Senshiyu ichizoku no botsuraku
-千手一族の没落-
(The Fall of the Senju Clan)
Part 10 : The death of the Hero
Ginma suddenly slammed Tobirama to the ground. Tobirama was unable to react, too unstable due to his emotions.
— I've got you, Tobirama Senju!» he sneered «Now it's my turn for revenge!»
— Bastard!!» Tobirama growled.
Meanwhile, Madara rushed toward Hashirama, more determined than ever to face his old rival. A broad smile spread across his face. A smile symbolizing a desire for satisfaction that had long been absent.
Then Tobirama performed a mudra with his right hand. Instantly, he vanished. Ginma collapsed to the ground, holding nothing but emptiness.
— The coward! He ran away!» he rejoiced.
Instantly, Tobirama reappeared further away, landing behind Hashirama with his hand against his back.
— Tobirama!» Hashirama exclaimed in surprise, turning his gaze toward his brother.
Tobirama had managed to teleport himself thanks to a mark he had placed on his brother's back, allowing him to find him at any time in case of emergency.
— Listen... We don't have much time. It's urgent. Madara... is back.» Tobirama announced abruptly.
— Huh?! But... what are you talking about?» Hashirama asked, confused.
— He wants to kill you. They all want you dead. With your illness, you're no match for them. We have to flee, quickly.» Tobirama exclaimed.
— What...»
— We don't have time.» Tobirama cut him off.
If he chose to, Tobirama could teleport one more person with him using Hiraishin. All he had to do was teleport with Hashirama outside the village. No matter where they went, nothing was more dangerous than Madara Uchiha, even in his weakened state.
— No, I refuse.» Hashirama objected «It is my duty, I must save my people. No matter what...»
— Do you even realise that if you don't escape and you die, you'll never be able to save anyone again?! This village needs you, Hashirama. You can't just abandon them like this. Let me handle the situation, please. Do you trust me, yes or no?»
— Yeah, that's right… And every time the village needs protecting, you'll tell me: 'No, run away, you might die.' So, in the end, who exactly am I protecting? No one. I'm just a figurehead. The 'hero of Konoha', who stands up to the great powers. Yeah, so what?! In reality, I'm just a sick old man who'll be dead in a few years. I'm no longer the God of the Ninja world. Get that properly into your head!»
Hashirama's face was contorted with rage. He was fed up with his brother lecturing him. In reality, it was his brother who was in charge of everything. It was his brother who was the Hokage. Hashirama was useless; even Tobirama knew that. He couldn't argue with his brother's words, so he just stood there, speechless.
— You know... I've always thought... that on the day I die, you would take my place. It was obvious, at least to the villagers. Lately, I've been as good as dead, and it's been you who's been ruling from the shadows. You are the Hokage, Tobirama; you're the one holding the reins. The village needs you more than it needs me. They'll get over it if I die. And with you, I know the villagers will be free and perfectly safe. Even without me, Konoha will always be the most powerful Shinobi village. The only real threat... is Madara. So, I beg you, let me stop him. One last time. We must put an end to this cycle of vengeance.»
— So, have you made up your mind...? Do you want... to die? For... good...?» asked Tobirama, visibly shaken.
— Yes. It'll be better this way. I know it'll be tough, but it's the right thing to do. Protect the village, take out as many opponents as you can. I'll deal with Madara and stop him once and for all...»
Tobirama lowered his head. His gaze was vacant, staring desperately at the floor. He knew his brother was right, for once. He refused to admit it, out of pride, as always. But today, they were talking about his older brother's final moments. It wasn't a matter of ideological differences.
Tobirama then realised, for the first time in his life, just how much he loved his brother. He didn't want him to leave. All this time, he had done everything he could to prevent this from happening. But here they were. It was… the end.
Tobirama finally raised his head slowly. His eyes fixed on Hashirama. Hashirama looked back at him, puzzled. Tobirama then opened his mouth. It was an immense struggle.
