Main World.
Konoha Year Twenty-Two, spring.
Konoha, in front of the Hokage Building.
Hashirama Senju's Wood Release was still spreading. Countless thick trees burst out of the ground, surging toward the Hokage Building and the ninja still locked in fierce combat. They made no distinction between friend and foe. Under forced control, Hashirama Senju could no longer tell them apart. His eyes held only emptiness, only numbness, only Danzo's orders.
"Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!"
The trees coiled, strangled, and crushed. Before Hashirama Senju's Wood Release, the Anbu elites and Root elites were all ants.
"No-!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was hoarse, but there was nothing he could do. He was badly wounded and could barely stand, let alone stop Hashirama Senju.
"Let me."
A voice came from the crowd.
Mito Uzumaki rushed out from among the Senju and Uchiha clansmen surrounding her, the Nine-Tails' dark red chakra surging around her. Her hair streamed in the wind, and cold fury burned in her eyes.
"I specialize in sealing jutsu, and I know Hashirama Senju. Let me deal with him."
Tobirama Senju looked at her and fell silent for a moment.
"Mito... be careful."
"Don't worry."
A faint smile curled Mito Uzumaki's lips.
"He's my husband. I know how to deal with him."
She charged toward Hashirama Senju. The Nine-Tails' chakra gathered in her hands, forming a massive sealing rune. The rune spun in the air, expanding and descending over Hashirama Senju's Spirit Bodies.
Hashirama Senju looked at the sealing rune, and an exceedingly faint glimmer flashed through his hollow eyes.
"Mito... sorry for the trouble."
His voice was low, almost inaudible.
Tears slid silently down Mito Uzumaki's face.
"Hashirama... you... still remember me?"
Hashirama Senju did not answer. The sealing rune had already enveloped his body, which began to blur and