S-Rank Escort Mission Begins! The First Hokage's Curtain Call

The next morning.

Lin Hai got himself ready, left home amid his mother's repeated reminders, and hurried toward the team's assembly point.

He was the second to arrive.

Shimura Danzo was already standing in the clearing, his eyes slightly closed. It was unclear whether he was resting or considering their strategy.

"Good morning, Captain Danzo." Lin Hai gave a slight bow.

"Not bad." Danzo opened his eyes, gave a faint nod, and said nothing more.

With nothing else to do, Lin Hai looked around.

As the appointed time drew near, Uchiha Kagami and Akimichi Torifu arrived one after another.

Everyone was present.

"Move out."

At Danzo's command, the team swiftly disappeared into the forest.

Along the way, Danzo taught Lin Hai some of the hand signs, markers, and code words commonly used by Konoha's ANBU.

[Original side scene: instantly understands the secret signals, shocking his teammates]

"Path ahead is clear. Advance covertly." Danzo gave a complex tactical hand signal from atop a branch.

Lin Hai immediately replied with the sign for "Understood, watching the flank." His movements were fluid and natural, without the slightest awkwardness.

The Sharingan's extraordinary memory proved immensely useful at that moment.

Torifu, standing nearby, wiped at his sweat. "Is this kid some kind of monster? It took me a whole month to memorize this set of signals back then!"

Half an hour later, the team reached an unnamed village outside Konoha.

Three carriages stood ahead of the woods, while seven or eight sword-bearing guards waited in strict formation.

Danzo made a gesture, signaling the three to remain where they were.

He stepped out of the woods alone and entered the middle carriage.

A moment later, he emerged with two richly dressed merchants.

Pointing at Lin Hai, Danzo introduced him. "He'll pose as your nephew and provide close protection. He has chunin-level strength, so keeping you alive won't be a problem."

Then he pointed at Torifu and Kagami. "The fat one will hide in the carriage transporting soldier pills and serve as a hidden lookout. Kagami and I will handle reconnaissance around the perimeter and clear away obstacles. Do either of you have any questions?"

The two merchants exchanged glances, and one of them looked deeply troubled.

"My lord ninja, will Konoha really send reinforcements later? Once this shipment is sold, the enormous funds it brings in will drive countless desperate men mad! This assignment is far too dangerous."

Danzo sneered, mocking them without mercy. "When you Sato Brothers were smuggling arms, why weren't you afraid of dying? If you weren't working for Konoha this time, you would have vanished from the black market long ago. Enough nonsense. We're thoroughly prepared."

The Sato Brothers wiped away their cold sweat and nodded repeatedly. The convoy set off, heading straight for the Land of Waterfalls.

Undercurrents Stirred, a Giant Fell

Inside the Hokage's Office.

An ANBU knelt on one knee. "Second Hokage-sama, Danzo's team has departed. ANBU will secretly escort them beyond the Land of Fire's border. In addition, Hiruzen Sarutobi's team has received its orders and will head to the Land of Waterfalls to meet them during the later stages of the mission."

Tobirama Senju gave a slight nod, his expression grave. "Intensify our infiltration of Sunagakure, Takigakure, and Iwagakure! War could break out at any moment. We must learn their movements. Understood?"

"Yes!" The ANBU vanished instantly.

Knock, knock, knock.

A medical ninja hurried inside and bowed, panic written across his face.

"Second Hokage-sama! The First Hokage-sama has fainted again! His vital signs are failing. I'm afraid... he could go at any moment. Would you like to see him one last time?"

Tobirama's heart jolted. So it had finally come. With powerful enemies watching from all sides, my brother's death would deal Konoha an immeasurable blow.

"You go back first. I'll be there shortly."

Tobirama rose to his feet and looked out at the bustling streets beyond the window, his gaze complicated. Then he used the Body Flicker Technique and left.

The ninja hospital ward was empty.

