Chapter 40: Grief

The news of Hashirama's death spread rapidly throughout the village, and even faster through the Shinobi World.

Tobirama could have concealed the news for a few days, but he decided it was best to not show weakness in the face of the other villages. Since Hashirama was now gone, the main deterrence to the other villages had just disappeared, and their ambitions would now show themselves as they no longer had to be afraid.

Many of the other villages immediately started gathering their forces after they had made sure the information was accurate.

However, Konoha was not worrying about the future war as the entire village fell into grief while preparing for Hashirama's funeral.

While the death of any former Kage might invoke a spread of sadness throughout the village that they served, this one would be especially close to the hearts of Konoha.

This was Hashirama Senju, The God of Shinobi, the man who ended the troubled times and built a village based on his dream of not having to go to the battlefield.

The funeral began the day after his death with everyone in attendance wearing black clothes to add onto the somber tone.

Each clan entered one by one, with each paying respect to the man who helped them create a safe place for their families and provided protection for them for 33 years.

Even the Uzumaki clan had come as all of their elders and Ashina wore black clothing and even black hats to cover their red hair as to not take any attention from the audience.

The final group to enter was the Senju Clan, with Hashirama's family leading as Tobirama stood in front wearing his Hokage robes, with Haru and Ayako behind him and finally Mito and Tsunade, who were holding hands.

Tsunade saw Kuna sitting by Ashina in the crowd, with her only able to sadly wave her hand at Tsunade. Tsunade merely faked a smile and waved back.

The family made it to the chairs in the front, with all of them sitting down except for Tobirama, who walked onto the small stage by the burial site. The other were offered a chance to speak, but they all denied it.

"Thank you all for joining us today for this sad occasion. It's been a very rough day for me. While I still hold the position of Hokage and I'm wearing the robes of one, today, that is not who I stand in front of you as. Today, I stand in front of you, not as the leader of the Village Hidden in the Leaves, but instead, as a brother who had just lost his last remaining sibling." Tobirama said before sighing in grief. But he could not show any weakness or any form of sadness, especially since his elder brother was now gone.

"When we were children, my brother once asked for my advice on how peace could be achievable, so that no other children would be forced to die in the same way our brothers had. My answer then is the same as my answer now. I told him that we would have to stop the cycle of hatred that we had begun. That such an undertaking would have to be started by us and an enemy of ours who we had so much hatred for that it was practically engraved in our bones: The Uchiha Clan. But my brother didn't let that stop him. He was able to convince a childhood friend of his to help he create a place of peace. That was how the first village of the Shinobi World, The Village Hidden in the Leaves, was formed. When my brother felt as if he would no longer be able to fulfill his role of Hokage, he passed the role over to me since he knew I would be able to protect his dream." Tobirama recounted the story of Konoha to the entire village and shinobi since he felt it was necessary for them to know what they were fighting for.

"However, I know that an even more terrifying threat is looming on the horizon. While every other village had hidden away their greed while my brother was still alive, they are now beginning to show their ambitions. They wish to take down the great tree that my brother built up and I refuse to stand for it! So if I have to go to war to defend this village, then I will. If I have to battle on the frontlines against any of our enemies, then I will. And if I have to lay down my life to ensure the continuation of this village, then I promise you I will. I will do whatever it takes to protect my brother's legacy, and I hope you will help me in that task." The villagers began to stop crying as they all looked up at Tobirama with the determination that they were ready to lay down their lives. Tobirama's eyes flashed with approval as he saw this.

"So today, I'm not going to stand here and talk about the sadness that I feel because of me losing my brother. No, instead I'm going to rejoice in the fact that my brother's dream will continue to be protected by me and live on through each and every one of you. We shall protect the great tree that my brother left and ensure that the Will of Fire he believed in is passed on to the next generation and the ones that come after them." The somber atmosphere of the funeral disappeared, with everyone instead being prepared to keep Hashirama's dream alive even if he was gone.

'It seems like your tree will continue to grow for a long time, Hashi.' Mito thought with a smile on her face as she looked on at all the villagers.

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A man with black hair and a single eye that had a unique red pattern in it, stood above the Hokage Rock and was looking in the direction of the funeral.

"You were a fool for thinking we could achieve peace through kindness Hashirama. Maybe I was as well, but it doesn't matter anymore. I'll achieve peace and end the suffering of this world."

The "Ghost" then walked away and simply vanished into the forest as if he had never been there.

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The villagers and clans began to leave the funeral after Hashirama's casket was put into the ground.

The Uchiha Patriarch was the first to come up and give his condolences to their family before leaving, with all the other clan leaders following suit. Tsunade's friends also stopped and checked on her with Jiraiya even giving her a hug while getting a death glare from Tobirama. That was probably one of the first times Tsunade sincerely smiled since Hashirama's death and Jiraiya smiled seeing her like that.

The Senju Clan elders also left as they knew the grief that Hashirama's family was going through and that they didn't wish to show it in front of the village. The entire graveyard became empty as no one but Tobirama, Mito, Ayako, Haru, and Tsunade remained.

They walked closely to Hashirama's gravesite and all of them were finally able to show the deep sorrow they felt as they broke down in tears as a family. They all sobbed deeply while thinking of Hashirama.

Tsunade broke down while feeling deep remorse, however she began to feel a warm sensation appear in her body. She tried stopping it, but when she felt the natural and relaxing feeling that it gave off, she stopped.

Instead, she got up and moved her hand onto the side of Hashirama's gravesite. Mito and Tobirama noticed her movement and became confused as to what she was trying to do.

However they became shocked in the next moment as a tree begin to appear at the place Tsunade put her hand.

"Wood Style!!"

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