Naruto: Tsunade’s Reincarnated Older Brother

Sakumo, impaled through the abdomen and coughing up blood, became the target of Kakuzu's cruel laughter. He gathered what strength remained and slashed at the tentacles with his kunai, but more tentacles struck him from above, sending him crashing into the ground.

"Gah!"

"It's over."

Sakumo's arm bent unnaturally where it had struck the earth, and his nose hit hard against the ground. Blood flowed freely from his wounds.

The tentacle spear approached the fallen ninja, poised to deliver the killing blow to the gravely wounded man.

"———!!!"

"You!"

Suddenly, the ground beneath Kakuzu's feet erupted upward. What emerged was Tatami, his forehead adorned with a leaf-shaped headband, his body covered in blood and mud. His eyes fixed firmly on Kakuzu with unwavering determination.

The headband Tatami wore was a precious treasure he had received from his grandfather, Hashirama, during his darkest hour. Tatami had carried it with him every day since then, never letting it leave his side.

"I am a ninja of the Hidden Leaf Village, Senju Tatami."

Long ago, Hashirama had told Tatami that those who possess the will of fire are all family. Tatami remembered those words with perfect clarity.

"I am the one who inherits the will of the Hokage, the will of fire!"

One day, when Tatami graduated from the ninja academy and became a genin, that would be the day he would finally earn the right to wear this headband. On that day, he wanted to stand tall before his beloved grandfather and speak those words with pride.

By saying "I will carry on your will," he wanted to express his gratitude for being saved. He wanted to be recognized once again. And someday, he would follow in his grandfather's footsteps and become Hokage.

Tatami had been eagerly awaiting that joyous day. He could not forgive any enemy who sought to shatter that dream.

The headband he wore was a symbol of his resolve.

"Tatami! You made it just in time!"

Ina emerged from the shadows and shouted with relief.

In truth, Tatami's injuries from his battle with Kakuzu had already begun healing while Ina carried him to safety. This was due to the extraordinary regenerative abilities of the Uzumaki and Senju bloodlines.

Tatami had coordinated with Ina, once he recovered enough, he would approach using Earth Release: Underground Projection Fish Technique, find an opening, and strike Kakuzu at close range.

However, his weakened state meant his chakra reserves were drastically depleted compared to normal. This was both a crisis that prevented him from using powerful techniques and an opportunity to remain undetected by the enemy.

Earlier, Ina and Sakumo had discussed their strategy:

"Tatami was fighting two others besides this one. I can still fight. And..." Ina had thought to herself, (His amazing recovery ability means Tatami can return to battle quickly. We'll act as decoys to distract Kakuzu. When the opportunity arises, Tatami will attack from close range. It's dangerous, but... I'll do it.)

"I understand," Sakumo had replied. "If we keep this up, we'll be in a losing battle. Let's take the risk."

Sakumo had executed the plan perfectly, creating the ideal opening.

Tatami didn't waste the opportunity. He quickly formed the hand seals.

"Water Release: Water Severing Wave!"

The tentacles' guard was too slow. High-mobility tentacles pierced Tatami's shoulder, trying to stop him, but his resolve remained unshaken. If he missed this chance, he would die. So be it, let the excruciating pain consume his body. Kakuzu was about to take Tatami's attack head-on.

"Got you!"

With the sound of rushing water, Kakuzu was blown backward.

Ina shouted in triumph, and Tatami, having completed his jutsu, rushed toward the fallen Sakumo.

"Sakumo, are you alive?"

"Somehow."

Sakumo, leaning on Tatami's shoulder, slowly stood up. Despite his exhaustion, he managed a smile, and Tatami returned it with his own mud-covered grin.

But then Sakumo spoke with grim urgency:

"His heart is still beating. I managed to destroy one of his masks, the Water Release one, but there are still two left. The Fire Release mask buried underground is intact, and the two that Kakuzu is keeping in reserve are still active. We don't have the strength to fight anymore. We need to get out of here before he recovers."

Tatami's water technique had been, as Sakumo said, a final desperate gambit. Tatami had exhausted all his chakra, while Sakumo and Ina had reached their physical limits. They had nothing left to give.

Once the time limit on Tatami's diversionary tactics expired and the remaining masks were released, all three would be helplessly slaughtered.

Even Tatami had no choice but to retreat.

"Yeah, you're right..."