After asking a nurse, Tobirama learned that his brother had left the hospital as soon as he woke up. His thoughts shifted, and he headed straight for Hokage Rock.

Atop the First Hokage's stone statue.

The fierce wind tossed Hashirama Senju's long hair.

His face was pale as paper, yet a gentle smile rested on his lips as he quietly looked down at the village below.

Tobirama appeared in a flicker and silently stood behind him.

After an unknown amount of time, Hashirama softly asked, "Tobirama, do you think I succeeded?"

"You did more than enough, Brother." Tobirama's voice was low. "Across the entire ninja world, no one can reach your heights. Whether in your personal achievements or in what you built for this village, you are the greatest."

"For this village, the Senju clan has dwindled, and only the two of us brothers remain. Yet I don't feel lonely." Light flickered in Hashirama's eyes. "Seeing everyone live and work in peace makes me very happy."

Tobirama's eyes reddened, but he remained silent.

Hashirama took a deep breath and instructed him, "After I'm gone, the great clans in the village will surely make their moves. You must promote civilians and smaller clans to keep them in check."

"I know. The plan was set years ago, so don't worry, Brother."

"When it comes to internal affairs, you truly are a genius." Hashirama paused, then sighed. "And also, stop pressing the Uchiha so hard."

"I'll loosen the restrictions to an appropriate degree."

Hashirama gave a bitter smile. "You still can't let go of your prejudice? For my sake, can't you do less to target them?"

"Brother! This isn't your fault. You don't need to keep feeling that you owe them!" Tobirama's tone grew heavier.

"Forget it, let's not talk about that. I believe time will change your views. Maybe someday, you'll even let my disciple succeed as Hokage."

Tobirama refused decisively. "Absolutely impossible!"

Hashirama made an exaggeratedly dejected gesture. "How heartbreaking. Even my dying wish is being ruthlessly rejected by my own little brother!"

Tobirama looked at his brother, who was acting like an old child, and fell silent for a long time. At last, he relented. "I'll evaluate him. On the condition that his actions can truly move me."

Hashirama looked at his brother in surprise, then earnestly entrusted him with something. "After I'm gone, personally train Lin Hai for a while in my place. Only if I leave him to you can I rest easy."

Tobirama nodded solemnly.

Hashirama looked out over the village once more, his smile radiant. "I built this village and planted the seeds of the Will of Fire. Wherever leaves dance, fire will burn. The fire's shadow will illuminate the village and let new leaves sprout."

He rose openly. "I can't stop the God of Death, but before I go, I can still decide how to spend my remaining time. Come on, have a drink with your big brother!"

Konoha BBQ Q.

Under the awestruck gazes of the diners, the First Hokage sat down boldly at a table and shouted, "Owner! Bring out all the best liquor in the shop! Start with twenty portions of your finest grilled meat! Make it quick!"

The owner of the barbecue restaurant was overwhelmed with flattery and hurried toward the kitchen.

The two brothers drank cup after cup.

While stuffing himself with meat, Hashirama exposed Tobirama's embarrassing stories from his youth, making veins bulge on Tobirama's forehead in anger. They ate from noon until dusk.

At twilight, the two returned to Hokage Rock.

"It has been a long time since I felt this carefree. It feels like we've returned to our younger days." Hashirama sat atop his own stone statue, his voice growing softer and softer.

Tobirama clenched his fists tightly, and his tears finally burst forth.

"Tobirama... make sure you seriously consider Lin Hai's matter. Konoha's future will depend entirely on you."

"Don't worry, Brother! I will give everything I have, defend Konoha even unto death, and never let it suffer any harm!"

The fading glow of the sunset fell upon Hashirama. As he looked at the lights of countless homes, the most contented smile rested on his lips.

"Wherever leaves dance, fire will burn..."

His lingering words drifted away with the wind.

A god of the ninja world had forever stopped breathing.

A light breeze passed by. Tobirama looked at that tall figure silhouetted against the dusk, his voice hoarse.

"Farewell, Brother."