(Brain Storage Area)
A voice cut through the fog of his consciousness—sharp, impatient, and laced with barely concealed frustration.
“Brother?
Are you even listening?”
Kaito blinked, the haze receding to reveal a silver-haired man glaring at him from across the table—deep furrows etched into his brow, crimson eyes burning with open dissatisfaction.
“Me?
Brother?” he blurted out.
What came out, however, was a deep, unfamiliar voice.
“What’s wrong with my voice?”
Only then did he realize that the man looked strangely familiar.
He looked exactly like the Second Hokage from Naruto—the man who was both a formidable statesman and the creator of countless forbidden jutsu: Senju Tobirama!
“Tch…” Tobirama clicked his tongue in annoyance.
“Brother, can you take this seriously?
Why are you so determined to make Uchiha Madara the Hokage?!”
Sitting at the long table, he slammed his palm down hard, causing the bamboo scrolls atop it to rattle.
“Have you forgotten that the Third Elder lost his left arm to that man?”
Kaito ‘s pupils trembled.
A flood of Hashirama’s memories surged into his mind.
Not long ago, the Senju Clan had defeated the Uchiha Clan.
Through Hashirama’s efforts, he and Madara had formed an alliance, bringing the Warring States Period to an end.
Now, Konohagakure had just been founded, and everyone was debating who should become the First Hokage.
At such a critical moment, the original Hashirama had suddenly proposed nominating Uchiha Madara as Hokage.
In that instant, Kaito recalled something from the original story.
Within the next few years, both Hashirama and Tobirama would die under mysterious circumstances.
If he wanted to survive, he had to change something.
“Tobirama, you need to think farther ahead…”
“Oh?” Tobirama looked at his elder brother in surprise.
“What do you mean?”
Kaito deliberately slowed his tone.
“Konoha isn’t the end goal.
My ultimate dream is to change this painful world.”
“Making Madara the Hokage is only one part of my plan.
Don’t forget—the other nations are still watching us like hawks.”
“I plan to appoint you as Deputy Hokage, have Sarutobi Sasuke serve as the Hokage’s aide, and establish the ANBU, a Ninjutsu Research Division, the Military Police Force, and the Ninja Academy…”
The more Tobirama listened, the brighter his eyes became.
He couldn’t help but feel impressed.
I never expected Brother to have hidden his ambitions so deeply.
Did I really fail to see through him all this time?
“Then why have I never heard you mention any of this before?” Tobirama suddenly narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
“This is something I’ve only recently realized,” Kaito replied.
“The children of this world suffer too much.
Things have to change.”
“Everything.”
“Even the daimyo system.”
“What?!”
A bead of cold sweat slid down Tobirama’s cheek.
“Brother…
are you planning a rebellion?”
“Don’t put it like that.” Kaito calmly took a sip of tea.
“Creating the future is what we’re already doing.”
He looked directly at Tobirama.
“So tell me—are you willing to help me?”
“Will you help me fulfill the dreams that Itama and Kawarama never had the chance to see?”
The fingers Tobirama had been tapping against the table suddenly froze.
He seemed to fall into memory.
After a long silence, he sighed.
“…You’re right.”
“The Warring States Period may have ended, but the other nations still exist.
As long as they do, war will never truly disappear.”
“I’ll help you.”
“But I refuse to work for that man, and I won’t meet him.”
He paused before adding:
“And next time you’re feeling…
idealistic, discuss it with me beforehand.”
“Tobirama, what are you talking about?” Kaito scratched his head and laughed foolishly.
“Ha…
hahaha.”
The strategy had worked.
Tobirama’s tense body relaxed, and a trace of nostalgia flickered in his eyes.
Meanwhile, Kaito secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
He had gambled correctly.
In the original story, Tobirama’s greatest weakness when dealing with Hashirama was precisely this feeling—he could neither argue against him nor overcome him.
“Oh, right.” Kaito suddenly changed the subject.
