Author Note:
Hi Everyone,
This is To the Future's longest chapter yet. I hope you enjoy it.
Thanks for all your support.
And thanks for reading,
Cbehrills
THE BATTLE FOR THE EARTH – WHEN YOU MUST WIN
In the Valley
Tobirama arrives in the centre of the valley. His face is calm as always, however, the weight on his shoulders is far greater than ever before. He has put his life on the line many times, to defeat the Uchiha clan, to defend the Senju clan, to protect the village. This doesn't compare to any of those times. Everything, the fate of everyone is resting on him this time. If he cannot win here, he will be depending on his brother's new twisted philosophy to defend the hidden leaf.
The 2nd Hokage looks down at his hands. At this distance, likely not even Sarada can see it but his hands are shaking. His opponent will be a Colonel, in a battle he cannot afford to lose. He places his hands down by his sides, attempting to ignore the symptoms in order to calm himself but then he notices something else. It's his skin, his skin is prickling. This situation, this stage, it is a coliseum, a theatre that can wrack the nerves of even a Hokage.
Tobirama is one of the leaf's only three competitors to have thought a Colonel before this contest. On that day, his plan had been to rely upon Naruto and his brother, being the one who sensed the approaching Colonel Peterson, he knew from the moment he first made contact, that he didn't have a chance. It was a day where he had felt like a insect, fighting alongside two lions, trying to kill a bear.
Could an insect really kill a bear?
Thinking of this Tobirama smiles. 'This Colonel better watch out, I may be a mere insect, but…'.
'Mosquitos kill more people than any other animal'.
The 2nd Hokage is finally confident. Then his opponent arrives before him.
It's a flash of electric blue, ushered in the sound of thunder. The lightning that welcomes his opponent's arrival is blinding at first but then it clears. It leaves a familiar face, a scarred face.
"You…" Tobirama starts.
This lightning of course can only be the sign of one man.
It's Colonel Peterson.
"Oh, I remember you from that fight, the weak one, right" Peterson mocks his opponent using this mock surprise. At this early stage, he is already trying to obtain any advantage he can, words are a great way to reach someone. If used in the right way, words can save someone, or kill someone. "To think you were in the strongest seven warriors from this world, how pathetic".
If Tobirama could stop his hands shaking before, he definitely cannot now. This is the worst possible opponent for him. Firstly, the 2nd Hokage's techniques are based on water, while his opponent is a user of lightning. Secondly, the rest of his techniques are based around his incredible speed; comparing the other Colonels to Peterson, their speed is greatly inferior to his. Lastly, there is already a psychological limiter built into his head, he has already come to accept that Colonel Peterson is better than him.
He grits his teeth. 'Calm down Tobirama, if you lose there is always…'.
Then, in his head, a vision comes to him, not of his own desire or his own power. This is a vision of his sister-in-law, a vision of Mito. The vision is simple, it's of Mito slapping Tobirama.
'What am I saying' he shakes his head slightly, 'If I don't win here, my voice will never reach my brother. I have to win here… I have to win'.
Peterson starts as he watches Tobirama screw his hands into tight fists. 'Up until a second ago he was radiating nervousness, but now I can feel it coming from him. It's as if he is ready to kill'.
"Do you honestly expect to beat me?" the Colonel asks in an attempt to probe this new-found confidence, "You might as well give up now".
'Give up' Tobirama thinks to himself. 'It's true, the last time the two of us encountered one another, I wasn't in this man's league. I was a civilian on a battlefield, such was my level, I felt like I was throwing stones against an archer. However, that was one month in the past. The Senju Tobirama of today will fight'.
"You people used a cowardly method to kill Mito. It was her dying wish that my brother found happiness" the 2nd Hokage adopts a fighting pose, ready for any attack that comes his way, "For that to happen, I have no choice but to win".
Peterson snorts, realising that no matter what he says his opponents resolve will hold firm. "Do as you like, however, don't blame me if you end up regretting it".
Tobirama initiates his fight with Peterson.
He crosses his fingers, instantly, two puffs of smoke sound from either side of him. This is the shadow clone technique that he created.
