CHAPTER 21: Hashirama's Past (Part 3)

After talking with Tobirama for almost twenty minutes, Mito went out of his room. Tsutomu hoped for good news.

"So, what did he say?"

Mito shook her head. "He doesn't want you to go on with your plan. He said that it was impossible without resorting to forbidden techniques. He wouldn't permit it."

"No! Did you tell him that I would not use any forbidden technique?"

"Yes."

"Why couldn't he understand? I'll talk to him."

Mito held his arm. "No, grandpa. He's still agitated. Please, give him time."

"Time? Tobirama-sama's encasing technique is not eternal. Soon, Hashirama-sama's body will start to rot. I need to talk to him while it is still feasible for the operation to succeed." Tsutomu pulled his arm away and marched up to Tobirama's room.

…

Tobirama's servants tried to stop Tsutomu. Tobirama noticed the commotion. "Let him in," he said.

Tsutomu approached the throne. "Hokage-sama, please listen to me. I have a prism that contains Hashirama-sama's chakras."

"Ane-ue has already told that to me. Please, Ani-ue is already at peace. Why are you trying to disturb his sleep?"

"Hokage-sama, I may succeed and bring your brother back to life. Why don't you give me a chance?"

Tobirama sagged on his seat. He massaged his eyes with his thumb and forefinger. "Does my voice still fail to reach my people?"

Tsutomu flinched. "I apologize for this defiance, Hokage-sama."

Tobirama sighed. "How will you do it?"

Tsutomu told him the procedures of the operation.

"What is the probability that this operation will succeed?"

"About eighty-three to ninety-five percent, Hokage-sama."

"You're that confident?"

"Yes, Hokage-sama."

"All right. As long as you promise to treat Ani-ue's body with respect, I permit."

"I promise, Hokage-sama."

"If you fail, you are never to set foot on Konoha ever again."

…

Tsutomu failed in his first attempt.

…

Tsutomu with two Hyuuga ninjas and two medical ninjas from Uzushio performed the operation on Hashirama. Tsutomu with the help of the Hyuuga ninjas connected the prism to Hashirama's chakra circulatory system using chakra conducting threads made from the chakra channels of a dead person. Afterwards, he stitched the prism inside Hashirama's body. The first stage was a success. Tsutomu then performed a high-ranked technique that he invented: The Second Awakening of the Soul Technique. He waited and waited, but nothing happened. Hashirama was not waking up. He looked at his colleagues. All that they could do was to tell him that they had already done their best. It was time for Hashirama to go. Tsutomu cried over his failure.

The next day, Tsutomu was banished from Konoha despite of Mito's pleading at Tobirama's feet.

Tobirama said, "It is my fault that my anger had brought words in my mouth, and I'm greatly sorry for that. But you should understand, Ane-ue. I'm Hokage and taking back my words is an act of disrespect to the title my Ani-ue entrusted me." He collected Mito in his arms and whispered in her ear, "I'm very sorry."

On the day of Hashirama's burial, Tsutomu could only watch and say his goodbyes from a distance.

Tsutomu never left Konoha as the majority of the villagers believed. He had a small shelter in the Hades Forest. And because no one dared to come down there, he was safe. In there, he reviewed the procedure of the operation he had performed on Hashirama. He arrived on the conclusion that he had not done any mistakes. Everything had been perfect. But still, Hashirama hadn't woken up. He needed to know the truth. He had to.

He planned his next step thoroughly.

After three months, he got information that a missing-nin was about to be hanged in Sunagakure. The missing-nin was a Senju and was capable of using Wood Release Techniques like Hashirama. He had killed seventy-seven people in Sunagakure, so Tobirama renounced him from the Senju clan and told Sunagakure that they could do anything they deemed appropriate for the missing-nin's crimes. Later, Tobirama would tell the historians of Konoha to eliminate any information concerning the man. He would also send a diplomat to request the government of Sunagakure to erase any information that would implicate that the criminal had been a Senju, specifically his ability to use Wood Release Techniques. Tobirama paid Sunagakure a large sum of money. Sunagakure couldn't refuse his request.

