Although this trip to Konoha had a few unexpected turns, overall, Tobirama was quite satisfied.
As the three of them strolled through the village, they unknowingly left the bustling streets behind and entered a quieter, more private area.
This was the former territory of the Senju clan—at least, in Tobirama's memory.
Logically speaking, as the founders of Konoha, the Senju clan should have occupied the core area of the village. However, Hashirama had declined this honor. He reasoned that the Senju had a large population, and if they were to settle in the center, they would take up too much space, which would hinder the balanced development of the village.
Tobirama had disagreed at the time, feeling that his brother was too selfless for his own good. But in the end, he could not argue against Hashirama's idealistic vision. Thus, the Senju clan had settled in a corner of Konoha instead.
As they walked deeper into the area, Tobirama's face was filled with anticipation. He was eager to see how the Senju clan had evolved over the years.
But what he saw left him stunned.
The once-prosperous Senju district was now a desolate wasteland. Abandoned houses stood in ruin, their walls covered in spiderwebs. Weeds grew wildly through cracked pathways, and there was no sign of life anywhere. It was as if the entire clan had been wiped off the map.
The three of them stopped in front of a half-collapsed gate.
Tobirama stared at it in disbelief. His fists clenched tightly at his sides.
Turning to Shinomiya Uzumaki, he asked in a cold, controlled voice, "Have the Senju clan moved away?"
Shinomiya Uzumaki casually took another bite of fried tofu and replied with an almost indifferent tone, "No, they have become dust in history, just like the Uchiha clan."
Tobirama's expression darkened. "The clan has been... exterminated?"
"That's right."
A long silence followed. The wind rustled through the abandoned district, as if whispering forgotten tragedies.
After a while, Tobirama finally spoke again, his voice heavy. "Was it Danzo?"
"Most likely," Shinomiya Uzumaki replied, his gaze calm. "But Hiruzen Sarutobi is not without blame. He was Hokage at the time—something like this could not have happened without his knowledge."
Tobirama's eyes narrowed. His anger toward Danzo had been simmering since learning about the Uchiha massacre, but now, it was boiling over.
Hashirama remained silent, watching his younger brother's reaction. He knew Tobirama needed time to process everything.
Hashirama had already seen glimpses of this future through the recordings shown earlier, but he hadn't realized the full extent of what had happened.
The seemingly loyal Sarutobi had allowed this to occur?
The Senju clan—his family—was gone.
Tobirama took a deep breath, suppressing his emotions. His voice was eerily calm. "Well... let's go somewhere else."
His face betrayed no emotion, but anyone who knew him well could sense the storm brewing within.
Danzo was going to be in trouble.
Shinomiya Uzumaki smirked. "How about we pay a visit to the current Hokage?"
Hashirama shot him a helpless look.
This guy really knew how to stir up trouble. If Tobirama confronted Sarutobi now, things could escalate quickly.
"Let's go," Tobirama said, his voice carrying a dangerous edge. "I have a few questions for my former student."
Just as they turned to leave, an elderly figure emerged from the ruins, carrying a small basket.
The soft shuffling of footsteps made them pause.
Then, an old voice spoke behind them:
"Oh? It's rare for someone to visit. Are you here to pay respects to the First and Second Hokage?"
The three turned around.
The elderly man, hunched and frail, looked at them with a kind smile. His face was lined with age, but his eyes held warmth.
"I still have some incense here. You can use it," he offered.
As he stepped closer, he finally got a good look at them.
His smile froze.
The basket in his hands slipped from his grasp, hitting the ground with a soft thud.
His hands trembled. His eyes widened in shock.
"Shodai...? Nidaime...?"
Hashirama and Tobirama exchanged glances.
Did this man recognize them?
Neither of them had any memory of him.
Their gaze naturally shifted toward Shinomiya Uzumaki, silently asking for an explanation.
Shinomiya Uzumaki took another bite of tofu before answering casually, "His name is Maruboshi Kosuke. Tobirama, he was one of your disciples—probably the most loyal one."
Tobirama's expression shifted. He repeated the name under his breath.
Then, recognition dawned on his face.
"I remember now... Kosuke. You were just a child back then."
Among his students, Tobirama had focused on talents like Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo. But there had also been another—a boy with average skills but an unwavering dedication to his teachings.
That boy was Maruboshi Kosuke.
"You... you're Kosuke?" Tobirama said, his voice filled with emotion. "You've grown old..."
Kosuke's face lit up with joy. "Nidaime! It really is you!"
For a moment, he felt like a young shinobi again. His strict but kind teacher stood before him, unchanged, despite all the years that had passed.
Kosuke stepped forward but hesitated, unsure if this was real.
"Nidaime, I... I'm sorry..." he said, lowering his head. "I failed you. I failed the Senju clan..."
The abandoned district around them seemed to echo his sorrow.
Tobirama shook his head. "Kosuke, this isn't your fault. You don't need to blame yourself."
His gaze sharpened. "The ones truly responsible will answer for it."
A faint ripple of chakra escaped from Tobirama, cracking the ground beneath his feet.
At that moment, a dry chuckle interrupted them.
"Shodai... Nidaime..."
They turned to see Sarutobi Hiruzen approaching with a group of Anbu surrounding the area.
Hiruzen's face was partially hidden under his Hokage hat, but there was no mistaking the nervous tension in his posture.
"Are you two really... the First and Second Hokage?" he asked hesitantly.
Tobirama's sharp eyes scanned the gathered Anbu. His lips curled into a smirk.
"What's with all the people, monkey?" he asked coldly.
As he spoke, his fingers twitched slightly. A subtle movement—but one that hinted at the Flying Thunder God Technique being prepared.
If Hiruzen tried anything, he could end this in an instant.
Hashirama's gaze also landed on Hiruzen.
Hiruzen suddenly broke into a cold sweat.
He had felt Tobirama's pressure before, but the weight of Hashirama's gaze—calm yet absolute—was suffocating.
This was indeed the real Hashirama.
Hiruzen quickly composed himself. "Teacher, this is a misunderstanding. I simply feared that someone might be using forbidden techniques like Edo Tensei to manipulate your souls."
He waved a hand, and the Anbu immediately dispersed.
Tobirama nodded slightly. "A reasonable concern."
Then, his tone darkened. "Come here, monkey."
Hiruzen flinched.
Tobirama reached down and casually snapped a branch from a nearby tree. With a simple motion, he smoothed it into a perfect wooden staff.
Hiruzen's pupils shrank.
This... this was just like when he was a child.
Whenever he made mistakes back then...
"Oh, this is gonna be good," Shinomiya Uzumaki said, hurriedly swallowing the last bite of tofu. He pulled out a camera, ready to capture the next scene.
To be continued...
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