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Konoha Village.
Outside the gate.
A sturdy, slightly overweight man carried a basket on his back. Inside the basket sat an old man.
The two walked along the road toward Konoha Village.
Their attire was predominantly red and yellow, and the ninja emblem on their foreheads marked them as from Iwagakure.
They were none other than the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, and his guard, Akatsuchi.
"Tsuchikage-sama, I still don't understand. We're going to the Five Kage Summit, a perfectly legitimate event. Why are we keeping it a secret from the village?" Akatsuchi asked.
"How many times have you asked that on this journey?" Onoki replied irritably.
"Well, you haven't given me an answer yet," Akatsuchi said, unfazed by Onoki's annoyance.
"We're almost at Konoha Village," Onoki said, changing the subject.
"Tsuchikage-sama, why didn't you let Kurotsuchi come to the summit?" Akatsuchi asked again.
"Are you a walking question machine?" Onoki glared at Akatsuchi.
"Hehehe, is it because you trust me the most?" Akatsuchi chuckled.
"Don't flatter yourself!"
Onoki shook his head and looked gravely at the ninja symbol on Konoha Village's gate, his memories drifting back to when he came here with his master, Mu, for diplomacy.
The result...
They didn't get to meet the First Hokage.
Instead, they encountered Uchiha Madara.
They were completely outmatched!
Now, as he approached to meet the First Hokage, he couldn't help but feel uneasy.
"In truth, there's no harm in telling you. The reason I didn't bring Kurotsuchi is to leave some hope for Iwagakure."
Onoki's voice was tinged with melancholy. Though he didn't feel old, the thought of who he was facing weighed heavily on him.
It was the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama.
Onoki felt completely uncertain.
This feeling of uncertainty dated back to when he was 13 years old.
That was the year he came to Konoha Village and met Uchiha Madara.
"What hope?"
Question marks popped into Akatsuchi's head. He continued to walk toward Konoha's gate, despite his questions.
"Before I left, I sent a secret letter to the Daimyo," Onoki sighed, as if the statement took all his strength.
"What secret letter?" Akatsuchi's curiosity was fully piqued.
"If I don't return this time, Kurotsuchi will become the Fourth Tsuchikage. There will be no revenge. Instead, we will submit to Konoha and seek peace until the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, is entirely gone from the ninja world," Onoki said solemnly.
"Is it really that serious?" Akatsuchi's mouth twitched as he imagined Tsuchikage-sama defeating the other four Kage.
"It might be even more serious. I've met Uchiha Madara, and his power still fills me with despair when I think about it," Onoki sighed again.
"But this Five Kage Summit is organized by Senju Hashirama, not Uchiha Madara!" Akatsuchi said in confusion. He didn't understand what this had to do with Uchiha Madara.
"Senju Hashirama... is even more terrifying than Uchiha Madara!" Onoki replied with a helpless, bitter smile.
"Oh, I see!" Akatsuchi felt like he somewhat understood.
"Let's hurry inside. Hopefully, there will be someone lucky enough not to attend this Five Kage Summit. That would be ideal," Onoki said, shaking his head in resignation.
"Why would it be better if someone didn't come?" Akatsuchi asked again.
"You really are full of questions. But this is worth explaining. If any Kage doesn't show up, Senju Hashirama's full attention will be on them. That would make things easier for the rest of us who are here," Onoki sighed.
"I see!"
Akatsuchi didn't fully grasp it, but he knew the wisdom of the old. The Third Tsuchikage wouldn't make a decision that would put them at a disadvantage.
While they spoke, they stepped through Konoha Village's gate.
...
Hokage's Office.
As soon as Hashirama finished speaking, Tsunade was stunned.
Involving her?
What could it be?
The first things that came to Tsunade's mind were Nawaki and Dan Kato. She wanted to ask, but felt it wasn't appropriate in this setting.
"Yes."
Tsunade nodded, choosing to be an obedient listener.
Hashirama's gaze shifted from Tsunade to Gaara.
"The Kazekage is so young!"
Hashirama's lips curled into a slight smile as he took a step toward Gaara.
Boom!
With just that one step, the gourd on Gaara's back burst open.
A torrent of yellow sand surged forth, forming a semicircular wall in front of Gaara, directly blocking Hashirama.
"Hmm?"
Hashirama looked at Gaara with a half-smile, pointing at the sand wall. "What's the meaning of this, Kazekage-sama?"
"The sand is out of control," Gaara quickly explained. He hadn't come here to start a fight. He tried to control his chakra to retract the sand, but it wouldn't obey.
The sand remained in front of him, forming a solid barrier.
It was as if it was protecting Gaara.
"No problem."
Hashirama took a long look at the sand wall, reevaluating Gaara's defense system. It could sense danger and react preemptively.
Then.
Hashirama stepped back, restoring the distance between him and Gaara.
Rustle!
The sand wall instantly collapsed.
The yellow sand that had scattered regained control, returning to Gaara's back and reforming into a gourd made of sand.
"Gaara, what just happened?" Temari asked, her brow furrowed and sweat on her brow. She was genuinely frightened that a fight might break out.
"Gaara, don't be impulsive!" Kankuro added from the side.
"I didn't do anything," Gaara explained, shaking his head. Even he didn't understand why the sand behind him had suddenly gone berserk. It was something that had never happened before, as if it was trying to defend him.
Whoosh!
At that moment, a figure flashed and appeared at the Hokage's office door.
"Third Hokage, I just received a report from the outpost. The Tsuchikage has arrived!" the messenger reported in a stern voice.
"Excellent!" The Third Hokage immediately nodded. With the Tsuchikage here, at least the Three Kage Summit could be convened. He then said, "Please bring the Tsuchikage in promptly."
"Yes!"
The messenger nodded and disappeared in an instant.
"Now we just need the Raikage and the Mizukage," Hashirama said with a smile. It seemed his presence still had some influence; he knew the Five Kage wouldn't dare to miss the summit.
A few minutes later.
Heavy footsteps echoed in the corridor outside the Hokage's office. A tall man, carrying a small old man on his back, approached and stopped at the door of the Hokage's office.
Akatsuchi set Onoki down.
Onoki floated several centimeters off the ground, suspended in the air.
"So many people!" Onoki was surprised to see the Hokage's office so bustling. His gaze first landed on the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Hokage-sama, it's been a long time!" Onoki greeted proudly, recalling their last meeting when Sarutobi had been forced to surrender.
Then, Onoki's gaze shifted to Gaara.
"It's quite impressive for Sunagakure to have such a young Kazekage!" Onoki remarked, though he didn't think much of Gaara's abilities, feeling more like Gaara was just a placeholder.
The Five Kage Summit was like a feast with a hidden agenda!
After speaking these two sentences, Onoki noticed that neither the Hokage nor the Kazekage responded, sensing an odd atmosphere.
In the next moment, Onoki's gaze fell on a man dressed in dark red battle armor. His eyes widened in shock, and his chakra flow became less smooth. He trembled slightly and fell to the ground.
"F-F-First... First Hokage... Sir!"
Onoki swallowed hard. Although he had never truly met the First Hokage before, he was certain now.
This man was the First Hokage.
Senju Hashirama!
(The End of This Chapter)