For three days, Reiji stayed quietly in the ANBU dungeon.
Though the cell was cramped, dimly lit, and inconvenient for basic needs, everything was relative—
Compared to the Jashin cult's underground prison, this place was practically heaven.
With nothing to do, Reiji lay on the bed, lost in thought. He kept reflecting until he finally made sense of the passage describing the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Honestly, he never thought it would take him three whole days to figure out just one passage.
But once he understood it, new problems emerged.
First, the Flying Thunder God Technique required extremely strict training conditions. One had to be exceptionally sensitive to the elusive concept of space.
The passage clearly stated that unless someone could repeatedly use escape-type Body Flicker Techniques with minimal chakra consumption,
they didn't even meet the basic qualifications to learn the Flying Thunder God Technique.
More importantly, those techniques were merely a stepping stone—they didn't guarantee mastery of the Flying Thunder God Technique.
The text also added that the ability to perceive space could only improve while using space-time ninjutsu.
Reiji interpreted this as: if you're not afraid of dying—or losing your head or limbs—just keep pushing yourself and you'll develop the talent.
Perfect! I'm not afraid of dying! Losing my head? No big deal!
The Scroll of Seals also gave a detailed breakdown of the different types of Body Flicker Techniques.
In general, these techniques fall into three categories: space-time ninjutsu, taijutsu, and escape-style ninjutsu.
Reiji could achieve a Body Flicker-like effect through sheer explosive power, but that was just a basic application of taijutsu.
Besides himself, his memories recalled others with similar taijutsu-based speed: Naruto in Kurama Mode, Guy with the Eight Inner Gates, and the Fourth Raikage.
Though he wasn't particularly passionate about the Flying Thunder God Technique, Reiji still studied it carefully.
After all, if his business took off someday, he could use the Flying Thunder God Technique to zip around for meetings—no need to spend on airfare.
And even if the business didn't succeed, he could always use the technique to deliver takeout or run errands.
Even if he couldn't master the Flying Thunder God Technique, there was still the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!
Once he learned that, he could buy land outside Konoha, start a farm, and have clones handle the labor. What a sweet deal!
His stamina wouldn't drain, which was basically like having unlimited chakra. That meant clones at no cost—free labor!
At the thought, Reiji picked at his toes with a grin spreading across his face...
"Squeak~"
The small window in the cell door creaked open. On the other side appeared the familiar mask of Tsuchigami.
"233, vacation's over."
Reiji's heart leapt with joy. He jumped out of bed and walked quickly to the door.
"What are you waiting for? Open up, Dog Bro!"
"Don't call me Dog Bro," Tsuchigami muttered gruffly as he tossed in the clothes Reiji had worn before his imprisonment.
"Oh, and once you're dressed, don't rush off. Tobirama-sama wants to see you."
Tobirama-sama? Tobirama Senju?
Reiji frowned. Wasn't Tobirama Senju supposed to be dead? Why would he want to see me?
From what Reiji remembered, Tobirama had died at the hands of Kinkaku and Ginkaku.
To be precise, he died taking down Ginkaku and gravely injuring Kinkaku.
Pushing aside his doubts, Reiji quickly changed clothes and stepped out of the now-open cell, following Tsuchigami.
In the Hokage's office, the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, was slumped in his chair. His handsome face was deathly pale.
A gruesome wound pierced straight through his chest, and through it, a faintly beating heart could be seen.
His blue armor was scorched black in several places, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
Beside him, a ninja in a white coat was using green chakra to heal him.
Outside the office door, his six disciples waited anxiously.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes brimmed with tears. He waved an ANBU over impatiently and asked, "Where is Reiji Sakuhō? Why isn't he here yet?"
Just as the ANBU was about to respond, urgent footsteps echoed from the end of the corridor.
Tsuchigami had arrived with Reiji in tow.
At that moment, Hiruzen couldn't spare another thought. He rushed forward and grabbed Reiji by the sleeve.
"Reiji, sensei wants to see you. Hurry up and go in!"
Just as he was about to let go, he nervously tugged on his sleeve again.
"Reiji, sensei is seriously hurt. Don't say anything reckless, got it?!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was always composed and strong, now looked helpless and alone.
Seeing the tears brimming in his eyes, Reiji silently nodded, then pushed open the wooden office door.
An ANBU stationed outside immediately shut the door behind him.
As Reiji stepped inside, his eyes were instantly drawn to the gaping wound that pierced Tobirama Senju's chest. He furrowed his brows instinctively.
What... he's still alive?
You're not me—how did you survive a wound like that and make it back to the village?
At that moment, Tobirama, slouched in his chair, slowly lifted his head. His blood-red eyes locked onto Reiji like blades.
"I see doubt in your eyes. Reiji Sakuhō, are you wondering why I'm not dead?"
