Naruto: I Confronted the Five Kage Before the System Arrived

Chapter 234: Meeting Senju Hashirama Again, Hagoromo Gengetsu Feels Bored

After the aftermath of the Shinra Tensei, a massive crater with a diameter of one kilometer appeared on the ground. At the center of the crater, the once dark cave, previously buried deep underground and covered by a green forest, was now completely exposed to sunlight. Everything within the cave—forests, snake bodies, rocks—had dissolved entirely as if melting snow, replaced by layers of thick soil from elsewhere.

In the midst of flying dust, Senju Hashirama emerged from a wooden mask generated by the Mokuton technique, his body covered in cracks. Nearby, a battered Orochimaru crawled out from the soil. He opened his mouth, and a new, mucus-covered body emerged, with his previous injuries fully healed.

Descending slowly from the sky, Hagoromo Gengetsu glanced at Orochimaru before turning his gaze to Senju Hashirama. He wasn't surprised to see the latter appear again. He had already learned from Kabuto's memories that Orochimaru had regained the use of his hands. It was only natural for Orochimaru to try summoning the previously sealed Hokage if he had managed to retrieve his soul from the Shinigami.

"Hello again, Hashirama," Hagoromo Gengetsu said calmly, nodding at Senju Hashirama.

Could he remain calm? He had summoned Senju Hashirama numerous times over the past year using an incomplete version of the Reanimation. Although Hashirama had no consciousness, they had fought many battles and were too familiar with each other. Unless it was the peak version of Senju Hashirama from the Valley of the End, Hagoromo Gengetsu wouldn't be truly excited. Now, it was just a matter of courtesy between old acquaintances.

"Gengetsu..." Hashirama felt a significant wave of emotion seeing Hagoromo Gengetsu, especially upon noticing his eyes, now a different shade with purple swirling patterns. He had heard of these eyes somewhere but couldn't recall.

At this moment, Orochimaru approached, greedily eyeing Hagoromo Gengetsu's true Rinnegan. He explained to Hashirama, "Those are the Rinnegan, the legendary eyes of the Sage of Six Paths."

Hashirama's expression changed drastically. "Rinnegan... I never thought these legendary eyes would truly exist. And Gengetsu has awakened them!"

Given Hagoromo Gengetsu's outstanding talent, Hashirama's first thought was that he had developed the Rinnegan himself. Hearing this, Orochimaru laughed and shook his head, "Developed? No, no! Hagoromo Gengetsu didn't develop the Rinnegan. He snatched them from someone else. Now, he doesn't just covet the Rinnegan. He wants to take over Konoha, the Five Great Shinobi Countries, and the entire ninja world!"

Having summoned an uncontrollable Hashirama through Reanimation, Orochimaru, fearing for his life, naturally tried to turn him against Hagoromo Gengetsu. However, there was some truth in what he said.

Hashirama's expression didn't change much after hearing this. Since witnessing Hagoromo Gengetsu break free from the Reanimation and realizing he had fully revived, Hashirama had known that the ninja world would face great upheaval. It seemed that the upheaval had already begun.

"Gengetsu, may I ask what your purpose is?" Hashirama asked seriously.

Hagoromo Gengetsu didn't answer but simply uttered two words: "Boring."

He indeed felt bored. Fighting the same opponents, whether alive or dead, had become tiresome. Worse, while he continued to improve, his opponents stagnated or even regressed, making battles less fulfilling. Hagoromo Gengetsu shook his head, disinterestedly saying, "Hashirama, if you were thinking of ways to revive yourself, I'd be interested in talking. But if you're content being dead, then living matters are no concern of yours. Go back to where you came from... No, let me send you back."

Realizing the conversation would drag on, Hagoromo Gengetsu, not forgetting his objective, raised his hand: "Bansho Ten'in!"

A terrifying gravitational force erupted from his palm. Unable to resist, Orochimaru and Hashirama were pulled toward him.

"Gengetsu..." Noticing a significant change in Hagoromo Gengetsu since their last encounter, Hashirama's eyes narrowed. Suddenly, Hashirama's body was halted as numerous thick wooden stakes extended from him, anchoring him to the ground. Orochimaru, quick to react, grabbed the nearest stake to stop his movement.

Seeing this, Hagoromo Gengetsu altered the force in his palm: "Shinra Tensei!"

Boom! A powerful repulsive wave swept over the two. First drawn in, then pushed away—two opposing forces acted almost simultaneously. Orochimaru felt his organs churning violently like a washing machine, vomiting blood as his body rolled backward. Hashirama, though faring better, still retreated but maintained the ability to observe Hagoromo Gengetsu. Noticing him approaching, Hashirama clapped his hands: "Mokuton: Kajukai Korin!"

Massive trees sprouted from the ground, growing rapidly with enormous flowers blooming, releasing a paralyzing pollen cloud ready to engulf the area. With Shinra Tensei still on cooldown, Hagoromo Gengetsu continued walking forward, blue eye shadow appearing at the corners of his eyes. "Senpō: Ice Release!"

Crack! Crack! Instantly, a wave of freezing ice emanated from him, rolling outward like a tidal wave. The pollen, and even the microscopic bacteria in the air, froze solid. The blooming trees turned into a frozen wasteland, unable to resist. "Senjutsu?!" Hashirama exclaimed in shock. As a Senjutsu user himself, he immediately recognized the chakra aura of Senjutsu in the Ice Release. He looked at Hagoromo Gengetsu, noting the blue eye shadow. Though different from his own, it was undoubtedly Sage Mode. "Impressive, Gengetsu!" Hashirama said with admiration.