As he nodded in agreement, tentacles suddenly erupted from Tatami's chest. The appendages burst through his torso, spraying blood everywhere, and there was no mistaking their origin, they belonged to Kakuzu.

The Water Severing Wave that Tatami had used earlier had never actually pierced Kakuzu's heart. It had been stopped by Kakuzu's signature earth technique, Earth Spear. By hardening his body to its absolute limit, the jutsu rendered nearly all techniques ineffective, save for lightning-based attacks. Kakuzu had feigned death to lure the three into a false sense of security.

"Guh..."

"Tatami!"

"Nooooo!"

Blood gushed from Tatami's mouth like a fountain as his small body convulsed violently.

Kakuzu listened to Sakumo and Ina's screams with visible satisfaction.

"That crushed Water Release heart of mine... Boy, I'll use your heart to replace it. I'll take your talent for earth, water, and fire manipulation."

Dragged by tentacles and torn away from Sakumo, Tatami scattered droplets of blood from his chest wound as he was engulfed by a writhing mass of tentacles. Without Tatami's support, Sakumo collapsed helplessly, and Ina rushed to rescue her friend, only to be easily batted away by Kakuzu's appendages.

The tentacles rampaged through Tatami's body. Screams echoed through the forest, and then, silence fell.

"Hahahahaha!"

Kakuzu's laughter reverberated through the trees, and Katsuyu, who had been held captive by a mask in a distant location, vanished in a puff of smoke.

Kakuzu carelessly tossed Tatami's body aside. The small form sailed through the air, bounced several times, and came to rest directly in front of Sakumo.

"Tatami..."

No sign of life remained in the boy's face.

"No... no..."

Ina rushed to Tatami's lifeless body. Touching him directly, she could feel his life force draining away. Both Ina and Sakumo's expressions turned to pure despair.

Kakuzu, satisfied that he had finally witnessed what he desired most, wore a contented smile.

"Now then, you two should die as well."

Kakuzu's tentacles writhed menacingly, preparing to impale Ina and Sakumo. However, before they could fulfill their deadly purpose, they were suddenly pierced by an obstacle that had appeared from nowhere, a massive tree that had erupted from the earth itself.

"What...?"

"The Hokage?!"

Before the fallen Sakumo and Ina, beside the towering tree, stood a man with flowing black hair, clad in battle armor. He was the leader of the Hidden Leaf Village, Senju Hashirama himself.

"So... The Hokage has come to me personally. This saves me the trouble of hunting you down."

Kakuzu welcomed Hashirama's arrival with a smug grin.

Hashirama glanced at Kakuzu briefly, then turned away as if losing interest entirely, crouching down beside the wounded Sakumo and gently touching his dirt-stained cheek.

"I'm sorry I'm late, Sakumo, Ina."

"Hokage-sama, Tatami is—!"

"I know." Without turning to face Kakuzu, Hashirama asked quietly, "Why did you do such a thing?"

Kakuzu was momentarily taken aback, then smiled once more. He failed to notice the trembling in Hashirama's hands.

"Because you interfered with my mission to kill you, Hokage."

"The war is over. Peace has come to the lands. Why would you do such a thing?"

"The Hidden Leaf Village has grown too powerful. By killing you, I'll disrupt the balance of power and spark a new war. For a mercenary village like Takigakure, peace means there's no profitable work to be found."

"I see."

Tatami's eyes remained wide open, unseeing. Hashirama gently closed the boy's eyelids and slowly rose to his feet. The chakra and rage emanating from his body created such overwhelming pressure that even Ina and Sakumo, standing nearby, found it difficult to breathe.

"Die, Hokage!"

Kakuzu, overwhelmed by Hashirama's killing intent, pushed past his fear with pride in his own strength and launched his tentacles toward the legendary shinobi. At the same time, with Tatami's life force extinguished, the two masks that had been held in reserve were freed. Kakuzu summoned the new mask created from Tatami's heart along with the two others, and combined with his tentacle spears, aimed them all at Hashirama.

Meanwhile, Hashirama expelled several Wood Release clones from his own body. The three clones had no intention of fighting Kakuzu, they each gathered up Sakumo, Ina, and Tatami's remains and retreated to safety.

"Those who would harm the children of this village," Hashirama murmured, "I will not forgive."

The next moment, red markings appeared around Hashirama's eyes, kumadori, the proof of Sage Mode, a state achievable only by those who had mastered the absorption and use of natural energy. Kakuzu looked puzzled by the markings at first, but his expression twisted into shock the next instant.

