Haru's hands moved rapidly through a string of hand seals. A burst of white light appeared around the death-row prisoner in front of him, and amidst agonized screams, the prisoner's body transformed into ash and dust as Hashirama Senju's face gradually emerged within it.
Hashirama Senju had arrived!
A delighted smile appeared on Haru's face. It looked like the technique had succeeded.
To make absolutely sure nothing went wrong, Haru was currently using Tobirama's version of Reanimation Jutsu. The sacrifice he used was just an ordinary condemned prisoner, not even a ninja.
This current Hashirama was very weak, and control over the reanimated body was firmly in Haru's hands.
Hashirama wore the crimson armor of the Warring States era as he slowly opened his eyes.
"Is this the Pure Land?"
Hashirama looked around. The small room was dark and gloomy, lit only by a few burning braziers.
"So the Pure Land's environment isn't all that great either."
"And that is..."
When Hashirama saw Haru wearing the Hokage robe, surprise lit up his face. He had not expected to see Konoha's Hokage even in the Pure Land.
A countryman meeting another countryman, both moved to tears.
"Which Hokage of Konoha are you..."
"Where's Tobirama..."
"He died so young. What a pity..."
"How is Konoha now..."
Hashirama quickly walked up to Haru, words spilling nonstop from his mouth as he tried to learn what had happened to Konoha after his death.
As Konoha's First Hokage and its founder, the village was like his own child.
No, more important than his own child.
This was the man who had once said that whether it was his friends, his brothers, or even his own children, if they dared stand against the village, he would never forgive them.
In a certain sense, Hashirama was even more obsessive than Madara.
"First Hokage-sama, you're too excited..."
Hashirama kept asking questions right in front of him, barely giving him a chance to speak.
"I am Konoha's Third Hokage."
"Haru."
Haru turned his back to Hashirama and pointed at the words "Third Hokage" behind him as he gave a simple self-introduction.
"Uchiha?!"
A look of surprise appeared on Hashirama's face. He had passed the title of Second Hokage to his younger brother, Tobirama.
Hashirama knew very well what Tobirama's attitude toward the Uchiha had been.
It could not be described as merely bad. It was downright terrible.
And yet Tobirama had actually passed the position of Third Hokage to an Uchiha?
That truly shocked Hashirama.
What a pity, though. This Uchiha Third Hokage had died so young.
Hashirama had already filled in the blanks in his mind, imagining that the Uchiha clan must have finally let go of their internal barriers and fully integrated into Konoha.
Otherwise, Tobirama would never have handed the title of Third Hokage to an Uchiha.
If Madara knew all this, he would probably feel relieved.
Wait, Madara died before me, didn't he?
Wouldn't that mean I can see Madara again?!
Instinctively, Hashirama's thoughts turned once more to Madara Uchiha, the man who had been entangled with him his entire life, the man he had loved and hated in equal measure.
Wait a second!
Haru was an Uchiha. Could it be that Madara had sent Haru to bring him over so they could meet again?
Joy, excitement, guilt, every sort of emotion instantly flooded Hashirama's heart.
As Madara's closest friend, it had ultimately been Hashirama himself who had killed him, even stabbing him from behind.
Hashirama had long wanted to tell Madara he was sorry. The blade had pierced Madara's body, but the pain had pierced his own heart.
Of course, even if Hashirama were given another chance, he would still choose to kill Madara.
But if time could be reversed, he would do everything within his power to save Madara's heart and keep him in Konoha to build the village together.
And if that still was not enough, then he would even let Madara stab him once in return. Twice or three times would be fine too!
Hashirama was full of guilt, though not regret. More than anything, he wanted to personally apologize to Madara. Everything had been for the sake of Konoha.
How he wished he could return to that summer of their childhood, beneath the evening sky, carefree with Madara by the river, skipping stones and competing to see who could pee farther...
For a moment, countless beautiful memories flooded his heart, and Hashirama could no longer wait to see Madara once more.
"Madara sent you to bring me to him, didn't he?"
"Huh?"
Haru froze.
Had he mentioned Madara at all?
Haru had noticed Hashirama zoning out for a few seconds just now and assumed he had simply been shocked that an Uchiha had become Hokage.
How had the man's train of thought leaped all the way to Madara?
"Does Madara still refuse to forgive me?"
An anxious look appeared on Hashirama's face. He thought Madara was still unwilling to forgive him.
Hashirama had sincerely wanted to be brothers with Madara.
It was just that life had taken a turn for the absurd, and in the end, things had fallen completely apart between them. They had walked all the way to total rupture, and finally to blades drawn and lives wagered.
But that could not all be blamed on him!
Madara, you were the one who acted first. Bringing that giant pet into the village and letting it rampage would have wrecked Konoha.
"Please, Third Hokage, for the sake of me being your predecessor, take me to see Madara."
"I want to apologize to him in person. Just one meeting is enough..."
Haru had no idea what exactly Hashirama had filled his head with, but the man's eyes were already glistening with tears.
What moving feelings.
A pity it was brotherly love of that sort.
If Hashirama cared this much about Madara, didn't Mito have any opinion on that?
Haru did not understand this kind of bond, nor did he want to. He was getting along just fine with Faye and Lynn.
"Third Hokage, say something. Can you take me to see Madara..."
"If that won't work, I'll kneel to you..."
That emotional?
Haru was genuinely startled. He quickly reached out to support Hashirama. The speech he had prepared earlier had already been thrown completely out of his mind.
Originally, Haru had assumed that by limiting Hashirama's strength, everything tonight would remain fully under his control.
Now...
Technically, things were still under control.
They had just veered off in a very strange direction.
Who knew what exactly the First Hokage had been imagining in his head...
Haru quickly steadied Hashirama and said as he did so,
"First Hokage-sama, what exactly are you talking about?"
"I don't even know Madara Uchiha!"
"Hm?"
"So Madara didn't send you?"
A look of surprise appeared in Hashirama's eyes, followed immediately by overwhelming embarrassment. The atmosphere turned awkward in an instant.
"Hahahaha..."
"This is a little embarrassing, isn't it? I've made a fool of myself in front of you, Third Hokage."
The First Hokage seemed extremely practiced at handling awkward silences. He let out a self-mocking dumb laugh and somehow pulled the atmosphere back to normal.
"Third Hokage, how did you die..."
Hashirama decided to find another topic. Otherwise, the Third Hokage would definitely think he was an idiot. He could not let a junior look down on him.
"Uh..."
"First Hokage-sama, I'm perfectly alive. I eat well every day, I'm in great health, and I've even got two beautiful girls at home..."
Now it was Haru's turn to have a dark expression.
"Ah... ah... hahahaha..."
Hashirama scratched his head and let out another silly laugh.
(End of Chapter)
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