Hashirama's passing

At Hashirama's residence, Kazemori Masaki met Mito, who was dressed in somber attire. She had clearly prepared herself. She thanked Kazemori Masaki and expressed her regret that Tobirama had been unable to return. As Hashirama's wife, she knew how deep the bond between the two brothers ran.

"I heard from Kagami that Lord Hashirama hasn't woken up lately," Kazemori Masaki said.

"Yes. That day probably isn't far off." Mito sighed softly, then turned and led Kazemori Masaki toward Hashirama's room.

Just as they were about to arrive, a red-haired woman hurried out of the room. The moment she saw Mito, she called softly, "Mother," then walked quickly over.

The red-haired woman was Hashirama and Mito's eldest daughter, Senju Misaki, who was also Tsunade's mother. Her hair color made it clear that she had inherited a strong Uzumaki bloodline. However, because Hashirama had opposed it, she had never become a ninja. Instead, after coming of age, she had married the son of the Land of Whirlpools' Daimyo.

Although the Land of Whirlpools was a nation built around the Uzumaki Clan, that did not mean all its people were red-haired members of the clan. People from other places had also become citizens. As time passed, the Daimyo no longer married exclusively within the clan, taking women from outside the Uzumaki Clan into his household as well. As a result, not all his children fully inherited the Uzumaki bloodline.

The Daimyo's son whom Senju Misaki had married had not fully inherited the Uzumaki bloodline. He had blond hair like his mother. From the standpoint of preserving the bloodline, he should not have been the one to marry Senju Misaki. But the Daimyo adored his mother and insisted that this son marry her. Hashirama did not particularly care about preserving bloodlines either, so when