Suddenly towering before Kakuzu was a colossal Buddha statue. Standing on the ground, Kakuzu could not see its peak no matter how high he craned his neck skyward. It was larger than even the great slug Katsuyu, surpassing mountains themselves, with hundreds—no, thousands, of hands protruding from its back. The Thousand-Armed Kannon.

"Sage Art: Wood Release—Shin Susenju."

The battle ended in an instant. No, it was unclear whether it could even be called a battle.

The countless arms extending from the Buddha statue thrust forward in unison, an army of fists slicing through the air. In a single moment, they tore up the earth and sent it flying. The ground continued to shake violently.

Kakuzu was consumed by the avalanche of strikes before he could even scream, his form disappearing entirely beneath the rubble.

***

"Incredible... This is the Hokage's true power..."

A short distance away, Sakumo, being treated by one of Hashirama's Wood Release clones, held his breath in awe, while Ina clung to Tatami's body and wept openly.

The clone wore an expression of profound sorrow—yet it seemed to harbor some deeper, unspoken emotion.

"Are you both unharmed?"

When Hashirama reunited with them, his body bore not a single wound. The anger had already faded from his face, and the sage markings had disappeared.

"Hokage-sama..."

"Hokage-sama... Tatami..."

"You both did well."

Hashirama stroked the heads of Sakumo, who bowed deeply, and Ina, who continued to sob, then approached Tatami's remains.

He caressed the boy's cooling cheek and removed his battle armor.

"Hokage-sama, how did you know to come here?"

"I was playing with Tatami's shadow clone when Katsuyu, the slug he had summoned, informed me of the crisis occurring here."

If Tobirama had been present, we could have arrived sooner using the Flying Thunder God Technique, Hashirama thought to himself, but kept the words unspoken. Tobirama was on a diplomatic mission to the Hidden Mist Village, an important task. There was no point in dwelling on what might have been.

Hashirama formed hand seals in sequence: Boar, Dog, Rooster, Monkey.

"Summoning Technique."

A small slug emerged from the dispersing smoke. It was Katsuyu, a divided portion of the slug that Tatami had summoned, and in terms of hierarchy, a junior slug.

Though it was only the size of a fist, it was sufficient for Hashirama's purposes.

"Katsuyu, relay this message to the main body: entrust the village to Tobirama."

"Hashirama-sama..."

Whether it had heard through shared consciousness or understood from the events of the battle, Katsuyu grasped what Hashirama intended and simply repeated his name in silence.

Slugs in the damp forest possess the ability to share consciousness even when divided into multiple bodies. Slugs are hermaphroditic and reproduce through division. Rarely, some divided portions develop consciousness distinct from the original, such as Katsuyu, born from the Great Slug Sage, and this smaller Katsuyu, born from the larger one.

They maintain separate consciousness while sharing collective awareness.

"Ina, Sakumo, I have taught this technique to my granddaughter, Tsunade, Tatami's younger sister. Once you return to the village, have Tsunade perform this technique on Katsuyu."

"Hokage-sama... what are you saying?"

Sakumo's confused question was met only with a gentle smile from Hashirama.

"Both of you, it is time to rest."

Under Hashirama's genjutsu, the two lost consciousness and lay peacefully still.

(Yes, I am the Hokage, the pillar that protects the village and its children.)

Gently moving Ina, who had been clinging to Tatami in her sleep, Hashirama gazed down at the boy's face. He tenderly stroked Tatami's cheek, then with a reluctant expression, brushed away the blood-matted hair from his forehead.

Hashirama absorbed natural energy and once again entered Sage Mode. Closing his eyes, he slowly formed the hand seals.

"Sage Art: Forbidden Secret Technique—"

***

"Mmm..."

For someone who had been asleep for so long, even gentle morning light felt overwhelmingly bright. The boy lazily pushed aside the blanket covering his body, shielded his eyes with his arm, and blocked out the sunlight.

"Tatami, you're awake!"

The boy, Tatami, slowly regained consciousness at the sound of a familiar girl's voice.

"I'm so relieved!"

"Whoa—Ina?"

The girl, Ina, threw her arms around Tatami's neck with an emotional expression. Unable to find words for Ina, whose eyes were moist with tears, Tatami simply let her embrace him.

