The moment Senju Hashirama appeared on the battlefield, most of the surrounding clamor died away.
And when he asked his question, despite both the wording and tone sounding a little foolish, everyone fell completely silent.
What were they doing?
What did he think?!
This was the God of Shinobi...
A title known throughout the entire shinobi world!
Hashirama's name did not even belong solely to Konoha.
From sheer combat strength to the system he established, he had truly reached the pinnacle recognized by shinobi everywhere. He was the man who founded the one-village-per-nation system and brought the chaos of the Warring States Period to an end!
Any shinobi would naturally view Hashirama through a certain idealized lens and harbor intense curiosity about him.
But the moment Hashirama opened his mouth, everyone discovered a problem.
The God of Shinobi seemed a little different from what they had imagined.
He wasn't exactly... imposing.
"Oh my..."
"Are you all fighting? Why are you fighting?"
The silence among the shinobi present grew even deeper.
Wait...
They had all heard that the God of Shinobi loved peace, but was this what people meant by that?
Kaguya stared at Senju Hashirama, a hint of shock on her face.
She could sense that Hashirama wasn't simply alive, but existed in a strange state somewhere between life and death.
After thinking about it, Kaguya found herself rather curious about the Impure World Reincarnation. Asking about such a complicated technique shouldn't cost her any dignity...
It might not be as advanced as overcoming the supergravity of her own dimension!
But at the very least, it was a worthwhile subject that could demonstrate her sincerity...
After all, Hiruzen had said that communication was the only way to build a bridge of mutual trust.
'I'll consider this a favor to you...'
With that thought, Kaguya quietly asked Hiruzen,
"What kind of technique is this?"
"Why is this person in such a strange state?"
Hiruzen kept his expression under control.
Now that Hashirama was out, they could simply let him do his thing for a while!
Since everyone else had fallen silent, he might as well chat with Kaguya in the meantime...
"This technique is called the Impure World Reincarnation..."
Hiruzen patiently explained his old teacher's most infamous creation.
"It uses a sacrifice as the price to summon the dead back from the Pure Land and grant them power in this world."
"Generally speaking, the dead can't display the full strength they possessed while alive, but in exchange, they gain an immortal, regenerating body. Their maximum chakra capacity is reduced, but their chakra recovers extremely quickly..."
"The technique wasn't like this originally. It was designed to be used in conjunction with mutually multiplying explosive tags."
Hashirama's Impure World Reincarnation body had been specially created through the combined efforts of all Konoha.
There was chakra generously contributed by the Tailed Beasts, concentrated Hashirama clone cells, pure natural energy infused into him by the Three Sage Regions, as well as cursed seals, Kekkei Genkai cells, Fūinjutsu designed to preserve the soul, and much more...
Those who had chakra contributed chakra, and those who had technical expertise contributed their expertise.
It wasn't as though Mito or Orochimaru intended to turn Senju Hashirama into Konoha's ultimate enforcer.
Piling more combat power onto Hashirama simply wasn't a particularly worthwhile investment.
When this man didn't want to fight, no one could force him to...
Hiruzen had merely emphasized that bringing Hashirama back through the Impure World Reincarnation was something they would only do as an absolute last resort. If they were going to do it at all, then the God of Shinobi needed to possess at least seventy or eighty percent of his former glory.
If the Hashirama they brought back had only thirty percent of his original strength, they would be damaging Konoha's reputation!
Not a single Konoha shinobi wanted to see a weakened Hashirama.
Even if Hashirama himself never intended to use that power...
Those were two entirely separate matters.
"Huh? A technique like that exists?"
After hearing Hiruzen's explanation, Kaguya was startled and immediately fired off several questions.
"What is the Pure Land? Is it a place where the souls of the dead are imprisoned? Does Impure World Reincarnation summon those souls back and then use vessels to bring them back to life in some special form?"
Holy crap...
Didn't that sound like the shinobi world's homegrown version of Kāma?!
What Kaguya didn't know was that Living Corpse Reincarnation was actually much closer...
And the man who had created the Impure World Reincarnation had already become the first to personally enjoy the fruits of his work.
"That's not exactly wrong."
Hiruzen coughed lightly.
"What an evil technique! If you're going to kill someone, kill them. If you're going to let them go, let them go. Why go this far?"
Kaguya felt that the shinobi world was rather extreme...
Back then, when she had used the Infinite Tsukuyomi to transform everyone in the shinobi world into White Zetsu, she'd at least thrown in the ultimate sweet dream before they died...
But the Impure World Reincarnation and the Pure Land?