The first clone throws a marked kunai towards Peterson. As the metallic weapon cuts through the air, it would seem fast to any normal shinobi. No normal shinobi is gathered here though, even the weakest that have gathered from the hidden leaf village are shinobi whose names were known throughout the lands. Therefore, if they can follow the path of this kunai, it is even easier for Peterson.
As Tobirama's first clone teleports to the kunai, it arrives with its feet on the same level as the Colonel's head.
'This is only a copy' Peterson notes with utter contempt, 'I don't even need to block the attack of one so weak'.
The 2nd Hokage forces Peterson to regret his decision instantly. With a kick to the Colonel's head, Tobirama forces Peterson to dig his heels into the ground as he is driven backwards. It should be understood that previously, even Hashirama had struggled to drive a Colonel backwards, yet now his much weaker younger brother is doing it.
'What! This strength, it's almost…' Peterson thinks back to his previous encounter with the hidden leaf shinobi as he gazes at a sombre figure on their hill. He gazes at Senju Hashirama, 'It's almost the same as his'.
Tobirama's first clone catches the kunai it threw not a few moments ago, and throws it towards Peterson once more. It reinvigorates the momentum that the blade has lost, once again it is bearing down on the unprepared Colonel.
Following this, the first clone teleports to the kunai once again.
'Then, I'll just have to take you seriously'. The silver-haired Colonel concludes this looking at his white-haired counterpart. He throws a punch towards Tobirama, a punch that could kill a lesser shinobi.
Tobirama is not the sort of person to be killed by this attack though. Especially after his training. Just as the first clone is about to be hit by Peterson's attack, it moves instantly in the air, avoiding the punch. This isn't instantaneous movement though, it is merely an illusion, what has really happened, is that the second clone has swapped positions with the first, readily avoiding the attack by moving in advance of teleportation.
'I developed this method fighting against one of your captains' the 2nd Hokage smiles, 'Now, let's see how you'll stand up to this'.]
The second clone gathers water chakra on its hand. It is a tight layer, sticking to the surface of the clone's hand as if bound by an invisible adhesive. 'Super condense the water on my hand. And give him everything I've got'. Lashing out in an attack as strong as it can perform, the second clone slams the watery punch straight into Peterson's chest.
Tobirama smiles contentedly as Peterson stumbles backwards. 'I created this attack after watching Minato train with the rasengan. It's nowhere near as strong, but, it's still powerful enough to unbalance you'.
The second clone throws a kunai into the air, walking casually towards Peterson as it does so. Everyone realises it, the second clone is acting as a dummy. Instead, it is the first clone which teleports to the airborne kunai. Quickly weaving a series of signs, it spits a huge volume of water from its mouth. This forms into the water dragon.
The water dragon spirals once in the air before flying downwards at full speed, slamming into Peterson.
As the water dragon hits, Peterson falls onto his back.
The Invader's Hill
Sisto gasps, "Peterson he…".
The Hidden Leaf Hill
"He's down" Boruto shouts as he pumps a fist into the air.
The whole hidden leaf hill cheers with joy, contrary to many of their expectations, Tobirama has downed Peterson.
In the Valley
1…2…3…4…
Peterson gets back to his feet. Grinding his teeth, he looks upon Tobirama, noticing that his opponent is not in the least out of breath. This is not how he had expected the fight to start, up until now the Colonels have dominated the 'locals', yet he, touted by many as the strongest amongst their group, was losing.
"I confess, you are not the same person as before. You hit a lot harder but that's not all" Peterson begins, "It feels you finally have the resolve you were missing".
'He is not going to go down just like that' the 2nd Hokage makes a mental recording.
Just like that, Peterson activates his cloak power. The power that his teammates refer to as the elemental cloak.
As lightning flickers of Peterson's body, he smiles lightly, his eyes fixed on Tobirama's.
'This killing intent', for just a moment, the man who has fought against the Uchiha clan becomes stunned. He is stunned by a killing intent so strong, he has never felt anything like it before.
