A peaceful and quiet life has a way of slipping by unnoticed—its beauty often distracting from the passage of time.
A month had passed just like that.
Not long ago, a Konoha delegation—led by Asuma and Shikaku Nara—set out for Kumogakure. The group included two Jonin, two Special Jonin, and sixteen Chunin.
Now, Maki—a senior ninja from Sunagakure—had arrived in Konoha with a team of fellow Sand shinobi. They made their way to the top floor of the Konoha Ninja Association headquarters, where Maki was ushered into the office of Uchiha Hikaru.
Yes—Uchiha Hikaru had officially stepped down from his position as Deputy Director of the Konoha Police Force half a month ago. The role had since been passed to Itachi.
Now, Hikaru only needed to appear at the Association office when major commissions came through. The rest of his time was dedicated to merging his former life's knowledge of chakra refinement with the reality of this world—to develop a unique form of senjutsu, designed by and for humans.
After a month of exploration, Hikaru was starting to grasp the basics.
Previously, he had only been able to passively absorb natural chakra through his Mangekyō Sharingan. But now, he could actively draw in nature energy and even incorporate it, in small amounts, into his ninjutsu. The amount was still limited, but every great journey begins with a single step.
Humans had never charted the path of senjutsu themselves. It was always the three great animal realms—Mount Myōboku, Ryūchi Cave, and the Shikkotsu Forest—that had developed and refined their own forms of Sage Mode.
Even Jiraiya, who trained in Mount Myōboku, bore obvious toad-like traits. Naruto, despite mastering it perfectly, still developed toad eyes. Kabuto took on snake-like features, including horns. Only Hashirama's senjutsu, presumably developed through the Shikkotsu Forest, avoided drastic changes—though he still bore the markings of a sage.
All of this was proof of the core truth: human physiology and natural chakra had never achieved full harmony.
Even Jūgo, who possessed a natural affinity for nature energy, suffered from a form of unstable and pathological Sage Mode.
If Hikaru was going to succeed, it would be through his own constant experimentation and unwavering pursuit.
"Mr. President? Have you finished reading it?" Maki's voice pulled Hikaru out of his musings.
"Ahem. Yes. I've finished."
"I was just thinking about the best way to carry out your village's commission," Hikaru replied smoothly, the lie slipping off his tongue like oil on glass.
Maki's expression shifted slightly.
Could it be that Konoha wasn't satisfied with the reward they'd offered?
"Master President, do you think Konoha can accept our commission from Sunagakure?"
"If the compensation is lacking, Lord Kazekage said it could be renegotiated. We're flexible on that."
Hikaru waved it off casually.
"To be honest, the reward should be higher. One million ryō in mineral resources per hectare of afforestation is… low."
"But since this will be the first village-level commission handled by the Ninja Association, we'll go with your price this time."
"After all, we all know how tight Sunagakure's finances are. No need to twist the knife."
"If everything goes as planned, a Konoha ninja with Wood Release will accompany you tomorrow afternoon to plant trees and expand the oasis."
"Just wait in the lobby downstairs."
…
The next afternoon, Hikaru arrived in the lobby of the Ninja Association with none other than the reincarnated Hashirama Senju—promptly sending a wave of disbelief through the gathered shinobi.
"Wait… why does that guy look exactly like the First Hokage from the academy textbook!?"
"What do you mean look like? That is the First Hokage! He's been with Lord Hikaru for weeks now! No way he's a fake."
"But… didn't the Shodaime-sama already…?"
"Man, who cares? If we've got more Hokage, the village is just safer! It's a win-win!"
"Yeah! Maybe Orochimaru cooked up some resurrection ninjutsu or something…"
Hikaru quietly listened to the murmurs. One of them had even guessed the truth. The work Orochimaru had done with the Scientific Ninjutsu Research Institute was truly terrifying.
At that moment, Maki and the three Sand shinobi behind him felt like they were ascending to heaven.
Wait a second. Yesterday, Hikaru had said a ninja would help them afforest the desert…
And now…
Now he'd brought the God of Shinobi back from the Pure Land to do the job himself!?
Was this a dream? Had they fallen into a genjutsu?
"Smack!"
Maki slapped himself across the face.
A sharp sting spread through his cheek.
Real.
This was real.
Hikaru and Hashirama exchanged glances, both startled by Maki's sudden self-inflicted blow.
"Hey, young man. Are you okay?" Hashirama asked. "Are you sick or something?"
He squinted suspiciously at the Sand envoy. Something didn't seem quite right upstairs…
But Maki stepped forward, grasping Hashirama's cold right hand with trembling fingers and tear-filled eyes.
"No, Shodaime-sama… I just—this happiness came too fast. It didn't feel real. I had to make sure I wasn't dreaming…"
The other three Sand shinobi nodded fiercely, eyes red and glistening.
Hashirama opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted when a figure in a black cloak and ANBU mask suddenly appeared behind Hikaru.
"Sir, I'm here," said the masked shinobi.
Hikaru nodded, then turned to Hashirama and Maki.
"This is 'Elephant' from the ANBU Black Ops. He'll be accompanying you to record the amount of land afforested and calculate the proper mission compensation."
"Make sure to protect him. If anything happens to him, the accounting will be screwed. If you underpay us, we will have words."
Hashirama scratched his head.
"I mean, it's just planting trees—I don't need any pay for that."
But Hikaru's smile sharpened.
"Oh? I don't suppose you'd like Uncle Tobirama, Grandma Mito, or Tsunade to find out you've been working for free?"
A chill shot through Hashirama's entire body.
He still remembered how Tobirama had chewed him out in front of the other Kage for handing out tailed beasts like party favors.
If Mito ever found out…
If Tsunade ever found out…
He shuddered.
"Right. I'll make sure Elephant gets back safely."
Elephant's expression twisted beneath his mask.
He had thought this was an important or dangerous mission.
But this?
This was just Hikaru getting revenge on the First Hokage.
And even he was being used as part of it.
This… this had to be some kind of karmic violation.
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