Since the time of the Sage of Six Paths, the ancestor of all shinobi, ages had passed, and the blood of the Six Paths had been inherited by two great clans: the Senju and the Uchiha. The long-standing conflict between the two clans, which began with Indra and Ashura, the sons of the Six Paths, reached a temporary conclusion during the era of Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara. And so time passed...
The village of Konohagakure was beginning to feel the first chill of autumn. Some animals had already fallen into their winter slumber, and the trees were shedding their leaves in preparation for the season when new buds would eventually sprout.
The village was a unified organization of shinobi. Senju Hashirama, the founder of the Hidden Leaf Village and the leader who held the title of "Hokage," sat in his office looking not exactly gloomy, but somewhat lackluster as he began his daily paperwork. With his back turned to the window overlooking the village, his hunched posture lacked the commanding presence of the strongest man in the shinobi world. He glanced at his beloved bonsai tree and took a brief respite.
Then, a familiar sound reached his ears. From the footsteps and their rhythm, it was probably a small child. A ray of light illuminated Hashirama's face when he spotted the child, and he began to look restless with anticipation.
A moment later, a boy burst through the door, carrying a mahjong table on his shoulders. Recognizing the boy, Hashirama leaped to his feet with obvious joy, as if he had been waiting for this very moment. Seemingly oblivious to the fact that Hashirama was in the middle of work, the boy rushed over to him, handed him the mahjong table, and urged him to hurry.
The boy was Hashirama's first grandchild. Overjoyed at the birth of his long-awaited grandson, Hashirama had spoiled him rotten. It would not be an exaggeration to say that he was still spoiling him to this very day. He would interrupt his work—of course, Hashirama was the head of the organization and had enough sense to handle the bare minimum of his duties—but he was so fond of his grandson that he prioritized the boy above everything else.
"Grandpa, it's okay now!"
The thought of saying something like "You'll get in trouble if you shout like that" didn't even cross Hashirama's mind. He was simply moved by Tatami-ma's actions, which seemed to have been carried out with the utmost care to avoid being seen by others. Hashirama gently stroked Tatami-ma's head and lifted his slender body onto his shoulders. The weight of Tatami-ma felt substantial, and he felt a surge of joy thinking that his grandson might have grown a little heavier. He let the markings—the sign of the shinobi's special form known as "Sage Mode"—appear on his face and scanned their surroundings. Sage Mode enhanced the ability to detect the presence of others, so he planned to use it to ensure a safe escape.
Convinced that no one was around, Hashirama was about to leave the office when a familiar presence materialized behind him. He stopped dead in his tracks.
"Brother. It's fine to pamper Tatami-ma, but is your work finished?"
"Tobirama, that speed... Is it Flying Thunder God?"
"I received word from Danzo that Tatami-ma had entered the Hokage's residence. The speed of your escape after Tatami-ma came to your side is unacceptable."
"But spending all day from morning to night buried in paperwork is depressing. Sometimes I want to go out with my adorable grandson..."
"Shut up!"
There were times when Hashirama's gentle nature turned him into an overly indulgent pushover. For example, during the first meeting with another village, he had tried to give away the Tailed Beasts—massive chunks of chakra that could become weapons of mass destruction—for free. At such times, his responsible younger brother Tobirama would scold him harshly. However, Tobirama was unaware of his older brother's inner struggles. Seeing his grandfather's dejected expression, Tatami-ma felt a surge of righteous anger—a natural reaction for someone who adored his grandfather.
Using his grandfather's shoulder as a foothold, Tatami-ma leaped upward, aiming for Tobirama, the man who had made his grandfather sad. His swift leap resembled that of a cat. However, for Tobirama, who had survived countless battlefields and earned the nickname "Fastest in the Shinobi World," the attack was as slow as a turtle's pace. He quickly stepped aside to avoid Tatami-ma's assault and grabbed the sleeve of the boy's robe as he passed by.
Held suspended in midair, Tatami-ma growled threateningly, but he was thoroughly intimidated by Tobirama's sharp gaze, which was even more intense than usual. Still, Tatami-ma protested for his grandfather's sake, but Tobirama only sighed wearily.
"It's not just your brother. You too, Tatami-ma. Your brother is busy. Don't be so selfish. Besides, you lack proper respect for me. Therefore, today I will spend some quality time with you."
"What? Tobi-sama!"
