As the ancient tree branches pierced through the ground, breaking free from the Water Prison and tightly binding themselves, Kakuzu felt a sense of disbelief. He could feel the abundant vitality and surging life force, yet none of it was his. It belonged entirely to the massive tree before him.
The branches coiled around him, rapidly siphoning away his chakra. As his strength waned, the tree grew even more robust. In mere seconds, a towering ancient tree had fully formed.
"So this is the legendary Wood Release?" Kakuzu murmured, staring at the colossal tree.
"You... you're done for. My brother is here!" Tobirama Senju, restrained by the wooden tendrils, struggled to speak. Moments ago, he had narrowly escaped death, only to have his chakra drained, leaving him gasping for air.
"Hah, no need to remind me, you useless heir. Can't beat me, so you run to your big brother? Pathetic."
"!!" Tobirama seethed at Kakuzu's taunt. Useless heir? Running to his brother? Did those terms really suit the Second Hokage?
Unable to retort, Tobirama resigned himself to silence. If his brother hadn't arrived, he might not have survived this encounter. Taking a deep breath, he began regulating his breathing and staunching his wounds to prevent further blood loss.
Soon, a figure appeared in the distance.
A man with long hair cascading to his waist, wearing the Hokage's hat and robe, exuded a serene and refined aura. Behind him stood a few loyal subordinates.
Hashirama Senju was here.
As the Hokage, Hashirama routinely patrolled the borders to maintain diplomatic relations with neighboring nations and spread Konoha's message of love and peace.
Upon arrival, Hashirama glanced at Kakuzu, then at Tobirama. He raised a hand, forming the Tiger Seal.
Creaaak.
The wooden tendrils began retracting, their creaking echoes filling the air before vanishing into the earth. The ground closed seamlessly behind them, erasing all traces of the battle.
"Tobirama," Hashirama began, his tone gentle yet firm, "how many times have I told you? The ninja world has finally entered a rare period of peace. We must cherish this time and avoid needless fighting."
"As members of the Senju clan, we should lead by example, resolving conflicts through diplomacy. So why are you fighting again?"
Kakuzu, relieved not to be the one getting scolded, stretched his sore limbs and contemplated his next move. Escaping? Not worth it—he had no intention of creating another infamous scene.
Glancing at Hashirama, Kakuzu thought to himself, Hashirama Senju… we meet again. I managed to dodge that eight-hundred-mile barrage of shuriken, only to cross paths with you like this. Fate is cruel.
Meanwhile, his mind wandered to his ultimate goal: acquiring Hashirama's cells to elevate his Earth Grudge Fear technique to the next level.
Hashirama's lecture, reminiscent of a monk's endless sermon, finally drew a sigh from Tobirama, who had regained enough composure to stand. His subordinates quickly finished dressing his wounds.
"Elder brother, enough," Tobirama interjected, exasperated. "That guy—" He pointed at Kakuzu. "—he's showing all the signs of being a spy."
"Hmm?" Hashirama turned his gaze toward Kakuzu, his curiosity piqued. Stroking his chin thoughtfully, he asked, "Are you truly a spy?"
...
A Few Days Later – Inside Konoha
In the interrogation room, Kakuzu leaned back, rocking his chair lazily.
It had been four hours since he'd arrived. During this time, Konoha's shinobi had brought him meals—decent ones at that—and instructed him to wait. He didn't mind. Free food and lodging? Not bad at all.
The only downside was the temporary confiscation of his hard-earned 15,000,000 ryo bounty, which Tobirama had claimed was "dangerous materials."
No way I'm letting that guy pocket it, Kakuzu thought. I'll report it to Hashirama—say I lost 20,000,000 ryo and Tobirama took 5,000,000 for himself. Let's see how the Senju clan enjoys their name being tarnished across the ninja world. Heh.
While mulling over his plan, the door creaked open, flooding the room with light.
"Come with me. The Hokage wants to see you," said a female voice.
The speaker was a young woman with long hair characteristic of the Senju clan, half of her face obscured by bangs. Her arm bore the Senju emblem, resembling a double-pronged hook.
She was known as Senju Momoka, a prominent figure within the Senju clan. If Senju Tobirama was the clan's second-in-command, then she was undoubtedly the third.
Kakuzu, unrestrained and casual, stood up effortlessly from his seat.
"Lead the way, beauty!" he said with a smirk.
Momoka shot Kakuzu a glance but didn't bother responding. Once he stepped outside, she closed the door behind her and leapt onto the rooftops with a single, fluid motion. The message was clear: she was in a hurry, and he needed to keep up.
"Heh, these people are bold. Aren't they worried I'll just take off?" Kakuzu muttered to himself. He couldn't help but think the people of Konohagakure lacked vigilance.
To be fair, they didn't have much reason to be overly cautious. The outside world posed little threat to them, thanks to Senju Hashirama, the living legend. Who would dare to provoke Konoha with the First Hokage watching over it? Oh, and let's not forget Uchiha Madara, another powerhouse. With these two titans of the ninja world standing guard, it was no wonder the villagers felt at ease.
Flying across the rooftops with Momoka leading the way, Kakuzu took the opportunity to survey the village. Honestly, the current Konohagakure didn't match his expectations. There was a significant difference between the Konoha of his imagination and the reality before him.
The current year was Year 6 of the New Ninja Era, and Konoha had been established for five years. At Kakuzu's ten o'clock position stood the Hokage Rock, where Senju Hashirama's visage was already carved into the mountain as the First Hokage. From there, smaller houses and residences began to spread outward.
However, the village still felt sparse. The streets, though neatly constructed, were lined with only a smattering of buildings here and there. Pedestrians bustled about, pushing carts, working on construction, or attending to various tasks along the roads. While there were quite a few people, the atmosphere lacked the vibrant energy of a truly thriving village. There weren't bustling markets or lively food streets to highlight the prosperity one might associate with Konoha's future.
That said, it wasn't entirely devoid of liveliness. From his vantage point, Kakuzu spotted a corner in the southwest where many houses had been built in a uniform style. Judging by the layout, it was likely the residential area for one of the larger clans. The people there probably kept to themselves and had little interaction with the rest of the village.
In short, Konoha still looked underdeveloped compared to the bustling metropolis it would one day become. The contrast was striking, especially for someone like Kakuzu, who had seen its eventual grandeur. It even reminded him of his home, Takigakure, which was even more desolate, with its abundance of thatched huts.
"A village is a massive system," Kakuzu thought to himself. "It's only just been established, so I suppose everything is still a work in progress."
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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