Starting as a Ninja in the Naruto World

"..."

Uzumaki Mito's heart trembled at the Nine-Tails' sharp words.

Its response was harsh and difficult to digest, yet it rang undeniably true. Why would someone like Emiya Shigen—who didn't even care about the Sage of Six Paths—offer his goodwill to Konoha?

"Lord Shigen…"

Mito, feeling the weight of her arrogance after hearing the Nine-Tails' explanation, lowered her head in shame, trying to smooth over the situation.

"I must apologize…

"My question earlier was far too abrupt…"

Guilt flooded her heart, compounded by the Nine-Tails' blunt retort. Mito regretted having asked such a presumptuous question.

Now, she felt utterly exposed.

The Nine-Tails had delivered an answer that made her feel insignificant. It left her with the overwhelming sense that she, and perhaps all of Konoha, lacked the right to stand tall before Emiya Shigen.

"Water under the bridge!"

Hashirama Senju quickly tried to defend his wife, clinging to the admiration he had held for Shigen since childhood.

"It's all because Mito used the Nine-Tails' chakra for the first time—it must've muddled her perception!"

"No, there's no mistake."

Shigen's warm smile was disarming, his tone patient as he spoke. He seemed utterly unbothered, even unaware that the Nine-Tails had already spilled the truth.

"Your question feels familiar. Long ago, someone asked me something quite similar…"

"..."

Mito felt even more embarrassed.

She knew that the Nine-Tails had asked Shigen the very same question long ago and that she now understood the answer. She began searching for a way to defuse the situation.

But what Mito couldn't anticipate was that her question—and its answer—were deeply tied to how Shigen and the Nine-Tails had first become friends.

During the ancient era, Shigen had realized that the Nine-Tails' chakra could sense human intentions. He had proactively addressed the issue to prevent potential conflicts in the future.

Now, fate had brought that same question back to him, likely a result of the bond he had formed with the Nine-Tails long ago.

"Your attitude isn't abrupt at all."

"In fact, I'd say it's a little too gentle."

Shigen offered a reassuring smile, his voice calm and steady. But as he continued, his tone shifted, growing cold and piercing:

"I don't know the extent of your sensory abilities. But perhaps you've sensed more than my goodwill toward you—perhaps you've sensed my distaste as well."

"!!!"

Everyone froze at his words.

Shigen spoke with unwavering honesty.

"I don't hate you for disturbing my remains or shattering the crystal coffin I left for future medical ninjas. I don't even mind that my soul's peace was disrupted; in fact, I'm somewhat grateful to have returned to the living world."

He paused and glanced down at his open hands, as if studying them anew.

"But…

"If I hadn't discovered that this forbidden technique required sacrificing a living person to summon me, I might've been even more thankful."

"Tobirama…"

Hashirama's sharp gaze shifted to his younger brother.

"This is my fault."

Tobirama shrugged, feigning indifference as he explained.

"Our era of shinobi is vastly different from Lord Shigen's. We've grown accustomed to harsh measures and don't hesitate to exploit our enemies, even to the point of sacrificing their lives."

The dissonance between eras was undeniable.

"Perhaps you're right," Shigen said, his expression placid. "Perhaps I'm overly sensitive."

But then his voice turned heavy, each word a carefully weighted truth.

"The very existence of such a technique—one that sacrifices human life—means that its creator never valued life in the first place. To them, lives are just tools to be consumed."

For the first time, Tobirama's expression faltered.

This accusation—it struck too close to home.

"I must apologize."

Shigen's tone softened, but his words were unyielding.

"I dislike this era.

"As a medical ninja, saving a single life is no easy task.

"But for shinobi in this age, killing is as natural as breathing. Murder is a casual, accepted norm that I neither understand nor approve of."

He turned to Hashirama and Mito, both of whom looked visibly ashamed, then to Tobirama, whose face had hardened with unease.

"If you think I have little goodwill toward you, or perhaps even disdain for your actions, you're not mistaken."

With that, Shigen bowed his head slightly toward Mito, offering a gesture of apology for his frankness.

For the moment, no one could doubt his sincerity.

The only unresolved issue was what might happen when the full truth came to light. Beyond Black Zetsu, there were others who might not take kindly to Shigen's honest sentiments.

"..."

Mito instinctively stepped back, realizing that the fault didn't lie with Shigen.

"This isn't Lord Shigen's fault."

Hashirama let out a deep sigh, his face clouded with guilt.

"It's our era that's to blame. We are the ones who should feel ashamed…"

"Even so…"

Tobirama frowned, his voice low and contemplative.

"Compared to the past thousand years, this is the best era we've ever had."

"Hah…"

The Nine-Tails, lying within Mito's seal, scoffed at Tobirama's words, muttering to itself.

"That guy, Shigen, always cared about the weak and the sick."

Its voice was filled with disdain, but there was an underlying note of respect.

"He's a soft-hearted fool, though. Always obsessed with this 'respect for life' nonsense."

"Back in the ancient days, he even saved people he shouldn't have," the Nine-Tails continued, its mocking tone unrelenting.

"Do you know who had to clean up the mess? The Slug, Katsuyu, sneaking behind him to kill those who harbored ill intentions."

"But…"

Mito frowned, hesitating to speak. "Is respect for life truly a fault?"

The Nine-Tails' grin widened.

"Too soft-hearted! That's his problem!"

"I wanted to make him my Jinchūriki back then, just so he'd finally learn how to kill. Someone like him is too easy for the wicked to exploit!"

It huffed, then delivered its final verdict:

"Look at him now. Even his soul couldn't find peace in the afterlife—because you people in Konoha dragged him back!"

Mito's heart sank further, her guilt deepening.

"Tobirama."

Hashirama's voice was calm, but the weight behind it was unmistakable.

"Release Lord Shigen from the Edo Tensei."

"This era has already defiled his soul enough. Forcing him to exist here any longer is an insult to his memory."

Typically, the calmer Hashirama was, the firmer his resolve.

"Brother…"

Mito looked at her husband with concern.

"Big Brother!"

Tobirama raised his voice, trying to reason with him.

"The village is still unstable. Other ninja villages are watching the Land of Fire closely. If we lose Shigen now—"

"If I die without stabilizing the ninja world, then that failure is on me," Hashirama interrupted, his expression unwavering.

"And Madara?"

Tobirama tried another angle.

"I will settle things with Madara before I die," Hashirama declared, his determination unshakable.

"..."

Shigen stood silently, observing the exchange.

Had he gone too far?

"Very well!"

Tobirama sighed, slowly forming hand seals to undo the Edo Tensei. But just as he began, his eyes flicked to Shigen.

"I must warn you," he said slyly, "if the peace my brother leaves behind crumbles, and war returns to the world, I will give my life to fix it."

"No need for that."

Shigen raised a hand, stopping Tobirama's jutsu.

"First Hokage…" Shigen said, his voice soft but resolute.

"I've heard stories about you from your brother. He's right about one thing: your life is deeply tied to this era's peace."

Shigen's gaze swept over everyone present.

"Besides," he added with a faint smile, "I'd like to stay a little longer.

"Let's see if I can still make a difference in this era…"

He paused, his tone growing lighter as he offered a parting thought:

"And if I don't always like your methods, well—don't take it personally."