Tobirama's "quality time" referred to ninjutsu training. Despite his young age, Tatami-ma loved gambling and bonsai, but he loved learning ninjutsu even more. Everyone has someone they look up to—someone knowledgeable about their favorite things who can teach them in an easy-to-understand manner. Tatami-ma was afraid of Tobirama and harbored some dislike for him, but he didn't hate him from the bottom of his heart. In fact, he actually respected this great-uncle who occasionally looked after him, even if such moments were rare. There was no way he could refuse. Tatami-ma agreed without hesitation, already forgetting his promise to Hashirama, and began excitedly reciting the names of Tobirama's techniques.
The one who couldn't accept this turn of events was Hashirama, whose much-anticipated break and time with his grandson had been abruptly cut short. Hashirama called out to Tobirama, begging him to reconsider and return his grandson, but even Tobirama couldn't help but feel a little sorry for him. However, this wasn't the first time Hashirama had tried to shirk his duties like this. Tobirama cut him off with a sharp "Shut up!" and, just as suddenly as he had appeared, he vanished again—this time taking Tatami-ma with him.
Left behind was Hashirama, still holding the mahjong table Tatami-ma had brought, looking utterly dejected. For a while, he stood there in a daze until Saru—also known as Sarutobi Hiruzen—who had come to deliver additional documents to the office, found him and offered some comfort.
***
Peaceful times flow by like a waterfall, and the boy who once ran through the Hokage residence grew up quickly while retaining his cheerful nature. That same boy now stood face to face with Tobirama in the depths of a dense, moonlit forest on the outskirts of the Hidden Leaf Village.
Covered in mud, wood chips, and leaves, Tatami-ma's shoulders rose and fell roughly as he glared at Tobirama with bloodshot eyes. A kunai was held at the ready at his waist, and his eyes were opened wide, not wanting to miss even the slightest opening in his opponent's defense—he looked completely unhinged.
"Graaaaahhh! I'll kill you!"
Tatami-ma's cry was filled with resentment and fury, and anyone who didn't know the situation would have fainted from the terrifying force behind his voice. However, what was Tatami-ma's fastest charge was nothing more than child's play to Tobirama, who remained completely unfazed, wearing a smugly amused expression. As Tatami-ma's charge closed in, Tobirama crouched down and tripped him. Caught off guard, Tatami-ma flew through the air and landed hard on his back. Without missing a beat, Tobirama delivered a powerful kick to the boy's rear.
"Ahhhhhhh!!"
The lightning-fast impact that shot through his backside caused Tatami-ma to scream, and the forest trembled from the sheer volume. Tatami-ma slid face-first into the ground, his face covered in mud and tears as he grimaced and bit his lower lip. Without giving him a moment to rest, Tobirama formed the tiger hand seal.
"Konoha Secret Taijutsu: Thousand Years of Death!!"
"AHHHHHHH!!"
With every conceivable fluid flowing from his face, Tatami-ma writhed in agony from a pain that was both numbing and burning, screaming in absolute torment. Gritting his teeth, Tatami-ma crawled away from Tobirama, his body writhing like a worm. Over his shoulder, he saw Tobirama's hand form the familiar seal, followed by the terrifying shadow of the Thousand Years of Death technique being unleashed through the air. Tobirama's expression remained utterly neutral, his actions completely methodical. To Tatami-ma, he was nothing but a source of pure terror.
How had things come to this? Tatami-ma wept bitter tears.
—It had all begun early that morning.
Early morning. Tatami-ma, still half-asleep, sat down at the dining table where his grandmother Mito had prepared breakfast. His parents were away on a mission, leaving only Tatami-ma, his younger sister Tsunade, and their grandmother Mito, who had come to help, at home. His grandfather Hashirama, who had hoped to be surrounded by his two beloved grandchildren, had been summoned for a village patrol and dragged away by high-ranking officials.
Seeing the sad expression on Hashirama's face, Mito couldn't help but feel sympathy for her husband, but she quickly forgot about it as she interacted with Tatami-ma and Tsunade, who were equally dear to her. Tatami-ma scratched his messy hair in a manner unbecoming of a young ninja, though it wasn't bedhead—it was simply his natural hair texture. If he resembled anyone, it was Tobirama, or more accurately, Tobirama and Hashirama's mother. His facial features were a direct inheritance from Hashirama, but his hair seemed to have been passed down from an even earlier generation.
The aroma of breakfast wafted across the table, stimulating Tatami-ma's appetite, and he sat down as if drawn by a magnet. After saying "Itadakimasu," he stuffed a piece of fried egg into his mouth.
