Senju Rise, Hashirama Flourishes

Hashirama's bizarre ideas were rejected; such naming prowess could only be rivaled by the future "Yellow Flash." If they had to recite the names while fighting, the battle would likely be over before they finished the incantation.

Hashirama didn't sulk after being turned down, instead proposing another plan: a Wood Style combination, where each of them would complete a portion of the technique to form a single jutsu.

Teaming up to pilot a Gundam?

Hiugo felt this was more reliable than the previous idea and worth a try.

"Let's go with the Wood Dragon Technique, half from you and half from me."

Hiugo suggested this because, with his current Chakra, he could only manage something on the level of Deep Forest Emergence, but by splitting the cost, they might be able to attempt a Wood Dragon.

"No problem."

Hashirama nodded and began to prepare.

The two performed hand seals simultaneously, and soon, black wooden vines and green wooden vines intertwined and grew, eventually forming a Wood Dragon with black and green stripes.

Did it work on the first try?

Just as Hiugo was feeling a bit emotional about the monstrous talent he and Hashirama possessed, the newly formed Wood Dragon collapsed directly onto the ground.

The two climbed onto the dragon's head in confusion and attempted to control it, discovering that while the Wood Dragon could move and crawl, it simply couldn't fly...

"It failed..."

Hashirama felt a bit dejected; it was a rare opportunity to use a jutsu with his brother, yet the result was so lackluster.

"Not necessarily. At least it can move; it's just not very agile."

Hiugo tested it and found that because the jutsu was split between two people, it required both of them to control it simultaneously. Even if one party handed over control, it wouldn't work.

Therefore, using it required perfect synchronization; otherwise, while moving in a straight line was fine, attempting a turn might cause the construct to fall apart if their coordination was off.

Hashirama shook off his earlier disappointment, placed his hands on his hips, and said with a smile:

"In that case, I'll think of a name for our new technique. Let's call it..."

"Wood Style: Earth Dragon."

Hiugo immediately blurted out a name.

"Huh? I feel like the first combined jutsu should sound really impressive."

"But I don't like it."

"But..."

"I don't like it."

"..."

As a brother-obsessed sibling, Hashirama had no choice but to use the name Hiugo chose. The two controlled the Earth Dragon for a while before dispelling the jutsu.

They didn't attempt more advanced Wood Style techniques because their Chakra levels were insufficient.

Hiugo and Hashirama were both currently Jonin, but although they were the same rank, their progress differed.

Hiugo didn't know Hashirama's cultivation speed in the original world, but at his current pace, Hashirama would become an Elite Jonin in a year or two, right around the age of twelve or thirteen.

Typical genius ninjas—like Mizunashi Renai, one of Hiugo's subordinates on the Eastern Front—also reached Jonin at twelve, but at fifteen, her progress was about the same as eleven-year-old Hashirama, both having one foot in the door of Elite Jonin, or perhaps even lagging slightly behind.

It could be said that only after becoming a Jonin did the disparity in cultivation talent truly manifest.

After the two rested for a moment, Hashirama suddenly said:

"Hiugo, I've been thinking about how to achieve true peace. I've realized that the power of the Senju alone is not enough..."

Hiugo's expression shifted, and he immediately covered Hashirama's mouth:

"My dear brother, aren't you afraid of being beaten to death by your father for saying such things near the clan grounds? Use Chakra to transmit your voice if you're going to talk."

Hashirama's eyes dimmed. The love in his heart was no less than anyone else's. Even if achieving his goal required the strength of the Senju clansmen and becoming the clan head, he first wanted to change his father.

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

In Butsuma's philosophy, peace meant annihilating all enemies; regardless of who they were, if they picked up a weapon, they were enemies—even children were no exception.

This was completely different from Hashirama's idea of severing hatred and turning enemies into friends.

Hiugo let go of his hand. Because of his own influence, Hashirama had thought of many things ahead of schedule, including the dream of a "village."

However, Senju Butsuma seemed immune to Hashirama's "Talk no Jutsu" and could even counter it. If he weren't Hashirama's father and wearing the Senju crest, that kind of mindset would fit right in with the Uchiha.

Hiugo used Chakra to transmit his voice:

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

Hashirama said solemnly: "Of course."

"Good. Since you believe you are correct, then the opposite of you must be wrong. Instead of letting him continue to be wrong, it is better for you to be the one to end it."

Hashirama wasn't stupid; every word Hiugo said was an incitement for him to fight his own father.

"But..."

"There are no 'buts.' Think of Itama. He was so young, and yet he ended up like that because of a mission."

Itama...

"What should I do?"

Hashirama spoke slowly.

"You don't need to do anything. Just be yourself; your personal charisma will attract others. Leave the rest to me and Tobirama."

Hashirama nodded vigorously.

Shugo left to find Tobirama. For some reason, the mere thought of this "rebellion" made him feel a little excited.

Tobirama was in the middle of examining a piece of flesh and was inevitably in a bad mood at being interrupted:

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

Ever since Shugo said it when he was young, "evil" and "Uchiha" had become Tobirama's catchphrase.

"When the Senju thrive, Hashirama prospers."

"???"

Tobirama touched Shugo's forehead. He didn't have a fever, so why was he saying things that made no sense?

"Is there a sound-insulation barrier here?"

"Yes, to prevent others from interfering."

"Good, I have a plan."

"Let's hear it."

"Kick your father out and make Hashirama the clan head."

"???"

Tobirama looked at Shugo with a strange expression. What kind of nonsense was he spouting?

Ousting his own father as clan head to install his big brother—that was truly "filial" to death.

Out of his understanding of Shugo, Tobirama didn't kick him out immediately but frowned and said:

"Give me a reason."

"Why would that need a reason? Is it a good thing if you research the human body to improve the strength of the Senju?"

"Of course."

"If your father doesn't let you do good things, isn't that doing a bad thing?"

Tobirama thought about it and nodded.

"So, if you oust the clan head who does bad things and push up a new one, won't you have the opportunity to do your research?"

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

"Hashirama is easier to talk to. Even if he doesn't approve, you can still research in secret."

"I don't think there's a difference. I'm already researching in secret right now."

Shugo looked displeased. Good grief, so he wouldn't take the soft approach, huh? As the successor to Hashirama for village leader, his awareness was surprisingly low.

"If you don't agree, I'll confiscate your equipment right now and broadcast to the whole clan that you're researching the human body. Then, I'll ask my father to arrange a marriage for you, making it impossible for you to even research in secret."

Tobirama's eyes widened as he pointed at Shugo: "Aren't you afraid I'll tell Father what you said?"

Shugo smiled:

"At worst, this old man takes a few lashes. My constitution is strong, so I'll recover in no time. But as for you..."

Tobirama gritted his teeth and subconsciously clenched his fists.

The evil Senju Shugo had actually grasped his lifeline. Was he forced to submit?

Shugo softened his tone:

"It's not like I'm asking you to stab Butsuma. It's just about spreading some popularity and supporting Hashirama at the critical moment."

"That's it?"

"Otherwise? You don't actually want to go against your father, do you?"

"Ahem."

Tobirama coughed twice to indicate there was no problem, and that he had absolutely no recollection of what Shugo had just said.

Shugo curled his lip. It was obvious he wanted to distance himself from the conversation, but that was normal.

Right now, Tobirama only wanted to research in peace. Itama was fine, and Hashirama was fine; his yearning for peace wasn't that high yet.

Just like Madara, who would comfort Hashirama when they met as children and he got depressed, it wasn't until Izuna died that he truly changed.