Konoha: Offer your heart to the Hokage!

“However…” Hashirama’s tone softened, “Tobirama is just too impatient and tends to overlook principles when he does things. He is meticulous and likes to do things secretly, so he is not easily noticed.”

"If it weren't for you, Shen'er, I might still be in the dark right now, hahaha!"

"In short, as long as Mito and Momoka step in, they will definitely be able to keep Tobirama in check and use his talents for good."

Hashirama patted Shen on the shoulder: "Actually, I originally wanted to appoint you as the acting Hokage, but the Gospel Hospital can't do without you, and you're still relatively inexperienced, so this matter can only be put on hold for now."

Shen Er's face showed emotion: "Thank you for your trust, Lord Hashirama."

"Alright, alright, let's not talk about these superficial things between us. How could I not trust you?"

...

"No one who is not from the Hokage lineage can become Hokage."

Even as he walked out of the Hokage Building, the emotion on his face vanished completely.

He didn't care about the Hokage position; he just suddenly thought of this sentence. As the Hokage's second brother, even if his forbidden human experiments were exposed, he could still become the acting Hokage…

If Hashirama had been even more ruthless, he could have made Tobirama just an elite Jonin of Konoha, while the others became the Second Hokage.

Perhaps in the future there will be no Third Hokage who is weak in dealing with foreign powers, and no Danzo who takes charge of Root and wreaks havoc on the ninja world.

Many tragedies in Konoha's later history will be rewritten because of this.

Unfortunately, the seeds of all future troubles were sown as early as sixty years ago, which is now.

All suffering and tragedy must pay the price for naive ideals.

He didn't even try to advise Hashirama, letting things take their course.

During Hashirama's absence from the village, he was appointed Acting Hokage and had to play the role of both "enemy and friend" to Tobirama, overseeing all of Tobirama's experiments and proving his "united front value".

Tobirama will have to pay a price to fight for himself.

This also sows the seeds for Tobirama's eventual "darkening," giving him the illusion of victory.

Chapter 37 Shikburi Forest and the New Prophecy (Please continue reading)

"Tobirama, the position of acting Hokage is now in your hands. Don't let me down."

"Peace should be the priority in all things. Remember to be conservative and restrained. No matter what happens, wait for me to come back."

After saying his last words to Tobirama, Hashirama Senju summoned slugs and had them use the Reverse Summoning Technique to teleport him to Shikkotsu Forest.

When Hashirama opened his eyes again, he found himself in the Shikkotsu Forest.

The scale of the Shikkotsu Forest is even more exaggerated than that of the Forest of Death in Konoha.

Rows of trees reach straight up to the clouds.

The tree branches were bare, with no leaves or twigs. The trunk and branches were covered in a sticky white sap, and the sight of it made you feel as if you could smell the scent of photinia flowers.

'That's a corrosive liquid secreted by slugs...'

Hashirama recognized the composition of the white mucus.

Despite its appetizing appearance, the forest was surprisingly filled with moist and refreshing air, far surpassing even Konoha in terms of air quality.

With each breath, you can feel the natural energy permeating the air.

Hashirama took a deep breath and felt full of energy.

"Is this Shikkotsu Forest? It truly lives up to its reputation as a sacred place for cultivating immortal techniques. I wish it could be transplanted to Konoha."

"Hashirama sighed."

He always had the village in mind.

Just then, slugs of varying sizes, blue and white, poked their heads out and looked at Hashirama standing on the ground.

"His life energy is so abundant, I've never seen anything like it..."

"It's so warm, getting close to him feels like basking in the sun."

Soon, a slightly larger slug wriggled up to Hashirama and said in a gentle voice:

"Lord Hashirama, you've arrived."

"It's a live slug! We haven't seen each other in so long, maybe... ten years?"

Hashirama vaguely remembered that the last time he went to Shikkotsu Forest was before Konoha was founded.

"It is the eleventh year, Lord Hashirama."

"Haha, there's been so much going on outside, I almost forgot," Hashirama said casually. "Speaking of which, what happened? Why are you in such a hurry to see me?"

His reasons for coming to Shikkotsu Forest were not as simple as they had suggested in Konoha.

But last night, he sensed that the Slug Sage wanted to see him.

The unprecedented situation in eleven years prompted Hashirama to rush to Shikkotsu Forest as soon as it was light, after arranging his affairs.

"I don't know the specifics, but the immortal instructed me to immediately summon you to learn immortal arts."

"Slug Immortal..."

With a solemn expression, Hashirama followed the live slug and quickly walked into the depths of the cave.

