The morning breeze over Hokage Rock carried the chill of January.
The golden light of dawn spilled across the four statues.
The First, Hashirama Senju; the Second, Tobirama Senju; the broken remains of the Third, Sarutobi Hiruzen; and the newly completed statue of the Fourth, Uchiha Fugaku.
Uchiha Sanpo's long black hair stirred slightly in the morning wind.
"This money should be enough to develop Konoha. Lord First, would you like to go see Tsunade? She must miss you very much."
Hashirama Senju stood beside him, his Impure World Reincarnation body looking somewhat unreal beneath the sunlight.
He looked toward Konoha and fell silent for a moment. "When Konoha is truly reborn... I am only a dead man. It is not convenient for me to interfere in the lives of the living!"
Uchiha Sanpo did not try to persuade him any further. He only nodded. "Then once I've rebuilt Konoha, I'll summon you again, Lord First, and let you see the reborn Konoha with your own eyes."
Hashirama Senju smiled gently but did not answer.
The next second, the Impure World Reincarnation technique began undoing itself. His body gradually broke apart, turning into countless tiny scraps of paper that scattered with the wind.
Matsui Iwane's corpse was revealed as well. The flesh and blood of the body rapidly turned woody, and in the blink of an eye, it grew into a tall, upright tree.
Uchiha Sanpo reached out and brushed his hand over the rough bark, murmuring, "Now I don't even have to deal with the corpse. The First's Wood Release really is convenient."
Konoha in the early morning was already growing lively. The early-rising merchants had begun setting up their stalls, and ninjas walked in twos and threes toward the Mission Assignment Hall.
Uchiha Sanpo formed seals with