Hashirama's Grave Was Empty!

The next day, just before dawn.

Tsunade tiptoed out of the house.

Orochimaru was already waiting beneath a tree not far from the door.

He wore plain gray clothes, his long black hair loosely tied behind his head.

He looked far less conspicuous than usual.

When he saw Tsunade, his gaze first fell on the carefully wrapped bouquet of white chrysanthemums in her hand.

He paused.

Then he caught on and glanced around.

He plucked a few nameless wildflowers from a nearby patch of grass and held them in his hand.

Tsunade's mouth twitched.

This clueless man...

She couldn't be bothered to call out his halfhearted "offering." She walked over and lowered her voice:

"Let's go. Quickly."

Ever since she'd returned from the flower shop yesterday, her nerves had been on edge.

The thought of digging up her own "grandfather's" grave made her feel terribly guilty.

She'd barely eaten dinner and hadn't even dared to chat much with Mito Uzumaki.

She'd gone back to her room early to "rest."

Orochimaru's face betrayed nothing, but he was just as tense inside.

He knew who lived in that house.

Mito Uzumaki.

The First Hokage's wife.

They were about to dig up her husband's grave. Of course he was nervous.

"Let's go."

Neither said another word.

They quickly left the Senju estate and headed toward the Rear Mountain Cemetery.

Along the way, they briefly discussed the details of the bloodline.

Tsunade didn't understand much about Orochimaru's research.

But she had firsthand experience, so she could offer him a few suggestions.

Orochimaru found them enlightening.

As they talked, they reached the entrance to the Rear Mountain Cemetery.

The trees grew thick here, and a solemn hush hung over the grounds.

"Lady Tsunade. Lord Orochimaru."

Two masked ninja stepped out from behind a tree beside the road and blocked their way.

Tsunade stopped and glanced at them.

Both wore standard ninja uniforms and masks.

One mask resembled a fox.

The other had stark, angular lines.

One ANBU and one Root?

Tsunade understood.

The ANBU answered directly to the Hokage. Root belonged to Danzo.

With both assigned to guard the cemetery, Konoha's leadership clearly took this place seriously.

Tsunade gave a slight nod.

"I'm here to pay my respects to my grandfather. I don't want to be disturbed. Leave us and stand guard down by the entrance."

The ANBU ninja said nothing, merely looking at his Root counterpart.

The Root ninja hesitated before speaking.

"Lady Tsunade, that... isn't quite within the rules."

"Our duty is to guard the cemetery against intruders and enemy attacks."

"We can't leave our posts without orders."

"Hmph!"

Tsunade snorted, planted her hands on her hips, and frowned impatiently.

"Rules? What rules?"

"I'm here to pay respects to my own grandfather and tell him a few private things about the Senju family. Do you need to hear those too?"

"Has the Senju fallen so far that we're watched even when we honor our ancestors?"

"Or do you think I, the First Hokage's granddaughter, would do something to my own grandfather's grave?"

Her words were sharp and blunt, delivered with all the imperiousness of the Konoha Princess.

Both ninja looked awkward beneath their masks.

The ANBU ninja spoke quietly.

"Lady Tsunade, that isn't what we meant..."

"Then what did you mean?"

Tsunade cut him off.

"I'm asking whether you're going to move."

"Should I go find the Third Hokage and Danzo right now?"

"And ask whether they ordered you to follow me every step of the way, even while I pay respects to my grandfather?!"

That put them in a difficult position.

Tsunade's standing was beyond question.

She was the First Hokage's own granddaughter, Konoha's princess.

And lately, she had become famous as the "Guardian Goddess of Women."

If she took this "trivial matter" to the Third Hokage, he would probably side with her.

Besides, she'd said she wanted to discuss private Senju family matters.

Neither propriety nor reason gave them much ground to insist on listening in.

The two ninja exchanged glances, silently conferring.

At last, the Root ninja nodded and relented.

"We understand, Lady Tsunade."