— If ever... you don't come back from this battle... I'd like you to know... I'd like... you to know...» Tobirama faltered «I want you to know how much I love you. How much we all love you. »
Hashirama's eyes widened in surprise. A faint smile then played on his lips.
— Even in death, I will always watch over you.» he declared.
Their eyes locked for a moment, then Hashirama looked away. Tobirama sensed an enormous, dense mass of chakra. Hashirama had just activated his Hermit Mode. He leapt into the air and vanished, for good.
A single tear rolled down Tobirama's cheek. He gazed up at the sky one last time, then took flight himself. He paused for a moment, then said :
— You'd better not die on me, you idiot!»
*****
A shadow slipped in front of Hashirama. He widened his eyes, then frowned. A swarm of kunai hurtled towards him. He leapt to dodge them and landed on the ground.
— Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!» Madara sneered «So you've finally... come to me... Hashiramaaa!!!»
Hashirama stared at him for a moment. Then he frowned even more.
— I'm sorry... Madara... Once again, I'm going to have to kill you. For everything you've caused, and the danger you continue to pose. It's over. For good.»
— You seem pretty confident... Hashirama... Oh, no... On the contrary... It's far from over... It's... only the beginning.»
— Why are you doing all this? These people don't deserve to die!»
— I have a goal. A goal I must achieve. I have no choice. Don't think I'm doing this for the fun of it. The problem is that as long as people like you and your brother exist, my goal cannot be realised. You lot stick your noses in my business far too much. Most of the Senju as well. Always with your bloody 'ideal of justice'! I want to save the world, using a new method. But you'll never accept it. I have no choice. I must eliminate you all, all my dangerous opponents. »
— Well... You've really gone off the deep end...»
— No... Quite the opposite. I think I've finally found... the light. I know what I'm doing. If you trust me, let me get on with it and give yourself up. »
— You lost my trust the moment you started slaughtering people for the sake of your ideals. »
— Huh... Huh... Is it true that you've never done it yourself – slaughtered innocent people?! How many have you killed, anyway?! You don't even know... In wartime, the enemy is just a pile of flesh.»
— I had no choice. But today... I've found a way to avoid war.»
— We always have a choice. I too could say that today, I have no choice. Lies! And no, war hasn't disappeared today. Other smaller countries are still fighting. And war is still raging. As soon as you're weakened, the other big villages will come and slaughter you. That's how it works. The strongest devours the smallest. It's been that way since the dawn of time. But I... I've found an alternative... I know how... to put a stop to all violence. »
— It's impossible to put a permanent stop to violence. Unless you completely destroy people's freedoms. Is that what you want, is it?! Nothing is perfect; we're not gods. There will always be violence, as long as we exist. But we can minimise it as much as possible, as I do.»
— So is the freedom of some people more important than the survival of others?»
— That's not quite what I just said...»
— Pfff... Pathetic... You really are far too naive, Hashirama. That's why you're such a problem. So much power, so much strength, in such a reckless being... That's why I have to stop you. »
— You're living in a perpetual delusion, Madara. You're completely mistaken. I could say the same thing to you… I'm going to stop you, whatever it takes, even if it means killing you for good. Even if I have to make you suffer… I have no choice. It's the best solution… For the future. »
The two men then leapt onto separate trees. They stood facing each other, their eyes locked in a fierce stare. The tension was at its peak. One would die, the other survive. Whichever the winner, there would be a hero... and a loser.
Silence reigned. Then, suddenly, they lunged at each other. Madara drew his sword from his back and swung it at Hashirama, who countered with his Mokuton to block the attack.
Madara struck again, several times, but Hashirama dodged once more. Then he went on the offensive, summoning a barrage of blades towards Madara. Madara dodged them easily thanks to his Sharingan, which remained active. But Hashirama caught one and lunged at Madara with it, knocking him off balance. Madara then fell.
Amidst the clanging of blades, splashes of blood and angry shouts, the fight was phenomenal. The blows came thick and fast, too quickly for the naked eye to follow. But Hashirama was clearly gaining the upper hand.
