With a single command from Ito Daiga, every member of the Ito clan instantly appeared behind Ito Hirofumi!
Aside from Ito Yamato and Ito Aoyama, who were Jonin, the rest were either Genin or Chunin. Compared to other clans, their numbers were small—about a dozen Chunin, half of whom were grizzled old-timers, and around twenty Genin. This was the entirety of the Ito clan's strength.
But at this moment, not a single one of them hesitated or backed down!
Seeing this, Uchiha Madara felt a complicated mix of emotions. Only a clan like this could produce someone as remarkable as Ito Hirofumi, his disciple. He couldn't help but think… maybe he should thank them for giving him such an exceptional student.
If only the Uchiha clan had been like this back when he left the Hidden Leaf…
Sigh…
These thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant, while the crowd's murmurs buzzed around them.
Meanwhile, Shimura Danzo was seething with rage. These people—dead and gone—had the nerve to show up and cause trouble! If they'd just let him become Hokage, everything would've been settled. Why did these relics, who should've stayed buried, have to crawl back?!
Despite his anger, Danzo wasn't worried. In fact, he brimmed with an eerie confidence. Deep down, he even believed he could easily take down these resurrected legends. They were nothing but remnants of a bygone era!
The First Hokage, Hashirama Senju? His Wood Release? Heh, I've got that too.
His teacher, the Second Hokage, famed for his ninjutsu? Danzo's Wind Release was just as good.
Uchiha Madara with his Mangekyo Sharingan? Danzo had one too.
Mito Uzumaki's sealing techniques were tricky, sure, but Danzo knew seals as well.
Uchiha Shisui? Danzo had his eyes, so no need to fear him.
The Fourth Hokage's Flying Thunder God? A bit troublesome, but Danzo had Izanagi up his sleeve.
And Hatake Sakumo, renowned for his kenjutsu? Danzo's weapon skills were just as sharp.
As for the others? Uchiha Fugaku and his wife? A couple of nobodies from the Warring States era who looked like Senju and Uchiha? Some Hyuga with Byakugan—maybe that Hyuga Tennin he'd heard about as a kid, long dead? Orochimaru? And some green-clad, watermelon-headed weirdo?
What a bunch of washed-up losers!
Heh… When he thought about it, the odds were in his favor!
"Today, I'll show you relics of the old era who's boss!" Danzo sneered. "Ito Hirofumi, you little brat! Don't think having the Ito clan backing you makes you untouchable. You're just a puny family. Even if I wipe you all out, what can you do about it?!"
Ito Hirofumi almost admired Danzo's gall. Was this guy genuinely clueless about the situation, or was he just that confident? Any one of the people Hirofumi had summoned could mop the floor with Danzo without breaking a sweat. How could he even say something so ridiculous?!
"Danzo," Hirofumi said with a smirk, "I'm a kind-hearted guy. I hate seeing someone die without fulfilling their dreams. Your dream is to be Hokage, right? Well, you got to play 'Hokage 4.5' for half a day—hope you enjoyed it. But the Fifth Hokage? Sorry, that's my spot."
"You damned brat!" Danzo roared. "Root ninjas, listen up! Kill Hashirama Senju, Uchiha Madara, and the rest of them!"
Danzo ordered his Root ninjas to take on the summoned legends, reserving Ito Hirofumi for himself. These Root ninjas were completely loyal, conditioned to obey Danzo without question. They'd cut down their own parents without blinking if he told them to.
So, without hesitation, the Root ninjas charged at the group of powerhouses.
"Flying Thunder God! Take this!"
Minato Namikaze instantly sent a Root Jonin flying with a single move.
"Today's the big day for the Fifth Hokage to take charge!" Minato declared. "You lot better settle down! Ora wa yondei! Leaf ninjas, put down Danzo's rebellion!"
Uchiha Fugaku and Mikoto activated their Susanoo, and two towering skeletal giants rose from the ground.
"This is the power of youth!" Might Dai roared. "Kai, let your father see how you've honed your youth over the years! Eight Gates, Gate of Shock—open!"
"Father, my training in the way of youth has never stopped!" Might Guy shouted. "This is youth! Eight Gates, Gate of Shock—open!"
Hatake Sakumo took the White Fang blade from Kakashi's hands.
"Kakashi, today you and I fight side by side."
"Father, I've dreamed of this moment!" Kakashi replied.
"Then let me show you why the Hatake clan is renowned across the ninja world for our kenjutsu!"
In a flash of steel, three Root ninjas' heads flew before they could even react. Sakumo spun his blade with a flourish, standing with his back to the fallen enemies.
"Kakashi, now show me your mastery of the blade."
Kakashi rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Uh… Father…"
"What is it, Kakashi?"
"Well… I don't really… use blades."
"What?! You disgraceful son! Tomorrow, you're going home to shovel manure!"
Elsewhere, Uchiha Shisui weaved through the Root ninjas, some falling dead in his genjutsu without even moving.
The Root ninjas came on fiercely under Danzo's orders, but they were like paper tigers against this lineup. The true heavyweights—Hashirama Senju, Uchiha Madara, Uchiha Izuna, and Tobirama Senju—didn't even bother to lift a finger, watching the chaos unfold.
Hashirama and Tobirama felt a pang of sorrow. These ninjas didn't have to die, but Danzo's orders had turned them into mindless killing machines, no longer true shinobi.
Tobirama sighed heavily. "Maybe cleaning up the Hidden Leaf like this… isn't such a bad thing after all."