"We'll stand guard near the cemetery entrance. If you need anything, just call us."

"Good. At least you know when to back off."

Tsunade glanced at them and said no more.

She led Orochimaru straight into the depths of the cemetery.

Watching them go, the ANBU ninja muttered to his companion:

"Lady Tsunade's temper really hasn't changed a bit."

The Root ninja looked at the chrysanthemums in her hand and replied softly:

"She came this early to pay her respects and even brought a teammate... Maybe she really is that devoted."

They thought no more of it and returned to their assigned positions along the outer perimeter.

Tsunade and Orochimaru walked in silence up the stone-paved path.

Neat rows of headstones lined both sides.

Different names and family crests were carved into them.

This was Konoha's Heroes' Cemetery.

Most ninja who had died for the village or made outstanding contributions were laid to rest here.

A solemn stillness filled the air.

The higher they climbed, the grander the headstones became.

The grounds around them were tended with increasing care.

At last, they reached a relatively open platform at the cemetery's highest level.

Only a handful of graves stood there, each one built on an impressive scale.

The largest and most prominent headstone stood in the center. It belonged to the First Hokage.

The grave of Hashirama Senju.

Tsunade walked up to the headstone and stopped.

She took a deep breath and gently set her chrysanthemums before it.

Then she pressed her palms together and closed her eyes.

Her face took on an expression of "grief-stricken remembrance," and her lips moved faintly.

She appeared to be reciting something under her breath.

In the distance, the ANBU and Root ninja occasionally peered through binoculars from the edge of the woods.

At the sight, they couldn't help nodding.

"Lady Tsunade really is devoted to her grandfather."

"Yes. She came so early and brought an offering. If the First Hokage can see her from beyond, he must be pleased."

But only Orochimaru, standing beside Tsunade, could hear what she was actually saying.

In a tiny voice, Tsunade muttered rapidly:

"Please don't be angry! Please don't be angry!"

"Grandpa Hashirama, I swear I'm not here to desecrate your grave!"

"Your granddaughter has to shoulder the burden of protecting Konoha and uniting the Shinobi World someday. I need more power!"

"I'm doing this to carry on your will and bring glory to the Senju!"

"If you can hear me from beyond, please don't blame your granddaughter. You have to understand why I'm doing this!"

"It's all Orochimaru's fault!"

"Yes, that pale-faced man beside me with the sinister look in his eyes!"

"He tempted me into this! He urged me to come!"

"He said your cells were the path to scientific progress and the key to peace in the Shinobi World! He talked me into it!"

"Blame the one responsible, Grandpa! Haunt his dreams tonight! Please don't come after me!"

Orochimaru: "..."

Standing beside her, he felt his face twitch again and again.

He nearly snapped several times, but forced himself to hold back.

Tsunade suddenly opened her eyes mid-mutter and gave Orochimaru a strange look.

"Wait, what are you standing around for?"

"Get to work!"

Orochimaru's chest rose and fell with anger.

"Hmph... Madwoman."

He couldn't be bothered to argue with Tsunade.

He crouched as though clearing fallen leaves or dust from in front of the headstone.

His wide sleeve gave a faint rustle.

Several snakes no thicker than fingers, their coloring close to the soil, slid silently out of his sleeve.

As soon as they landed, they burrowed into the earth.

Tsunade stood a little ahead of him and to one side, using her body to block any view from a distance.

All the while, she kept up the pretense of paying her respects.

Time passed, second by second.

Orochimaru remained crouched there, motionless.

But his expression gradually changed from calm to something strange.

His brow furrowed slightly.

A few more minutes passed.

Orochimaru's slit pupils suddenly narrowed!

He seemed to have sensed something impossible.

His body visibly stiffened.

Then he jerked his head up and turned toward Tsunade.

His golden eyes were filled with shock, disbelief, and deep confusion.

Their eyes met, and Tsunade's heart sank.

A terrible premonition seized her.

Orochimaru's lips moved.

In a voice barely above a whisper, he said two words.

"It's empty."