The runny yolk stained Tatami-ma's cheek, and his younger sister Tsunade scolded him for his poor manners. "He's just being a boy," Mito said fondly, wiping Tatami-ma's cheek with a handkerchief. Seeing the siblings begin their meal, Mito smiled contentedly, satisfied at having witnessed such a heartwarming scene, and headed to the kitchen to clean up the cooking utensils.
"Is Tatami-ma here?"
"Bwaaah!!"
Suddenly, Tobirama appeared before the siblings, who were in the middle of their meal. Tatami-ma quickly scanned his body for any sign of the Flying Thunder God marking, while Tsunade, startled, spat out the miso soup she had been drinking. Tatami-ma rushed to her side and rubbed her back. He looked at Tobirama with an exasperated expression, but Tobirama seemed completely unfazed.
"Were you eating? My apologies."
"Great-uncle!"
Tobirama's apology was casual at best. Released from her coughing fit, Tsunade wiped the table and shouted while cleaning up her mess. Hearing the commotion, Mito appeared from the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. Seeing Tobirama in the living room, she blinked in surprise at the early hour and greeted him with a respectful bow.
"Sister-in-law, I would like to borrow Tatami-ma."
It was Tatami-ma who was most surprised. He stopped tilting his bowl to drink the miso soup and looked back and forth between Tobirama and Mito. Tsunade, preparing for whatever might happen, silently lamented her brother's pitiful fate while carrying her own meal to safety.
However, Mito tilted her head in confusion. Although she knew that Tatami-ma, who had always been so hostile toward Tobirama, had formally become his disciple out of rivalry with a friend, she didn't mind lending him out. But she had heard that Tobirama was about to leave for the village of Kirigakure as an envoy. She wondered if he had made the necessary preparations for such an important diplomatic mission. She couldn't imagine that he would entrust such crucial political work to Tatami-ma.
Seeing Tobirama nod as if it were obvious, Tatami-ma couldn't hide his growing unease. He was amazed at Tsunade's quick escape and lamented his own inability to flee. As Mito had mentioned, Tobirama would be away from the village for a while, so he wouldn't be able to oversee Tatami-ma's training. Tatami-ma, who had been struggling with the harshness of his training since becoming Tobirama's disciple, had secretly planned to spend this break with his beloved grandfather.
Tatami-ma's uneasy feeling was absolutely correct. Since Tobirama wouldn't be able to supervise his training for a while, he would instead cram an intensive training session into today.
Mito, who knew of Tobirama's strength and his abilities as a teacher, had no reason to object. She agreed without hesitation to let Tatami-ma go, but the boy himself couldn't accept it. However, before he could voice his protest, Tobirama placed a hand on him, and Tatami-ma vanished from the Senju mansion.
While continuing to eat her rice, Tsunade felt sorry for her brother, but all she could do was pray for his safety in her heart. The girl lamented her sibling's unfortunate fate, but the deliciousness of the fried egg she was eating made her forget about it within three seconds. Like grandmother, like granddaughter.
When Tatami-ma realized he was standing in the forest, he understood that he had been essentially kidnapped by Tobirama. He protested that he hadn't even finished breakfast yet, and tried calling his teacher "Uncle" in an affectionate tone. Tobirama raised his eyebrows at that. The way he told the boy to call him "Master" or "Tobirama-sama" revealed his somewhat playful nature. In political settings or when dealing with village affairs, Tobirama was a shrewd statesman, but in private, he was actually quite mischievous and appreciated humor.
Taking a deep breath and crossing his arms, Tobirama said in an ominous tone, "I was planning to bring you here before you had eaten anyway." Fearing that something terrible was about to happen, Tatami-ma felt cold sweat break out on his back and looked up at the sky, desperately wanting to escape.
"Tatami-ma. Just because you've mastered the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, you've been practicing ninjutsu constantly, haven't you?"
Hit right on target, Tatami-ma's reaction made him break out in an even colder sweat. When he had become Tobirama's official disciple, the first technique he was taught was the Shadow Clone Technique. While the Shadow Clone Technique had the drawback of disappearing after taking even a single hit, it possessed the unique property that any information gained by the clones was returned to the original body when the technique was voluntarily canceled. This made it an incredibly useful ability depending on how it was employed. For example, by creating shadow clones and training alongside them, one could double or triple their efficiency. Due to its convenience, Tobirama had chosen this technique as the first to teach Tatami-ma in earnest. However, there was an even more advanced version of this technique: the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique.
