As John walked home from the hectic pace of city life, he indulged in his favorite pastime: watching anime. With his black hair, eyes, and slightly brown skin, John had the appearance of a typical office worker. An avid anime enthusiast, he enjoyed speculating about character matchups and pondering various what-if scenarios. In the midst of his walk, John found himself immersed in an episode of Jujutsu Kaisen.
Observing Megumi's summoning of Mahoraga, John couldn't help but comment, "Damn, after all that, Big Raga finally gets summoned against some scrawny blondie," referring to Haruta Shigemo. His attention was quickly captured as Mahoraga was on the brink of delivering a fatal blow to Haruta Shigemo, only to be interrupted by Sukuna's timely intervention. "Big Raga vs. Sukuna, let's go!" John exclaimed enthusiastically, his words drowned out by the sounds of passing traffic, muted by his headphones.
As the battle unfolded on screen, Mahoraga and Sukuna exchanged blows, with Sukuna seemingly unfazed by the onslaught. Several scenes later, Sukuna unleashed his Domain Expansion, Malevolent Shrine, while Mahoraga continued to advance, seemingly unaffected by Sukuna's attacks. However, Sukuna remained one step ahead, swiftly dispatching Mahoraga with a flaming arrow conjured with the force of a small nuclear warhead, reducing Mahoraga to naught but a wheel.
"That animation was incredible," John remarked, just before the blare of a passing ten-wheeler drowned out his voice.
"Damn...I'm dead," were his final thoughts as darkness engulfed him.
When John regained consciousness, John accepted everything calmly, recognizing the immutable truth that everyone must eventually pass away. Today happened to be his appointed time, and he faced it with serene resolve. There was no anguish, no piercing screams of despair, just a swift jolt of shock, and then, enveloped by the embrace of darkness, everything faded into oblivion.
Now he found himself in a vast expanse of white. He turned his head, but all he could see was an endless void stretching out before him.
John's voice reverberated through the boundless white void as he contemplated his circumstances. "So, I guess I get to make three wishes, huh?" His words dispersed into the vast emptiness enveloping him.
A voice responded, resonating through the void. "Correct, mortal." Suddenly, an image of himself materialized before him, leaving John visibly taken aback. Familiar with the concept from numerous fanfictions, he immediately recognized the figure as ROB—the Random Omnipotent Being. "You must be ROB. Hi!" John greeted, a mixture of surprise and curiosity in his tone.
ROB smirked, his gaze fixated on John. "You're different," he remarked cryptically.
"How so?" John inquired, his curiosity piqued.
"Most individuals react with fear or uncertainty when they encounter me. But you... you seem oddly calm," ROB explained.
John shrugged. "I'm a simple man. It is what it is."
His voice echoed softly in the expanse. "I've reached a point in my life where I just don't care anymore," John admitted, his words hanging in the air, laden with resignation.
ROB nodded in understanding. "Perhaps that's why your soul has found its way into the Great Expanse."
"The Great Expanse?" John repeated, his interest piqued.
"Yes, the void between multiverses. It separates infinite worlds, from mythological realms to anime universes," ROB elaborated, as the backdrop shifted to reveal a void filled with floating orbs.
John observed the spectacle with intrigue. "So, these orbs represent different multiverses?"
"Correct, but you're handling this remarkably well for a mortal," ROB noted, his tone tinged with amusement.
The scene changed again, with ROB seated behind a desk and John facing him. In front of them, a television screen played scenes from John's life.
"A television? I was expecting some sort of magical mirror to reveal my past," John remarked, slightly bemused by the mundane display.
"This is the theme of your world—the modern era. It serves as the prime continuum, the origin of ideas, and the genesis of the omniverse. It's fitting to adhere to your world's theme while I evaluate the value of your life," ROB explained, his fingers dancing across the keys of a laptop that had appeared before him.
As ROB worked diligently, John suddenly interjected, breaking the silence. "So... what's the verdict? Do I still get the three wishes?"
ROB turned his gaze towards John, contemplating his response. "Your life is average, but your good karma from helping others in small ways has earned you the privilege of three wishes," he explained.
He then laid out the conditions. "Firstly, no wishing for infinite wishes or anything of similar nature. I've had to reset the Omniverse due to reincarnators becoming as powerful as the One Above All and causing significant imbalance," ROB cautioned.
