A people-friendly Security Force

While bloody battles raged on the front lines, Konoha Ninja Village remained peaceful in the rear. Though the civilians living there knew a war was underway, it was too distant to give them any real sense of urgency. Only the village leaders receiving reports from the front felt that concern.

As Konoha Shinobi Village's current administrator, Mito Uzumaki kept a close eye on the situation at the front. The long lists of fallen ninja nearly made her eyes ache. An unusually large number of them were Senju, for they always led the charge on the battlefield.

Mito told Hashirama none of the bad news, fearing it would worsen his condition. Even knowing he would soon die, she wanted him to live a little longer. So she shared only the good news, never mentioning the price paid for those victories.

By then, Hashirama's worsening illness had left his mind somewhat clouded, and he asked few questions. He no longer had the energy to concern himself with such matters. Simply hearing the good news satisfied him. It meant Tobirama was doing Qian very well, and Konoha Ninja Village would not perish because of his illness.

Although Mito hoped to keep Hashirama alive a little longer, he seemed unable to hold on. His condition suddenly deteriorated, leaving him unconscious all day. Occasionally, he would wake for a moment, only to lapse back into unconsciousness.

Mito had no choice but to send word to the front and let Tobirama know. His reply said that he would send Kazemori Masaki to see Hashirama one last time in his stead, along with some civilians they had taken in on the battlefield and the wounded. Tobirama had also made arrangements for the civilians: the land belonging to the fallen Senju would be made available for them to