After their "candid discussion," the people in the Land of Hot Springs began to deliberate.
Ultimately, they decided to return to the Land of Fire, but not to Konoha.
Jiraiya and the others completely distrusted Momoshiki's suggestions, which he gave through Boruto, regarding cooperating with Urashiki and having him persuade Urashiki not to attack the Naruto of this era.
At the same time, for Jiraiya, what Sasuke and Boruto said also indirectly confirmed that everything Bai Mo had said was true, and he had not been deceitful in the slightest.
This time, Tsunade had indeed judged a gentleman's heart with the mind of a petty person.
But precisely because of this, Jiraiya also became hesitant and conflicted.
Jiraiya could calmly accept his own fate of death, but he could not bring himself to decide the lives and deaths of others, especially those who were objectively "good people."
Just as they temporarily forgave and understood Boruto for allowing Momoshiki to kill the Third Hokage and Asuma, it did not mean Jiraiya could do the same for the sake of the so-called future.
Sometimes, seeing things in black and white is truly a comfortable matter.
In a situation like the present, Jiraiya was unsure whether he would be right or wrong if he insisted on protecting the future.
However, setting this aside, everyone was unanimous regarding the Ōtsutsuki.
Urashiki was definitely an enemy.
Therefore, they decided to wander in the wilderness near Konoha, bringing Naruto, Urashiki's target, with them.
Firstly, this would prevent unnecessary casualties and destruction caused by having the main battlefield inside the village, similar to the Konoha Crush Plan. Secondly, being close to Konoha would facilitate calls for help and support.
There was nothing wrong with this plan.
However, because everyone except the unaware Naruto and Konohamaru was tormented internally, their travel speed slowed considerably.
Now, it wasn't just Boruto who wanted to escape.
Furthermore, it seemed the roles of Konoha and the Akatsuki Organization had been reversed.
Someone in Konoha should be named "Pain," and on Bai Mo's side, Nagato should change Pain's name to Joy... although that sounds a bit improper.
--- The Land of Wind Desert. Inside the Ryūmyaku deep pit.
Not long after dawn, Orochimaru arrived with his team.
Orochimaru seemed to have guessed the meaning behind Bai Mo asking him to bring two extra White Zetsu, so he immediately used two White Zetsu to perform Edo Tensei on the brothers, Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama, again.
Then, utilizing Senju Tobirama's Flying Thunder God, he quickly brought the people along the road and arrived at the destination.
"Bai Mo-kun, I brought the people. Also, these two—I took the liberty of summoning them again. I hope you don't mind.
To prevent me from misinterpreting your intentions, I even requested two more from the leader to bring along."
Orochimaru greeted Bai Mo.
Besides Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama, who were brought back by Edo Tensei, two other White Zetsu followed along.
"How is it? White Zetsu are quite useful, aren't they?"
Bai Mo smiled at Orochimaru, looking at Senju Tobirama, who appeared last, bringing Senju Hashirama with him.
"Not bad. The First Hokage's cells on the White Zetsu can greatly increase the upper limit and ratio of the Edo Tensei target's power to their strength when they were alive... However, if the target is too powerful, they cannot be effectively restricted. Fortunately, one of the targets this time is the First Hokage."
Orochimaru glanced behind him.
After the [Konoha Crush Plan Four Violet Flames Formation Symposium], Orochimaru gained some understanding of the two Hokages' personalities.
Unlike during the Fourth Great Ninja War, the current Edo Tensei had not yet been optimized alternately by Orochimaru and Yakushi Kabuto.
Therefore, Orochimaru could not control either the First Hokage or the Second Hokage he had brought back via Edo Tensei now.
If they weren't in the Akatsuki Organization's territory, he would never have attempted this in the Sound Village.
As for now, no problems had arisen.
All he needed to do was appease the First Hokage with emotion and use the First Hokage to suppress the Second Hokage.
"Shodai(1st)-sama, our mission is complete. Now..."
Orochimaru turned back, intending to speak to Senju Hashirama, but found that Senju Hashirama had run up to a girl with long, straight black hair nearby, grinning "lewdly."
"Hehehe, Tobirama, come quickly and look! She really looks like Madara. I only saw a portrait before, but seeing her in person now, she really looks like him..."
Hashirama laughed, rubbing his hands together like a fly.
Tobirama slapped his hand over his face.
Whenever his elder brother mentioned Madara, he always did many things that ruined his image.
Uh, Madara seemed to be the same way.
What was this?
A mutual pursuit?
Tobirama suddenly felt disgusted.
"Disgusting! Get lost!"
Tobirama: "?"
Surprised, Tobirama looked up toward the source of the voice.
Who was it?
Someone actually shouted out his inner thoughts?
"Amaterasu!"
Uchiha Hikari, facing one of Konoha's two founders, Senju Hashirama of the Senju Clan—whom she had seen when Bai Mo popularized Ninja World history in the Tsukuyomi Space—immediately back-jumped to create distance and used Amaterasu.
What flowed from her Mangekyō Sharingan was not only blood but also disdain, disgust, and revulsion.
Clack.
Bai Mo quickly stepped forward and grabbed Hikari's hand: "Stop quickly."
"Hm?"
Hikari turned her head to look at Bai Mo in confusion.
That "Hm" came with a strong nasal tone, her mouth slightly pouting, seemingly upset that Bai Mo was helping Senju Hashirama.
"Don't reward him."
"...Oh."
Hikari was silent for a moment, glanced at Senju Hashirama, who had a faint look of anticipation in his eyes, and obediently stopped her attack and retracted the Amaterasu.
"You know the relationship between him and Uchiha Madara. Now that the Uchiha Clan has been wiped out, he is too repressed, causing him to want to treat your Mangekyō attack as a substitute for Madara's."
Bai Mo explained to Hikari.
"So that's how it is."
Hikari patted her chest, grateful that Bai Mo had reminded her.
Otherwise, she would have become part of the Konoha Founders' 'play.'
"To deal with this kind of person, never attack or insult him. The best way is to ignore him and pay him no attention."
"I understand, thank you."
"Hey, isn't that going too far?"
Senju Hashirama drooped his face, placing one hand on Bai Mo's shoulder.
Originally, watching Bai Mo chat with Uchiha Hikari, he felt as if he was seeing his and Madara's youthful years back then and was reminiscing about the beautiful past.
But Bai Mo suddenly told Uchiha Hikari not to pay him any mind, which immediately made Senju Hashirama sad.
"Then what do you want to do?"
Bai Mo tilted his head and looked at Hashirama.
"Such a good child of the Uchiha family, as Konoha's First Hokage, I definitely need to show her some proper concern..."
"..."
Uchiha Hikari really wanted to throw out another "Get lost," but with Bai Mo's previous reminder, she held back.
She simply pretended she heard nothing.
"Firstly, Hikari is senior to you in generation. What standing do you have to show concern? Secondly, Konoha was founded many years after her time. She cannot be considered a Konoha Ninja."
"Alas."
Senju Hashirama had nothing to refute, so he dejectedly turned around, walked to the side, and squatted on the ground.
"Then, is there anything I can help with? What exactly is this thing?"
Senju Tobirama looked up at the roots of the Ryūmyaku and asked Bai Mo.
"Oh, Second Hokage, your mission is simple. First, teach Hikari the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu for me."
Bai Mo pointed to Hikari beside him.
"What?!"
Tobirama was furious.
He was supposed to teach a member of the Uchiha Clan a Ninjutsu he created?!
"What?!"
Hashirama was heartbroken.
Even Tobirama could interact with Little Hikari, but he could not!
....
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