The sounds of Tsunade and Orochimaru's explosive battle faded entirely into the distance.
Tobirama Senju, watching his disintegrating hand, conceded one final time to his brother: "My brother is correct. There is no longer any purpose in worrying."
Hashirama Senju considered the grim reality of the Impure World Reincarnation. It was not true revival. It was a forced tethering of the dead to the mortal coil, a temporary, false existence that, prolonged unnaturally, would become a form of mental torture for the souls involved.
"That, however, is not necessarily true."
A voice, smooth and utterly alien, reached their ears.
Both Hokage turned their heads.
Appearing suddenly in the scarred clearing was a man. He smiled gently, holding a domed staff and casually stroking a pristine pure white cat.
The man was, naturally, Shen Mo. He had observed the battle from above, waiting for the perfect moment of maximum emotional and tactical vulnerability to make his entrance.
"Who are you?" Tobirama Senju demanded, his voice low and instantly suspicious.
"No matter who he is, we are beyond his control now," Hashirama Senju remarked calmly. His body was largely gone, only the heads of the two Edo Tensei remained, supported by scraps of regenerated neck and torso.
"You two are quite fascinating specimens," Shen Mo said, regarding them with genuine interest. "The history of your world, though tumultuous, is short. Among the countless souls that have passed through, your abilities and willpower rank at least in the top twenty."
"What is the meaning of that statement?" Tobirama Senju pressed, his instinct for intelligence gathering overriding the fear of his imminent collapse. The energy signature of this man was completely unknown.
"It is rare to encounter spirits of your caliber, so let us simply converse," Shen Mo offered. He casually raised his staff and tapped it gently on the ground.
No dramatic seals. No explosions.
And yet—
The rapid disintegration of their bodies instantly halted.
It stopped completely. The two heads remained floating precisely where they were, and the scattered dust from their collapsing bodies hung suspended in the still air.
"What—!?" Tobirama Senju gasped, his eyes wide with a combination of disbelief and scientific awe.
This was not acceleration or reversal; it was the absolute cessation of the Impure World Reincarnation's process, the forced preservation of their dissolving souls!
"That is truly incredible," Hashirama Senju said, less surprised and more profoundly impressed.
The contrast in their reactions perfectly highlighted their distinct personalities: Tobirama the analytical pragmatist, and Hashirama the open-minded visionary.
"I have merely stalled the progression of time for your specific forms," Shen Mo chuckled softly. "I am not from this world. If you insist on viewing me through the lens of your established worldview, our conversation will be pointless. You will simply remain in a state of continuous astonishment."
Time stops! Not from this world!
These two declarations were enough to momentarily overwhelm the minds of the two men who had once stood at the apex of the Ninja World. Yet, their intelligence quickly asserted itself.
"What is your objective?" Tobirama Senju asked, direct and firm.
"Tobirama!" Hashirama Senju chided softly. He then turned to Shen Mo with a warm smile. "Sir, how should we address you?"
"Simply call me Shen Mo," he replied.
Shen Mo couldn't help but admire Hashirama's remarkable approachability and the sheer sunshine of his personality—a rare quality in a world defined by conflict.
"Lord Shen Mo," Hashirama continued, naturally reading into Shen Mo's thoughts. "Tsunade's sudden power... it must be connected to you, correct?"
Most people would struggle to connect the former drunken gambler with the new Paladin, but Hashirama's intuition was razor-sharp.
"Correct," Shen Mo confirmed. "There is, of course, a price. With me, anyone who possesses the financial means, determination, potential, and a degree of luck can acquire everything they've ever dreamed of. I am a merchant who travels the endless worlds."
This sentence was laden with critical information: merchant, and a traveler between infinite worlds.
"Everything?" Tobirama Senju narrowed his eyes, analyzing the merchant's choice of words. Why claim everything?
"Precisely, everything," Shen Mo affirmed, slowing down for emphasis. "Worlds exist on different scales. Your world is not a high-tier reality. Therefore, there is nothing within your comprehension that I cannot procure for you."
Both Hokage registered the absolute confidence in Shen Mo's tone. It was not boastfulness; it was the simple, undeniable statement of a fundamental truth—a concept far more frightening than any conventional threat.
"What if I desired genuine resurrection?" Tobirama Senju asked, his voice low. "I mean a true return to life, not a pathetic binding like the Edo Tensei. Is that also possible?"
"Certainly," Shen Mo smiled. "However, given your current state—a mere soul fragment—and the immense energy cost required to defy death's absolute claim, the probability of a successful resurrection is quite low, unless fate grants a substantial subsidy."
Defying death required immense resources. A direct, personalized revival service would cost approximately two million transaction points. While he had their souls right in front of him, the cost to draw them from the netherworld and into a new body remained astronomical. To achieve it via the Jar system, they would need to pull at least a Tier Four Jar reward.
"Since you cannot immediately perform this feat, what else is there to discuss?" Tobirama Senju sneered, a final attempt at sarcasm.
He was not truly keen on being revived, but he needed to test the limits of this mysterious man. Time was short, and his energy was limited.
"We are already dead, so we possess no currency to pay," Hashirama Senju interjected with a laugh, then looked at Shen Mo with a flash of excitement. "Lord Shen Mo, if you do not mind, could you satisfy our curiosity about Konoha? I am most eager to know what has become of the village."
Konoha was the great, lifelong endeavor. He needed to know if the peace he had yearned for had ever truly come to fruition.
Shen Mo recognized the careful restraint of both men. They were skilled, logical actors who would not easily fall into the temptation of reckless spending.
"Konoha, you ask?" Shen Mo looked at them meaningfully. "Its present circumstances are not conducive to happiness."
"Is that so?" Hashirama Senju's smile instantly vanished, and Tobirama Senju's gaze sharpened dangerously.
"You have endured two more Great Ninja Wars," Shen Mo stated conversationally.
"The Uchiha clan was annihilated. The Fourth Hokage died tragically. Everyone in your Senju clan is deceased, save for Tsunade. And yes, your former student, Hiruzen Sarutobi's apprentice, Orochimaru, who fled long ago, is currently attempting to destroy Konoha, having manipulated the Sand Village into launching a massive invasion."
The information hit them like a catastrophic meteor shower, shattering their entire understanding of the past decades.
Would you like to hear the Hokage's immediate reaction to the destruction of the Uchiha and the death of Minato or for Shen Mo to offer them a direct, discounted path to interfere?