After two days of travel…
Kazuku saw Konohagakure's gates.
Unexpectedly, his grandfather Hashirama, in a haori, leaned against the gate.
As if waiting for someone.
Kazuku slowed, approaching.
Sarutobi hurried forward, bowing. "First Hokage-sama!"
Sakumo's eyes widened. He never dreamed he'd meet the First Hokage here.
Sarutobi's tales had made Hashirama a god to him!
But…
Though excited, Sakumo wasn't clueless.
A figure like Hashirama wasn't here for him.
"Must be for Kazuku."
Sakumo glanced at Kazuku, envious.
"Back, huh, Hiruzen? Haha, no need for formality. I'm barely the Hokage now."
Hashirama crossed his arms, laughing.
He never carried the Ninja God's airs.
"Yo, you're the Hatayama's Sakumo, right?" Hashirama eyed Sakumo.
Quite the looker.
"First Hokage-sama knows me?" Sakumo's eyes bulged, flattered.
He never imagined the First Hokage knew his name!
"Of course. I recommended to Tobirama that you team with Kazuku. You're the village's future—grow well."
Hashirama gently patted Sakumo's head, smiling fondly.
Kazuku watched, sensing Hashirama's hopes for the next generation.
"But… what's Hashirama-sama here for?" Sarutobi interjected.
Though approachable, Hashirama coming here must mean something.
"Oh, nothing big."
Hashirama feigned thought. "Maybe a whim. Hiruzen, can I borrow Kazuku?"
"Huh…" Sarutobi blinked, surprised by Hashirama's tone.
But he'd guessed it involved Kazuku.
"You're his captain, after all." Hashirama smiled.
With Sarutobi's permission, Hashirama turned to Kazuku, inviting his grandson.
Kazuku didn't refuse.
The fourth check-in's cooldown had hours left.
"But what's this about, Grandpa Hashirama?" Kazuku couldn't help asking.
"No rush."
Hashirama grabbed Kazuku's arm, hoisting him onto his back.
When set down, they were in a clearing.
Behind, dense forest.
Ahead, Konohagakure in full view.
"This is…"
Kazuku walked to the cliff's edge, looking down, confirming his guess.
This…
Was atop the Hokage Rock!
Though he'd been in this world over a year, it was his first time here.
This view of Konohagakure felt unique.
"Why here?" Kazuku turned, asking.
He still couldn't figure out Hashirama's intent.
Hashirama clapped. Wood Release: Wooden Table Jutsu!
Vines rose, thickening into a solid low table.
From his haori sleeve, Hashirama pulled a scroll, using Summoning Jutsu.
Pre-prepared sake and tea appeared on the table.
He spread a picnic blanket.
With the forest backdrop, it was charming.
Kazuku strode to the blanket, removed his shoes, and sat cross-legged.
He wasn't used to kneeling.
"Completing this escort makes you a true ninja, Kazuku." Hashirama smiled.
"Yeah, honestly, I didn't expect to become a ninja so fast." Kazuku probed, "So, Grandpa Hashirama's celebrating?"
"Haha, of course not."
Kazuku: "???"
Hashirama's smile turned nostalgic, not for Kazuku.
He took a sake cup, splashing it onto the soil.
Like a tribute.
"I had a friend."
"Mhm." Kazuku nodded. When Hashirama said "friend," he knew the name.
Madara!
And Kazuku felt Hashirama's genuine emotion.
"One afternoon, we met by a stream."
"We trained, competed—skipping stones, racing, climbing…"
"When tired, we'd sit, sharing our dreams, our desire to protect our younger brothers."
"Then, we vowed to end the wars."
"To let all kids be open, honest, unlike us…"
"Valuing each other, caring, yet unable to share our surnames."
Hashirama shook his head, a wry smile forming, downing his sake.
Kazuku understood.
In the Warring States, even four- or five-year-olds had blood on their hands.
Revealing surnames ended friendships.
Hashirama and Madara's secrecy preserved their bond.
"Then what?" Kazuku asked.
"Then? Many things happened. We learned each other's identities, our clans' hatred."
"We wanted to escape it, but lacked the power."
"On battlefields, we clashed repeatedly, yet always held back."
"Until we became our clans' leaders."
Hashirama sipped more sake, slamming the empty cup, refilling it.
He skipped Tobirama killing Izuna.
"After, we set aside clan grudges, founding Konohagakure."
"I wanted him to be Hokage, thinking if he had something to protect, he'd…"
Hashirama gave another wry smile.
The Fire Country's daimyo, Tobirama, the clan representatives…
None supported Madara.
They thought Hashirama was better suited.
Ninja God?
Closest to the Sage of the Six Paths?
Yet he couldn't help his dearest friend.
"Grandpa, you're talking about Uchiha Madara, right?" Kazuku stood, walked over, patted Hashirama's shoulder, and smiled.
"I've heard your story."
"Because you mastered Wood Release, the village is Konohagakure. Because Madara excelled at Fire Release, the leader's the Hokage, right?"
(End of Chapter)