Chapter 284: I'm a Genius? Hiruzen's Confusion...

"If Spirit Transformation Jutsu is the materialization of the soul, then your jutsu grants the soul a certain measure of physicality."

Senju Tobirama, having hurried back to the main world in the midst of his busy schedule, wore the excited expression of a researcher as he spoke.

Transforming spirit into matter is an extremely, extremely, extremely difficult endeavor.

Otherwise, the Spirit Transformation Jutsu wouldn't have been mastered by only one person—Kato Dan. Like the Flying Thunder God, it demands a rare combination of special talent and copious knowledge.

Keep in mind that chakra itself is a sort of semi-physical energy of near-zero mass, possessing both the ability to penetrate matter and to affect it, shifting characteristics based on the user's will. That's why chakra can form the Rasengan, undergo various elemental changes for attacks, pass between the Pure Land and the physical realm, warp space, create objects from nothing, and so on.

In some sense, countless types of chakra could be considered "potential energies," each with unique properties.

But converting pure thought (spiritual energy) into matter has too many unknown barriers. How can someone control every thought in their mind? That's why people typically fall back on mixing spiritual and physical energy into standard chakra: it's more stable and reliable, with a somewhat lower ceiling but fewer unknown variables.

Yet clearly, Link's jutsu doesn't belong to the realm of conventional chakra manipulation.

"Direct usage of spiritual energy… truly a terrifying talent." Tobirama, after studying it thoroughly a few times, couldn't help but marvel.

Spiritual energy governs imagination. It's no wonder this mysterious jutsu of Link's would have such powerful abilities. It signals direct use of spiritual energy, plus an innately massive reservoir of mental strength.

Why does spiritual energy, embodying "imagination," result in such potency? All he could do was chalk it up to talent.

After a moment's thought, Tobirama remarked, "If you ever manage to develop direct usage of physical energy, which governs life, then maybe you'd become the next Sage of Six Paths."

Controlling both the imagination-driven spiritual energy and the life-governing physical energy in perfect harmony supposedly leads to the Creation of All Things, the legendary power attributed to the Sage of Six Paths.

"Huh? You're talking about me? Am I really that incredible, and I never even knew?"

Link felt a bit dumbfounded. So he was some kind of unprecedented genius?

"Your chakra composition is heavily skewed toward mental energy, making it… highly unusual," Tobirama mused. "Which is why you can't fully master your own jutsu—your spiritual energy is simply too strong.

"In that case—"

"Do I need some special training regimen to strengthen my command over spiritual energy?" Link saw Tobirama go into deep thought and couldn't hold back from asking.

If he could guide the direction of his mutated ninjutsu, wouldn't he become invincible? Whatever he desired—he'd just clap his hands, and it would become reality! A living Dragon Ball? A walking Holy Grail? A human-shaped Shikon Jewel?

Wow, that would be amazing!

Cue swelling pride, hands on hips, chest puffed out.

Tobirama spread his arms. "How would I know?" he retorted in an exasperated tone. "That's something you'd have to ask the Sage of Six Paths himself. If I knew how to train and use spiritual energy that way, I'd have conquered the world ages ago."

They stared at each other for a while. Finally, Link's face filled with silent exasperation. "If you don't know, what're you thinking so hard about?!"

"Just because I can't train it doesn't mean I can't imagine having that kind of spiritual power!" Tobirama shot back, absolutely unapologetic.

The childish-looking Tobirama—roughly three or four years old—had such a smug expression that it drove Link up the wall. Fury flared, and he grabbed the second-fastest shinobi in the world by his chubby cheeks, squeezing hard. "I've wanted to do this for ages!"

"D-damn you, brat!" Tobirama's small voice squeaked in anger as he tried to struggle with short arms and legs. The suddenness of the assault, plus his undersized body, left him helpless. Realizing he couldn't break free, he shouted desperately, "Brother! Brother!"

But since his cheeks were pinched, the words came out all garbled.

Even though Link was only about 150 cm tall (technically 149, but he claimed 150), Tobirama was so short he couldn't even reach Link's chest once his cheeks were pinned. The sight of them squirming was undeniably comical.

Nearby, the "first" Hashirama just watched, smiling. Did they really think he had no idea his dear little brother had been longing to pick on him once Tobirama was stuck in a child's body? While he wasn't the most perceptive person, he knew Tobirama well enough.

Might as well watch the show.

…

Second Parallel World, at the Kannabi Bridge Outpost – The Senju Family

"Haaah… Lord Hashirama," the "second" Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed. He sat across from the youthful, reincarnated version of Senju Hashirama, looking troubled. His face—and the taste in his mouth—were equally bitter. From recent discoveries, he knew this kid was their own world's First Hokage, not the other-world Hashirama.

Yet he and his three old friends had tried all sorts of arguments over the past few days, and nothing had changed the young First Hokage's position.

With such unfathomable strength and future potential, as long as this juvenile Senju Hashirama was willing to side firmly with their Konoha, Sarutobi and company could hold their heads high when dealing with the other-world Konoha.

Why must everything yield to that other world's demands?

"Don't fret so much, Sarutobi," said the "second" Hashirama, seated cross-legged with a calm expression. "We're all still Konoha, united by a common goal and our pursuit of peace. Why should there be a divide at all?"

He had also read some random little notepads authored by Link—the same ones that had influenced both Hashiramas from the other world. After reading them, this young Hashirama wholeheartedly agreed.

To achieve peace, they had to aim for a unified system.

Even if Link himself had no concrete roadmap—just vague ideas—it was already invaluable for these shinobi. At least they had a direction to struggle toward. Bringing all ninjas under one banner first, and then gradually removing barriers between nations, sounded like a path worth trying.

The "second" Sarutobi Hiruzen forced a laugh, exasperated. Sure, they were all "Konoha," but there was always a hierarchy of strength, an order of who came first and who followed. If his Konoha ended up in a secondary position, wouldn't it be exactly like the other villages that had been beaten? They'd be forced to accept commands. And if, one day, the other side demanded something outrageous or turned out to harbor sinister designs, they'd be powerless to object.

"Lord Hashirama, I—" He barely began before Hashirama cut him off with a wave of his hand.

"How about you visit that other world in person," the "second" Hashirama said, "and talk things over with your other self? Surely you can trust yourself?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen brooded for a moment, then sighed, "Haah… Alright."

~~~

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