My wife's words were neither persuasion nor accusation, but words that illuminated the fog as clearly as the morning sun. Like a warm current, they washed away the entanglements and self-doubts that had accumulated in Hashirama's heart for many days.
Yes, times are different, power is different, and choices are also different.
He does not need to regret the "possibilities" of the past, and he does not need to fear the "inevitability" of the future.
All he has to face is to make his own judgment based on his own heart and responsibility at the moment.
Once I figured this out, the boulder that had been weighing on my heart for so long seemed to melt instantly.
Open-mindedness and clarity returned to his eyes again.
The corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up, and the smile no longer had the haze of confusion.
He stretched out his generous palms and gently held his wife's soft but strong hands around his neck.
Then, he turned his head slightly and pressed his cheek against Mito's equally warm and slightly fragrant cheek.
The warmth of skin against skin made the last hesitation in his heart disappear.
But at the same time, an extremely "God of Shinobi" thought popped up from the bottom of his heart like a naughty bubble:
Damn your brain!
Think quickly!
After his resurrection, in order to make Mito happy, he secretly went to Naruto and asked Kid for advice, not at the instigation of Tobirama.
Then Naruto used multiple Shadow Clone to handwrite and organize a book called Three Thousand Questions about Love?
Is there a classic scene where a husband invites his wife to start a new chapter in his life together?
Are the lines correct? Is the atmosphere enough? Will Mito think I'm too corny or too abrupt?!
Ugh!
Now that I think about it, it's not quite appropriate.
But what the heck!
Just take it and copy it and correct it. When you were a child, didn't you often learn from Tobirama's homework like this when you were studying at home?
Putting aside those nonsensical inner dramas, Hashirama held his wife's hand tightly, pressed it against her cheek, and said slowly:
"Mito..."
He paused, as if he was considering the most accurate words, but in the end, he chose the most direct voice:
"Let's... let's officially resurrect together."
It is not a false "return" like Impure World Reincarnation is controlled by others, the body is cold, and Chakra is restricted, but a true and complete return to this world with a living flesh and blood body.
He gave his reasons, clearly and forcefully:
"Konoha needs the real and complete strength of First Hokage.
It is the full power of "God of Shinobi" that can suppress an era and protect a Pure Land.
To participate, to guide, to use his way to influence the coming era of change, whether it is a "long-term pain" or a "short-term pain"."
Then came a more private and tender reason:
"My wife... needs her husband too."
It is no longer a phantom in memories, no longer a longing separated by life, death and contract, but a partner that can be truly touched, can stand side by side, and can share joy, anger, sorrow and joy."
Finally, his own deepest desire:
"Similarly... I also want to feel your true warmth again.
It is no longer the cold touch of Impure World Reincarnation's body, but the warmth of a living human body; it is no longer the vague warmth in memories, but the extremely clear and extremely precious reality of palms touching each other and cheeks depending on each other at this moment."
These words, for Hashirama Senju, who has always been bold and cheerful, even with some "broad lines", can be called "super-level performance"!
Its straightforwardness, affection, and determination completely exceeded Mito's expectations.
Mito opened her eyes slightly in disbelief and looked at her husband who was very close at hand.
She could see the unpretentious seriousness and tenderness in his eyes.
When did this elm-headed man... actually say such shameful words?
Did he die once and get enlightened, or... secretly take up some strange lessons?
After the surprise, what followed was joy and emotion that melted like honey and almost overflowed.
Decades of waiting and longing have turned into a slight moistness in the eyes at this moment.
She didn't ask why or question it.
She just looked at him, and then, like the most gorgeous flowers blooming in spring, a beautiful smile appeared on her face.
In that smile, there was the surprise that he had "enlightened", the relief that the long wait had finally come to an end, and the longing for the infinite possibilities of the future.
"Okay."
She responded softly, her voice soft but firm.
"I, I've been looking forward to it a long time ago..."
Her eyes seemed to have traveled through time, seeing the distant past, that afternoon when the war had stopped and Konoha had just begun, a scene she had secretly imagined.
"I look forward to being with you, no longer as 'Hokage' and 'Jinchūriki', but as Hashirama Senju and Mito Uzumaki, walking hand in hand with Shinobi World under the sun with real life, to see the scenery we have never seen, to experience the peace we have never experienced..."
Her smile became brighter, with a hint of girlish excitement:
"Let's take a long and free trip that only belongs to the two of us."
'Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh!
Hashirama Senju, you did it!
I am indeed a genius!
Hahahahahaha!'
As the time limit approaches, the village entrance of Kusagakure, which should have been in chaos due to evacuation, now exhibits a strange "order".
A large number of Chunin and Genin were ordered to perform special tasks. Their faces were pale, and their eyes were full of confusion, fear and even despair. They were driven by their respective captains or Elder Trusted Aides and gathered in a relatively open space in front of the village.
In front of them, a huge wooden car with an unusually rough but strong structure, pushed by dozens of Grass Ninjas, was slowly driving out of the village with an overwhelmed "crunching" sound.
The wooden cart has no livestock traction and relies entirely on Ninja's Chakra and brute force. A simple pulley and lever structure can be seen on its wheel axle. It is obviously a temporary work, just to transport something that is so heavy that it is beyond imagination.
The wooden cart was covered with a thick black oilcloth.
But even through the oilcloth, you can still feel the cold, dark and evil atmosphere emanating from it, which seems to be able to absorb all light.
Naruto stood on top of Nine-Tails's complete body, overlooking all this from a high position. Uchiha Hikari stood beside him, Mangekyō Sharingan was already turned on, calmly observing the flow of Chakra below and the expressions of those Grass Ninja.
Karin bit her lips tightly and grabbed the corners of Naruto's robe with both hands. Her body was trembling slightly with excitement and hatred, but when her eyes fell on the huge object covered with black cloth, she couldn't help but feel palpitations.
The wooden cart was pushed to the center of the open space and stopped.
Several Elder wearing animal-headed masks, escorted by Trusted Aides, stepped forward tremblingly Earth Flow.
They first glanced in awe at the Golden giant beast and the figure on it, and then, as if they had made some determination, one of them waved his hand violently!