Chapter 259: Hashirama's Travels!
It took Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama two months to put down the materials Sarutobi Asuma had brought.
The contents of these two scrolls were so profound that even they couldn't fully digest them in just two months.
Especially since Senju Hashirama was quite the gambler.
Furthermore, he had been eager to visit the South Sage Continent that Sarutobi Asuma had spoken of.
As fate would have it.
Shizune became pregnant in December. Yūhi Kurenai took over leading Hinata and the other two. Sarutobi Asuma left a Shadow Clone to continue overseeing the Chunin Special Training Class, while his main body took Shizune to the South Sage Continent to rest during her pregnancy. Senju Hashirama decided to go along as well.
As for Senju Tobirama, he remained behind to continue his research.
South Sage Continent, Land of Origins.
On the Sage Tree, Sarutobi Asuma, Shizune, and Senju Hashirama appeared inside a wooden house.
Stepping out of the house and onto a branch, Senju Hashirama looked down at the densely packed buildings stretching across the entire massive valley, his eyes widening in astonishment.
This was clearly a village no less impressive than Konoha!
He could feel the vibrant energy emanating from the area. Some of the buildings below bore the style of Konoha, while others were reminiscent of the Warring States period, giving him a sense of familiarity.
"What is this place called?"
Senju Hashirama asked.
Sarutobi Asuma smiled and replied, "Senhara Village!"
"It's akin to Konoha in the Land of Origins."
"Of course, it's different from Konoha, just as the Land of Origins is different from the Land of Fire."
Senju Hashirama nodded, then chuckled, "You stay with Little Shizune. I'll take a walk around by myself!"
With that, he waved his hand and disappeared.
Sarutobi Asuma smiled, not bothering to keep track of Senju Hashirama. He then took Shizune away and headed to a resort by the sea.
The climate here was mild, perfect for Shizune's pregnancy.
Within Senhara Village.
Senju Hashirama, using a transformation jutsu, donned casual clothing and wandered around. He occasionally chatted with the locals, his hearty laughter echoing through the air.
He integrated quickly.
He also managed to gather a lot of information in a short time.
For instance, the administrative body of Senhara Village was called the Affairs Hall.
However, this Affairs Hall was different from Konoha's Hokage institution.
It was an administrative body that did not involve military force.
It handled civilian affairs, economy, taxation, and healthcare. As for military power, there was a separate Security Department, but its jurisdiction was limited to maintaining public order within Senhara Village itself.
The Security Department was a mix of ninjas and samurai, with ninjas leading samurai in patrols to maintain order.
Senhara Village didn't seem to differ significantly from Konoha at first glance.
"By the way, if I wanted to hire a ninja, where would I go?"
Senju Hashirama asked an uncle he was chatting with.
The uncle chuckled and replied, "Oh, that's simple. Next to the Security Department, there's a place called the Sage Manor. You'll find many powerful samurai, ninjas, and even Sages there!"
"However, young man, for most village matters, there's no need to hire ninjas from the Sage Manor. The folks in the Security Department can usually help you out."
"Sage Manor?"
"I see!"
Senju Hashirama stroked his chin, then smiled and said, "Thanks for the tip, uncle. I'm off then!"
Waving goodbye to the friendly uncle, Senju Hashirama leisurely made his way towards the Sage Manor.
"The F-First Hokage?"
Suddenly, a voice made Senju Hashirama stop in his tracks.
He turned to see someone dressed rather strangely. They were clearly a ninja, but they weren't wearing a Konoha forehead protector.
"Who are you?"
"Are you a Konoha ninja?"
Senju Hashirama asked.
Jiraiya looked at Senju Hashirama and stepped forward, "First Hokage, I am Jiraiya, a disciple of the Third Hokage and a teammate of Tsunade."
He had heard the news of Senju Hashirama being resurrected with Impure World Reincarnation and had intended to return to Konoha to see for himself. He never expected to encounter him here.
If he hadn't been familiar with the First Hokage's chakra, he might have mistaken him for an imposter.
"A disciple of Sarutobi, one of the Sannin, Jiraiya!"
"Hahaha, Tsunade told me about you. The really perverted one."
Senju Hashirama roared with laughter.
Jiraiya's smile froze, and a cold sweat trickled down his face.
His lifelong reputation had been ruined by Tsunade.
"Uh, First Hokage, sir, that's art!"
Jiraiya explained awkwardly, then quickly changed the subject. "I didn't expect you to be here too. Are you planning to go to the Sage Manor?"
Senju Hashirama nodded. "I heard Asuma is experimenting with a kind of peace that doesn't exist in the Ninja World, so I came to see."
"It's certainly worth it."
Jiraiya nodded and walked side-by-side with Senju Hashirama. "Asuma certainly has many unique ideas."
"I never imagined back then that this place would become so different."
His expression was filled with emotion.
After traveling here for several years, and comparing it to the state of the Ninja World.
The path to peace that Sarutobi Asuma spoke of back then increasingly felt like the right one to him.
However.