Tsutomu saw his chance. He went to Sunagakure disguised as the missing-nin's relative. He told the official that was handling the case that he wished to take the missing-nin back after the execution. The official sent a letter to the Kazekage. It came back signed, allowing Tsutomu to have the corpse.

He hired five rogue ninjas to help him with what he was to do. A night when a strong typhoon was beating Konoha with wind and heavy rain, Tsutomu exhumed Hashirama's body, put the missing-nin's body inside his coffin, and returned the grave as it should be. He was surprised that Hashirama's corpse hadn't begun decaying, yet. He knew it! He knew that he hadn't made a mistake. That somehow his operation on Hashirama was a success. All he needed to do was to learn why Hashirama was not waking up.

It was a tedious work. Everyday Tsutomu would work on Hashirama's body for twenty hours, only taking breaks on meals and nature calls. He took notes, made diagrams, and researched in other countries. After eight months, he learned that the prism he had installed inside Hashirama was exuding only a small amount of chakra. The rate of flow was too low that Hashirama's brain didn't function at all. His heart was not beating. His lungs were not taking in air. The chakra just kept the cells alive. Hashirama was like inside ice; he was in the state of preservation.

Tsutomu also learned that Hashirama's chakra gates were only permitting a small amount of chakra to pass through. If Hashirama remained unconscious, it would stay that way. The chakra would eventually exhaust itself. Hashirama would begin to decompose.

Tsutomu studied this condition, thoroughly, and learned after two months that the prism had originally held only seventy-five percent of Hashirama's total chakra size, and now only fifty-three percent remained. He had to act fast and decisively. He cut off Hashirama's left hand.

Tsutomu concentrated in knowing his chakra's compatibility with Hashirama's chakra channels using Hashirama's hand as the test subject. He found out that his chakra was compatible enough. He conducted a number of follow-up tests and they were all successful. Using his unorthodox medical jutsus, he restored the hand to its proper place.

…

Hashirama showed his ragged scar around his left wrist to Naruto.

Naruto gaped. "Wow."

Hashirama laughed.

…

Tsutomu formulated a new technique, something wherein he could transfer his chakra safely into Hashirama. He finished a tentative technique in a week. He tried it on dead animals first. He failed. The animals had burst into smithereens. He didn't give up until he was already working twenty-four hours a day without noticing it. Bit by bit, he understood what he needed to do and, after a month, he successfully revived a dead fish. He had made two sets of chakra. One was a mass of a calm quality. It had a finer texture and smoother shape. Its color was green. The other one was his ordinary chakra. He enclosed his ordinary chakra with the calm chakra and held it in globes around his hands. He then carefully intruded the tenketsu of his target with the chakras. He injected the chakra system of his target until the mass in his hands were consumed. For the fish, he only needed a single batch. He did it to bigger animals until he successfully revived a horse with the technique. He had to inject five batches into it. After that he decided to perform the technique on Hashirama.

His first attempt was a success, but because of excitement, he injected too much into him. Hashirama's nose bled. There was internal hemorrhage. Tsutomu immediately stopped. Following that incident, Tsutomu made a well-studied program for the administering of his chakra into Hashirama. He had to be patient and very careful.

Two excruciatingly unbearable months passed. He was performing the technique on Hashirama when suddenly Hashirama gasped. Tsutomu's heart beat fast in his chest. He struggled to maintain his concentration. Hashirama's face began to have color. As the globes in his hand decreased in size, his tears flowed like two falls from his eyes. When he finished, he went to check on Hashirama. Hashirama was breathing and his heart was beating strongly in his chest. He couldn't contain his joy. He went out of his shelter, smiling, clapping his hands over his head, tears flowing out his eyes. He yelled to the darkness of the forest.

But something unfortunate happened to him. He didn't notice it at first until one day, he coughed up blood. He was already old. He was already in his nineties. His revival technique consumed a lot of chakra. And he was administering his chakra one batch every two hours. He didn't have much time to recuperate. He would have died months earlier if he was not an Uzumaki. The stress of what he did crushed his health. And for the first time in his life, he felt really old.