Reiji felt a jolt surge through him. His heart roared, and the hairs on his arms stood straight up.
This guy... the closer he is to death, the scarier he gets!
In a flash, countless thoughts raced through Reiji's mind.
No! I can't lie—my face already gave it away! Lying is pointless now!
Gritting his teeth, Reiji stiffly nodded.
"Yeah. I am curious."
Tobirama suddenly smiled, and the tension in the air melted like frost.
"Then would you indulge a dying man and tell me why?"
Reiji swallowed hard, his voice raspier than usual.
"Kinkaku and Ginkaku—top dogs in Kumogakure, the Land of Lightning. They're called the twin lights of the clouds, absolute hardliners in the martial faction.
The Second Raikage, though... he was calm, easygoing.
But in the eyes of militant extremists like Kinkaku and Ginkaku, that's just weakness.
The fight wasn't long, and though both Konoha and Kumo took losses, neither side was crippled.
Both still had the strength to keep going.
So when the Raikage suggested peace talks, there's no way Kinkaku and Ginkaku would agree."
He looked up, eyes locked on the wound in Tobirama's chest.
"Tobirama-sama... is the Second Raikage, A, dead?"
Tobirama clapped slowly, admiration in his gaze.
"Reiji Sakuhō... impressive. Truly impressive.
With only scraps of intel, you managed to deduce the end of those peace talks."
Reiji didn't answer. He kept thinking—then suddenly, his eyes lit up.
"It was the Kōkinjō, the Shichiseiken, and the Benihisago, wasn't it?"
Tobirama shook his head. "The Kohaku no Jōhei."
A flicker of doubt passed through Reiji's mind. That name... it rang a bell. He'd heard it before, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't recall where.
As he fell deep in thought, Tobirama gazed at him in silence. His smile faded, and with a soft sigh, he spoke again.
"You didn't get it right, but I can't blame you. You're still working with limited information.
Still, Reiji... your intelligence scares me.
You were already terrifying before, but now, you've taken it to another level.
To be honest, Reiji...
When it comes to strategy and reading people, even my big brother, even me, even Madara Uchiha—we're no match for you."
Sweat poured down Reiji's back, and his heart howled in panic.
Big bro Tobirama! Please! I'm begging you, stop complimenting me! One more word and I'm seriously gonna piss myself!
Reiji knew—
The more Tobirama admired him, the more dangerous things became.
After all, he wasn't even from Konohagakure!
No, he couldn't just sit here and wait to die. He had to act—let this big brother win just once, let him feel good before he passed.
With that thought, Reiji let out a long sigh and asked a question so dumb, it was brilliant.
"Then, what did Tobirama-sama call me here for?"
Tobirama Senju gave a faint smile and asked with interest,
"You're so clever—can't you guess?"
Reiji went quiet, staring at him in silence.
After a while, he slowly shook his head.
"In the face of a life about to end, any guess is meaningless. The living can never truly understand the thoughts of the dying."
At the same time, a thought echoed quietly in his mind:
Anyone facing death becomes willful, unbound, and unrestrained. No matter what reason I give, in the end, things will always turn toward the outcome I fear most.
So this round... you win.
With that, Reiji slowly and firmly sat cross-legged.
"I have two requests. I never harmed Konoha."
He bowed his head, his face hidden in the shadows.
"First: I didn't betray Amegakure. I was killed because my identity was exposed. Just pass that along to Hanzō.
Second: Take care of Rie. She's only four... and she really likes Konoha."
After speaking, his straight back slumped, and he said nothing more.
Watching Reiji's life force gradually fade, Tobirama let out a long, heavy sigh.
What a child. A child who truly sees through the human heart... If only you belonged to Konoha.
Reiji and Konoha—like two magnets forever unable to meet. Clearly drawn to each other, yet unable to ever truly connect.
Back then, to survive, he had revealed the depth of his mind.
Now, because of that same depth, the higher-ups in Konoha feared him more than ever.
Especially now, with Tobirama at death's door, his worries for Konoha's future only deepened his wariness of Reiji.
...
No one knew how much time passed.
Then, Tobirama slowly lowered his head.
"Reiji Sakuhō... you may go."
Hearing that, Reiji slowly lifted his head. After a long look at Tobirama, he stood and left.
Watching his figure fade into the distance, Tobirama let out another sigh and murmured,
"I hope... I hope my brother was right.
And don't let me find out you've hurt Konoha—or even as a ghost, I won't let you off."
...
By the time Reiji stepped out of the Hokage Building, night had fallen.
In a pitch-black alleyway, he turned back, eyes fixed on that not-so-tall, but overwhelmingly weighty structure.
Looking at the Hokage office, its lights still burning, he let out a soft sigh.
"Tobirama Senju…rest in peace."