Chapter 152: The Dream Weaver, Tobirama

"Are those Sasori's parents? I have to say, the resemblance is uncanny, hmm!"

Deidara exclaimed, marveling at the woman who looked as though she was sculpted from the same mold as Sasori himself.

Thanks to Tsunade's healing, Deidara's leg, injured by a clay bomb, showed no scars, allowing him to return to his lively self. While he had originally ventured out tonight seeking artistic inspiration, the commotion on the mountainside drew him in. To his surprise, he saw Sasori and learned of the shocking news: the Hokage was about to resurrect the dead.

"Father... Mother..."

Gazing at the faces he'd yearned for in his dreams, Sasori was momentarily lost.

Had his body not been modified into a human puppet, tears would have already streamed down his face.

"Uh... I just thought of a new art idea! I'll leave you to it,!"

Noticing the longing in Sasori's expression, Deidara suddenly felt awkward. He made up an excuse and vanished from sight.

As Deidara left, the cold demeanor Sasori maintained dissolved. Slowly, he approached his parents.

"Father, Mother!"

In that moment, he was no longer the genius puppet master who could face an entire nation alone. He was simply a child yearning for familial love.

"Sasori, is that you?"

His parents recognized him instantly, his face hadn't changed much since he was a boy.

"..."

The three embraced tightly. The love Sasori had longed for over the past decade finally returned to his side.

"Ahahaha! Sasori has a side like this too, huh?"

Deidara peeked out from behind a large tree, unable to suppress a chuckle.

"For someone who always preaches about eternal art. It's unfortunate that I can't capture it forever."."

With a few amused snickers, Deidara brushed the dirt off his clothes and left quietly.

Was he envious? Maybe.

But as an orphan who didn't even know who his parents were, envy could only take him so far. The closest thing he had to family were Old Man Ōnoki.

"I never would've guessed that the Pain who defeated me was just some brat!"

Kakuzu looked at the resurrected Nagato and then glanced at Yahiko, clearly surprised. His mask even slipped slightly.

"Definitely unexpected," Kisame agreed with a nod.

As it turned out, the Akatsuki leader who had issued commands was nothing more than the puppet of this red-haired boy. And that boy? A puppet of the masked man claiming to be Uchiha Madara. That masked man? Just another pawn of the real Madara.

The layers of manipulation left Kisame's head spinning. He wasn't even sure where to begin.

Kakuzu felt the same. But as someone over 90 years old, he maintained his composure, pretending to understand despite the confusion.

"Where am I?" Nagato asked, his groggy mind slowly clearing.

Seeing this, Kisame reluctantly stepped up, despite his reservations.

"Leader, there are some things we need to tell you..."

"Kisame?!"

"You fool! Get back to the clan and reflect on your failures! The Uchiha Clan's downfall is all your fault!"

Madara roared at Fugaku, who didn't dare make a sound.

How had the Uchiha Clan produced such an indecisive leader? Didn't he understand that hesitation leads to ruin?

"Y-Yes, Ancestor. I'll take your lesson to heart!"

Fugaku, who had come eagerly to pay his respects, left in disgrace, taking the clan members with him.

"He's not even half the man Father was!" Izuna sneered as Fugaku's figure disappeared.

Before he could say more, Madara flicked his forehead.

"He's not even worthy of being compared to Father!"

"The Uchiha Clan will always remain part of Konoha. As long as I am here, they will not face injustice again."

Tobirama's words were firm as he addressed Shisui, who knelt before him in gratitude.

"Thank you, Lord Hokage," Shisui said earnestly before departing with newfound hope.

"Tobirama, I hope we'll never see such things again..."

Standing beside him, Hashirama sighed deeply. He hadn't expected the once-promising Hiruzen Sarutobi to leave such a mess behind.

"Rest assured," Tobirama replied with a nod.

...

By noon on New Year's Day, the resurrection ritual concluded.

The resurrected individuals and their families expressed heartfelt thanks to Tobirama Senju and Madara Uchiha before returning to their lives.

"Tobirama-sama, wait!"

Just as Tobirama was about to leave, a soft voice called out.

Turning around, he saw Kushina Uzumaki holding Naruto's hand, with Jiraiya standing nearby.

"Thank you for giving me the chance to stay by Naruto's side," Kushina said, bowing deeply.

Jiraiya had explained why she had been resurrected. Since Tobirama was Mito's brother-in-law and had treated her like family, Kushina's gratitude was heartfelt.

"Thank you, Grandpa Hokage!" Naruto added enthusiastically.

"Naruto, do not call him Grandpa, what should you—" Kushina started to correct him but paused. She couldn't find a suitable title for someone of Tobirama's stature.

Tobirama chuckled. "It's a small matter. You and Minato sacrificed yourselves for the village. This is something you've earned."

"Minato's soul is sealed. Reviving him will take more time," Tobirama added, his words reigniting hope in Kushina's eyes.

Before she could thank him further, Tobirama continued, "Also, the masked man responsible for the Nine-Tails' attack has been captured. You might want to visit him in the prison—though I'd advise preparing yourself mentally."

"!" Kushina's eyes widened.

The man who had destroyed her family... She didn't even take the time to express her gratitude properly. After a quick farewell, she rushed toward Konoha's prison.

"Hmph, that woman is such a fool," Izuna muttered as he watched her leave. "She was resurrected by my brother and thanks Tobirama instead!"

Madara ruffled Izuna's hair, laughing indulgently. "If not for me, she wouldn't have died in the first place."

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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