His health deteriorated as the day passed, but Hashirama was still not waking up. He began to feel desperate. One day as he did his routine on Hashirama, he lost consciousness. He woke up on Hashirama's chest. He looked at Hashirama's face. Was there nothing he could do anymore? He considered his situation and arrived at a conclusion.

"You will not die. Not until I can still do something," he whispered.

He took a week's rest to prepare himself with his next step. He needed at least eighty percent of his total chakra to perform his last attempt for Hashirama's revival. He waited sleeplessly until the appointed day.

Tsutomu wore his most elegant yukata that day. He went in front of the Konoha falls and prayed there for two hours. When he came back, he was prepared. This was his last chance and he would make sure that it worked. He would perform the technique which had been invented by the Priestess of the Sun: the legendary Genesis.

He made a large circle on the wide floor of his library. He made another circle inside and another smaller at the very center where four people could sit. There were large characters to the north, the east, the south, and the west of the largest circle, two similar characters to each of the directions. Each character was written one on top of the other. The character on top was written in black. The north had the character for Open Gate, the east had the Energy Gate, the south had the Life Gate, and the east had the Wound Gate. Another set of characters were written around the second circle. They had the same arrangement and representation as in the first circle. To the northeast was the Forest Gate, to the southeast was the View Gate, to the southwest was the Insanity Gate, and to the northwest was the Death Gate. The center had the symbol for the Yin and Yang. Around the free space between the largest and the second largest circle were scribbling of incantations. The scribbling also appeared in the space between the smallest circle and the second largest.

Once finished, he wheeled Hashirama to the room. He put his hand over Hashirama's heart for a very long time. After that, he carried him and made him sit on the Yin space. He, on the other hand, sat on the Yang space. Hashirama's head hung on his neck. Tsutomu entwined his fingers with Hashirama's so that their palms touched perfectly.

"I'll never forget you, Hashirama-sama," he said. He began the process.

First, he opened six of his chakra gates. He left his Insanity and Death gates closed. There was a tremble as the impact of erupting chakra shook the building. Birds outside flew away from the place. The white characters for his six chakra gates glowed on the floor. Second, he opened six of Hashirama's chakra gates using his chakra. He left Hashirama's Life and Death gates closed. Third, he snapped close five of his open chakra gates—he left his Pain Gate open—and at the same time opened his Insanity Gate. Hashirama's chakra rushed into his system. The pain was overwhelming, but he didn't give in. After he collected Hashirama's chakra, he closed his Insanity and Pain gates and opened his Death Gate. With this gate, he could do everything. It was the ultimate weapon anyone—a ninja, a swordsman, a medical personnel, anyone—could use. Using the chakra that he had collected and his own, he willed Hashirama's open gates to close. He took control of Hashirama's chakra circulatory system. He opened Hashirama's Life gate. The black character for Life Gate glowed on the floor. He saw it and smiled. He uttered a croak before every liquid in his body evaporated. He shriveled like grapes being dried under the sun and fell down with a thud.

"Genesis complete," he said, and died.

…

Hashirama was kneeling inside a white space when Tsutomu appeared before him.

"Grandpa," Hashirama said.

Tsutomu just smiled. "I'm happy to see you again, Hashirama-sama."

"What are you doing here?"

"It's not important. I've recorded everything. You'll find my records easily when you wake up. I don't have enough time."

Hashirama stood up. "You don't have enough time? What are you saying?"

Tsutomu approached Hashirama and threw his scrawny arms around him. "I love you. I will never forget you. Please, think of me every now and then."

"Grandpa, what is going on?"

Tsutomu began to fade. "Promise me."

"Grandpa, wait! Wait! Tell me what's happening!"

Tsutomu just gave him a sad smile and disappeared.

