Chapter 285: Young Baki

Main World, Konoha – Hokage's Office

Having resolved the questions surrounding Link's condition, everyone gathered in one place.

"Anyway, that's the current situation in the village."

Senju Tobirama sat behind the Hokage's desk, flanked by the child-versions of the Third and Fourth Hokage. Tsunade was still off in the "Second Parallel World," effectively serving as a mascot there, so the three Hokage here were the ones Baking decisions.

What about the First Hokage? The 'first' Hashirama sat lazily in the corner, basically saying "none of this concerns me."

Across from them, the jōnin and the two advisors sat in rows, wearing perplexed expressions after hearing all about the Reanimation Jutsu and other worlds.

Tobirama silently observed their faces, memorizing anyone who looked especially rattled. He planned to have the Anbu investigate them thoroughly afterward.

He had intended to wait until his brother had been reincarnated and regained some strength before revealing the truth to the higher-ups, but plans couldn't keep up with sudden changes.

His brother had retained far more power than expected, and that other-world Hashirama was indeed trustworthy. There was nothing to be afraid of anymore.

So he adjusted his plan on the spot. The main reason for returning now was to speak openly with the higher-ups—particularly the various ninja clans. Studying Link was only a secondary objective.

[That brat's been getting more and more cheeky lately. And my brother—he just sat there, watching while I got pushed around…]

Remembering Link, Tobirama felt irked.

"Lord Second Hokage," Nara Shikaku began, raising his hand first. "Will you be Baking this reincarnation technique available to everyone?"

Tobirama shook his head. "I'm going to reform the village's mission system. Completing missions above a certain rank will earn you merit points. Those points can be spent to reincarnate yourself or a close friend or family member."

There was no way he'd just hand out a jutsu like that to anyone. For one thing, Link and Tobirama, who each had their own versions of Edo Tensei, couldn't serve as the world's free "reincarnation machines."

For another, letting people reincarnate too freely would destroy their fear of death, causing countless problems down the road.

He was going to keep reincarnation on tight lockdown, set high thresholds, and eventually seal it away, preventing all sorts of future issues that might arise.

As for how Konoha would develop from here, no one was entirely sure yet. The lure of unknown other worlds, the hope for peace, the experiments in the Second Parallel World, the future in the main world—how would Konoha move forward?

So many questions were surfacing, and neither he nor his brother were fully prepared. It was like they just kept getting pushed along by one unexpected event after another.

While listening to the jōnin's questions and talking through the immediate tasks, Tobirama simultaneously sorted out his own unsolved issues in his mind. He didn't think he was the smartest person in the world—he was just more proactive in thinking and doing. Other people's input mattered.

Meanwhile, Link was in the back row, silently recalling his notes on Wind Release: Cast Net. He generated small gusts of wind in his palms, letting them swirl around.

Word was that Sunagakure in the Second Parallel World had finally sent him both the wind-style instructor and the One-Tail Jinchūriki, Bunpuku. He planned to head over there once the meeting ended. He wondered who they'd sent—maybe a familiar face?

The meeting in the Hokage's office dragged on for half a day before concluding, and Link was the first to leave. He meant to pick up Sasuke and Utakata so they could all head to the Second Parallel World. But just as he stepped outside…

"Link." Nara Shikaku called out, wearing a slightly complicated expression. He'd never expected that this disciple—originally taken in on the Third Hokage's behalf—could affect so many things.

He'd heard rumors about the jutsu that summoned the dead, how it caused a big uproar, and later brought back the Second Hokage.

At that time, he hadn't paid it much mind—he had some knowledge of Edo Tensei, after all. But now it had escalated to actually reviving the dead, which was absurd.

Even if Tobirama hadn't spelled it out, Shikaku strongly suspected that the inter-world travel jutsu also came from Link.

Once upon a time, he had accepted him as a disciple for the Hokage's sake, and then deliberately stayed in the background to avoid looking like he was currying favor.

Now, Link was central to everything in Konoha, and Shikaku wanting to talk more with him might come off like he was just trying to latch on. It all felt quite complicated.

"Shikaku-sensei," Link greeted, smiling. "What's up?"

Shikaku let out an almost imperceptible sigh. "Stop by my place sometime."

"For sure," Link replied with a friendly grin. "But I've got something to do now." With that, he vanished in a Body Flicker.

…

Two Hours Later, Second Parallel World

"This is our Sand's new wind-style prodigy—"

"Baki?" Link instantly recognized the young man. Wasn't this the same "Old Baki" from the other world who used to be his walking money bag?

He couldn't help smiling ruefully. This was too much—here in the main world, he'd practically been farming Baki for cash. Now, in another world, the teacher Sunagakure had been forced to send was a younger version of the same "Old Baki."

The young, "second" Fourt–Kazekage Rasa took note of Link's reaction, though his poker face never changed. [So Baki's famous in their world?] he speculated inwardly. [Then again, he does have quite the talent. Maybe that's normal.]

As for Baki himself, he just looked confused. Until recently, he'd been on the Land of Rain battlefield. After getting promoted to jōnin there, he still wasn't in Sunagakure's inner circle.

Now they'd given him an S-rank, top-level mission to gather intel on these other-worlders—and only once he got here did he learn what "other-worlders" even meant.

The truth behind why the war ended so abruptly hadn't spread yet. Most mid- and lower-level ninja still believed they were in the midst of the shinobi war, totally unaware that just two "monsters" had pacified the entire conflict in a matter of days.

"I'm Link," Link introduced himself. Sasuke, Utakata, and the Fifth Hokage Tsunade stood beside him, so it was obvious Link was the real boss here. He spoke openly. "I'll be your student from here on out."

Baki nodded, appearing rather subdued.

"You, come with me," Tsunade commanded. She had a lot on her plate, given she was also acting as Hokage. The Second Parallel World's Sand was the first village to throw in with them, so there was plenty of negotiating to do—things like how much intel to share and how many benefits to grant them. It was a huge hassle.

And that brat Tobirama had haughtily claimed he needed time to "think about the future," dumping all the busywork on her.

[If I'd known this would happen, I'd never have taken up this Hokage post.] Tsunade frowned, leading the "second" Rasa toward the newly built Hokage Tower.

[Did I offend her somehow…?] Rasa wondered. He'd only been Kazekage for a short while, and the responsibility of deciding his village's entire future weighed heavily on him.

Link, meanwhile, smiled at Baki and said, "Great. Looking forward to working with you."

~~~

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