They wouldn't even let people rest after death?!
She had done what she did to prepare for the eventual arrival of the Ōtsutsuki pursuers...
So what exactly had these shinobi created a technique like this for?
Kaguya found herself asking the same question Hashirama once had...
"Now hold on!"
Hiruzen instinctively tried to defend his teacher's reputation.
"The Impure World Reincarnation has its good side too. It can allow the living to see those who have died and finally resolve regrets they were never able to overcome..."
Kaguya chuckled. She found his argument far too naive.
"Don't try to fool me. Someone capable of creating the Pure Land and the Impure World Reincarnation absolutely did not create them for that purpose!"
Hiruzen fell silent.
Over the years, he had almost always held the upper hand whenever he debated someone.
But whenever the subject was Tobirama-sensei, even Hiruzen was often powerless.
There was nothing he could do.
He simply didn't have enough cards in his hand!
And Kaguya hadn't even realized that with that statement, she had managed to insult both her rebellious son and Tobirama at the same time...
"Wait..."
"What does this shinobi named Senju Hashirama have to do with the Divine Tree?"
Kaguya examined Senju Hashirama more closely. Because Hiruzen's seal was interfering with her senses, she couldn't perceive him very clearly.
But Hashirama was simply too unusual.
In Kaguya's perception, Hashirama was like a miniature humanoid Divine Tree walking around on two legs. The vitality within his entire body was so dense it practically seemed tangible.
He even carried the unique presence of the Divine Tree...
In fact, Kaguya had nearly mistaken Hashirama for a White Zetsu...
But even if a White Zetsu somehow became extraordinary, it couldn't possibly become this strong. In Kaguya's eyes, those things weren't particularly powerful, nor was a single one of them intelligent. Their main advantage was that there were plenty to go around, and they were at least somewhat stronger than ordinary shinobi...
So Hashirama seemed more like a Divine Tree that had developed a consciousness of its own!
Hiruzen froze upon hearing that.
'Divine Tree'?
There was another extremely important keyword and another valuable piece of intelligence...
Negotiating with Kaguya was leaving Hiruzen somewhat bewildered. He had never encountered an opponent like this before.
He hadn't even used any of his methods yet, and she was already volunteering one piece of intelligence after another...
As far as Hiruzen was concerned, someone like this could only be one of two things: an absolute master at manipulating people's minds, or someone whose brain genuinely didn't work particularly well...
Either a great fool who appeared wise or a great sage who appeared foolish.
There was also the possibility that she was simply extraordinarily wise.
Hiruzen felt strangely countered by her. He simply had too little experience dealing with this kind of person.
"First of all, you shouldn't be telling me this kind of 'intelligence' anymore. Let's find a time to sit down and have a proper conversation. If you tell me these things now, I can't tell what's true and what isn't..."
"I'm not very good with words. You could even say I'm somewhat clumsy."
An idea occurred to Hiruzen, and he began copying Kaguya's own approach.
"I'll tell you everything I know, but when I ask you questions in the future, please don't lie to me."
The Hokage had his own little scheme...
Kaguya thought for a moment before nodding.
"All right!"
He really did seem like a good person...
Every time she accidentally let something slip, Hiruzen would actively remind her...
How sincere!
"Hashirama-sama possesses Wood Release and can use natural energy. He has an exceptionally powerful Sage Mode and tremendous vitality. I don't know what this Divine Tree is, but during the Warring States Period, some people did jokingly call him a 'violent plant man'..."
Hiruzen coughed lightly.
"No!"
"Why do these shinobi have the Rinnegan?"
Kaguya exclaimed in surprise yet again.
Only now did she notice that the Second Tsuchikage Mū, Uzumaki Ashina, and several others possessed Rinnegan while also existing in the peculiar state created by the Impure World Reincarnation.
Since when could the shinobi world mass-produce Rinnegan?
Kaguya was genuinely shocked!
They might have been cheap knockoffs, but with Hiruzen's seal interfering, Kaguya obviously couldn't tell the difference.
Or rather, even if she came out, Kaguya's eye for such things probably wouldn't be good enough anyway...
Hiruzen let out a long breath.
He was beginning to believe that he really had hit the jackpot and encountered a genuine oddball.
Because if she was deliberately pretending to be stupid, she had chosen angles that Hiruzen couldn't have imagined even if he'd racked his brain trying...
Either she was an unparalleled genius or this was completely genuine...
"When you're fighting, the first thing you need to learn is how to gather intelligence. The simplest and most direct method is to observe the entire battlefield."
Hiruzen spoke softly.
