Konoha Notes.

Chapter 548 Gift

Chapter 548 Gift

The gazes from the sky came and went, and occasionally a few shadows lingered above the clouds.

Ban didn't even bother to lift his eyelids.

The combined power of his and Hashirama Senju's strike was excessive. If they hadn't been certain that Jigen had escaped and had stopped at the last moment, the entire mine would have been detonated.

If that happens, aside from the thrill of the battle, we'll return empty-handed.

After driving away Jigen, Ban spent some time. On one hand, he caught up with his old friend, giving him a general understanding of the current world situation; on the other hand, he found the conversion device buried deep in the ruins to press the liquid Grell vein into a portable solid gem.

Obito became the porter. He neatly stacked the boxes and threw them one by one into the Kamui dimension. His movements were mechanical, and his face was expressionless. Hashirama patiently talked to Madara, from the grudges of the past to the current mess, and then to the Otsutsuki clan, and to that man named Jigen.

After rambling on for most of the day, Hashirama finally steered the conversation to the main topic.

"The enemy we face now is a common enemy for everyone. We, the five great ninja villages, can all stand on the same side."

Ban's lips twitched slightly. He only felt bored when the topic veered in this direction.

"The ninja world? The five great ninja villages? What use could their limited power possibly be?"

Ban chuckled.

"Cheers and applause? I don't need them."

Hashirama frowned. "You failed in your last attack on the village, didn't you, Madara? Even now, do you still underestimate your comrades?"

Madara smiled and said, "Indeed."

"It's a bit of a pity that I couldn't get a good look at everyone's hard work last time."

"But all they need to do is obediently hand over the tailed beasts; that's the only thing they can do to help."

"In today's world, there's no time to wait for a tailed beast to slowly revive."

Hashirama Senju couldn't help but raise his voice: "What you're saying—the correct approach shouldn't include killing each other, Madara!"

"Is what you're about to do really a better path than our dreams?"

Having reappeared in this world, Madara has indeed updated some information.

Regarding the Otsutsuki clan, the Ten-Tails, and even the Infinite Tsukuyomi.

That's probably an anesthetic released by predators during the digestion of their food.

But he still has a completely different perspective.

"Hashirama, you've misunderstood something."

"If you use the divine tree with the attitude of enjoying the world, you will naturally lead everything to destruction."

"That's all those Otsutsuki people know. That's just what they are."

He raised his hand, his five fingers together.

"I'm different."

"What I bring is a long dream from which no one will ever awaken."

"Give me all the chakra, and I will crush all the enemies."

"The others just need to stay in the Infinite Tsukuyomi and enjoy peace and happiness."

"No war, no deception, no betrayal, and never be overtaken by suffering."

Hashirama Senju remained silent, watching Madara's fanaticism and high spirits.

"What about the children?" Hashirama's voice grew hoarse. "Are you also planning to put them all into the Infinite Tsukuyomi?"

Ban tilted his head.

He was thinking, and then his voice unexpectedly softened.

"Ah—they."

"Children's wishes are always simple and easy to fulfill, and their weak bodies can't provide much chakra."

"I will let some of them continue living in the outside world. When they grow up, when they discover that even honesty can't prevent conflict, when their desires begin to clash and no one can satisfy the other—"

"The world of the Divine Tree will become the common choice."

As he spoke these words, his expression carried a proud compassion.

Ban was convinced that after all other possibilities had been proven invalid, the outcome he had proposed was the only answer.

Hashirama Senju, his eyelids half-closed, opened them again, his eyes filled with a fierce fighting spirit.

"I won't allow you to do that, Madara."

Ban clasped his hands together in front of him, fingers pointing outwards.

"I know."

"You and I will never get along, Hashirama."

"There's no possibility of taking your dream any further."

"The current Konoha, the current Hokage—yes, that kid named Shuuji."

"He did indeed take your work a step further. Like you founded Konoha, he tried to unite all the ninja villages into one."

""

"But in the end, it's just repeating the same cycle."

"New struggles, new suspicions, new betrayals—all of this is merely preparing for the next war."

The red Sharingan eyes met the black pupils.

"Your path has no future, Hashirama."

