Konoha, Senju Main Residence.
The sky is exceptionally clear today. The sunlight shines through the cherry blossom trees in the courtyard and falls on the bluestone ground. The breeze blows by, causing the leaves to sway gently.
The whole village is still peaceful, but there is an indescribable heavy atmosphere permeating Senju Clan's mansion.
--Konoha's Second Hokage and Tobirama Senju have all run out.
As one of the most dazzling and powerful men in Shinobi World, he devoted his whole life to the construction and development of Konoha. However, no matter how powerful the ninja is, he cannot withstand the erosion of time.
When he was dying, he summoned his disciples.
After receiving the summons, Konoha High Command, his disciples, and the closest people rushed over.
Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, with a heavy face, knew that his teacher had reached the end of his life, and he was about to take over Tobirama's Will of Fire and shoulder the entire Konoha's future on his own.
Shimura Danzō, remained silent, clenching his fists tightly, with mixed feelings in his heart.
He has always wanted to surpass his teacher and prove that his ideas are the most correct, but at this moment, he only feels unprecedentedly powerless.
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu were also standing aside with complicated eyes.
In addition to these disciples, Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya were also standing outside the door with solemn expressions, quietly waiting for the summons of Tobirama Senju.
At this time, Uchiha Shinichi also arrived quietly, with a rare cynical smile on his face, but with a trace of sadness that could not be concealed.
"Tobirama old man..." He murmured softly, his eyes darkened slightly, and then he walked into the hall.
The man on the hospital bed still maintained his majesty as before. Even though his life was about to come to an end, his eyes were still sharp, as if he could see through everything in the world.
His silver-white hair has long since turned gray, and his face is full of traces of time, but his spine is still straight, as if it has never been bent in his life.
When everyone gathered in front of his bed, he slowly opened his eyes and scanned everyone with his deep gaze.
He looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi, with a hint of complexity in his eyes, and said slowly:
"Sarutobi...Konoha The burden of the future will be left to you."
Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly knelt down, his eyes were slightly red, and he said in a heavy voice, "Yes, teacher! I will do my best to protect Konoha!"
Tobirama nodded slightly, then turned his eyes to Danzo, his tone was still calm, but with an irresistible majesty:
"Danzo, I know that you have been pursuing power and eager to protect the village in your own way... But remember, the power of ninja is not to dominate, but to protect."
Danzo's fist trembled slightly, but he finally lowered his head. "... Yes, teacher."
Tobirama said nothing more, but slowly turned his head and looked at Shinichi standing aside.
"Shinichi..."
Shinichi narrowed his eyes, raised the corners of his mouth reluctantly, and said with a half-smile, "What? You don't want to give Konoha to me, do you? I have no interest in being Hokage."
Tobirama sneered and shook his head weakly, with a rare hint of gentleness in his tone. "You kid...Konoha leave it to you, so I have to worry."
Shinichi snorted softly, but felt inexplicably panicked in his heart.
Tobirama looked at him deeply and said slowly:
"You have talents and wisdom that surpass all others... But behind power, there is responsibility. Shinichi, the future Shinobi World will not always be peaceful. When that time comes... what will you choose?"
Shinichi was silent.
This old man still didn't forget to assign tasks to himself in the end.
He lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then revealed an uninhibited smile, "I... I'll probably choose the path I want to take."
Tobirama was startled for a moment when he heard this, and then chuckled, "Ha... yes."
Tsunade bit her lower lip, tears welling up in her eyes, and finally couldn't help but slide down her cheeks. She clenched her fists hard, her nails dug deeply into her palms, and said with a trembling voice, "But... but Second Grandpa, you..."
Tobirama Senju looked at her quietly, his eyes still calm and deep. Although his life had come to an end, there was no fear in his eyes, only relief and joy.
He slowly stretched out his hand and gently put it on Tsunade's shoulder. Although his palm no longer had the strength it once had, it still gave people an invisible support and comfort.
"Tsunade, don't cry."
His tone was still calm, but there was a hint of gentleness.
"You are already a powerful ninja. Grandpa Er is really, really happy to see you grow to such an extent."
Tsunade couldn't bear it anymore, her tears rolled down like broken beads. She knelt down in front of Tobirama's hospital bed with a plop, holding Tobirama's hand tightly with both hands, her voice choked with sobs. "But... you haven't seen me become the strongest Medical Ninja, you haven't seen me truly inherit your will..."
Tobirama smiled softly. There were too many complex emotions hidden in that smile. He shook his head slowly. "You don't need to be me, and you don't need to follow my path. You just need to be yourself and follow your own way to protect everything you cherish."
Tsunade raised her teary eyes and looked at the old man in front of her. The existence that had always been like a mountain in her heart seemed so weak at the moment, but his words still carried the power that people could not disobey.
"But..." She wanted to say something more, but was gently interrupted by Tobirama.
"Tsunade, your road has just begun. Don't stop, and don't wallow in sorrow." His eyes swept over everyone present, and finally stopped at Tsunade and Shinichi. The corner of his mouth raised slightly, "...Konoha's future still needs you."
Shinichi stood aside, watching this scene in silence, clenching his fists slightly, and he felt a deep sense of powerlessness - he obviously had so much power, but in the end he could not change the outcome of Tobirama.
He looked at Tsunade, the girl who had been teasing, accompanying and growing up with him. She was kneeling in front of the hospital bed with tears streaming down her face, her eyes filled with unprecedented sadness.
He sighed softly in his heart, walked forward, patted Tsunade on the shoulder, and said softly, "Little Tsunade, listen to the old man's words."
Tsunade glared at him fiercely, but the tears in his eyes still couldn't stop.
Tobirama looked at this scene with a faint smile on his lips, as if this scene completely relieved him of his worries.
His eyes gradually became deeper, as if he was looking through the crowd to the farther future.
He slowly closed his eyes, and his voice gradually became lower, but still full of power:
"All of you... no matter what, you must protect Konoha..."
"Will of Fire... must continue..."
He slowly closed his eyes, with a faint smile still hanging on the corner of his mouth.
The room fell into a dead silence.
Everyone held their breath, as if the whole world had become quiet at this moment.
Tsunade's body trembled slightly, her hands tightly grasped Tobirama's hand, and finally, she couldn't help crying anymore -
"Second Grandpa!!!"
At that moment, the room was completely silent. Everyone held their breath and looked at the man on the hospital bed quietly.
His breath gradually became fainter...
Finally, as the breeze blew by, Konoha, Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, stopped breathing.
The whole Konoha fell into mourning.
Tobirama Senju, a man who created countless Forbidden Jutsu, established the Konoha system, and led the village to prosperity, has left this world forever.
His name will be engraved in the history of Konoha.
His philosophy will deeply influence the entire Shinobi World in the years to come.
His disciples will continue to move forward with his will.
--Will of Fire, immortal.