THE BATTLE FOR THE EARTH – HASHIRAMA'S NEW ATTITUDE
In the Valley
Kakashi rolls over onto his back, looking up into the sky. He knows that his actions have greatly impacted the living but he is more concerned for the dead. In particular, he thinks of two people, his teammates. He thinks of Rin and how disappointed she would be that he had failed, that everyone is going to die. He thinks of Obito, who endured so much in his life, whose chakra had been taken from the other world and how annoyed he would be that Kakashi still couldn't win.
With a flash of yellow, a man appears above the fallen 6th Hokage. That is, of course, the sensei of the team. The 4th Hokage, Namikaze Minato.
Kakashi sighs as he closes his eyes, "Minato sensei… I let you down".
Minato quickly grabs his side as he falls to one knee, the poison creeping up on him again. He laughs it off though, "You should have learnt from Mirai's match. You didn't give up so you've let nobody down".
The white-haired shinobi raises a hand to the front of his face, inspecting the back of it as if were a piece of art, "It's still growing sensei, I can feel the chakra rising within me".
"It's Obito's chakra, right?".
"Yeah" he lowers his hand back to his side, "Even while on the other side, Obito is doing his best for us".
Minato raises his head, standing nearby is the Colonel who Kakashi had fought against. If nothing else, this woman had been forced to use her 'cloak' power. She watches the two of them, considering what they are talking about, likely failing to realise just how significant these men are to shinobi history.
"Don't worry Kakashi, your power may still save us yet".
"Kakashi sensei" a slightly higher pitched voice calls. That voice belongs to Naruto who arrives a few seconds later, "Are you alright?".
"Yeah" the teacher groans as he sits up, straining the already overused muscles in his abdomen, "I'm just a bit winded is all, they hit, hard don't they?".
"Yeah" Naruto looks towards the enemy, "But, starting from now we are going to hit even harder".
A thumping sound descends from the top of the invaders hill, signalling the movement of the enemy commander, General Clyde. He arrives almost instantly in the valley, approaching his counterpart.
"Uzumaki Naruto" he begins, "That is the end of the first day's battles".
"The first day?".
The tall man raises a finger into the air, pointing eventually at the sky above. "Of course, this contest will take place over multiple days, after all look".
"The sun is setting… we won't be able to see if we continue in these conditions. Considering that we will be spending the night here, we shall continue in the morning".
Naruto considers what effect this will have on his team. 'As shinobi, it would be advantageous to us to compete in the dark. However, if this guy claims there is a rule against it I have no way of refuting him. I have to go by what he says'. "Fine by me" the 7th eventually declares aloud.
Gaining Naruto's approval, Clyde turns and walks back towards his hill, Colonel Burns at his side. "Good work, Burns".
The red-haired Colonel smiles, happy, as ever, to receive praise from her superior officer. "Something like this is nothing to me, General".
Naruto, Minato and Kakashi are in a glum mood compared to the invaders. That is only natural, the first day is over, there have been two matches and they failed to win either of them. Although team morale has largely been boosted, now feeling that it is possible to defeat a Colonel, ultimately, this is a failure. Seven matches in total, the first to four wins. It's the worst possible start.
"The first day has been disastrous for us" Kakashi concludes.
"Two losses from two matches isn't great" Minato turns to his pupil, "But it's not the end for us. You only lost because your chakra awakened too late, as for Mirai she was unlucky".
"Of course," Naruto asserts, his voice filled with determination, "Hashirama and Sarada are both truly strong, our heavy hitters still haven't fought yet. They can stand up to Colonels, right?".
Kakashi lowers his gaze, "That's not what worries me".
"Sensei…".
"We've seen it first-hand today. During Mirai's match, we saw that the Colonels are on another level" he explains, "A power like hers wasn't enough, it was a power so unbelievable, so inherently powerful that we didn't even know it was possible. Yet, she still lost".
"That may be so" Minato nods, "But the three of us even being here was impossible not so long ago, we can still turn things around".
Looking towards the hill, Kakashi makes a cutting point. "But hasn't it occurred to you yet. That General must be even stronger…".
That Night, On the Hidden Leaf Hill
Discovering that the shinobi of the hidden leaf would be required to stay the night, Hashirama resorted to an old trick, he used his specialist techniques to create several huts for people to stay in. The huts were certainly not luxurious but were certainly sufficient to keep you dry and warm for the night. Nobody was expecting a five-star hotel though, everyone had come here with the same basic piece of knowledge, that this will likely be their final resting place.
