Takayama Haru frowned deeply — the mission still wasn't finished.
In his mind, the system provided a direction: northeast.
Haru looked at the pitch-black forest and hesitated.
This forest was way too dark…
Honestly, it was a little scary.
At that moment, Takayama Haru was debating whether to keep going.
I'm just a regular ninja!
"Do you want to go back to being a useless nobody?"
"But you've already completed 60% of the mission. Maybe if you find just four more strands of hair, you'll finish it!"
Gritting his teeth, Haru made his decision — if he gave up now, what was the point of coming out here in the first place?
Pursue!
Meanwhile, back at Konoha's main gate, a yellow flash shot out like lightning.
It was Namikaze Minato.
"Minato, did you find any clues at Kushina's house?"
The one asking was none other than Konoha's White Fang — Hatake Sakumo.
Minato pulled out a strand of wine-red hair. "This should belong to Kushina."
Sakumo immediately summoned a ninken (ninja dog) and had it sniff the hair.
The ninken howled once and darted northeast.
"Kushina's scent is heading northeast, but it's already very faint..." the ninja dog barked.
Minato asked urgently, "Brother Sakumo, can you catch up with them?"
Sakumo's expression turned serious. "We can try."
Sakumo then turned to Minato and said, "You go back and report to the Hokage. I'll take Minato and pursue them!"
Without another word, Hatake Sakumo leapt into the night and vanished.
Following the system's guidance, Takayama Haru quickly found a second strand of hair!
[Ding! Clue found! Mission completion: 70%! Please continue tracking!]
At the same time, Haru began recalling details from the Naruto storyline.
According to the plot, Kushina had intentionally left strands of hair behind, allowing Minato to find her.
After a night of pursuit, by dawn, Kushina would have been dragged to the border.
Just as she was about to lose all hope, Minato would arrive heroically and save her, winning her heart.
But now — Haru was a variable.
He couldn't help but wonder: If he collected all the clues before Minato, would Minato still manage to rescue Kushina?
If his actions changed things and Kushina wasn't saved in time, wouldn't the entire future storyline of Naruto be thrown off?
Carrying that doubt, Haru pressed on and found the third strand of hair.
Now the mission was at 80% completion — just two more to go!
There was no way he'd give up now.
Forget about that "Konoha Great Whirlwind" taijutsu nonsense — he was aiming for something bigger!
Takayama Haru pushed deeper, reaching the edge of the forest.
In a flash, Haru leapt into the treetops and scanned the plains ahead — and suddenly, his pupils shrank sharply.
A hundred meters away, several figures were retreating toward the direction of the Hidden Cloud Village. Trailing behind them was a tall figure with flowing red hair — it was Kushina!
Just as Haru spotted Kushina, someone spotted him too.
"Who's there?!"
A cold voice snarled behind him.
Not good!
Before Takayama Haru could react, a hand struck him hard in the back.
Bang!
He spat out a mouthful of blood.
Agonizing pain crushed his chest; he felt like all his internal organs were about to shatter.
He fell from the treetop.
At the same time, the attacker also collapsed.
Looking up through blurred vision, Haru saw the man wearing the uniform of a Hidden Cloud ninja — bad news.
Anyone in a full Cloud ninja uniform had to be at least a mid-level ninja.
"Hmph, just a weak brat. Looking for death," the ninja sneered and disappeared with a pop.
Shadow clone!
Clearly, the ninja thought his attack was fatal — he didn't even bother checking.
Kushina, noticing the commotion in the woods, turned back. Her face paled.
She couldn't see who it was clearly, but she guessed it must have been someone trying to rescue her — who now lay dead!
"Hmph! Stop struggling!" the Cloud ninja snapped at her.
"See? Anyone trying to save you only ends up dead."
"You think it's funny? It's downright pitiful."
Kushina clenched her teeth, her mind flashing to Haru's smiling face.
No... it couldn't be Takayama Haru, that coward!
Even so, her body started trembling uncontrollably.
Far away, Takayama Haru leaned weakly against a tree, gasping for breath, his vision blurring.
[Ding! Found Kushina! Congratulations, host, you have completed Starter Option Three! Reward: Supreme Starter Pack!]
"Hurry up and open it!"
Takayama Haru knew he was on the verge of death — coldness had gripped his entire body, and he could barely keep his eyes open.
Damn it... I almost killed myself just to survive!
The Supreme Starter Pack was his last chance!
[Ding! Would you like to open the Supreme Starter Pack?]
[Yes!]
Suddenly, a brilliant light burst forth from the pack.
[Ding! Congratulations, host, you've obtained SSS-rank Character Card: Hashirama Senju!]
[Upon fusion, you will inherit all of Hashirama's ninjutsu, taijutsu, senjutsu, combat experience, and training aptitude!]
[Because of the vast difference in power between you and the card, full fusion will take approximately one year!]
[Would you like to begin fusion?]
[Fuse immediately!]
Takayama Haru's eyes lit up — he was saved!
Hashirama Senju!
The First Hokage!
The God of Shinobi!
The reincarnation of Asura!
Known for his monstrous life force — no one on the battlefield could kill Hashirama.
In an instant, Haru's consciousness entered a virtual space.
At the center stood a towering figure, radiating dominance over heaven and earth — Hashirama himself.
Takayama Haru's perspective merged into Hashirama's, making it feel like he was Hashirama.
Facing him was none other than a young Uchiha warrior!
"Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence!"
The ground shook violently!
Countless saplings burst through the soil, growing at an astonishing speed, transforming the plain into a dense forest in moments.
The trees writhed with life, thick branches surging like monstrous arms, swallowing the Uchiha whole!
This — this was the terrifying Wood Release bloodline!
Haru's eyes snapped open.
He could feel his body changing at an incredible speed.
The intense pain vanished.
The coldness faded away.
His entire being flooded with strength.
He could feel the natural energy around him being absorbed into his body, rapidly transforming into chakra!
Not only that — he felt like he was one with the environment, a unique affinity.
In mere seconds, Takayama Haru went from near-death to full recovery!
And he could already sense it —
the Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence was now ready to be unleashed at his command.
This was the fearsome bloodline of Hashirama Senju!
Not only had Haru inherited the Wood Release, but also all of Hashirama's combat experience!
Even with only an initial fusion, Takayama Haru's strength had increased tenfold — no, a hundredfold!
And this was just the beginning —
when the full fusion was complete, his power would be unimaginable!