บท 5: Chapter 5: Provoke
As Hashirama's voice echoed through the barrier, the entire space fell silent.
They listened intently and were curious about what this legendary figure had to say.
"Monkey."
Hashirama addressed the Third Hokage calmly.
Swish!
In the blink of an eye, Hashirama's figure flashed and appeared right before the Sarutobi, leaving Orochimaru behind.
He wasn't concerned about Orochimaru escaping because no one could run away in this shinobi world.
"First Hokage-sama!"
Sarutobi took a deep breath, looking closely at Hashirama's face with numerous cracks and his emotions were particularly complex.
It had been over half a century since they last met!
He had never imagined they would meet again under such circumstances.
The feeling was very strange.
"Does the village still have my cells?"
Hashirama went straight to the point.
"Yes, we do!"
He nodded heavily, and his eyes fixed on Hashirama with an awkward expression.
"First, Hokage-sama, I must apologize to you. After you passed away, the village experimented with your cells, primarily cultivating new Wood Style users."
"Control the tailed beasts, huh?"
Hashirama said with a hint of disdain.
He had quickly adapted to his resurrected state, fully embracing his role as the First Hokage, but with a new perspective.
This was no longer the same Hashirama of old.
"Er…"
Sarutobi was momentarily stunned and unsure how to respond given the legendary First Hokage's presence in front of him.
"It was indeed intended for controlling the tailed beasts."
Orochimaru's voice came from the side with a knowing smile. He had evidently recovered from the shock of the uncontrolled summoning.
"Everyone knows."
He continued.
"To control the tailed beasts, one needs either the Sharingan or Wood Style."
"And the village's high-ranking officials are not exactly trusting of the Uchiha clan."
"So, they sought to cultivate new Wood Style users."
He walked closer, and his demeanor became calmer now that he understood the situation better.
After all, scientists were frequently motivated by their own insanity.
"Indeed…"
The Third Hokage nodded gravely, and Orochimaru's words stripped away his final pretense of justification.
"Understood."
Hashirama replied and nodded solemnly.
Hirizen could sense the intensity in Hashirama's voice despite the seriousness of the situation.
The First Hokage's authority was unmistakable.
Meanwhile, Orochimaru looked on with a mix of fear and fascination.
The overwhelming presence of the resurrected Hashirama was something he hadn't anticipated.
This intense admiration and dread of the power on display overcame his scientific curiosity.
"However."
Hiruzen continued cautiously.
"You should be aware that acquiring the remaining cells will not be simple. The village has kept them under tight security, and retrieving them might draw unwanted attention."
"I'm well aware."
Hashirama said firmly.
"But I need those cells to fully restore my power. The village's safety and future depend on it. And you will help me retrieve them."
Hiruzen 's face tightened. He knew that resisting Hashirama's demand would be futile and potentially disastrous.
He had to handle the situation carefully and balance his loyalty to the village with the immense pressure from the legendary Hokage before him.
"Very well."
Hiruzen finally said and resigned.
"I will assist you in retrieving the cells. But I must ask… what are your plans after that?"
Hashirama's eyes softened slightly.
"My goal is to ensure the village's stability and prevent future threats. I have no intention of wreaking havoc. But I must first restore myself to my full strength."
Orochimaru spoke up.
"If you need any assistance integrating the cells or any other preparations, I can offer my expertise."
Hashirama's gaze turned to Orochimaru with suspicion.
"I will consider it. Our immediate priority is to secure the remaining cells and assess the next steps for now."
"Yes!"
The Third Hokage immediately nodded in agreement.
He felt like he was once again experiencing the sense of seeing an elder from his youth, even though he was almost seventy years old.
However...
The First Hokage in front of him was not quite like the kindly figure from his memories.
He was less of a joker and much more serious.
In comparison...
He was even more domineering!
"Orochimaru, do you still have my cells in your laboratory?"
Hashirama turned his gaze back to Orochimaru, and his black pupils glowing with a cold, sharp light.
"Yes... Yes..."
Orochimaru nodded repeatedly, suddenly feeling a strange sensation under that gaze.
"When I left Konoha, I took some of your cells and cultivated and replicated them. I can give all of these to you!"
Orochimaru quickly said.
He instinctively felt that Hashirama's cells were a lifesaver, and he had to grasp them!
He was still mortal and could still be killed by a strong foe even though his body had become close to immortality.
Orochimaru's impression of the First Hokage was very weak.
He had mostly heard about him from legends!
Orochimaru enjoyed exploring the unknown, but he understood that the unknown was the most terrifying.
The First Hokage was like a huge mystery with no end in sight.
"Very well!"
Hashirama nodded, a hint of joy rising in his heart.
It was impossible to completely recover a hundred percent of Hashirama's cells!
However, things would be much easier if Orochimaru had the technology to replicate Hashirama's cells.
"Orochimaru, After I retrieve the cells from Konoha. We are going to go to your laboratory."
Hashirama could think of only three places where Hashirama's cells might be.
The first was the forbidden area in Konoha, where the cells were stored.
The second was Orochimaru's secret base.
The third was the location where the old Madara used to be.
The first two places were easier to find, but the last one had become very difficult to locate since Nagato summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path away, and Zetsu likely took the Hashirama cells inside.
"Yes!"
Orochimaru's lips curled slightly as this statement almost guaranteed he would not be in danger.
As long as he left Konoha Village, everything would be much easier!
"Lord First Hokage, Orochimaru is a rogue ninja and an S-rank criminal in the ninja world. We cannot just let him go like this!"
The Third Hokage hurriedly spoke up, his heart racing.
After what had just happened, he was ready to deal with Orochimaru severely.
It's possible that Orochimaru could sneak off and hide in a corner if he were allowed to leave this time.
"Are you telling me how to do things?"
Hashirama's dark eyes glanced coldly at Sarutobi, his tone filled with an imposing aura.
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