Without a doubt, the man in Warring States era clothing who stepped in at the most critical moment to interrupt the ceremony was none other than Hashirama Senju.
His single sentence immediately stirred the entire plaza.
No one in Konoha had ever seen someone disrupt a Hokage inauguration like this.
"Who are you?"
Koharu Utatane's expression darkened instantly. Her sharp gaze locked onto Hashirama as she questioned him.
This was not a Konoha shinobi. To appear here and cause trouble at such a moment, the possibility of an infiltrator could not be ignored.
In an instant, several figures flickered onto the platform. ANBU operatives surrounded Hashirama from multiple directions.
"Your reaction speed is decent," Hashirama said with a faint smile.
"Come with us quietly, or we will use force," one ANBU member said coldly.
"Show some respect to the First Hokage."
Ryūjin's voice cut through the tension.
The words stunned everyone present, both on the platform and in the crowd below.
The ANBU froze. Koharu's eyes widened.
The First Hokage?
They stared at the man again, disbelief written all over their faces.
Impossible. The First Hokage had died decades ago.
Yet the more they looked, the more familiar he seemed. The resemblance to the stone face on Hokage Rock was undeniable.
The plaza erupted into noise.
"That's the First Hokage?"
"No way, someone must be impersonating him!"
"But Ryūjin-sama said it himself…"
"What is going on?"
Amid the chaos, only Ryūjin remained composed. His gaze rested on Hashirama, steady and unreadable.
"So, First Hokage, what have you decided?"
Hashirama's expression turned serious.
"Defeat me, and I will acknowledge you as the Fifth Hokage of Konoha."
This decision came after three days of observation.
He had seen the villagers' support, the shinobi's approval, and Ryūjin's overwhelming strength. From that perspective, Ryūjin was the most suitable candidate.
But there was another side.
Ryūjin had killed the previous Hokage and many Konoha ninja. That history could not simply be ignored.
This battle was Hashirama's answer to that contradiction.
"Fine," Ryūjin said without hesitation.
A faint smirk appeared on his face.
"Works for me. I want to see what the so called God of Shinobi can actually do."
"I'll wait at the Valley of the End."
With that, Hashirama vanished.
Ryūjin turned to the crowd.
"I know you all have questions. I'll make it simple, that was indeed the First Hokage."
His voice carried across the plaza.
"He was revived through a secret technique from Mount Myōboku."
The statement hit like a shockwave.
The First Hokage, truly alive again.
"He's waiting for me at the Valley of the End. So wait here, I'll be back after I deal with it."
The crowd exploded into chaos.
A battle between the God of Shinobi and Ryūjin?
No one could stay indifferent.
Backstage, Uchiha Fugaku, Nara Shikaku, and Morino Ibiki were all visibly shaken.
Then came excitement.
This was a battle that would go down in history.
"I'll leave the rest to you," Ryūjin said to Koharu.
A Kamui vortex swallowed him instantly.
Moments later, Fugaku, Shikaku, Ibiki, and even Jiraiya followed using Body Flicker.
Across the village, word spread like wildfire.
"A battle at the Valley of the End?"
"No way I'm missing that."
Shinobi rushed toward the location in waves.
Before long, the Valley of the End was surrounded.
At the center stood Ryūjin and Hashirama.
They did nothing, yet the pressure alone made it hard to breathe.
Any doubts vanished.
Only the real Hashirama could give off such presence.
Hidden in the shadows, a White Zetsu emerged silently, staring in shock.
"Hashirama Senju? How is this possible?"
Far away, Tobi relayed the information.
"Obito, Hashirama is alive. He's about to fight Ryūjin."
Obito Uchiha stiffened.
Even Black Zetsu showed rare seriousness.
A vortex swallowed Obito as he left.
Moments later, they appeared near the battlefield, blending into the crowd.
Around them, debates broke out.
"The First Hokage is stronger."
"Ryūjin wiped out thousands alone, he's stronger."
"No one knows until they fight."
At the center, Hashirama spoke again.
"Ryūjin, I see a shadow of Madara Uchiha in you."
His gaze sharpened.
"I won't hold back. I'll treat you as a real enemy."
Ryūjin smirked.
"Good. I'd be disappointed otherwise."
In the next instant, Hashirama moved.
He crossed the distance faster than most could perceive.
Ryūjin entered Sage Mode just as quickly.
Their clash began.
Steel like impacts echoed as fists collided. Movements blurred. Exchanges happened faster than the eye could follow.
Even the elite shinobi watching could barely keep up.
If either of them targeted someone in the crowd, they would be dead before realizing it.
After a rapid series of blows, the two separated.
Hashirama nodded slightly.
"It's been a long time since I've fought like this."
Then his expression hardened.
He brought his hands together.
"Wood Style."
The ground erupted.
Massive branches surged forward like living creatures, twisting and crushing toward Ryūjin with overwhelming force.
Ryūjin's eyes shifted.
His body turned intangible as he phased through the attack.
Hashirama's eyes narrowed.
The branches passed straight through him.
In that brief moment, Ryūjin closed the distance.
"Kamui."
A distortion cut through space.
Hashirama's neck was severed instantly.
Shock spread through the crowd.
But the next second, Hashirama's voice sounded from behind.
"Found you."
The fallen body turned into a Wood Clone.
Recognition flashed in Hashirama's eyes.
"So it was you."
Ryūjin gave a slight smile.
"Yeah, you figured it out."
When Orochimaru had used Edo Tensei before, Ryūjin had fought Hashirama once already, though he had hidden his identity.
Now, with Kamui revealed, the connection was obvious.
Hashirama's focus sharpened further.