In the Senju clan mansion, Fumori Masaki observed Senju Mito, who was dressed solemnly. It was clear she had been preparing herself for this moment. She expressed her gratitude to Masaki and lamented the inability to bring her husband back. As Hashirama's wife, she understood the deep bond between the two men.
"The last I heard, Hashirama-sama hasn't woken up recently," Masaki remarked, his voice laced with concern.
"Yes, it won't be long now," Mito sighed softly, turning toward the room where Hashirama lay.
As she approached the room, she saw a red-haired woman hurriedly exiting. The woman, upon seeing Mito, whispered, "Mother," before quickly walking away.
This red-haired woman was Senju Misaki, Hashirama and Mito's eldest daughter, and Tsunade's mother. Her hair color was a clear sign of her strong Uzumaki lineage, but despite this, she never became a ninja due to the opposition during her time. Instead, she married the son of the Uzumaki daimyo as an adult.
While the Uzumaki Kingdom was predominantly made up of the Uzumaki clan, it wasn't solely comprised of them. Over time, the daimyo's family began to intermarry with non-Uzumaki women, and not all of their children inherited the Uzumaki bloodline. The son of the daimyo whom Misaki married, for instance, had the same blonde hair as his mother, indicating he hadn't fully inherited the Uzumaki lineage. Though his marriage to Misaki shouldn't have been permitted by traditional standards, the daimyo's son was insistent, and his mother supported him. Hashirama, never one to be overly concerned with bloodlines, agreed to the marriage, content as long as his daughter was happy.
As a result, Tsunade was born with blonde hair, and her future younger brother, Nawaki, had brown hair. Neither of them inherited the Uzumaki's distinctive red hair, nor did they possess the same level of Uzumaki abilities, though it couldn't be said they had none.
"Mother, Father just woke up, and he seems to be in good spirits," Misaki said, her face alight with joy.
Mito's expression, however, didn't reflect her daughter's happiness. Unlike the young Misaki, Mito had seen many people near death suddenly seem vibrant, only to pass away shortly after.
Masaki shared Mito's concern. Hashirama waking up didn't mean he had recovered. After such a long period of unconsciousness, his sudden burst of energy could only mean one thing—he was experiencing a brief surge of strength before the end.
The three of them entered the room to find Hashirama laughing heartily, lifting Tsunade high in the air. Tsunade's laughter echoed through the room, and sitting nearby was a black-haired girl, Senju Kana, who was also Hashirama's daughter. Unlike her sister, Kana primarily inherited Hashirama's Senju lineage but also possessed some of the Uzumaki's strength.
"Ah, Masaki, you're here!" Hashirama exclaimed, surprised to see Masaki. After a moment, his eyes brightened with hope. "Does this mean the war is over?"
Masaki hesitated before responding, "I'm afraid not, Hashirama-sama. The war continues, but we are making progress. The Land of Lightning has been pushed out of the country, and we've captured an important figure from Kumo. We're currently negotiating with the Land of Lightning."
Hashirama's enthusiasm waned, and he sighed, his excitement deflated by the news.
At that moment, Tsunade, who had been playing with her grandfather, ran over to Masaki. "Masaki, you're back! Grandpa was sleeping, and no one was playing with me. But now you're back, and Grandpa's awake too! We can all play together!"
Little Tsunade, too young to understand the gravity of the situation, didn't realize the severity of her grandfather's condition. She only knew that he had been sleeping and that Masaki had been away. Now that both were here, she was eager to play, unaware of the impending loss.
"Call him Uncle Masaki," Misaki gently corrected her daughter, picking her up.
Tsunade pouted in her mother's arms, but the First Hokage smiled warmly. "Tsuna, Grandpa will play with you later. But first, I need to talk for a little while, okay?"
Tsunade nodded, trusting her grandfather's words.
"Father, let me get some food for you," Misaki said, concerned. Hashirama had only been able to drink some water since waking up. She asked Kana to help her in the kitchen, and the two left to prepare a meal.
With only three people remaining in the room, Mito and Masaki sat on the floor, and Mito asked Hashirama how he was feeling. The First Hokage replied, "I feel pretty good, like I could go outside and move around."
