Chapter 51: The Secret of the Underworld's Pure Land

"Elder Brother!"

"Hashirama!"

"Lord Father!"

"Great-grandfather! Great-grandfather!"

Panic and dread rippled through the gathered crowd.

Even though they had long anticipated this, actually seeing Senju Hashirama fall still wrenched at their hearts, and they scrambled forward with frantic hands to lift his body.

Only little Tsunade, standing closest, seemed utterly paralyzed by the sudden collapse of her elder. She stood blankly, tears streaming down her face as she watched the others lift her great-grandfather.

"Don't be afraid, little Tsun…."

Senju Hashirama could feel his life's flame flickering out, yet his lips still curved into that familiar, gentle, and benevolent smile as he comforted his most cherished granddaughter. "I was just playing too long today and got a bit sleepy, so I want to take a little nap…."

Tsunade.

This was the child he treasured above all others.

She had even inherited the dreams of his own childhood.

Ever since Senju Hashirama had returned to Konoha to look after the children, he had stayed constantly by the little one's side. Lately, he had poured all his remaining energy into crafting a gift for her, hoping that object would someday accompany her in his place.

The gemstone on that pendant…

Within it lay contained Senju Hashirama's Wood Release chakra.

"Take her away."

Emiya Shihara's voice commanded with unruffled calm.

"I won't go."

Little Tsunade stubbornly clutched Senju Hashirama's arm, her throat choked with sobs. "Lord Emiya, don't send me away. I want to stay with great-grandfather…."

Little Tsunade vaguely understood.

Something was definitely wrong with her great-grandfather's body.

Because right now, Emiya Shihara's attitude mirrored that of the doctors in the Konoha Hospital treating patients on the brink of death—her great-grandfather was a patient on the brink of death…

Although…

Lord Emiya was the most formidable medical ninja.

Lord Emiya could cure every illness in this world.

However…

Lord Emiya could not save everyone.

Little Tsunade had seen elderly people in their final moments, had heard the heart-wrenching cries of their grieving families, and back then, she hadn't quite understood why Lord Emiya hadn't saved them.

Lord Emiya's answer had left her confused: because their lives had reached their destination, reaching death.

Death.

Was never a disease.

No matter how brilliant a doctor's medical skills might be, it was impossible to make a human live forever in this world. Witnessing human mortality was something every medical ninja had to grow accustomed to.

Yet…

Little Tsunade still couldn't understand.

The only thing little Tsunade could understand now were those families weeping in heartbreaking agony at the Konoha Hospital; she finally knew why those people cried so bitterly…

Weeping, little Tsunade hugged Senju Hashirama's arm even tighter, her face stained with tears and dirt, refusing to budge. She even struggled desperately when Uzumaki Mito tried to lift her up.

"I won't go, I won't go…."

"Lord Emiya…."

Senju Tobirama's hands clenched into fists, suppressing the grief within his chest. He dug his fingernails into his flesh to keep his rationality firmly in control, his voice deep. "Let Tsunade stay. If big brother really… at least someone will be by his side."

"After all…"

"Big brother cherishes her the most…"

"Perhaps he still wants to speak with Tsunade…"

As Tobirama said this, his brow furrowed tightly, for that afternoon he had also learned of the final words Hashirama intended to leave them.

That afternoon.

Senju Hashirama had called his family to his side.

The First Hokage had shared his last wishes with them, hoping everyone could accept his death with equanimity, while omitting only little Tsunade, who had been taken out by Emiya Shihara.

Because Hashirama believed his life could hold out until evening, and he wanted to reserve his final moments for the child he loved most.

That afternoon.

Tobirama and Hashirama had also reached an agreement.

When Hashirama stood on the precipice of death, only Emiya Shihara would remain by his side to reveal to him the secrets of the Pure Land of the Underworld, making one final, desperate effort.

Hashirama had long since accepted the outcome of his own death, but in the end, he had been persuaded by his younger brother.

At this very moment…

Senju Tobirama abruptly discovered an opportunity.

He realized he could use this occasion to let little Tsunade stay behind, remaining by the sides of Emiya Shihara and Senju Hashirama, thereby seizing a chance to acquire the secrets of the Pure Land of the Underworld.

Once he mastered this secret, perhaps he could use it to save his eldest brother's life. Even in the worst-case scenario, he could later research more forbidden techniques derived from the secrets of the Pure Land to combat Uchiha Madara, who might stage a comeback at any moment…

"No."

Emiya Shihara remained silent for a moment, glanced down at little Tsunade who was crying her heart out, and calmly uttered a falsehood: "Tsunade is the least suitable person to stay."

For Emiya Shihara…

Perhaps little Tsunade was actually the most suitable person to stay.