Copying a move which he used against Hashirama, Peterson pushes electricity into the floor through his legs, paralysing the two clones which are now positioned to either side of him.
ZOOM!
ZIP!
In the blink of an eye, Peterson dashes to the first clone, punching him the stomach. The single, electric powered punch, pierces right through the abdomen of the clone, splitting it in half fatally. Before anyone can react, he turns around and does the same thing to the other clone. In but a moment, both of Tobirama's clones have gone.
The 2nd Hokage reaches into his pouch, preparing a kunai for whatever comes next.
There is little hope though, against this power, Tobirama is out of his league.
The Hidden Leaf Hill
"It's this power" Naruto shakes his head lightly, "This power that nobody has been able to fight against".
"That cloak" Kakashi begins, "It amplifies their abilities just like a chakra cloak. If you compare this to the Raikage's lightning chakra cloak though, it's much stronger, the Raikage cannot even compare to this man".
In the Valley
Tobirama only thinks one thing to himself as he crosses his fingers, creating two more clones, 'I at least have to try'.
As the first clone throws a kunai towards Peterson, it waits for the opportune moment before teleporting to the mark on the weapon. No sooner than it arrives, it endures a punch in its gut.
'Fast' is the clone's sole thought.
As Peterson pushes his fist through the gut of the clone, it is launched from the end of his hand. It is not launched aimlessly or carelessly though, its destination is very much fixed, very much deliberate. It is flying straight towards Tobirama's original body.
'Not good!'.
As the two Tobirama's collide a huge puff of smoke engulfs them.
Thankfully, at the last moment, Tobirama was able to swap his position with his second clone. 'His speed. It's so fast, faster than I could swap the clone's positions. His movement speed is faster than my reaction speed'.
The Hidden Leaf Hill
"This isn't good" Naruto makes a simple analysis.
Hinata agrees with her children's father, holding her hands close to her chest as her eyes contain a solemn look. "How can he possibly win when fighting someone so fast".
"Sisto wasn't that fast when I fought him" Mirai notes, "This guy is something else".
Kakashi, having heard Tobirama's concerns the other night, is greatly concerned by the direction this fight has taken. 'I don't know what you are going to do but you have to win here Tobirama. You have to do something!'.
Tsunade is in the same boat, 'Uncle, didn't you say you would show my grandfather your spirit. You can't lose like this… you can't lose here'.
In the Valley
Peterson has a smug smile on his face as he looks at the nearly exhausted Senju Tobirama. "I get it" he declares, "You swapped your position with your clone at the last second. That's why the two of them disappeared in a puff of smoke".
'It was a last-ditch effort to stay in this' Tobirama mentally commentates on his own actions, 'But, I have to win'.
"But, what will you do now" the Colonel taunts, "I'll tell you what you should do. Quit. Quit before you get seriously hurt. In this form, you cannot defeat me".
Hearing this, Tobirama's eyes widen for a moment before he relaxes himself. The fighting pose he was in just a second ago is dropped, he stands in the most comfortable position he can and takes a deep breath. "My sister-in-law, my great-niece, my brother, Kakashi and the entire hidden leaf village. For the people, I care about, I can't afford to lose here".
Tobirama puts his other leg back, moving his arms into a new, wider position. A fighting pose that he has never before adopted.
"Oh…".
'This time is now Tobirama… let's do this'.
The moment he tells himself this, his chakra begins to rocket.
The Hidden Leaf Hill
While everyone else is simply surprised by Tobirama's sudden increase in chakra, two people show much more visible reactions. Two people's reactions are far more telling. Naruto and Kushina.
"Naruto" Kurama suddenly speaks from within the young shinobi, "Let me take over for a moment".
The blonde Hokage nods as he allows the control of his body to switch from him to the nine-tails.
"Kushina" a deep voice calls. This voice comes from the mouth of Uzumaki Naruto but it is clearly not him. It's a voice that distresses Uzumaki Kushina greatly.
"Is that you nine-tails" Kushina frowns.
"This is no time for old grudges" Kurama frowns. Never had he expected that he would meet his former host again, he had not had a chance to reconcile with her but now is not the time for that. "Am I still sealed within you".
