I Killed Madara? For Real?

"Tobirama, are you alright?"

After batting away the Tailed Beast Bomb, Hashirama immediately turned to look at Tobirama and began performing Medical Ninjutsu to treat him.

Feeling the powerful Yang Release chakra healing technique that Hashirama was using, Tobirama finally confirmed that this was indeed his elder brother, the living [God of Shinobi]—Hashirama Senju!

"Elder Brother, it really is you!"

The longing in Tobirama's heart poured out like a flood.

Most shinobi, like ordinary people, never treasured what they had until they lost it, only then feeling regret and sorrow.

Back when his elder brother was alive, he hadn't felt much.

He was practically unwavering in his decisions, even daring to confront the other Five Kage on the spot.

Most of the time, the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, barely managed the village's affairs; almost everything was handled by Tobirama alone.

To all outsiders, Tobirama seemed tougher, colder, and more domineering than Hashirama.

But only Tobirama himself knew that he was only able to be a hardliner because he stood in the shadow of his elder brother's reputation.

When his elder brother truly passed away.

After he succeeded as the Second Hokage, the pressure from inside and outside the village surged like a tidal wave, and only then did he truly realize his own limits, his own shortcomings.

To cope, he could only act even more rigidly.

Tobirama's contributions to Konoha were immense. During his tenure as the Second Hokage, he established many institutions and organizations.

He founded the [Konoha Military Police Force] to reduce instability within the village.

He created the [Anbu], directly under the Hokage's command, to strengthen central authority.

He built the [Konoha Ninja Academy], nurturing generation after generation of talent for the village.

And so on...

All of these showcased his exceptional political acumen, later emulated by other ninja villages across the shinobi world, leaving a profound impact and essentially laying the core framework for ninja villages over the following decades.

But at its heart, it was still about resolving internal and external crises, compensating for the instability caused by Konoha losing the great pillar that was [Hashirama Senju].

The effects were certainly there, and significant.

Yet unfortunately, it still couldn't prevent the outbreak of the [First Shinobi World War].

Especially [Kumogakure], which desperately wanted to know how much Konoha had left after losing Hashirama Senju.

Whether it still deserved to occupy the most fertile and convenient core land in the entire shinobi world.

The result spoke for itself.

The war ended at the cost of the Second Raikage, the Second Hokage, Kinkaku and Ginkaku, and a large number of Kumogakure elites all perishing.

But now.

With Natsu Yuu and Hashirama's intervention, that outcome had already been rewritten. At the very least, Tobirama Senju would no longer die at the hands of Kinkaku and Ginkaku.

The entire Naruto World 2 was bound to undergo massive changes as a result.

"Tobirama, it's me!"

Hashirama nodded firmly in affirmation, looking at this brother who had aged so much, filled with emotion himself.

"Elder Brother, you didn't die?"

"But, your body was clearly..."

Tobirama snapped out of it and immediately asked in confusion.

He had personally sealed Hashirama's body and sent it to [Shikkotsu Forest] for preservation.

How could his elder brother be here?

Had he been revived by some forbidden jutsu?

Something like his own [Impure World Reincarnation]?

But this was too realistic! This powerful chakra, this terrifying life force—this was a flawless resurrection!

And he seemed younger too?

What kind of heaven-defying forbidden jutsu existed in the entire shinobi world? How did he not know about it?

"The situation is a bit complicated. I'm not the elder brother you're familiar with, but I am indeed your elder brother."

"???"

Tobirama grew more and more confused. Was his elder brother playing some kind of riddle game with him? Did he even have the brains for that?

As the two were talking.

In the distance, Kinkaku grew increasingly violent and frenzied.

Having almost completely lost his reason, he couldn't even recognize Hashirama Senju, driven solely by the chakra of a collective hatred, craving the destruction of everything in sight.

He even attempted to attack Hashirama Senju.

Hashirama glanced at the Half-Tailed Beast Transformation Kinkaku, as if looking at an annoying fly.

No more words.

He clapped his hands together directly, and Wood Release activated.

Wood Release: All Creation Technique!

A giant wooden hand shot out from underground, grabbing the tailed beast Kinkaku like a chick in an instant.

"ROAR--!"

Kinkaku struggled wildly, resisting with all his might, unleashing a strength that could shatter mountains and crack rocks.

But it couldn't budge the wooden hand an inch.

This was power that could even clash with a Perfect Susanoo, far beyond what a half-dead tailed beast like Kinkaku could contend with.

The giant wooden hand kept contracting, its immense force crushing Kinkaku into constant roars and screams.

On top of that, Wood Release itself had a strong suppressive effect on Tailed Beast Chakra, let alone against a mere counterfeit.

Soon, all the Tailed Beast Chakra was forced back into Kinkaku's body by the Wood Release.

