"Feel it for yourself."
With a casual motion,
Emiya Shigen placed a pitch-black curse mark
on Senju Tobirama's arm. The mark even took the shape of Konoha's iconic
swirling Uzumaki symbol.
"Chakra..."
"As expected, I can't channel it."
Tobirama raised his hand and attempted to use chakra, but the curse mark
flowed through his body like a warm current, sealing his chakra and even causing his body to stiffen.
But...
Tobirama was, without a doubt, a
ninjutsu genius.
The moment he realized he couldn't overpower the curse mark, he quickly adjusted his approach, allowing the curse energy to merge with his own chakra instead of resisting it.
"This power..."
A flicker of surprise crossed Tobirama's face.
The curse mark, infused with
natural energy
, significantly enhanced his strength when merged with his chakra.
Tobirama couldn't deny the truth:
Emiya Shigen's concerns about the curse mark causing future conflicts were valid.
If an ordinary ninja obtained a curse mark, they could potentially gain
jonin-level chakra output.
With proper training, they would become a formidable force on the battlefield.
The only issue was...
The curse mark wasn't easy to control.
Tobirama understood that his extensive knowledge of ninjutsu principles was the only reason he could quickly grasp how to manipulate the curse mark's energy.
Even so, he couldn't fully master it.
Unfortunately...
Tobirama had made a promise to
never use the curse mark for conflict.
He could only hope that Konoha's peace would last, so he wouldn't be tempted to use this power during desperate times.
"Let me help you remove the curse mark."
Emiya Shigen moved to undo the mark, appearing genuinely concerned that Tobirama's movements might remain restricted.
As he slowly formed hand signs, Shigen explained,
"This basic use of natural energy is too easily learned. I only hope this power doesn't bring more wars to the world..."
"Lord Emiya."
Tobirama reached out to
grab Shigen's wrist.
"There's no need to remove it just yet."
"I need to observe how the curse mark affects my chakra over time. I need to understand how long it can suppress my brother's chakra."
This ancient medical ninja is too naïve.
Perhaps, Tobirama thought, Shigen assumed that
the ninjas of this era were as talented as those from his time.
Natural energy...
It's not that easy to master.
Tobirama had seen natural energy before.
His brother,
Senju Hashirama,
had mastered
Sage Mode
by harnessing natural energy. Tobirama had always been curious about it but lacked the innate talent to sense it himself.
He understood the
value of this curse mark.
A slight pang of guilt flickered in his heart.
For Tobirama,
power meant survival.
Power allowed him to gain
control over uncertain situations.
Whether it was
internal unrest in Konoha
or
external threats from rival villages,
Tobirama couldn't afford to pass up any opportunity to strengthen his position.
He silently promised himself:
I will only use this power in the most desperate of times.
Of course...
There was no need to tell Shigen that.
"You and your brother seem to have a great relationship."
Shigen shook his head, his tone tinged with melancholy.
Perhaps he couldn't fully understand Tobirama's motivations, having witnessed the
brotherly conflict of Asura and Indra
during his time.
He sighed and warned Tobirama:
"If you don't remove the curse mark, your movements might..."
"No need to worry."
Tobirama raised his arm, showing how the
curse mark's energy flowed through his body like water.
It didn't hinder him at all.
At this rate...
I'll fully master the curse mark by the end of the day,
Tobirama thought confidently.
"I've already grasped the core principles."
Tobirama glanced at his brother on the hospital bed and quickly shifted the topic.
"Let's place the curse mark on my brother. He has mastered Sage Mode, so he might absorb it more effectively."
"I've been worried about that."
Shigen sighed, extending a hand toward Hashirama's arm.
A
dark curse mark
appeared and vanished just as quickly.
As expected...
The
natural energy in the mark was immediately absorbed
by Hashirama's body.
Hashirama's body naturally converted the curse energy into
Sage chakra,
causing him to unconsciously enter
Sage Mode.
On the bed, Hashirama's face twitched.
His expression grew pained, and he muttered
his first words since falling unconscious.
"Madara..."
"..."
Tobirama's face
darkened immediately.
Seriously?
Of all the things to say, you're still muttering Madara's name?!
Even in a coma, his brother couldn't stop
thinking about that traitorous Uchiha.
That
bastard Madara
who tried to destroy Konoha with the Nine-Tails...
That
bastard Madara
who left Hashirama with injuries that shortened his lifespan...
And yet, even now...
He's still worried about that bastard?!
"He should wake up soon," Shigen said softly, breaking the tense silence.
"Although my curse mark didn't work as intended, his body has automatically absorbed the natural energy to enter Sage Mode. His healing will improve, but it might also worsen his lifespan loss if he keeps using that chakra."
"However..."
"As long as he doesn't use his chakra recklessly after waking up, his self-healing won't cause further damage."
Shigen sighed again.
"As for the lifespan he's already lost, I'll need to find a way to fix that. In my time, I relied heavily on
Yang Release
to heal patients. My medical techniques have fallen behind without it."
"Thank you."
The tension in Tobirama's eyes finally eased.
It worked.
Emiya Shigen
had saved his brother.
Tobirama's thoughts drifted to the battlefield where
he had carried Hashirama back from his fight with Madara.
At that time, Konoha's best medical ninjas had been
completely helpless.
Tobirama's heart was filled with
gratitude.
Shigen had not only saved Hashirama but had also been
unbothered by being summoned back from the dead
and even offered to
help repair his brother's damaged lifespan.
"I'm truly grateful."
Tobirama bowed slightly, his tone sincere.
"Without you, Lord Emiya, the world wouldn't have medical ninjas willing to save lives."
But before Shigen could respond with modesty,
Tobirama's real motives slipped out.
"My brother's life is tied to the peace of Konoha. His survival holds the hopes of everyone in this village. We'll be counting on you for a long time."
That was
Tobirama's selfish wish.
He had
no intention of ending Edo Tensei
anytime soon.
After all...
He had already
gained valuable knowledge
about the ancient era from Shigen.
He had even obtained
a curse mark
infused with natural energy.
Emiya Shigen was a treasure trove of knowledge.
If Shigen hadn't been able to help with Hashirama's injuries, Tobirama would have been forced to let him return to the afterlife. But now, Shigen's
selfless devotion to helping Hashirama
made Tobirama feel like they were a perfect match.
Shigen thought so too.
Of course, Shigen had to maintain his
image as a benevolent medical ninja,
so he glanced at Hashirama and gently reminded Tobirama:
"He's about to wake up."
As Shigen predicted, Hashirama's
eyebrows twitched,
and the
Sage markings on his face faded.
The
First Hokage
suddenly
sat bolt upright
in bed, as if waking from a terrible nightmare.
He gasped for breath and, with
fear in his voice,
shouted the name of his
closest friend and greatest enemy.
"
Madara!
"