Inside the enormous and magnificent cave, looking straight ahead, one can see a giant slug perched on the ground directly opposite the entrance.

That is the Slug Immortal.

Each slug possesses its own independent consciousness, but they are essentially all clones of the Slug Sage, possessing the ability to share perception.

The Slug Sage has lived for countless years. When Hashirama Senju first received the Summoning Blood Pact from his father, Butsuma Senju, and arrived at Shikkotsu Forest, the Slug Sage seemed to have always looked the same.

The giant slug bowed to the Slug Sage: "Sage, I have brought Hashirama!"

"Oh, it's Hashirama. Sorry I fell asleep."

"Slug Immortal, why did you summon me in such a hurry?"

"Something? Something's happened... It's a new prophecy."

Hashirama wore an extremely serious expression.

Knowing the Great Slug Sage's abilities, he could only feel awe at such power. It was during the Warring States period, and upon first meeting the Slug Sage, the Sage prophesied that he would establish a village that would bring peace…

Later, he actually founded Konoha.

Just as ordinary people view the ninjas' ninjutsu, ninjas also have an incredulous feeling about the abilities of immortals.

The Slug Sage said leisurely, "Hashirama, from today onwards, you must train in Sage Mode."

"Ah, magic arts, that sounds like it'll be very troublesome."

Hashirama wasn't lying when he told Jin, but there was actually one more reason. He felt that even without Sage Mode, no one in the ninja world besides Madara could rival him.

Learning immortal arts sounds like it would take a lot of time.

“This time is different,” the Slug Sage said. “I have a premonition that you will experience a great battle. In that battle, you will encounter an unprecedentedly powerful enemy, and you will use sage techniques in the fight.”

"A great battle..." Hashirama instantly realized, "It must be Madara. Only he could fight me so fiercely and still use Sage Mode. I never expected that Madara's power would increase even after leaving the village. He truly lives up to his name."

"I saw you die."

The slug fairy's sudden remark caused the atmosphere to plummet to freezing point.

"I'm dead?" Hashirama was slightly taken aback, then said with great composure, "Everyone dies eventually, and I'm no exception. I was prepared for that. But... did I die in the battle with Madara, or at some other time?"

"I can't see that clearly, I only sense that the bond between you and me will disappear at some point in the future."

"I see..." Hashirama scratched his head. "Then he must have died of old age. Madara could never beat me."

"Alright, no matter what, since Madara has become stronger than when he left the village, I have to keep up with him. I'll start seriously training in Sage Mode from today!"

Hashirama Senju used his fist and palm strikes, a very passionate gesture.

Forty is the age when passionate middle-aged people should be making their mark.

"Don't rush," the slug sage said slowly. "There's another matter, which is probably also related to the Thousand Hands clan."

"I dreamt that someone else besides you used Wood Release."

"There are still people who can use Wood Release?" Hashirama was greatly surprised, then suddenly laughed and said, "Haha, the Sage must be confused! The one who can use Wood Release must be a member of my Senju clan."

"After all, in the history of the Senju clan and even the entire ninja world, no one else besides me has ever possessed Wood Release. Who could it be? It's so hard to guess... Could it be my unborn grandchild?"

"Takayuki is not bad! Although he did not inherit my Wood Release, he actually passed on his bloodline limit to his child."

"My Senju clan is getting better and better..."

"Things are thriving!"

Hashirama appeared very pleased.

This has always been a source of unspoken anxiety for him. He knows the power of his Wood Release technique, and if a member of his clan can inherit it, the Senju and Konoha will be able to prosper forever.

However, his son, Takayuki, on whom he placed high hopes, neither inherited Wood Release nor his physical constitution.

It seemed to foreshadow that the peak of the Senju school would eventually come to an end along with him.

That is why Hashirama wanted to quell all conflicts during his lifetime and bring lasting peace to the ninja world. In this way, even if the Senju lost him in the future, they could still continue to exist peacefully.

at the moment.

When the Slug Sage told him that another user of Wood Release would appear in the Senju clan, how could he not be happy!

Overjoyed, Hashirama became even more motivated to practice Sage Mode.

He allowed the slugs to coat his body with highly corrosive acid, and while his skin was being destroyed, his powerful physique repaired it at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Hashirama closed his eyes and focused his mind, quietly sensing the energy of nature.

The slug fairy remained silent and did not offer any advice.

Although it could not see the appearance of the person who would inherit Wood Release, it could clearly sense the ominous and strange aura emanating from that person.

This was simply to avoid interfering with the Senju clan's family affairs.

The Slug Sage chose to remain silent.

Chapter 38 Tobirama's Generous Gift (Please continue reading)