Chapter eight
Chapter 7
When Tobirama was seven he starts preparing to go support his clan, properly, for the first time, and so Batsuma takes him to the armory.
As a respectful leader his father greets the guards at the door with a noble nod and the two bow back, opening the doors readily. As the perfect son Tobirama nods at them as well, with only a slight hint of lowering his head. He enters without checking the guard's reaction's as it is expected of someone of his status in the clan.
He has been inside this room two or three times in his life, he has an armor, a practice katana and a few shuriken and kunai, most of them provided to him so he never has much reason or permission to come her, besides, this time it's different, it's important. His father is bringing him today to pick out a proper katana, not a discarded old one that was sent to the training grounds, a katana just for him, used for the first time by him, one he will keep till he cannot and will be mended until he dies by its side or it shatter beside him.
Between all the brothers Tobirama shows the most promise with a katana and even perfect Hashirama is worse than him. Between the brothers Tobirama and Itama are the only ones that chose it as their primary weapon and since Tobirama is the elder his father will pass down the Senju style to him personally.
It doesn't matter that father had no other choice, Itama being too little and Hashirama refusing to learn it, what matters is that Tobirama will make him proud, will bear the style with grace and dignity in battle. Batsuma has been teaching him for two and a half years, every week he takes at least three days to teach him personally for about two hours, and the rest of the days Tobirama has two kenjutsu teachers, all the free time he has had since he uses it for becoming the best swordsman.
He is not a master, not yet. This week or month he will make his debut in battle and he will show everyone how worthy of the sword that is picked for him he is. He is worthy of his clan. He is worthy of his family. And he is worthy of his katana. He will show it to all of them.
The Senju don't make their own katana nor most of their weapons, mostly they mend them and make kunai and shuriken on a hurry and so his sword will be picked by his father from all the pre made katana in the armory, bought from a couple of smith clans protected by the Senju a few km west (the opposite way to the Uchiha).
They walk, Tobirama slightly behind Batsuma, trough all the weapons and there is no one else inside, it's a irritatingly warm season and it makes Tobirama sweat.
Slowly they make their way around the corridors of weapons and Batsuma does not stop once. Tobirama is nervous but doesn't show it, he was told usually the teacher would ask the student things like their preferences and if they liked any weapon they saw and so on. But he knows father will pick him the perfect sword and he keeps his jaw up and eyes ahead, following loyally.
The steps echoing on the woods are annoying and the warmth is suffocating. Batsuma keeps on walking.
Tobirama knows this room is not so big but it takes an eternity for his father to take a last step and stop suddenly. As the soldier he is Tobirama stops at the perfect distance and looks as his father turns his body to the right and studies a standard looking katana encased in a normal looking black sheath, it has red rope tied to the handle, meant for tying it to an obi.
Tobirama hates it on first sight, he doesn't really love the color red (he loathes it) and the black is just very ordinary. If he could choose he would want a white, silver, green or blue sheath. He knows those aren't the most fitting colors for the sword of a covert ops ninja but it would fit him. And that is the ideal katana isn't it? That would be the ideal weapon, one you love and trust and take care of. One you like to hold and feel a connection to. His teachers had told him that and it made sense to him.
He prays in his head, to a God he doesn't name or believe, and asks: "Please, not this one."
It all happens in less than a second, Batsuma doesn't even look at him when he reaches for the boring sword and picks it up. Tobirama rationalizes that his father is only testing the weight and such, but by his experience, he knows his father is a man of only one decision and he doubts it.
Almost as if some greater being hates him his father releases the blade and tests it once, twice, in the air, shafts it, and hands it to Tobirama with a rare little approving turn of lips, like a great honor. Two handed and with and air of grace his father looks him in the eyes and waits for him to pick it up.
With his features blank and polite he reaches for it and bows deeply as he takes it. It may not be the blade he would have chosen, but he is not a master, his father is, and Tobirama trusts his family absolutely. Besides, he has to admit it is the right length and the weight is pretty good, he hopes they will work well together.
-/-
The room is very unsettled at this point and Tobirama takes initiative before it unravels to very angry people. "Right. " he can see that Harry won't be in his arms until he explains himself a little more, 'be reasonable' he tells himself. And so he turns to Shini-San. "Shini-san, seal it all up please. There are twelve anbu in and around the room, wipe them."
Shin doesn't raise a mocking eyebrow for the respect he has for Draco but he wants to roll his eyes as if saying, 'really? I know how to seal a room Draco, do keep your comments to yourself.'
