Chapter 1


Long ago, generations before the existence of Konohagakure no Sato…

There were two powerful clans: the Senju and the Uchiha, bitter rivals and adversaries…

For hundreds of years, the two clans fought, wreaking havoc on the lands which they lived…

Stirring warfare and terror against each other in an endless cycle…

Bloodshed amounted during each great conflict, with the clans being hired by the numerous Daimyo to conquer lands on their behalf…

Men, women, children, and all in-between fell victim to the scourge of the crossfires, and the fighting was far from over…

To make matters worse, the feared tailed-beasts were also running amok, destroying mountains and causing tsunamis in their wake…

Out of the conflicts, an individual arose to quell the fighting and unite the clans into a village of peace and prosperity…

Where it all began was deep in the hidden forest, within the land where shinobi used the flames of fires to quell their foes…


On that night, within the Senju head-household deep within the encompassing forest…

On his deathbed by a lit lantern and incense, the elder Butsuma lay injured as his eldest son sat at his side.

Long dark hair, defined facial features, and an expression of deep concern and sadness.

Senju Hashirama.

Bowing before him, holding back oncoming tears, he closed his eyes.

Shamefully, as thoughts of regret and despair entered his mind.

His father, his only parent and only elder was about to leave the world forever.

"Father," He spoke, guilt on his voice. "I'm sorry…! I should've been there in time…!"

"No…" Butsuma sighed, weakly.

As he breathed, his bandages wrapped around his chest were stained with blood.

It was fairly evident that his injuries sustained from his battle were fatal.

"My time has come, regardless of the Uchiha bastards. I've become old… I can battle no longer… Today, I welcome an honourable death… as a shinobi of the Senju…"

Footsteps suddenly came rushing down the wooden hallway.

Quickly, an attendant rushed in the doorway, with a stoic, white-haired man at his side.

Senju Tobirama, the fastest warrior in the land.

"Butsuma-sama!" The attendant panted. "Tobirama-sama has arrived!"

He appeared at his father's bedside, distraught from the sight of the once great and powerful leader defeated by their enemies.

"Father!"

"Ah," Butsuma glanced towards them. "My sons… you are both now before me. Now I can tell you… what you must know… before I-"

Suddenly, he began coughing, violently.

Regaining his breath, his body writhed under the blankets, his bandages crimson shade becoming brighter.

Blood dripping from his dry mouth, his breathing turned shallow.

"Father, you're wounded!" Tobirama shouted, leaning towards him. "You shouldn't be pushing yourself to talk! You're in no condition to-"

"Tobirama!" Butsuma barked, weakly. "Bite your tongue...! you must listen to my dying words… as your… father…"

Taken aback by his words, Tobirama swallowed his pride.

Leaning away from him, in a gesture of respect for his last rites.

Accepting what was to come, Hashirama nodded once.

"Father," He spoke, his voice calm and quiet. "You may speak. Let us hear what you have to say"

"Yes," Butsuma nodded. "What you must know is the line of succession… for the… Senju…"

His fading brown eyes looking at the ceiling above, closing halfway as he thought of his clansmen.

The pride and brotherhood he felt deep within his bones moved him nearly to tears.

As if made from stone, he shed no evidence of that pride as he prepared his parting words to his surviving sons.

"The Senju… We are a proud and mighty people, and we need a clan head who is wise and powerful…"

Slowly, he turned towards Hashirama: the son whom he called weak and impudent for crying over Kawarama's death years ago.

As a young man in his twenties, Hashirama had proven himself to be a mighty shinobi capable of fighting for honour in his clan's name.

Using wood release jutsu, he quickly rose as a feared and respected foe, and the most powerful of the Senju.

As he looked upon his eldest son, he felt regret for treating him the way he did, but it was all but too late.

"Hashirama," He began, his weak tone becoming serious. "…You will now lead the Senju, until your death…"

Shocked, Hashirama's eyes widened from his words.

Seeing the look of utter surprise, Butsuma returned his attention towards the ceiling.

"Those are my parting words to you as your father…"

Nodding once, Hashirama bowed his head to the floor.

Acknowledging his father's choice and respecting his dying wishes.

"Tobirama," Butsuma continued. "Be at Hashirama's side… advise him… Be his right hand, and ensure order…"

Closing his eyes, Tobirama nodded.

"Yes, father."

Sitting up from his bow, Hashirama looked upon his dying father with sadness.

His dark eyes glistening with hidden tears.

"Father… you…-"

"Now I can join Itama… Kawarama…" Butsuma interrupted, his tone no longer weak but unafraid. "And your mother…"

As he looked to his father, he noticed a weakly curved smile on his lips.

At the very end, he was a true warrior who did not fear the presence of death…


On the eve after Butsuma's funeral pyre…

The Senju of the forest gathered outside the clan shrine for the indoctrination ceremony of their new leader.

Adorned in white robes, the clansmen watched as their new leader walked the steps of the shrine to join the ceremony.

Once before the monk, Hashirama turned to his people: willing to take on the weight of his clan until the end of his days.

"All rise," The monk proclaimed. "For clan leader, Hashirama-sama!"

As the Senju rejoiced, Hashirama kneeled before the monk to accept the markings of his ancestors.

Carefully, the monk drew inscriptions on the young leader's face using a clay mixture from the elder tree in the settlement's centre.

The tree was said to have been there since the beginning of the Senju, and would fall when the end of the Senju drew near.

