Ryoma looked ahead and finally reached the gates of Konoha.
It was already night. The village entrance was brightly lit, and a few figures stood faintly under the glow of the lamps.
Looking closer, the kunoichi at the front turned out to be Mikoto Uchiha.
"Ryoma? It's great that you're okay!"
Had she been waiting here for him this whole time?
Standing with her were the three members of Team Seven. Terumi had already been taken away as the mission target.
"Teacher!"
"Ryoma-sensei!"
Rin and Mikoto rushed forward first.
Ryoma smiled. "It's fine, I'm back."
Rin tugged gently at the corner of his clothes, staring at him with wide eyes.
"Teacher… your body is too clean."
Mikoto turned her gaze to the man standing behind Ryoma—Minato Namikaze.
"Watergate, this is…?"
Minato's voice was steady and low. "This is classified. I'll go on ahead."
Ryoma nodded. "Alright, you go first."
The moment the words left his mouth, Minato vanished.
Mikoto suddenly felt a chill. The clothes of the person Minato had been carrying looked familiar—like a Hokage robe.
No, the color wasn't right. The pattern was blue.
Could it be… a Mizukage?
She shook her head, brushing away the impossible thought. There was no way.
Ryoma rested his hand on Rin's head. "Alright, it's late. Your teacher's back, so go home and rest."
Rin nodded obediently. "Okay, sensei. See you tomorrow."
"Good. You two, head home as well," Ryoma told Obito and Kakashi.
At least they had waited for him at the gate—showing a bit of conscience.
"The mission's over. Take a few days off."
Then he looked back at Mikoto. "You should go home too."
Mikoto nodded softly. "Ryoma, I'll take Obito back then. Thank you for helping nurture such a genius from our Uchiha clan."
Ryoma chuckled. "That's his own talent. Even if he's a crybaby, he's still got potential."
"Ah! Sensei, don't say that!"
Obito's face burned red. How could his teacher say something so embarrassing in front of Mikoto—and Rin was standing right here!
Obito wanted to strangle Ryoma. His teacher was unbearable!
Ryoma just laughed and waved them off. "Go on, go. I'm heading back too."
At this moment, his heart was like an arrow—killing the Mizukage or anyone else was nothing. What mattered most was seeing his fiancée.
I wonder what Kushina's doing now… Is she thinking about me?
Just then, Mikoto spoke up again. "By the way, Ryoma… I heard Danzo has returned. He sent people from the Administration Department to summon Lady Uzumaki Mito somewhere."
"Danzo summoned Grandma Mito?"
Mikoto nodded. "Yes. He seems to have brought back the Two-Tails and asked Lady Mito to help seal it."
The Two-Tails?
If Ryoma remembered correctly, the Nibi was in Kumogakure. Danzo had just signed a twenty-year peace treaty with them… and then immediately stole their tailed beast?
That old schemer.
Ryoma quickly pieced it together in his mind.
"Fugaku mentioned that he saw Lady Mito and Kushina heading toward Training Ground Four—the one closest to the Hokage Rock."
Ryoma's brows furrowed. Unease settled in his chest. "I understand. I'll check it out right away."
In an instant, his figure disappeared.
The three members of Team Seven were once again stunned.
"Sensei's too fast."
"This is the power of a jōnin."
"Hmph, I'll definitely surpass him one day."
"Obito, keep dreaming."
"Kakashi, you wanna fight?"
"Come on then. Just because you awakened the Sharingan doesn't mean I'm scared. I've got Lightning Blade!"
The two started bickering again, until Rin sighed helplessly. "You two, enough already! It's late, go home."
Mikoto frowned and pulled Obito away. "Let's go. Another genius has appeared in our Uchiha clan. The clan head will be thrilled when we return."
Obito gave a sharp nod, shot Kakashi a sideways glance, and snorted before strutting off with his nose held high.
He was Obito Uchiha, after all—the genius of the Uchiha clan!
Ryoma's figure blurred as he vaulted across rooftops, his steps light upon the eaves. In a flash, he arrived at the walls of the Uzumaki residence.
But the courtyard was empty.
Uzumaki Mito and Kushina were nowhere to be found.
It seemed they had truly gone to the training ground.
Just then, Ryoma sensed it—two massive bursts of chakra erupting in the direction of Hokage Rock.
One of them was instantly familiar.
The chakra of the Nine-Tails.
That was Uzumaki Mito.
And the other… that had to be the Two-Tails.
"Grandma Mito and Kushina are in danger!"
Without another thought, Ryoma shot toward Training Ground Four, his speed tearing through the night air.
At that moment, a surge of power rippled through his body—the fusion progress of the Hashirama Senju character card reached one hundred percent.
[Ding! Congratulations, host. Full fusion achieved: SSS-Rank Character Card – Hashirama Senju!]
In an instant, Ryoma's mind was flooded with knowledge, memories, and mastery. Every technique of the First Hokage became his own.
The legendary might of the God of Shinobi flowed through him.
Even the supreme Wood Release technique—Sage Art: Wood Release – True Several Thousand Hands (Top Transcendent Buddha)—was now his to command.
Ryoma clenched his fists. He was Hashirama now.
The God of Shinobi!
[Ding! Detected new S-Rank Character Cards: Uzumaki Ashina and the First Mizukage – Byakuren. The host may select one to fuse. Which will it be?]
Ryoma didn't hesitate. "Fuse Uzumaki Ashina!"
...
TN:
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