The first Hokage remained silent as his body began to fiercely resist Madara's control.

Chakra erupted from his body, and everything around him trembled.

Madara felt the familiar yet powerful chakra, and a smile appeared in his eyes.

"Just because Orochimaru's techniques can't do something doesn't mean I can't. In situations like this, being a little underhanded isn't too much to ask, Hashirama."

"I'm afraid the chance to settle things with you will never come again."

Just as Madara's control was focused on suppressing Hashirama Senju, Obito sensed it.

The force binding his body was gradually weakening.

He stopped and looked away from the packaging box, casting his gaze towards Ban's back.

As long as he throws the shuriken with Kamui, Hashirama Senju can—

At this moment, Obito's body stiffened again, and a black will climbed up his left side.

He didn't even turn his head.

"You want to convince me that Obito wants to wait for a chance to break free? Then what am I waiting for, Hashirama?"

"At times like this, my preparations will be flawless!"

However, even a brief moment of distraction during a conversation was enough for Hashirama Senju to find a new opportunity.

Immediately, a fairy's face appeared on his face.

The First Hokage laughed.

"You're the same as always, when you think you've succeeded, you always—"

"A flaw has been revealed!"

The sound of tree roots tearing through the earth rang out.

Centered on Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha, the thick root system spread outwards like a raging tide, greedily absorbing the energy that had not yet been fully extracted from the depths of the mine.

Since the conflict was already a foregone conclusion, Hashirama Senju did not intend to give Madara any more opportunities to gain anything.

This attack wasn't aimed at Madara himself, but at the entire mine.

Madara completely lost the ability to spare the energy to suppress Obito.

He needed to concentrate fully on dealing with the opponent he valued most in his life.

Without his suppression, Obito, who had been controlled by Black Zetsu multiple times, gained a little room to struggle.

The spiral of the Divine Might Space swallowed him up along with Black Zetsu.

Ban couldn't help but sigh in admiration.

"That guy isn't entirely without merits."

Hashirama stood amidst the churning roots, a carefree smile still playing on his lips.

"Don't underestimate young people, Ban."

Ban's laughter echoed amidst the crumbling ruins.

"Is that so? Since we've come this far, I'll stay with you a little longer, Hashirama!"

Kakashi, whose office was temporarily reassigned to the Hokage Building, felt like his spine was about to break.

Not only did he lose his assistant, but because the Hokage often had to go to the western suburbs for official business, he had to take on two jobs: the head of the secret service bureau and the Hokage's office.

Fortunately, the burden belonging to the secretariat was greatly reduced due to physical factors, otherwise he was sure he wouldn't even have the energy to complain.

The good news is that, because they've returned to the village and are in this situation, the father and son from Nara also need to come to the office to help them get through this difficult time.

He came to the corridor, and just as he was about to catch his breath, a familiar spatial vortex suddenly appeared.

Kakashi's eyes immediately sharpened.

Inside the Hokage Building, alarms blared.

A dark figure tumbled out of the vortex. Obito Uchiha was kneeling on the ground, struggling to lift his face, seemingly still smiling: "A gift—Kakashi."

The next second, a hole was blasted in the ceiling.

Shuji descended from the sky, and as he landed, dozens of branches sprouted from his feet. The branches surged towards Obito.

Space distorted again, and Obito's figure disappeared into the vortex.

The shadowy figures approached from all directions.

Kakashi hadn't fully recovered yet. "What... what happened?"

The Sixth Hokage looked at the spot where Obito had disappeared: "Send me in, Kakashi."

Kakashi realized what he meant: "Wait. Should we call Guy, or—"

Shuji said, "No one has yet surpassed me in the ability to save their life."

Since he insisted, Kakashi Hatake had no choice but to activate Kamui, first sending Shuji into the space, and then, without hesitation, immediately sending himself in as well.

Divine Power Space.

The once empty alternate dimension was now filled with sealed boxes. The lids were half open, and inside were neatly arranged blue-green gems.

As for Obito, he has disappeared without a trace.

Shuji walked up to a box, looked down at it for a moment, and couldn't help but chuckle: "Kakashi. Move everything out, quickly."

He patted the edge of the box.

"If we don't hurry, the victim will come after us."

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