In that man, the 1st Hokage's hut, he remains solemnly, meditating in the knowledge that he will most likely be fighting tomorrow.
Then, someone knocks on the door, entering immediately afterwards. This man is the 2nd Hokage, Senju Tobirama. Though, more importantly at this moment, this man is Senju Hashirama's brother.
"Brother" Tobirama shuts the door behind him.
"… what is it?".
The 2nd Hokage approaches the table his sibling as sat at. Taking the chair from the other side and sitting opposite him. After getting comfortable, he opens his mouth, "Ever since you've returned from training you've been different".
"Different?".
"It's as if your angry" the 2nd Hokage suggests, "It's as if you are not the same person anymore. It's as if I left to train, waving goodbye to my brother, for when I returned, the Senju Hashirama stood before me was not him".
Tobirama is right in his observations. With Tsunade nearby, Hashirama had seemed OK since discovering Mito's death, not that he would know that. After Naruto's revival, though, Hashirama had been inspired by the 7th Hokage's power. He had gone North, seeking a place where he could be alone for the remainder of that one month they were given. Then he trained, and trained, and trained even more. The goal of surpassing Naruto didn't closer, instead it became more distant, then the 1st Hokage had asked himself why he wanted to catch up to Naruto. When he answered his own question, his motivation changed completely, he was no longer the Hashirama that they knew.
That man, the 1st Hokage, takes exception to his brother's observations. He slams his fist on the table, his bulging veins demonstrating the rage he feels, "Of course I'm angry, I'm more than angry, I'm livid". He gets to his feet, walking to the wall behind him before gently resting his head against it.
"About Mito's death?" the younger sibling asks.
"It's my only driving force now" Hashirama explains, "Mito's death".
He thinks back to that woman, Uzumaki Mito. Together, they have been through so much, while fate ripped them apart in the past, in this time, they had a chance, a chance to be happy together. Now that has been taken away from them too, it seems no matter how hard Hashirama works, no matter how determined he is, he and Mito cannot be happy together.
"I think to myself, what she thinking in her last moments? Did she want the village saved?" Hashirama asks, "Did she want her enemies to die? I don't care which one it is, I'm going to fulfil all of her wishes".
Tobirama rises from his chair, walking slowly towards his elder brother. "Brother, I don't think this is the way forward for you".
"What did you say?" the 1st Hokage practically hisses.
"Mito may indeed have wanted the village saved, and perhaps, she too wanted the enemy dead" Tobirama concedes, "However, she wouldn't have wanted you to do it this way".
Hashirama swings his arm to the side, "Who cares how I do it Tobirama. All that matters, is that I fulfil those wishes".
"You do" the answer comes, "Going on an emotionless killing spree, it may be something that I could handle. But for you that is completely impossible, I know you well enough to determine that, brother".
"I'm far more capable than you realise" Hashirama warns as he lifts his head from the wall, looking his brother in the eyes once again. After doing so he walks past the white-haired shinobi, heading towards the door with his hands in his pockets.
"She told me to tell you something".
Hashirama stops.
"She said that she wanted you and Tsunade to find true happiness in this world". Tobirama says this with a heavy-heart. He and Mito had never been particularly close, still, they had a level of mutual respect that would inevitably develop further the more time went on. Respect becomes friendship, an emotional connection, a sadness when the other dies. That sadness is now something that the 2nd Hokage is all too familiar with.
"You may want to ignore that final wish of hers" he notes, "But I'll force it upon you if I have to".
Hashirama waits for a few seconds before giving his considered response. "She had many more wishes that aren't compatible with that one… besides… if she is dead it is impossible for me to grant that one wish".
"While you're like this cannot grant her other wishes" Tobirama protests, "Brother, your true strength is not the wood release or sage mode, it's your heart".
Once more Hashirama pauses, offering a well-thought-out counter-argument, "In my fight against Peterson, I was full of 'heart' but I lost to absolute power didn't I".
The younger brother lowers his head. This path has been taken many times throughout history, he has seen it with Madara, he has, in the past drifted too close to it himself. Furthermore, it continued into the future, he had started to see Danzo walk this path and ultimately Uchiha Sasuke had walked it too. He has switched from the 'will of fire' to believing in 'absolute power'.
