Chapter 212 (Patreon)

Senju Hashirama walked alone through the main shopping district at the center of Konoha, his appearance concealed by the Transformation Jutsu and his chakra signature carefully suppressed.

After his private conversation with Kizaru, Hashirama had joined him for another meeting with Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others.

During the meeting, everyone supported Kizaru’s proposal to suspend the war, convene a Five Kage Summit, and unite against Uchiha Madara.

Once the decision had been made, Hiruzen was assigned to handle matters concerning Kirigakure’s forces, while Shimura Danzō was tasked with compiling all available intelligence on Madara.

Once Danzō finished organizing the information, Hiruzen would take it to the Western Front and persuade Kumogakure and Iwagakure to agree to a ceasefire before inviting them to Konoha for the Five Kage Summit.

The reason Hiruzen had been chosen for the mission instead of the faster and more powerful Kizaru was simple.

Kizaru’s previous raid in the Land of Grass had inflicted rather heavy casualties on Kumogakure.

If he appeared on the Western Front now, there was a real possibility that the notoriously short-tempered Third Raikage would lose control and attack him, leading to an unfortunate—and rather difficult to explain—incident.

For example, Kizaru might return to Konoha with the Third Raikage as his prisoner.

After the meeting concluded and the important matters concerning Uchiha Madara had been settled, Hashirama was originally supposed to remain at the Senju Clan compound under Tsunade’s care.

However, he was deeply interested in the reforms Kizaru had described during their conversation, as well as the agricultural research being conducted by his grandson Nawaki. Because of that, Hashirama asked to explore the village for himself.

Tsunade immediately offered to accompany him, but Hashirama declined. Before anyone showed him around, he wanted to see the village with his own eyes.

The founder of Konoha wanted to walk through the village he had created. Neither Hiruzen, Danzō, Tsunade, nor Kizaru had any reason to stop him.

And so, after disguising himself with the Transformation Jutsu, Hashirama left the Senju compound alone with the map and wallet Tsunade had given him.

His intended destination was not the shopping district but the Ninja Academy established by his younger brother, Tobirama.

The shopping district simply happened to be the fastest route from the Senju compound to the Academy.

It was shortly after four in the afternoon, and the streets were growing increasingly crowded. Villagers walked together in groups of two or three, filling the district with lively conversation.

Hashirama moved slowly through the crowd, looking around with open curiosity.

He saw a young shinobi hesitating outside a flower shop, unable to decide whether to go inside. He watched a young couple holding hands as they waited in front of a snack shop. Nearby, several children had gathered outside a pet store, staring excitedly through the window.

A warm smile gradually spread across the First Hokage’s face.

This was wonderful.

The village was doing well, and so were its people.

“Kakashi, hurry up! Rin is already waiting for us at the park—whoa!”

Uchiha Obito had turned around to urge Kakashi forward and was now running without watching where he was going. He collided head-on with Hashirama, who had also been too absorbed in observing the village to notice him.

Hashirama’s reanimated body was incredibly sturdy. The instant Obito struck him, the boy was sent tumbling backward.

Obito landed painfully on his rear but immediately scrambled to his feet, rubbing himself as he looked at the stranger he had run into.

“Are you all right?”

“I’m sorry, Uncle!”

They spoke almost simultaneously.

Hashirama regarded the boy with a gentle smile, while Obito’s face was filled with sincere embarrassment.

“Hahaha! You’re an Uchiha, aren’t you? I’m glad you weren’t hurt.”

When Obito fell, Hashirama had immediately noticed the Uchiha crest on the back of his clothes.

“I’m fine! I’m really sorry, Uncle. I wasn’t looking where I was going.”

Obito bowed deeply in apology. When he straightened again, he scratched the back of his head and gave Hashirama an awkward smile.

“Idiot.”

Kakashi finally caught up with him. After confirming that the reckless fool had not been injured, he stared at Obito through his usual half-lidded eyes.

“Kakashi, stop calling me an idiot!” Obito shouted, pointing an accusing finger at him.

“Fine, idiot,” Kakashi replied without changing his expression.

“Damn it! Once we get to the park, I’m going to beat you at the ninja game!”

Hashirama looked down at the two boys as they bickered, and the smile on his face grew even wider.

It seemed that the Uchiha were getting along quite well with the other shinobi in the village.

Not wanting to interrupt the two children, Hashirama quietly walked around them and continued down the street.

Noticing that he was leaving, Obito stopped arguing with Kakashi and opened his mouth to call after him, only for Kakashi to place a hand on his shoulder.

Obito turned around in confusion.

“What is it, Kakashi?”

“That man is strong,” Kakashi said quietly. “Don’t bother him.”

“Of course I know he’s strong. I only wanted to apologize one more time.”

Obito looked at Hashirama’s retreating back, doubt filling his eyes.

Why did that man feel so powerful?

“There’s no need. Didn’t you say Rin was waiting for us? Why are you still wasting time?”

“Ah!”

Obito cried out in alarm.

“Rin must have been waiting forever! This is all your fault, Kakashi!”

With that, he turned and began running toward the park again.

“Idiot.”

