"So then, that single wager… whatever it is you intend to take from me, I trust it won't be the same as Madara's. You won't wish to destroy this world, will you?"Senju Hashirama's voice carried an unusual depth of sentiment. "The truth is, both Madara and I longed for peace. It was even he who first spoke of such a dream. We both endured the pain of loss throughout the Warring States Era, so…"
He sighed faintly. "That fool… he didn't even realize he was being used. But tell me, Shion… am I also being used by you right now?"
Uchiha Shion only smiled at the question, giving no reply.
Hashirama waved his hand lightly, as if brushing the thought aside. "It doesn't matter. As I've already said, your dream proves that you are not Madara. You are not someone who seeks to reduce this world to ashes."
His gaze softened, though sorrow lingered in his tone. "What is a shinobi? What is the true purpose of a village? What is the meaning of our existence as ninja? Madara and I… we were wrong about so many things. And even now, we still don't know where the true answer lies."
"All of that will fall to your generation. You must test it, refine it, build new systems. One day… I believe this world will know an end to war. Children will never again have to step onto the battlefield…"
As his words faded into silence, the spirit of the First Hokage drifted away. It was not the departure of a soul freed from Impure World Reincarnation after letting go of its regrets. No—Hashirama had never released his regrets. He continued to watch over Konoha. He continued to care for the world. He had never stopped.
On the Hokage Monument, looking down at the manifestation of Konoha that stretched out below, Uchiha Shion raised a hand.
In an instant, the entire village unraveled like dust on the wind, scattering and vanishing.
"Humans are creatures that gather together in groups. And wherever they gather, conflict follows. Conflict breeds resentment, and resentment burrows deeper and deeper into the hearts of men. In the end, the struggle for resources and profit forces people to band together… and that is how villages were formed."
Shion clenched his fist. "If that day comes… I'll see it done, just as you wished, First Hokage."
[Simulating the future variations of Senju Hashirama (Pure Land)][Status: Dead – no change][Konoha's fate has shifted][The world's main storyline has shifted][Layer-three recursion: Uchiha Madara's fate altered]
[Senju Hashirama (Pure Land) Fate Alteration: 50.2%][Earth-nature Chakra (compatible for Kekkei Genkai fusion)][Water-nature Chakra (compatible for Kekkei Genkai fusion)][Sage Body (Bloodline)]
Only three options were available this time. The changes to Hashirama were minimal.
In truth, if Shion hadn't revealed the crisis to him and provided insight into the opportunities that Edo Tensei would bring in the future, the alteration percentage would have been even lower.
No secret scrolls. No Sage Arts. No Wood Release.
Fortunately, the Sage Body bloodline trait remained, preserved by passing the fifty percent threshold. Without it… he might as well have chosen Obito instead.
But Asura's chakra…
Shion frowned in thought. After Asura reincarnated into Naruto, did any of that chakra remain within Hashirama's body? Or could the system somehow replicate power once possessed by its "clients"?
A tide of boundless vitality surged through Uchiha Shion's body. Whether inherited from the Sage of Six Paths or from Asura's chakra, this power easily resolved the inadequacy of his chakra reserves.
No—more than that. It went far beyond mere replenishment.
As the current of life swelled inside him, Shion sensed something unusual. He stretched out his palm, focusing intently. A faint wind swirled in his hand, spiraled once, then quickly dissipated.
This was… Wind Release chakra?
Did Senju Hashirama possess Wind-nature chakra?
Well, Asura did, certainly. And later, in Six Paths Mode, he wielded all seven elemental natures.
So just how much was included in this so-called Sage Body?
A sudden thought struck Shion, and he sprang up, rummaging frantically through drawers and boxes.
Bang! Thump…
The noise was loud.
"Shion…"
His mother's voice called from outside, freezing his hands mid-motion. He quickly fell silent. If she misunderstood again, tomorrow might very well be his last day alive.
After a long pause, Shion sat back down, a thin slip of paper in hand—chakra paper, crafted from trees nourished by chakra itself.
He had already tested his chakra nature once before. Back then, he'd only possessed affinity with Fire Release.
But now…
Shhh!
One corner of the paper burst into flame. As expected, Fire Release. Then the opposite side split cleanly down the middle—Wind Release.
Another corner crumbled into dust—Earth Release.
The final piece soaked through, as though dipped in water—Water Release.
Out of the five basic chakra natures, the only one missing was Lightning.
The Sage Body replicated from Hashirama seemed to carry not only his talents, but also fragments of Asura's.
If that were true…
Wood Release was born from the fusion of Earth and Water chakra. Yet Hashirama's descendants could not inherit it.
Which meant Wood Release was not a hereditary bloodline limit at all, but something tied directly to the Sage Body itself.
Now then… what were the hand seals for Deep Forest Emergence again?
Did Hashirama even need seals?Did Madara?
His thoughts spun wildly, half amusement, half inspiration.
Beyond Konoha's walls, Uchiha Shion could feel the sudden rush of vitality coursing through his body.
If only he'd had this much chakra earlier—he wouldn't have died three times over. With this power, even if someone impaled him with a blade straight through the gut, he'd probably recover within moments.
Shion muttered complaints under his breath, but quickly turned his gaze toward a building in the distance.
The Konoha Orphanage.
Since his return to the village, Shion had spent most nights keeping watch here.
There was no other choice. Ever since the Fourth Hokage's fate had been altered, Danzo—the "king of scapegoats" himself—seemed to have withdrawn into his shell like a turtle. He refused to show his face.
And Root… was not a place Shion could infiltrate at this stage. With his limited chakra, barging in would mean suicide. Even if it didn't affect the broader flow of events, exposing his revival ability so casually was hardly worth the risk.
So, he chose surveillance instead. During this time period, Danzo would often come here—the orphanage.
The place where the wandering shrine maiden Yakushi Nonō ran her home… and where Kabuto would eventually be recruited into Root.
Knock, knock, knock!
Three figures stood before the orphanage gates. One of them—a bespectacled man with glasses much like Shino's in later years—stepped forward and rapped on the door.
Moments later, the door creaked open. The group entered, and Yakushi Nonō's expression had been heavy with worry from the moment she appeared.
"The stench of snakes… so the target has arrived. The turtle sticks its head out at last. A clean strike would be best."
Swish!
In the next instant, Uchiha Shion's figure appeared soundlessly atop the orphanage roof, looking down as the conversation began inside.
"Well, well… to think the so-called Wandering Shrine Maiden has been reduced to a mere caretaker. It's been a long time, Nonō. You seem a bit worn down."Danzo's voice cut through the night.
"I abandoned that title long ago. And as for the aid funds—we've already negotiated with Konoha." Nonō frowned faintly.
Danzo propped his chin on one hand, his gaze pressing down on her with unsettling weight. "Once, you were part of Root. Don't tell me you know nothing of Iwagakure."
"In truth, my purpose here tonight isn't merely about the aid funds. It's about you, Wandering Shrine Maiden."
Almost mixed it up—this visitor should be Aburame Ryōma.