"Tobirama, are you okay?" Hashirama asked as he used his Medical Ninjutsu to heal his injured brother. The powerful Yang-style Chakra coursing through the healing jutsu left Tobirama in no doubt—this was indeed his elder brother, the living "God of Shinobi," Senju Hashirama.
"Brother, it's really you!" Tobirama exclaimed, his long-suppressed emotions finally breaking free. He had never fully appreciated Hashirama's presence when he was alive, often taking for granted the sense of security it brought. Back then, even the other five Kage dared to challenge him openly. Much of the village's administrative duties fell to Tobirama, as Hashirama rarely involved himself in governance. To the outside world, Tobirama appeared tougher, colder, and more authoritarian than his brother, but in truth, it was Hashirama's shadow that allowed him to adopt such a stance.
When Hashirama passed away, Tobirama inherited the role of Second Hokage, and the responsibilities and pressures—both within and outside the village—overwhelmed him. Only then did he realize his own limitations and began to act even more decisively to cope with the rising challenges. During his tenure, Tobirama made significant contributions to Konoha by establishing many of its foundational institutions, such as the Konoha Police Force, ANBU, and the Ninja Academy, which would later become models for other shinobi villages. These measures were aimed at addressing the internal and external instability caused by Hashirama's absence.
Despite his efforts, they could not prevent the outbreak of the First Shinobi World War. The other hidden villages, especially Kumogakure, tested Konoha's strength after losing Hashirama, questioning whether the village could still hold its prime position. The conflict resulted in many casualties, including the deaths of the Second Raikage and Kumogakure's Gold and Silver Brothers, but in the current moment, due to Hashirama's intervention, Tobirama's fate was changed, as he would no longer perish at the hands of the Gold and Silver Brothers.
As Tobirama slowly recovered, he questioned the situation, "Brother, how are you alive? I sealed your body myself and sent it to the Shikkotsu Forest for preservation. Is this some kind of forbidden jutsu like my own Reanimation Jutsu?" He was perplexed by Hashirama's youthful appearance and powerful life force.
"The situation is complicated," Hashirama admitted. "I'm not the brother you knew who died. I came here from the past, but I am still your brother."
Tobirama's confusion only deepened. Just then, the deranged Gold Brother, who had been consumed by rage, attempted to attack Hashirama. Without hesitation, Hashirama clapped his hands and activated his Wood Style: Laughing Buddha Jutsu, summoning a giant wooden hand that emerged from the ground and effortlessly restrained the berserk shinobi. The wooden hand, possessing power even capable of withstanding a Complete Susanoo, rapidly suppressed the Gold Brother's tailed beast chakra, forcing it back into his body and breaking his transformation. In an instant, the wooden hand crushed the man, ending his life.
Witnessing this, Tobirama was reminded of his brother's ferocity. The title "God of Shinobi" was not just an accolade; it had been earned through battles that left countless corpses in their wake. Though Hashirama had a deep desire for peace, he never hesitated to annihilate his enemies. Tobirama had known for a long time that his brother's gentleness could quickly turn to mercilessness when necessary.
Hashirama then turned to comfort his brother, "Don't worry, Tobirama. He wanted to kill you, and his death was well-deserved." As Hashirama continued treating Tobirama's injuries, the younger brother noticed a stranger, Wakato, walking towards them. Tobirama asked who the newcomer was, and Hashirama introduced him as "Wakato," also known as "Youdao Sage." Wakato's casual demeanor and strange clothing caught Tobirama's attention, and though he had many questions, Hashirama's presence reassured him.
Hashirama proceeded to explain the situation with Wakato's approval. He revealed that he had traveled from the first year of Konoha's founding, not to be resurrected but to change the course of history and save Tobirama. Though skeptical, Tobirama could not deny the truth of his brother's story, considering his own near-death experience.
Wakato interrupted their reunion, reminding Hashirama that his time in this world was limited and urging him to discuss important matters quickly. Seizing the moment, Hashirama asked Tobirama about the events that led to the First Shinobi World War. As Tobirama recounted the history and confirmed that Hashirama's death was a catalyst for the conflict, Hashirama grew increasingly concerned.
"But even if I died, what about Madara? With him around, the other villages wouldn't dare start a war, would they?" Hashirama asked, his voice tense with urgency.
Tobirama hesitated before explaining, "Madara left the village two years after its founding. About a decade later, he captured the Nine-Tails and attacked Konoha. You fought him in the Valley of the End and... killed him."
The shock of hearing this left Hashirama speechless.