Chapter 576: Major changes are coming

Hokage's Office.

Naruto stared at the figure before him.

Shikamaru had been right; the man didn't seem like a bad person.

Still, something about this guy gave Naruto an odd feeling.

It was like... déjà vu.

"What's your name?"

Naruto asked hesitantly, while the other man sized him up.

"Ashura!" the man finally replied.

A-Ashura??

Naruto shot to his feet, his eyes fixed on the person in front of him. Ashura... that name... but... but the Sage of Six Paths had mentioned it!

Wasn't Ashura the name of his second son?

Naruto scrutinized the man intently. In the next instant, his hand shot up, and a Rasengan materialized in his palm.

At the same moment, Ashura unleashed his own technique: "Wind Style: Rasengan!"

Though they looked somewhat alike, the two techniques were fundamentally different.

The Rasengan was a pure chakra, non-elemental technique.

The Wind Style: Rasengan, on the other hand, incorporated the wind nature transformation.

The two ninjas stared at the swirling chakra in their hands.

"Are you really Ashura?" Naruto asked.

The other man nodded. Ashura looked at Naruto. "I don't know why, but I feel like there's something about you that resonates with me."

Naruto smiled.

"Of course. Because... I am the reincarnation of your chakra!"

Ashura looked confused. The reincarnation of his chakra? What did that even mean?

"You've probably already realized it, haven't you? This isn't your original world." Naruto stated.

Ashura nodded.

"But it's not just some other world either. It's the future, and I'm here because of something you did that caused your chakra to reincarnate continuously."

"I am one of your chakra's reincarnations!" Naruto declared.

That explanation seemed to click with Ashura.

No wonder Naruto had felt so familiar.

Just as they were about to continue their conversation, they both sensed another familiar chakra signature.

Needless to say, this chakra belonged to none other than the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju.

Meanwhile, Hashirama was patiently explaining to a bewildered Anbu squad, for what felt like the hundredth time, that he was indeed Hashirama Senju.

The Anbu remained unconvinced and insisted on bringing him to the Hokage for Naruto to verify his identity.

However, even though Hashirama was known for his good temper, he wasn't about to be taken away by force.

With a slight exertion of will, he used Wood Release to restrain the entire Anbu team.

He'd initially thought that demonstrating his Wood Release would be enough to prove who he was.

Instead, it triggered an even larger and more aggressive response.

Due to the current sensitive situation in Konoha, Anbu patrols had been increased.

The moment the First Hokage made a move, reinforcements arrived immediately.

They jumped straight into the attack without even asking for an explanation.

Konoha couldn't afford any more unrest, so the Anbu's priority was to capture Hashirama as quickly as possible.

Backed into a corner, Hashirama had no choice but to defend himself, which only attracted even more ninjas to join the fray.

Hashirama was at his wit's end.

He had to restrain the attackers without causing any serious harm.

Just then, Naruto and Ashura sensed the commotion.

They swiftly exited the Hokage Building and raced towards Hashirama's location.

As the two appeared, Hashirama slowly came to a halt.

He looked up at the figures above him.

"You... are..."

Naruto was recognizable, but Hashirama looked at Naruto's silhouette and thought he should be the Sixth Hokage whose face was etched on the Hokage Rock.

But why did he look younger in person than his statue?

Was it his imagination?

As for the other person, Ashura, Hashirama instantly felt a surge of danger.

Instinctively, he focused all his attention on him.

He stared at Ashura, and Ashura returned his gaze.

"Could this person also be... a reincarnation of my chakra?" Hashirama wondered.

Naruto nodded. "That's right!"

"He is the First Hokage of our Konoha!"

Now Naruto felt even more overwhelmed. Not only was Ashura here, but the First Hokage had also somehow arrived in their time.

Things were becoming increasingly complicated.

With Naruto's arrival, Hashirama was finally no longer treated as an invading ninja.

However, the appearance of the First Hokage in Konoha sent a ripple of excitement through the entire village.

Despite Naruto's best efforts to keep the recent extraordinary events under wraps, the truth was now out in the open.

The ordinary citizens of Konoha were largely aware of what was happening.

"Ninjas from the past are showing up one after another. What on earth is going on with the world?" one villager exclaimed.

"First it was Konoha's White Fang, then that Danzo – thankfully Lord Itachi dealt with him, otherwise Konoha would probably be in chaos by now!" another added.

"It shouldn't be now, right? The First Hokage has also appeared. Even if there's more trouble, with the First Hokage and the Sixth Hokage, our village is practically invincible with two Hokages!" a third chimed in.

"Do you think maybe all the past Hokages will appear in the future?" someone speculated.

All the past Hokages appearing?

If that were the case, it would certainly be something.

All six Hokages of Konoha together would be quite a sight.

The ordinary villagers seemed mostly excited and amused by these developments.

But at that moment, Kakashi, who was responsible for Konoha's security on the streets, and experienced ninjas like Choza were frowning with concern.

If all the Hokages really did appear, it might not be as safe as the villagers thought.

Instead, it could be fraught with danger.

That would mean it wasn't just Konoha's past leaders who might return.

If Konoha's past Hokages were coming back, what about the other villages?

It would likely be a similar situation, and the entire ninja world could descend into chaos.

And Kakashi's worries were proving to be well-founded.

Sunagakure. The Third Kazekage surveyed the current state of Sunagakure. While its appearance had changed significantly and it seemed to be doing better than before, its influence had actually diminished.

This was a side effect of the establishment of the Allied Shinobi Forces.

The formation of the Allied Shinobi Forces had primarily strengthened Konoha's influence, subtly weakening the other four villages.

This development allowed Sunagakure to prosper economically, but in reality, it was akin to sacrificing a portion of its strength to nourish Konoha.

Konoha was able to develop more rapidly, while Sunagakure, though free from the immediate threat of war, had seen its military power significantly reduced, with those funds redirected towards village development.

The Third Kazekage, known as the strongest Kazekage, now watched as the Fifth Kazekage Gaara, who had returned to Sunagakure with the One-Tail Shukaku, and the Fourth Kazekage Rasa, who had been reanimated, stood before him.

Without warning, the Third Kazekage launched an attack.

The attack wasn't intended to kill, but rather to gauge their strength.

However, to his surprise, Gaara's power was evenly matched with his own.

He was in no way weaker than the Third, the supposed strongest Kazekage.

"Sunagakure shouldn't be like this, Gaara!"

These were the Third's first words after their brief clash.

Gaara's eyes flickered with various emotions before he finally spoke. "Peace doesn't come easily!"

"But it shouldn't be built on the sacrifice of Sunagakure!" the Third Kazekage retorted.

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