Asura's Transmigrant

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters.

Author's Notes: To the people who already follow this story, this chapter is a rewrite following a review which had some good advice.

Chapter 1: Prologue

Senju Clan Compound

Torches set on the walls cast a flickering light on the bedroom, illuminating the bed on which the Shodai Hokage lay. The glow emanated by the flames mimicked that of Hashirama's life and weakened as the night went on.

In his last days, a sudden illness had caught him. All his life, the First had relied on his cells' ability to divide beyond the Hayflick limit in order to regenerate quickly. His healing factor came at a cost however; his lifespan was shortened, though in his youth, a time of constant strife and violence, this seemed trivial.

Besides, he had already done all that he had set out to do, and a man as great as he did not see the necessity in living longer for he was assured that his Will of Fire had been passed on safely, entrusted to the capable hands of his brother.

"It's almost time… Mito," said Hashirama. The red-haired woman sitting next to his bed placed a finger on his lips, silencing him. Her eyebrows were knitted with worry.

"You should rest, Hashirama," replied the Uzumaki. In spite of what she said, as a skilled sensor, she could feel her husband's life force slipping away, and no amount of resting would prevent death. He was right.

Cliche as it was, memories of his life flashed by his eyes. If there was anything memorable, it was surely his friendship and rivalry with Uchiha Madara.

There was no relationship quite like theirs; they were the closest of friends in their youth, and in adulthood, the fiercest of enemies. It was contradictory, yet it had still happened, almost as if it was predestined.

A nostalgic smirk formed on his lips. "Damn you, Madara… of all the things I'm thinking about before I leave this place."

The last rays of light reached his eyes, and the torches on the walls went out, flames extinguished like that of Hashirama's life. Mito placed a hand on his head and closed his eyelids as a mark of respect for the deceased.

A grand funeral would be held.

Yomotsu Hirasaka

The dead Hokage opened his eyes, realising that he was on the road to Yomi. The region was cloaked in darkness and it was every bit as miserable as he had imagined it to be.

"Time to atone for my sins."

Up ahead was the First Court of Hell, ruled by King Shinko. The complex was a structure which displayed the hallmarks of traditional Japanese architecture, with thick wooden pillars and a giant tiled roof.

The main doorway was huge as well, opening up into a large hall filled with demonic attendants and a titanic man caparisoned with the regalia of a Death God.

"Senju Hashirama," the King bellowed. The Hokage knelt down to the Shinigami on the marble floor - something that was distinctly different from the rest of the otherwise purist design of the court.

"Hai, Shinko-sama."

The King's brows furrowed. "You are a special case... You were the transmigrant of Ōtsutsuki Asura, a good man with an unresolved feud with his brother, Indra. Indra was reincarnated into Uchiha Madara, who still lives at this very moment with both the chakra of Indra and Asura as he had managed to obtain your DNA. This will grant him the Rinnegan, but he won't last long either."

"I see," Hashirama replied evenly. Years of being the leader of Konohagakure allowed him to contain the shock of learning this, as with every piece of bad news he had received during his tenure.

On hindsight, Madara's dōjutsu (visual prowess) had been extremely powerful, and the Senju was not foolish enough to think that it was beyond his capabilities to survive their death match using one of the many kinjutsu (forbidden techniques) in his clan's arsenal. He had heard of one called the Izanagi; it was one of those jutsu you never wanted even your weakest foe to possess, for it made them nigh invincible.

"You shall now be checked for your sins and good deeds. Step before the Mirror of Retribution," King Shinko ordered, snapping him out of his thoughts.

The soul of the Shodai went in front of the mirror, which began reflecting his past life - as a shinobi he had killed and injured many, but was a great and honourable man as well as a venerable leader.

"Well then, your good deeds outweigh your crimes of killing. However, you won't cross the Silver Bridge to Tengoku (Paradise). You have unfinished business and will be sent to King Tenrin of the Tenth Court for reincarnation. Go," the Shinigami commanded.

Hashirama, or Asura, stepped away from the mirror with understanding. He now knew his purpose in life, and was determined to resolve this feud with Indra in the next life, whoever he may be.

Tenth Court of Hell

King Tenrin received Hashirama at his court. The King said, "I shall now send you off for reincarnation. But before that…"

Another deity appeared before him; it was Granny Men. She passed him a cup of tea which he gladly consumed.

"This tea will take effect immediately after transmigration, you will forget everything in your past life," the King informed him calmly, "Do not be afraid. Asura's chakra shall cling to your next life and if it so happens, may awaken. And now, follow me."

The King strolled to a wooden wheel which had six sectors. Each was intricately carved with a particular design - one was of a Deva, or godlike being, the next was of an Asura, a powerful armoured demon, the third was of a human; the fourth depicted an animal while the fifth showed a Preta, or hungry ghost, and the last and the least - being the lowest of all realms of existence - showed Naraka, the Path Of Hell.

King Tenrin placed his hand atop the wheel of destiny and spun it, but before it even stopped Hashirama already knew what he was fated to be in his next life, for there was only one path which allowed for such pleasure and suffering, yet rationality in spite of it all.

The wooden wheel slowed down, then ground to a halt at the Ningendō (Human Path) sector. As a shimmer of light enveloped him, the Shinigami smiled.

"Ja ne."

Author's Notes:

I'm aware that Chapter 1 is short, but trust me when I say that the future chapters will be longer (I'm writing this in retrospect). Please review to let me know what you think of this story!

Until tomorrow,

Ja Ne