"I know you may be very powerful, but the shinobi world is filled with outstanding talents and powerful fighters. Having overwhelming stats doesn't mean you should give up the advantages intelligence can provide or the benefits that technique can bring."
"If you can walk on two legs, don't insist on hopping around on one..."
"Because sooner or later, we'll all encounter someone stronger than ourselves. If you rely exclusively on raw power, you won't know how to adapt when you finally encounter a truly powerful opponent."
Kaguya instinctively wanted to argue back to preserve her dignity as the Progenitor of Chakra...
But Hiruzen's final sentence struck directly at something that had always troubled her.
What Kaguya had always feared was the arrival of the Ōtsutsuki Clan's pursuers and members of the main family. There was always the possibility that someone might show up who could overpower even her through sheer brute force...
At that point, all she would have left was her White Zetsu army for one final dance...
On her own, Kaguya simply didn't feel confident.
It was much like how the Gold and Silver Brothers lost their nerve whenever they saw Hiruzen.
A fighting style built entirely around raw physical advantages was far too one-dimensional. Once those advantages were restricted, there was no effective way to fight back.
"If you want to learn, I can discuss these things with you. And if I'm wrong about something, you're welcome to correct me."
Hiruzen smiled warmly.
His approach of yielding ground and emphasizing mutual respect also erased the last trace of resistance in Kaguya's heart.
Kaguya nodded lightly.
"Mm..."
At that moment, Kaguya suddenly felt that perhaps she really had been somewhat wrong back then.
Having returned to the shinobi world without the complete chakra of the Tailed Beasts and without casting the Infinite Tsukuyomi, Kaguya no longer possessed the overwhelming violence that had once allowed her to disregard everything else. Ironically, that finally allowed her to calm down and think.
Whether it was Hashirama, this miniature Divine Tree walking around on his own, the Impure World Reincarnation bodies with Rinnegan, or Hiruzen, a shinobi who knew a thing or two about fighting...
Even the Third Raikage's Lightning Release chakra enhancement and Ōnoki's Kekkei Tōta, Dust Release, made Kaguya's eyes light up as she marveled inwardly at the different ways chakra could be used...
Although she often insisted that there was 'nothing worth saying to insects who didn't understand the precious significance of chakra,' these insects of the shinobi world really did seem to know how to use chakra better than she did.
They didn't have many cards in their hands, so they had no choice but to play each one carefully and make full use of every possible variation.
Kaguya had taken the first step on her path of reflection.
'Chapter One: The Fallen Genius of the Ōtsutsuki!'
Meanwhile, after Hashirama appeared, most of the Iwagakure and Kumogakure shinobi breathed enormous sighs of relief. The last remnants of their fighting spirit disappeared completely.
The God of Shinobi himself had appeared.
What else was there to say?
But there were two people whose nerves became exceptionally tense!
Senju Madara and Uchiha Tobirama, who had swapped identities...
These two could be said to understand Hashirama better than anyone else in the entire shinobi world.
One was his younger brother.
The other was his closest friend.
To the two of them, Hashirama was an extremely mysterious man.
Put it this way: even if Hashirama were standing there right now, suddenly glanced at Madara and Tobirama, and shouted—
Hey, Tobirama! How did you turn into an Uchiha?!
Or—
Madara, why are you floating up there? Get down here and talk to me!
Either one was entirely possible!
Even though Tobirama had tempered his soul and body until they had fused completely together, while Madara had wrapped himself in Tobi, a child of the Divine Tree, and further concealed himself with the Rinnegan...
Objectively speaking, they had taken every necessary precaution.
But against Hashirama, none of that was guaranteed to actually work...
Because during the Warring States Period, he had been the number-one shinobi when it came to sheer unpredictability!
He simply didn't play by the rules...
After all, no reasonable person could suddenly learn Sage Mode in a single day...
"Huh? Why is it you guys?"
Hashirama sighed, looking deeply disappointed as he pointed toward Madara and several members of the Crimson Organization.
"I haven't even been dead that long, have I? And everyone's already fighting again..."
"Holy crap, even my father-in-law is here!"
"Ashina, you're here too..."
Hashirama enthusiastically waved at Ashina, leaving even the Fūinjutsu master struggling to keep his composure.
Couldn't he call him Father just once?
But Hashirama had clearly spent all these years playing dumb whenever this subject came up. Since Ashina had refused to join Konoha, Hashirama had always shown the Uzumaki Clan every bit of respect they deserved in terms of treatment...
He just stubbornly refused to call Ashina his father.
"And you..."
