A week had passed since Hashirama's funeral.
In the shadowed woods beyond Konoha, Raizen stood alone surrounded by tree stumps and cracked stone.
His hand pressed against the soil.
Raizen: "Wood Style: Wood Lance."
With a surge of chakra few spike of hardened wood shot upward and shattered a stone dummy. They were not large, but they were solid and precise.
He exhaled slowly.
"Still nowhere near Hashirama's level. But… it's fine."
Each day his control over the gift forced into him by the system improved. His limbs felt sturdier. His chakra deeper.
From a distance, Tobirama sometimes watched never interfering only observing.
Elsewhere in Konoha word had spread among the elite.
Uchiha compound:
Kagami Uchiha: "I saw it with my own eyes. Trees growing around him."
Uchiha Elder: "The blood of the gods… in someone so young? That is not something to ignore."
Hyuga estate:
Elder Hyuga: "If that boy grows beyond Tobirama's control… there will be consequences."
Inside the Hokage's office, Tobirama stared at a war map. Tension at the borders was escalating.
He turned as Raizen entered.
Tobirama: "You are to continue training your Wood Release. But keep it hidden. Do not show it unless I give the word."
Raizen: "Understood."
Tobirama looked him over, eyes sharp.
Tobirama: "There will come a time when your power is needed. That time… may be soon."
Three days later, it came.
A wounded hawk landed at the tower. Blood on its wings. A scroll bound to its leg. Tobirama opened it. Read it in silence. Then handed it to Hiruzen and Danzo.
Tobirama: "It's started. The First Great Ninja War has begun."
All five great nations were in motion. The Hidden Cloud struck first, attacking trade routes near the Land of Hot Water.
The Hidden Stone moved troops toward the Land of Rain. The Hidden Mist's assassins were already causing chaos in minor countries.
Konoha WAR council
Uchiha Elder: "That boy should be put on the frontlines immediately."
Sarutobi Elder: "He's not a weapon, He's a symbol now. Like Hashirama sama was."
Tobirama: "He'll fight. But I'll decide how."
In the forest, Might Fist arrived at dusk with two weighted logs.
Might Fist: "So… can you grow trees yet?"
Raizen: "Small ones."
Might Fist: "Grow big ones. We've got a war to win."
They resumed training side by side. Their fists smashed through wood, bark, and stone preparing for war with grit, not words.
The system interface updated silently:
[Almighty System – Online]
Daily Task Progress: Next task unlock after 1000 days
Push ups: 500/500 Squats: 500/500 Run: 5/5km
Time Remaining: 17 hours
Progress: Day 571/1000
Kaido Template Progress: 49%
Beast Body (Enhanced) Armament Haki (Mid) Observation Haki (Mid)
Conqueror's Haki (Mid)
Wood Release – 30% (Hashirama Variant)
The forest around them trembled.
A legend was growing not in the shadows of giants, but in preparation to stand above them.