The sound of cicadas came from the distant forest, occasionally mixed with a few bird calls.
Warm sunlight fell across his face.
"I'm back?"
Shin-chan rubbed his eyes. Lush green forest surrounded him, and the air was filled with the fragrance of grass and wildflowers.
There was no scorching desert heat, no purple Dragon Vein chakra, and no thunderous explosions.
Shin-chan tried to activate the Flying Thunder God Technique, but an invisible force stopped him.
"The Dragon Vein's chakra is still interfering with the surrounding space." Shin-chan scratched his head. "But this doesn't look like Konoha Village either."
He could not sense a single one of the Flying Thunder God formulas he had left in the Hokage's office, at the outpost, or on the tree trunks along the way.
"Oh well. I'll walk around first."
After running across an open field, Shin-chan looked up at the familiar stone mountain.
Then his footsteps abruptly stopped.
There was only one face carved into the Hokage Rock.
"Huh?" Shin-chan looked surprised. "Where are the statues of the Second Hokage and Grandpa Third? Did a typhoon blow them away?"
He continued toward the village.
When the guards at the entrance saw him, wary expressions appeared on their faces.
"Stop. Who are you?"
"I'm Nohara Shinnosuke, a ninja from Konoha." Shin-chan pointed at the forehead protector on his head. "Look, it's the genuine article."
The guard frowned deeply. "There isn't a ninja this young in the village. Where did you steal that forehead protector, spy?"
"I want to see Grandpa Third."
"Grandpa Third?" The guard looked utterly confused. "Our village only has Lord First Hokage. Where did this Third come from?"
While the two were arguing, a cold voice came from behind them.
"Move aside."
The guard immediately stepped away respectfully. "Lord Tobirama."
Shin-chan turned around.
A man wearing a tight black combat suit stood behind him. He had silver hair, red eyes, and a metal forehead protector shaped like a face guard.
Shin-chan looked him up and down, then fell into thought.
"You look really familiar..."
Senju Tobirama frowned. The child's forehead protector was indeed Konoha's design, but Tobirama had never seen his face before.
"You know me?"
"I wouldn't exactly say I know you..." Shin-chan tapped his chin with one finger. "Your outfit just looks familiar. I think I saw it in a book somewhere."
A book? What is this child talking about?
Senju Tobirama narrowed his eyes slightly. "I know every ninja in Konoha. Where did you steal that forehead protector?"
"Steal it? I earned it by passing the exam."
"You claim to be a Konoha ninja." Tobirama crossed his arms. "Who is the jōnin leading your team?"
"Grandpa Third personally teaches me."
"Grandpa... Third?"
"Yeah, Grandpa Third." Shin-chan did not notice the confusion in Tobirama's voice at all.
"What is the full name of this Grandpa Third?"
"Sarutobi Hiruzen."
Senju Tobirama's pupils contracted. "Are you saying Sarutobi Hiruzen is the Third Hokage?"
"Yeah."
"It is currently Konoha Year Ten. There is no Third Hokage."
Shin-chan fell silent.
He counted on his fingers for a while before finally lowering his hands.
"Um... I think I might have travelled a little too far."
Tobirama stared at him. "What does 'travelled a little too far' mean?"
"I mean, I was supposed to be eating ramen in Konoha Year Forty-Six, but now I seem to be in Konoha Year Ten." Shin-chan rubbed his stomach. "No wonder I feel especially hungry. I crossed thirty-six years' worth of mealtimes."
"What exactly are you talking about?"
"I'd like to know that too," Shin-chan answered sincerely.
Tobirama reached out and firmly grabbed Shin-chan's wrist.
"Come with me."
"Where are we going?"
"To see my elder brother."
"Who's your elder brother?"
"Senju Hashirama."
"Oh." Shin-chan drew out the sound. "Lord First Hokage."
"It's good that you know."
"Of course I know." Shin-chan talked as they walked. "His is the first face on the Hokage Rock. Big Sister Tsunade hires people to clean it every year."
Tobirama's steps paused.
"Big Sister... Tsunade?"
"She's a super-powerful medical ninja." Shin-chan made a gambling gesture with his hand. "She's always going around looking for people to gamble with, then losing every last coin in her wallet."
Tobirama's expression became extremely strange.
Tsunade—his elder brother Senju Hashirama's young granddaughter—would become a medical ninja in the future?
And a gambler?
As the two walked through the village's main street, Shin-chan looked around and occasionally let out sounds of surprise.
"That dango shop hasn't opened yet!"
"There'll be a super-delicious ramen shop over there later."
"This utility pole is brand-new!"
Tobirama silently listened and committed each piece of information to memory.
When they reached the Hokage Building, Tobirama finally interrupted Shin-chan's endless chatter.
"Come. My brother should be in the Hokage's office."
The Hokage Building looked far newer than Shin-chan remembered.
Tobirama pushed open the door to the second-floor office.
"Brother, there is someone you need to meet."
Inside the office, a man wearing a white Hokage robe sat cross-legged on the floor. A pile of documents was spread across the table before him.
Senju Hashirama noticed the head peeking out from behind Tobirama.
"And who might this be?"
"A Konoha ninja claiming to be from the future," Tobirama said expressionlessly. "He says he came from Konoha Year Forty-Six."
Hashirama abruptly stood and strode over to Shin-chan, excitement in his voice.
"A ninja from the future? See, Tobirama? I told you the possibilities of ninjutsu were limitless."
Tobirama crossed his arms and leaned against the doorframe. "We still haven't confirmed whether he's telling the truth."
"I believe him." Hashirama patted Shin-chan on the shoulder. "What's your name?"
"Nohara Shinnosuke. Twelve years old. Konoha ninja. Leader of the Chocolate Stick Alliance."
"The Chocolate Stick Alliance?" Hashirama froze.
"It's an organisation where a group of good people get together to eat chocolate sticks and help others while they're at it." Shin-chan looked up at him. "Do you want to join? The entry requirements are very strict, but I think you're quite suitable."
Hashirama thought for two seconds, then nodded.
"I'll join!"
"Brother," Tobirama's voice drifted over from the doorway.
"What is it, Tobirama? Don't you think this organisation sounds wonderful?"
"I still haven't even figured out what this organisation does."
"It doesn't matter." Hashirama spoke brightly. "Tobirama, you should join too."
"I will not join an organisation with 'Chocolate Stick' in its name." Tobirama's gaze never left Shin-chan. "You said you came from Konoha Year Forty-Six. How exactly did that happen?"
"I was in a place called Rōran. There was a tower there, and beneath it was a Dragon Vein. The purple chakra exploded, and I tried to escape using the Flying Thunder God Technique. Then I ended up here."
"You can use the Flying Thunder God Technique?"
Shin-chan answered frankly, "It took me a really, really long time to learn it."
Hashirama smiled from the bottom of his heart.
"It seems the Konoha of the future has raised an extraordinary ninja."
~~~
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