The red-haired shinobi understands the reason for the question. She simply nods.
"Then that settles it" Kurama declares as he swaps control of Naruto's body back to its owner.
"Mum" Naruto begins, "What was Kurama talking about".
"It's Mito". Kushina looks wide-eyed towards Tobirama, her complex emotions written on her face, "She had the nine-tails sealed with her as well. When she died… she must have…".
In the Valley
As Tobirama's chakra continues to increase further and further, a visual change starts to appear on his body. No, a visual change starts to appear on his being. His skin, his eyes, his hair, even his clothes, they all begin to change colour, encompassed in a brilliant light.
This brilliant light is the source of his chakra.
This light, is orange.
The Hidden Leaf Hill
"She must have passed it on to Tobirama…".
'Grandmother' Tsunade says in her head as she watches on.
In the Valley
"BROTHER!" Tobirama screams at the top of his lungs. Not deterred by the frowning response of his blood-sibling he continues, "I said it didn't I. If you won't grant that dying wish of hers then…".
"THEN I'LL FORCE IT ON TO YOU!".
As he shouts this the final stages of his transformation complete. He is coated completely by the nine-tails chakra.
The Day of Mito's Death
Tobirama spends but a moment to look to his left and right. He is not too startled despite the amazing thing which he is seeing for the first time. The sound of trickling water, the beautiful ambiance of the lighting and the sheer terror, the sheer terror of the beast in front of him.
This is Tobirama's inner world.
This is the new home of Mito's nine-tails.
"You dare to seal me in here, 2nd" Kurama curses his new host.
"I have heard about your future" Tobirama explains, seemingly unbothered by what Kurama has to say. "I am sure you were listening to it as well, right, Kurama?".
"Don't call me by name!".
"I have people I want to protect" the 2nd Hokage informs the tailed beast, "I want to protect this world but I can't do it alone. I don't think we will ever become friends but I have to ask you…".
"Don't you want to protect it too".
The Current Day, In the Valley
Peterson throws his hand out to the side of his body, gnashing his teeth in pure anger. "Do you really think that will be enough to defeat me?".
"I don't know but I'm going to give it my all. I will never give in. I will never give up. For that… that is the Hokage's ninja way". Tobirama pays tribute to Naruto with this declaration. If the ninja history that has been detailed to him is true, then this is what he truly believes. Fighting through so much with so little talent of his own, Naruto had gone from rags to riches. Naruto is the only Hokage who could have surpassed the 1st.
"Let's do this Kurama".
"Don't you dare mess up, 2nd".
As combat begins once again. At the exact same moment, Tobirama and Peterson begin to dash towards one another. Even with the use of Kurama's chakra, Tobirama's raw speed cannot compare to Peterson who is so accomplished with the element of lightning. 'If your speed is greater than mine, I will take my momentum from elsewhere' he decides as he throws a kunai towards Peterson.
As Tobirama teleports to the kunai, he does it in such a way as to preserve his momentum. His speed may be inferior to Peterson's but his new reaction time, combined with the flying thunder god jutsu, is more than enough to put him leagues ahead in attacking ability.
SLAM!
The white-haired shinobi kicks the Colonel in the chest, pushing him back a short distance.
As Peterson is pushed backwards, he vomits blood from his mouth. A terrible thought comes into his head. 'Could I really lose to the locals twice'.
POOF!
Once more, Tobirama creates a clone. This time it is a solitary copy of himself. 'I can only make one clone using this form but that will be more than enough'.
"When Naruto used the tailed beast bomb, it wasn't enough to bring this guy down" the original smiles.
"So, we'll just have to add our own twist to it" the clone decides, "right?".
The original Tobirama dashes towards Peterson. His speed even greater than before as the onlookers notice the roaring sound from each step he takes. This is Senju Tobirama, a new more powerful Senju Tobirama. This is a Senju Tobirama forged by the will of fire. This power is a product of so many people, of Hashirama and Mito, of Tsunade and Dan, of Naruto and Kakashi.
'He's fast but not as fast as me' Peterson tells himself as he throws a punch towards the incoming Hokage.
