I had the bulk of this written, but I couldn't decide for the longest time how to end it. I'm working on other stuff, so this is more of a detour than a major investment.
Chapter 3: The First Hokage
It was the closing decades of the Warring states period. Born in a time of fierce rivalries and conflicts, he did not know it was his destiny to change that. The son of the great leader, Butsama, it was his unparalleled courage, virtue and strength which would be the pillar on which civilization would be restored. This is the tale of HASHIRAMA*SENIV.
Hashirama grew up besides his brother, Tobirama. It was clear from the start that the two brothers were destined for greatness. But, the only similarity the brothers shared were their incredible potential. Tobirama focused on the unorthodox, specializing in mastering water techniques on dry land, as well as other radical ninja arts. Hashirama, meanwhile, was unsurpassed in his dedication to Senju wood, able to raise entire forests on his own.
Different too, were their view of the eternal plague that had dominated their time, the Uch*has. Tobirama had bought into his father's ways, and was dedicated to seeing every last one of their degenerate, barbaric members wiped off of the face of the earth. And considering everything, no one could really blame him.
But, Hashirama was of a different mindset. A true descendant of Ashura, the burning desire to expose the fire of civilization to all was strong in his soul. Even so, for the demonic Uch*ha clan. For nights, Hashirama would lay awake, a thousand questions in his mind all asking how he would go about it.
On his fifteenth birthday, he, along with a massive Senju squad lead by his father, launched an ambush on an unsuspecting Uchiha camp that had been sent forth to campaign. Caught in the crossfire was the Uc*ha's demon king, who was killed that day. So successful were the Senju in their route of the Uch*ha's, that Butsama was rightfully awarded the title VCHIHAS*MAXIMVS.
But Butsama's actions had unforeseen consequences. Born around the same time as Hashirama, the demonic Uch*has would rally around their leader's son. A devil even more vile, hateful, and powerful than he. Cursed be his name, M*dara Uch*ha, stepped up to lead his clan.
Born with the burning degeneracy of Indra, M*dara had one desire, the complete and utter destruction of any and all civilization. There were no depths to which he would sink. Even his own barbaric soldiers were tools for his ambitions.
And so, the Uchiha's began launching an all out campaign, taking all contracts regardless of pay, dismissive of who footed the bill. Every clan that faced them were annihilated on the battlefield. Each victory only fueled M*dara's lust for power.
Never resting, he kept on fighting, and fighting. Soon, he would reach his goal.
On the dawn of the new year, M*dara lead a massive front against the Senju, threatening their main encampment. Butsama, seeing that the Senju were outnumbered, attempted the lure the incoming enemy by attacking their forward camp.
But he fell into a trap, for M*dara was cunning, as he was evil. The demon king kept his best at the camp, and ambushed the quaint Senju force. All were slaughtered, including Butsama.
Faced with extinction, the Senju's retreated, but had to sacrifice several of their warriors to ensure their escape. Broken and humiliated, they now all turned to the man who would restore the world.
Hashirama had grown both in strength and in wisdom. His mere presence had commanded the respect of his allies, and the fear of his enemies. But, he had no desire for power, or for the burdens that leading a clan came with. But when destiny called his name, he knew there was no other choice.
As he was named leader, Hashirama elevated his brother to be his second-in-command. The two would sychronize brilliantly, with Hashirama's fiery passion balanced out by Tobirama's cold logic. The Senju settled on rebuilding their strength first.
Yet, Hashirama knew that they could not civilize the world alone. Hearing reports of a civilized clan in a distant eddy village, he sent envoys. He later sealed non-aggression pacts with other clans, who counted their blessings not having to face the might of the Senju. He knew, however, that until the Uch*ha's were subdued, his dreams would never be realized. And he understood, that the only language they understood, was battle.
With their position solidified, Hashirama launched his first campaign, allying with the local daiyamo, who laid claim to the entire Land of Fire. M*dara, hearing this, contested the claim. He didn't really care for national politics, only wishing to meet the Senju in battle once more.
The field was set. Hashirama formed his army into three groups, lining them one after the other. M*dara, meanwhile, deployed his troops in a wide swarm formation.
M*dara made the first move, sending his flanks far and wide to envelop the Senju. Hashirama, instead of protecting his own flanks, clustered his own ninja, and charged straight into the center, straight at M*dara's position.
Before the Uch*ha flanks could close in, Hashirama's battlegroup hit the Uch*ha's hard, splitting their army in two. The center was devastated, and Hashirama successfully locked M*dara out of combat, preventing his use of demonic Sh*ringan magic.
Meanwhile, as the Uchiha envelopment converged, Hashirama's two groups split off, halting their advance. The Senju fought with an inhuman frenzy, slaughtering the Uchiha's before they could even look them in the eye.
Near the end of the day, M*dara was forced to yield. By the way, Tobirama, the madman, managed to slay the demon's brother, Iz*na. He was doing him a favor.
