Chapter 105 : Conversation Between Three Hokages
Hearing Orochimaru call him "Teacher," the First Hokage looked at Hiruzen curiously.
"Your name is Monkey? Monkey, this guy is your student?"
The Third Hokage responded with some shame. "Shodai, Orochimaru is indeed my student. I didn't teach him well."
The First Hokage frowned and looked at Orochimaru. "If you're Monkey's student, why did you destroy Konoha? Did he wrong you in some way?"
The Second Hokage was also frowning. Something about Orochimaru was off—especially the fact that he knew the Reanimation Jutsu, which he himself had developed. But if Orochimaru was Hiruzen's student, that would explain it.
Orochimaru chuckled darkly. "Hehe, there's no need to dig too deep into that. Konoha must be destroyed regardless."
"Besides, the only person who can stop this war isn't even in Konoha right now. And there's no way sensei can stop me."
Tobirama narrowed his eyes. "You've mentioned this person multiple times. The one you think can stop the war. Who is it? Hiruzen, is it your student?"
The Third Hokage explained, "If I'm not mistaken, he's my student's student's student. A genius. If Orochimaru isn't lying, then this boy has the strength of a Kage at the age of twelve—possibly even beyond what I possess now."
"It's just… he's not in Konoha right now. I believe he went off somewhere for training."
Tobirama seemed slightly reassured and nodded with a faint smile. "As long as he's still alive, there's hope. A village can be rebuilt if it's destroyed, but if the next generation of talent is lost, then everything is truly lost."
The Second Hokage had always been a politically astute man. He understood what truly mattered to a village.
Hashirama then asked curiously, "Is Tsunade still suffering from hemophobia? By age, she should be around fifty now. I died when she was only five. I wonder how she is doing."
"These past decades must've changed a lot."
Hashirama had always cared deeply for Tsunade. Their bond had been very strong.
Orochimaru replied, "During the Second Great Ninja War, Tsunade lost both her younger brother and her lover. She couldn't save them—both died right in front of her. That's what triggered the phobia."
"She's not in Konoha anymore. She's been wandering across the ninja world."
Hashirama sighed. "I didn't even know she had a younger brother. Losing both him and her lover in war… it must've devastated her. It's not surprising she developed a phobia."
Tobirama's brow furrowed. "Tsunade's brother is dead?"
With that thought in mind, he activated his sensory ability. Almost immediately, his expression darkened.
The chakra of the Senju clan in the village… was almost nonexistent.
"How could this be?"
The Third Hokage looked at his former teacher, guilt flickering in his eyes. "Sensei, I'm sorry. I wasn't able to protect your clan."
Tobirama looked at Hiruzen for a long moment—and understood.
It was clear that the Senju clan had been deliberately neglected under Hiruzen's leadership.
Their bloodline still existed, but the chakra signatures showed how far the clan had declined.
The once-mighty Senju were now but a faint whisper of what they used to be.
Orochimaru laughed coldly. "Haha… My sensei never cared for the Senju clan the way you two did. During the Second Great Ninja War, their decline had already begun. By the time of the Third, they were practically gone."
Tobirama was visibly displeased, but he didn't lash out. He understood now—he had trusted Hiruzen too much. He had believed that, even if Hiruzen didn't favor the Senju, he would at least ensure their well-being.
But clearly… that trust had been misplaced.
Tobirama, ever the realist and political mind, could see Hiruzen's intent plainly now.
He could only sigh.
So long as Konoha continued to grow, perhaps that was enough.
As for Hashirama, disappointment clouded his expression. So much trust placed in their successor… wasted.
The Senju clan had once been one of the two great powerhouses of the Warring States era. Even before Hashirama reached his peak, they had stood alongside the Uchiha.
The village had been founded to reduce inter-clan conflict, to unite and bring peace.
But in the end, that unity came at the cost of their own family.
No matter how noble the ideal, it left behind a bitter taste.
Despite the village's prosperity, a thread of deep regret lingered.
Tobirama, still sensing chakra across the village, suddenly frowned again.
"There's only one Uchiha chakra signature left in the village…"
"Why is the Uchiha clan even rarer than the Senju?"
Orochimaru grinned. "The Uchiha clan was wiped out a few years ago. Ironically, by one of their own. Of course, Danzo's involvement—and the Third Hokage's silent approval—were instrumental."
He seemed eager to expose Hiruzen's failures in front of the previous Hokage.
Though he himself had played a part in some of these events, who would know?
Hashirama's frown deepened. "Why would the entire clan be wiped out?"
Tobirama was just as confused. While he had distrusted the Uchiha and ordered them monitored, he had never intended for them to be exterminated.
He wasn't buying Orochimaru's claim that they destroyed themselves.
He knew the Uchiha too well.
Orochimaru continued, "The one who did it was Uchiha Itachi. But to be fair, the Uchiha were planning a coup to seize the Hokage seat."
"The Nine Tails incident worsened the village's suspicion toward them, and the clan grew more and more dissatisfied. You, of all people, should understand their temperament, Second Hokage."
"Now, only one Uchiha remains—Uchiha Sasuke. And his talent is… impressive."
Hiruzen, though ashamed of many things, reacted with anger when Sasuke was brought up. "You won't lay a hand on Sasuke. You think I entrusted him to Kakashi without reason?"
The truth was, despite everything, Hiruzen had always intended to protect Sasuke.
Compared to Naruto, Sasuke had received far more preferential treatment.
Part of it was due to Itachi. Part of it was Hiruzen's belief in Sasuke's talent—that without the Uchiha clan's toxic ideology, he could become a cornerstone of Konoha.
He had potential. He could carry the future.
That's why Hiruzen had been more lenient—more nurturing.
Despite what happened to the Uchiha clan, Sasuke had not been left with nothing. Quite the opposite—he had been given a solid foundation of basic ninjutsu.
Without that, there was no way a Genin like Sasuke could've mastered techniques like the Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu.
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