Tobirama can sense in the anbu's chakra their surprise but Tobirama is, after all, the best sensor of his generation, he doesn't just miss a person for no good reason.
Hashirama raises a brow with a questioning 'hum' sound but does nothing, its Tobirama, he never made sense on a good day and God knows what type of day this is, cause Hashirama is still classifying it.
The white haired male takes a deap breath and nods gently at the Shinigami. The Shinigami hasn't really moved and he continues to sit in his chair.
The shinobi in the room are the elite of this world and they are not arrogant but they think they are good enough to to keep track of their targets trough a simple conversation, only at this point do they notice they ignored the Shinigami for a bit, they are used to noticing even the anbu and they all are back to the high strung because of this lapse.
Tobirama can see Hiruzen taking in the air to question him and he decides to let him, he gives a last visual check on the sleepy toddler and feels comforted that the child is resting on the Uchiha's shoulder but still looking at him patiently. So patiently, it gives him peace to know Harry is so near. He thought he missed him but being so close makes him want to wrap the child up and cuddle in a warm and fluffy bed and just cuddle forever. He is so glad the Yamanaka mind reading doesn't work that well.
"I like a good suspense as anyone would but can't you give this people a cup of tea and explain yourself, sensei? They are not quite so used to your unique brand of quiet" Hiruzen smiles at Tobirama and Tobirama checks on his so very frail looking student. Can see the muscle beneath the clothes and the added wisdom and burden on him. The second Hokage can't say he is happy with the weight the Saru seems to hold but he is happy that little kid got to be a petit old man that seems okish.
"Maybe they should get used to it, I do seem to come back from the dead just to confuse you so why not the next generation?" You can only see the twinkle in those redish yes if you have the right background but Tobirama is actually content he is so brilliant he invented a 'zombie jutsu', he is pretty awesome.
Hiruzen snorts out a laught. "If I had any doubt you were the real Tobirama it ended with your drama filled entrance. Do you always have to be so showy sensei? I would have thought a few years in the afterlife would have tempered you." Actually Hiruzen thinks natural white hair may have something to do with showy characteristics, he has been scarred by sensei, Sakumo and Jiraya forever.
"You just wish you were as mysterious and cool as me little saru. "
It's such a perfect deadpan Hiruzen laughs out loud and gets up for a much awaited hug from his self sacrificing sensei, he deserves this and his ninja can wait a few more second, if he were even an year younger he may have cried but he holds it in like one of the legendary 'blank faced Hokage's students. To say Tobirama hugs him is too strong a word but the undead-dead subtly rubs his back once and let's him hold on a few seconds, that is more than most ever got. Hiruzen is pretty happy with the reunion, even if the circumstances are every bit as problematic and complicated as whenever his old sensei is involved, voluntarily, in something. He can pretend his sensei isn't doing this to make the others think him unthreatening and probably wouldn't have joked with him otherwise.
"Get yourself together chibi, you are an embarrassment" Tobirama says monotone, but quietly. Hiruzen decides it's his affectionate tone not his slight disapproval tone or embarrassed tone, they are all so similar really.
"It's about a few decades past the time you had the right to tease me sensei. I've been the one doing the teasing for way too long to be bothered anymore. Besides, I'm almost seventy, I would say each centimeter you have on me gave me three extra years of life so it's fine by me."
"Still awful conversationalist I notice." Tobirama raises an eyebrow.
Hiruzen snickers back." Still a oblivious weirdo, I notice." He has to keep from smiling so hard his flesh rips, it's so good to see his sensei. He feels safer than he can even remember and his sensei is just as deadpan and weird as he remembers him and now he can actually talk to him with some sort of equality, it feels amazing getting to know his precious teacher in a new light, but so recognizable and comforting.
The first Hokage is smiling at the sidelines. The table listens and can't help but feel comforted, they all trust their ex-Hokage to some deep levels, at least with the safety of the public and village so they know there is a very good chance this people don't represent a threat. (Or the ex-Hokage is oblivious to it) They reserve their right to judge individually.
Fugaku clears his throat. "What does reincarnation have to do with anything, Senju?" He says Senju mildly as not to stir any pots but his voice is very annoyed, his son very soft and vulnerable.
The Inuzuka lady is containing herself not to speak at all, not to get mixed up in all this mess anymore than necessary, or else she would have backed that statement up.