Now in a position of strength, Hashirama proposed the unthinkable, an alliance with the Uch*has. There were heavy doubts among the Senju, and who could blame them. Why would Hashirama want to ally with such a deceptive, hateful, degenerate bunch such as the Uch*has? Well, you see my pleb, this was all KEIKEKV*DOORI (TL note: Keikeku means plan).
And, M*dara knew it too. He refused the alliance, only settling for a temporary truce, and that's because he understood that if he died, he wouldn't be able to kill, murder, and destroy anymore.
But M*dara's evil would sink to even greater depths. Taking out the eyes of his brother, he fueled his new demonic eyes that would forever haunt the halls of his/story.
You see, M*dara and his brother, Iz*na, were so hateful, even for the Uch*ha's, that their own Sh*ringan mutated further beyond. This mutation allowed them to spam all sorts of cheap, press-to-win bullshit that gave them easy victories. But, demonic magic always has a price.
M*dara was loosing his eyesight because, of course, he abused his power to the max. Once his brother died, the demon ripped out his eyes, and transplanted his own. His curse would now be eternal, and his power, the M*ngekyo Sh*ringan, would grow even greater.
Fast-forward two years, and M*dara was starting shit again. He was running a devastating campaign against a clan the Senju were on relatively friendly terms with, the SARVTOBI clan. Having sent numerous envoys, and with all of them being ignored, Hashirama just about had it.
He headed off Madara's assault. And even with Madara's newfound strength, managed to own him again, utterly humiliating him in front of his own troops.
Pressed with the decision of what to do with such a violent Uch*ha, Tobirama made the reasonable suggestion to just kill him. But Hashirama knew from his father, that even with M*dara out of the way, a new demon would rise to replace him. And the cycle would continue.
That was when Madara made a counteroffer. But, to everone's surprise, except Tobirama, it came with a sadistic price.
Hashirama would either have to kill his brother to settle the score, or kill himself. Seeing that the restoration of civilization would rest on this decision, Hashirama promoted his brother, and prepared to take his own life.
For a second, a pulse of sympathy had caught the demon's heart. Of course, only suicide could cause M*dara to reconsider, go figure. He relented, accepting the terms for an alliance. But, if you think that's the last time an Uch*ha would cause any trouble, you probably haven't met one.
With such a powerful alliance at hand, hostilities with other clans ceased, for they did not want to risk their complete and utter defeat. There was an era of peace dawning on the Land of Fire, and for the first time, a permanent settlement could be built. The smell of civilization attracted others, and many ninja clans migrated to the site, to take part in history's greatest achievement.
From the depths of the forest, a great city grew. Intricate architecture and unparalleled engineering defined this city, established within the Senju's framework. In time, the city would be given a name, a name that would shine bright in dark times. It is here where the eternal city, KONOHAGAKVRE, was born, the "village hidden in the leaves."
Many challenges faced this new village, namely, who would lead it. A council of plebs would oversee the day-to-day legislation of the village, but only a strong, wise, benevolent dictator could ensure the safety of civilization.
Hashirama pondered on this question of who would take up the burden of leadership. Naturally he was the popular choice, as he was strong, virtuous, wise and all that. But Hashirama never sought power for its own sake. At first, he thought a co-dictatorship would work, considering M*dara of all cunts, would be his equal. Even great men have delusions every once in a while.
Soon enough, Hashirama could see the writing on the wall. None of the plebs, the clans, even the Uchiha's he so recently beat would accept anyone else. Thus, he relented, giving himself the title of HOKAGE, the "Fire Shadow".
As Hokage, Hashirama integrated the various allied clans into the military. With overwhelming strength, the new city-state of Konoha conquered all opposition, allowing for the first time since the age of Ninshu, a regional era of peace and freedom.
Various clans began flocking towards this beacon of civilization. Strength attracted strength. From the depths of irrelevancy, the HIVGA clan emerged, ready to ally with their long lost cousins. And, in the distant eddy village, Senju envoy's returned with an extraordinary new ally.
Born from a Senju diaspora in the Warring states period, this new clan had managed to secure a relatively remote existence. Developing advanced sealing techniques, they were instrumental in the subjugation of various monsters roaming the land; remnants of the evil witch, Kaguya.
Despite their isolation, the burning fire of ASVRA burned within. Like the Senju, they too had the power to save the world. The VXVMAKI clan would become the Senju's greatest ally.
So great, in fact, that Hashirama had Konoha's military jackets feature the Uzumaki spiral. The Uzumaki's, in addition, personally gave Hashirama one of his greatest treasures, namely, his wife, MITO*VXVMAKI.
With the trademark brilliant Uzumaki red hair, and a virtuous spirit that resisted a woman's typical weakness, Mito was instrumental in the subjugation of the greatest of Kaguya's wicked legacies, the nine-tailed demon fox, the Ky*bi.
Leading the shining city hidden in the leaves, making former enemies allies, and securing some of the greatest powers that roamed the land, the dream of light, of civilization, of peace appeared it would never disappear.
But the more brilliant the forces of good would shine, so too, would evil sink to even greater depths and treachery to snuff out the eternal flame.