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"Hmm~"
The sulking creature let out a dissatisfied whimper and continued muttering under its breath, but Hashirama completely ignored it.
Whimper all you want, respond if you dare!
Hashirama leisurely headed toward the Land of Fire. After this trip to the Land of Rain, it was time to return to Konoha Village.
Surely...
The aftereffects of the Chunin Exam must have settled by now!
Konoha Village should be back on track.
I wonder if you all remember me, the man who walked out of the coffin?
A slight smile tugged at the corner of Hashirama's mouth. He had a feeling his presence had been kept under wraps; otherwise, the Akatsuki wouldn't be completely unaware.
Perhaps...
You thought the Impure World Reincarnation would be undone!
The more Hashirama pondered, the more amused he became. Events were unfolding in an entirely unpredictable direction.
One week later.
Hashirama appeared on the main road outside Konoha Village, flanked by lush forests. Ahead was the familiar yet unfamiliar Konoha Village gate.
Familiar because he had seen this gate with the Konoha emblem countless times in the anime.
Unfamiliar because this was his first time seeing it in the world of Naruto.
The last time he left Konoha, he followed Orochimaru out through a wall, never getting the chance to see this gate.
Buzz!
Suddenly.
As Hashirama walked forward, it felt like he passed through an invisible thin film, breaking through it instantly.
The sensation was incredibly strange and indescribable.
"What is this?"
Hashirama keenly sensed a faint trace of chakra.
If his Hashirama cells weren't over 30%, making his body extremely sensitive, he might not have noticed.
"Konoha Village's barrier?"
A small question mark appeared above Hashirama's head. He remembered Konoha Village had a barrier capable of sensing outsiders.
Similar to the rain in the Land of Rain.
People in Konoha knew how to bypass the barrier, allowing it to quickly detect the arrival of outsiders.
No big deal!
Hashirama didn't mind triggering the barrier. He continued walking toward the Konoha Village gate.
...
In Konoha Village, somewhere.
A man sat with his eyes closed in a room, a spherical transparent circle in front of him.
It was the barrier of Konoha Village.
Buzz!
At that moment, a ripple appeared on the calm circle, like a stone tossed into a tranquil lake.
"An intruder!"
The man's eyes snapped open, glaring at the spherical barrier with a sharp gaze.
"One target."
"Main gate entrance."
"Slow speed."
"Extremely strong chakra sense!"
Sweat trickled down the man's forehead as he spoke. In that brief moment, he faintly sensed the intruder's chakra.
Vast as an ocean!
He had never encountered a ninja with such immense chakra!
The man preferred to believe that he had sensed incorrectly and that it was merely an illusion.
"Yes!"
The ninja behind him responded instantly, disappearing in a flash to report the situation.
...
Hashirama continued walking toward Konoha Village's main gate at a steady, unhurried pace, his steps following a specific rhythm.
The sulking creature flapped its wings and followed behind him, now silent after being completely ignored the entire journey.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
As Hashirama reached the entrance to Konoha Village, several figures quickly appeared, each wearing Konoha's forehead protectors. They were all unfamiliar faces to Hashirama, mere background characters in the anime.
Each of them was dressed in standard Konoha ninja attire, with the village's forehead protector.
They were members of Konoha's Barrier Team.
"Who are you?"
The team leader asked Hashirama, his eyes filled with confusion. He felt the man before him looked oddly familiar, but he couldn't place him immediately.
As for the others...
Some of their faces had already turned pale with fear.
"I am Hashirama Senju."
Hashirama stated his name indifferently, offering no further explanation.
Whoosh!
In an instant.
All of them gasped in shock.
Each one of them stared at Hashirama's face, matching it with the visage carved into the Hokage Rock they often saw in their minds.
There was no mistake!
He was indeed Hashirama Senju!
Each of them swallowed hard. As Konoha ninjas, none of them could be unfamiliar with that name.
The founding Hokage of Konoha!
The man known as the God of Shinobi!
But...
Why was this legendary man, who had been dead for many years, now reappearing in Konoha?
A large question mark appeared in the minds of the ninjas.
"Lord First Hokage!"
In an instant, all the ninjas knelt on one knee in salute. Although they were puzzled by many things, they knew to uphold the proper etiquette.
"No need to be so formal."
Hashirama waved his hand dismissively and then glanced up at the village gate, which was still just out of reach.
"Aren't you going to invite me in?"
Hashirama smiled lightly, his tone carrying a hint of playfulness. Yet, this only made the ninjas even more anxious.
"Please, come in!"
The Barrier Team ninjas quickly stood and moved aside, unwilling to obstruct the path of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju.
The ninjas stood on either side of the path, exchanging glances. One of them started to leave.
"I advise you not to run around."
Hashirama cast a casual glance at the departing ninja.
Immediately, the ninja froze as if struck by lightning, standing in place with a surge of fear.
This was not a genjutsu.
Just the simplest of glances.
But it was an incredibly intimidating gaze!
It made the ninja feel like he was facing a fierce tiger, while he himself was merely a fragile rabbit.
"And don't speak out of turn."
Hashirama added. Despite his lack of overt presence, appearing like an ordinary person, no one dared to treat him as such.
"Lord First Hokage, you…"
The Barrier Team leader couldn't help but ask, as it was their duty.
"Just go about your business. You don't need to ask too many questions about me. If you have any confusion, go find the Third Hokage."
Hashirama waved his hand again, uninterested in explaining anything to these passersby. He then stepped forward, swiftly vanishing in a blur as he headed toward the Hokage's office, leaving them with only his back.
"What…"
The Barrier Team members looked at each other again, their faces etched with concern.
How are we going to explain this?
Who could have expected to encounter such a presence!
(End of Chapter)