Evening came, and the sun set.
Hashirama appeared right on time at the gambling den by the village entrance.
"Hey, boss, how's business today?"
The owner was long past being surprised and greeted him with a smile.
"Lord First! Come in, come in!"
Hashirama swaggered inside and sat down at a gambling table.
"Let's try my luck today!"
What followed was round after round of losing every bet.
But he enjoyed himself. Once he had lost everything, he cheerfully returned to the Hokage Office to "borrow" money from Tsunade.
Tsunade scowled every time, but she always gave him some.
"Grandpa, can't you win just once?"
"Hahaha! Winning doesn't matter, as long as I'm having fun!"
Tsunade held her forehead.
Beside her, Shizune murmured.
"Lady Tsunade, aren't you exactly the same..."
"Shut up!"
And so, Hashirama's life in Konoha settled into a perfect three-stop routine.
He competed with Guy in the mornings, told stories to the children during the day, and lost money at the gambling den at night.
Across the shinobi world, however, his resurrection had brought an eerie calm.
The Land of Lightning. Kumogakure.
Fourth Raikage A sat in his office, studying the intelligence on his desk with a deep frown.
"The God of Shinobi resurrected... a huge battle with that Uchiha brat... a meteorite... Susanoo..."
He tossed the report onto his desk.
"Someone get in here!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Pass down the order. Everyone is to behave themselves for now. Don't provoke Konoha."
"Yes, sir!"
The Land of Earth. Iwagakure.
Ōnoki looked at the report in his hands, conflicting emotions filling his aged face.
"That Hashirama... he really came back..."
He recalled what he had experienced in his youth and shuddered.
"Pass down the order. Have the border troops withdraw fifteen kilometers. Also, suspend every operation we were planning."