"Ina... what's happening..."

"Wait right here! I'll go get the doctor!"

Tatami seemed to notice something in her urgency. Ina hurriedly stood up, unable to contain her excitement, and rushed out of the hospital room with unsteady steps.

Tatami awoke in a daze and looked around his surroundings. He found himself in a brightly lit white room. The sheets felt soft against his skin, and the bed was pristine white and well-made. He was wearing a hospital gown.

He pressed his hand to his head, which ached from sleeping too long, and pulled out the foreign object inserted in his arm, an IV drip.

"Hey! What are you doing?"

"Tsunade...?"

An angry voice rang out.

Looking toward the door, he saw another girl, his younger sister, Tsunade, standing there with wide eyes.

As Tsunade approached with determined strides, he felt uncertain, but when he saw her face clearly, his memories came flooding back.

"That's right, where's Kakuzu?!"

"Big brother!"

Tatami sprang up from the bed, but his legs were weak and he staggered. Tsunade was the one who panicked. She rushed over and forced him back onto the bed.

However, as Tatami continued to panic, frantically asking about Kakuzu, Tsunade's expression hardened and she slapped his cheek.

"Be quiet!"

"Ow..."

Holding his stinging cheek where his sister had struck him, Tatami fell silent. He didn't fully understand the situation, but he grasped the general picture. In other words, he had somehow survived.

"It's all right now."

"Tsunade, what happened? What about Sakumo? Ina? I was..."

"Brother, calm down. Ina-san went to get—"

"You're awake, Tatami."

"Uncle?"

"?!"

Before Tsunade could finish speaking, Tobirama suddenly appeared in the hospital room. Using the Flying Thunder God marking placed on Tatami, he had literally teleported directly inside. Ina was clinging to his arm.

The sudden arrival nearly caused Tsunade to lose her balance. She still hadn't grown accustomed to Tobirama's instantaneous arrivals via Flying Thunder God.

"Stop doing that, old man. At least announce yourself. More importantly, is everyone safe?"

"Just a bit tired, but I believe you're fine."

"I see. I'm sure you have many questions, but I'll get straight to the point. The Takigakure ninja you were fighting—Kakuzu—was defeated by my older brother. As you can see, the Yamanaka girl and the Hatake boy are both safe."

"So that's what happened. Grandfather did it... That's a relief. But—"

Tatami tried to continue: "But I should be dead, shouldn't I?"

"Correct. You were dead, but my older brother revived you. After that, you've been asleep, and time has passed. It's already been half a year."

Somehow, he had suspected as much.

It felt surreal, but the fact that his grandfather had saved him once again filled Tatami's heart with warmth.

"So grandfather saved me? I see. Where is he now?"

Ina and Tsunade looked away painfully at Tatami's joyful expression.

Tobirama ignored their discomfort and told Tatami the truth.

"My older brother, the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, is no longer with us. He sacrificed his life to save you."

An immense weight crashed down upon Tatami's body. It was nothing but the crushing mental pressure of his own realization. Those words made him understand what it truly meant, what the strong beating of his heart, which should have been torn out, actually signified.

"Tatami, you were entrusted with life by my older brother. Don't waste it."

With those words, Tobirama left the hospital room. Left behind were Tatami, standing in stunned silence, and two girls who watched him with deep concern.

Tsunade and Ina couldn't find words to say. They simply held Tatami's trembling hands tightly, continuing to offer him warmth so he wouldn't disappear.

***

The story returns to six months earlier, two days after the battle with Kakuzu.

After Hashirama sacrificed his life to restore life to Tatami, the three were rescued by Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had arrived belatedly. Seeing Hashirama's clone return to wood upon his arrival and finding Hashirama lying peacefully still, Hiruzen felt that an era had truly come to an end.

After bringing the three back to the village, Hiruzen immediately contacted Tobirama, who was on his diplomatic mission. Upon receiving the news, Tobirama returned to the village using Flying Thunder God. Seeing Hashirama lying there as if merely sleeping, what thoughts filled his younger brother's mind?

"Tobirama-sama, Ina has awakened."

"The Yamanaka girl? Can we obtain any information from her?"

"Not yet."

"I see."

He was anxious.

From the window of the Hokage office, Tobirama gazed down at the village below. Hiruzen watched his back. Though he appeared composed, the deep bond between the Senju brothers was evident. Mito, Hashirama's wife, was also filled with anxiety, but her brother-in-law Tobirama was no less troubled.

