V1 Chapter 5 – TITLE AT END –

UNKNOWN POV

"It has been a while since I felt this abundant natural energy."

It has been some time since I had last visited the Shikkotsu forest; as I felt myself sorrounded by the abundant flow natural energy a soothing sensation washed over me, I felt my body relaxing and my mind calming somewhat of the anxiety I was feeling recently.

I don't know the source of this anxiety that I have been feeling since a while ago but I did not let it affect myself, letting go of the irrelevent thoughts I let my senses expand their range as I felt the nature surrounding me but something felt different; as I felt the energy of the nature the ambience of the forest felt somewhat different from before.

Immersing myself in my senses, I tried to search for the reason for this subtle difference; how should I put it?

'hmm... the forest feels livelier than before. Yes, that's it.'

In the past, the forest used to be completely silent whenever I arrived except for some occasional subtle chirps of animals, but now I find a clamor of sounds carried in the winds of what used to be an almost completely silent place.

As curiosity took seed in my mind about the cause of such a change, I did not hesitate as I moved towards the source of the sounds to find answers.

As I walked my way through the forest I reached the place that was the souce of the forest's liveliness, I saw what seemed to be a gathering of summoning beasts near a makeshift shed by the lakeside.

Not hiding myself as I approached, some of the summoning beasts were alerted of my presence, almost immediately they moved in tandem and took a defensive stance towards me.

As the moved in sync, I could feel them surrounding something in the centre of their formation, I focused as my senses picked up what felt like a small lifeforce at the centre of the summoning beasts, making it seem like they were probably protecting a cub; yet my trained eye as a shinobi made me reconsider the notion as I instinctively picked up the discrepancies in the surroundings.

Just like the crude shed, which while crude appeared to be made like a human housing, a tree trunk that seemed to have been used as a table for what seemed a board of shogi on top of it and a small cart in between the summoned beasts from which I sensed the small life signs of the cub.

All these constructs show signs of something more than what meets the eye because while I do not deny the wisdom of some of the summoned beasts, a gathering of so many different species of them along with these items is not something I feel is commonplace.

'definitely...something is happening here'

I thought as I approached their gathering place to see more, but my actions seemed to have aroused vigilance from the group and as I tried to approach closer I felt the vigilance might give rise to hostility, so I immediately stopped right there to prevent any conflict.

'umu.. I should probably declare I have no hostile intentions or this might start a fight.'

I thought as I nodded to myself and while thinking how to proceed I suddenly saw a familiar giant slug near the shed turn towards me, grasping the opportunity I immediately called out

"It is nice to see you again Lady Katsuyu, I hope my arrival didn't disturb you ha ha ha."

"It is nice to see you too, Hashirama-sama", she replied.

It seemed my strategy worked as I immediately saw the animals relax when the saw me gain recognition from the Slug Sage as they opened a path towards the center revealing what was hidden and I was stunned by what I saw.

HASHIRAMA POV

The crowd of animals parted making visible to me what lay in the centre and the sight that was presented left me stunned, the situation so bizarre that it took me a minute to accept the scene and recover my wits, and know this I have seen many shocking and grand scenes, hell I've seen Madara smile fondly probably thinking of some lady but even that didn't shock me as much as this scene did.

When the sea of summoned beasts parted opening a path to the centre, I saw what resembled a weird crib built upon a box about the height of my waist with wheels like a cart and a high backrest seat next to the futon, the small raised bars like a fence made me know it's a crib for sure but it gave quite an odd feeling, it felt like some kind of throne and a child was sitting on it surrounded by majestic beasts. It was like seeing a daimyo surrounded by his army.

As soon as the shock wore over and I recovered, I did the one thing I thought most appropriate. I made a hand seal and disrupted my chakra to break out of the genjutsu, and the scene in front of me immediately changed, and the child and the crib disappeared from my view. I breathed a sigh of relief. I heard Lady Katsuyu's chiding voice.

"What are you doing Hashirama-sama!" said Lady Katsuyu as she sensed Hashirama's use chakra.

"I was just put under a genjutsu and had to disrupt my chakra to recover, my apologies." Hearing her chiding Hashirama apologised.

"What genjutsu?" (Katsuyu)

"Ha ha ha ha. It was amazing genjutsu. I just saw a child sitting on a throne-like crib in the centre of your gathering. I don't know who cast the jutsu, but he must be strong; even Madara wasn't able to catch me, so off guard." Hashirama said as he wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"....."(Katsuyu)

"Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha…. He so funny." (childish voice)

"KU KU KU KU KU What a funny human"(Sage monkey Uncle1)

"I haven't had such a laugh in a long time"(Sage Monkey Grandpa as he patted his thighs)

"Heh, he seems stupid to me."(Mr wolf)

"Must've hit his head in childhood…poor child"(sage monkey grandma)

"hahahahahahahahahahaha"(all the other animals rolling on the ground)

Senju Hashirama just looked at the child sitting in the grand crib as he questioned reality and then looked at the summoning animals that kept laughing at him he felt the deep malice of the world toward him; so he turned to Lady Katsuyu for consolation only to see her whole body of the slug trembling like a water balloon trying to keep her laughter to herself.

[[[[[So Hashirama and Madara decided to work together for INFINITE TSUKUYOMI ;) JUST Kidding. ]]]]]

And thus was the first meeting between the current Shinobi God and the future Sage.

CHAPTER NAME - MEETING THE SHINOBI GOD

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Years later in an underground cave

Two old men connected to a giant golem sat facing each other

Madara - Why did you join me, Hashirama?

Hashirama - Because I realised that the only things that truly exist in this reality are pain, suffering and futility. Where all the world does is laugh at your pain so I will make this world forget all its laughter, for this world, too, shall know pain.