Senju Rise, Hashirama Prosper

Hashirama's peculiar idea was rejected. Only the future "Eternal Genin" could rival his knack for naming things. If they tried to say the names while fighting, they'd probably finish their moves before they finished saying them.

Hashirama didn't mope after being turned down. Instead, he proposed another idea: a combined Wood Style technique, with each of them creating part of it before joining the two halves together.

Like teaming up to pilot a giant robot?

Hiugo thought this was more promising than the earlier idea. They could give it a try.

"How about the Wood Dragon Technique? You make one half, and I'll make the other."

Hiugo suggested it. With his current Chakra, he could only manage something on the level of Deep Forest Emergence, but splitting the cost between them might make a Wood Dragon possible.

"Sounds good."

Hashirama nodded and began preparing.

They formed Hand Seals at the same time. Black and green wooden vines intertwined and grew, soon forming a black-and-green-striped Wood Dragon.

They'd pulled it off on the first try?

Hiugo had just started marveling at the two of them and Hashirama's monstrous talent when the newly formed Wood Dragon dropped straight to the ground.

The two of them climbed onto its head in confusion and tried controlling it. They found that the Wood Dragon could move and crawl, but it couldn't fly...

"We failed..."

Hashirama looked dejected. He'd finally had a chance to use a technique with his younger brother, but the result had been so disappointing.

"I wouldn't call it a failure. At least it moves, even if it's not very agile."

Hiugo gave it a try and found that because each of them had created half the technique, both of them had to control it together. Even if one handed control over to the other, it didn't work.

That meant they needed to be in sync when using it. Going in a straight line would be easy enough, but if they had to turn, a lack of coordination might make it fall apart.

Hashirama's dejection vanished. He put his hands on his hips and smiled.

"In that case, I'll come up with a name for our new technique. How about..."

"Wood Style: Earth Dragon."

Hiugo immediately supplied the name.

"Huh? I think our first combination technique should have a really impressive name."

"But I don't like that."

"But..."

"I don't like it."

"..."

As a devoted little brother, Hashirama reluctantly went with the name Hiugo had chosen. The two of them maneuvered the Earth Dragon for a while before dispelling the technique.

They didn't try a more advanced Wood Style technique, since neither of them had enough Chakra.

Hiugo and Hashirama were both Jonin, but they weren't at the same stage of development.

Hiugo didn't know how quickly Hashirama had trained in the original world, but at the rate he was progressing now, Hashirama would become an elite Jonin in a year or two, at around twelve or thirteen.

A typical genius shinobi, like Hiugo's subordinate Mizunashi Renai on the Eastern Front, had reached Jonin at twelve. But at fifteen, she was only about as far along as eleven-year-old Hashirama—both of them on the cusp of becoming elite Jonin, though she might even have been a little behind.

It was only after becoming Jonin that differences in training talent truly began to show.

After they rested for a while, Hashirama suddenly said,

"Hiugo, I've been thinking about how to achieve true peace. I've realized that the Senju alone aren't strong enough..."

Hiugo's expression changed. He immediately clapped a hand over Hashirama's mouth.

"My dear big brother, you're saying this near the clan compound! Aren't you afraid Dad will hear and beat you to death? If you have to say it, at least send your voice through Chakra."

Hashirama's eyes dimmed. His love for peace was no less than anyone else's. Even though achieving his goal would require the Senju clan's strength and becoming clan head, he'd first tried to change his father.

Of course, he'd failed. Hashirama's ideals seemed completely out of place in the Warring States era, especially to Senju Butsuma.

To Butsuma, peace meant wiping out every enemy. Anyone who picked up a weapon was an enemy, no matter who they were—even children.

That was completely at odds with Hashirama's idea of ending hatred and turning enemies into friends.

Hiugo lowered his hand. Because of him, Hashirama had started thinking about many things earlier, including his dream of creating a "village."

Still, Senju Butsuma seemed immune to Hashirama's persuasive speeches. He could even fire back. If he weren't Hashirama's father and wearing Senju colors, that way of thinking would've fit right in with the Uchiha.

Hiugo sent his voice through Chakra.

"Hashirama, do you think your ideas are right?"

Hashirama replied seriously, "Of course."

"Good. If you believe you're right, then the opposite of your beliefs must be wrong. Rather than let him keep making mistakes, you should put an end to it yourself."

Hashirama wasn't stupid. Everything Hiugo said amounted to telling him to fight his own father.

"But..."

"No buts. Think about Itama. He was so young, and that's what happened to him just because he went on a mission."

Itama...

"What should I do?"

Hashirama asked softly.

"You don't need to do anything. Just be yourself. Your personality will draw people to you. Leave the rest to me and Tobirama."

Hashirama nodded firmly.

Hiugo went to find Tobirama. For some reason, the thought of this "rebellion" made him a little excited.

Tobirama was examining a piece of flesh, and the interruption left him in a bad mood.

"What is it? Were you attacked by those evil Uchiha?"

Ever since Hiugo had said it when he was little, "evil" and "Uchiha" had become Tobirama's favorite catchphrases.

"Senju rise, Hashirama prosper."

"???"

Tobirama felt Hiugo's forehead. He wasn't running a fever, so why was he saying things Tobirama couldn't understand?

"Is there a soundproof barrier here?"

"Yes, to keep others from disturbing me."

"Good. I have a plan."

"Let's hear it."

"Kick your dad out of the clan head's seat and make Hashirama the clan head."

"???"

Tobirama looked at Hiugo strangely. What kind of thing was that to say?

Driving out his own father and making his big brother the clan head? What filial piety!

Knowing Hiugo, Tobirama didn't throw him out right away. He only frowned and said,

"Give me a reason."

"What reason do you need? You want to study the human body to make the Senju stronger, right? That's a good thing."

"Of course."

"And if your dad won't let you do a good thing, then he's the one doing something bad, isn't he?"

Tobirama thought it over and nodded.

"So, if you remove the clan head who's doing bad things and put someone else in his place, you'll have a chance to do your research, right?"

"But Big Brother doesn't seem to approve of my research either."

"Hashirama's easier to talk to. Even if he doesn't approve, you can still do it secretly."

"I don't see the difference. I'm already doing it secretly."

Hiugo's expression turned displeased. So the soft approach wasn't working. For someone who'd become the village head after Hashirama, Tobirama sure lacked ambition.

"If you don't agree, I'll confiscate your equipment right now and announce to the whole clan that you're doing human experiments. Then I'll ask my dad to arrange a marriage for you, so you won't even be able to keep doing your research in secret."

Tobirama's eyes widened. He pointed at Hiugo.

"Aren't you afraid I'll tell Father what you said?"

Hiugo smiled.

"Worst case, I'll take a couple of lashes. With my strong constitution, I'll recover in no time. But you..."

Tobirama gritted his teeth and instinctively clenched his fists.

The evil Senju Hiugo had actually found his weak spot. Was he really going to have to give in?

Hiugo softened his tone.

"I'm not asking you to stab Butsuma. Just help build support for Hashirama and back him when the time comes."

"That's all?"

"What else? You don't really want to go against your father, do you?"

"Ahem."

Tobirama coughed lightly to show that he had no problem with it, and that he didn't remember a thing Hiugo had said.

Hiugo pursed his lips. Tobirama was clearly trying to distance himself from the whole thing, but that was only natural.

For now, Tobirama just wanted to focus on his research. Itama was fine, and Hashirama was fine, so he didn't yet feel a strong desire for peace.

It was like Madara. When he was little, he'd met Hashirama and made him mope, but still comforted him. It wasn't until Izuna died that he truly changed.