He also knew that the Ninja World and the South Sage Continent were fundamentally different.
Before the ninjas from Konoha arrived, there was no powerful force here. Konoha easily controlled several countries on the South Sage Continent.
But for the Ninja World to achieve this, it would inevitably require an unprecedented war.
Even if Sarutobi Asuma intended to use the Akatsuki Organization to integrate the strength of the major ninja villages, to unify the Ninja World in the end, war would likely be unavoidable.
Death would be unavoidable.
And with death, hatred would inevitably follow.
In the end, wouldn't war repeat itself endlessly?
Jiraiya remained somewhat pessimistic about the future.
Or rather, he was pessimistic about the path Sarutobi Asuma intended to take.
Even though everyone in Konoha now, including his own disciple, the current Fourth Hokage, had already embarked on that path.
Senju Hashirama glanced at Jiraiya and chuckled, "It seems you're not very confident in the Fourth Hokage and Asuma, are you?"
"You know about Asuma's plan too..."
"That's true."
Jiraiya admitted, nodding. "Through war, hatred can never be resolved; it can only be accumulated."
"If people can't understand each other, peace can't be achieved, right!"
Senju Hashirama listened thoughtfully, then said, "That's not wrong."
"However, only by walking the path and striving can we know which path is the right one!"
"My idea back then was probably similar to yours, but looking at the current state of the Ninja World, it has already failed."
Senju Hashirama's eyes held a deeper look, but then he smiled and patted Jiraiya's shoulder. "Of course, this isn't to say you should abandon your own path."
"What Asuma and the others are doing doesn't actually prevent what you need to do, does it?"
"If this is your ninja way, then by all means, continue on it, pass it down. Whether it's right or wrong, until the end, who can truly know?"
Jiraiya's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and his hesitation vanished. He smiled, "The First Hokage is right!"
Having traveled the South Sage Continent, he had originally planned to return to Konoha and be a mere tool. Now that Senju Hashirama had enlightened him, he decided to continue on his own path.
"Hahaha, let's go, to the Sage Manor, and then show me around here!"
"No problem, I'm already very familiar with this place!"
The two chatted as they arrived at the Sage Manor.
However, as soon as they entered the vast hall of the Sage Manor, Jiraiya heard a familiar voice filled with surprise: "Pervert Sage!"
Jiraiya's expression immediately turned dark. He turned his head and saw it was indeed that brat Naruto.
"Hey, I told you, call me Sage Jiraiya!"
Naruto pouted. "No way!"
Kakashi, standing nearby, looked speechless, then greeted Jiraiya with Sasuke and Haruno Sakura.
When his gaze fell upon Senju Hashirama, Kakashi hesitated. He didn't reveal his identity and instead asked Jiraiya, "Senior Jiraiya, who is this?"
Jiraiya looked at Senju Hashirama, about to speak, when Senju Hashirama had already said with a smile, "Me? You can just call me Uncle Senju!"
"Uncle Senju?"
Naruto couldn't help but retort, "What a weird name?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Kakashi bonked him on the head.
"Jiraiya-senpai, I heard from the teacher that you were planning to return to Konoha. What are you doing here?"
Kakashi quickly shifted everyone's attention.
"Hahaha!"
Senju Hashirama took the initiative to say, "I asked him to stay. He's showing me around here."
"By the way, are you guys here on a mission?"
Naruto eagerly chimed in, "Yes, Uncle Hashirama, it's a request from the village."
After he finished, he started to complain again, "But there are no decent missions here at all, just low-level ones. It's so boring!"
Sasuke coolly remarked, "It's probably because you're useless in those missions, right?"
Naruto immediately yelled back, annoyed, "Sasuke, your Fire Style and Lightning Style are useless too!"
Kakashi looked at the two quarreling and helplessly held his forehead.
These two were truly natural enemies.
It was only after Haruno Sakura's training in the Chunin Special Training Class that she had changed a lot from before and no longer had a crush on him every day.
Senju Hashirama listened and became curious, "Fire Style and Lightning Style are both useless. What kind of missions are they?"
Jiraiya chuckled, "Maybe building roads, or bringing rain to farmland?"
Building roads?
Bringing rain to farmland?
Senju Hashirama looked bewildered.
Ten minutes later.
The group walked out of the Sage Manor, left Senhara Village, and followed a mountain path into the deep mountains.
"Is this mountain path built with ninjutsu?"
Senju Hashirama stomped on the stone steps beneath his feet.
In these mountains, with this quality of mountain path, if it were built by ordinary people, it would likely require an immense amount of labor.
"It was built with the aid of Earth Style. It was originally built by Asuma's people to help the mountain villagers, allowing them to more easily bring mountain goods out of the mountains to sell."
Kakashi explained, "Asuma said that ninjas' abilities don't always have to be used in combat."
"It's like medical ninjas."
Haruno Sakura added, "Lord Asuma once said, 'Ninjas and technology are the primary productive forces'!"
Ninjas and technology are the primary productive forces?
Senju Hashirama fell into thought.
Soon.
Everyone arrived in front of a bridge.
