Part 11 : The Hokage's Flame of Will
— Your leader is dead! There's no point in fighting any more! Run away or we'll kill you!»
— Are you taking the mickey?! Do you really think we're going to believe you?! Nobody can defeat the legendary Madara Uchiha!»
— If you say so.»
Despite Madara's defeat, his henchmen continued to attack the village. Some remained in denial and could not bring themselves to believe their leader was dead; others were determined to carry out his will at any cost; and the rest simply revelled in the fighting and the bloodshed. At least, that was what Tobirama deduced from what he observed.
The battle was far from over. Madara was dead, certainly, but so was Hashirama. Now it was up to Tobirama, Konoha's greatest asset. He had to act as such and overcome the odds. However, it was better to let the enemy go, so that more villagers might survive; thus, the new Hokage favoured dialogue over violence.
— This is your last chance. Those who want to run away, go ahead. The rest of you, tough luck. I'll deal with it myself.» Tobirama warned one last time.
— Pah! Who cares! If we have to, we'll follow our leader to the grave!»
— If that is what you wish...»
Tobirama then teleported behind the man who had just spoken and plunged a kunai into his heart, killing him instantly.
— So that was your fate.» he said sarcastically «If anyone else wants to give it a go, feel free. But I'd advise you to run away instead; that's not how you'll get out of this.»
The opponents swallowed hard. Some of them were clearly starting to get scared. One of them then ran off, shouting:
— Aaah!!! I don't want to die!!!»
— Nice choice.» Tobirama praised him «Are there others who would cling to life?»
Some of them left, but there weren't that many. The enemy still outnumbered them by a wide margin. Never mind. Tobirama would just have to make do. He would defeat hundreds of them single-handedly if he had to. So, he threw himself into the fray.
*****
Hiruzen Sarutobi leapt from tree to tree, holding Tsunade tightly in his arms. He had decided to leave behind the lifeless bodies of Tsunade's family in order to prioritise the young girl's survival.
The battle was about to come to an end. Hiruzen could sense his enemies' chakra in the vicinity growing weaker. Victory was within reach!
Suddenly, he came to a sudden halt, a drop of water rolling down his face. His eyes wide, he had just sensed something. The chakra of his master, Hashirama, had faded. So too had the opponent with the powerful chakra he had sensed earlier in the same place.
— No! Master Hashirama wouldn't...?!» he gulped, completely taken aback.
He then felt Tsunade's small body stir. She had lifted her head. She stared at him intently, her eyes still brimming with tears.
— Grandpa? Has something happened to Grandpa...?» she stammered.
Hiruzen then turned to her. He realised he shouldn't have spoken out loud.
— No... It'll be alright... Your grandad's really strong, you know? He's not going to die...» he whispered, forcing a smile to comfort her.
Deep down, Hiruzen hoped that what he had said was true. Only… he didn't really believe it. He was one of the few people aware of the Hokage's illness, and so knew full well that it was entirely possible he might die.
But he mustn't let on. He couldn't let Tsunade suffer. She'd been through enough already... Losing her parents and siblings was horrible enough... What would happen if she found out about the death of her beloved grandfather?
— «Is that true...? Is... is he all right?» asked Tsunade.
Hiruzen gave him a broad smile.
— Of course! What do you think could possibly happen to him?»
Anything could happen to him. Hiruzen had sensed the power facing the Hokage. This was no ordinary opponent. Hashirama's adversary was at least on a par with his master, Tobirama.
Hiruzen finally arrived at his destination. He landed quietly on the ground and set Tsunade down.
— There are some elite ninjas over there. Join them; they'll protect you. As for me... I'll have to go. We might need me on the battlefield.»
— W... Why ?»
— Why? Well... I've got lives to save. People need me. You'll understand... when you're older. It's the flame of determination... inherited from my master, Tobirama, and from the First Hokage.»
Hiruzen then touched Tsunade's hand with his right hand, as a sign of affection, and smiled at her.
— Who knows? Maybe you'll end up inheriting it too? You're very brave... Tsunade... I'm sure you'll become a great ninja, just like your grandfather.»
Then Hiruzen stood up, gave him one last smile, and flew off for good to fulfil his duty.
Tsunade watched him walk away for a long time. The flame of will? What on earth was that? It seemed very important to her grandfather, her grandmother and her great-uncle... And clearly to this young man as well.
They were all... like rays of sunshine, lighting up the darkness of this world. Tsunade had always looked up to her grandfather, and was now in awe of this kind young man who had just saved her.
She wasn't quite sure what to make of this 'flame of will', but she couldn't help but admire it. Would she be capable of doing something like that herself, one day?
*****
All around the village, fighting raged. Blood spurted, bodies fell. The atmosphere was thick, terrifying, unbearable. That was it... The reality of war.
Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage, had founded the village of Konoha with the aim of putting an end to wars and finally uniting these hostile clans. It seems his dream was still far from being realised... As long as the desire for revenge remained, war could not be avoided.
This battle would undoubtedly end in victory for Konoha, to be sure, but at what cost? How many more lives would have to be sacrificed for the sake of peace?
The enemy was finally beginning to retreat. Some had already fled in fear of the threat, others were seriously wounded, and a large number had been killed. Victory was clear, yet some continued to fight on. They must have been subjected to such intense military indoctrination that they resisted, in perpetual denial of the possibility of victory.
*****
Mito had dealt with all her attackers. Now she was running from tree to tree as fast as she could. She had been so preoccupied that she hadn't been able to sense her husband, Hashirama's, movements. But now… She could sense him clearly… She could see exactly where he was.
Suddenly, she came to an abrupt halt in her stride. Her eyes widened in horror and fear. Hashirama's chakra… It had almost vanished in an instant. She had been feeling his chakra waning for some time now, likely due to the impact of the fighting on his illness… But now…
— No... Hashirama...»
Mito then fell, the bark of the tree she had been standing against scraping her skin as she plummeted to the ground. She slowly got back to her feet, trembling all over. She was bleeding from her right leg, her stomach, her arms and her forehead. Her doctor's uniform was torn in places all over because of the bark.
Tears began to stream from her half-closed eyes. She was trembling. Her pain was so great that she no longer even thought of healing herself. There she lay, wounded, in full view of everyone; she could be killed at any moment.
But the grief caused by the death of the person she loved so dearly was far greater than all that. So... She couldn't bring herself to get up...
Her senses were now heightened tenfold. She could sense multiple chakras all around her. Ninjas from Konoha, Tobirama, their friends... Some were fighting, some were dead. Then... she sensed them.
His beloved daughter, Shibai, his son-in-law, Mino, his grandchildren, Ozaya and Jidda... They were all...
DEAD.
The word echoed in her head like an explosion. She'd been too busy fighting… or focusing on Hashirama… She'd completely forgotten about… her family…
— No!!! That's not poss... possible!!! They can't...»
Her scream echoed through the village. Fear, horror, sadness, guilt, hatred... She poured all her darkest emotions into that cry.
That day would go down in history as one of the most dramatic battles ever fought. The near-total annihilation of the Senju clan... And the death of the greatest hero the ninja world had ever known.
A shadow then appeared behind Mito. A comforting hand drew her into an embrace.
— I'm sorry... I'm really sorry... I won't let... things like that happen again...»
— Don't worry, Tobirama... I don't think it could get any worse than this. As far as I'm concerned... it's already the end of the world.»
Mito then collapsed. It was over. She no longer wanted to live in this world of darkness.
What could the Hokage's flame really do in the face of all this? Was it nothing more than a pipe dream? Or was that light in the darkness truly the key to freedom and happiness, far from the war?
📖To be Continued...📖