In a certain laboratory, Senju Hashirama held his head with both hands, looking very frustrated.
Behind him, Senju Tobirama cast a disdainful glance at him.
"Big Brother, do you even hear yourself? Would Father really be that kind of person?"
Tobirama's intention was to make Hashirama realize that what he had just said was wrong. How could their father, the leader of the Senju clan, possibly be that kind of person?
However, Hashirama's thought process was different from Tobirama's.
He was thinking about their father, Butsuma. During the dangerous Warring States period, Butsuma had four sons, so it was clear how much their father valued his children.
If their father really had a child born out of wedlock, Hashirama wouldn't find it surprising.
"Why did Father have to go and flirt with Madara's mother? How am I supposed to face Madara in the Pure Land after this?"
Hashirama's lament made Tobirama speechless.
"Tobirama, tell me, what are their names? Why did you put them in glass jars? Are they injured and healing?"
Before Tobirama could answer, Hashirama continued, "Wait, let me guess. Hmm, I'm the eldest, Hashirama; you're the second, Tobirama; the third is Kawarama, and the fourth is Itama. I guess one of them has to be called Kiwama."
If Butsuma really had a fifth son, it wouldn't be too far-fetched for him to be named Kiwama.
Looking at the naming pattern for their four brothers—columns, doors, tiles, floors—adding a "wall" would make perfect sense.
Unfortunately, Hashirama had guessed wrong from the start. These two were not his real brothers.
"Enough, Big Brother, these two are not Father's illegitimate children. They're your clones."
"Clones? What does that mean?"
"A clone is..."
With Tobirama's explanation, Hashirama finally understood what clones were. He also understood that these two clones were meant to revive him.
"Wait, Tobirama. According to what you said, these clones were made from my cells, but why...?"
Hashirama pointed to the clone with the face of Uchiha Madara on its right chest and asked, "Why does his right chest have Madara's face?"
Tobirama sighed. "Big Brother, you know how powerful your cells are. In order to create your clone, I tried combining your cells with many others, but every time, the cells would be devoured by yours and eventually turn into wood. Only Madara's cells didn't get eaten by yours."
"Haha, is that so? Madara truly is my dear friend, even the compatibility of our cells is perfect."
Tobirama's lips twitched, wanting to make a sarcastic comment.
But in the end, he didn't say anything. He simply urged his older brother to quickly choose one of the clones to revive.
It seemed that Hashirama didn't want to be revived.
He looked at Tobirama with a serious expression and said, "Brother, I understand your desire to bring me back, and I appreciate everything you've done for me. But, I've already passed away. I should be in the Pure Land, not here in the living world. If you keep crossing the boundary between life and death, I'm afraid something bad will happen to you sooner or later."
To Hashirama, Tobirama's actions now seemed like he was trying to take the role of the God of Death.
After all, the God of Death really existed in the ninja world.
The sealing technique, Reaper Death Seal, summons the ugly spirit known as the God of Death.
The Reanimation Jutsu (Reanimation) Jutsu, though not truly a revival, was one thing, but if Tobirama really managed to bring the dead back to life, Hashirama feared his brother would attract unwanted attention from beings beyond their control.
If that happened, he'd end up with trouble, like hair growing all over his body, and a bad omen in his later years.
"Don't worry, big brother, I won't revive people on a large scale. You're worrying for no reason," Tobirama reassured him.
Tobirama didn't know that, forty years from now, while resurrection techniques were still rare in the ninja world, they weren't entirely nonexistent.
The Rinnegan's Rebirth technique, or Chiyo's One's Own Life Reincarnation technique from Sunagakure, could be used to bring the dead back.
Besides, while the God of Death was a god, death itself wasn't his domain.
The true ruler of the Pure Land now was someone named Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo, the Sage of the Six Paths.
As long as it wasn't his mother, Ōtsutsuki Kaguya being revived, Tobirama could probably revive as many people as he wanted without attracting any interference.
In the original story, after Nagato destroyed Konoha and killed so many, he used the Rinne Tensei (Rebirth of the Samsara) technique to revive those he had killed.
Despite the countless lives restored, the Sage of the Six Paths never showed up. There was no reason for Tobirama to revive a few people and suddenly attract interference.
"No, I still don't agree with this resurrection," Hashirama insisted.
"Big brother, listen to me. I'll be fine, really."
"No, just because you're fine now doesn't mean you'll always be."
"Big Brother, you're being unreasonable! Last time, when you came out from the Reanimation Jutsu, you promised me!"
"Promised you? What did I promise you?"
"I said I wanted to discuss something with you, but you told me to decide on my own. So, what, now you're denying it?"
Hashirama thought for a moment and realized that he did indeed say that. For a moment, he was at a loss for words, not knowing how to respond.
Seeing this, Tobirama decided to pull out the big card. "Big Brother, actually, Uchiha Madara is still alive?"
"What? Madara is still alive?"
Hearing this, Hashirama was shocked.
Back then, he had shamelessly stabbed Madara in the back, killing his closest friend.
Now, you're telling me Madara isn't dead?
So what was that backstab about?
Did I backstab for nothing?!
"Yes, I've been to Madara's grave. The coffin inside is empty."
"The coffin is empty, but that doesn't mean Madara is alive. What if it's grave robbers?"
The more he spoke, the quieter Hashirama's voice became.
Maybe he thought it sounded a bit too far-fetched.
However, as the older brother, Hashirama cleared his throat and once again looked at Tobirama seriously, asking,
"Are you sure Madara is still alive?"
"Yes."
"Then fine, I'll let you bring me back to life."
Tobirama was silent for a while, took a few deep breaths, then replied, "Alright, Big Brother. Leave it to me."
To restore Big Brother Hashirama to his peak power, Tobirama strongly recommended that Hashirama use the stronger clone body.
Hashirama didn't object.
In the ninja world, most ninjas will stop at nothing to get stronger.
As long as it makes them stronger, they'd be willing to sacrifice their humanity.
A mere "tattoo" of Uchiha Madara's face, what is that worth?
Hashirama even felt a bit regretful. Why wasn't this "tattoo" on his left chest?
It should be over your heart!
Now that's the kind of treatment a true friend deserves!
"Big brother, relax, you must not resist in the slightest."
"Alright, go ahead."
With his big brother's approval, Tobirama began the process.
After performing the same procedure as when he resurrected Lin, the first Hokage of Konoha, the God of Shinobi, and Tobirama's big brother—Senju Hashirama—was officially revived!
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