"I see" he replies, "If it's that philosophy which you have decided to adopt, then I am going to prove it wrong. You can believe in absolute power if you want, but, tomorrow I will win using the will of fire that you passed on to me".
Hashirama walks out through the door into the cold night. "We will see".
On the Other Hill
The invaders are different to the people of the hidden leaf. They don't have anyone with an ability as convenient as Hashirama, instead they have had to rely on tents to keep dry and warm. However, the superior officers have not chosen a tent as their meeting place, this meeting is far too important to be overheard, so they have travelled a short distance from the Captains.
Gathered are General Clyde and the six Colonels serving under him.
"I want firstly to congratulate Sisto and Burns on their performances today" Clyde says with a smile as he claps lightly. He sweatdrops as he realises nobody shares his enthusiasm though, instead he simply raises an open palm, "Good work both of you".
"General" a voice comes from outside their circle.
This voice belongs to the strongest Captain of the invading forces, the one who had accompanied the hidden leaf shinobi here. Captain Dred.
"You" Martin's face turns red as his anger explodes, "This is supposed to be a private meeting between your superior officers, how dare you interfere".
As Colonel Martin's fury continues to escalate, he gathers his power on his hand. It is mauve, a deep shade of mauve.
Captain Dred is more than capable of feeling this energy, that is why he knows how terrifying it is. He jumps to it, adopting a fighting pose, ready to do whatever is required in the name of self-defence.
As Martin shows off his power, Peterson is quick to react. The lightning user is quick, the quickest out of all the Colonels. He appears at Martin's side, grabbing his wrist before the latter can even hope to react.
"You touch him and I will shock you, Martin".
"Release me Peterson" the snobbish Colonel retorts, "You, filthy dog…".
Before Martin can finish his insult, Sheer is before him. She unleashes a powerful punch straight into Martin's gut.
As Martin keels over in pain he curses his comrade. "Sheer… you dare to lay your hands on me, do you think there won't be repercussions".
"Sheer! Peterson! Step away from him" Clyde barks.
"But sir…".
"Step away!".
Sheer and Peterson are both reluctant. This despicable excuse for a human being was about to harm his own underling. Captain Dred has been their friend, their ally for a long time, much longer than Martin.
Still, Clyde understands something better than the Colonels do. To harm Martin would bring down a disaster upon their heads. Despite their hatred for him, there is a reason they are willing to tolerate him. Until that threat is removed or revoked, this is a man they cannot afford to offend.
"It's good that you have seen sense, General" Martin remarks as he rises to his feet. He gathers mauve energy on his hand once again, "Now, allow me to…".
"I think you are misunderstanding something Martin" Clyde interrupts.
"Huh…".
"As much as I can't afford to offend you. I will kill you before I let you lay a finger on my subordinate" the General threatens in his most ominous voice, "I don't view you like the others, you are truly despicable".
"What are you saying, General" Colonel Martin asks with a sarcastic smile.
"Do you think I didn't notice" the man replies as he strokes his blonde sideburns, "One of them was poisoned, a poison so strong could only have come from you. Am I wrong?".
"…".
"Dred" Clyde's voice becomes more welcoming once again, "Why have you come here?".
"Sir, I felt it" he declares, "I felt his power… it's bad".
"So, a Captain can feel it too" Clyde looks astonished as he gazes at Dred, "Well, you are close to the Colonel level after all".
This power, this threatening power from the opposite side is something they have all felt. Something that they have gathered specifically to discuss.
"Sir, allow me to deal with it" Dred bows slightly as he makes this request.
"I'm afraid you won't be able to" Clyde shakes his head, "I'm taking no chances".
Clyde then looks towards Peterson. Out of all the Colonels under his command, Peterson is the one who has worked hardest to earn his respect. Truthfully, he holds Peterson's power in an even higher regard than his own. Currently, Clyde is the strongest among them. Well of course, he is a General. In ten years' time, though, he dares not boast that the same would be true then.
"Are we aiming to kill?" Peterson asks.
"Yeah. We will pay the price if we need to, we can give up our two victories if it really comes down to it" the General decides.
Burns gasps. She has realised that this feeling on the enemy hill is a threat but she had failed to realise that it was a threat that significant. "It's that important" she questions.
"Yeah. It's that important" Clyde nods, "Peterson, you can do it the quickest. Wait for the opportune moment, it will come at some point in the next two days. I'm leaving this to you, do not miss, when you attack… you kill".
"Yes sir" Peterson salutes, "I won't miss, I will kill".