…

Hashirama woke up after two days and found Tsutomu on the floor. He immediately understood what had happened. Because it was his original body, his original brain, he could remember everything before he died. He knew he should already be dead. But Tsutomu had revived him. He knew the Genesis Circle. He knew its purpose. And the dead body of his second grandfather was proof enough that Tsutomu had performed the technique that gave life but took life in return. One of the most forbidden of the forbidden techniques ever created. But he didn't know what to feel. He didn't feel grateful. He hadn't had regrets when he died. Now, what would he do?

He took Tsutomu's body and buried him behind the shelter. Whether he was grateful or not with his revival, he still thanked the old man for caring for him, unconditionally, for many years. He went back to the shelter and entered the laboratory. Stacked neatly on the table were the notes Tsutomu had left behind. Sticks drawn with red chalk made a fence of fives on the wall. When he counted them, they summed up to four hundred twenty-two. He was not sure what they meant until he read the topmost piece of paper on the stack. Tsutomu had written in the first line, "This is the four hundredth and twenty-second day after I exhumed my grandson from his grave. I'm gonna revive him…" Hashirama's legs buckled. A year and two months had already passed after he died in the war. He kept his eyes close for two minutes.

He read the notes. Once he read anything that contained his name or anything that implied that he was still alive, he burned it. In the end, nothing remained. He had memorized the process of the revival technique, the one Tsutomu had mastered by using it on animals, believing its significance to medical science. He rewrote it in a scroll, which he left behind in the shelter. He indicated that Tsutomu Uzumaki was the one who had created the technique. A team from Sunagakure in pursuit of a criminal would soon discover it two months later. The technique would pave the way for modern medical techniques that saved the lives of thousands. It was the technique that Chiyo would later use to revive Gaara.

Hashirama decided that it was a bad decision if he showed himself out of nowhere. He thought that he would die anyway, so he would just live in peace. When he surfaced to the civilization, the war was still going on. He helped his villagers from the shadows, often meddling when Konoha ninjas were about to be beaten. This became the urban legend called "Leaf Miracles." It was one of the reasons why other villages began to fear Konoha. When Tobirama died in the war, he was deeply saddened. He had believed in Tobirama and stayed in Konoha when the latter with two of his teams that included Danzo Shimura and Hiruzen Sarutobi left for a mission. He never expected that Tobirama would die by sacrificing himself so that he could save his students. That day he couldn't help but feel a deep sense of guilt for living despite of the fact that he should already be dead. He thought that his rightful place was not in the world of the living. He could have committed seppuku that day if he didn't treasure Tsutomu's sacrifice.

Hashirama decided not to meddle in anymore. He thought that it would be disrespectful to interrupt with the will of the current generation if he, who should have been rightfully dead, did things that could bring ripples even in a subtle way. But it was not the sole reason. He also believed that his past interventions made history mad, and she had killed his brother as a message to him. So, he just contended himself with watching Konoha from the shadows.

His life went on.

…

"Then how did you arrive here in Sanmyaku?"

"A few years later, when I was chasing some bandits, I accidentally found a worm hole," Hashirama said.

"A worm hole?"

"It's a distortion in the space-time plane that connects long distances by bridging another dimension. The worm hole I found in Konoha brought me here in Sanmyaku. I discovered a small village in Ichiba where ancient ninja clans resided. I found there some of the ancient Senju, ancient Uchiha, ancient Hyuuga and other clans who had migrated there to escape the foolish wars, as they called them. I learned later that their ancestors had lived in that small village since before I was born. I asked if it was a hidden village I found and they replied me that it was not and they had been living as ordinary people. I fell in love with the peace and the way of life in the village and decided to spend my life in there."

"But didn't the people find it odd that you were not aging?"

"Wow. You became quite sharp."

"Yeah. Why don't you age, anyway?"

"I'm not sure myself but I guess it's because of Genesis and the Uzumaki chakra Tsutomu-sama transferred into me. But I age, only very slowly. Based on my appearance, how old do you think I am now?"

"In your mid-forties, I guess."

"See? When I died, I was thirty-four."

"How old are you now?"