"Secondly, your wishes are limited in power. As an otaku or anime fan, your wishes cannot exceed the power levels within the Six Paths realm, with the Super Shadow Realm serving as the upper limit. Let's use Senju Hashirama from the Naruto world as the benchmark. Keep it at the country-tier level, at most," he stipulated.
John nodded, absorbing the instructions. "Understood."
"And thirdly, be creative," ROB added with a hint of amusement.
John confidently stated his first wish, "For my first wish, I'll directly choose Senju Hashirama's template. Can you adapt it to fit the power system of my destination world so it won't feel out of place?" Knowing there was a ceiling of power, he opted to select the highest benchmark available.
"Granted," replied ROB.
"The Senju Clan, insert them into my destination world," John declared. He chose the Senju clan for their reputation as the strongest, despite their limited screen time. He admired their versatility and the vast array of skills associated with them. While the Uchiha may have the allure of the Sharingan, John favored the Wood Style and the immense chakra reserves of the Senju.
"Granted. It is understood that you will be part of this clan, with adjustments made to fit the power system of your destination world," ROB confirmed.
"For my last wish, I choose Gilgamesh's Golden Rule. I'd like to live as a wealthy man in my next life, where money can solve all my problems," John requested earnestly. Tired of financial struggles in his current life, he longed for a future of abundance and ease.
"Granted," ROB affirmed.
With that, darkness enveloped John, signaling the end of his interaction with ROB.
Rob appeared before Otsutsuki Hagoromo, the Sage of Six Paths, who regarded him with curiosity. "Who are you?" Hagoromo inquired. Without a word, Rob pointed his finger at Hagoromo's forehead, instantly imparting knowledge of his identity and purpose. "After your task is complete, you can choose to forget my existence, or you can choose to remember me. Either way, it will have no impact. I will lend you a minuscule amount of my power to accomplish your task," Rob explained.
Hagoromo, recognizing Rob as the unquestionably strongest being in existence, nodded solemnly. "As you order, Great One," he replied with reverence. With that, Rob disappeared, leaving Hagoromo to observe the current events in the Naruto world. Naruto and Sasuke were engaged in a fierce battle against Momoshiki.
Positioned in the pure land where he had taken Senju Hashirama's soul, Hagoromo opened a portal and departed from the Naruto universe. With a determined gaze, he embarked on his mission, empowered by the borrowed strength from Rob.
_____
Heian Period
Year 1018
In the midst of the Heian Period, known as the Golden Age of Sorcerers, Hagoromo arrived in the forested area of Heian Kyo. There, the soul orb of Hashirama, transformed into the human form of Hashirama Senju. Confused by his surroundings, Hashirama questioned, "What... Where am I?"
Recognizing Hagoromo as the Sage of Six Paths, Hashirama understood that his presence was not coincidental. "How may I help you, Sage of Six Paths?" he asked respectfully.
"Hear me, Hashirama. I have been tasked by a great being to ensure the prosperity of the Senju Clan in this world. Will you aid me in this endeavor?" Hagoromo requested.
"Great being?... Of course," Hashirama agreed without hesitation.
"To accomplish this task, we must alter a significant aspect of this world's history... whatever a 'plot point' may be," Hagoromo explained, his eyes closed in concentration. Sensing the malevolent aura permeating the air, he detected a singular source of cursed energy, its presence tied to the fate of the world.
As Hagoromo identified their target, he opened a portal, inviting Hashirama to follow. Together, they entered the portal and emerged in the midst of chaos. Ryomen Sukuna, hailed as the strongest sorcerer of the period, was ruthlessly slaughtering a group of attackers, both innocent bystanders and fellow sorcerers alike.
Sukuna, a demon with four arms and two faces, wielded cursed tools with devastating power—a vajra-like instrument capable of discharging electricity, and a trident resembling a trishula, unleashing torrents of water upon his foes. "Come on, everyone is so boring and weak," Sukuna taunted as he continued his merciless onslaught.
Hashirama and Hagoromo arrived at a distance from Sukuna's brutal skirmish, the former already sensing the malevolence emanating from Ryomen Sukuna. Frowning at the sight of innocent lives being mercilessly taken, Hashirama turned to Hagoromo with a serious expression. "Sage, is this our target?" he inquired gravely.
Hagoromo gazed into the potential future of Ryomen Sukuna. "Hashirama, you must defeat and seal Ryomen Sukuna within twenty fingers. Do not concern yourself with the innocents; I shall attend to them," Hagoromo instructed.