The Multiple Shadow Clone Technique was a relatively simple technique that created multiple shadow clones by evenly dividing the user's chakra. However, due to its nature, using it with insufficient chakra could lead to severe weakness and, in the worst case, death. Despite the high difficulty in mastering it, the technique was designated as "forbidden," yet those who could already use the Shadow Clone Technique could handle it with relative ease.
Ignoring Tobirama's strict warning not to attempt it until he was completely familiar with the basic Shadow Clone Technique, Tatami-ma had demonstrated the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique right there on the spot.
However, Tatami-ma was still an inexperienced child, despite his noble bloodline. He was aware of his own talent, which made him all the more dangerous. Overestimating his chakra reserves, he had created a number of shadow clones that pushed his limits to the absolute maximum. These clones instantly filled the largest dojo in the Senju compound, where the training was taking place. Seeing Tatami-ma's clones burst through the dojo's sliding doors like an avalanche, Tsunade had screamed in horror, but Tatami-ma had been too focused to notice.
Sensing the danger of being crushed to death, Tobirama had used the Flying Thunder God Technique to instantly escape from the dojo and quickly eliminated the shadow clones surrounding the real Tatami-ma, one after another, saving the boy's life. The rescued Tatami-ma had been so weakened from creating far too many shadow clones beyond his capacity that he was unable to leave his bed for several days.
Upon hearing the story, Hashirama and Tsunade had worried about Tatami-ma, but once they realized he was okay, one burst into laughter while the other was so stunned they couldn't speak, their shoulders slumping in defeat.
At that moment, Tobirama had said he felt a sense of urgency he had rarely experienced in his entire life. As evidence of his concern, he had subjected Tatami-ma to a harsh lecture using genjutsu, emphasizing that the boy must never disobey Tobirama's instructions again.
Thanks to his efforts, Tatami-ma had recovered safely and successfully mastered both the Shadow Clone Technique and the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, repeatedly practicing ninjutsu using shadow clones whenever he had free time. Since he was following orders, Tobirama didn't have much reason to be angry, but there was one critical issue he couldn't overlook.
"What about your taijutsu training?"
Tatami-ma remained silent.
However, his expression betrayed his anxiety, and his eyes darted around frantically. That was the problem. Tatami-ma had become so engrossed in mastering ninjutsu using shadow clones that he had completely neglected his physical training. Tobirama sighed inwardly, placing his hand on his forehead, but he couldn't show his disappointment in front of his student, so he maintained his expressionless facade and stared at Tatami-ma.
Being stared at by the expressionless Tobirama was unbearable for the boy.
"Today, I'm going to give you a thorough training session. I am Senju Tobirama."
Suddenly, the trees throughout the forest shook. The pressure from Tobirama's released chakra caused the entire forest to tremble. Tatami-ma gasped at the overwhelming force and froze in terror.
Senju Tobirama. A man who had lived through the Warring States period. One of the strongest shinobi in existence. A genius developer who had created numerous legendary ninja techniques, including the Shadow Clone Technique, Flying Thunder God Technique, and Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation. Though he possessed the mind of a scholar, his physical abilities were equally extraordinary, and his movements were said to be the fastest among all shinobi.
The Senju brothers were so powerful that there wasn't a single person in the shinobi world who didn't know their names. With Uchiha Madara having perished in a fierce battle with Senju Hashirama, Tobirama was now considered one of the strongest ninja alive.
The overwhelming pressure emanating from Tobirama was beyond imagination, even a ninja of average ability would be completely unable to move when faced with such intensity. Even if one were his disciple, it wasn't something one could easily grow accustomed to.
"That said, I'm not completely heartless either."
The oppressive aura vanished suddenly. Tatami-ma collapsed to the ground as if his legs had given out, and a shaky breath escaped his lips. Being released from Tobirama's overwhelming pressure brought an incredible sense of relief to the boy. Now, even the pressure from an average ninja would feel like a gentle breeze. Satisfied with having demonstrated his authority, Tobirama's expression brightened. He formed a hand seal with a composed look—the Shadow Clone Technique, a technique Tatami-ma was intimately familiar with. Tobirama's clone appeared in a puff of smoke. Tatami-ma wondered why he had used the Shadow Clone Technique, but the answer was soon revealed.
"From now on, you will face my shadow clone with the intent to kill. If you can eliminate my shadow clone, you pass. Until then, you stay here."