"I'm ninety-two this year. Now, let's go back to your question. After five peaceful years, the village was attacked by revolutionaries from Nue. I and some of the villagers who could fight tried to protect the village. I was surprised with how skillful some of the villager's fought. Later, they would tell me that they trained secretly in the mountains to keep their bloodline limit capabilities sharp. But in the battle, we were greatly outnumbered. The ratio was one to eighty. Many of the villagers died in the battle. We were forced to leave the island. After that incident, I suggested that we established a ninja village so that we could avoid such a defeat in the future. They agreed to my suggestion. Thus, Morigakure was established. I'm the first and current Arashikage of Morigakure. I created a ninja academy like what Tobirama had created in Konoha, and systematically developed a competent army of ninjas. We began accepting missions, and after thirty years, Morigakure gained a good reputation in Sanmyaku."

"Where is my question in that?"

"No one asked me about it."

"Eh?"

"Instead, I was the one who asked them if they found it weird that I aged slowly. One villager told me that there were some that had my condition living in the village. They were not really surprised, he said. He was telling the truth for I met with a man who was already three hundred and forty years old. He looked like a human shark, a Hoshikagi. He died six years ago."

"How about your clients?"

"I usually wear a mask when I go to a mission. My villagers know the importance of keeping my condition a secret, because it could be dangerous if the clients knew. I also use aliases and change them every twenty years to build an illusion that the person having the current alias is the student of the person with the previous alias."

"You haven't been wearing a mask ever since we met."

"Because I've decided to be Hashirama Senju this time, the one who will deal with Uchiha Madara."

Naruto was surprised. "You know that Madara is still alive?"

"Yes. Sixteen years ago, before the Demon Fox's attack on Konoha—"

"You also know about the attack of the Demon Fox on Konoha?"

"Yes. As I was saying, before the Demon Fox's attack, I felt a familiar itch behind my eyes. It always bothers me if Madara is active. I was surprised, of course, because I believed that I had already killed Madara. But I didn't ignore it. I felt that Konoha was in danger. I heeded my premonition and left immediately for Konoha."

"Sixteen years ago? Sanmyaku was already a closed country by then."

"I crossed the mountain range and travelled for four months."

"Wow."

"Konoha was normal when I arrived. I didn't feel the itch behind my eyes, anymore. Maybe a false alarm, I thought."

"So what did you do?"

"I stayed for a while to make sure, but I couldn't go near. ANBUs were scattered in the forest and around the village. The number was especially large around a cave far away from the village. If I went near, I knew that the ANBUs would not hesitate to kill me. I could see it in their wariness of the surrounding. I investigated a little, but no one knew why. I decided to stay close until I was sure that nothing would go wrong. I went back to Tsutomu-sama's shelter in the Hades Forest. Then, after two months, that fateful night happened. Out of nowhere, I felt the itch behind my eyes again. It was so strong that I couldn't stop my tears from flowing. I rushed for Konoha, but while I was running, the itch suddenly disappeared."

…

What's happening? Hashirama put one hand over an ear. Is my mind pulling a prank on me? Then the itch came back. His eyes widened when the Demon Fox suddenly appeared in the distance. The Demon Fox! What's going on? He sprinted towards Konoha. The fox was destroying everything it saw. The ninjas were getting slaughtered by the hundreds. His hands began to shake. He badly wanted to help, but he was afraid. What if something more terrible than the Demon Fox befall Konoha if he meddled in? The image of his dead brother recurred repeatedly in his mind as the Demon Fox danced the Dance of Death against his people. Lines of stress began to show under his eyes. His lower lip trembled in indecision. Someone…please…But when he saw the fox going for a mother and her child, he couldn't stand still anymore. He froze the fox's movement for a split second. A ninja carried the two to safety. He stayed as far as he could, observing his brave people fight against the gigantic demon. The fox opened its mouth to launch a black chakra ball. He extended his right hand and hammered it onto his left palm. The fox's jaws shut close. The Third Hokage with the most elite ninjas in Konoha managed to push the fox out of the village.

