A Second Clash with Tobirama Senju

Konohagakure, Hokage Office.

Hashirama Senju invited Byakuren in and personally poured him a cup of tea before asking with a smile, "What does the Mizukage wish to discuss with me?"

"Thank you."

After offering his thanks, Byakuren hesitated for a moment before finally looking at Hashirama Senju and saying, "Hokage, I have an unreasonable request."

"Hahaha, you are a senior as well. Just say whatever is on your mind. As long as it can be done, I will certainly agree," Hashirama Senju said heartily with a laugh.

"Then I shall thank the Hokage in advance. Here is the matter: Kirigakure has been allotted two Tailed Beasts, but we have no way to control them.

"Therefore, I would like to ask the Hokage to give us the ninjutsu for sealing Tailed Beasts free of charge." Byakuren nodded and said with a smile.

At this, Hashirama Senju was briefly stunned, then understood. Indeed, in his hands, Tailed Beasts were like pets, to be kneaded round or flattened as he pleased. But for the other hidden villages, while killing a Tailed Beast was possible, controlling one without Sealing Jutsu was extremely difficult.

Once a Tailed Beast went berserk, it would inevitably cause enormous losses.

However, Sealing Jutsu did not belong to Konoha. The reason Konoha had been able to seal all the Tailed Beasts he had captured and brought back was because his wife, Mito Uzumaki, was highly proficient in Uzushiogakure's Sealing Jutsu.

After considering it for a moment, Hashirama Senju looked at Byakuren and said, "In principle, I should not refuse your request, Senior. However, Sealing Jutsu belongs to Uzushiogakure. Although Konoha has a good relationship with Uzushiogakure, I cannot simply hand their Sealing Jutsu over to Kirigakure.

"How about this? Senior, stay in Konoha for a few days. Once I return tonight, I will write to Uzushiogakure and ask them. If they agree to give Kirigakure their Sealing Jutsu, then it may be possible."

Hearing this, Byakuren frowned slightly. Though he felt somewhat displeased, the man before him was known as the God of the Shinobi World.

So he nodded and said, "Then I will trouble the Hokage. As it happens, I have already written to the village and asked them to bring the funds to purchase the two Tailed Beasts. That will take some time as well."

"Mm. Senior, you can also take a good look around our village. If you need anything, you may have someone inform me at any time," Hashirama Senju said with a smile.

Time shifted back.

Just as Byakuren accompanied Hashirama Senju into the Hokage Office, Tobirama Senju went to find Takenaka Kaguya.

Outside the office, Tobirama Senju sized Takenaka Kaguya up. Then, using Flying Thunder God, he instantly appeared behind Takenaka, his special kunai swiftly stabbing toward Takenaka's back.

Clang!

Though Tobirama Senju's Flying Thunder God was indeed fast, to Takenaka, who possessed advanced Observation Haki, it was unbearably slow.

Thus, the instant Takenaka sensed Tobirama Senju attacking him, he coated himself in a layer of Armament Haki.

"How is that possible?" Tobirama Senju felt as though his special kunai had struck incomparably hard steel, and he was inwardly astonished.

At that moment, Takenaka's counterattack arrived as well.

With Soru, he flashed directly behind Tobirama Senju. Seizing the instant when Tobirama Senju's mind had gone blank from shock, he lashed out with a kick.

Bang!

Tobirama Senju was kicked backward, sliding seven or eight meters across the ground. Fortunately, his reaction had been quick enough that he raised both arms to block Takenaka's kick, sparing himself any serious injuries.

Even so, the force of Takenaka's kick left Tobirama Senju's arms throbbing with pain.

"Is this how Konoha treats its guests? Attacking people without so much as a warning?"

After driving Tobirama Senju back, Takenaka did not continue fighting. He merely stared coldly at Tobirama Senju and questioned him in a thoroughly hostile tone.

"Compared to the battlefield a few months ago, your strength has improved greatly. My brother truly did let the tiger return to the mountain when he allowed you to leave."

Faced with Takenaka's question, Tobirama Senju showed no trace of shame. He only looked at Takenaka expressionlessly as he gave his assessment.

"Heh. So, have you come to correct that mistake?" Takenaka asked coldly again.

This was Konoha, where Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha, two powerful figures he could not defeat, were present. But if Tobirama Senju truly pushed him too far, he would not mind teaching him an unforgettable lesson right here.

"No, there is no need to correct any mistake. I merely came to confirm whether you truly deserve the expectations my brother and Madara have placed on you.

"Now, it seems they were indeed correct. Given time, you will certainly become Konoha's greatest future threat," Tobirama Senju said, shaking his head with a grave expression.

Hearing this, and seeing that Tobirama Senju had no intention of attacking again, the coldness on Takenaka's face faded. A teasing smile appeared as he said, "So now that you have confirmed I will become Konoha's greatest future threat, what do you intend to do?

"Heh, this Five Kage Summit was initiated by Konoha. If people from the other nations learn that Konoha's Hokage Assistant attacked a child like me during the Five Kage Summit, I'm afraid you will not be able to bear that responsibility, will you?"

"Hmph. That is none of your concern. You may tell others about what happened today if you wish. It will have no effect on Konoha."

With that, Tobirama Senju turned and left, as though he did not care in the slightest whether Takenaka would reveal what had just occurred.

Takenaka's eyes flashed with killing intent, but it vanished in an instant.

A moment later, as he watched Tobirama Senju's departing figure disappear, a playful expression surfaced on his face. He murmured, "Tobirama Senju, huh? Heh, if I get the chance, I'll have some fun with you."

Just then, Byakuren opened the door and stepped out of the Hokage Office. He glanced at the mark on the wall, then at the uninjured Takenaka, and only then sighed in relief. In a low voice, he asked, "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine, Lord Byakuren. Have you finished speaking with the Hokage?" Takenaka asked with a smile, shaking his head.

"Mm. Let's go back first."

Byakuren did not make an issue of it, nor did he go back to question Konoha about what this meant. He simply left the Hokage Building with Takenaka.

Meanwhile, inside the Hokage Office.

Hashirama Senju's expression was rather unpleasant. Byakuren had noticed the instant Tobirama Senju and Takenaka Kaguya clashed outside, so there was no way he could have failed to notice it himself.

"Tobirama, that guy really is too reckless!"