31. Awakening Wood Style!

Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: p@treon.com/CosmicKaminari

----------

If there was one person Uchiha Izuna despised the most, it would undoubtedly be Senju Tobirama. King versus king, general versus general—just as Hashirama faced Madara, Tobirama stood against Izuna. The two could almost be considered sworn enemies.

Especially since Uchiha Izuna had been the one defeated, it was impossible to expect him to hold any positive feelings toward the Senju.

Now, standing before him was the fact that Ishigami Hara had quietly revived Senju Hashirama's soul and was even coexisting with him. How could Uchiha Izuna possibly accept this?

Ishigami Hara said nothing, but silently rose, careful not to disturb the others in the tent, and slipped out to an isolated corner of the camp.

At this moment, a faint chakra fluctuation rippled from Ishigami Hara's body—it belonged to Uchiha Izuna. Whenever Izuna's emotions flared, chakra would naturally respond, and Ishigami Hara made no effort to suppress it.

As a result, Ishigami Hara's eyes once again revealed his Byakugan and Sharingan. The Byakugan was as usual, but the Sharingan felt different, as if something new had been added.

This change was subtle, yet undeniable, as if the Mangekyō Sharingan was gradually evolving, growing stronger.

A smirk tugged at the corners of Ishigami Hara's mouth. He was waiting—waiting for a transformation.

"Izuna-kun, don't be so angry. We're all dead now. The past hatred should be set aside," Senju Hashirama hastily tried to soothe him.

But his words were destined to fail. Uchiha Izuna wasn't listening at all and continued his one-sided rant.

"Calm down!" Hashirama urged in a softer tone, and at that moment, Ishigami Hara felt a surge of chakra within him.

This chakra was as vast and terrifying as an abyss or the ocean, immense and overwhelming. Yet, it vanished almost as quickly as it came, though Ishigami Hara felt as though the weight of an ocean had briefly pressed down on him.

Simultaneously, Ishigami Hara sensed another change within him. Though it was subtle and difficult to grasp, it was undeniable—something had shifted in his body.

What Ishigami Hara could understand was the change in his eyes.

Specifically, his Sharingan.

After the chakra surge, Ishigami Hara felt a sudden ache in his right eye, and his Mangekyō Sharingan activated involuntarily. The pattern within it spun rapidly, and faintly, arcs began to connect the original three-pointed calyx design.

The changes didn't stop there. The vision that had been slightly damaged from previous Mangekyō use was now completely restored. It was as if a veil had been lifted, and his sight was sharper than ever.

Ishigami Hara couldn't suppress the smile that spread across his face. "Just as I expected," he thought to himself. The activation of his muscles and the Senju blood within him had undergone a qualitative change, stimulated by this newfound chakra.

Meanwhile, Uchiha Izuna had finally calmed down, though only partially.

"Damn it, where is Senju Tobirama? Why is it you? Bring him here!"

"Ah, this... I can't explain it either. I don't know why I ended up in this boy's body. By the way, Izuna-kun, do you have any idea?" 

"Hmph!" 

Uchiha Izuna snorted coldly, his anger slightly subsiding as he responded, "You should ask this kid. It's all too mysterious for me to explain."

It seemed that even Uchiha Izuna, with all his pride, couldn't fully resist the calming influence of Senju Hashirama's chakra.

"Is that so."

Senju Hashirama turned his attention to Ishigami Hara and asked, "Boy, what's your name?"

"Shodai Hokage, my name is Ishigami Hara."

"Ishigami, huh? Is Ishigami Tetsuya any relation to you?" Senju Hashirama inquired.

Without hesitation, Ishigami Hara answered, "He's my grandfather."

"I see. I didn't expect you to come from the Ishigami family. Your family contributed greatly to the founding of Konoha."

"Thank you, Shodai. If my grandfather and his family could hear that, they'd be honored."

"Are your grandfather and his family still alive?" Hashirama asked.

Ishigami Hara shook his head. "Unfortunately, my grandfather passed away not long after you did, Shodai."

"I see. I'm sorry to hear that."

Ishigami Hara smiled softly. "There's no need to apologize. It's not something you could have controlled."

Uchiha Izuna interjected indignantly, "Damn kid, why do you speak to him so respectfully?"

Ishigami Hara responded calmly, "Because he was the Hokage."

"Ahahaha..." 

Hashirama let out a slightly awkward laugh but continued, "Though I don't know why I'm in your body, I feel I owe you an apology for any inconvenience. I'll return to the Pure Land soon, and I'll take Izuna with me."

Uchiha Izuna's anger flared up again as he cursed, "You bastard, don't force your will on me!"

Hashirama's voice became calm and serious. "Izuna-kun, you and I are both dead. We don't belong here, and we shouldn't interfere with the world of the living. It's not right."

Izuna, knowing Hashirama's unshakable temperament, shifted the topic. "You still don't get it, do you? This kid possesses multiple bloodlines, and now he's activated both the Byakugan and the Sharingan."

He chuckled darkly. "Don't tell me you don't understand what that means. This kid's future won't be easy."

It was clear that Izuna was using this information to make Hashirama reconsider leaving.

Ishigami Hara understood that Uchiha Izuna could leave his body at any moment if he wanted to. The soul could ascend to the afterlife, and there was nothing preventing him from doing so. But for now, it seemed Izuna had no intention of leaving. He was curious—curious about how far Ishigami Hara could go and what heights he might reach in the future. After all, curiosity is a powerful motivator.

"Huh?"

Hashirama was clearly surprised by the revelation. "Is that true?" he asked.

Ishigami Hara nodded. "It is."

Hashirama's tone became thoughtful. "Has the Ishigami family's dream come to fruition in you, young man?"

Ishigami Hara smiled and replied, "It seems so."

"Ahaha, you're quite remarkable, young man."

In a more serious tone, Ishigami Hara added, "Shodai, I also carry Senju blood. After your chakra appeared earlier, I felt some unusual changes in my body."

"Unusual changes?" Hashirama asked, now intrigued.

"Is it Wood Release?"

"I'm not sure," Ishigami Hara admitted.

Hashirama's eyes lit up with interest. "Try making a seal! Do this first… and then this."

Ishigami Hara focused as Hashirama guided him through the process. He performed the Si seal, followed by the Yin seal, and continued through six more seals, completing a total of eight.

"Wood Release: Four Seasons Tree!"

Kakaka…

Before Ishigami Hara, a small sapling broke through the ground, rapidly growing until it became a tree thick enough for a person to wrap their arms around in mere moments.

"Ah, this…"

Senju Hashirama was astonished. 

"How is this possible?"

Even Uchiha Izuna was left incredulous.