"Stand your ground! We've pushed it out of the village!" the Third Hokage said.

Keep it up. Keep it up, Hiruzen.

The fox attempted to form a chakra ball again. It was fast this time. The ball inflated in its mouth in a matter of seconds. It aimed the ball at the village.

Hashirama formed twelve consecutive hand seals. "Time-Space Distortion: Time Continuum Delay!" He coughed up blood because of the high chakra requirement of the technique. The fox froze. "Dimensional Transfer!" The black ball in its mouth disappeared like magic. "RUN, NOW!"

The Third's eyes widened. The voice was familiar. He began to turn his head when Gamabunta suddenly dropped over the fox.

"It's Yondaime!" said a voice.

Shit! What are you waiting for? Escape, you idiots!

The fox recovered and turned around. A black ball grew out from its mouth again. It turned around and aimed the ball at the Third.

No, you don't! Hashirama began forming the same seals as earlier. However, before he could finish, the fox disappeared.

…

"I traced where the chakra of the fox had gone. I felt it appear in the direction of the cave. I ran as fast as I could, but I was too late when I got there. Your mom was talking to you when I arrived. The fox had already impaled them with its claw. I was there when both of them breathed their last. It had been ten years when I last saw them. I hadn't expected that the day I saw them again would be the day of their death. I'm sorry I couldn't do anything to save them."

Naruto looked at the ground.

"The sad thing about it was Madara had managed to escape. I tried to hunt him down but he literally disappeared. All I could do was to promise myself that I would not stop until I killed Madara. He is also an anomaly of this world. Like me, he should already be dead. It occurred to me that maybe the reason heaven had permitted me to be revived was to accomplish that single mission. And I'll do it. You will be my most potent weapon."

"Did you watch me as I grew up?"

"No. Since the attack of the Demon Fox, I stayed here in Sanmyaku."

"But Madara is not in Sanmyaku! How will you kill him if you don't face him?"

"I will not be able to kill Madara right now because Madara is not alone. I know why he tried to take control over the Demon Fox. He is greedy and has a distorted belief of attaining eternal piece. I know that he would have not surfaced if he was not prepared. To kill a stubborn grass, it's not enough to uproot it from the soil. You should burn the soil it grows up from with unquenchable fire. I've been preparing for it ever since his reappearance sixteen years ago."

Naruto thought awhile.

"If you don't have questions anymore —"

"Was it only coincidence that you found me?"

"Yes. I didn't expect the third Jinchuriki of the Demon Fox to be washed up here, of all places."

"You mean you didn't have the slightest idea that I was the fox's Jinchuriki?"

"No. First, you were just a baby when I last saw you, so I wouldn't know what you looked like. Second, I had sensed your peculiar chakra when Yuudai took me to you, but I was not sure if you were a Jinchuriki or not. I couldn't feel the evil of the Demon Fox. Your fight against Zuko was not only to test your capabilities, but also to confirm if you had a Biju in you. Unfortunately, you didn't use it in the fight. However, you were crazy enough to cut your arm and that made everything simple."

"I see. So it was just a chance meeting then."

"Aren't you happy? If you had stayed in Konoha, you would have remained weak for a very long time."

"I don't really dwell on 'ifs.' But I'm grateful to have this chance to be stronger. But, Hashirama-jii-chan—"

"Call me Hashirama-sensei to be safer."

"All right. Hashirama-sensei, now that Madara is planning to unleash the Fourth Ninja War, what are you going to do?"

"I'll tell you when the right time comes." Hashirama stood up. "Now you know the basic things you must know about me. Let's not linger anymore. Let's start your training." He spread his arms. Four balls of lights came out of his body. The balls hovered in air for a few moments. Then, slowly, they began to get bigger and form into human shapes.

Naruto's eyes widened. Now, standing before him, to the right and left of Hashirama, were the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju, the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze, and his beautiful mother Kushina Uzumaki.

"As the representative of Konoha, we won't do a half-ass job on you," Hashirama said, grinning threateningly.

"Ehhh?"