Chapter 115: Heartbroken Hashirama
After the people of the Land of Hot Water finished their "honest talk," they began to discuss their next move.
In the end, they decided to return to the Land of Fire, but not to Konoha.
As for the suggestions Momoshiki had given Boruto, cooperating with Urashiki, and having Momoshiki step in to persuade Urashiki not to attack Naruto of this era, Jiraiya and the others did not trust any of it in the slightest.
At the same time, from Jiraiya's perspective, the words spoken by Sasuke and Boruto also indirectly confirmed that everything Shiromo had said was true. There had been no deception at all.
This time, it really was Tsunade who had judged a gentleman's heart with a petty mind.
But precisely because of this, Jiraiya fell into hesitation and inner turmoil as well.
Jiraiya could calmly accept his own destined death, but he could not bring himself to decide the life or death of others, especially when those people were, in an objective sense, "good people."
Just like how they had temporarily forgiven and understood Boruto for allowing Momoshiki to kill the Third Hokage and Asuma, that did not mean Jiraiya himself could make the same choice for the sake of some so-called future.
Sometimes, black and white really is a very comfortable way to see the world.
In a situation like this, Jiraiya could not even tell whether insisting on protecting the future was right or wrong.
Putting that aside, however, everyone was in agreement on one thing regarding the Ōtsutsuki.
Urashiki was definitely an enemy.
So they decided to take Naruto, the target Urashiki was after, and wander in the wilderness near Konoha.
First, this would prevent a repeat of the Konoha Crush Plan, where the main battlefield was placed inside the village, causing meaningless casualties and destruction. Second, staying close to Konoha would make it easier to request help and reinforcements.
There was nothing wrong with this plan.
It was just that, aside from the uninformed Naruto and Konohamaru, everyone else was suffering internally, which slowed their travel pace considerably.
At this point, it was no longer just Boruto who wanted to avoid things.
Even Konoha and the Akatsuki seemed to have reversed roles.
On Konoha's side, there really should have been someone called "Pain," while on Shiromo's side, Nagato should probably rename Pain to something like "Joy"…
Though that did sound a bit indecent.
—
Land of Wind, desert.
Inside the Dragon Vein pit.
Not long after dawn, Orochimaru arrived, leading a group.
Orochimaru seemed to have guessed the meaning behind Shiromo asking him to bring along two extra White Zetsu. He directly used two White Zetsu in advance to perform Impure World Reincarnation once again, resurrecting Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama, the two brothers.
Then, relying on Senju Tobirama's Flying Thunder God Technique, he quickly traveled with the group and arrived at their destination.
"Shiromo-kun, I've brought the people you asked for. And these two as well, I took the liberty of calling them out again. I hope you don't mind."
"To avoid guessing your intentions wrong, I also asked the leader for two more and brought them along."
Orochimaru greeted Shiromo.
Aside from the Impure World Reincarnation versions of Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama, two additional White Zetsu followed behind.
"Well? White Zetsu are quite useful, aren't they?"
Shiromo smiled at Orochimaru as he looked at Senju Tobirama, who had appeared last together with Hashirama.
"Not bad. The First Hokage's cells in White Zetsu can greatly increase the upper limit and proportion of how much of their pre-death strength an Impure World Reincarnation target can display…"
"But if the target is too powerful, effective control becomes impossible. Fortunately, one of the targets this time is the First Hokage himself."
Orochimaru glanced back over his shoulder.
After the [Konoha Crush Plan Four Violet Flames Formation Roundtable], Orochimaru had gained some understanding of the personalities of the two Hokage.
Unlike during the Fourth Great Ninja War, Impure World Reincarnation had not yet been repeatedly optimized by Orochimaru and Yakushi Kabuto.
So the current First and Second Hokage that Orochimaru had resurrected were both completely uncontrollable.
If this weren't Akatsuki territory, and if it were instead the Oto Village, he would absolutely never have tried this.
As things stood now, there were no major issues.
