"..."
["The God of Shinobi has absolutely no dignity."]
This…
Was this some kind of comedy act?
Not just "no dignity," either. He was getting bullied by his own younger brother, the Second Hokage-sama!
Unbelievable…
So this was how the Hokage acted around each other.
Uchiha Clan 1: As expected of the Senju. No brotherly affection, no sense of seniority.
Uchiha Clan 2: As expected of that legendary Second Hokage-sama. Looks like he doesn't just target the Uchiha, even the First Hokage-sama can't lift his head in front of him.
Uchiha Clan 3: Is this really the God of Shinobi who defeated Madara-sama? This has to be a fake!
["That's not it. I'm not interested in crushing Konoha anymore."] Orochimaru's voice slid in smoothly. ["I came this time to help this child ask you all some questions."]
Everyone trapped in the genjutsu—everyone in this ninja world—suddenly realized something terrifying.
Even though they didn't want to speak, their mouths opened on their own, and a voice they didn't recognize came out.
["I am Sasuke Uchiha. I have something to ask you Hokage."]
That tone was so disrespectful it made the Konoha ninja feel instantly uncomfortable.
But Child Sasuke and Naruto, along with the other kids, were completely stunned.
Sasuke…
Uchiha?!
…
So that meant… right now, they had all become future Sasuke?!
[Hiruzen Sarutobi: "Sasuke?! You're Sasuke?!"]
[Tobirama Senju: "Oh, a Uchiha. I see. No wonder you're not a good sort."]
The Uchiha ninja were, of course, furious. It was because of this Second Hokage's policies that they had—
["Tobirama! Don't you ever say that again!"]
Oh? So Hashirama Senju, who'd just been scolded into silence a second ago, thought he could act tough again?
["Big brother, you're too naive!!"]
["My business doesn't matter! Third Hokage, I'm asking you!"]
One sentence from Sasuke Uchiha left Konoha ninja, the Uchiha Clan, and the entire ninja world stunned.
["Was it you who ordered Itachi Uchiha to wipe out his own clan with his own hands?"]
Fugaku Uchiha: !!!
Shisui Uchiha: !!
Young Itachi Uchiha:!!!!
Adult Itachi Uchiha: …
Child Sasuke felt a cold horror crawl up his spine.
What is future me… even saying…?