A Yamanaka's Trait System

In the spectator stands, several figures sat in a row, including Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Minato.

"Sigh…" Jiraiya let out a long sigh, closed his eyes, and stopped watching the one-sided beating happening in the arena.

Three days ago, he and Minato had secretly returned to Konoha. Under the persuasion of Shikaku, they had quietly attended several of the so-called gatherings. Facing complaints from many ninja clans and jonin, he came to understand more deeply why the hearts of the people in Konoha had become so unsettled in recent years. And why so many clans, even if it meant living frugally, were unwilling to register their ninjas as official Konoha ninjas to serve the village.

Just look at the Ino-Shika-Chō trio, allies of the Sarutobi clan for hundreds of years. The new generation of Ino-Shika-Chō seemed to hold high positions of power. But among the older generation, aside from Chōza, who did nothing and just idled in the clan grounds every day, those who were still alive—how many weren't disabled, blind, or deaf?

And looking at the ever-growing Sarutobi clan now, who wouldn't feel a chill in their heart?

Kei's words were spot on: it's not scarcity that causes resentment, but inequality!

Take the Shimura clan for instance—under Danzo's leadership, they kept sending people into Root one batch after another.

And the Sarutobi clan…

"What's with the sigh? The world is about to undergo great change. Stagnant Konoha, like an old cart, will also embark on a new journey, forging a path no one has walked before. Aren't you looking forward to it too?" Orochimaru's hoarse, magnetic voice echoed.

"You look much better than before," Jiraiya turned and seriously looked at Orochimaru. His tense face showed a rare smile as he leaned back against the steps with arms crossed.

"Hehe~ I once wanted to be the one pushing the cart forward. Now I just need to move along with the caravan." Orochimaru's lips curled into a slight smile as well.

White Zetsu, the Ten-Tails' husk, the body of a Sage, Eternal Mangekyō, Rinnegan, the power of the Ōtsutsuki clan… The truths and mysteries of the world were gradually being unveiled before him.

Immortality was within reach!

He could now begin contemplating deeper meanings of life.

"Orochimaru-senpai, are you injured?" Minato's gaze fell on the Snake Sannin's somewhat torn sandals and belt.

Fresh battle marks, and a faint weakness in his voice when he spoke at length… Everything indicated that Orochimaru had just been through a fight.

"In the pursuit of truth, there are always unexpected little accidents."

Orochimaru brushed off the injury with a casual tone. What could he say? Was he supposed to tell Jiraiya and Minato that he had been beaten up by someone he resurrected with Edo Tensei?

Damn that Tobirama.

When he resurrected Hashirama and Madara with Edo Tensei, neither said a word—Madara just charged at Hashirama ready to fight.

Orochimaru only tried to use his control over Edo Tensei to stop them briefly.

Who would've thought Tobirama, without even listening to an explanation, would break Orochimaru's control and attack him too.

If Hashirama hadn't stopped Madara, and if Kei hadn't intervened and dragged Tobirama away for "education," he might not be sitting here in one piece.

Damn you, Tobirama.

Just wait.

And this crappy jutsu Edo Tensei—it must be reinforced.

Tobirama breaking the control seal was one thing, but Hashirama and Madara actually resisting control with sheer power?

What kind of garbage control was this?

As he cursed Tobirama in his mind, the battle in the arena neared its end.

Hiruzen's Five Release Great Combo Technique, performed with the help of his shadow clone, was completely destroyed by Tsunade's punches and kicks. His real body also took a solid punch.

He could no longer hold onto Enma, and collapsed in the devastated battlefield. Gazing up at the cloudless, clear sky, he let the blood in his mouth flow down his cheek. Before his eyes, he seemed to see the scene long ago, in the forest at the border of the Land of Fire, when the Second Hokage decided to stay behind alone to cover their retreat.

At that time, Tobirama had instructed them:

The time would eventually come when they would need to sacrifice themselves to protect the future. Until then, they should cherish their own lives.

He had also told Hiruzen to protect those who admired and trusted him in the village—and to nurture people who could shoulder the responsibility of the era to come.

From that day onward... He had been the Hokage.

"I... seem to have done a pretty poor job, haven't I, Tobirama-sensei..." Hiruzen murmured, his gaze becoming clouded and dim.

Just when he thought his life was reaching its end, bathed in sunlight, a figure radiating a holy glow approached—Tsunade knelt beside him and used her Sage Healing Art on his caved-in chest.

In that moment, everything he had stubbornly clung to in the past—all that he had refused to let go of—seemed to collapse with a thunderous crash. An indescribable wave of exhaustion and relief surged over him at once.

Hiruzen closed his eyes and softly spoke. "Will Konoha become better?"

"It will." Tsunade's voice was soft, but filled with certainty from the depths of her heart.

"Why didn't you just let me leave like this?"

"Konoha only has Hokage who die in battle."

"The battlefield, huh? Not a bad resting place."

"Tch."

"..."

On a distant high platform, as they saw Tsunade begin to heal Hiruzen, some people quietly breathed a sigh of relief, and others nodded slightly.

No matter his faults or merits, the Hokage was always the face of the village.

Dying here like this wasn't appropriate.

"This is boring. I'm leaving."

Madara looked on indifferently, then stood and canceled his Edo Tensei, returning to the Pure Land.

"Kei, remember to call us in a few days! I'm heading off first~" As Hashirama's words fell, he left together with Madara.

"Uh… okay." Kei responded, then turned to look at the Second Hokage, whose mouth was still blocked by Wood Style. With an awkward smile, he formed a hand seal and released the restriction.

No matter what, this was Tsunade's family, and with his current unclear relationship with her… showing a bit of respect was the right thing to do.

"Hmph! Just now, what did he mean when he said to 'call them in a few days'?" Tobirama's expression was grim as he snorted coldly, questioning the words Hashirama had spoken before leaving.

He was still worried that this brat, who didn't respect elders at all, would drag him out and beat him again in front of everyone. That would completely ruin his reputation as the Second Hokage.

"In a few days, we're planning to form a team to intimidate Suna."

"Why didn't you call me?"

"Ahem… since it's for intimidation, we have to be imposing, right? The First Hokage has the True Several Thousand Hands, Madara has his Perfect Susanoo, Tsunade has Katsuyu, Jiraiya has Gamabunta, Orochimaru has Manda, Kushina has the Nine-Tails…"

Tobirama was silent for a long while. Konoha was doing a team-building mission, and he wasn't included. His brother was even teaming up with Madara?

Then what about Izuna?

Don't think he didn't notice—the guy called Orochimaru or whatever, that pile of bones in his lab.

That dark, extreme aura lingering in the skull's eye sockets hadn't fully dispersed. Without a doubt, it was Izuna!

That guy—even if he turned into a pile of ashes, Tobirama would still recognize him.