That punch misses.
'What' the Colonel raises his head to look into the air, 'He swapped place with his clone'.
Peterson would regret this moment, where he focuses on how his opponent can do what he can do. He would regret this moment, where his thought deviated from simply winning the fight.
The clone bends its knees as far as it can, preparing to use them like springs. From its back a hand is formed, a giant orange hand made from the chakra of the nine-tailed beast. As this hand grabs hold of Peterson, finally, the clone extends its legs, launching itself and Peterson down the sloping valley.
"What do you intend to do?" Peterson asks, not out of fear but out of an unknowing. This is the first time he has ever fought a local who could outthink him like this. He then gasps as he spots a glint of metal sailing over his head. He quickly determines this metal object can only be one thing, it would be too convenient if it were anything else.
It is one of the marked kunai.
The kunai sails past Peterson before Tobirama's original body appears, taking a firm hold of the handle with his left hand. His left hand isn't the worry though, the heavily scarred Colonel is more concerned with the contents of Tobirama's other hand. A black ball of near-pure energy.
It is a tailed beast bomb.
'This attack may not be enough to put you down by itself' Tobirama shouts in his mind, 'But when you are being pushed back like that. It can put you down'.
'I CAN WIN!'.
In a single enormous explosive moment, the younger Senju brother smashes the tailed beast bomb into the back of Peterson's rapidly moving body. The flames of the tailed beast bomb knock the original body backwards, destroying the clone altogether. This would not put Tobirama down though as he lands on his feet. The question is, what happens to Peterson.
The Colonel in question is sent flying back up the valley he was just pushed down. Creating a small crater where he lands.
The Hidden Leaf Hill
"He's down" Naruto smiles as he steps forward with two outstretched fists. He feels like a kid watching a sports match, the adrenaline flowing through him almost making him forget what is on the line.
An emotional smile is written on the face of Tsunade. If her grandfather were to take the wrong path it may kill her inside, perhaps there is only one person who could stop him from doing that. That person may well be Senju Tobirama, and that aforementioned Senju has just done something truly incredible.
Dan smiles himself, not looking towards the fight but instead looking towards Tsunade. He, more than anyone understands how difficult, how emotional this has been for the 5th Hokage. She has lost her grandmother and may be losing her grandfather. All of this has happened at a time where Naruto's operation has put her under a greater stress than any medic in history. Only one person could stop her from being engulfed by the pain. And that person is doing pretty well.
'This is' Kakashi looks on in astonishment, 'This is Tobirama's spirit'.
In the Valley
Tobirama looks at the downed Peterson, almost completely out of breath. He's amused by how close he is to dropping to his own knees, that tailed beast bomb had taken nearly everything he had. All that mattered now is that he is on his feet, and that Peterson isn't. It's still not a victory though.
There is still the count.
1…2…3…4…5…6…7…8…9...
The Hidden Leaf Hill
An enormous cheer erupts from the hill as the 5th Hokage counts it. "THAT'S TEN SECONDS".
It is only a single victory in a best of seven contest but it is a victory none the less.
This single victory seems to be the greatest source of joy the hidden leaf has experienced in years. The likes of Naruto and Hinata are of course overjoyed but the reaction of the others is something else. Nearly all of them are in tears, emotional wrecks as they depend upon one another to prevent themselves from collapsing.
After so many years of losing to the invaders.
This is their first victory.
Amongst the emotional is Uchiha Sarada. Sasuke's daughter falls to her knees upon the final result.
"Sarada…" Boruto starts.
"Are you watching. Dad. Mum" she asks as her whole-body trembles. "It's our win. They can be beaten, Colonels can be beaten".
In the Valley
Tobirama takes a moment to embrace the feeling. It's not just the fact that he has won, it is the fact that he has done it and proven his brother's former philosophy. This is not just a victory for Tobirama but a victory for Mito as well and a victory for the Hashirama of yesterday.
"It's not the way they died that motivates us" Tobirama whispers, "It's the life they lived".
Finally, they have their first victory.
The score is 2-1.