What If Tobirama Had Survived!

Branches crisscrossed through the forest as several Konoha Ninja raced between the shadows of the trees.

Their toes barely touched the trunks. They kept low and hardly once landed on the ground, their clothes brushing past branches and sending loose leaves fluttering.

Tobirama Senju and his companions fled at full speed toward the Land of Fire. Before long, they reached the bank of a broad river.

The river marked the border between the Land of Lightning and the Land of the Moon. Once they crossed into the Land of the Moon, they could pass through the Land of Hot Water and return safely to Konoha.

Just as they were about to cross, Tobirama Senju stopped.

His gaze darkened. "Twenty pursuers. It seems Danzo and Kagami failed to hold them back."

The others went pale.

"Danzo... He really..."

"Kagami..." Utatane Koharu's eyes reddened, her face stricken with grief.

Hiruzen Sarutobi drew a deep breath, resolve hardening in his eyes. "Teacher, keep going! I'll stay behind!"

"No. I'll be the decoy."

Tobirama Senju turned around. Though the flight had left him exhausted, his expression remained steady and resolute.

"I'm the one who has to stay. You are the village's future, the next generation of the Will of Fire. You cannot die here." Fatigue showed on Tobirama Senju's stern face, but his conviction never wavered.

"No!" Hiruzen Sarutobi shot back. "Danzo gave his life to secure our escape. I refuse to fall short of him! He was right. The village can survive without any one of us, but it cannot survive without you!"

"Monkey." Tobirama Senju looked at him, his voice calm but heavy. "You and Danzo have competed all your lives. Now that he has fallen, the village needs you alive to carry its future."

"Don't let your personal feelings take over. You're someone my elder brother believed in."

"Set those feelings aside and stay calm. You're still young. Your time will come."

"Until then, keep yourself alive. Live well."

Tobirama Senju straightened and looked Hiruzen Sarutobi in the eye.

"Monkey, protect those who love the village and place their trust in you. Then raise them to become people who can carry the next era."

"Starting tomorrow, you are the Hokage!"

The sudden appointment left Hiruzen Sarutobi stunned.

He immediately dropped to one knee, his eyes blazing. "Yes, Teacher! I'll devote my life to protecting Konoha!"

"Go!"

At Tobirama's command, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Mitokado Homura, and the others hesitated no longer. They raced into the Land of the Moon.

Tobirama Senju remained alone.

He watched them disappear and sighed inwardly.

Danzo, I'm sorry. For Konoha's sake, anyone can be sacrificed. Me. You.

Kagami... You're one of the few Uchiha who truly loved the village. If there had been any other way, I never would have sent you to die. With you there, perhaps the Uchiha and Konoha could have avoided so much division.

Hiruzen, you inherited my will and my brother's. You must protect this village.

Within moments, twenty Kumogakure shinobi closed in around him.

Kinkaku, at their head, burst into wild laughter at the sight of Tobirama Senju standing alone.

"Hahaha! Tobirama Senju! I never thought you'd be the one left behind! Those two subordinates of yours must be dead at Ginkaku's hands by now!"

"You sent those two brats to cover your retreat? As if they could stop my brother. There's probably nothing left of them."

Tobirama Senju raised his eyes, his face impassive. "Enough talk. Come at me."

He drew the bladeless hilt from his back and poured Chakra into it.

Hum!

A brilliant blue blade of light sprang forth. The Sword of the Thunder God gleamed with a cutting edge.

The air in the forest suddenly grew hot.

Dark red Nine-Tails Chakra surged around Kinkaku. A thick Tailed Beast Cloak covered him in an instant, fox markings spreading across his cheeks as the scorching power of the Nine-Tails sent white vapor rising from his body.

He gripped the Kohaku no Jōhei in one hand and the Bashōsen in the other. Behind him, Kumogakure's elite closed ranks, cutting off every route of escape.

"Tobirama Senju, this is where you die!"

Kinkaku roared and swept the Bashōsen across his body!

A scorching torrent of fire surged forward on a gale. At the same time, the Kohaku no Jōhei darted out like a snake, ready to snare Tobirama and draw out his word spirit for sealing.

"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"

A ring of water rose around Tobirama, holding back the fire and shutting out its heat.

Rather than retreat, Tobirama slapped one hand against the ground. "Water Release: Great Waterfall Surge!"

Though the forest floor was dry, a vast flood erupted from it and roared across the battlefield toward every Kumogakure shinobi!