In their last encounter, Madara had two eyes and could control Kurama. Now, he had only one eye left and no Bijuu powers. There was no longer any rivalry. Hashirama was by far the most powerful.
However, Hashirama's illness prevented him from using too much chakra. Fortunately, his Hermit Mode gave him enough strength to deal with Madara; otherwise, he would have been powerless to act. If he used too much chakra, his illness would take hold again and he would risk being paralysed, becoming even weaker, or worse still: dying.
In a final attack, Hashirama knocked Madara to the ground. He grabbed him by the throat and pinned him down.
— It's over... Madara. You've lost. You're no match for him anymore.»
Madara gasped for air; he couldn't breathe and was struggling to catch his breath. He then managed to say:
— No... Ha... Hashiramaaa... It's n... Not over... We've only just begun.»
Suddenly, a colossal wave of chakra surged from Madara's body. A blue aura enveloped him, and a hand of chakra gripped Hashirama tightly. Hashirama swallowed hard.
— You're… far too naive… Hashirama… You'd have been better off killing me right then and there. You've just… signed your own death warrant. »
The blue chakra wave hurled Hashirama into the air. He crashed into a building, which collapsed under his weight. The splinters of wood tore at Hashirama's skin and the dust made him cough.
Hashirama struggled to his feet. But this time, he could feel it. He could feel that things were no longer right. He had been fighting for too long. His illness was about to strike at any moment.
— Throughout our entire battle... I've been doing nothing but stalling for time... Now, I'm going to give it my all. Whereas you... You'll be weakened by illness.» Madara sneered.
— W... How do you know?!» exclaimed Hashirama, taken aback.
Madara smiled and chuckled.
— I know... a great many things. Things... that you don't even suspect exist. You are ignorant, Hashirama; you do not understand all the stakes and dangers of our world. I, on the other hand, do. I am the one with access to the greatest knowledge... in this world.»
— You're deluding yourself, Madara… The moment you condemn human beings, you cannot be in the right. Knowledge is not synonymous with power. It is the heart, the love we hold for our people, that gives us legitimacy.»
— Man is not good enough to be free to make that choice.»
The blue aura surrounding Madara suddenly grew. Susanoo had finally appeared... in its perfect form.
— It's over... Hashirama. Whoever is right will be the winner.»
— That's not how it works. And besides… Even in death… My will shall not be extinguished. The flame of the Hokage's will shall burn on from generation to generation. You shall not prevail… Ever.»
Hashirama charged at Madara. Madara charged back.
— Hashiramaaa!!!» Madara shouted.
— Madaraaa!!!» Hashirama shouted back.
BRAOOOM!!!
A massive explosion erupted, the result of their respective forces colliding. Houses were destroyed, and fields reduced to ashes.
That was the end. That was... The final exchange. The final battle.
Thick smoke began to gather all around the area where the fight was taking place. Two shadows then appeared in the mist. One was on the ground, the other standing.
Madara lay there on the ground, a wooden stake driven into his abdomen. Blood was gushing from his stomach and spurting from his mouth. Standing before him, the stake clenched firmly in his hand: Hashirama Senju. The First Hokage. The hero and god of the ninja world.
— You were right... It's over.» said Hashirama.
Madara could no longer speak, so much blood had pooled in his mouth. He knew it: he was going to die again. It was over, indeed.
— He finally managed, with some difficulty, to utter a few words:
— Farewell, Hashirama. You have not yet reached... the other shore.»
Then his eyes rolled back and went blank. His body stopped trembling, then simply ceased to move. Madara was finally dead.
— Indeed... I suppose... You were right...» Hashirama murmured with difficulty.
So, after one last sigh, he too collapsed. The illness had finally got the better of him. The God of the ninja world... WAS DEAD.
*****
Hashirama's chakra had just faded away. Tobirama had sensed it. He let out one last sob, then returned to the fight, determined to save the village and stop the enemy. His brother must not have died in vain. He would carry on the legacy. He would do everything in his power to protect this village that they both cherished so dearly.
📖To be Continued...📖