If you are enjoying this fanfic, Give the other one I am currently working on a try.
Demon Slayer: Here comes the king of curses!
13 Chapters are already out, and it will also receive daily updates, if you ever wanted to see how Sukuna would do in this world, this is the fic for you.
Enjoy!
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Because Asuma's injuries required recuperation, and Hagoromo had just reported major intelligence and needed to remain available for questioning, Squad Hagoromo temporarily stayed at the command center.
As for their reconnaissance mission, there was already a rotation system in place; another squad naturally took over. No matter how experienced a team is, ninjas aren't machines. No one can maintain high-tension alertness for extended periods on such missions.
So, Hagoromo actually had a few days of downtime to do some research and practice his Water Style.
Of course, the "downtime" didn't last long. The intelligence he brought back was a bombshell that touched upon diplomatic relations.
Jiraiya likely sent the info back to the Leaf via a summon. The moment it reached the village, it went straight to the Third Hokage's desk.
And soon enough, Hagoromo was ordered back to the Leaf.
He was pretty open-minded about this kind of hassle. Go back? Fine, he'll go back. The whole shinobi world was tiny anyway.
After receiving the order, Hagoromo didn't dawdle. He traveled alone at his top speed back to the Leaf.
Considering how long he had been away, the village hadn't changed. The Leaf was still the Leaf.
In the early morning, thin mist drifts through the streets, The fresh air, the crystal dewdrops, Like cherries, shining eyes, Like a veil covering a maiden's face...
(Note: Hagoromo is having a weird poetic moment here).
The civilians on the streets were chatting and laughing; young children were playing. Every time he saw this kind of scene, a sense of dissonance would wash over him, leaving him in a daze. What was actually real? The blood-soaked battlefield, or this peaceful village?
With the Hokage's office building looming ahead, Hagoromo dispelled the philosophical thoughts from his mind and stepped inside.
He didn't just meet with the Third Hokage. And he didn't start his report immediately.
Because the Hokage had called his friends over.
First were the two elders who seemed to do nothing, but actually did some things nobody knew: Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado. Then there was the leader of the Leaf's Root: Danzo Shimura.
Counting Hagoromo, it was a Five-way Talk.
The atmosphere was as tense as a geopolitical summit.
All Hagoromo had to do was recount the exact same intelligence he had given Jiraiya. When someone had a question, they asked it directly, and he provided the explanation.
Basically, he took the parts of his story that seemed unreasonable and smoothed them over until they sounded reasonable.
As for what the higher-ups ultimately concluded? He couldn't guess, and he didn't care.
Once it was over, he excused himself. Whatever happened next had nothing to do with him—as long as the Hokage didn't verify the news and then order him to deliver the intel to the Hidden Sand. If they gave him that mission, he'd defect on the spot.
The Sand Village already had a standing bounty: Whoever brings the head of the White Yaksha will be rewarded with gold and made a lord.
Fortunately, the Third Hokage wasn't brain-damaged.
Stepping out of the Hokage's office, where was Hagoromo supposed to go next?
He had nowhere to go... except to see Kushina.
Looking objectively at Hagoromo's behavioral patterns, whether he admitted it or not, Uzumaki Kushina represented something akin to a "home" or "family" to him.
This had nothing to do with how strong or weak a person was, nor did it matter which world he originally came from. Humans are social creatures; they have a fundamental need for connection.
Looking at his situation, one could imagine how utterly miserable Naruto was in the original story. Even someone as pragmatic as Hagoromo needed a place to belong. Naruto, before forming a mutual understanding with Iruka, had absolutely nothing. Yet Naruto still managed to stay positive and eventually become Hokage.
That kind of mental fortitude isn't just strong; it's terrifyingly bizarre.
Coincidentally, not long after leaving the building, he ran right into Kushina.
That red hair was too conspicuous in a crowd.
"Kushina-sensei!"
"Hagoromo?"
Kushina turned around, looking surprised for a second before breaking into a massive, radiant smile.
Hagoromo smiled back—a genuine one from the bottom of his heart—and walked toward his master.
If you asked Hagoromo if he liked Kushina, he'd say yes. But what kind of like? He couldn't really articulate it. If you asked Kushina if she liked Hagoromo, she'd say yes. But it definitely wasn't the kind she felt for Minato. Hagoromo was just a brat to her.
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Thank you for reading so far!