Chapter 42: Join Me, Akatsuki!

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"You don't understand? Forget it. There's no point explaining it to you anyway. You're too dumb!"

Hashirama didn't spare the whimpering creature any courtesy.

Stupid system!

Hashirama didn't even feel like complaining anymore.

"Ugh~"

The Ying Ying monster pouted but didn't press further. It wasn't that eager to know, so it let it go.

"Now, where was I?"

Hashirama asked Nagato and Konan. After being interrupted by the creature, he had forgotten what he was about to say.

"…"

Nagato and Konan were momentarily startled by Hashirama's sudden display of impatience. Both were taken aback.

After all, Hashirama had just been talking to the whimpering creature.

In their eyes,

Hashirama had spoken and then abruptly stopped.

Now he suddenly asked what he had been saying.

Was this what warriors from the Warring States period were like?

Konan took a deep breath, trying to calm her emotions. She had a feeling that something was off with the First Hokage's mind.

"You just said… you're a good person!"

Konan said, her face dark with lines of exasperation. She couldn't see how the First Hokage resembled a good person; he seemed more like a great villain.

This guy is the real boss of the ninja world!

"Exactly!"

"You're right!"

"I am a good person!"

"You must remember that!"

Hashirama was very pleased with this self-description, regardless of whether others agreed.

Then,

Hashirama began walking towards Nagato and Konan, making their expressions tense.

"You don't need to be nervous. I already said I'm a good person."

Hashirama noticed their tension immediately; even their chakra wasn't flowing smoothly. He casually waved his hand, and a surge of chakra flowed from his feet into the ground.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Wooden branches sprouted from the ground, intertwining to form a chair.

The chair was right next to Nagato.

Then,

Hashirama sat on the chair, crossing one leg over the other, propping his chin with one hand, and looked at Nagato with a sidelong glance.

"Nagato, let's talk about me joining the Akatsuki."

Hashirama said casually, uttering words that left Nagato and Konan utterly shocked.

In an instant,

Nagato and Konan felt as if a storm had erupted in their hearts, filled with shock.

"You want to join the Akatsuki?!"

Nagato's mouth twitched slightly, even his eyelids were trembling. Could something like this really happen?

One moment, they were enemies.

The next, they were allies?

Switching from an Italian cannon to Italian cuisine couldn't be smoother!

Nagato was confused and couldn't believe it.

Konan was completely stunned by this Warring States warrior's unpredictable moves. She had never seen anyone play like this.

This wasn't playing outside the rules.

This was creating a whole new set of rules, completely unconventional!

Actually,

Even Hashirama himself didn't realize,

That originally dormant and quirky soul within Chen Xiang's body,

Now had the support of a strong physique.

A completely new radiance was now emanating.

He could freely and unrestrainedly express his thoughts.

"No!"

Hashirama shook his finger, dismissing Nagato's assumption.

"I'm not joining the Akatsuki."

"I'm investing in the Akatsuki."

"It's okay if you don't understand."

"Let me translate for you."

"That means..."

"Your Akatsuki should join me!"

Hashirama's dark eyes stared into Nagato's, and his words left Nagato and Konan even more stunned.

"I still don't understand."

Nagato's face grew dark. It wasn't that he didn't understand, but that he understood all too well.

But with such words,

He didn't know how to respond.

How could this negotiation proceed?

Nagato realized that the Akatsuki had reached a pivotal turning point.

Perhaps…

Every word that followed could affect the future direction of the Akatsuki.

"It's fine if you don't understand. I can explain it to you!"

As Hashirama said this, he sensed an indignant presence behind him.

The Ying Ying monster's expression turned sour,

Holding a small pink umbrella,

Pointing its tip at Hashirama.

From its posture,

It looked like it wanted to poke Hashirama's head with the umbrella.

Every move seemed to convey a message, as if it was expressing a thought through its actions.

"Why won't you explain it to me?"

The Ying Ying monster felt its cuteness was being rejected and started to sulk.

"Stop whining!"

Hashirama scolded in his mind. He needed to talk business with Nagato and didn't want to appease the drama queen.

"Why are you yelling so loudly!"

The Ying Ying monster couldn't bear the reprimand and flew over to Konan's side with fluttering wings.

"System Alert: Unbinding Failed!"

"System Alert: Unbinding Failed!"

"System Alert: Unbinding Failed!"

"..."

A series of electronic notifications echoed in Hashirama's mind, the same as last time.

The voice was the Ying Ying monster's, but without any emotional inflection.

This must be the system itself.

The Ying Ying monster was just an additional, albeit simplistic, lifeform from the system—no, a dim-witted lifeform.

"Pfft, hahaha..."

Hashirama couldn't help but laugh out loud, finding the Ying Ying monster hilariously amusing.

His laughter was carefree and unrestrained.

Nagato, who was already on edge, was startled by the sudden outburst.

"Um..."

"First Hokage-sama."

"No need to explain further."

"I understand."

"You want to be the leader of the Akatsuki, right?"

Nagato quickly interjected, afraid that if he delayed, he would face Hashirama's wrathful fists.

He had witnessed Obito's fate firsthand.

With his frail body, a single punch would be the end of him.

"I don't want to be the leader of the Akatsuki!"

Hashirama slowly shook his head, a gleam appearing in his dark eyes as he smiled.

"You, Pain, will remain the leader of the Akatsuki!"

"I only want to take the masked man's place!"

"You heard our conversation earlier; he is not Uchiha Madara and cannot provide you with the power you need."

"But I can!"

"I am Senju Hashirama!"

As he said this, his voice exuded an intangible dominance. Just his name alone was enough to make the entire ninja world tremble.

"What is your purpose in doing this?"

Nagato couldn't understand. He wasn't a child and knew that the world was full of hatred. There were no true 'good guys.' The First Hokage must have his own motives.

"The purpose is simple."

"On a small scale, I think it's fun."

"On a larger scale, I also enjoy promoting peace."

"Ha..."

Hashirama suddenly laughed, disrupting the serious atmosphere he had just created.

"Actually, I'm just bored!"

"How should I put it..."

"Being too invincible is a kind of subtle sorrow!"

(End of Chapter)