"Well… that's a long story."
Tsunade shook her head slightly, a hint of emotion flickering in her eyes.
Sakumo's question had stirred her own memories. Even now, thinking back on everything that had happened still felt a little unreal.
Kaede's rise was nothing short of legendary. From becoming Orochimaru's student, to making a name for himself on the battlefield, then switching to learn medical ninjutsu under her guidance… killing the Third Raikage, defeating Hanzo the Salamander, and step by step, ascending to the very summit of the ninja world.
Whoosh!
Just then, another figure appeared on the scene.
Shorter in stature, his face marked with age, it was none other than Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage of Konoha. Once a towering figure, now quietly fading from the stage.
After Kaede took over as the Fifth Hokage, Hiruzen had formally stepped down from all duties. A few months later, he quietly dedicated himself to teaching at the Ninja Academy, doing what he could to help raise the next generation.
He was, after all, Konoha's Third Hokage.
After recognizing the mistakes of his past and seeing everyone else moving forward, he couldn't just sit idly by, so he did what he could.
"Sakumo."
Hiruzen's eyes landed on Hatake Sakumo. There was a flash of guilt in them as he said, "I let your situation spiral out of control all those years ago. That was my responsibility. I've carried that guilt ever since."
"Lord Third..."
Sakumo looked at Hiruzen, a complex light flickering in his eyes. "No… the one who should feel guilty is me. I gave up on myself over mere rumors and slander. I was too rigid, too impulsive. I wasn't a good shinobi."
Hiruzen sighed with emotion at those words, then turned his gaze to the distant battlefield where Kurama clashed with Hashirama. His eyes sharpened. "That chakra… and those Wood Release techniques… That's the First Hokage."
=============
At that moment, the Nine-Tails was being thoroughly beaten into the ground by Hashirama's Wood Human Technique and Wood Dragon Jutsu. Even with a portion of Sage Chakra granted by Kaede, Kurama had barely shredded one wood dragon, only for three more to immediately follow.
Sakumo's expression shifted slightly as he witnessed it. "Even the Nine-Tails is being suppressed… The First Hokage's strength is overwhelming. Lord Third, this is dangerous."
He clearly hoped Hiruzen would take command and organize a response, but Hiruzen simply shook his head, gazing thoughtfully at Kaede.
"I'm just a retired old man now. Leave it to the Fifth. He's already recognized across the ninja world as the 'God of Shinobi', a title that places him alongside the First Hokage."
That stunned Sakumo.
God of the Shinobi?
He stared at Kaede, utterly disbelieving.
If those words hadn't come from Hiruzen himself, he'd have thought they were wildly exaggerated. Kaede was what, nineteen at most? Becoming the Fifth Hokage was already shocking, but to be called a God of the ninja world… like Hashirama?!
He turned to Tsunade in disbelief. Tsunade gave him a look full of emotion and said, "It's true. The times have changed, senpai."
"Leave it to Lord Fifth."
Another voice joined the conversation. Nara Shikaku had approached, his gaze fixed on the distant battlefield between Kurama and Hashirama.
"At this level of combat, there's nothing we can do. Only Lord Fifth can handle it."
=============
The scale of the battle was terrifying.
To the average shinobi, just sensing the chakra from afar was suffocating. The shockwaves alone were enough to flatten weaker ninja.
But,
More than fear, the current generation of Konoha shinobi placed their absolute faith in Kaede.
This was the man who ended the Third Great Ninja War, who now sought to unify the entire shinobi world, ushering in a new golden era, surpassing even the legacy of the First Hokage.
The strongest Hokage to ever live.
As long as Kaede stood there, as long as they could see the back of his cloaked figure with the Fifth Hokage title fluttering in the wind, they felt a deep, unshakable calm. Even if the world were crumbling, even if the gates of hell lay ahead, nothing could pass that lone figure.
Sakumo looked around. He could clearly feel the ironclad faith these shinobi had in Kaede, the admiration in their eyes, not something any young Hokage could inspire.
It felt like…
There was so much he didn't know.
=============
As Sakumo stood silently, staring at Kaede's back in a daze, a voice rang out in Kaede's mind.
"Hey… I've vented enough."
Kurama sounded a little out of breath. "I'll leave the rest to you."
Kaede rolled his eyes.
Leave the rest to me?
It was obvious Kurama had simply realized he couldn't win.
Even with Sage Chakra, he couldn't beat Hashirama.
Not that it was surprising.
Kurama spent his days watching TV, playing cards, and gaming, he was basically a slacker now. If his body weren't made of chakra, he'd probably be a giant furball by now. Beating Hashirama? Not happening.
"Fine," Kaede sighed. "Switch out."
Without complaining further, he cracked his neck and vanished in a flicker.
In just two quick blinks, he appeared on top of Kurama's head.
Whoosh!
Kurama immediately ended the fight, his body dissolving into chakra and returning to Kaede's body. The enormous form vanished in an instant, leaving Hashirama standing alone.
In its place now floated Kaede, bathed in a soft golden light, clad in his Sage Mode robes. He hovered midair, staring directly at Hashirama.
"The Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki?"
Hashirama blinked in surprise, watching Kurama's chakra flow into Kaede.
Kaede gave him a small smile. "Fifth Hokage of the Hidden Leaf, Hatake Kaede. It's an honor to meet you, First Hokage."
"Ooh! The Fifth Hokage?! So Konoha's already onto its fifth!"
Hashirama's eyes lit up with excitement, but before he could say anything else, his expression suddenly changed. His body moved on its own, the massive Wood Human puppet raising both arms and slamming them down toward Kaede like swatting a fly.
Unable to control his actions, Hashirama shouted in warning:
"Watch out!"
BOOM!!!
The wooden hands clapped together with a thunderous crash, sending a shockwave rippling through the air, but Kaede wasn't hit.
He floated safely ten meters above the clapping hands, hovering with one hand raised.
Nine black orbs, the Truth-Seeking Balls, floated into the air around him, swirling together into a golden blade in his palm.
Gripping the radiant sword, Kaede looked calmly at Hashirama, who stood atop the Wood Human's head.
"Lord First."
"I'm coming."
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Completed version available on Patreon.com/Veltoria