As dawn broke, sunlight streamed through the window into the room.
Mizuna was awakened by the sound of the System.
[Ding! Congratulations Host on completing the mission: Help Hashirama Quit Gambling (One Day). Rewards issued: 1000 Dignity Points, Gold-Tier Lottery Draw x1.]
Seeing this, Mizuna was so excited he let out a screech that sounded like a monkey.
Outside in the dining room, Tobirama heard the noise and couldn't help but think:
Is the pressure of helping Anija quit gambling too much? Did it drive Mizuna crazy? I guess I shouldn't burden him too much in the future...
Inside the room, Mizuna stared excitedly at his 1230 Dignity Points and the Gold-Tier Draw.
"Aiyaya! Today is going to be a good day~"
He started the lottery.
[Ding! Congratulations Host! You obtained: "100% Non-Elemental Chakra Control"!]
Mizuna was confused.
"What is '100% Non-Elemental Chakra Control'? System, explain yourself," Mizuna asked, puzzled.
[You really are an idiot, brat...] The System sighed.
"Damn it! You used such complex terms, how am I supposed to understand?" Mizuna retorted.
[It means you can use non-elemental Chakra to shape almost anything you can imagine. You have precise control over raw Chakra. The only prerequisite is that you need enough Chakra!] The System explained.
"Holy crap? That OP? Then I don't need to envy the Uchiha's third power, Susanoo, anymore! If I have enough Chakra, I can basically create a Titan Avatar (Fa Tian Xiang Di)!"
Mizuna shouted in excitement.
Outside, Tobirama's face grew darker with every scream he heard.
Mizuna happily walked out of his room and arrived at the dining table.
"Um... Mizuna..." Tobirama started to offer some comforting words.
"Good morning, Mid!" Mizuna beamed.
Hearing that nickname, Tobirama choked back his comforting words instantly.
"Hn. Mizuna... Good morning..." Tobirama replied with a jaundiced expression.
Mizuna noticed Tobirama didn't look well.
"Mid? Why is your face yellow?"
"Anti-Cold Wax..." Tobirama replied curtly.
Mizuna was stunned.
"Oh..." He replied calmly on the surface.
Internally, however: Is that how people in the Ninja World protect against the cold? How should I put it... very avant-garde...
---
Meanwhile, Hashirama's body regained its strength after the Immortal-Binding Rope disappeared. His injuries were healing rapidly.
Sunlight hit Hashirama's face. In that moment, he felt reborn—both physically and spiritually.
Hashirama slowly opened his eyes.
"Where... where am I? Wasn't I kidnapped and subjected to inhumane torture?" Hashirama thought.
He sat up and looked around.
"This place looks familiar. Why does it look like my guest room?"
Just as Hashirama was confused, he glanced down at his chest, which felt itchy.
He was shocked to find two clothespins still clamped onto his nipples.
"This... This wasn't a dream! It was all real! I. Kobe! I will find you! I will never forget the humiliation you put me through!" Hashirama swore with grief and rage.
Suddenly, a thought struck him.
"That rope was too dangerous. Even I was controlled by it. That means Madara is in danger too! Konoha is in danger! I will not let such a threat exist in this world! I must protect Konoha!"
Hashirama seemed to make a solemn vow.
Then, another realization hit him. I'm in my house. Does that mean I. Kobe is here right now...? MY FAMILY!
Hashirama burst out the door, running and shouting.
"Mito! Mizuna! Tobirama! Where are you?!"
Hashirama was frantic. He didn't want to see his family lying in pools of blood. He didn't want to see any more sacrifices... just like Kawarama and Itama...
Thinking of his younger brothers' tragic deaths, Hashirama ran faster.
He burst into the living room, only to find Mizuna and Tobirama eating breakfast, while his wife, Mito, was walking out of the kitchen with two more plates.
"Thank goodness! You're all safe! Thank goodness!"
Hashirama wept tears of joy.
The three turned around. They had heard Hashirama screaming their names and were confused.
Seeing the current state of Hashirama... let's just say "eyesore" was an understatement.
"Aiyaya~ Hashirama, you're awake! Come eat," Mito said gently.
She knew her husband had gone through a lot of "pain" yesterday, and she felt bad for him. But to fix his bad habits, she had endured it. Seeing him awake now, she was relieved.
If Mizuna hadn't repeatedly promised that her husband would wake up intact today, she would have cried seeing him like that yesterday. He looked practically dead.
Hearing his wife's gentle voice, Hashirama was moved to tears. He ran toward Mito for a hug.
From Hashirama's perspective, he was running toward his wife with deep emotion and tears.
From everyone else's perspective, he was absolutely disgusting.
Mito put a hand on Hashirama's face to stop him, but Hashirama was too strong. Mito's face twisted in pain (Pain Mask).
"You two! Stop watching! Help me!" Mito screamed for help.
Mizuna and Tobirama realized the situation was bad. They wanted to help, but seeing the snot and tears all over Hashirama's face, they hesitated.
They took a step back and looked at each other.
"Rock, Paper, Scissors!" They started playing to decide who had to touch him.
"WILL YOU TWO STOP MESSING AROUND?!" Mito yelled anxiously.
In the end, Tobirama pulled Hashirama away.
Tobirama stated: "If I can't even handle a small matter like this, how can I talk about protecting the village? How can I talk about the Will of Fire!"
Of course, this statement would have been more convincing if he wasn't currently scrubbing his hands furiously in a basin of water...
---
A moment later, Hashirama had changed into his clothes (the standard Founder Era kimono). He had a fresh bump on his head—courtesy of Mito.
Hashirama looked at the three and told them exactly what happened yesterday.
The three exchanged glances and recited the alibi they had agreed upon yesterday.
They claimed they found Hashirama in the basement and saw the culprit. Tobirama fought the intruder for a few rounds before the person escaped. Then, they rescued Hashirama from the chair...
The story had holes, but Hashirama believed it.
"What about the rope? Did you get it? That thing is dangerous!" Hashirama asked seriously.
Hearing about the rope, two looked confused, and one started sweating.
Rope? The one tying Hashirama yesterday? What's dangerous about a rope? Hashirama must have been hallucinating from the trauma, Mito thought.
Tobirama thought differently. My brother is so strong, how did Mizuna tie him up? Was it really that rope?
Tobirama decided to ask Mizuna about the rope later.
Mizuna, of course, knew the truth. But seeing the Electric Baton disappear from his inventory, he relaxed.
The rope should have disappeared too... Mizuna thought.
Although they had different thoughts, all three said in unison:
"Don't know. Didn't see it. Aba Aba ⊙ω⊙."
Seeing that they knew nothing, Hashirama realized the culprit must have taken the rope.
"That man is dangerous... He must be eliminated!"
While everyone was lost in thought, Tobirama suddenly spoke up.
"Anija, the Ninja Academy should be completed in a few months. By next year, the children can enroll," Tobirama told Hashirama.
Hearing this, Hashirama let go of the unpleasant memories and smiled.
"That's great. Children are the future of Konoha."
Then he turned to Mizuna.
"By the way, Mizuna. You're about the right age. You should enroll in the Academy too," Hashirama said with a smile.
Tobirama and Mito nodded in agreement.
Mizuna looked at the three of them and pointed a finger at himself.
"Me? Go to school?"
......
---