The Dawn of Recovery

By the next day, a wave of relief swept through Konoha. The Hokage had woken up.

Word spread like wildfire, reaching every corner of the village—from the bustling marketplace to the quiet training grounds. Shinobi who had fought and bled in the war finally allowed themselves to breathe. The tension that had gripped the village for weeks loosened.

Tobirama Senju was alive.

Though his body was still weak, the medics assured everyone that with time, he would recover. A month or two of rest, and he would return to office.

For Tetsuma, the news was bittersweet.

He had fought with everything he had, risked his life, and lost so many brothers just to bring his teacher back. Yet, even now, he could feel the weight of their sacrifices pressing down on his shoulders.

Standing atop the ANBU headquarters, he gazed down at the village below. The people of Konoha were celebrating, but he couldn't join them.

Jiro wasn't here.

The twenty ANBU he led weren't here.

And the war still wasn't truly over.

Footsteps approached behind him. He didn't need to turn to know it was Hiruzen.

"You should rest, Tetsuma," Hiruzen said quietly, standing beside him. "The village will need you in the coming months."

Tetsuma scoffed. "The village always needs something. Whether it's sacrifices or soldiers, it always takes."

Hiruzen didn't argue. They both knew it was true.

For now, though, at least Konoha had a Hokage again.

And for the first time in a long time, there was hope.

The news of the Hokage's awakening had spread, but only a select few received the urgent summons to his personal ward.

Advisors. Ministers. Clan representatives.

These were the men and women who shaped Konoha's future. And now, they were called to stand before their Hokage.

But before they could enter, they were stopped.

"Remove your garments," a senior medical shinobi ordered. "Wear the hospital gowns provided."

Some of the advisors looked at each other, hesitant. They were high-ranking officials, not patients. Was this really necessary?

The medical shinobi's gaze was sharp. "The Hokage requires a sanitized environment. His recovery is delicate. If you do not comply, you will not enter."

One by one, they relented. Silk robes and armored vests were set aside. Instead, they donned the simple, pale-blue hospital gowns provided to them. Their weapons were also taken—another precaution.

Tetsuma watched silently as they went through the process. He had already gone through the same procedure before entering, though unlike the others, he hadn't hesitated. Tobirama's life was more important than pride.

Once everyone was ready, the doors creaked open.

The room was dimly lit, with only a few lanterns casting a warm glow. In the center of the ward, Tobirama Senju sat upright, his body still wrapped in thick bandages. His once-imposing figure was slightly sunken, but his eyes—his sharp, piercing gaze—remained as strong as ever.

The advisors and ministers kneeled, offering their respect.

The Second Hokage had returned.

And now, it was time to decide Konoha's next move.