---
Inside the grand office of the Hokage, the conversation between Senju Hashirama and Hoshino Yota had gone on for quite some time. Laughter echoed between them, and mutual admiration filled the air like incense. Despite their differing statuses—one the God of Shinobi, the other a seasoned Elite Jōnin—there was no barrier in their words.
On the sidelines stood Senju Tobirama, quiet as always, his silver eyes sharply observing every exchange without interruption. His silence was not disinterest—it was calculation.
Yota, while gracious on the surface, carried hesitation in his tone. He knew praise often came with strings attached, even if unspoken. The admiration from the Hokage was genuine, but politics in the shinobi world often lurked in the shadows.
And as if summoned by that thought, a black shadow flickered at the edge of the room.
A masked ANBU operative appeared, dropping to one knee. "Lord Hokage, Hoshino Kaede has regained consciousness."
Hashirama nodded. "Understood."
The ANBU vanished as quickly as he came, as if the shadows had swallowed him whole.
To any outside observer, this might have seemed like a regular report. But to Yota, it held deeper meaning—this wasn't just a status update. It was a message, sent to both Hokage and father. A quiet warning that eyes were now watching.
And then it struck him—this wasn't Hashirama's doing. The First Hokage was known for his open-heartedness and compassion. He was not the kind to employ veiled surveillance.
Yota's eyes shifted slightly toward Tobirama, standing at his brother's side like a sword sheathed in silence.
So, it was his work. The younger Senju's cautious nature was no secret.
Still, Yota kept his voice calm.
"Lord Hokage, may I request a favor?"
"Oh? What is it?" Hashirama asked, always ready to accommodate.
"My son… he's long admired you. If it isn't too much trouble, he would be overjoyed to meet you in person."
The room went quiet.
For a moment, Hashirama blinked in surprise. Then he scratched his head awkwardly, clearly caught off-guard.
"Well… I suppose we could do it today."
"Thank you, Hokage-sama." Yota bowed deeply and turned to leave for the hospital.
As soon as the door closed behind him, Hashirama slumped back into his chair, arms hanging limply.
"I'm exhausted. Tobirama, why don't you handle this stuff next time? I hate all this official business."
Tobirama folded his arms. "You're the Hokage, brother."
Hashirama groaned dramatically. "That's the problem!"
Tobirama didn't laugh. His gaze lingered where Yota had just stood.
"He doesn't trust us."
"What nonsense," Hashirama snapped. "He's a father. Worrying for his child is only natural."
"Still… it was a subtle move."
Hashirama didn't respond right away. He just waved a dismissive hand.
"That's enough, Tobirama. Don't turn every shadow into an enemy."
But Tobirama's concerns were not easily dismissed.
Changing the subject, he remarked, "The village is expanding rapidly. We'll run out of space soon."
"Then expand!" Hashirama said, stretching like a sleepy cat. "Plenty of land around us."
Tobirama's eye twitched. "You say that like land just folds itself."
He bit back further complaint, sighing through his nose. This was his brother, after all—immensely powerful, impossibly kind, and wildly impractical.
"Don't forget what we discussed," Tobirama muttered as he turned away.
---
About half a cup of tea later, the knock finally came.
"Come in," Hashirama called.
Yota entered with Hoshino Kaede at his side.
"Lord Hokage, this is my son."
Hashirama's gaze fell on the boy—and he stopped breathing for a second.
Chakra perception was second nature to him, and what he sensed from this five-year-old was astonishing.
Kaede's chakra reserves were already at Chūnin level. No, scratch that. Elite Chūnin.
How…?
Hashirama looked into the boy's sapphire eyes—eyes brimming with something ancient. Mysterious. Unshaped, yet dense with potential.
Kaede returned the look, and his own breath caught in his chest.
The First Hokage was nothing like he imagined. The chakra radiating from him was enormous—like staring at the sun. The very air around Hashirama shimmered with life, as if the world bowed to his presence.
But Kaede steadied himself and bowed deeply.
"Greetings, Lord Hokage. My name is Hoshino Kaede."
Hashirama smiled warmly. "Hello, little one."
Something about the boy's presence unraveled the speech Hashirama had prepared in his mind. Words failed him. The guilt he carried—about Kaede collapsing, about the village's involvement—seemed to dissolve in the boy's calm presence.
Beside him, Tobirama watched with a mixture of suspicion and fascination.
"I've heard you awakened a Bloodline Limit," Hashirama said. "Do you know what it is?"
Kaede didn't hesitate. He looked at the First Hokage's curious, boyish expression and decided not to hide.
Sometimes, to rise in this world, one must shine early.
"I think… I can manipulate time."
The words fell into the room like a meteor strike.
Silence.
Tobirama's eyes widened ever so slightly.
Even Hashirama sat up straight, smile fading.
Time.
Not space, not fire, not illusions.
Time.
The very concept made Tobirama's thoughts run wild. He had mastered Flying Thunder God, created Edo Tensei, and crafted countless forbidden techniques. But even he knew—those were only stepping stones. They tampered with rules.
But to control time itself?
That was rewriting the rulebook entirely.
"Are you sure?" Hashirama asked, his voice more serious than before.
Kaede nodded.
He stepped forward and touched the potted plant on Hashirama's desk. It was withered, a casualty of winter's cold. Dead leaves crumbled at its base.
Kaede closed his eyes. His blue irises shimmered, light swirling in their depths like stars pulled into a galaxy.
A soft glow passed through his fingertips.
And then—
Green.
The dry brown stem unfurled. A sprout pushed upward. Leaves expanded, unrolling into fresh, vivid green.
The plant bloomed before their eyes, as if spring had replaced winter in the span of a heartbeat.
He had reversed time.
The room fell deathly still.
Tobirama's mouth parted, breath stuck in his throat.
Even Hashirama's smile didn't return immediately. His expression was one of awe, then joy, then reverence.
"Hahaha! Incredible! You really did it!"
He clapped his hands and laughed heartily, eyes twinkling.
Tobirama, on the other hand, took a single step forward and knelt beside Kaede.
"Little one, would you consider becoming my student?"
His voice was calm, but his eyes burned with intensity.
Kaede blinked.
Not only had he demonstrated his power—but now the Second Hokage-to-be was offering to mentor him?
Before he could speak, Hashirama stood abruptly.
"Hey! Tobirama! I'm still here, you know!"
Tobirama didn't even turn. "Brother, please. We can debate this later."
Hashirama scowled. "I haven't taken a student yet! You can't just snatch him up."
Tobirama still didn't budge.
Kaede watched them argue like two overprotective uncles and had to suppress a grin.
But deep down, his mind was racing. Senju Tobirama… or Senju Hashirama.
Either choice meant immense opportunity. But one thing was clear:
He had arrived.
No longer just a civilian child.
No longer just a reincarnated soul hiding behind innocence.
With the power of time at his fingertips, and the most powerful shinobi in the world at his side—
Hoshino Kaede's story had only jus
t begun.
---