Jiraiya said, "This bridge was also built primarily by ninjas."
The bridge before them was a huge structure spanning two mountains.
Senju Hashirama glanced at it. The towering piers beneath the bridge were clearly built using ninjutsu.
After crossing the bridge, the group arrived at another mountain path.
This mountain path was different from the previous stone steps; it was a wooden boardwalk built along the mountain wall.
Senju Hashirama immediately recognized it as Wood Release.
Jiraiya, also visiting for the first time, laughed, "Kakashi, this is Yamato's Wood Release, isn't it?"
Kakashi nodded, "Besides Asuma, Yamato is the only one in the village who currently wields Wood Release."
News of Tsunade mastering Wood Release was known only to a very few.
"It is said that the First Hokage became the God of Shinobi with Wood Release. Teacher Kakashi, how does that senior Yamato's Wood Release compare to the First Hokage's?" Haruno Sakura asked curiously.
Kakashi instinctively glanced at Senju Hashirama and said, "Yamato's Wood Release originates from the First Hokage. According to Asuma, it's about 20% as powerful as the First Hokage's."
"20%, the First Hokage is too amazing!"
Naruto exclaimed, then asked, "Teacher Kakashi, how does that compare to Uncle Asuma?"
"Is Uncle Asuma stronger, or is the First Hokage stronger?"
Haruno Sakura hesitated, "It should be the First Hokage who is more powerful, after all, he's the God of Shinobi!"
Kakashi felt a bit awkward.
One of the parties involved was standing right beside them, how should he answer?
Senju Hashirama smiled, quite proud.
Jiraiya, egging on the situation, winked at Kakashi and then asked with a laugh, "Naruto, do you think your father is stronger, or is Asuma stronger?"
"Of course, Uncle Asuma is the strongest!"
Naruto said without hesitation.
He used to think that his father, the Hokage, was stronger, but his father himself admitted that his strength was inferior to Uncle Asuma's.
Besides, Uncle Asuma taught him two powerful ninjutsu: Sexy Jutsu and Wind Style: Rasenshuriken.
Dad's Flying Thunder God Technique… is too difficult, not powerful at all!
...
Chatting as they went, the group arrived at their destination in half an hour.
"This is it!"
Standing on the mountain and looking down, they saw a village.
On the mountain opposite, however, was a mining area, where many people could be seen mining.
"It's too inconvenient to mine iron ore in the mountains,"
Haruno Sakura said.
Kakashi remained noncommittal and said, "This is a rich mine, and the quality is very good. A large portion of it has a rapid chakra fluidity."
"Chakra fluidity?"
"What is that?"
Naruto looked confused.
Senju Hashirama couldn't help but turn to look at Jiraiya, also confused.
Is this kid really the Fourth's son?
Why does he seem so foolish?
Jiraiya shrugged helplessly.
Haruno Sakura ahead couldn't help but retort, "Idiot Naruto, the teacher mentioned that in class."
"Good chakra fluidity means that when using chakra to amplify the power of a blade, the consumption can be smaller, and the amplification can be greater!"
"Just like Teacher Kakashi's ninja sword."
Naruto scratched his head but wasn't embarrassed at all. Just as he was about to ask further, a commotion arose from the mining area opposite.
Kakashi's expression changed: "Let's go check it out!"
The group quickly descended the mountain and hurried over, only to find out that the mine had collapsed!
"Sakura, you're in charge of treating the injured."
"Naruto, Sasuke, help Sakura, but don't go into the mine."
Kakashi immediately gave orders, then took out his Flying Thunder God Kunai and handed it to Sasuke. He then turned to look at Senju Hashirama and Jiraiya.
Senju Hashirama waved his hand: "Don't worry about us."
Kakashi nodded, then his figure shot into the mine.
"Naruto, take the injured!"
Sasuke shouted.
The two youngsters immediately stepped forward, receiving the injured who were coming out of the mine and sending them to Haruno Sakura for treatment.
Senju Hashirama and Jiraiya watched the three youngsters cooperating perfectly and felt relieved.
They had thought the three of them wouldn't know how to cooperate, seeing how they quarreled non-stop on the way!
"Stay here and help them!"
After Senju Hashirama said that, his figure disappeared.
Jiraiya wanted to speak but it was too late. He muttered to himself, "You should be the one staying to help, as you understand healing!"
However, Jiraiya thought about it. If he went into the mine, it was indeed not as suitable as the First Hokage.
Pulling people out of the mine versus treating the injured who had already been pulled out, the former undoubtedly had a higher priority.
With that thought, Jiraiya immediately began to help as well.
Kakashi soon appeared with a severely injured miner and handed him to Sasuke before disappearing again, reappearing inside the mine.
Raising an earth wall to support the shaky roof of the cave, Kakashi then tried to rescue the miner who was pinned by rocks.
Just then, a large number of tree roots spread out, stabilizing the violently shaking mine.
"I'll save the people, you use Flying Thunder God to send them out."
Kakashi turned his head and saw Senju Hashirama striding over.
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