Hyuuga Hiashi uses this gap. "I understand this is an unusual situation Hokages-sama, but I would like to remind you that the village is in the middle of a crisis and we should focus on business right now." Never has Hiashi been as unpolitical as this at meetings, but he is tired of all this stalling and general dismissiveness of the clan heads, they deserve an explanation and he wants it promptly.
Tobirama's gaze is as laser sharp as ever but appears vaguely bored to many of the observers.
Hashirama goes to his brother and squeezes his shoulder, supporting him in his silence but urging him to do something and not give up on the clueless people. It is disheartening to remember how many times Tobirama just gave up on talking to people that didn't matter or seemed useless to him.
Tobirama is awful at public speaking, honestly why the fuck had he been Hokage?! Right. His brother is an idiot. He flicks the idiot's head with his hand. He stares at the room as Hashirama makes a wounded sound, drama queen.
.
.
.
Hiruzen starts laughing and snickering behind him.
Tobirama turns and glares.
Hiruzen lifts his hand in peace but doesn't stop trembling in laughter, his mouth twitching. By his side Hashirama's lips start wiggling too.
Tobirama ups the glares and flicks them both on the forehead. 'Honestly, so improper.'
It only causes them to puff out laughter harder behind their trembling lips.
The room sweat drops. Tsuyoshi is on the verge of sleeping but a cute, sleepy giggle scape his slightly drooling lips.
Tobirama kicks the two idiots in the gut, 'Harry is so damn cute this time !', and they dodge, each gets a swift leg sweep in return, which, of course, they both dodge. It breaks the awkward wiggling and puffing fest and Hashirama mimes zipping up his lips with a fucking stupid smile on his face.
A vein throbs in Fugaku's forehead.
Tobirama resolutely does not sigh, he turns and starts speaking, if only because if he does not the two silly adult children will embarrass him more. "Since it's apparently up to me to introduce you to this" his eyes travel to the Shingami. It nods like it's obvious. Draco has the urge to kick him in the head, nothing about this is obvious and he doesn't appreciate being put on the spot. Tobirama is sure he has an annoying smirk behind the mask. The god knows how much Draco dislikes interacting with most people.
Tobirama suppresses the urge to shake his head at all of this and take Harry away and kiss all his little toes and make him safe and happy, give him a perfect life, for him to be the protected not protector.
"Firstly, let's address my reincarnation comment. Like many subjects reincarnation is a rumor and legend based belief. Basically, it is unreliable information. It's made even more unreliable because there are different types of reincarnation theories that were spread around and humans like to narrow information about a topic until they arrive to an explanation they can accept, thus farther distorting any possibly reliable information.
As ninja you all must have learnt to accept that information is almost always wrong and the bigger the number of people involved in retelling this information, the bigger the chance of error. It's all very basic. Still, to do your job you have to believe some of the information you have or you can never make a decision."
Tobirama ends this abruptly and looks at the room fully expecting that they all understood everything and took the right assumptions and so he fully expects Fugaku, and the others, to at least make the connection between Tsyoshi, Tobirama and reincarnation.
He takes a step closer to Fugaku and extends his arms for Tsuyoshi.
Fugaku does not hand his kid to the weirdo in front of him. Obviously, why should he? "How does that explain anything, Senju? Yes, we all understand the dangers of relying on information that is never 100% accurate. That does not explain why you think I should give you access to my son.
Ok, maybe Tobirama expected too much of them, he will have to spell it out. "Both me and Uchiha Tsuyoshi are reincarnated souls." Fugaku stays annoyingly flat faced and Tobirama expands on it. "How else do you think a child would recognize a deceased adult he has no connections to?"
Fugaku can understand that, he had indeed thought of this with the reincarnation comment but it doesn't seems tangible to him and he feels no need to give Tobirama access to Tsuyoshi. "Please elaborate Senju Tobirama, a simple explanation and no proof makes your tales mostly unbelievable."
The other shinobi can help but agree to the statement, even Shikaku, Minato and Hiruzn, that all believe in this to some considerable degree want more explanation.
Tobirama seethes, fucking stupid annoying people. " As I've stated earlier, it's hard to prove an information truthful but I can better prove this to all of you if you hand me Tsuyoshi, I promise I mean him no harm at all."
"As a father and clan head I cannot permit a famously Uchiha hating person to be so close to an Uchiha defenseless child." Ok, maybe he is stretching his luck a little but he doesn't feel like parting with Tsuyoshi and he has a feeling Tobirama could snatch Teyoshi before he could even notice it.