Their formation dissolved into chaos as they scrambled to dodge and defend.

"Watch out!"

"Keep clear! Tobirama Senju's Water Release is too powerful!"

"No wonder they call him a master of Water Release! He can summon a flood like that where there's no water at all. Terrifying."

"Don't be afraid!" Kinkaku shouted, steadying his men. "He's been running for his life this whole time. His Chakra is almost gone! He can't keep this up!"

Beside a tree in the river wind, Tobirama Senju leaned against the trunk and caught his breath. The technique had consumed a tremendous amount of Chakra. He was nearly spent.

As Tobirama Senju paused, dark red Nine-Tails Chakra churned around Kinkaku. Six Chakra tails lashed behind him, and his beastlike eyes locked onto Tobirama.

He put away the Bashōsen and Kohaku no Jōhei, threw back his head, and opened his mouth. Chakra converged in his throat, forming a spinning black Tailed Beast Bomb that gave off a low hum. The air trembled under its power.

"Tobirama Senju, taste the power of the Nine-Tails!"

The compressed Tailed Beast Bomb shot from Kinkaku's mouth. Black with a rim of red, it tore toward Tobirama Senju, leaving a trail of scorching air!

The force warped the air. Trees along its path caught fire and charred before it even touched them, while the shock wave tore earth and stone from the ground.

Tobirama's face darkened. With death an instant away, he had no time to think. He bit his finger and slammed one hand down. "Triple Rashomon!"

BOOM!

The ground shook violently. Rocks flew upward as three monstrous black gates burst from beneath the earth, one after another!

The gates stood in layers, their panels covered in eerie crimson Enma Patterns. Fanged demon faces leered from them. Their towering bulk filled the space before Tobirama and blocked the blast's path.

The Tailed Beast Bomb struck the face of the outermost Rashomon!

One by one, the three immensely sturdy gates cracked under the impact. Yet even as they broke, they twisted the bomb's course.

The Nine-Tails' Tailed Beast Bomb, powerful enough to flatten the entire forest, was forced off course by the Triple Rashomon. It scraped past the gates and hurtled sideways!

With a deafening blast, it missed Tobirama and slammed into the forest stretching for miles behind him!

Fire soared into the sky. The earth kept trembling as a mushroom-shaped cloud of dust and smoke rose over the wilderness.

Tobirama Senju's chest heaved as he struggled for breath. Across from him, Kinkaku faltered, his own chest rising and falling. He was no true Nine-Tails Jinchuriki; producing a complete Tailed Beast Bomb had taken a heavy toll on him too.

That brief opening was enough!

A Kumogakure Jonin struck from Tobirama's blind spot, bringing down a Ninja Blade wrapped in high-frequency Lightning Release. Blinding sparks streamed from the blade as he swung with all his strength!

"Lightning Release: Super Sonic Vibration Lightning Blade!"

The blade came too fast. Tobirama had no time to turn and block!

Just as the lightning blade was about to strike—

CLANG!

A pale purple wall of Susanoo bone surged in from the side and caught the killing blow!

Lightning burst against it. The violent shock wave sent leaves and dust flying!

Kagami Uchiha landed firmly, a half-formed Susanoo skeleton shielding him as he stared coldly at the stunned Kumogakure Jonin.

"Second Hokage! Are you all right?"

Tobirama Senju's pupils contracted. "Kagami? You're alive? What happened to Ginkaku? And that... Susanoo? The Mangekyō Sharingan? What happened to you?"

"Teacher, he isn't the only one."

Another figure dropped swiftly to the ground and came to a stop before them.

It was Shimura Danzō, missing an arm.

His right shoulder was empty, and blood still seeped through the bandages over the wound. Even so, he stood straight.

Tobirama Senju stared at the missing arm, his expression frozen. "Danzo..."

"I'm fine, Teacher. I'm too hard to kill." Danzo gave a faint smile.

Tobirama Senju's heart sank. "You're alive. That's what matters."

Kinkaku, across from them, panicked. "You brats! How are you here? Where's Ginkaku? Where is my brother?"

Danzo looked up with open contempt. "If we're standing here, do you think your brother is still alive?"

BOOM!

The words struck Kinkaku like a thunderclap!

His face went deathly pale, and his eyes filled with crimson rage!

"You killed Ginkaku!"

His roar shook the entire forest!

