This new footage had pushed Shimura Danzo straight into the center of the storm.
No matter how furious he was, he still hid inside the shell of "Root," refusing to show himself.
The Third Hokage sought Tobirama's opinion on whether they should launch a large-scale search for Root's bases.
Senju Tobirama hesitated before deciding it would be best if he handled it personally to keep casualties to a minimum.
Danzo possessed the Mangekyo Sharingan. He could even use the same Izanagi Madara had once relied on to fake his death.
He had also studied quite a few of Mito-neesan's Uzumaki sealing techniques and had achieved solid results with wind-style ninjutsu. Sending ordinary ninja—even in large numbers—would only get them killed.
Not to mention the specially trained Root operatives stationed wherever Danzo was hiding.
As Danzo's former teacher, Tobirama knew his student's mindset had always leaned extreme… and now it had crossed into outright fanaticism. If Konoha's Anbu and elite jonin clashed with Root, both sides would suffer heavy losses—something he had no intention of allowing.
Better to wait until Danzo couldn't sit still any longer and showed himself. When that time came, his teacher would personally deliver judgment.
"Uchiha Shisui," Tobirama said, setting Danzo aside and turning his attention to the young Uchiha who had earned his approval. "With a grandson like you, Kagami must be proud in the Pure Land."
Inside the Senju residence in Konoha, Tobirama offered open praise to the junior he recognized.
Because of the need to keep Shisui's resurrection secret, both Senju Itama and Uchiha Shisui were currently staying with Tobirama at the Senju estate.
Itama was still a little uneasy about it. In his memory, just moments ago he had been slaughtered by five adult Uchiha.
Out of respect and reliance on his older brother, young Itama had practically become adult Tobirama's shadow—clutching the hem of his black robes and watching Shisui with wary eyes.
Tobirama was exceedingly tolerant of the little brother he had regained after losing him in childhood. He merely smiled helplessly and ruffled the boy's half-black, half-white hair.
Shisui had once heard elders in his clan describe the Second Hokage in ways that completely contradicted the common Uchiha narrative.
After hearing Tobirama speak and watching his actions today, Shisui felt even greater respect.
"Thank you, Second Hokage-sama."
"No need," Tobirama waved it off. "Frequent use of the Mangekyo Sharingan degrades both the eyes and the cranial nerves to varying degrees. How is your vision now?"
Uchiha Shisui revealed his Mangekyo Sharingan. "It had suffered some damage before. My eyesight declined pretty noticeably. But after being revived, I found my vision had returned to how it was when I first awakened the Mangekyo."
Tobirama narrowed his eyes slightly. "Whoever is behind this is truly extraordinary. According to what the footage revealed, there are currently six of your eyes in existence."
"Yes. My original right eye should still be in Danzo's possession, and my left eye should be with Itachi," Shisui paused. "When I died, both my sockets were empty. But when I was revived, new eyes had grown back—and they could immediately open into the same Mangekyo Sharingan as before."
"Kotoamatsukami works exactly the same as it did."
Tobirama nodded and picked up the reward granted by the "Death Q&A"—another pair of Shisui's eyes.
"Are you aware of the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan?"
"I've heard of it, but I don't know the details," Shisui smiled faintly. "That's why I gave that eye to Itachi. If the need ever arose, I hoped he could replace his eyes with mine."
"Hmm." Tobirama handed the two eyes back to Shisui.
"Second Hokage-sama, is there something you need?"
"Nothing urgent. The method of recreating your eyes resembles, to some extent, the legendary power of the Sage of Six Paths."
On the battlefield of the Fourth Great Ninja War, Uzumaki Naruto had revived Might Guy after he opened the Eighth Gate—the Gate of Death—and even restored Hatake Kakashi's eye in the same way.
Tobirama was intrigued by that power. If one could replicate a pair of a person's Mangekyo Sharingan, then combine the abilities of both eyes… could that produce the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan?
In fact, according to his calculations back then, if Uchiha Izuna hadn't given his eyes to Madara, Izuna's injuries might have been treatable. At worst, he would have lost the qualifications of a top-tier ninja.
Tobirama had judged that based on the coordinates he set, the angle of the wound, and the force of the strike.
So when he later met Madara again and was told that Izuna had died from excessive blood loss, it genuinely surprised the Senju's second-in-command.
"The Sage of Six Paths truly exists?" Shisui asked, startled. "He's not just a legend?"
Since Black Zetsu had yet to be dealt with—and Tobirama had no intention of alerting the snake in the grass—he dropped the subject and shifted topics.
"When I have the time, I'll begin researching how to obtain the power of the Eternal Mangekyo without requiring a brother's eyes."
He still had plenty of his foolish older brother's genetic material. Once Black Zetsu and Danzo were resolved, he would have all the time in the world for research.
"Enough. Tell me your purpose," Tobirama said calmly. As expected, it concerned the young man named Itachi.
"Second Hokage-sama!" Uchiha Shisui suddenly straightened and knelt formally before Tobirama. "Please allow me to take Itachi's place as a spy within the Akatsuki! I beg you!"
He had already asked the Third Hokage—and the answer had been exactly as he feared.
Shisui could hardly imagine how Itachi had carried out a mission to slaughter his own clan.
That masked man…
Even without seeing that part of the footage, the true leader behind the Akatsuki felt unfathomable to him.
It was far too dangerous for Itachi to remain there alone.
Understanding Shisui's intent, Tobirama nodded slightly. "I agree that Uchiha Itachi should return."
Shisui's face lit up. "Then—"
Tobirama cut him off. "However, I have no intention of sending you in his place."
In truth, when the Third Hokage sent Itachi as a spy, they had arranged a secret means of communication. Tobirama had already confirmed this with Hiruzen. Though irregular, Itachi would occasionally use genjutsu to control a crow and send intelligence reports back to Konoha.
"I have already instructed the Third Hokage to inform Uchiha Itachi during his next visit to Konoha that he is to return and resume his role as Uchiha Itachi of Konohagakure."
"There is no need to conceal your resurrection from him either."
"Really?! Second Hokage-sama!" Though the Uchiha clan was gone, Shisui couldn't shake the feeling that some unseen force behind these visions was guiding them toward a better future.
But Itachi…
Anxiety still lingered in Shisui's heart.
He knew Itachi's gentleness better than anyone. And precisely because of that, he wanted him back as soon as possible.
Killing his own father. Killing his own mother. Wiping out his entire clan with his own hands.
Shisui understood—once Itachi made that choice, he had never intended to leave himself a way out.
"Oh, right," Tobirama said suddenly.
"Yes? Second Hokage-sama?"
"Did I forget to tell you… Uchiha Mikoto—Uchiha Itachi's mother—has also been revived by that 'Death Q&A,' just like you and me."
"…What?!"