As soon as the fifteenth name appeared on the ranking list, the entire Hidden Leaf Village erupted into a frenzy.
"Look! It's the Third!"
"Heavens! The Third Hokage finally made it onto the list! I can't wait to see Lord Third's majestic presence!"
"Yeah! In a moment, everyone will be able to watch the battle between Lord Third and his summoned beast—what an honor!"
"Where the leaves dance, the fire burns ever brighter!"
"Where the leaves dance, the fire burns ever brighter!"
"Where the leaves dance, the fire burns ever brighter!"
…
The shinobi and villagers of Konoha all stared reverently at the scroll floating in the sky, chanting the Third's classic mantra with fanatical devotion.
Of course, it wasn't just Konoha—shinobi across the entire ninja world were equally curious and full of anticipation.
After all, they had all heard the great name of the Third Hokage, yet none had ever had the chance to witness his battles.
Sunagakure.
"Hiruzen Sarutobi, hm? I've heard his reputation for years, but unfortunately, we've never crossed paths."
Granny Chiyo looked at the glowing scroll with curiosity.
Iwagakure.
"I've always heard that Hiruzen Sarutobi is the strongest Hokage in history… I wonder how he compares to Lord Madara. He probably… isn't too far behind, right?"
Ōnoki sounded doubtful even as he spoke.
Kumogakure.
The Fourth Raikage, A, wore a grave expression.
"Mabui, for years our village has been wary of this 'strongest Hokage,' yet we've never had the chance to gauge his true power. I've fought the Fourth Hokage myself—if he was that strong, then this old man must be utterly terrifying. Analyze the intel carefully once the footage begins!"
Mabui nodded. "Once the battle appears, I'll handle all information gathering!"
Kirigakure.
Mei Terumi likewise ordered Chōjūrō to prepare to collect intel on the Third Hokage's combat power.
…
Meanwhile—
The Sage of Six Paths watched Konoha's reaction and nodded in satisfaction.
"To think the Third Hokage of Konoha is so beloved… As expected of the village where the Child of Prophecy was born—never simple!"
"I didn't expect such a talent to be hiding there. I must have been careless not to pay attention sooner."
…
Pure Land.
[Hashirama Senju: Little brother! I remember this one—he was your student, right?]
[Tobirama Senju: That's right, big brother. This monkey—along with that Danzō who ranked twenty-fifth—were my proudest students!]
Pride radiated from Tobirama's words.
[Tobirama Senju: Big brother, they inherited the Will of Fire. They safeguarded Konoha with unwavering resolve.]
[Hashirama Senju: Excellent! Excellent!]
[Uchiha Madara: Hmph! Students trained by Tobirama… I doubt their methods are clean.]
Madara finished with a disdainful snort.
[Tobirama Senju: You're just jealous!]
Madara didn't bother replying; it was meaningless.
Instead, more and more Uchiha clan members appeared.
[Uchiha Hanazono: First Hokage, our clan has been schemed against and suppressed by that hypocrite Third Hokage for years! He's no good man!]
[Uchiha Lingling: That's right—every dangerous mission went to us, but we never got the benefits!]
[Uchiha Ergouzi: Beep beep beep beep…]
[Uchiha Eyeson: Beep beep beep beep beep…]
[Uchiha Fugaku: Greetings, predecessors. I am the last clan head of the Uchiha. The reason I know I'm the last… is because the Uchiha clan was destroyed due to the schemes of the Third Hokage and Danzō!]
Though it was Itachi who carried out the act—
Fugaku kept that part to himself.
…
Seeing nearly every Uchiha clan member appear to denounce the Third and Danzō, the entire Pure Land fell into shocked silence.
Were these still humans?
[Hashirama Senju: To think the Third is like this… These methods are too filthy!]
[Tobirama Senju: Big brother, don't be fooled! If the monkey and Danzō acted, it must be because the Uchiha—born evil as they are—did something excessive!]
Tobirama's hostility toward the Uchiha was known to all.
But before the Uchiha could retort, the Senju clan members appeared as well.
[Senju Dalong: Second Hokage, you might not know—after you and the First passed away, our Senju clan didn't have it easy either!]
[Senju Xiao'er: Yeah, whether in the open or in the shadows, the Third and Danzō suppressed us too.]
[Senju Pichu: My death was miserable—I was framed for something I never did, never even got a chance to defend myself, just assassinated!]
[Senju Qian Guan: Aside from Lady Tsunade, our entire clan has already reunited here.]
…
After hearing the Senju clan's grievances, both Hashirama and Tobirama fell silent.
[Uchiha Madara: Hashirama! Tobirama! These are your precious heirs of the Will of Fire! Remarkable, aren't they?]
Faced with Madara's outright mockery, even Tobirama couldn't refute him this time.
The Third and Danzō dealing with the Uchiha—he could still excuse it as dealing with a dangerous clan.
But the Senju?
News of this made even the Sage of Six Paths develop a metaphorical headache.
He thought he'd discovered a talent—only to find the man was a master of hypocrisy.
…
BOOM!
At last—amidst the world's anticipation—
The scroll erupted with golden light.
A massive screen materialized in front of the scroll.
And just like the scroll's broadcasts, no matter where they were—even the Fourth Hokage and Uzumaki Kushina sealed in the belly of the Shinigami by the Reaper Death Seal—everyone could see the screen clearly.
All eyes turned toward it.
And right then, the footage finally appeared.
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