Hashirama stared at Madara. His eyes seemed filled with pure, innocent stupidity, yet meeting that gaze made Madara's heart pound. For the first time in decades, he felt sweat forming across his back!
Don't you dare call out my name in front of all these people...
That would be the end of everything!
He wasn't Uchiha Madara.
He was the thoroughly wicked Senju Tobirama...
Even the additional identity of being 'Hashirama's successor' was merely something Madara had adopted in case he ever had to exchange blows with Hiruzen. It would give him a little extra strength while conveniently reinforcing the shinobi world's impression that he was a Senju...
But the problem was that Hiruzen had actually brought Hashirama back!
Whether it was having his true identity exposed before the entire shinobi world or being caught in front of Hashirama claiming to be his successor, either possibility was completely unacceptable to Madara...
The Shura of the Shinobi World refused to accept a life like that!
"You feel like you have an awful lot of my cells in you..."
"You also feel really familiar, like someone I know. Could you say something?"
Hashirama stared at Madara, rubbing his chin as though deep in thought.
At that exact moment, in a space invisible to everyone else, Madara's Limbo clone took off running into the distance at full speed, doing everything it could not to leave the slightest trace behind.
If Orochimaru could have seen it, he might even have commented, 'Madara-sama's clone runs surprisingly scientifically.' It was pumping its arms properly instead of doing the shinobi run...
Limbo and the original switched places!
The intangible Limbo clone replaced Madara beneath Tobi's outer shell, while Madara's real body continued running farther and farther away as he issued an order to Hi-kun.
"Hi-kun, you're me now. You go talk to Hashirama..."
Hi-kun, who had been chatting with Obito, was abruptly dragged away by Madara for some unexpected overtime.
Using the power of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path within his body, Hi-kun established a telepathic connection with Tobi, the outer shell worn by the Limbo clone, and remotely took control of its body.
At this point, among the White Zetsu, Hi-kun was practically developing his own version of the 'Six Paths of Hi-kun'...
"Hello, Hashirama-sama."
Hi-kun smiled faintly.
"Perhaps. I do possess your power, after all. If I feel familiar to you, perhaps it's because we both yearn for peace..."
"Those who possess the Will of Fire are naturally drawn to one another."
The moment he heard that, Hashirama's eyes lit up.
What an eloquent guy!
It also somewhat dispelled Hashirama's suspicion that this person might be 'Tobirama' or 'Madara.'
Because in Hashirama's mind, neither of those two would ever speak to him this nicely. Their attitudes toward him normally weren't very good either...
They were always lecturing him!
Only now did Hashirama finally turn his head.
Much like Kaguya only belatedly noticing the other Impure World Reincarnation shinobi, Hashirama finally noticed Konoha's enormous military formation...
Hashirama froze.
Since when did Konoha have this many people?
More importantly, some of the shinobi among them were even wearing Amegakure and Kirigakure forehead protectors...
Had they all joined the great Will of Fire family?
The thought brought an enormous smile to Hashirama's face without him even realizing it. He chuckled happily, his eyes seemingly brimming with genuine delight.
This was the sight he loved more than anything!
Hiruzen quickly stepped forward to greet him.
"Hashirama-sama, I'm Hiruzen. I'm currently serving as the village's Third Hokage..."
"It's been almost fifty years since you departed for the Pure Land."
"Hiruzen!"
The moment Hashirama saw that it was Hiruzen, his smile grew even wider.
If Hiruzen was Hokage, Hashirama had nothing to worry about.
"Oh my, Monkey! I knew you had what it took to become Hokage ever since you were little!"
"This is great! Wonderful!"
Hashirama planted his hands on his hips and burst out laughing.
"Tobirama kept telling me that we needed to observe you for a while longer, but I said there was no need! He said I was being too rash, but I just knew you could do it, Hiruzen..."
Hiruzen's expression turned strange.
So Hashirama really had been the one who firmly chose him?
That certainly fit his stereotypical impression of Hashirama and Tobirama...
Meanwhile, within Konoha's military formation, Tobirama's face darkened as he struggled to keep himself together.
Big Brother, what exactly are you trying to imply here?
Hiruzen had only been seven or eight years old back then when you started saying the kid could become Hokage. Wasn't it perfectly reasonable to observe him for a while first?
Saying all of this in front of so many people made Tobirama feel as though he'd been trying to steal Hashirama's student!
There was actually one thing Tobirama had never told anyone.
The reason he got along so well with Minato was that within that little sun's personality, he sensed qualities very similar to Hashirama's...
The same bright, sunny disposition, accompanied by just the faintest trace of a mischievous streak...
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