The barrier inside the room slowly disappeared, and Renye walked out with a complex expression.
"Old Man, how is my elder brother?"
Senju Tobirama's voice was trembling slightly, and a rare look of nervousness appeared on his face.
He didn't use his perception, seemingly not wanting to know the result so quickly.
But seeing the expression on Renye's face, he understood.
"Uncle, Hashirama Uncle... he's gone," Renye's voice was hoarse.
Senju Tobirama didn't speak, looking up at the full moon in the sky.
Uzumaki Mito tightly embraced Tsunade, and the grandmother and granddaughter cried uncontrollably.
Although they had prepared themselves mentally, it was still incredibly painful when it actually happened.
Renye felt a pang of sympathy seeing their grief.
Actually, he didn't want this either, but it was Senju Hashirama's request.
Instead of letting him spend these three years in the Village in a daze, it was better to let him leave the Village...
After an unknown amount of time, Senju Tobirama suddenly said, "Old Man, take care of my elder brother. I'll go handle things first."
With that, his figure flickered and disappeared from the spot.
The news of his elder brother's death must not be known to anyone!
He needed to immediately seal off the news to prevent more people from knowing and causing panic.
And even more so, he couldn't let enemy spies know...
"Aunt Mito, please accept my condolences," Renye comforted softly.
"Yes, I know."
Uzumaki Mito's emotions gradually stabilized, and Tsunade in her arms was already asleep.
She gently picked up Tsunade and handed her to Renye, "Renye, please take Tsunade to rest. I want to stay with Hashirama a little longer."
Renye nodded and left with Tsunade.
Uzumaki Mito entered the room and looked at Hashirama on the bed with his eyes closed, and tears flowed again.
----------
Senju Hashirama died.
His funeral was very simple; only four people attended.
As Hokage, Senju Tobirama immediately sealed off the news.
After one night, almost no one knew that Hashirama had died.
Tobirama knew too well the influence of his elder brother in the Ninja World.
As long as he was still alive, no one in the Ninja World would dare to covet Konoha.
After all, the title of Ninja God was earned through battles.
The people of the Ninja World were subdued by Hashirama, which is why they called him the Ninja God!
The Land of Fire possesses a superior geographical environment and rich resources, making it a juicy piece of meat in the eyes of other Villages.
Because Hashirama was there, they could only suppress their inner desires.
Once they knew the news of Hashirama's death, they would definitely launch a war against the Land of Fire without hesitation.
Konoha without the Ninja God would not have a strong deterrent.
Even if Konoha Village's overall strength was still higher than other Villages, they would still wage war for the Land of Fire's resources.
This matter should be kept secret for as long as possible.
This way, there would be ample time for Konoha to develop.
..........
The light rain drizzled, and the stone path in the Senju cemetery was covered in mud.
Senju Tobirama, wrapped in a black cloak, stood by the excavated pit, his white hair fluttering in the wind.
Renye stood beside him, holding a bouquet of flowers.
Rain mixed with fine sand landed on Tsunade's tender face. Five-year-old Tsunade clutched Mito's sleeve, watching her second granduncle and uncle place her grandfather's coffin into the tomb, remaining dazed for a long time.
She had lost the grandfather who loved her the most.
No one would gamble with her anymore...
Rain mixed with tears streamed down Tsunade's cheeks, splashing into tiny water droplets on the ground.
Uzumaki Mito silently lit three incense sticks, and the smoke twisted and dissipated in the rain.
After doing all this, she led Tsunade away from the cemetery.
Only Renye and Tobirama remained standing in the rain.
After an unknown amount of time, Senju Tobirama suddenly asked.
"Old Man, is my elder brother really dead?"
He always felt something was fishy; how could his elder brother just die like that?
He didn't even say his last words...
He was very curious, what exactly did his elder brother say to Renye before he died?
Facing Tobirama's sudden question, Renye was momentarily stunned but quickly reacted.
"Uncle, I can understand your feelings," Renye sighed, comforting him, "But the dead cannot be brought back to life, please accept your condolences."
"You and I both know Hashirama Uncle's physical condition; it was impossible for him to survive, so stop deceiving yourself."
Senju Tobirama remained silent, turning to look at his elder brother's grave.
Calling it a grave, it was actually just a larger mound of earth.
Senju Hashirama's cells were very special and absolutely could not be casually researched!
To prevent anyone from coveting his elder brother's body, he didn't erect a tombstone...
In another ten or twenty years, who would have thought that the owner of this small mound would be the legendary Ninja God?
So, this was also a form of protection.
Of course, there were many such graves in the cemetery.
During the Warring States Period, the kind-hearted Senju Hashirama buried his deceased clansmen along with enemies from the battlefield here.
Those with tombstones were Senju clansmen, while those without tombstones were unknown enemies.
Seeing Senju Tobirama remain silent, Renye continued, "Uncle, if you really don't believe it, dig up Hashirama Uncle's body and dissect it."
Based on his understanding of this Old Man, he would never do such a thing to Hashirama's body.
That's why he said it, just to make Tobirama believe this matter.
Just as Renye expected, Senju Tobirama would not do such a thing.
He turned to look at Renye, his voice low, "I'm not saying I don't believe you, I just can't quite believe it..."
He had already covered the entire Konoha with his perception, and when he didn't sense his elder brother's Chakra fluctuations, he knew that his elder brother was truly dead.
Even if he didn't believe it, it was useless; the facts were right before him.
Renye's expression was normal, but his heart was not as calm as it appeared.
Damn it, he finally managed to fool him.
"Old Man, what did my elder brother say to you before he died?" Senju Tobirama asked.
He wanted to know if his elder brother had any instructions for him.
Renye nodded; Senju Hashirama really did leave last words.
"Uncle, Hashirama Uncle asked me to tell you that the Village is now entrusted to you, and he hopes you can lead the Village to prosperity."
Senju Tobirama looked at the mound in front of him and murmured softly.
"Don't worry, elder brother."
The Village was established by his elder brother, and he had an obligation to protect it.
The two stood before the grave, completely oblivious to a dark shadow emerging from a nearby mound.
The dark shadow quickly re-merged into the mound.
"Hehe, Asura's reincarnation is finally dead..."
----------
Land of Fire, on the cliff.
A figure wearing a straw hat stood for a long time, his eyes filled with nostalgia and relief.
The wind swept over the cliff, lifting a corner of the straw hat, revealing Senju Hashirama's slightly pale face.
He took one last deep look at Konoha Village, as if to engrave everything here into his memory.
The moment he turned, the corner of his mouth under the straw hat curved slightly upwards.
He took a step, and his figure gradually disappeared into the rain.
"Madara, I'm coming for you!"
PS: I checked the backend, I now owe five chapters, the sky has fallen!
I'll make up two chapters each tomorrow and the day after, plus the usual two chapters, for a total of eight chapters.