A terrifying figure had emerged within the Uchiha Clan.
Not only had he killed the Hokage, he had also eliminated multiple high-ranking members of Konoha's council.
That same Uchiha possessed both the Rinnegan of the Sage of Six Paths and the Tenseigan, wielding numerous forbidden techniques with ease.
He could even manifest a Susanoo over a hundred meters tall, treating Tailed Beasts as if they were nothing.
Jiraiya had not witnessed that last part himself. He had already escaped using Reverse Summoning before Ryūjin revealed his full power. Still, after several days, the information had reached him.
"To think Konoha has fallen to this state…"
"The Uchiha actually turned on the village…"
Each revelation struck Senju Hashirama like a heavy blow, leaving him stunned.
When he had been Hokage, the conflict with the Uchiha had already begun to surface. His battle with Uchiha Madara at the Valley of the End had been the peak of that tension.
Even until his death, he had not found a solution.
But he had never imagined that decades later, the conflict would escalate this far.
The Uchiha had slaughtered their own village.
They had even killed the Hokage.
And beyond Madara, another Uchiha of this level had appeared.
"Lord Hokage," Jiraiya said urgently, "Konoha is at a critical point. We need you to step in."
"I've received news that after Uchiha Ryūjin killed the council, Kumogakure launched an invasion."
"What?" Hashirama's expression shifted, anger and concern rising together. "They chose this moment to attack?"
Given what he had just heard, Konoha should have been in no condition to defend itself.
Even if Ryūjin acted, the casualties should have been severe.
"There's no time to waste. I'll head to Konoha immediately," Hashirama decided without hesitation.
"Fukasaku, Shima."
Before anything else could be said, a messenger toad leapt forward.
"Any updates on the war between Konoha and Kumogakure?" Fukasaku asked.
Hashirama and Jiraiya both focused on it.
"The war is already over. Konoha achieved a complete victory."
Relief flashed across both their faces.
"Konoha won…" Jiraiya muttered, though unease quickly returned. "What about casualties?"
"All three thousand Kumogakure shinobi were killed by Uchiha Ryūjin alone. Konoha suffered no losses."
Silence.
Complete silence.
"One person… killed three thousand?" Jiraiya asked, his voice stiff.
"I saw it myself," the messenger toad replied. "Konoha's forces did not even have time to act."
"The Fourth Raikage and the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki, Killer Bee, were both killed."
"That's impossible!" Jiraiya snapped. "Three thousand ninja, and no one could even react?"
"Ryūjin formed a golden sword and wiped them out in a single strike."
Jiraiya froze.
Hashirama, Fukasaku, and Shima all inhaled sharply.
Even Hashirama himself could not accomplish something like that.
"A shinobi like this exists in the current era…" Hashirama murmured, deeply shaken.
"There's one more thing," the messenger toad added. "In three days, Uchiha Ryūjin will officially become Konoha's Fifth Hokage."
Then it left.
"A man stained with Konoha's blood wants to become Hokage? That's absurd," Jiraiya said angrily.
"Lord First Hokage, I'll find Tsunade as soon as possible and have her take the position. But Konoha needs stability now. I'm asking you to step in."
Hashirama immediately stiffened, a vein appearing on his forehead as an image of Tsunade obsessively counting money surfaced in his mind.
"Tsunade as Hokage? Konoha wouldn't last a week," he muttered, sweating slightly. "Let's focus on Ryūjin."
His expression turned serious.
"I don't believe Madara's descendant would act without reason. Tell me exactly why he killed the Hokage."
Jiraiya hesitated, then explained everything in full.
Hashirama listened in silence.
By the end, his expression had darkened.
"The Hokage used his life as leverage? And Root planned to wipe out the Uchiha?" His voice carried clear anger. "What has Konoha become?"
A powerful aura burst from him, pressing down on the surroundings.
Even Jiraiya struggled to breathe.