"We must discover what happened as quickly as possible. I want to hear the full account today..."

"Ina is still weak. We're having her treated again by medical ninja, but she'll need at least until tomorrow..."

"I understand that. But the village's survival is at stake. With my brother gone, the treaties with other villages could be broken at any moment. We must do everything possible."

"But..."

"Excuse me, Tobirama-sama!"

"Hmm, Danzou?"

While Hiruzen and Tobirama were discussing the situation, a man with a distinctive X-shaped scar on his chin, Shimura Danzou, entered the room. Hiruzen was startled by Danzou's sudden appearance, but composed himself and stepped back.

"Yamanaka Ina has testified that the late Hashirama-sama left instructions for Princess Tsunade to summon Katsuyu."

"What... Katsuyu?"

The slug dwelling in the Shikkotsu Forest, a descendant of the Great Slug Sage who had taught Hashirama the art of senjutsu and maintained a summoning contract with him.

"I see... so that's it."

Tobirama nodded in understanding.

"Very well. Call for Tsunade. No, I'll bring her myself."

With that, Tobirama vanished.

"Flying Thunder God... He's unusually urgent today."

Hiruzen sighed, his shoulders sagging.

The scene shifted to the meeting room of the Hokage residence.

Tobirama and Hiruzen led the gathered village elders and high-ranking officials.

Tsunade stood nervously in the center, but Hiruzen placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder to ease her tension.

"Tsunade, summon Katsuyu."

At Tobirama's command, Tsunade nodded.

She made a small cut on her thumb with a kunai, letting the blood flow, formed the necessary seals, and placed her palm on the floor.

"Summoning Technique!"

The summoning formula spread across the floor, releasing a puff of smoke from which a small Katsuyu emerged.

"With my current chakra level, this is the best I can manage..."

"That's sufficient. Thank you for your efforts."

"Come here."

"Yes."

Led by Hiruzen, Tsunade moved to a corner of the room and sat in a chair. Hiruzen remained standing beside her.

"Katsuyu, I want to hear your account. What happened?"

"Yes..."

Katsuyu recounted everything she knew to the assembly: the covert activities of the Takigakure assassins, the desperate battle fought by Tatami, Ina, and Sakumo, Tatami's death and resurrection, and Hashirama's sacrifice.

"I see... I never imagined my brother had been killed, but now I understand what transpired."

"We must have revenge on Takigakure!"

Someone's words ignited a spark that spread throughout the room instantly. The space filled with heated voices and murderous intent.

Tsunade, weakened by grief over her grandfather Hashirama's death, trembled visibly, unable to hide her fear. Hiruzen caught her eye and took her hand, offering comfort.

"Impossible."

Tobirama released his chakra, filling the room with overwhelming pressure. The room fell silent.

"Why?" someone dared to ask.

Tobirama answered curtly: "The decision to announce my brother's death rests with the Second Hokage, and it will be announced only after I officially assume office. If we act now, my brother's death will become known. With the Sand Village's movements already suspicious, we cannot show any weakness. For now, I will use my shadow clone technique to impersonate my brother and continue governing the village as usual."

"But..."

"Silence!"

The elder's protest was sharply cut off by Tobirama, but the man attempted to continue. Tobirama suddenly softened his tone and spoke with quiet intensity:

"You may speak of emotions all you wish. But do you understand? You have lost your Hokage, but before that, I lost my brother."

At Tobirama's words, the elder finally closed his mouth.

Thus, Tobirama fully utilized his abilities and became the Second Hokage, establishing the governmental systems that would define the village in just six months.

***

"So you're the Second Hokage now. Does that mean I'll eventually become the Third? I suppose I'll have to call you 'Second Hokage-sama' instead of 'old man.'"

"Yeah, probably."

Sakumo replied with a drawn-out chuckle.

It was mid-afternoon in the hospital room. Sakumo had come to visit, joining Tsunade who had arrived early that morning. He had placed a chair beside Tatami's bed and was peeling an orange, ignoring Tatami's comment about why it wasn't the traditional apple. Incidentally, Tatami preferred peaches.

"Here, eat this."

"I can feed myself."

"Who said anything about feeding you? Will you take it?"

"Yes."

Sakumo laughed at Tatami's unchanged personality. Outside the door, Ina watched the scene with a gentle smile.

***

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