(Leave your brain here.)
"Big brother? Are you listening to me?"
Li Tetsuhiro snapped out of his daze. Before him stood a silver-haired, middle-aged man, questioning him with knitted brows and red eyes churning with displeasure.
"Me? Big brother?" he blurted out, only to hear an unfamiliar, deep voice. "What's wrong with my voice?"
Only then did he notice that the man looked rather familiar.
He looked exactly like the Second Hokage from Naruto-that ruthless leader and inventor of forbidden techniques, Tobirama Senju!
"Tch... big brother, could you take this seriously? Why are you so determined to make that bastard Madara Uchiha the Hokage?!" Sitting beside a long table, Tobirama slammed his palm down, making the bamboo scrolls rattle.
"Have you forgotten that he was the one who cut off the third elder's left arm?"
Li Tetsuhiro's pupils trembled as Hashirama's memories flooded in...
Not long ago, the Senju Clan had defeated the Uchiha. Through Hashirama's efforts, Madara had agreed to an alliance, bringing the Warring States Period to an end.
Konoha had only just been founded, and everyone was hotly debating who should take the Hokage position.
At this critical juncture, his predecessor—the real Shin Hashirama—had suddenly proposed nominating Madara Uchiha to become Hokage.
Just then, Tiezhu remembered that, in the original story, Hashirama and Tobirama would both die under mysterious circumstances within the next few years. If he wanted to survive, he had to do something!
"Tobirama, think further ahead..."
"Oh? What do you mean?" Tobirama looked at his elder brother in surprise.
Li Tetsuhiro deliberately slowed his speech. "Konoha isn't the finish line. My ultimate dream is to change this world of suffering.
"Making Madara Hokage is one part of my plan! Don't forget that the other nations are still watching us like hungry wolves."
"I intend to make you Deputy Hokage, with Sarutobi Sasuke serving as the Hokage's aide. We'll also establish the Anbu, a Ninjutsu Research Division, a Konoha Military Police Force, a Ninja Academy..."
The more Tobirama heard, the brighter his eyes grew. He couldn't help feeling impressed. To think my brother had all this hidden up his sleeve. Have I never really understood him?
"Why have I never heard you mention any of this?" Suddenly sensing something amiss, Tobirama eyed his brother suspiciously.
"It only came to me recently. The children of this world have suffered too much. Things have to change, and that includes abolishing the daimyo!"
"What?" A bead of cold sweat slid down Tobirama's cheek. "Big brother, are you planning a rebellion?"
"Don't put it like that." Tiezhu calmly sipped his tea. "Building a future is what we're already doing. Just tell me whether you're willing to help. Let's make up for what we couldn't give Itama and Kawarama!"
Tobirama's fingers abruptly stopped tapping the table, as though he had been drawn into his memories.
A long silence passed...
"Sigh... you're right. These troubled times may be over, but the other nations remain. As long as they exist, so will war."
"I can help you, but I won't work for that bastard or meet with him. And... the next time you decide to be 'naive,' discuss it with me first!"
"What are you talking about, Tobirama? Ha... hahaha." Li Tetsuhiro scratched his head and laughed foolishly.
It worked. Tobirama's tense body relaxed, and a trace of nostalgia even flickered in his eyes.
Meanwhile, beneath his foolish laughter, Tiezhu secretly breathed a sigh of relief...
His gamble had paid off. In the original story, this very feeling of being unable to reason with Hashirama or beat him in a fight was what left Tobirama helpless against him.
"Oh, about the Ninjutsu Research Division's research priorities." Li Tetsuhiro changed the subject. "I'm thinking we should study various secret techniques, as well as..." He lowered his voice. "Ninjutsu designed to counter the Sharingan."
Tobirama's pupils abruptly contracted. "To counter the Sharingan?"
After they discussed some of the details at greater length...
Only then did Tobirama's icy gaze soften a little, and even his tone gradually eased. "You really have changed, big brother. You never would have let me do these things before.
"Is this who you really are? You'd better show that same resolve at tonight's clan meeting."
Click! The door closed.
Li Tetsuhiro slumped into his chair. Cold sweat trickled from his forehead down his jaw and dripped onto his collar. Only then did he realize that his back was already soaked.
"Whew..." He wiped away his sweat. "Finally convinced him. Tobirama Senju really is hard to deal with! No wonder he's Konoha's ruthless mastermind!"
Outside the window, the setting sun bathed the earth in light.
Tiezhu gazed at the lingering clouds on the horizon, recalling how Truck-kun had sent him on his way. On the verge of death, he had been chosen by a system that would transport him to a random world and have him possess a random person.
He had even braced himself to possess someone like Momonosuke or Hyakkimaru, only to end up as Hashirama Senju.
This was practically the perfect starting hand. As long as he kept Madara firmly on his side, they would be invincible!
Leaning back in his chair, Tiezhu closed his eyes and felt the vitality, strength, and chakra filling his body. He felt much more confident about surviving.
Ding!!!
[Congratulations, host, on invading the "Hokage world" and successfully possessing the God of the Shinobi World—Hashirama Senju. You have inherited his physical instincts.] [Neon Invasion System officially awakened!]
"Uh..."
Pain suddenly struck Tiezhu. Looking down, he saw a longsword piercing his chest.
"Flying... Thunder God Technique?"
Behind him, Tobirama murmured coldly, "You're not my brother. Who are you?"
Blood dripped from the sword's tip onto the floor. Tiezhu felt as though he could see his true face reflected in it. Just as he tried to bluff his way out...
Rumble! Despite the clear, sunny sky, thunder suddenly roared!
It cut off the words just as they were about to leave his mouth.
Only then did Tiezhu realize that the system notifications were still coming.
[Basic function 1 unlocked-Bond Value Assessment.] [Tobirama Senju's current Bond Level with the host: 81%.] [Friendly reminder: a Bond Level above 80% allows you to make the other person trust you unconditionally once.]
Overjoyed, Tiezhu immediately called out in his mind, Great! System, hurry and make him believe me!
Tiezhu reached out and gripped the blade, his face contorted with fury as he roared, "Tobirama! Have I been too merciful lately? Is that why you dare act so outrageously?!"
Snap! He broke the sword, hurled it to the floor, and rapidly formed hand seals.
Tobirama made no move to stop him, watching Tiezhu closely.
Wood Release: Hotei Technique!
He allowed the wooden hands to seize him, only then coming to a realization. "My brother is the only person in the world who can use Wood Release!"
"Sorry. You've been acting so strangely lately that I wanted to test you. With your healing ability, though, you'll recover in no time."
"Is that so?" Pressing a hand over his wildly pounding heart, Tiezhu forced himself to answer. "Just what I'd expect from you. The moment you suspect something, you test it. I'll let it go this time, but next time I really will be angry."
"I understand."
With those words, he vanished...
Li Tetsuhiro sank to one knee, pressing hard against his chest as he glanced around in fearful suspicion. Apart from the sound of tea dripping onto the floor from the overturned cup, nothing stirred.
Only then did he finally relax completely.
"Hiss..." Now the pain began to intensify. It hurt so much!
Tears and snot streamed down his face. Clenching his fists, he collapsed onto the floor and curled up.
Was he supposed to just lie here bleeding and wait?
Before you continue