“Regarding the direction of the Ninjutsu Research Division…”
He lowered his voice.
“I want it to study various secret techniques and…”
“…jutsu specifically designed to counter the Sharingan.”
Tobirama’s pupils contracted sharply.
“Counter the Sharingan?”
After discussing the details for some time…
The coldness in Tobirama’s gaze finally eased, and even his tone became gentler.
“Brother, you’ve really changed.”
“You never would have allowed me to pursue these things before.”
He stood up.
“If this is truly who you are, then you’d better show that same determination at tonight’s clan meeting.”
Click.
The door closed.
Kaito immediately collapsed into his chair.
Cold sweat streamed from his forehead down his chin and soaked his clothes.
Only then did he realize that his back was already drenched.
“Whew…”
He wiped away the sweat.
“I finally convinced him.”
“Senju Tobirama really is terrifying.”
“No wonder he’s one of Konoha’s greatest figures.”
Outside the window, the setting sun bathed the earth in golden light.
Kaito stared at the clouds on the horizon and recalled how he’d been sent flying by a truck, only to be chosen by a mysterious system at the moment of death.
The system had allowed him to transmigrate into another world and possess a random person.
He had already prepared himself to end up possessing someone like Momonosuke or Hyakkimaru.
Instead, he had become Senju Hashirama.
This was a god-tier start.
As long as they kept Madara on their side, they’d be invincible.
Leaning back in his chair, Kaito closed his eyes and felt the immense vitality, strength, and chakra flowing through his body.
For the first time, he felt confident that he could survive.
Ding!!!
[Congratulations, Host.
You have successfully invaded the world of Naruto and possessed the body of the God of Shinobi, Senju Hashirama.]
[Hashirama’s physical instincts have been inherited.]
[The Neon Invasion System has officially awakened.]
“Huh…”
A sudden pain exploded in his chest.
Kaito looked down.
A blade had pierced straight through his heart.
“Flying…
Raijin Technique?”
Behind him, Tobirama spoke in an icy voice.
“You’re not my brother.”
“Who are you?”
Blood dripped from the tip of the sword onto the floor.
For a moment, Kaito felt as though he were staring at his true self.
Just as he was about to deny everything—
*BOOM!
*
Despite the clear skies, thunder suddenly roared.
The sound interrupted the words that were about to leave his mouth.
Only then did Kaito realize that the system notification was still continuing.
[Basic Function 1 Unlocked: Bond Value Detection]
[Current bond value between Senju Tobirama and the Host: 81%]
[Friendly Reminder: Targets with a bond value exceeding 80% can be made to unconditionally trust the Host once.]
Kaito was overjoyed.
Great!
System, make him believe me!
He grabbed the blade protruding from his chest and roared furiously:
“Tobirama!
Have I been too lenient lately?”
“Is that why you’ve become so insolent?!”
Crack!
He snapped the sword in half, threw it onto the floor, and rapidly formed hand seals.
Tobirama didn’t try to stop him.
Instead, he stared intently.
“Wood Release: Wood Golem Jutsu!”
As the giant wooden hand seized him, realization dawned on Tobirama.
“Only Brother can use Wood Release!”
“…Sorry.”
“You’ve been acting too strangely lately, so I wanted to test you.”
“With your healing ability, you’ll recover soon enough.”
“Is that so?” Kaito pressed a hand against his pounding heart and forced himself to remain calm.
“Just as expected of you.
Once you suspect something, you verify it immediately.”
“I’ll let this slide.”
“But if it happens again, I’ll really be angry.”
“I understand.”
With those words, Tobirama vanished instantly.
Kaito dropped to one knee and clutched his chest.
He looked around suspiciously.
Other than the overturned teacup and the sound of tea dripping onto the floor, there was nothing.
Only then did he truly relax.
“Ah…”
The pain suddenly intensified.
“It hurts…
it hurts so much!”
Tears and snot streamed down his face as he curled up on the floor, clenching his fists.
Am I really just supposed to lie here and bleed to death?