Hashirama's Injuries

Tobirama Senju Residence.

"Have Uncle Hashirama's injuries improved at all?" Renye asked.

Ever since the Battle of the End Valley, Hashirama Senju's injuries had shown no signs of healing.

Given Hashirama's physical constitution, even fatal wounds should have healed quickly.

Yet several months had already passed since the Battle of the End Valley, and his injuries had still not improved.

Renye could not help but worry. If Hashirama Senju died like this, wouldn't a shinobi war break out immediately?

Tobirama Senju's expression was grave as he explained, "Elder Brother's cells seem to have entered dormancy."

During this time, he had conducted a comprehensive study of his elder brother's body and discovered, to his surprise, that his cells were dividing extremely slowly, like those of an elderly man nearing the end of his life.

Renye frowned at this. "That's troublesome..."

The reason Hashirama Senju possessed such powerful vitality and regenerative abilities was precisely because his cells divided at an abnormally active rate.

This allowed Hashirama to rapidly regenerate damaged body tissue, recovering quickly even from severe injuries during battle.

But now, Hashirama's cells were dividing slowly.

That could only mean that during his battle with Madara, his cells had been excessively used.

They had been used to repair severe injuries,

or to undergo massive cellular proliferation in order to unleash powerful ninjutsu.

As a result, their rate of division had temporarily slowed.

It was like how, after a person lost a great deal of blood, their hematopoietic stem cells would divide faster, but after sustaining that pace for some time, their division could slow and require time to return to normal.

That might be why Hashirama Senju had not recovered for so long.

Renye guessed that it would not be long before Hashirama's cellular division rate returned to normal.

But excessively rapid cell division had another drawback: it began consuming vitality.

Too many cell divisions meant vitality was depleted quickly.

That might have been the reason for Hashirama Senju's death...

Naturally, Tobirama Senju understood what Renye could think of.

Ever since his elder brother had been injured, he had been researching a solution, yet he had made no progress.

Tobirama sighed helplessly. "I've already done everything I can."

Renye remained silent.

Knowing how the Shinobi World would develop, he was the person least willing to see Hashirama Senju die.

A man's reputation was like a tree's shadow.

The title God of Shinobi had not been earned for nothing.

As long as Hashirama Senju remained alive, the other countries would not dare set their sights on the Land of Fire.

Then war would not break out, and he would have enough time to grow stronger.

But once Hashirama Senju died, the Shinobi World's balance would change.

After all, the two strongest people in the Shinobi World—Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha—would both be dead. The other shinobi villages would naturally wage war on leaderless Konoha.

Tobirama Senju's expression was grave. He was thinking the same thing as Renye.

His elder brother's severe injuries had shown him the fragility of life and the tremendous loss a village suffered when a powerful shinobi passed away.

He began to consider, How can dead shinobi serve Konoha once more?

If he could develop such a ninjutsu, he would be able to transcend the boundary between life and death.

That way, even if his elder brother truly passed away, he could summon him back...

As long as he could develop this ninjutsu, Konoha would no longer have to fear the covetous eyes of other countries.

Renye did not know what Tobirama was thinking. Otherwise, his jaw would have dropped.

That evening, at Hashirama Senju's Residence.

"Tobirama, Little Renye, you're here," Mito Uzumaki said softly.

Hashirama's injuries had refused to heal, leaving her deeply worried and visibly haggard.

"Sister-in-law, has Elder Brother been doing well lately?" Tobirama Senju asked, his throat tightening.

Tobirama Senju had once had three brothers. Two had died in battle during the Warring States Period, leaving only Hashirama, his elder brother.

He did not want his elder brother to die like this...

"It's still the same. There hasn't been any improvement," Mito Uzumaki said, her eyelashes trembling slightly.

During this time, she had invited many Medical Ninja to treat Hashirama, but none had been effective.

Seeing this, Tobirama comforted her. "Don't worry, Sister-in-law. I'll definitely find a solution."

After saying that, he led Renye into the house.

"Tobirama, Little Renye, why are you here?"

Hashirama Senju struggled to sit up and looked at them both.

"Uncle Hashirama, are you all right?" Renye asked, his face full of concern.

He prayed inwardly, Uncle Hashirama, hold on for a few more years. I haven't grown up yet.

Seeing Renye's worried expression, Hashirama Senju felt warmth rise in his heart.

He had not misjudged this child after all...

"Haha, Little Renye, you don't need to worry. My injuries will heal soon."

He had a feeling that the injuries on his body would recover before long.

"Elder Brother, is that true?" Tobirama Senju hurriedly asked.

"It's true, Tobirama," Hashirama said. "I can feel my injuries slowly recovering."

As he spoke, he revealed the wound on his arm.

Renye and Tobirama quickly stepped forward to inspect it.

Just as Hashirama Senju had said, the wounds on his body were healing.

They were not recovering as quickly as before, but they truly were healing.

At once, Renye heaved a sigh of relief.

"Uncle Hashirama, it's good that you're all right."

"Haha, I made you worry." Hashirama reached out and ruffled Renye's hair.

The more he looked at this child, the more he liked him.

The concern on Renye's face earlier had not been an act. He could clearly feel that the child was genuinely worried for his safety.

"Elder Brother, it's good that you're all right. If anything happens, have Sister-in-law come find me."

Tobirama looked at Hashirama, paused, then added, "Elder Brother, you must recover. The village cannot do without you..."

Hearing this, Hashirama's smile faded and his expression turned solemn. "I understand, Tobirama."

After learning about Hashirama Senju's condition, Renye began desperately taking on missions.

He knew he did not have much time left to become stronger.

Before Hashirama Senju passed away, he had to gain the strength to protect himself.

That way, he would not become cannon fodder in the war.

In the days that followed, Renye was either carrying out missions or on his way to carry out missions.

This exhausted Danzō Shimura and Koharu Utatane.

Several times, the three had just completed a mission and their injuries had not yet healed when Renye had already started another one.

But the results were remarkable.

During their missions, the three repeatedly fought life-or-death battles, constantly reviewing and summarizing their experiences, and their strength improved enormously.

In just one year, they had grown close to Chunin level.

Yusuke Senju gave the three of them high praise.

At the border of the Land of Fire.

"Renye, after this mission is over, can we rest for a while?" Koharu Utatane asked, a trace of exhaustion flashing through her eyes.

This was already the fifth mission they had completed this month.

Other than traveling and resting, they had spent almost all their time carrying out missions.

At her words, Danzō Shimura paused while bandaging his wound and turned his gaze toward Renye.

Although he said nothing, he wanted to rest as well.

Renye lowered his eyes as he wiped Muko clean, its blade reflecting the three of them in their bedraggled state.

Koharu Utatane had overused her Chakra, leaving her face pale.

Blood was still seeping through the bandages around Danzō Shimura's arm.

Under their expectant gazes, Renye nodded in agreement.

"We really should rest for a while." Renye sheathed his sword.

Danzō's tense expression finally relaxed somewhat.

Fuck, we can finally rest.

If we keep doing missions, I might really die on one...

Koharu happily slapped Renye on the back, then turned and ran toward the village. "Then it's settled! I'm going to sleep for three days and three nights!"

The mission was over, and they prepared to return.

The setting sun stretched the shadows of the three of them long.