Chapter 57: Second Generation Tobirama Interrogates Shisui

When Uchiha Shisui and Senju Itama regained consciousness, they found themselves in the small villages of Tsuzuki and Yamato, respectively, located in the Land of Fire.

These were quiet, rural villages where the villagers rarely encountered ninjas. The event began on a typical day, as the villagers worked their fields. Suddenly, a transparent wall appeared, trapping them in a strange and surreal phenomenon. One villager, who answered a seemingly casual question from this entity, would later tell others that the "god" had granted him two gifts: one of which was the chance to resurrect a dead ninja from the Land of Fire.

The villagers, unfamiliar with ninjas and having little knowledge of whom to choose, found themselves reviving the youngest ninjas from the ten coffins they had discovered: Uchiha Shisui and Senju Itama. Although it was a small gesture, the villagers were unaware of how pivotal these choices were. Shisui, recalling this, mentioned his disappointment, thinking that once revived, his father or older brother might at least offer a token of thanks to the villager who had revived him.

Tobirama, always pragmatic, was taken aback by the mention of a thank-you payment. His forehead twitched in annoyance. "Can't they afford to express gratitude with a mission fee? I'll personally thank the villager once we resolve this matter."

Despite the countless battles he had fought, including the events of the Fourth Ninja War, Senju Tobirama remained calm and composed—until he laid eyes on Itama. The unexpected reunion with his brother left him momentarily speechless, his usual stoic demeanor breaking down.

However, his thoughts quickly returned to the pressing issue at hand. "You said the villager answered the question casually and got it right?" Tobirama's disbelief was evident. "That's... impossible."

Shisui explained that the villager had said the question was simple, one with no specific answer. Tobirama pressed for more details. Shisui replied: "[Question: Compared with the harsh reality, would you prefer to live in a happy dream forever?]"

Tobirama blinked. "That... doesn't make sense. There's no right or wrong answer to a question like that."

Itama added, "The old man who saved me heard the same question too."

Tobirama narrowed his eyes. "I see... but there's more to this, isn't there? What exactly are we dealing with here?"

Utatane Koharu, deeply intrigued, remarked, "The question itself has no right or wrong answer. It's entirely up to the individual's desires."

Tobirama was deep in thought. "Living in a dream of happiness..." he muttered. "Isn't this exactly what Madara and Obito wanted with the Infinite Tsukuyomi? A world where everyone lives in their own dream—no war, no pain, but also no true connections between people."

The implications of that desire weighed heavily on him. After a brief pause, Tobirama continued, "But after such fleeting happiness, there's only a deeper, more terrifying emptiness. A lonely hell. Eventually, the dream is shattered, and you lose yourself entirely. This is what happened with Madara."

Shisui nodded, reflecting on the gravity of what Tobirama said. "So, you believe this 'death question' is connected to the work of someone like Madara? Someone who wants to create that false reality?"

Tobirama confirmed, "Exactly. The mastermind behind this may not have created a conventional question, but rather, their answer lies within it. If the response includes the word 'unwilling,' the task is completed."

Itama's eyes lit up. "As expected of Brother Tobirama! How did you figure that out?"

Tobirama, ever the strategist, continued, "This strange quiz may be part of a broader plan. It's not limited to the Land of Fire. These occurrences might be scattered across the world, and not just ninjas from our villages could be revived. The ones from the Sengoku period could also be brought back."

He turned to his students, commanding them to pass on this information to the Intelligence Department for further investigation.

After a moment of reflection, Tobirama shifted the conversation. "Now, let's talk about the Uchiha clan."

"Shisui," he addressed the Uchiha, "Explain your motives to me."

Uchiha Shisui sat up straight, ready to speak. "Lord Second Hokage, this begins back when Konoha was attacked by the Nine-Tails, and the Fourth Hokage died in the battle."

The room fell silent, but Shisui recounted how Uchiha was falsely blamed for the Nine-Tails' attack. Despite their efforts to protect the village, the Uchiha were ostracized, seen as conspirators by the villagers. The younger generation of the Uchiha clan struggled to integrate into the village. The Fourth Hokage's death only deepened the distrust. The Uchiha were increasingly isolated, their village territory relegated to the edges of Konoha, further fueling their sense of alienation.

Tobirama, hearing this, sighed heavily. "I understand. The Uchiha's land being pushed to the outskirts, the mistrust... It's all too familiar."

Shisui hesitated, continuing. "As the clan became more and more isolated, some began to consider rebellion, but there were others like me, who only wanted peace."

Tobirama narrowed his eyes. "And where do you fit into all of this, Shisui?"

Shisui's voice grew somber. "I didn't want rebellion. But I couldn't just stand by either. I tried to do what was best for Konoha, but the distance between us only grew."

Tobirama's gaze turned to the Third Hokage and the two elderly advisors, who were silent and brooding. The atmosphere in the room was heavy with the weight of past decisions.

"Tell me," Tobirama pressed, his voice sharp, "why was the Uchiha clan pushed to the edges of the village? What was the reasoning behind it?"

The Third Hokage, who had been deep in thought, slowly responded. The room remained heavy with the unsaid, the consequences of past actions echoing in their minds.

Tobirama, frustrated by the lack of answers, continued. "The past is clear. But what matters now is the future. What will we do about the Uchiha's grievances? We can't let history repeat itself."

As the conversation continued, Tobirama's mind raced. The lingering tension with the Uchiha clan, the mistrust, and the isolation—they were all issues that needed to be resolved before they escalated into something far more destructive.

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