"Uchiha hate...?" he says looking at Fugaku and then the room, he wants to reassure himself of Harry/Tsuyohi, actually holding would be a nice way to do that, and he needs touch to bring Harry out anyways, he knows by now that only Harry will shed light on this mess. It would probably defuse some of the tension with all the bloodline limit people in the room if he tried to explain himself? He I'll see how it goes, if it takes too long he will just take the sleeping Tsuyoshi and proceed however he wants. " some people started thinking I hated blood line limits after Konoha was built, it seems you all think so. "He can tell they do think so. "That's not very accurate.
Yes, I did hate the Uchiha for a long time but it's not because of the sharingan in it self, it's because they constructed killer genjutsus I always fell in and I was hated by my own clan for having 'Uchiha eyes' that mentality inside my clan and in time of clan war made me blindly hate all things Uchiha until I developed enough to and learned enough to set myself right."
He extends his posture as if to take Tsuyoshi and Fugaku absolutely does not give. Tobirama growls low on his throat and starts another Godman mologue, will this never stop? Has it not being Hokage enough of trying to convince people, that don't like being reasoned with, on something they don't want to be swayed in?
Tobirama huffs just the slightest bit. " What will it take to convince you." It's not really a question, he knows a full explanation will probably do but sharing childhood stories is not his favorite activity.
"A believable, honest and complete explanation of why you are here, when you are supposedly dead. How that came to be. Why you have an interest in my child. Why a Shinigami is involved.
Those answers would be appreciated but no promises." Fugaku speaks seriously and straight forward, maybe too tired, or annoyed, for lies at this point. He knows only Tobirama, and maybe Hashirama, is stoping the hire haired male from taking Tsuyoshi by force, but damn if he won't take advantage of that.
The other leaf ninja command him for that. In their minds, of course.
Tobirama huffs. "Not all of that is for me to explain and some of that is not for you to know. How me and Brother are here are none of your business, as you would handle the knowledge badly it has been erased since the moment we were sumoned and will never be repeated." A lie but he doubts Hiruzen or Asuma will correct him." As for why, I'm here because reincarnation is more complicated than people realize.
Your son is involved in all this mess, the same way I am, I hope we will get to the point you understand enough of it to cooperate, but right now I need to make sure that your son is safe, healthy and the right person and I can only do that by checking him myself." And he is the only one with actual answers so...
He again gets closer to Fugaku and gestures, minimally, for Tsuyoshi, who is practically sleeping he doesn't even react. Tobirama can feel it is chakra exhaustion and phish all exhaustion.
Tobirama actually sighs now. "For fucks sake, I'm not an Uchiha hater or bloodline hater!" He takes a deep breath and feels slightly conforted by Hashirama squeezing his shoulder.
"Start from the beginning otouto, they will understand properly if taught properly." Nothing will be solved by you taking the child forcefully.
Hashirama being his annoying Anija self, as always, is probably correct, but no less irritating.
"Follow the logic Uchiha-san.
One day the Senju head marries a beautiful light haired, purple eyed beauty from a civilian background. They were in love.
At the time it wasn't the most common of things and the clansmen were worried about her bloodline, it being weak. About an year and a half latter they have a healthy son for their firstborn.
The clan is very happy. The child seems to resemble the father in built, healthy and strong, and the mother in personality, a very calm and happy baby. Again, the people of the clan are happy, they see it as a good omen and they start accepting their lady more.
The couple have another child about two years later, it's sad it took them a while to have another but the clan is hopeful trough out their lady's pregnancy. When the birth comes, unexpectedly early, people gather outside the main house wishing for another healthy boy that will, latter on, potentially lead the clan to prosperity. " Everyone knows that in war one or two brothers will be lost, better for the clan head to have many strong sons. He doesn't say.
Tobirama looks at these people and he hates he is telling them this but at the same time he is glad Harry is not here yet, the child is also un hearing of this, at least he can say all this and gain a little more credibility for when he and Harry will need for Harry's plan. He doesn't know the details but he can speculate from past conversations, the ones he remembers, with the idiot he loves so much. Hopefully it will work better than their last one.
"Unfortunately the new child is weak and sickly, the organs malformed and failing. The clan has good healers and they work on him but It almost dies a couple of times and, as it is custom, people tell the mother and father to put him down before he becomes a burden. End his suffering.
