Hashirama: See You Tomorrow

The sky was clear and bright, the azure sky was pristine and cloudless, and the vast earth was bathed in gentle, bright sunlight.

Koki once again embarks on his daily patrol journey.

As fate would have it, Izuna was also unable to attend today due to special circumstances. Tomorrow, the Uchiha and Senju clans will shake hands and make peace, and preparations for this epoch-making reconciliation ceremony are proceeding in a tense but orderly manner, with various preparatory meetings being held intensively.

However, these complicated matters were the noise of another world to Koki, far removed from his current state of mind.

His gaze wandered, and he decided to linger in this tranquility for a while.

He bent down slightly, picked up a smooth pebble with his long, slender fingers, played with it gently, and then flicked his arm, sending the pebble flying across the river.

However, reality is often disappointing. The pebble bounced a few times before sinking into silence, a low sigh escaping into the river's embrace.

Koki frowned slightly, unwilling to accept defeat. As a ninja, he was a veteran of countless battles, skilled in various techniques. How could he possibly lose in such a simple game?

He took a deep breath, bent down again, and picked out a few pebbles. Time and again, the pebbles streaked across the sky like shooting stars before plunging into the river.

The result remained the same; the pebble could not reach the other side.

Koki felt depressed, and her frustration grew like weeds.

Just as he was about to give it his all and try again, a pebble danced lightly across the water's surface, leaping merrily, and finally, as the victor, gracefully reached the opposite bank.

Koki's body stiffened involuntarily, and she slowly turned her head, only to see behind her the dashing young Hashirama Senju.

Hashirama noticed Koki's movements, his eyes sparkling, a bright, sunny smile playing on his lips, and he said in a clear voice, "The trick to skipping stones is to adjust the angle slightly when throwing."

Koki asked in confusion, "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be busy today?"

Hashirama paused slightly as Koki turned around, then his signature smile returned as he replied, "Tobirama will handle these kinds of trivial matters."

Koki nodded slightly, his mind drifting back to his acquaintance with Hashirama. Their initial encounter dates back to that mysterious time when Madara and Hashirama had their 'secret meeting'.

At that time, he resolutely helped to keep the matter a secret, and because of this, in the days that followed, the gears of fate began to turn slowly, and he and Hashirama gradually became acquainted.

Hashirama paused briefly, his gaze fixed sincerely on Koki, and whispered, "Thank you, Koki."

He knew all too well that for Koki to persuade Izuna and those stubborn elders in the Uchiha clan was like pioneering a path strewn with thorns.

The hardships and setbacks involved are perhaps far beyond what ordinary people can imagine.

Koki smiled calmly and said casually, "It's nothing, just remember what you promised me."

However, only he himself knows the truth.

To get Izuna to agree, he exhausted almost all his energy. For three whole days, he stayed with Izuna, from the first rays of dawn to the starry night, before finally getting Izuna to reluctantly agree.

He turned around, trying to pull himself out of his memories, picked up a pebble, and tossed it into the air again.

The pebble bounced two or three times on the river's surface, each bounce creating a ripple, much like the undying longing in his heart.

Unfortunately, in the end, they still failed to cross that seemingly close yet actually unattainable other shore.

Koki's hand stiffened slightly.

"So there are things you're not good at." Hashirama couldn't help but laugh, the sound echoing across the empty riverbank.

Koki's lips twitched slightly, a strange sense of annoyance welling up inside her. "Were you deliberately hiding behind me?"

Under a clear sky, a gentle breeze caressed the green grass along the riverbank, and the shimmering river surface reflected the blue sky and white clouds.

Koki deliberately made her expression serious. This sudden turn of events struck Hashirama as if he had been struck by lightning, causing him to involuntarily leap backward.

Hashirama's body jolted, and he immediately crouched down, his arms tightly wrapped around his knees, curling into a ball as if swallowed by the double shadow of fear and despair, muttering words of apology.

"I'm sorry..." His tone was as if he were carrying a heavy burden of sin.

Koki only wanted to teach Hashirama a lesson, but she didn't expect things to turn out this way.

He froze for a moment, a crack appearing in his carefully maintained stern expression, his tone revealing a hint of concern. "Are you serious?"

He leaned forward slightly, trying to discern Hashirama's expression, but Hashirama simply lowered his head and remained silent.

Koki was filled with helplessness. How could Hashirama, who was brave and fearless on the battlefield and praised by his Hashirama, be so fragile and vulnerable?

He weakly raised his hand, pressed it against his forehead, let out a deep sigh, and finally said helplessly, "I guess I misunderstood you."

Hashirama hearing the sound, Hashirama slowly raised his head. When his face was fully exposed to Koki, Koki was stunned.

Hashirama's face showed no disappointment or panic; instead, he appeared to be trying his best to suppress a smile.

A slight smile played on Hashirama's lips, his eyes filled with mockery and ridicule. "So you're this soft-hearted."

Koki's expression changed rapidly. Her face, which had just softened, immediately turned grim, followed by a series of cold laughs. "You really think I wouldn't dare to throw you across the river?"

Seeing Hashirama, Hashirama immediately lowered his head and hugged his knees again. This time, his acting was even more superb, his voice choked with emotion as he cried out pitifully, "I'm sorry..."

"Alright, stop acting." Koki finally lost his temper, turned away angrily, a gentle breeze ruffling his hair as he strode off. "I'm going back now."

Hashirama didn't stop her; he simply squatted quietly in place, his gaze following Koki's retreating figure until she disappeared from sight.

His smile deepened as he gazed in the direction where Koki had disappeared, and whispered, "See you tomorrow."