The underground base near Amegakure had fallen silent.
Senju Hashirama turned toward the dazed Uzumaki Ashina, still standing stiffly like a puppet whose strings had just been cut.
"Patriarch Uzumaki… what are you planning to do now?"
Ashina frowned deeply, confusion flickering across his manipulated expression.
"Of course—go to Kirigakure!"
Hashirama froze.
"Kirigakure? Why would you go there?"
But the answer was obvious.
Under the influence of Shigure's Kotoamatsukami, Ashina now believed himself to be a loyal shinobi of the Mist.
He turned away without another word, clearly unwilling to explain himself.
Hashirama hesitated, unsure whether to follow—
—but in the next second, Ashina's body crumbled into grey dust and scattered.
"...!"
Hashirama stiffened.
Reanimation Jutsu… the effect wore off.
He let out a long breath.
At least this meant he no longer needed to burden himself with thoughts of undoing the Reanimation.
But then the realization struck him.
I was revived by that technique too. If one Edo Tensei body just dispelled…
What should he do now?
Kill himself again and return to the Pure Land?
The idea made him grimace.
He didn't dare actually attempt self-destruction, but…
it did feel like a waste to simply disappear after returning.
Maybe… I should go back to Konoha?
The idea made him perk up.
Just as he was considering it, he sensed several chakra signatures approaching.
Hashirama turned and saw three figures entering the abandoned factory.
Forehead protectors with a single leaf carved into them—
Konoha ninja.
His mood brightened instantly.
He rushed toward them with visible excitement—
—but the moment he approached, the leading shinobi, a blond boy, leapt forward while two shadow clones flanked Hashirama from both sides.
The clones rushed to attack.
Hashirama sweatdropped.
Seriously? I'm the First Hokage of Konoha and this brat is attacking me?
"Wait! I'm not an enemy! I am the First Hokage of Konoha—Senju Hashirama!"
Naruto, who was controlling the clones, didn't hear anything past the massive chakra coming from Hashirama.
He tightened his stance.
If they let someone with this level of chakra get close, even Sakura or Sai might not react in time.
That was why his clones charged in immediately.
But hearing that claim—
Naruto froze.
Sakura and Sai also stared blankly.
The First Hokage?
The man who died decades ago?
Nobody impersonating a Konoha shinobi would choose that identity.
Bang!
Naruto's clone gathered chakra and hurled a Rasengan at Hashirama.
Hashirama dodged with a sigh.
"I really am the Hokage!"
With a casual motion, he dispelled both clones.
Then he clapped his hands.
Wood Release.
Massive vines erupted from the ground, spreading like living roots.
Wooden tendrils shot across the factory floor, expanding in seconds and constricting around the battlefield.
Naruto narrowly escaped, but Sakura and Sai were instantly bound.
Sakura stared wide-eyed at the vines restraining her.
"This is… Wood Release…? That fast? That wide?"
No one besides the First Hokage possessed Wood Release of this scale.
"Impossible," Sai muttered.
"The First Hokage is dead. He must have gained Wood Release through some special method."
Hashirama groaned internally.
"Listen! I was dead. Someone used Reanimation to summon me. Then I encountered the Mizukage of Kirigakure, and he used a strange technique to revive me completely. That's why I look like this!"
"I really am Senju Hashirama!"
Naruto suddenly appeared in front of him with a burst of speed, kunai pressed to Hashirama's throat.
A faint edge of Wind Release chakra glowed around the blade.
Hashirama blinked in mild surprise.
A wind-chakra blade? Not bad at all.
"Who did you just say you met?" Naruto demanded.
"The Mizukage of Kirigakure."
Naruto's brows tightened.
"Was his name… Shigure?"
Hashirama nodded.
"That's the one."
"He resurrected you?"
Naruto was still confused.
"Why would he resurrect you?"
Hashirama thought for a moment before replying.
"The only explanation… is that he wanted to free me from the control of the Reanimation Jutsu's caster. Once resurrected normally, I'm no longer bound by Edo Tensei."
Naruto studied Hashirama carefully.
As someone who prank-painted the Hokage Rock more often than he'd admit, he knew those stone faces well.
The resemblance was uncanny—Ninety-nine percent identical to the First Hokage's statue.
"Sakura, Sai… he really does look like the First Hokage."
The two exchanged uncertain looks.
No way… could this really be the First Hokage-sama?
They had only come out from Konoha to gather intel on Akatsuki.
How did they suddenly run into "Naruto's ancestor"?
It didn't make sense.
Was this reality? Or were they being pranked by the universe?
Boom!
A massive explosion echoed from the distance.
Naruto turned immediately.
"Someone's fighting over there!"
Hashirama nodded.
"The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were heading that way. And the Raikage from the Hidden Cloud brought his forces too. A ninja named Sasuke was in that direction—everyone rushed toward him."
"Sasuke?!"
Naruto's eyes sharpened instantly.
"Sasuke is over there?!"
Hashirama blinked.
"You know him too? Is this Sasuke someone famous in your era?"
Sakura also stiffened with alarm at the mention of Sasuke's name, making Hashirama even more confused.
Why did everyone know this Sasuke kid?
Sai let out a short laugh.
"Sasuke isn't a celebrity. But the person in front of you is—a very troublesome one. This is the Naruto."
"Nawuto…?" Hashirama tilted his head.
Naruto corrected him immediately.
"It's Naruto Uzumaki!"
"Ah… that Naruto."
Hashirama chuckled awkwardly.
Naruto didn't waste time.
"Let's head there too."
He then turned to Hashirama.
"You claim to be the First Hokage. But right now, we can't confirm your identity. If you really are who you say you are, then assist us in our mission."
"Mission?" Hashirama's mouth twitched.
"What mission?"
Naruto looked toward the battlefield.
"Our mission is to bring Sasuke—the rogue ninja—back to Konoha."
"Rogue ninja?"
Hashirama blinked.
No wonder every Konoha ninja recognized Sasuke.
He was an escaped shinobi.
"I see. In that case… no problem."
Hashirama nodded, fully agreeing.
Meanwhile — Kirigakure
Shigure surveyed the village, now completely restored to its original appearance.
Satisfied, he nodded to himself.
His strength had reached a level that even he found frightening.
Beside him lay the One-Tail and Two-Tails, casually imprisoned by his power.
Within his own body slumbered Three-Tails, and Kirigakure held Three-Tails (formerly), Four-Tails, Five-Tails, Six-Tails, and Seven-Tails.
In total—
Shigure now controlled eight tailed beasts.
If he used Edo Tensei to summon the Fourth Hokage…
Then the remaining Nine-Tails could be obtained as well.
A dark gleam flashed through Shigure's eyes.
But first, he needed to go to Amegakure.
Sasuke was still there.
And Orochimaru… had vanished.