Chapter 272: The box of ultimate bliss
His wife's words—neither persuasive nor accusatory, but as clear and bright as the dawn illuminating a mist—were like a warm current, washing away the entanglement and self-doubt that had accumulated in Hashirama's heart for many days.
Indeed, times were different, power was different, and choices were different.
He didn't need to regret the "possibilities" of the past, nor did he need to fear the "inevitabilities" of the future.
What he had to face was simply the present, making his own judgment based on his heart and responsibility.
Once he understood this, the giant boulder that had weighed on his heart for so long seemed to melt away instantly.
Open-mindedness and clarity returned to his eyes.
The corners of his mouth curled up involuntarily; that smile no longer held the haze of confusion.
He extended his broad palm and gently grasped his wife's soft yet powerful hands wrapped around his neck.
Then, he tilted his head slightly, pressing his cheek against Mito's equally warm, faintly fragrant cheek.
The warmth of skin against skin made the last trace of hesitation in his heart vanish like smoke.
But at the same time, a thought that was extremely unlike the "God of Shinobi," popping up like a playful bubble, emerged from the bottom of his heart: "Pop!"
You blockhead!
Think fast!
After being resurrected, in order to make Mito happy, hadn't he—under Tobirama's instigation—secretly gone to consult that kid Naruto?
And then hadn't Naruto used Multiple Shadow Clone to hand-write and organize a book for him called 'Three Thousand Questions on Romance'?
Was there a classic scene for 'Husband invites wife to start a new chapter of life together'?
Are the lines right? Is the atmosphere enough? Will Mito think I'm being too mushy or too abrupt?!
Ugh!
I remember now, but that's not quite right.
But whatever!
I'll just copy and modify it; back when I was at the family school as a kid, didn't I often 'borrow' Tobirama's homework like this?
Setting aside those nonsensical inner thoughts, Hashirama tightened his grip on his wife's hand and, pressing against her cheek, said slowly:
"Mito..."
He paused, as if weighing the most accurate words, but in the end, he chose his most direct heartfelt wish:
"Let's... be formally resurrected together."
Not this fake "return" of Edo Tensei, subject to others, with a cold body and limited Chakra, but truly and completely returning to this world with a living body of flesh and blood.
He gave his reasons, clear and powerful:
"Hidden Leaf Village needs the true, complete strength of the First Hokage.
The full power of the 'God of Shinobi' who can suppress an era and guard a pure land.
To participate, to guide, and to use his way to influence the coming era of reform, whether it brings 'long-term pain' or'short-term pain'."
Next came a more private, gentler reason:
"My wife... also needs her husband."
No longer a phantom in memories, no longer a longing across death and contracts, but a partner who can be truly touched, can stand side-by-side, and can share joys and sorrows."
Finally, it was his own deepest desire:
"Similarly... I also really want to feel your true warmth again.
No longer the cold sensation of an Edo Tensei body, but the warmth of a living human body; no longer the blurred warmth in memories, but the incredibly clear, incredibly precious reality of palms touching and cheeks leaning against each other right now."
These words, for Senju Hashirama—who was always heroic and hearty, even a bit "coarse"—could be called an "extraordinary performance"!
Their directness, their deep affection, and the determination they contained completely exceeded Mito's expectations.
Mito widened her eyes slightly in disbelief, looking at her husband so close at hand.
She could see the unfeigned seriousness and tenderness in his eyes.
This blockhead, when did he... actually become able to say such embarrassing words?
Did dying once open his mind, or... did he secretly take some strange lessons?
After the surprise, what surged forth was a joy and emotion that melted like honey, almost overflowing.
Decades of waiting and longing turned into a slight moisture in her eyes at this moment.
She didn't ask for reasons, nor did she question him.
She just looked at him, and then, like the most brilliant flower of spring blooming, a sweet smile appeared on her face.
In that smile was the surprise at his "awakening," the relief of a long wait finally finding an echo, and moreover, the yearning for infinite future possibilities.
"Alright."
She responded softly, her voice gentle yet firm.
"I... have been looking forward to it for a very, very long time."
Her gaze seemed to travel through time, seeing the distant past—that afternoon when the flames of war had just subsided and Hidden Leaf Village was newly established—a scene she had once quietly fantasized about.
"Looking forward to being with you, no longer as 'Hokage' and 'Jinchuriki', but as Senju Hashirama and Uzumaki Mito, with true life, walking hand-in-hand in the sunlit Ninja World, to see the sights we haven't seen, to experience the peace we haven't experienced..."
Her smile became even brighter, with a hint of girlish excitement:
"To have a long and free journey that belongs only to the two of us."
'Ohhhhhhhh!
Senju Hashirama, you did it!
I really am a Genius!
Hahahahahaha!'
——————————
As the time limit approached, the entrance of the Grass Ninja Village, which should have been chaotic due to the evacuation, now presented a strange kind of "order."
A large number of Chunin and Genin were ordered to perform a special mission. Their faces were pale, their eyes filled with confusion, fear, and even despair, as they were driven by their respective captains or the Elders' confidants to gather in a relatively open space in front of the village.
And in front of them, a huge wooden cart—exceptionally crude yet exceptionally sturdy—was being pushed by dozens of Grass Ninjas. It emitted an overburdened "creak" as it slowly rolled out from within the village.
The wooden cart had no animals pulling it, relying entirely on the Ninjas' Chakra and brute force. Simple pulley blocks and lever structures could be seen at the wheel axles, clearly a rush job just to transport that object which was heavy beyond imagination.
The wooden cart was covered with a thick black oilcloth.
But even through the oilcloth, one could feel a sinister, dark, and wicked aura emanating from within, as if it could absorb all light.
Naruto stood atop the head of the full Nine-Tailed form, looking down at everything from above. Uchiha Hikari stood by his side, her Mangekyo Sharingan already active, calmly observing the flow of Chakra below and the expressions of those Grass Ninjas.
Karin bit her lip hard, her hands death-gripping the hem of Naruto's robe, her body trembling slightly with excitement and hatred. But when her gaze fell on that huge object covered by the black cloth, she couldn't help but feel a pang of palpitations.
The wooden cart was pushed to the center of the open space and came to a stop.
Several Elders wearing beast-head masks, escorted by their trusted guards, walked forward tremblingly.
They first looked up in awe at the golden giant beast on the hill and the figures atop it, and then, as if having made some kind of decision, one of them suddenly waved his hand!
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