Acknowledging the Sage's assurance, Hashirama resolved to put an end to Sukuna's rampage. Drawing from his experiences in the Sengoku period of his own world, he understood the dire consequences of allowing such a scourge to roam freely. Curious about Hagoromo's decision to seal rather than kill Sukuna, Hashirama voiced his query. "Sage, why not end his life?" he questioned.
"He is intertwined with the fate of this world; thus, his demise is not an option. We must adhere to the path set forth by destiny," Hagoromo elucidated.
Nodding in understanding, Hashirama activated his Sage Mode, the distinctive markings adorning his face. His eyes glowed with yellow iridescence, framed by black pigmentation that extended to his ears, while an additional circular mark adorned his forehead. "Shinboku no Jumon: Maximum Technique - Shinsu Senju," he proclaimed, unleashing his formidable technique.
Observing Hashirama's transformation, Hagoromo noted the subtle differences in his technique. It was no longer chakra flowing within Hashirama, but cursed energy, and the nature of the technique itself had evolved. Intrigued by this development, Hagoromo watched intently as Hashirama prepared to confront Ryomen Sukuna.
Sukuna soon noticed a massive explosion of cursed energy and beheld a towering Thousand-Handed Statue. "What!" he exclaimed, before being overwhelmed by Hashirama's onslaught. Utilizing Chojo Kebutsu, Artifacts of the Buddha, and Maximum Technique: Myōjinmon, Hashirama commanded the thousand hands to assail Sukuna relentlessly. Simultaneously, a massive red torii gate materialized, sealing Sukuna's cursed energy, trapping him in place. As Sukuna watched in confusion and irritation, enormous wooden arms descended upon him, reducing him to nothing more than a flattened piece of flesh and powdered bone, leaving a hundred-meter crater in the ground.
Hagoromo then manifested twenty Demon Fingers, each severed from Sukuna's arm. Within moments, all twenty fingers were positioned for sealing.
Hashirama gestured, "Uzumaki Sealing Technique!" The remnants of Sukuna were drawn into the twenty fingers, but not before Sukuna's mouth regenerated with a reverse cursed technique, allowing him to question, with irritation and anger evident in his tone, "Who the hell are you?"
Initially inclined to ignore Sukuna to prevent information leaks—a fundamental rule of ninja—Hashirama hesitated. However, Hagoromo intervened, instructing Hashirama to disclose his identity, revealing that Hashirama's descendants would face Sukuna in the future, as ordained by fate.
Hashirama met Sukuna's gaze. "Hashirama Senju. Remember my name, Ryomen Sukuna!"
"Hashirama Senju? The moment I am free, I will slaughter the Senju Clan!" Sukuna vowed vehemently before disappearing into the fingers.
With a wave of his hand, Hagoromo scattered the fingers of Ryomen Sukuna. "Our task is complete. The Senju Clan will emerge with you as its patriarch," he informed Hashirama.
"Do I remain here, Sage?" Hashirama inquired.
"No, the world will take care of that. The name Hashirama Senju will be renowned among all sorcerers as the God of the Sorcerers, the only one to claim victory over Sukuna," Hagoromo declared as he opened a portal, and both vanished from the scene.
After the sealing of Ryomen Sukuna, the Senju clan flourished like verdant plants, with Hashirama Senju appointed as its inaugural patriarch. This incarnation of Senju Hashirama was a manifestation created by the world itself to embody the strength of the legendary sorcerer.
The Senju boasted two inherited techniques: the immense reserves of cursed energy and the renowned Shinboku no Jumon, utilized by Hashirama Senju to vanquish Ryomen Sukuna.
Diverging from conventional bloodline practices, the Senju clan prioritized quantity over quality. Individuals unable to sense cursed energy were integrated into normal society to assist the clan in mundane matters such as managing finances and property. Conversely, those with the innate ability to sense cursed energy were rigorously trained as sorcerers, regardless of their initial talent. "The Strength of the Forest" became the clan's motto, symbolizing both its greatest asset and vulnerability.
The Senju clan swiftly gained renown for their multifaceted skills. However, over the course of a thousand years, successive patriarchs either inherited vast cursed energy reserves or mastery of the Shinboku no Jumon technique, but none simultaneously possessed both.
Despite their eventual decline, the Senju clan remained proud of their heritage. Their legacy endured as the only clan to secure a victory over Sukuna, the King of Curses.
Senju Hashirama, the legendary sorcerer, became a revered figure within the annals of sorcery.