Thinking of this, Uchiha Madara narrowed his eyes slightly.
If he could master this strange summoning method, his plan would gain far more certainty!
And when the time comes, would there also be a chance to drag that foolish Senju Hashirama into battle as his own summoned beast?!
Jie Jie Jie Jie Jie Jie Jie Jie Jie…
The thought of calling forth Hashirama like a mere creature made the corner of Madara's lips twitch upward.
If this worked, he could summon that idiot Hashirama at any time—sometimes just to fight him, other times just to laugh at him!
Even imagining it made his chest tremble with dark amusement!
And he could also call back his younger brother Izuna… then perhaps the two of them could stand together again.
Live together with his brother, just like before.
As for Hashirama?
Just a naïve summoned beast!
"Oi, Madara! Your grin's about to reach your forehead!! What disgusting thoughts are you cooking up in that head of yours?!"
The sudden voice dragged Uchiha Madara back to reality.
Tch!
A moment ago he had been savoring the image of turning Hashirama into his personal summon, but now—when he glanced at the summoning seal—it was his own form that appeared!
What irony was this?!
Could it be that the real clown… was him?!
Damn it!!
"Hmph! Brat! What are you planning next?! Remember our deal. Even if I've become what you call a summoned beast, you'll never command me as if I were yours!"
"To be honest," Ito Hirofumi replied calmly, "I never thought I could give you orders anyway. After all… in this world, only Senju Hashirama ever made you listen."
As he spoke, a scene flickered in his mind—Madara during the Fourth Shinobi World War. When Hashirama was revived, Madara's eyes had lit with excitement, eager for battle.
But Hashirama had waved him off with a curt "Not now."
And Madara had actually sat down to wait.
"Haha!! That idiot Hashirama? Him giving me orders? He's nothing but a fool!!"
"Alright, Madara. Questions can wait. I'm ending the summoning for now. Once I release this seal, you'll appear inside my summoning space. From there, I can call you anytime."
"After all, I've been reversed into the world of the dead for long enough. No doubt the people outside are already restless."
"Tch… fine, brat."
Uchiha Madara clicked his tongue. He had no choice. For now, he had to follow this child's strange ninjutsu. But once he unraveled the secret behind it, he would seize it for himself!
When that day came, he would put this arrogant boy in chains.
Kill him? No—death would be too merciful.
Better to make this brat his own summon!!
Without realizing it, Madara's thoughts had been nudged by Indra's chakra.
Normally, his pride would never tolerate being bound as a mere summoned beast. But for now, he no longer thought of killing Hirofumi… only of mastering him.
And Madara never noticed how subtly his own heart was shifting.
Ito Hirofumi formed the release seal, and Madara's body dissolved into a puff of white smoke.
At the same time, Hirofumi felt a new space open inside himself—the summoning dimension spoken of by the system!
His chakra could sense it easily.
Unlike the Kyuubi's dank prison inside Naruto, this space was clear, filled with mountains, streams, birdsong, and flowers.
He even caught a glimpse of Madara's astonished face as he appeared inside it.
But ignoring Madara for now, Hirofumi addressed the system directly.
"System! Send me back!"
[Host, prepare yourself!]
With a burst of smoke, the realm of the dead fell silent once more…
—
The next moment, inside Konoha's Ninja Academy classroom.
The room was packed.
Iruka-sensei, the students, the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen…
Even Ito Aoyama and Ito Taiga had rushed in, their faces full of worry as they stared at Hirofumi's empty seat.
And among them stood a shadowy figure with one bandaged arm and a single exposed eye—Shimura Danzo.
Danzo had somehow gotten word immediately and hurried to the Academy.
It wasn't the students' lives he cared about. No—he was fixated on Ito Hirofumi. If this child had truly been reverse-summoned, then his potential might rival Jiraiya's.
If Danzo could claim him into Root…
Jie Jie Jie Jie Jie Jie Jie…
Konoha's true foundation lay with him, Shimura Danzo. Surely the boy wouldn't dare refuse.
Sarutobi Hiruzen glanced sideways at his old comrade. He said nothing, but his eyes narrowed.
The incident had barely happened… yet Danzo already knew?
His hand really did reach everywhere.
Ito Taiga, however, was beside himself. How could his grandson vanish into thin air?!
He was nearly the same age as Sarutobi, once even his subordinate.
"Hokage-sama… what's happening?!
How could my grandson Hirofumi just disappear?!
If it was truly reverse summoning, when will he return?!"
Sarutobi took a deep pull on his pipe.
"Taiga… even I don't know. The only shinobi I know of who was ever reverse-summoned was my student, Jiraiya.
But Jiraiya isn't in the village. I've already sent Anbu to find him."
Hearing this, Ito Taiga could only sigh heavily…
But just then, a sharp bang! echoed in the classroom, and smoke billowed from Hirofumi's vacant seat.
When it cleared—there he was.