Chapter 283: Speechless
Yahiko and Nagato also sensed something. Following Hashirama Senju's gaze, they looked off into the distance.
At the far edge of the horizon, a figure appeared.
"It's Konan!"
Though they couldn't make out the details of that speck, Nagato immediately sensed the unmistakably familiar chakra.
Yahiko's expression instantly grew tense.
When Uchiha Madara attacked Konoha, Konan had been tasked with leading all the jinchūriki away to prevent them from being seized.
But now Konan had returned.
Did this mean something had happened to all the tailed beasts?
"Is she your companion?" Hashirama asked curiously.
"Yes! Her name is Konan. She grew up with us—she's a comrade we can trust!" Nagato answered at once.
He misunderstood Hashirama's meaning, thinking he had mistaken Konan for an enemy, so he hastily explained.
But Hashirama said, "She's badly injured…"
Both Yahiko and Nagato's faces shifted at once.
Carefully focusing their senses, they realized Konan's chakra was indeed far weaker than usual.
"What happened?"
"Damn it! Did something really happen to the tailed beasts?"
The two grew anxious, leaping up and rushing toward Konan.
Hashirama's expression turned slightly more grave.
In his heart, he already knew what might have happened.
He had been the one to let Uchiha Madara go, allowing him to capture the nine tailed beasts—but he had forbidden him from harming anyone.
Now it seemed Madara had overstepped.
Fortunately, it wasn't too serious.
With him here, that girl's life wouldn't be in danger.
"Madara… it seems you went too far," Hashirama thought, before leaping forward like lightning.
In just an instant, he overtook Yahiko and Nagato, surpassing them with ease.
The sudden rush of wind as Hashirama flew past left both of them shocked.
"Such powerful chakra!"
"Such incredible speed!"
They exclaimed together.
In the blink of an eye, they saw Hashirama reach the horizon and come face to face with the gravely wounded Konan.
Using the last of her chakra, Konan had returned to Konoha carrying little Naruto. When she saw not her comrades but an unfamiliar man, she remained wary—but she had no strength left to resist.
Her body felt heavier and heavier, her eyelids weighed down as if by lead.
Before Hashirama could even speak, Konan collapsed into unconsciousness, falling toward the ground with Naruto in her arms.
"Hey!"
Hashirama immediately used Wood Release to catch the two of them.
At the same time, with a glance he could see her injuries were almost identical to those of Uchiha Fugaku and Minato Namikaze.
Proof that Madara had struck.
Hashirama's heart sank, but saving her came first. He quickly used his Creation Rebirth technique to heal Konan.
As his powerful medical ninjutsu spread through her, her wounds began to close at a speed visible to the eye.
Noticing this, Hashirama thought:
"If these wounds can be healed, it means Madara did attack her—but he didn't go for the kill. He didn't use Yin-Yang Release to inflict irreversible damage…"
"So it seems I misunderstood him just now."
His heart lightened again, as he placed his hopes on Madara keeping his word—reviving the jinchūriki after he gained the Ten-Tails' power.
Soon, under his near-miraculous healing, Konan's injuries were mended, and she slowly regained consciousness.
Opening her eyes, she immediately grew wary upon seeing Hashirama.
But the next moment she realized her pain was gone, her body restored, and even her chakra had begun to recover.
"Who… are you?" she asked suspiciously.
Just then Yahiko and Nagato arrived.
Seeing Konan recovered stunned them both.
After questioning, Hashirama explained that he had saved her. Everyone exchanged information, and the situation became clear.
Konan looked at Hashirama with respect. "Since you're the First Hokage, I must ask you—please stop Madara! He's taken all the tailed beasts and jinchūriki, and now he's vanished…"
"In truth, the reason he was able to leave to find you… was because of me." Hashirama said apologetically.
But Konan, Yahiko, and Nagato misunderstood, thinking he meant he had simply been unable to stop Madara from escaping.
The three fell silent.
Then Konan suddenly remembered the child in her arms. "Before being taken, Kushina entrusted this child to me… her son…"
Nagato took Naruto and said, "Jiraiya-sensei was Minato's teacher. Strictly speaking, that makes us his juniors as well."
"In that case, we'll raise this child, and we'll protect him."
"His name is Naruto. Uzumaki Naruto," Konan reminded.
Again, silence fell.
Madara had seized all nine tailed beasts, and a shadow weighed over their hearts.
No one knew what he would do with such power.
Sensing their unease, Hashirama smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry. I know Madara well. Once he comes back to us, everything will become clear."
Nagato frowned.
He looked at Hashirama seriously and demanded, "From the moment you suggested I return the Rinnegan to Madara, I knew something was wrong. You seem to be helping him. Why, First Hokage?"
Konan and Yahiko also turned to look.
Unable to hide it anymore, Hashirama scratched his head with a laugh, then grew solemn.
"The Ōtsutsuki clan is trying to steal this planet's chakra to empower themselves. If they succeed, all of us—including me—will die completely."
"Madara wants to use the Ten-Tails' power to stop the Ōtsutsuki. I think he's right. At this point, it may be the only way."
Then he bowed deeply to the three of them.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier. But I promise, I won't let Madara run out of control."
Even so, after hearing him out, the three of them were left shocked, speechless.
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