Mito's eyes filled with concern. Although she knew there was little hope, she couldn't help but worry. Hashirama's apparent improvement was likely just an illusion—a brief rally before the end. He was still very weak, despite his words suggesting otherwise.
"Mito, I know I don't have much time left," Hashirama said, fully aware of his condition. "So, I want to know the truth about the war."
Mito was slightly taken aback. She had only shared positive news with Hashirama, hoping to keep his spirits up, but now that his mind was clear, he was able to see through her half-truths.
"Masaki, is what you told me earlier the full truth?" Hashirama asked, turning to him. He suspected that Mito had instructed Masaki to lie about the war. "The fact that you're here tells me the situation isn't great. Please, tell me everything. I don't want to die without knowing what's happening."
Mito sighed, realizing she couldn't hide the truth from him any longer. "Masaki didn't lie to you. Everything he said is true, but…"
"But it came at a great cost," Hashirama finished for her, understanding immediately.
Mito nodded. "Around 500 ninjas have died, most of them from the Senju clan. I was worried about how you'd react, so I didn't tell you."
Hashirama's face grew pale as he took a deep breath. "They all died heroically?"
"Yes," Mito confirmed. "According to Tobirama, they all fought bravely at the front lines."
Hashirama sighed deeply. As Hokage, he had failed to protect his clan. There had been dissenting voices within the family, but Hashirama's ideal of "everyone in the village being one family" was unshakable. The Senju clan, with two consecutive Hokages, had become a model for other families, and Hashirama often emphasized that they had to be the pioneers of Konoha. Whether driven by a belief in this ideal or a desire for greater power, the Senju ninjas had led the charge on the battlefield.
Neither Mito nor Masaki spoke. The glory that Hashirama had brought to the Senju clan had also placed immense pressure on them, inspiring young children and compelling older ninjas to defend their honor, even at great cost. The losses the Senju clan had suffered were, in part, due to this pressure.
"If the clan no longer wishes to bear this burden in the future, find a way to help them make their own choices," Hashirama said quietly. "I agree with whatever you decide. Just make sure they can choose based on their true feelings."
"I'll take care of it," Mito promised.
Hashirama nodded slightly, then turned to Masaki. "Masaki, tell me what's really happening on the battlefield."
Masaki glanced at Mito, who gave a slight nod. He then recounted the situation truthfully, sparing no detail. Hashirama listened carefully, then sighed. "The result isn't bad, at least. The Land of Earth hasn't turned against us, and your idea of a 'just war' is commendable. The name alone will help prevent the Land of Earth from siding with our enemies."
"But it's not enough," Masaki replied. "The countries that invaded us must pay a price, so they understand the true cost of starting a war. We need to find a way to make their citizens aware of this, so they might oppose the war themselves in the future."
Hashirama agreed with the first part but was surprised by the second. "It's an unconventional idea, but I think it's a good one. Is this your vision for peace?"
"It's still immature, and just one part of it," Masaki admitted. "I don't think it's enough on its own."
"Even so, your thoughts are more developed than mine were. Whether you succeed or not, you'll pave the way for future generations," Hashirama said with a warm smile. "I'm glad to see you've held onto what I taught you. Peace is the only path to prosperity."
"How could I forget? Peace is everything," Masaki agreed.
"I should help you as much as I can," Hashirama said, getting up and rummaging through a cupboard. He pulled out a collection of scrolls. "These are my experiences, compiled and recorded since I fell ill. Take them. Study them, and share them with others if they prove useful."
"It doesn't matter if you use these scrolls at the ninja school?" Fumori Masaki asked.
"It's perfectly fine, as long as the students can benefit from them," Hashirama replied with a reassuring smile.
"I understand. I'll make sure these scrolls are put to their best use," Fumori Masaki nodded, recognizing this as Hashirama's final gift, a legacy to be honored.
"Good," Hashirama chuckled warmly. Just then, Misaki and Kana entered with a steaming meal, and they all sat down to eat together. During the meal, Hashirama was as lively as ever, chatting with his family, exchanging words with Masaki, and playing with little Tsunade. Since his brother Tobirama couldn't be present, Hashirama wrote a letter for him, entrusting it to Masaki with strict instructions not to read its contents.
Over the next two days, Hashirama's last joyful moments were spent with his loved ones. After that, he never woke up again.