Although its age was unknown, its trunk was healthy and its leaves were always green and brimming with life.

The sap and substance from its bark was very important to the Senju for its healing properties and its ritual significance.

For the first time since his father's indoctrination, Hashirama was receiving the markings of the elder tree.

It felt bittersweet to him, but he was prepared to welcome his fate with open arms.

Once the markings were drawn onto him, the monk bowed to him on the shrine altar.

"Please accept this blessing of the gods of the forest." He said. "May the Senju prosper with the elder tree for many generations to come!"

Bowing in response, Hashirama closed his eyes.

Holding back as much emotion as possible, but his sorrow was beginning to seep through the cracks.

As the crowd cheered, Tobirama stood idly by.

Understanding the pain he felt on Hashirama's expression.

Suddenly, a clansmen clothed in their battle armor appeared beside the shrine.

"Hashirama-sama!"

Standing up, Hashirama turned towards the young man.

Snapping out of his saddened state.

"What is it?" He asked, his expression stoic. "Have you news to report?"

Looking down, the young armor-clad man grit his teeth.

"There has been a disturbance due south." He replied, sternly. "Jun hasn't returned from patrol along the clan's boundaries, and there was a skirmish."

Walking towards them, Tobirama stood before the conversing Senju.

"What became after?"

The young man shook his head.

"I… I don't know, sir." He answered. "I fear for the worst…"

His clenched fist tightened on the dirt as he suppressed his forthcoming anger, but his expression of frustration was painted clearly on his face of contempt.

"…As the Uchiha were the ones they were fighting!"

Shocked, Hashirama's eyes widened.

An Uchiha ambush on the day of his ceremony.

The thought disgusted him and frustrated him, as well.

Sensing the same feelings, Tobirama turned to him.

His glance narrowed and stern.

"Brother," He began. "What say you, as our new leader?"

Gathering his thoughts, Hashirama looked off in the distance.

Towards the outer boundaries of the Senju clan's settlements.

His eyes serious and washed of emotion.

"Tobirama," He spoke. "Let's prepare to embark. We're going to investigate this and stop the fighting if we have to."

"Yes, brother."

Within a few moments, the brothers dressed in their armor and equipped their swords.

Embarking towards the border with the messenger…


As they approached the barren hillside that early morning…

A murder of crows cawed and mobbed by the swamp that signified the end of the Senju's forest.

Their black feathers ruffling and coating the terrain with a dark canopy of death.

Standing still before what they saw, the messenger broke down on his knees.

Slamming his fists onto the earth below, tearing streaming down his face.

"Damn them…!" He cried. "Damn the Uchiha…! Jun… How dare they…!"

He held his head down in shame, his tears falling onto the ground below.

"Such a dishonourable death… How dare the Uchiha scum…!"

Before them amongst the crow feathers lay their fallen slain comrade, Jun of the Senju.

Having only just reached adulthood, Jun was amongst the few Senju ninja to survive long enough to see adulthood.

However, just weeks after his eighteenth birthday, his life was inevitably cut short.

His lifeless body lay on the cold ground, while his head was severed from the neck.

Laying beside his torso on a pool of blood.

Death by beheading.

The Uchiha did indeed show no mercy against the Senju.

Even in combat, the Uchiha were able to provoke the ultimate dishonour by denying a proper warrior death.

Kneeling down, Tobirama inspected his remains.

His eyes narrowing.

"Beheading without the seppuku ritual is the most dishonourable way to die in this land," He spoke. "And the Uchiha did it just to spite us."

Standing up, he turned to his elder brother, who stood silent as he looked at his severed comrade.

"And to think this happened the day you were announced as clan-head. Perhaps they knew and wanted to send a message?"

"Hashirama-sama," The messenger began, standing up. "We should go after them!"

"No." Hashirama answered, without turning to him.

"Why not?!" The messenger shouted. "They killed our guardsmen! We should track them and behead their guardsmen, to get even!"

"We will not stoop to their level," Hashirama asserted, turning to the young man with a serious glance. "Losing a comrade was unforgivable, but we can't rely on violence to solve our conflicts."

"Brother," Tobirama sighed, dismayed. "Don't tell me you're still contemplating forming an alliance with those savages?"

Hashirama whipped his head towards him after hearing his words.

Solidifying his heel into the dirt, his anger rising.

"Tobirama!" He spat. "Don't use such talk! The Uchiha are the same as the Senju, they are a family. They fight for the same reasons we do."

Calming down, he retreated his stance.

Glancing towards the feathers that adorned Jun's headless corpse.

"But yes, I have not given up on my dream. Although they will be hard to convince, I believe after thorough persuasion, they can align with us to unite this broken and forsaken land."

"And if they refuse?" Tobirama asked. "What will you do then?"

After hearing his brother's question, Hashirama remained silent.

Looking down with eyes closed halfway, in sadness and uncertainty.

Noticing the long silence as the early morning winds swept by them on the barren hillside, the messenger looked to his leader.

An expression of slight fear painted in the sorrow from losing his best friend.

"Hashirama-sama?" He asked.

Closing his eyes and collecting himself, Hashirama opened his eyes and turned to them.

"In the meantime, we need to return Jun's remains to his family," He spoke. "So they can have a proper burial for him, as an honourable shinobi."

The young man nodded, his cheeks stained with dried tears.

"Yes, sir."

So the Senju began to prepare for yet another burial…

With no sign of the conflicts ceasing in the near future…