"Then how about this?" Hashirama said cheerfully, shaking the money pouch.
"I'll give you a share, just don't let Madara know?"
"…" Rin froze.
In that instant, the tall, radiant, almost mythological image of the First Hokage in her heart collapsed by at least seventy percent.
Garfield glanced at the petrified Rin and sighed. He patted her gently on the head.
"Poor kid. The lifelong idol just shattered in front of her eyes."
"Huh?"
Hashirama, who was already preparing to split the money, paused and looked confused.
"This little girl… admires someone?"
Garfield nodded. "That's right. She admires you."
"…?"
Hashirama's expression changed instantly.
In one smooth motion, he stuffed Madara's money into his robe, straightened his back, exposed a bright, heroic smile and somehow, a ray of light sparkled off his teeth.
"I am Senju Hashirama," He announced solemnly.
Rin snapped out of her petrification.
Her eyes lit up into sparkling stars. She hurriedly pulled out pen and paper.
"F-First Hokage-sama! May I have your autograph?!"
Hashirama accepted the paper with practiced ease, scribbled his name boldly, and handed it back.
Rin hugged the autograph to her chest, her face glowing with happiness.
Garfield felt a subtle sting of jealousy.
When I walk down the street, it's always big sisters and young wives asking for my autograph…
"Well then." Hashirama said cheerfully, turning toward the casino,
"If there's nothing else, I'll be going back inside."
"Hold on," Garfield said calmly.
Hashirama stopped.
"You said we'd split it."
"…Didn't I already sign?"
"I didn't ask for an autograph," Garfield replied.
"One-third. Cash."
Hashirama grimaced.
Reluctantly, he counted out Madara's money, one bill at a time, and handed over a third to Garfield. His face clearly showed pain.
Garfield nodded with satisfaction.
Judging by that expression, he thought, this definitely hurts.
There was no Ramen place yet. Konoha had only just been founded, and food options were limited.
Garfield led Rin to a modest but clean restaurant nearby and sat down calmly.
"Now," Garfield said, "We wait."
As expected…
Not long after, Hashirama emerged from the casino, surrounded by the unmistakable aura of a man who had just lost everything again.
He scanned the street, spotted Garfield and Rin, and walked over naturally, sitting down without invitation.
"Mind if I eat with you?" He asked casually.
"I'm a bit hungry."
Rin's eyes sparkled again. "O-of course! It's an honor to dine with you, First Hokage-sama!"
"Then I won't stand on ceremony."
Hashirama reached for the chopsticks… and stopped.
Garfield's paw rested lightly on the back of his hand. Hashirama's expression remained calm, but inside, alarms blared.
Fast.
This cat… is no ordinary ninja cat.
His gaze sharpened subtly.
Their purpose? Unknown.
The girl wears a Konoha forehead protector, but her clothes…
And that paper, that pen, those materials don't exist in the Land of Fire.
He withdrew his hand slightly and looked at Garfield.
"Well," Hashirama said pleasantly, "Since the girl admires me, I assume you're the one paying."
"Of course," Garfield replied.
Hashirama nodded, then asked casually, "So… what should I call you?"
"You may address me as…" Garfield straightened proudly.
"His Majesty, King Garfield Pando Godzilla Pendragon the First."
"…That's a long name."
"…"
"No, no," Hashirama waved his hand quickly. "Nothing at all."
Rin covered her mouth, shoulders shaking, trying not to laugh.
Hashirama smiled politely.
"So, King Garfield Pando Godzilla Pendragon the First, may I ask which country you rule? Or which ninja village you hail from?"
For the first time, Garfield hesitated.
At present, his only territory was Carter Manor. A kingdom… was still in the planning phase.
In Garfield's mind, Pandora emerged sneering.
'Pathetic. A little brat pretending to be a king, even borrowing King Arthur Pendragon's name.'
Garfield twitched. Shut up.
'Tch," Garfield muttered internally, 'If we're exposed, the worst that happens is I lose face. Big deal. There's no such thing as shame for a cat.'
Pandora's voice echoed lazily in his mind.
'Besides.' Garfield continued confidently, 'My kingly title is perfectly fine, flat-chested, good appetite, a little slow, a little dumb. That's called strategic naming.'
'When I rule a vast territory in the future, I'll already have a flashy name ready to brag with. You can't seriously expect me to be called Garfield Nicola Wang Baduozi Zhao Si, can you?'
'Oh.'
Pandora silently compared the two names, then rolled her eyes.
'Do whatever you want. But don't forget to start a livestream and entertain the masses.'
After saying that, she retreated back into silence.
Garfield straightened up. "Let's not get hung up on details. You know who I am now, right?"
"Acknowledged." Hashirama smiled calmly.
"Good. Then let's eat."
"Please, go ahead."
As Hashirama picked up his chopsticks, Garfield quietly activated his cross-world livestream.
[Title: The True Face of the First Hokage]
Click.
The moment the stream went live, the chat exploded.
At first, viewers saw only a slightly blurred image, then clarity snapped into place.
On-screen was a man with long black hair, wearing deep red armor, face both familiar and impossibly legendary.
And he was eating aggressively.
'IT'S ON!'
'He's finally live!'
'Grandpa, the orange cat is broadcasting again, I'm burning my phone as tribute!'
'Bro's here!'
'Sis is here!'
'Kids, what number am I?'
'FIRST!'
'199!'
'332!'
'49,482!'
'999,999!'
'DUMBLEDORE PROTECTORATE PRESENT'
'GRINDELWALD CONSERVANCY CHECKING IN'
'ORANGE CAT PROTECTION ASSOCIATION REPORTING'
'Stop with Dumbledore, the era has changed!'
'Someone explain, WHO IS THAT??'
'Senju Hashirama. Naruto world. God of Shinobi. Grabs tailed beasts like chicks. Nine-Tails' original owner. Tsunade's grandfather. Legendary gambler who never wins.'
'IT'S REALLY HIM'
'Moment of silence for Kurama'
'Moment of silence for Madara'
'One minute of silence'
'Tsunade crying somewhere.'
'My mom asked why I'm kneeling, I told her I'm watching a god'
The barrage flooded the screen, memes stacking endlessly. Garfield glanced at it and felt an unexpected warmth.
For a moment, it was as if he hadn't crossed worlds at all, just another viewer joking around behind a screen.
Happiness surfaced quietly.
Then… He noticed the dishes were disappearing fast.
Garfield remembered a universal rule of comics. The stronger you are, the more you eat.
And Senju Hashirama?
That man was a bottomless pit.
"Rin." Garfield snapped, "Stop staring, if you don't eat now, it'll all be gone."
"Ah?!"
Rin snapped out of it.
(⊙o⊙)
And immediately joined the battlefield.
Three beings, two humans and one cat, launched into a ruthless food war, completely ignoring the stunned audience.
…
Night fell.
Outside atop a towering tree, four figures stood silently.
Senju Hashirama.
Senju Tobirama.
Uchiha Madara.
Uchiha Izuna.
All four stared down at the hut.
Wondering what, exactly, had entered their village.
꧁𓊈𒆜༺⚜༻𒆜𓊉꧂
Phantom your way through a treasure trove of chapters waiting on P@treon!
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