Five days after that battle.
Yamato finally succeeded in carrying Yue back to Konoha, delivering him straight into the hospital.
Yue had fallen into a deep coma—so deep that even the medical-nin had no idea if he would ever wake up.
Meanwhile, on the Mist battlefield, in the Konoha command post—
The Third Hokage received the battle report Yamato had sent regarding the Oita Squad.
Reading that report, Hiruzen felt a crushing tightness in his chest. His vision darkened—he nearly fainted.
To him, Yue was as important as a tailed beast.
At a time when Konoha's talent was at its weakest, a direct descendant of the Senju appeared—
A child who had completely inherited the First Hokage's Wood Release.
It was like Hashirama's spirit itself was watching over Konoha.
And now… that child had unleashed a final devastating Wood Release, slaughtered over a hundred elite Cloud shinobi, and was left on the brink of death.
How could Hiruzen not feel heartbroken?
That child was only six years old.
Who knew what heights he might have reached in the future?
Because of Wood Release's unique power, once Yue matured—
Even if he never surpassed Shodai—
Konoha would never again fear other villages' tailed beasts.
It would return to the era of overwhelming dominance under Hashirama.
If not for Shikaku's extraordinary contributions in past wars, and the clan backing him…
Hiruzen almost wanted to execute him on the spot.
Winning a single skirmish at the cost of Konoha's entire future?
Unforgivable.
Of course, from Shikaku's standpoint, he had done nothing wrong.
With Konoha losing the war on every front, he had no choice but to mobilize every available force.
He had no way of knowing Yue's true identity.
Hiruzen shattered countless cups in his rage—totally unlike his usual gentle, benevolent demeanor.
After calming, he turned to the problem that needed solving:
He would credit the destruction of the Cloud unit entirely to Yamato,
and then spread Yamato's legend and "origins" throughout the village.
Two reasons—both to protect Yue.
First, if Yue never woke up—
Only a handful of people knew his background.
If word spread that the only surviving heir to Hashirama's bloodline died because Hiruzen sent him to war at age six…
Any surviving Senju descendants might seek vengeance and turn against Konoha.
After all, Yue represented the future of their once-great clan.
Second, if Yue survived—
He needed a peaceful environment to grow without being targeted.
Once he matured, he could reveal his true identity as a Senju.
Pushing Yamato to the front lines was a plan Hiruzen had prepared long ago.
When Wood Release inevitably drew attention, someone had to take responsibility—
And as Yue's assigned guardian, that "someone" was naturally Yamato.
---
And so, the legend of Yamato began spreading through Konoha…
In the streets:
"Did you hear? Lord Yamato is the only child who survived the transplant of the First Hokage's cells out of a hundred candidates! He's not even ten yet—and a single Wood Release wiped out over three hundred elite Cloud shinobi! He returned without a scratch!"
"What are you talking about? I heard it was two hundred candidates!"
"Lord Yamato is incredible! The only Wood Release user in the entire ninja world—Hashirama-sama must be watching over us!"
"If he's that strong, why doesn't he keep fighting and drive out all the enemies invading Konoha?"
"You don't understand! Lord Yamato inherited the First Hokage's terrifying Wood Release. It's like a tailed beast—it can't be used casually. This time he acted only because Cloud went too far and needed to be taught a lesson."
The civilians—raised on myths of the First Hokage—spread the story wildly.
In Konoha's weakest era, they desperately needed heroes to lift morale.
Among shinobi, who knew the truth, the whispers were different:
"I didn't expect our village to be hiding such a powerful Wood Release"
~------------------------------------
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