The oppressive atmosphere in the hall seemed to intensify with Uchiha Madara's arrival, but it was quickly dispersed by a hearty laugh.
"Hahaha! My sincerest apologies, everyone! I can't believe I'm late this time. Truly, forgive me! Please don't hold it against me!"
Senju Hashirama strode into the hall, draped in his Hokage robes and wearing the signature Hokage hat. Mistaking the silence for dissatisfaction with his tardiness, he kept bowing and apologizing, his affable demeanor filling the room with a warmth only he could bring.
In truth, who could dislike this "goofball" of a Hokage? The clan representatives rose one after another, smiling as they greeted Hashirama. Even Kakuzu, seated near the corner, couldn't help but recall a meme from his previous life: If an intern makes a joke, it's unprofessional. But if the boss does, it's a sign of approachability.
And indeed, Hashirama's lightheartedness was infectious, lifting the previously heavy mood in the hall.
Taking his seat at the head of the table, Hashirama gave a brief smile to Madara, who remained composed and silent beside him, then gestured for quiet. Senju Tobirama, seated below, immediately understood and motioned for the room to settle down.
Hashirama, not one for unnecessary preamble, went straight to the point.
"Everyone, the current peace we enjoy in the shinobi world has been hard-earned. It is something I, and I believe all of you, deeply cherish. But peace is fragile, and to ensure it lasts, I propose we take action."
"I plan to capture the nine Tailed Beasts roaming the shinobi world."
The room fell into stunned silence.
"Don't worry about the details, Madara and I will handle the task ourselves."
Madara's half-lidded eyes flickered open for a moment. He didn't speak, but the quiet intensity of his gaze seemed to affirm Hashirama's words.
Hashirama, sensing the room's hesitation, attempted to appear more "democratic."
"Of course, if anyone has objections, please feel free to voice them now."
His words were met with awkward smiles. Oppose him? And suggest what instead? That someone else should take on this monumental task? Even Tobirama, his calculating younger brother, furrowed his brows in silence.
The Tailed Beasts were legendary creatures—powerful forces of nature that most couldn't hope to confront. No one in the room dared to suggest otherwise. The proposal was approved without debate.
"Excellent!" Hashirama clapped his hands. "Now, about village administration during my absence..."
He turned to Tobirama. "You'll oversee Konoha as acting Hokage. For any major issues, convene the clans and reach a consensus. In case of emergencies, send word using the usual channels. Oh, and here."
Hashirama handed Tobirama a Flying Thunder God kunai. "If anything urgent comes up, use this to summon me immediately."
A week later, under the watchful eyes of Konoha's citizens, Hashirama and Madara departed. Each carried a massive scroll on their backs, waving farewell to the crowd as they began their mission to capture the Tailed Beasts.
...
Meanwhile, life in Konoha continued as usual. Or mostly.
In a dimly lit laboratory, Kakuzu was busy at work, surrounded by experimental apparatus and small animal test subjects.
"You're wasting no time, are you?" Kakuzu remarked, glancing at Tobirama, who stood observing him.
Holding a test tube in one hand and a pipette in the other, Kakuzu carefully added a drop of liquid. A wisp of green smoke curled from the mixture, which he promptly poured into a nearby machine. His fingers danced over the keyboard as data streamed across the screen.
Tobirama didn't react to the jab, his sharp eyes fixed on Kakuzu's meticulous movements.
"Have you finished reading the anatomical texts I compiled?" Tobirama finally asked.
Kakuzu smirked, his tone laced with casual confidence. "What do you think?"
Tobirama frowned. Kakuzu's learning speed was unnerving—too fast to be natural. What had taken Tobirama years to study and refine, Kakuzu seemed to master in months.
Unbeknownst to Tobirama, Kakuzu's previous life had given him a foundational understanding of anatomy and biology. While he wasn't an expert back then, his familiarity with the concepts gave him a significant head start in this world. With the right resources, catching up was inevitable.
But Kakuzu had no intention of explaining that.
In the laboratory, Kakuzu adjusted the computers and experimental equipment with an air of familiarity. These were technologies he had mastered in his previous life—what could possibly be difficult about them now? With a few keystrokes, a report printed out.
"This is the latest experimental data," Kakuzu announced, handing the sheet over. "It outlines the maximum amount of chakra the human body can rapidly gather and disperse in the shortest time possible."
Tobirama Senju took the report and immediately cross-referenced it with a carefully prepared calibration chart. His attention to detail was meticulous, and Kakuzu joined him at the workstation, making comparisons as they worked.
The current research project stemmed from one of Tobirama's bold hypotheses about ninjutsu. For most shinobi, innovating a new jutsu was a personal journey—trial and error conducted through training alone. Tobirama, however, had built an extensive laboratory for rigorous experimentation.
Kakuzu understood the deeper reason. Tobirama wasn't merely studying ninjutsu—he was delving into the realm of Forbidden Techniques. The line separating the two was clear: traditional ninjutsu adhered to the natural principles of chakra manipulation, utilizing elemental affinities or variations in chakra form. These methods, honed over generations, were safe for the average shinobi. In rare cases, a powerful yet dangerous jutsu might be classified as Forbidden Techniques due to its severe side effects.
But Tobirama's approach diverged from tradition. He sought to observe the rapid fluctuations of chakra within the body—to explore how chakra could be swiftly gathered and dispersed. It was an unorthodox and perilous method, one that even Hashirama had been hesitant to attempt on himself. The risks were too great, and so the experiments continued.
For three months, Tobirama and Kakuzu refined their research. Finally, they devised a method to rapidly gather and disperse chakra.
The day had come to test their findings.
At a secluded training ground on the outskirts of Konohagakure, Tobirama and Kakuzu stood alone. Kakuzu sat calmly in a chair, one hand holding a pocket watch while the other rested on the arm of his seat.
"Begin," Kakuzu said, clicking the stopwatch.
Tobirama stepped forward. Following their conclusions from the experiments, he knew that guiding chakra through traditional hand seals would not suffice for this technique. After extensive debate and adjustments, they had settled on a single solution.
Raising both arms, Tobirama crossed his fingers in front of his chest.
"Tajū Kage Bunshin no Jutsu! (Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!)"
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Hi, I recently started a great fanfic about a transmigrator in Jiraiya's body, with Tsunade as the female lead. The story is pretty solid, so I'd really appreciate it if you could add it to your library and drop a power stone. The title is Naruto: Starting with Infinite Chakra, and you can find it on my profile. Hope you have a great day!
For each 100 Power Stones +1 Chapter
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