Kakashi slipped his hands into his pockets and calmly followed him.

Although Hashirama had already walked some distance away, he had heard their entire conversation. The corners of his mouth lifted in amusement.

That boy named Obito didn’t seem like an Uchiha at all.

The one named Kakashi, on the other hand, acted far more like the Uchihas Hashirama remembered.

How interesting.

Still thinking about the two boys, Hashirama continued along the street. After covering roughly three-quarters of the shopping district, he suddenly stopped.

His gaze had been drawn to a building on the right side of the street, its exterior simple and deliberately inconspicuous.

It was not one of the district’s restaurants or teahouses that had caught his attention.

It was a gambling hall.

Hashirama took a few steps forward and stopped outside the entrance. Through a gap in the hanging curtain, he could see the lively scene within and hear the excited shouts of the gamblers.

His right hand drifted toward the outer pocket where he had placed the wallet Tsunade had given him.

For a moment, Hashirama hesitated.

Should he go inside and play for a little while?

Only three rounds.

Whether he won or lost, he would leave after three rounds.

The instant that thought entered his mind, he could no longer get rid of it.

A young female attendant standing near the entrance noticed the hesitation on Hashirama’s face.

“Sir, would you like to come inside and have some fun? We have every kind of game you could ask for, along with excellent service.”

She stepped forward with a welcoming smile.

“I…”

Hashirama raised a hand and rubbed the back of his head. Before he could finish speaking, the attendant had already taken hold of his arm.

“Come in and enjoy yourself!”

The young woman pressed close to his arm and eagerly pulled him into the gambling hall.

With Hashirama’s strength, no ordinary person could have moved him even a single step if he had truly wanted to resist.

“Hahaha! I’ll only take a look.”

Hashirama smiled sheepishly, though even he did not sound convinced.

Approximately half an hour later, Hashirama emerged from the gambling hall one slow step at a time, his shoulders slumped in defeat as the attendants and gamblers warmly bid him farewell.

It was gone.

Everything was gone!

Every last ryō of the two million Tsunade had given him as spending money had been lost.

Hashirama touched the empty wallet in his outer pocket, feeling both dejected and guilty.

How was he supposed to explain this to Tsunade tonight?

Perhaps he could borrow some money from Kizaru?

Hashirama quickly shook his head.

No. He could not bring himself to do something like that.

He would simply return tonight and tell Tsunade the truth.

Now that his wallet was empty, the gambling hall had suddenly lost most of its appeal.

Hashirama quickened his pace and soon left the shopping district behind. After turning a corner, he saw the Ninja Academy standing ahead of him.

It was already a little after five, leaving less than an hour before classes ended.

Hashirama knew that his identity had to remain a secret, and he had come without an escort. Rather than entering the Academy directly, he followed the outer wall until he reached a section of fencing that offered a clear view of the playground.

It was currently October, and the first- and second-year students had already begun their vacation. Only those in the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth years were still attending classes.

Among the sixth-year students, only those enrolled in the combat course remained at the Academy for training. Students from the medical and scientific-research courses had been assigned internships at Konoha Hospital and the research institute.

The fourth- and fifth-year students were attending classes as usual. The third-year students had already completed their course-placement examinations and were now receiving introductory lessons for their newly assigned courses.

In one corner of the playground, Shukaku had skipped class and was sleeping beneath a tree.

Shukaku had been in a terrible mood recently.

Sasori had become completely obsessed with researching new materials and had not made any time to build or play with mecha alongside him.

The mere thought that Sasori had ignored him for three entire days filled Shukaku with rage.

The moment Hashirama approached the fence, he sensed the enormous mass of chakra beneath the tree.

“This chakra…”

Hashirama looked toward the playground, his brow furrowing.

“It belongs to a tailed beast.”

Why was there another tailed beast inside Konoha besides the Nine-Tails?

Danzō was the reason Hashirama knew nothing about the situation.

Kizaru’s uncle had been worried that Hashirama—the man who had originally distributed the tailed beasts among the Five Great Shinobi Countries—would disapprove upon learning that Kizaru had seized tailed beasts from other villages.

For the time being, Danzō had chosen to keep the matter from him.

Hashirama had noticed Shukaku, but Shukaku had also sensed someone staring at him.

Opening his eyes, Shukaku sat upright beneath the tree with his legs sprawled out. Already in a foul mood, he glared at the stranger standing beyond the fence.

“Hey, bastard! What are you staring at? Have you never seen the great Shukaku before? Keep gawking and I’ll kill you!”

The threat came out almost by habit.

At the mention of killing, Hashirama’s frown deepened. He stared at Shukaku, seriously considering whether he should suppress and seal him immediately.

Tailed beasts were far too dangerous—especially in a Ninja Academy filled with children.

After shouting at Hashirama, Shukaku saw that the stranger was still staring at him. Furious, he rose to his feet.

He stomped toward the fence, intending to teach this clueless human a lesson.

Stopping directly across from Hashirama, Shukaku raised one paw and snarled, “You bastard! The great Shukaku is going to teach you a lesson!”

Hashirama raised an eyebrow, his expression turning serious.

“Shukaku, you are far too dangerous!”