Chapter 64: Inquiry

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As soon as Hashirama spoke, the Third Hokage's expression turned tense. But only a moment later, his face broke into a wide smile of sheer joy.

"Yes!"

The Third Hokage nodded immediately.

He's back!

The pillar of Konoha has finally returned!

Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, had not felt the reassuring presence of someone capable of shouldering the world's burdens for a long time.

For most of his life, he had carried the weight of Konoha Village on his shoulders, weathering many storms.

In order to ensure the village's survival after losing the Senju brothers, he had endured countless hardships over the years.

Now, it was finally time for him to hold his head high!

The Third Hokage's thoughts were simple.

If he could show his strength, who would want to endure hardship?

It's better to make others endure!

"I will immediately send invitations to the other four ninja villages, scheduling a Five Kage Summit as soon as possible!"

A smile spread across the Third Hokage's face as he imagined the expressions of the other four Kage, filling him with immense satisfaction.

"Handle that later; let's talk a bit more first."

Hashirama, sitting comfortably, felt completely at ease in his position.

"By the way, there's another matter."

"Is Jiraiya still in the village?"

Hashirama remembered encountering Jiraiya before leaving and wondered if he was still around.

"Jiraiya is still here," the Third Hokage replied immediately.

"Call him over."

Hashirama spoke casually, feeling entirely at ease. In his eyes, no one in Konoha or even the entire ninja world could match him.

"Yes!"

The Third Hokage nodded and walked to the door of the Hokage office, opening it slightly.

Clap, clap, clap...

He stuck his hand through the gap and clapped loudly.

Swish, swish!

Two figures appeared instantly.

Standing outside, the two could only see the Third Hokage through the door crack, not Hashirama inside.

Of course, Hashirama couldn't see them either.

But if he did, he would recognize them as Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki.

"Bring Jiraiya here."

The Third Hokage ordered in a low voice, his expression stern but his face relaxed.

"Yes!"

Kotetsu and Izumo responded, forming hand signs and quickly disappearing.

Creak!

The Third Hokage closed the office door and returned his focus to Hashirama.

"First Hokage-sama, how long will you be staying this time?"

After a brief hesitation, the Third Hokage couldn't help but ask. This question was crucial for him.

He had studied the Edo Tensei, the Reanimation Jutsu, created by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, but refrained from learning it due to the requirement of living sacrifices.

However, the technique's records did not specify how long the reanimated could remain.

This piqued the Third Hokage's curiosity.

"That's a good question!"

Hashirama nodded at the Third Hokage, a mysterious smile playing on his lips.

"I'm not going back this time."

Hashirama's response was simple and clear, delivered with a cheerful smile.

Gasp!

The Third Hokage took a deep breath. Even though he had considered this possibility, the confirmation still shocked him.

Does this mean...

The First Hokage might be resurrected!

Oh my!

The Third Hokage's feelings were complicated, a mix of joy and fear, positive and negative emotions intertwining, leaving an awkward but polite smile on his face.

He recalled Orochimaru's expression that day and suddenly thought of an old saying:

"Inviting a god is easy, sending him away is hard!"

"First Hokage-sama, if you're not leaving, then about the Hokage position..."

The Third Hokage asked tentatively with a smile. Since he was still the Hokage, if the First Hokage was staying, he would naturally step down.

"The Hokage position has nothing to do with me."

Hashirama waved his hand dismissively, showing no interest in being Hokage. "Let whoever wants to handle that mess do it."

"Uh..."

The Third Hokage was momentarily speechless.

Hashirama's way of speaking was just as commanding as ever.

"Monkey, look at the Hokage Rock outside. You're the Third Hokage, and I'm the First. Have you ever seen a former Hokage come back to the position after stepping down?"

Hashirama waggled his finger casually, a smirk of mockery playing on his lips.

"..."

The Third Hokage was left speechless.

He knew Hashirama was referring to him.

After the Fourth Hokage died, he didn't choose a Fifth but instead resumed his role as Hokage himself.

But...

The Third Hokage wasn't sure if Hashirama's words were intentional or accidental, but he felt it was better to be honest.

"Well..."

"First Hokage-sama, the situation is like this."

"The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, sacrificed himself 12 years ago to protect the village. After that, I resumed my role as Hokage..."