Appease the First with emotions, and use the First to suppress the Second, that was enough.
"First Hokage-sama, our task is complete. Now we…."
Orochimaru turned around to say something to Senju Hashirama, only to discover that Hashirama had already run over to a black-haired, long-straight-haired girl nearby with a thoroughly "lecherous" expression, grinning foolishly at her.
"Hehehe, Tobirama, come look! She really looks like Madara. Before, I only saw portraits, but now that I'm seeing the real person, she really does look like him…"
Hashirama laughed while rubbing his hands together like a fly.
Tobirama slapped a hand over his face.
Whenever his big brother mentioned Madara, he always managed to do things that completely shattered his image.
Uh… actually, Madara was pretty much the same.
What was this?
A two-way rush?
Tobirama suddenly felt a little sick.
"Disgusting. Get lost!"
Tobirama: "?"
Tobirama looked up in surprise at the sound.
Who was it?
Who had just shouted out exactly what he was thinking?
"Amaterasu!"
Uchiha Hikari, facing one of the "Two Foundations of Konoha" she had learned about in Shiromo's Tsukuyomi space, Senju Hashirama of the Senju clan, immediately leapt backward to create distance and used Amaterasu.
What flowed from her Mangekyō Sharingan was not only blood, but also disdain, revulsion, and disgust.
Tap.
Shiromo hurried forward and grabbed Hikari's hand. "Stop, quickly."
"Hm?"
Hikari tilted her head in confusion to look at Shiromo.
That soft "hm" carried a strong nasal tone, and her lips puffed out slightly, as if she were annoyed that Shiromo was helping Senju Hashirama.
"Don't reward him."
"...Oh."
Hikari fell silent for a moment, glanced at Senju Hashirama, whose eyes held a faint hint of anticipation, and very obediently stopped her attack, even retracting Amaterasu.
"You know about the relationship between him and Uchiha Madara. Now that the Uchiha have been wiped out, he's too repressed, so he wants to treat your Mangekyō attack as a substitute for Madara."
Shiromo explained it to Hikari.
"So that's how it is."
Hikari patted her chest, grateful for Shiromo's reminder.
Otherwise, she would've become part of some weird 'double-foundation' play involving Konoha.
"When dealing with this kind of person, you absolutely must not attack or insult him. The best way is to ignore him and not respond at all."
"Understood. Thank you."
"Hey, isn't this going too far?"
Senju Hashirama drooped his face and placed one hand on Shiromo's shoulder.
He had been watching Shiromo chat with Uchiha Hikari, feeling like he was seeing the youthful days he once shared with Madara, reminiscing about the good old times.
Then Shiromo suddenly told Hikari not to pay him any attention at all, which instantly broke Hashirama's heart.
"So what exactly do you want to do?"
Shiromo tilted his head and looked at Hashirama.
"Such a fine child of the Uchiha clan, naturally, as the First Hokage of Konoha, I should take good care of her…"
"..."
Uchiha Hikari really wanted to throw out another "get lost," but with Shiromo's reminder still fresh in her mind, she held back.
She pretended she hadn't heard anything.
"First, Hikari is older than you in generations. In what capacity are you 'taking care' of her? Second, Konoha wasn't founded until many years later, she doesn't count as a Konoha ninja at all."
"Sigh."
Senju Hashirama had no rebuttal. Dejected, he turned around, walked to the side, and squatted on the ground.
"Then what can I help with? What exactly is this thing?"
Senju Tobirama raised his head, looked at the roots of the Dragon Vein, and asked Shiromo.
"Oh, Second Hokage, your task is very simple. First, teach Hikari the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique for me."
Shiromo pointed at Hikari beside him.
"What?!"
Tobirama was furious.
He was supposed to teach a jutsu he created to a member of the Uchiha clan?!
"What?!"
Hashirama was utterly heartbroken.
Even Tobirama was allowed to communicate with little Hikari, but he wasn't?!
(End of this chapter)