Once Tsunade learned the secrets of the Pure Land, she would likely become completely a pawn in his hands, or perhaps a pawn for Black Zetsu in the future.

However…

For a child…

The truth of the world was far too cruel. The worldview of someone yet unformed would completely collapse, and her future would very likely drift into extreme darkness.

"I want to stay and keep great-grandfather company…"

Little Tsunade was still crying, refusing to leave. She reached out and gripped Senju Hashirama's arm, unwilling to let go, her cries turning into hiccuping sobs. "Lord Emiya… don't send me away… I won't disturb you while you save great-grandfather…"

"Lord Emiya…."

A trace of entreaty flickered in Senju Hashirama's eyes.

At the very end of his life, he couldn't bear to see his little granddaughter crying in such a state, nor could he bear the thought that this might truly be his last moment seeing her.

"Then let her stay."

Emiya Shihara fell silent for a brief moment, then raised his finger. A pitch-black curse mark landed on her forehead, transforming into a tiny diamond shape.

The natural energy contained within this curse mark was immense. As its excess energy spilled outward, it proved too much for little Tsunade's small frame to bear, causing her to grow drowsy and drift into a deep sleep.

"Tsunade is fine."

Senju Tobirama blocked the group of people rushing forward.

Tobirama knew that Emiya Shihara would never harm anyone, let alone hurt a child. He even understood that the energy of Emiya Shihara's curse mark would ultimately benefit Tsunade's future growth.

"Is Tsunade not suitable?"

Tobirama's brow furrowed even deeper, a sharp glint flashing through his eyes as he suddenly countered: "Then who is the most suitable person to stay?"

"If you can bear it…"

Emiya Shihara pondered for less than a second. As if he understood Tobirama's intent, his gaze slowly lowered. "You can stay as well."

"…"

Senju Tobirama finally nodded with satisfaction.

"Sister-in-law."

Tobirama's gaze fell upon Uzumaki Mito, a hint of apology surfacing on his face. "I must entrust what follows to you."

"I understand."

Mito nodded with a solemn expression.

As Uzumaki Mito raised her fingers, a golden shroud of chakra suddenly erupted from her body, enveloping her entirely as she fiercely entered the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode!

This had been discussed beforehand between Tobirama and Mito.

To prevent others from learning the news, the perimeter of this house would be guarded by Konoha's sensory squad, led by Uzumaki Mito, who possessed the most formidable sensory abilities.

For a wife, being unable to stay by the bedside at her husband's dying breath was undoubtedly a form of torture, yet Hashirama had no choice but to bid Mito farewell in advance for this very reason.

Everyone else cleared out of the house.

Only Senju Hashirama lay upon the futon, Senju Tobirama stood by the bedside, and little Tsunade slumbered soundly, clutching Hashirama's arm.

"This is the greatest secret of the Pure Land of the Underworld."

Emiya Shihara looked down at Hashirama, his voice sounding somewhat heavy. "If others were to learn of this, perhaps they would no longer view death with reverence, nor would they respect the brief lives bestowed upon them."

"Ninjas don't seem to fear death much to begin with…"

Hashirama smiled as he replied, finding this theory somewhat peculiar.

"But…"

"What if they stop cherishing emotional bonds?"

Emiya Shihara's single sentence caused Hashirama's expression to shift abruptly. "If they stop treasuring everything in the living world, stop cherishing their living relatives, and because of the existence of the Pure Land, every single person in the ninja world devolves into a monster that chooses to completely ignore time, life, and emotion—then what meaning does this world have for its existence?"

"…"

Hashirama's countenance suddenly changed.

"The Pure Land of the Underworld is a unique existence."

Emiya Shihara raised his finger, his voice carrying an unruffled, chilling indifference, as if recalling his own soul's past within the underworld.

"That place is a world of utter void."

"No matter how many things a human soul accomplishes within the Pure Land after death, it leaves behind not a single trace. A human soul is forever fixed at one static point in time."

"Perhaps a human soul experiences a vast stretch of time in the Pure Land, yet to them it is merely an instant; perhaps a human soul arrives in the Pure Land for but a fraction of a second, yet a millennium may have already passed."

"However…"

"A human soul cannot perceive it."

"Time."

"In the Pure Land, that is an extravagant concept."

"Only those whose power reaches the absolute pinnacle possess the concept of time, genuinely discerning the eternal significance of the underworld amidst death."

"Such beings…"

"Have transcended the concepts of life and death."

"Therefore, in legendary tales, it is hardly an exaggeration to call them deities."

"Sage of Six Paths…"

Senju Tobirama spoke the name with a heavy expression.

For in Emiya Shihara's description, only one figure matched the account—the Sage of Six Paths, once revered as a god.