The sudden declaration left Tatami-ma speechless. His eyes widened in disbelief as he screamed, "Don't be ridiculous!" He had just been shown the clear difference in their abilities. His spirit was already broken, and he had once been so intimidated that he'd called Tobirama "Tobirama-sama." But this shock blew all of that away. Tatami-ma begged him to reconsider, but Tobirama shook his head, saying he didn't care about the boy's protests. A heavy despair settled over Tatami-ma's heart.
He could practice taijutsu with shadow clones, couldn't he? Tatami-ma suggested this desperately to Tobirama, but due to their fragility, shadow clones were utterly unsuitable for physical training. After all, they disappeared with a single solid hit.
"With ninjutsu, you can practice hand seals, forms, and chakra nature transformation with shadow clones. However, taijutsu training can only be improved through steady, physical effort."
Faced with Tobirama's completely logical argument, Tatami-ma was speechless. Satisfied with the boy's reaction as he desperately racked his brain for a way out, Tobirama nodded approvingly.
"Besides, I'm not a complete demon. My shadow clone won't use ninjutsu this time. Of course, that means no Flying Thunder God or Body Flicker Technique either."
Tatami-ma saw a glimmer of hope, but then remembered Tobirama's fearsome reputation and felt a wave of despair wash over him. What did he mean by "not using ninjutsu"? After all, the Senju clan had always relied on their formidable physical strength as their primary weapon. They possessed considerable power even without ninjutsu. Tatami-ma laughed bitterly, but Tobirama seemed to think he had convinced him, patting his shadow clone on the shoulder and saying, "The rest is up to you."
"Well then, Tatami-ma. I'll be returning via the Flying Thunder God technique."
His desperate pleas to wait fell on deaf ears, and Tobirama vanished. Left behind were Tatami-ma, sprawled on the ground as if he'd been beaten to a pulp, and Tobirama's shadow clone looking down at him with what might have been pity. But there was no time to remain stunned, as the shadow clone signaled the start of their "training."
After that, no matter how much Tatami-ma tried to escape or hide, the shadow clone relentlessly targeted his rear end, and the boy gradually wore himself down over the long, torturous hours. Eventually, he began to fight back with genuine murderous intent.
While Tatami-ma struggled against the shadow clone, Tobirama hid in the shadows of a distant tree, watching the boy's movements.
The Flying Thunder God technique had not been activated to return to the village. Instead, he had transported to a location marked with one of his seals at a safe distance and was observing Tatami-ma from afar. Tatami-ma was the direct male descendant of the Senju clan and the grandson of the Hokage. Tobirama believed that the hardships the boy would face in the future would be no less severe than those faced by Hashirama and himself.
When the time came for Tatami-ma to formally inherit the leadership of the Senju clan—and even before that—he would become a target whose life would be constantly sought after. Even Hashirama, who was acknowledged by all as a "soft-hearted fool," didn't believe that the current peace would last forever. Of course, both Hashirama and Tobirama were risking their lives to maintain the political stability that ensured this peace, but how long could it possibly last?
Uchiha Madara was gone, but those who sought to carry on his will still smoldered within the Uchiha clan. The village system was still young in historical terms, and betrayals to other villages or rebellions within their own village could occur at any moment. In such a crisis, Tatami-ma, as the grandson of the man who had founded the first village and a direct descendant of the strongest clan in the shinobi world, would likely be thrust into the forefront regardless of the circumstances.
If Hashirama and Tobirama were still alive when that time came, they would handle the situation. However, no matter how powerful they were, they were still human. They wouldn't live forever. Even from Tobirama's perspective as his younger brother, Hashirama was beyond ordinary human limits—yet even Tobirama himself was beginning to feel the effects of aging, and their time was limited.
Tatami-ma possessed a generous heart and the natural ability to attract people to his cause, but he tended to spoil those he cared about and was unaccustomed to being strict when necessary. Therefore, to nurture the strength needed for the next generation and to protect Tatami-ma himself, a strict mentor was essential. This was what Tobirama believed.
"But... even though this is just my shadow clone, isn't this a bit too harsh..."
Tobirama felt a twinge of unease as he watched his shadow clone relentlessly attack the thoroughly battered Tatami-ma. As expected, the exhaustion from a full day of grueling combat had finally reached its limit, and the boy collapsed, unable to move. Tobirama released his shadow clone, descended to Tatami-ma's side, fed the exhausted boy a soldier pill, and carefully lifted him onto his back before disappearing into the forest.