Konoha New Era : Third Hokage Ascends

(Edited)

In the eighth year of Konoha, Senju Rimi received word that the Senju brothers had returned from their visit to the Daimyo. Wasting no time, she hurried to the residence of Senju Hashirama, eager to visit the Hokage.

Hashirama, known for his kindness, always welcomed everyone warmly. Though Rimi was only from a branch of the Senju clan, Hashirama had always shown her the same warmth he extended to others. He particularly appreciated Rimi's spirited nature, seeing in her the embodiment of the peace he had strived to create. In his youth, such joy was a rare sight, overshadowed by the constant threat of battle and loss.

The Hokage delighted in spending time with the younger generation, seeing them as a symbol of the peaceful era he had fought to establish. Whenever he could, Hashirama would leave the weight of governance to his brother Tobirama and join the children in play. To an outsider, it would be hard to believe that this man was the legendary Hokage who had built Konoha with his own hands.

Rimi rushed to Hashirama's house and knocked on the door. A maid answered and, recognizing Rimi, asked, "Is there something urgent?"

"I need to see Hashirama-sama," Rimi replied, her urgency clear.

The maid, sensing the importance, led Rimi inside. At that moment, Hashirama was speaking with his wife, Senju Mito née Uzumaki, while Tobirama waited outside the room, preparing to accompany his brother to the Hokage Tower for a meeting.

Seeing Rimi approach, Tobirama was slightly taken aback. He recognized her but was puzzled as to why she had come at this time. "Hello, Tobirama-sama," Rimi greeted nervously.

Tobirama's demeanor often made him seem unapproachable, unlike his brother's warmth. Though Rimi knew he cared deeply for the village, his stern exterior always made her nervous. She could never speak as freely with Tobirama as she did with Hashirama.

"What brings you here, Rimi?" Tobirama asked.

"Masaki is ill, and no one in the village has been able to cure him. I came to seek Hashirama-sama's help," Rimi quickly explained.

Hashirama was not only a powerful ninja but also exceptionally skilled in medical ninjutsu. Rimi had once seen him heal a child's wound with a mere touch, leaving no trace of the injury behind.

Hearing the commotion outside, Hashirama opened the door and smiled warmly at Rimi. "Rimi, what brings you here?"

Although Hashirama was in his early forties, his youthful energy and appearance made him seem much younger. "It's about Masaki," Mito interjected as she stepped out of the room. She smiled gently at Rimi, trying to ease her nerves.

"Masaki?" Hashirama asked, turning to his wife.

Mito explained, "He was injured during a hunting trip and fell ill afterward. At first, we thought it was just a minor ailment, but his condition worsened with a sudden high fever. Rimi sought help, but no one could do anything. I examined him myself, but there was little I could do. I told Rimi that you might be able to help, so she came as soon as she heard you were back."

Hashirama's expression grew serious. If even Mito couldn't heal the illness, it must be something formidable. "Don't worry, Rimi," he reassured her. "We'll go see Masaki right away."

Turning to Tobirama, Hashirama began to speak, but his brother shook his head. "Go ahead, brother. A life is at stake. I'll handle the rest."

"Thank you, Tobirama. I'm sorry to burden you again," Hashirama said, grateful for his brother's understanding.

"It's fine. I'm curious about this illness as well. If we can understand it, perhaps we can improve our medical practices in the village," Tobirama replied.

Apologizing to Mito for leaving abruptly, Hashirama, Tobirama, and Rimi left the Senju compound and made their way to the home of Fumori Masaki.

The Fumori family, originally a samurai clan from the Warring States Period, had a few ninja among them, mostly skilled in Wind Release techniques. Their fighting style focused on speed, using chakra-infused blades to defeat opponents. The Fumori clan had fought alongside the Senju in the past, and when Hashirama proposed the creation of Konoha, he sought out the Fumori family to join the new village.

However, when Hashirama arrived, he found that the Fumori clan had been nearly wiped out in an internal conflict, sparked by radical samurai members who had attacked the ninja faction of the family. If not for Hashirama's timely intervention, Fumori Masaki, the last surviving member of the main family, would have perished.

This tragedy only strengthened Hashirama's resolve to establish Konoha, a place where such senseless violence could be prevented. He took the young Masaki under his wing, and after Konoha was founded, the eight-year-old Masaki represented the Fumori clan among the village's ninja.

Hashirama took a special interest in Masaki's well-being, providing him with preferential treatment as he grew up in the village. When Konoha was established, Hashirama sought to unify the various clans by encouraging intermarriage, hoping to foster mutual understanding and trust. As the leader of Konoha, the Senju clan led by example, with its members marrying into other clans, despite concerns about the potential loss of secret techniques. The only clan that resisted this policy was the Uchiha.

The Fumori clan, with only one remaining member, readily agreed to this proposal. Strengthening their bloodline and ensuring the clan's survival through marriage was an opportunity they could not refuse. Thus, Senju Rimi was betrothed to Fumori Masaki when they were just children, with the promise that they would marry when they came of age.

As they grew up together, Masaki and Rimi developed a deep bond, though they often clashed due to their strong personalities. Despite their frequent quarrels, their affection for each other only deepened. Though they were now of age, Masaki, driven by his ambition, wanted to achieve greater accomplishments before marrying Rimi, causing the wedding to be delayed.

Rimi, though sometimes frustrated by Masaki's dedication to his goals, couldn't help but admire his determination. She knew that his drive was a sign of his potential, and she was proud of his ambitions.

During a recent hunting trip, however, Masaki had fallen ill, leaving Rimi desperate and unsure of what to do. With Mito's help, she had managed to bring Masaki back to the village, but his condition continued to deteriorate. As they made their way to Masaki's home, Rimi silently prayed that Hashirama would be able to cure him.

When they arrived, Rimi hurriedly led them to Masaki's bedroom. Inside, a frail young man lay on the bed, his breathing shallow and labored. Sweat covered his face, and a strange line snaked across his neck, slowly creeping upward.

Tobirama immediately noticed the unusual mark and frowned. "Is this a curse seal?" he asked. Curse seals were typically used to bind or control, and it was puzzling to see one on Masaki.

"I don't know," Rimi replied, her voice trembling with worry.

Hashirama studied the mark carefully before shaking his head. "This isn't a curse seal," he said. "It's a Sage pattern."

Both Rimi and Tobirama were taken aback by his words. Tobirama, still skeptical, asked, "Are you saying this is the pattern that appears when one reaches the Sage Mode?"

Hashirama nodded and formed a series of hand seals before placing his fingers on Masaki's neck. As he infused his chakra into the mark, the strange lines began to fade rapidly, much to the amazement of those watching.

As the pattern disappeared, Masaki's breathing steadied, and the fever that had plagued him began to subside.