Seeing this scene, everyone in the classroom instantly focused their attention.
And Ito Hirofumi also looked around.
What the—!
The Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen himself was here?!
His father and grandfather had rushed in too…
And that one-eyed man with the cane—wasn't that Shimura Danzo, the shadowy elder of Konoha?
Why was this old vulture here too?!
"Uh—h-hi! Hello everyone! What's happening here?!"
Truthfully, Hirofumi had already prepared himself mentally. If he disappeared in class without a trace, it would cause a huge stir.
Worse, it might draw the attention of dangerous people.
Sure, he had Uchiha Madara bound as a summon now, but Madara was no obedient servant. At best, Madara might intervene if Hirofumi's life was in danger—since if Hirofumi died, Madara's tether would collapse and he'd return to being nothing but a wandering soul.
He had already decided back in the realm of the dead: the system would never reveal the truth on his behalf. So he couldn't expose the secret of summoning from the afterlife. The safest answer was simple—pretend he knew nothing!
Claim he had been pulled into some strange place, and then mysteriously returned.
There was no way anyone here could prove otherwise.
As soon as Hirofumi finished speaking, Ito Taiga rushed forward, nearly tripping in his haste, and threw his arms around him.
"My precious grandson!!! You nearly scared me to death!!! My old heart can't take shocks like this anymore! Whatever you want to do in the future, I'll support you—but you must promise me never to vanish again!!!"
Ito Aoyama exhaled in deep relief.
If his son had truly been lost, how could he face his wife? It was enough—he was back, safe and whole!
To Ito Aoyama and Ito Taiga, it didn't matter whether Hirofumi had experienced some kind of reverse summoning. What mattered was that he was alive.
Hiruzen, standing nearby, wanted answers himself—but when he saw Taiga's trembling shoulders, he held his tongue.
He could understand perfectly. If his own grandson Konohamaru vanished, he too would be sick with worry.
But Danzo had no such patience. He thumped his cane and stepped right up to Hirofumi.
"Ito Hirofumi!
I am Shimura Danzo, elder of Konoha!
Tell me exactly what you experienced! Why did you vanish, and what happened while you were gone?!"
Hirofumi winced as his grandfather's snot nearly smeared his cheek, patting the old man's back hurriedly.
"Grandpa, see? I'm fine! You don't have to cry!"
"Hirofumi!! Answer me!!" Danzo barked again, his voice like a blade.
Hiruzen's brow furrowed.
"Danzo! The boy just returned. Don't press him too harshly."
"Hmph. Very well."
Hirofumi gently steadied his grandfather, then glanced at his father with a reassuring nod. Aoyama's shoulders finally loosened.
Then Hirofumi stepped forward—not to Danzo, but to the Hokage.
"Hokage-sama!"
Danzo's eye narrowed at being ignored, while Hiruzen's lips curved faintly. This boy was clever.
"So you're Ito Hirofumi. What a well-mannered child. Your grandfather once served under me—so no need to be so formal. You may call me Grandpa Hokage, if you wish."
Hirofumi blinked in surprise.
"Really? Grandpa Hokage?"
"Haha… of course!"
The Third was a master of politics. To any ordinary child, those few words would have been enough to secure lifelong loyalty. He had acknowledged Taiga's old service, bound the Ito clan closer to himself, and even offered Hirofumi the warmth of family.
Danzo's face darkened further, his eye flashing coldly as Hirofumi gave him not so much as a glance.
"So then, Hirofumi," Hiruzen said gently, "can you tell Grandpa Hokage what happened? Everyone here is very curious."
Hirofumi scratched his head, putting on a puzzled look.
"Um… Grandpa Hokage, I don't really know!
Iruka-sensei was teaching us about summoning seals, and I just tried it.
Then—suddenly—I appeared in some kind of strange space. I couldn't tell where it was at all!"
At once, Hiruzen's eyes sharpened. Reverse summoning! Just like Jiraiya when he'd been pulled to Mount Myōboku. Could it be that Hirofumi had stumbled into one of the three great holy places?
"Did you meet any unusual creatures?" Hiruzen asked carefully.
"Eh… no! There was nothing there. Just empty scenery. I walked around for a bit, and then suddenly—I was back."
Hiruzen's frown deepened.
Impossible. Jiraiya had been welcomed by toads the moment he arrived at Myōboku.
If Hirofumi truly entered a holy land, he should have met its denizens.
So what happened? Was it not a holy land after all?
Was the boy rejected?
Or… was he hiding something?