Konoha: The Honored One

The battlefield echoed with Hashirama's hearty laughter, breaking the oppressive atmosphere. "Hahaha! Tobirama, look at this! Your little experiment with Impure World Reincarnation actually worked! Who would've thought?"

Tobirama only gave a sharp smirk, unimpressed. "Yes, brother, congratulations on us being resurrected as Orochimaru's puppets. Truly the highlight of my afterlife."

Hashirama laughed even harder, ignoring Tobirama's deadpan response. "If Madara could see this! He'd probably die of laughter—again. Can you imagine? All of us, back here, bickering like old times!" His expression shifted, a flicker of nostalgia crossing his face. He thought back to the early days when he and Madara dreamed of a village where all children could live without fear, without war.

But as the village grew, so did the conflicts. Hashirama had thought he'd changed for the better, but Madara saw things differently. And now, here they were—a testament to that legacy, surrounded by chaos.

Breaking his reverie, Hashirama clapped his hands together, sending a web of wooden vines snaking around the battlefield. They coiled like massive serpents, tightening around Hiruzen, who was desperately fighting back with the diamond-hard staff that Enma had transformed into. Despite his age, Sarutobi pushed back with sheer grit, smashing through the vines, piece by piece.

"You're fighting well for an old man," Tobirama sneered, watching his former student struggle. "The best news I've heard since dying? Uchiha's downfall. Can't say I'm surprised—it was only a matter of time."

He exhaled a torrent of water that surged toward Hiruzen like a tidal wave, ready to engulf him.

"Oh, don't interrupt on my account!" Tobirama snapped, casting a frigid glare at Orochimaru, who was watching with a wicked grin.

Orochimaru's gaze glittered with excitement. "Why would I, Tobirama-sensei? Seeing you two legends clash with your student is a rare privilege. Besides, it gives me a better look at this jutsu in action. Even weakened, your willpower is astonishing." His grin widened, calculating.

"Uchiha," Tobirama muttered with disdain, "a clan fueled by hatred, born for vengeance. They are a threat to everyone."

Hashirama's expression darkened. "Tobirama, enough. Watch what you say—you'll poison the younger generation with that kind of hatred. The Uchiha are loyal to their loved ones, even if they sometimes go to extremes. You know that."

"Oh?" a voice drawled from above. Gojo sat on the edge of the barrier, chewing on a dango stick as he watched the scene with detached amusement. "Careful with those sweeping statements, Tobirama. Not all Uchihas are created equal."

Hashirama's face softened, but Tobirama only scoffed. "And who are you to judge, Gojo? Some wandering tourist?"

Unfazed, Gojo shrugged. "I'm just here for the entertainment, really." He popped another dango in his mouth and tilted his head. "Though I did hear about an Uchiha who wiped out his entire family for the sake of this so-called village loyalty. Now that, my friends, is commitment."

The air grew thick with silence as Hashirama processed Gojo's words, his eyes widening. "Impossible! No Uchiha would… would turn on their family like that."

Gojo merely grinned. "Oh, I'm serious. Itachi Uchiha, the village's 'hero.' Quite the patriot, huh?"

Hiruzen staggered to his feet, blood seeping from a wound on his abdomen as he glared at Gojo. "Enough, Gojo! Itachi did what he had to for the village. You wouldn't understand the burden he carries, the Will of Fire."

Gojo raised an eyebrow, his gaze cool. "Oh, the 'Will of Fire' thing again." He balanced a beef stick between his fingers and smirked. "Sure, why not? But let me tell you something, old man. A hero isn't someone who sacrifices everyone around them for some abstract idea. Real heroes protect the people they care about first." He jabbed his dango stick toward Hiruzen, his tone softening just slightly. "And to me? That's family. Nothing more, nothing less."

Orochimaru's smirk grew. He had been holding back chakra, wary of Gojo's power, but now he saw his chance. "So, Gojo, you'll just sit back and watch, then? Perfect! That makes things easy for me."

Gojo waved him off, unimpressed. "By all means, Orochimaru, go wild. I'm not about to lose any sleep over you trying to trash this village. I'm just the spectator."

Outside the barrier, Kurenai watched the entire scene unfold, her gaze lingering on Gojo. "Does he… really care about anyone? Or is this all a joke to him?"

Asuma chuckled beside her, scratching his head. "I'd say it's a little of both. But who knows with Gojo? He's a tough one to figure out."