Chapter 182: Two Edo Tensei Workers in the Factory: Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju
Hidden Sound Village, deep underground.
A vast, oppressive factory, brightly lit and eternally restless.
The First Hokage, Hashirama Senju.
The Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju.
Two legends who once stood at the pinnacle of the ninja world were now dressed in plain, even slightly ragged cloth clothing. They were expressionless, or perhaps wore a look of numb hopelessness, standing before their respective "workstations."
In front of them were strange robotic arms flickering with eerie lights, and energy conduits connected by countless cables.
Hashirama's eyes were vacant. He was mechanically releasing weak Wood Style chakra. As soon as a few tender green shoots appeared, they were precisely cut and absorbed by the cold robotic arms. He hummed a tuneless song unconsciously, or perhaps muttered in a voice too soft to hear.
"So boring…"
"I want some sun…"
"I want… to fight Madara…"
Tobirama was relatively more "focused," even though his Water Style chakra flowed out continuously like a trickle, never stopping. His brow was furrowed, as if he were using the gaps in this endless repetitive labor to ponder deeper questions. On the console beside him, various data flickered constantly, recording his "contribution" every second.
Suddenly.
A cold, emotionless synthesized voice echoed through the factory via the loudspeakers.
"Unit · Fire-001."
"Wood Style: Cutting Sprigs Jutsu. Target: Energy Tank 3, Sector A."
"Continuous output, 30 minutes."
Hashirama let out a weak "Oh." The vines began to grow strictly according to "product specifications."
"Unit · Fire-002."
"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu. Target: Cooling System 7, Sector B."
"Once per minute. Note: Control power level at C-rank."
A vein throbbed on Tobirama's forehead. C-rank? A Water Dragon Bullet of that power isn't even enough to give that brat Izuna Uchiha a bath!
Fine. The precision of this Impure World Reincarnation is too crude. I can't use much of my power from when I was alive anyway.
He complained furiously in his mind, but his hands moved with flawless precision. After all, his body wasn't entirely under his control. But fortunately, his mind hadn't been completely stripped away.
"Unit · Fire-002, please provide standard Water Style chakra for calibration of the new scientific ninja tool 'Mini-Shark'."
The announcement sounded again. A conveyor belt whirred to life, delivering a strangely shaped object, resembling a toy water gun, to the workbench in front of Tobirama.
Splurt-splurt-splurt!
Triggered by some energy, the "water gun" automatically fired several tiny water bullets.
Hashirama was immediately distracted, his eyes lighting up. "Ooh! Tobirama, look! Look at that little thing! It can shoot water pew-pew-pew by itself! And without hand seals! That's way more convenient than your Water Style! Hahahaha!"
He reached out, curiously wanting to touch the "water gun."
Zap!
An invisible arc of electricity rose from the workbench, knocking his hand away.
The announcement blared again: "Do not touch experimental products! Unit · Fire-001, please return to your station immediately!"
Hashirama pouted aggrievedly and reluctantly withdrew his hand.
Tobirama snorted coldly, completing the chakra "calibration." He glanced at the "Mini-Shark" and commented disdainfully, "Hmph. A cheap trick. Power, range, sustainability—all inferior. True Water Style is—"
Just as he was about to launch into a lecture on the "Essence of Water Style," a massive black "iron plate" descended from the metal wall in front of them.
Then, the "iron plate" lit up and began playing some strangely rhythmic electronic music.
Hashirama was stunned again. "Wow! Tobirama, look! This iron plate glows! And it sings! Amazing!" He even wanted to poke the glowing screen with a piece of wood.
Tobirama frowned. "Noisy! So noisy, it's severely affecting my thinking!"
When the music faded and blurry images began to flash on the screen, Tobirama's gaze sharpened. He was trying to analyze useful intelligence from the rapidly changing images.
The images on the screen switched extremely fast, dazzling Hashirama. He couldn't help but shout, "Stop a sec! Stop! It's too fast! My eyes are spinning!"
A miracle happened. The image on the screen actually froze for a moment. Then, it switched to a relatively soothing landscape channel.
Hashirama: "..."
Tobirama: "..."
The two brothers stared at each other, dumbfounded.
Hashirama cried out in surprise. "Eh? It—it understood me? Tobirama! Does it understand human language too?"
Tobirama's eyes flickered behind his glasses. "Voice control? Operating through specific syllables, or rather, commands? Interesting… this village seems to have a unique approach to the use of sound."
Thus began a unique "human-machine interaction."
Hashirama shouted enthusiastically, "Something lively!" The screen flickered and began playing deafening heavy metal rock. The manic drums and piercing guitar made Tobirama almost want to use his remaining chakra to wash Hashirama and the screen away with a Water Style jutsu.
Tobirama tried with a serious face, "Play historical records of Konoha's founding." The screen began playing a colorful children's cartoon.
Tobirama tried again, "Display structural diagram of this location." The screen switched to a propaganda film for the Hidden Sound Village, filled with fanatical worship of Orochimaru.
despite the company of the voice-controlled TV, their work did not stop. Or rather, it could not stop.
"Lord Second." A technician's voice, somewhat cautious, came over the broadcast. "Regarding the principles of the forbidden jutsu you mentioned earlier—could you explain in more detail the specific method of chakra linkage at the microscopic level?"
Hearing this, Tobirama's already sour mood instantly worsened. His eyes went cold. Trying to extract intelligence? Does Konoha still exist in this era? If it does, this village is undoubtedly a huge threat.
On the surface, however, he remained impassive. "You can't master it. Why don't you improve the precision and materials of the Impure World Reincarnation instead? Maybe then I can demonstrate it personally."
This left the technician on the other end speechless, forced to give up.
Hashirama found it amusing how Tobirama dismissed them with just a few words.
Maintaining his Wood Style chakra output, Hashirama leaned against the cold metal wall. Gazing at the cold lights overhead, he spoke somewhat absentmindedly to Tobirama, who was also working non-stop beside him.
"Sigh, Tobirama… what era do you think this is? Does Konoha still exist in this time? It all feels so unreal. Which era is better, ours or this one? Back then, it was always fighting and killing, but at least… we could see the real sky and sun."
Tobirama's Water Style output didn't falter in the slightest. He didn't answer directly. He was using the gaps in his vision to stare at the screen hanging on the nearby wall.
"Hmph, Brother. Times are always moving forward." Tobirama's tone betrayed little emotion, his work still perfect. "However, it feels like a long time has passed. I don't think these things could be developed in a short period. We can only hope Konoha still stands."