Dark red Nine-Tails Chakra surged wildly as his Partial Tailed Beast Transformation reached its full force. Waves of heat rose from him, and killing intent blanketed the woods!

The six Chakra tails behind Kinkaku lashed the ground, sending stones flying. Driven by hatred, he charged the three of them!

All three braced for the attack.

Danzo clenched Shuriken in his remaining left hand;

Tobirama gripped the Thunder God Sword, weak and nearly out of Chakra;

Kagami Uchiha glanced at the two beside him. One had lost an arm and was badly wounded. The other was almost out of Chakra.

He did not hesitate. Pale purple Chakra erupted around him, and the Susanoo skeleton raised its bone blade as he charged straight at Kinkaku!

The next instant!

The Nine-Tails' power collided with Susanoo's Chakra!

The crash shook the forest. Gale-force shock waves swept outward, hurling broken wood and stone through the air!

The Tailed Beast's raging red power hammered against the Susanoo skeleton. Its bones shook, and cracks spread across them!

At the same time, Danzo flicked his left hand, sending several Wind Release: Shuriken flying. "Wind Release: Vacuum Wave!"

Gales sharp as sickles crossed and carved through the surrounding Kumogakure shinobi!

"Kill them! Avenge Lord Ginkaku!"

The remaining shinobi went berserk, unleashing a barrage of Lightning Release Ninjutsu!

"Lightning Release: Electromagnetic Murder!"

"Lightning Release: False Darkness!"

"Lightning Release: Earth Flow!"

Lightning poured down. Currents raced across the forest floor, crackling and bursting!

Wind blades shattered arcs of electricity, while lightning tore through the gales!

The Ninjutsu collided in a frenzy, filling the air with blinding flashes and smoke. Earth and stone flew; plants charred. The battlefield became a scene of utter chaos!

At its center, Kinkaku had lost all reason. He attacked wildly with the Nine-Tails' power, every punch carrying crushing force!

Kagami Uchiha held firm, using his Susanoo skeleton to wear down Kinkaku's Chakra.

They clashed again and again, each impact shaking the bones!

More cracks spread through Susanoo. Kagami's vision steadily faded, and he pushed his Chakra beyond its limits. But Kinkaku's Tailed Beast Chakra was visibly weakening!

Now!

Kinkaku's last blow had spent its force, and he had yet to gather strength for the next. It was a fatal opening!

Kagami Uchiha reacted at once, pouring all his remaining Chakra into Susanoo!

Its massive hand clenched into a bony fist and slammed into Kinkaku's chest and abdomen!

BANG!

The impact exploded outward!

Large sections of Kinkaku's red Tailed Beast Cloak broke apart. His hulking body flew dozens of meters before crashing to the ground and throwing up a cloud of dust!

His breathing ragged, he struggled to lift his head. His eyes still burned red with fury, but the overwhelming strength he had shown moments ago was gone.

"Yes! Now!"

Tobirama Senju, who had been waiting for his chance, narrowed his eyes!

Several Kunai engraved with the Flying Thunder God Formula shot from his fingers!

Flying Thunder God Technique!

He vanished on the spot!

A moment later, Tobirama appeared behind Kinkaku!

Cold light flashed as the Sword of the Thunder God pierced a vital spot!

SPLURT!

Crimson blood sprayed out!

Kinkaku's Chakra collapsed. His Tailed Beast Cloak vanished, his body stiffened, and he fell to the ground, dead.

And so both of Kumogakure's renowned brothers, whose names were known throughout the Shinobi World, had fallen!

The remaining Kumogakure shinobi stared at their dead leaders. Their courage broke, and they fled in panic without daring to linger.

At last, the battlefield fell silent.

Kagami Uchiha dismissed Susanoo. His eyes were bloodshot, and his face was pale with exhaustion. That sly old fox. He never misses a chance to strike from behind.

He turned to Tobirama Senju. "Second Hokage, Kinkaku and Ginkaku are dead. The danger has passed for now. We need to get back to the village quickly."

Tobirama Senju studied him closely. "Kagami, tell me how you awakened your Mangekyō."

Kagami Uchiha had his answer ready. "I watched Danzo lose an arm protecting me. In that moment, revenge was all I could think of. My eyes awakened."

Tobirama Senju was silent for a moment, then nodded slowly.

"Never mind. You're alive. Let's return to the village."

The three tended their wounds amid the wreckage of the battlefield, then set off steadily toward Konoha.