"Come with me."
Hashirama gently picked up Tsunade. As he turned, the hem of his crimson armor stirred a light breeze. "The central command tent is protected by a barrier. It's more suitable for talking..."
Hashirama's expression grew solemn as he spoke to Neji.
After a pause, he suddenly turned back and winked at Neji. "Oh, right, kid. Later, you'd better tell me properly—how my future granddaughter grew into such a... well, remarkable lady."
There was undisguised amusement in the latter half of his words, yet Neji saw that the God of Shinobi's clenched fists were trembling slightly.
People came and went throughout Konoha's camp. It was currently a ceasefire, and both sides were rushing to regroup.
The Sand Shinobi Allied Forces had just captured the Land of Rivers. They needed time to consolidate the territory they had gained and reorganize their offensive.
Konoha, meanwhile, needed to adjust its defenses against the Sand Shinobi Allied Forces' fierce attacks.
Neji quietly followed Hashirama back to the central command tent. The moment he entered, he heard a dissatisfied voice. "The war has deteriorated to this extent, and you still had the mood to sneak out, Big Brother?"
Tobirama Senju stood with his arms crossed, his sharp gaze beneath his silver hair sweeping over Hashirama. But when he saw Tsunade in his arms and Neji behind him, his expression froze. "...Who are these two?"
Hashirama gave an awkward laugh and gently set Tsunade down. "Tobirama, this is—"
"Konoha's future Fifth Hokage, Tsunade Senju."
Neji stepped forward and calmly took over. "And I am Neji Hyuga, from... an era more than fifty years in the future."
"Absurd!"
Tobirama cut him off coldly, his chakra faintly stirring. "Even I have not fully deciphered the taboo of space-time ninjutsu. What gives an unknown brat like you