It directly broke Kinkaku's 'Half-Tailed Beast Transformation,' restoring him to human form and sanity.

But Hashirama didn't stop there; he continued to apply pressure.

He gave Kinkaku no chance to beg for mercy or explain.

"BANG--!"

Without the protection of his tailed beast cloak, Kinkaku was instantly crushed by the wooden hand into a pulp of flesh and blood, dead beyond any doubt.

Seeing this, Hashirama finally released the giant wooden hand, staring at Kinkaku's corpse with a fierce expression, utterly devoid of his usual goofiness.

Anyone who dared to lay a hand on his little brother had to die, no matter who they were!

"Elder Brother..."

Tobirama shrank back a little; only he knew how terrifying his elder brother could be when truly angered.

The so-called God of Shinobi wasn't earned through kind words, but by carving a path through mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

Loving peace and advocating for it didn't mean Hashirama would show mercy to his enemies.

The number of people Naruto and Sasuke killed in their entire lives wasn't even close to what Hashirama killed in a single day during the Warring States Period!

And this was Hashirama fresh out of the Warring States Period, not the old Hashirama who had sheathed his blade for over a decade.

"It's fine."

"He wanted to kill you; his death is well deserved!"

Hashirama reined in his killing intent, turned back to look at Tobirama, and soothed him while healing his wounds.

His expression returned to its usual gentle demeanor.

Just then, Natsu Yuu also strolled over slowly from a distance.

"Elder Brother, who is this person?" Tobirama quickly asked.

He was curious about Natsu Yuu, whose clothes were strange and who wore no headband.

But with his elder brother by his side, his courage swelled again, and he felt utterly fearless.

"This is..."

Hashirama paused; he still didn't know Natsu Yuu's name, having always addressed him as 'Sir' or 'Your Excellency.'

"Natsu Yuu. You may call me 'Sir.' Or, you can also call me 'Sage of the Dao Path.'"

Hashirama's heart leaped with joy. Was this gentleman finally revealing his hand?

Sage of the Dao Path? Sage of Six Paths? Truly on the same level, indeed!

With that, Hashirama was now convinced of Natsu Yuu's identity.

After all, the sheer shock of time travel was beyond the scope of ninjutsu; Hashirama had no choice but to believe.

As for Tobirama, he was even more stunned.

What kind of person was so arrogant as to claim to rival the legendary Sage of Six Paths?

But seeing Natsu Yuu's Rinnegan and his elder brother Hashirama's attitude, even with countless doubts, he had no choice but to swallow them.

"Elder Brother, what exactly is going on between you and this gentleman?"

Hashirama looked at Natsu Yuu, who nodded in approval, signaling that he could reveal the truth to this Tobirama of World 2.

After all, to complete the task of unifying the shinobi world in the future, they would need the Second Hokage, Tobirama, to lay the groundwork.

So Hashirama quickly gave a brief explanation of the current situation.

Tobirama was completely stunned after hearing it.

'The elder brother in front of me isn't the one who already died, but one who traveled here from the Year of Konoha's Founding? Just to save me? And I was destined to die at the hands of Kinkaku and Ginkaku?'

This series of shocks was too great. The latter part he could barely accept, since if Hashirama hadn't shown up, he would most likely have died here.

But the first half was simply too absurd.

An elder brother who had traveled from over a decade ago? This wasn't any kind of ninjutsu—it was nothing short of a miracle!

Yet everything before him was so real that Tobirama had no choice but to believe it.

At the same time, his wariness and vigilance toward this Natsu Yuu, who called himself the Sage of the Dao Path, only deepened—though there was also a trace of gratitude for saving his life.

"Hashirama Senju, the time you can stay in this world is limited. If there's anything you want to ask or talk about, hurry up and speak with your brother."

Natsu Yuu prompted.

Hashirama froze, then immediately grew serious.

This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Since he had saved Tobirama, he might as well use this chance to ask about the future.

At the very least, he could avoid many mistakes and make Konoha's development more stable.

"Tobirama, can you tell me what exactly happened over these years?"

Tobirama held nothing back and immediately recounted the cause and course of the First Shinobi World War.

When he confirmed that his own death was the direct trigger for the war, Hashirama grew even more anxious and pressed further:

"No, that's not right. Even if I died, Madara was still there!"

"With him around, how would the other four nations dare to start a war?"

"Well..."

Tobirama faltered, hesitating.

"Tobirama, what happened to Madara? Don't tell me he died before me? Spit it out!"

Left with no choice, Tobirama steeled himself and answered.

"In the second year after the village was founded, Madara left Konoha alone. Ten years later, he captured the Nine-Tails and attacked the village. Elder Brother, you fought a great battle with him and ultimately killed him at the Valley of the End..."

Hashirama was stunned: !!!∑(ﾟДﾟノ)ノ