"Even so," Jiraiya insisted, "he should not have turned his blade on the village."
"We cannot allow someone like that to become Hokage."
Hashirama exhaled slowly.
"I'll decide for myself," he said. "Send me back to Konoha."
---
Moments later, Hashirama and Jiraiya stood at the entrance of the village.
"Konoha… it's been a long time."
Hashirama looked at the place he had built with his own hands. For a moment, countless memories surfaced.
Then they faded, leaving only familiarity.
"Let's go."
They stepped forward.
"Lord Jiraiya, you're back!"
The guards were visibly relieved, though unease followed quickly.
"Is it really safe for you to return?" one asked. "Ryūjin is already acting Hokage."
"It's fine," Jiraiya replied, brushing it off.
They entered without obstruction.
The guards watched them go, then suddenly froze.
"That face… isn't that the First Hokage?"
---
Not far inside the village, they saw it.
The Eight-Tails.
Jiraiya immediately tensed.
"It's been subdued," a nearby shinobi explained quickly. "Ryūjin handled it."
"Subdued?" Jiraiya repeated, disbelief clear in his voice.
"Watch your words," the Eight-Tails snapped. "Ryūjin and I are friends."
Hashirama stepped forward, looking up at it.
"That's good," he said lightly. "I'm glad you found someone you get along with."
The Eight-Tails froze, staring at him.
"You… that's impossible…"
Hashirama scratched his head with a small laugh.
"Feels strange to me too."
He then turned to Jiraiya.
"Go handle your matters. I'll walk around on my own."
They parted ways.
---
Jiraiya immediately sought out the village leadership.
To his frustration, every single one of them supported Ryūjin becoming Hokage.
Even when he brought up Tsunade, no one agreed.
Even revealing Hashirama's return only caused brief shock before being dismissed.
Hashirama's return was temporary.
And more importantly, they did not believe even he could suppress Ryūjin.
The discussion turned heated.
---
"Jiraiya is back?"
Ryūjin received the report and casually used the Telescope Technique.
Everything Jiraiya said and did was laid bare before him.
"Everyone else has accepted reality, and he's still making noise," Ryūjin muttered.
He didn't care much about Jiraiya.
His focus was elsewhere.
Hashirama.
Since arriving in this world, meeting the man known as the God of Shinobi had been inevitable.
Activating Sage Mode, Ryūjin immediately sensed him.
The chakra was impossible to miss.
"Ichiraku Ramen, huh…"
---
Inside the shop, Hashirama was eating enthusiastically.
"This food is incredible," he said, clearly satisfied.
Then his expression stiffened.
"…I don't have money."
"I'll cover it."
Ryūjin stepped in and sat beside him.
Hashirama looked at him, smiling naturally.
"Then I'll owe you one. I'll have my granddaughter Tsunade repay you."
"Put it on my tab," Ryūjin told Teuchi.
Teuchi nodded immediately.
Hashirama studied him more closely now.
"You're Uchiha Ryūjin. You're younger than I expected. Madara would have been proud."
"More like annoyed," Ryūjin replied.
Hashirama chuckled faintly.
"That sounds about right."
He grew serious.
"I've heard everything. So tell me, what do you intend to do?"
"What are you going to do?" Ryūjin shot back.
Hashirama paused.
"I'm not sure."
That answer caught Ryūjin's attention.
"The Hokage and Root were wrong," Hashirama admitted. "But your actions were extreme."
"Still, what's done is done. Killing you won't fix anything."
"And you protected Konoha from Kumogakure. That complicates things."
Ryūjin nodded slightly.
"Fair enough."
"In three days, you become Hokage," Hashirama continued. "Until then, I'll observe."
"I'll see how the villagers and shinobi view you. Then I'll decide whether you're fit to lead."
Ryūjin leaned back slightly.
"Do whatever you want."
Then he gave a faint smirk.
"Just don't miss the ceremony."