"So, whatever you take from me with that chip… I trust it won't be used to destroy the world, like Madara."
Hashirama Senju sighed emotionally. "In truth, both Madara and I wanted peace. He was even the first one to speak of that dream. We both knew the pain of loss during the Warring States era, so…"
"That fool… didn't even realize he was being used. But tell me, am I also being used by you now, Ku?"
Yun smiled but didn't answer.
Hashirama waved dismissively. "It doesn't matter. Like I said before, your dream proves that you're no Madara. You're not trying to destroy the world."
"What is a shinobi? What's the purpose of a village? Why shinobis exist… Madara and I were wrong about many things. And even now, we don't know what the right answers are."
"All of that… It's up to your generation to verify, to refine the system. Someday, I believe there will be no more war, and children will no longer be sent to the battlefield…"
As his words faded, the spirit of the First Hokage disappeared.
But it wasn't the kind of disappearance from Edo Tensei after releasing regret. Hashirama, who still cared about Konoha and the world, had never truly let go of his attachments.
High above the Hokage Rock, Yun looked down at the spatial projection of Konoha below, then waved his hand.
In an instant, the entire village scattered like sand in the wind.
"Humans are social creatures. But once they gather, there will be disputes. And with disputes comes resentment."
"The seeds of hatred grow deeper in people's hearts. Eventually, profit and resources force people to band together. That's how villages form."
"One day, I will fulfill your wish… First Hokage."
[Simulating Future Changes of Hashirama Senju (Pure Land)]
[Status: Dead, no change]
[Konoha's Fate: Altered]
[World Mainline: Altered]
[Uchiha Madara's Layer-3 Nested Fate: Altered]
[Hashirama Senju (Pure Land) Fate Change Level: 50.2%]
[Earth Chakra (Kekkei Genkai Fusion Possible)]
[Water Chakra (Kekkei Genkai Fusion Possible)]
[Sage Body (Bloodline)]
'Only three items to choose from, this time, changes to Hashirama were minor.'
'If not for revealing future dangers and mentioning Edo Tensei as a future opportunity, the change percentage might've been even lower.'
'No secret scrolls, no Sage Arts, not even Wood Release.'
'Fortunately, the Sage Body bloodline surpassed the 50% threshold and was preserved. Otherwise, might as well have picked Obito.'
'Though… what about Asura's chakra?'
'Did Hashirama still have it even after reincarnating into Naruto? Or could the Intelligence Exchange System replicate the powers the client once possessed?'
A surge of vitality began flooding into Yun's body. Whether it came from the Sage of Six Paths or Asura, the chakra easily remedied his chakra deficiency.
No, not just remedied, it vastly exceeded it.
As the life force surged through him, Yun sensed something unusual.
He held out his palm, and with focused attention, a faint breeze began to swirl before dispersing moments later.
'Was that… wind nature chakra?'
'Hashirama had wind chakra?'
'Well, Asura certainly did. In later stages, his Six Paths Mode included all seven chakra natures.'
'But how much was included in the Sage Body?'
The thought struck him. Yun suddenly sprang to his feet and began rifling through drawers.
Bang!
Clang!
The rummaging was noisy.
"Yun…" came his mother's voice from outside.
Yun instantly froze. Any more suspicion and he'd be in big trouble tomorrow.
After some time, he quietly sat back down, holding a small slip of paper, chakra paper, made from trees that feed on chakra.
In the past, Yun had already tested his chakra nature and only had an affinity for fire.
But now…
"Shhh!"
One corner of the paper caught fire. As expected, fire nature.
Then another side split cleanly, wind nature.
Then a part crumbled, earth nature.
And finally, the last corner became a damp, water nature.
Of the five chakra natures, he now lacked only lightning.
'It seemed the Sage Body inherited from Hashirama didn't just include his own talents, it had traces of Asura's.'
'Wood Release comes from combining water and earth chakras, but that bloodline limit was apparently not inherited by his descendants.'
'So perhaps… Wood Release is more related to the Sage Body?'
'What was the hand seal for Deep Forest Emergence again?
'Did Hashirama even need hand seals? Did Madara?'
Yun's thoughts drifted to that old meme.
Meanwhile, outside Konoha, Uzumaki Ku was also sensing the sudden influx of life energy.
If he had had this much chakra earlier, he wouldn't have died several times. With this vitality, even stabbing through his gut might heal quickly.
He grumbled to himself for a moment, then looked toward a building nearby:
Konoha Orphanage.
Since returning to Konoha, most of Yun's nights were spent monitoring this place.
He had no choice. After changing the Fourth Hokage's fate, Danzo, the king of scapegoating, seemed to have gone into hiding, refusing to show himself.
And Root was not a place Yun could barge into right now. Lacking chakra meant walking into death. Even if not, exposing his resurrection ability unnecessarily was unwise.
So he chose to stake out the orphanage.
This was one of the places Danzo would visit during this time. Also, it was the place where Kabuto was recruited into the Root.
Knock knock knock!
Three figures stood at the orphanage gate. One of them, wearing glasses like future Shino, stepped up to knock.
Moments later, the door opened and the group entered. The woman who answered, Nonō Yakushi, wore a worried expression from the start.
"Scent of snakes… Looks like the target's here. Time to finish this in one clean strike."
Swoosh!
Suddenly, Yun appeared atop the orphanage roof, just as the conversation inside began.
"To think, the so-called Wandering Miko is now just a nanny. Long time no see, Nonō, you look worn out," came Danzo's voice.
"I stopped using that name a long time ago. As for the aid funds, we've already come to terms with Konoha," Nonō frowned slightly.
Danzo rested his chin on his hand. His heavy gaze made her visibly nervous.
"As a former member of Root, you shouldn't be unaware… especially regarding Iwagakure."
"In truth, I came not only for the aid funds, but for you, the Wandering Miko!"