The Third Hokage explained while closely watching Hashirama, feeling deeply uneasy.

His return to power was driven by his desire to hold onto authority.

He had stepped down after the Third Shinobi War to give the village a fresh start.

But the Fourth Hokage's death gave him a chance to reclaim his position...

And he couldn't resist taking it.

"Oh?"

Hashirama's smile grew wider. He already knew all of this; his earlier remarks were deliberate.

"So it is possible to go from a former Hokage to a new one again, huh?"

"You've really made yourself the rising star!"

"Impressive!"

Hashirama gave a sarcastic thumbs-up, making the Third Hokage break out in a cold sweat.

No one else would dare to speak this way.

Since resuming the Hokage position, the Third had faced little overt criticism.

Not because people had no complaints, but because they didn't dare to voice them.

However...

Hashirama was different.

He was the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju!

"Well..."

The Third Hokage was sweating, unsure how to respond.

"Monkey, I'm curious—are you the Third or the Fifth Hokage now?"

Hashirama's grin grew broader, not out of malicious intent, but because he could hardly contain his amusement.

This was too entertaining!

The freedom to speak his mind was exhilarating!

Before becoming Hashirama, he was a diligent programmer.

He had been fired from Tigerfish TV for dealing with the issues during Wu Dige's live stream.

Life had been full of frustrations!

But now, in the ninja world, all those old grievances had melted away.

Yes!

Now, he was Senju Hashirama!

No need to bow down to anyone!

Do whatever you want!

Say whatever you want!

Sorry!

Invincibility is just that arrogant!

After Hashirama finished speaking, he smiled at the Third Hokage, feeling incredibly satisfied.

"Uh... well... I'm still the Third Hokage!"

Sweat gathered on the Third Hokage's face, dripping from his chin to the floor, splashing into tiny droplets.

He was extremely nervous!

He couldn't figure out what the First Hokage was really thinking about the situation.

"Good, good, there's something to that!"

Hashirama gave a thumbs-up, his words full of praise, but the Third Hokage wasn't foolish—he could clearly hear the sarcasm.

"Uh..."

The Third Hokage wore a bitter smile, looking like a student being scolded by a teacher, completely dejected.

"Alright, I get the gist of your troubles. Tell me about the Fourth Hokage, how did he die?"

Hashirama's dark eyes bore into the Third Hokage. He already knew the answer, but no one else knew that he did.

"Twelve years ago, the Nine-Tails suddenly appeared in the village. The Fourth Hokage sacrificed himself to seal the beast to protect Konoha..."

The Third Hokage found it hard to continue. Although these were facts, he felt like he was making up a story.

"Because of the Nine-Tails, huh?"

Hashirama rubbed his chin thoughtfully, then nodded to himself, "The Nine-Tails is indeed powerful."

"Yes!"

The Third Hokage nodded quickly, "The Nine-Tails is too strong. If the Fourth Hokage hadn't stepped up, Konoha's fate would have been disastrous, even so, many people died."

"Was it because the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki wasn't properly transferred?" Hashirama asked.

"No!"

The Third Hokage shook his head, taking a deep breath, "The transfer was well-handled. The jinchuriki, Kushina Uzumaki, was in labor, which weakened the seal, allowing the Nine-Tails to break free."

After speaking, the Third Hokage felt incredibly hot, his back drenched in sweat.

He couldn't help it!

Hashirama's presence was overwhelmingly oppressive!

These were the topics he least wanted to discuss in his career, making him feel as though he were being interrogated.

"I see."

Hashirama nodded again, not saying another word, simply indicating his understanding.

This lack of commentary was even more terrifying!

The Third Hokage stood silently beside Hashirama, not daring to utter a word, looking very much like a scolded child.

Knock, knock, knock...

At that moment, the office door knocked.

Without waiting for a response, the door swung open.

Jiraiya, with his silver hair, walked in, looking as if he had just woken up.

"Sensei, you called for me?"

Jiraiya's eyes fell on the First Hokage sitting in the chair.

Suddenly.

He looked as though a bucket of cold water had been dumped on him.

Instantly alert!

He stared wide-eyed at the First Hokage, swallowing hard, his whole body tensing up.

(End of this chapter)