"Sensei?"
"Yes, Inari?"
"Konoha already left. Now only the bad guys from Kirigakure are still on the island… and they're heading toward us."
"Oh dear. That is troublesome. What should we do?"
"Sensei… I think we should leave. Quickly."
"Why is that?"
"Because we can't beat them. Not now."Inari clenched his fists. "Everyone here doesn't want anything to happen to you. After everything that's happened, even my grandfather—who said Kengakure would drag the Land of Waves into war—he changed his mind. He hopes Kengakure can stay. He wants us to grow strong enough to protect our home from invaders."
"I see," Hashirama replied gently.
Then he smiled, tilting his head."But if I leave… what happens if they hurt you?"
"It's okay—we'll hide!"
"That won't do." Hashirama patted his student's head. "I can't allow my lovely students to get hurt."
He rose to his feet.
"If Kirigakure is coming, then let them come. I'll stop them with everything I have."
"Sensei…" Inari's voice broke.
Hashirama wiped his tears with a warm hand.
"This is our responsibility."
"When bad people approach… good people must stand up."
"And Inari—don't underestimate your sensei. I'm actually quite strong."
As Hashirama walked toward the forest, Inari trembled, tears streaming down his face. In that moment, Hashirama's back overlapped with his stepfather Kaiza's silhouette.
Strength.Strength…
Inari's fists tightened with resolve.
The Kirigakure Advance
Unlike Kengakure's somber atmosphere of one man preparing to face an army, the Kirigakure forces moved with extreme caution.
Led by Mei Terumi, every remaining Mist shinobi was tense.
"This the Kengakure you mentioned?"Fuguki Suikazan asked, clutching a terrified villager.
"Yes—yes! Up ahead in that forest!"
The woods before them were shrouded in mist, an eerie, dreamlike veil rising above the trees.
"No traps visible. Should we charge in?" Fuguki asked.
Mei shook her head."No. Chojuro—go first. Tell them Kirigakure has come to congratulate Kengakure's founding."
Eager and oblivious, Chojuro sprinted up the mountain—completely unaware that he was being used as bait.
Silence followed.
No one spoke.Even the mist held its breath.
After several minutes, Fuguki exhaled.
"It can't really be the Hashirama, right?"
"Of course not," Mei replied. "Zabuza must have been deceived."
But Fuguki frowned.
Zabuza was arrogant—he wouldn't bend the knee to just any Wood Release user.Even if the person wasn't the Hashirama, they must be extremely powerful.
"Wood Release can subdue tailed beasts. It was Konoha's deepest secret… and now we might be able to get our hands on it," Fuguki said.
"And the Land of Waves is too close to the Land of Water. Another hidden village here is a threat."
He spoke calmly, without malice.
"If they develop independence, they stop paying protection fees… and start competing for missions. That will cause conflict. Eliminating Kengakure benefits Kirigakure."
Mei nodded slightly."Let's assess the situation first."
A shift stirred atop the mountain.
A figure emerged—descending slowly.
A wooden mask.A tall silhouette.White tendrils wrapped around Chojuro's unconscious body, holding him like a puppet.
This was not a friendly visit.
Mei's eyes narrowed.She blew a whistle.
The Kirigakure formation instantly tightened into battle stance.
A kunai landed at Hashirama's feet.
Hashirama looked down, sighed softly, and shook his head.
"Is this how Kirigakure congratulates Kengakure?"
"Kengakure's founding was never notified to the Five Great Nations," Mei said coolly.
"The daimyo of the Land of Waves already sent letters," Hashirama responded. "Our founding was recent. The messages may not have reached the villages yet."
Mei and Fuguki exchanged glances.
Fuguki stepped forward."There are agreements between nations. No village is allowed to harbor missing-nin. Yet Kengakure is sheltering Zabuza and Haku. Explain that."
They want an excuse to attack…
Hashirama adjusted his mask.
"They are not part of Kengakure."
"Denying it, huh?" Fuguki snorted.
"It's simply the truth," Hashirama said calmly.
No explanation.No justification.Just a quiet declaration.
Mei studied him."So you want to cooperate with me?"
"Yes," Hashirama said with a nod.
"I don't see the value you bring," she replied.
Hashirama remained silent.Some things did not need to be argued.They would be proven through strength.
He watched the Kirigakure shinobi coldly.
"Hand over Zabuza and Haku," Fuguki demanded,"or we'll crush Kengakure."
A laugh burst from behind Hashirama's mask.
It began as a small exhale—then grew louder, shaking through his chest—until birds fled the canopy overhead.
His laughter almost knocked his own mask loose.
He pointed at Fuguki, laughing breathlessly.
"To think… someone would dare threaten me…"
"You people…"
He shook his head.
"Even good people have tempers."
"I don't want to kill."
"But you insist."
White tendrils erupted behind him—spreading like a fan of white feathers.Dozens of gray-white eyes blinked open across the tendrils, staring at the Mist shinobi.
"Come then."
His voice dropped.
"Crush me."
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