The mother may not be of a shinobi family but she is used to the custom and readily agrees to it. As the woman she was she adds a condition: she wants the child to have one more chance. She convinces her husband to promise her, if the child gets stronger in the next two weeks they will keep him for another year and see how it goes.
When the clan head agrees he is certain the baby won't get any better, it has been alive and healed constantly for three weeks and it's still as weak as ever. The two weeks pass, the healers check the baby over again, and declare him almost healthy. Nobody really knows how he did it and are conflicted if it will last.
The knowledge of the one year period of test is what makes most of the clansmen not question the parents.
During that year the child doesn't leave the house once. People think it is too fragile to and it gives them certainty about his approaching death."
He takes another breath, a not too deep one, no one should notice how much he hates this story, almost every reincarnation of his he ended up hated by his pears. This time he was hated as soon as they saw him, he didn't even have a chance.
"When the baby is checked over and cleared by the healers it is finally introduced to the population the rumors are wide spread and they all expand their neck to try and see the kid. Eventually they all see its red eyes and having already felt disconnected of the child rumors spread, they already have bad memories connected to red eyes and it spreads fast. After a week it's well known that Tobirama, son of Batsuma and a civilian is a bad omen child, marked with red demon eyes, many believe, to predict the Uchiha winning the war against the Senju."
Tobirama takes a tired breath. " do you understand? It's not that I hated the blood line or even the Uchiha people. I was told, from before I even knew my own name, that I was an Uchiha sent devil that would destroy the Senju from inside. That I had weak body so as to deceive people into pity. And so on."
Tobirama tried to be the perfect Senju so as to prove his loyalty but the more powerful he became, the stronger and more bizarre the rumors got.
By the time he was seven and had two other normal brothers, he had avoided any reflective services all his life so as not to see the horrible red eyes of doom. He ended up hating the color red with a vengeance.
"And so you can maybe understand that I hated the Uchiha mainly by indoctrination and because of them I was an outsider in my own clan. I had never seen one but I knew they were to blame for many of my problems, and most importantly: the clan hated them and so I followed and did that as well."
Fugaku narrows his eyes even more, like he thought Tobirama was explaining this for the hell of it.
"That's a nice sob story Senju but I don't see what your childhood has to do with your actions as Hokage and one of the most influential people in this village, in your time. Your behaviors toward the Uchiha persist to influence people in the village till today, I don't see why I should forgive and forget such damming behavior to my clan because your mentality hasn't changed since you were seven years old !
Many of the first in konoha lived through the same indoctrination but were able to grow and mature out of it, you as Hokage should have been impartial and an example. Instead you turned much of the village against us, both by reputation and by the police force. Put us in a inescapable position.
To this day we cannot abandon the police force, because of your laws. We cannot change the laws, because of the village and clan's mentality. We cannot add people to the police force for the same reasons and we still suffer the backlash of Madara, again, a prejudice to my clan that was encouraged by your time as Hokage. "
When I was seven I was told to never consider other shinobi as fellow human outside the clan, does that mean I internalized it and refused to evolve? Of course not! I tried to learn from it but not blindly follow the previous generation. So no, you can't hold my child, because I don't feel he would be safe with you. Fugaku didn't add. He had already said too much in front of the other clan heads, it will come back to bite him latter, he is certain.
Tobirama is this fucking close to directing his chakra outward and begin intimidating this useless piece of shit. A bit of chakra leaks out of him and Hashirama is right by his side, leaking chakra too. Telling him he is not alone, he doesn't need to be this angry, anija always gets what he wants and he is right there supporting Tobirama in this, it may be childish but that makes him calmer.
"Uchiha-San, I see you believe the rumors about my brother but I assure you, it is not based on the truth and it surged because of many unfortunate situations. But alas, as you believe that, you must also believe that I was one of the loudest supporters of the Uchiha in Konoha in my time, and I promise you, my otouto would never hurt Tsuyoshi-kun. If it calms you I can promise my protection to him.
Let's stop this foolishness and grant my brother something he has been waiting for a very long time shall we?"
Tobirama looks at Hashirama, with what Hashirama labels his surprised face, how did Hashirama become capable of such politics? Immersed in the past he remembers such a rash and childish Hashirama that the brother in front of him seems surreal. Well, that just another mystery about the man.
Fugaku considers it for a moment.
"Fuck you Uchiha! I would never hurt that child! I've built Knoha for him! I would rather chop off my arm than hurt, actually, I have chopped off my arm for him so give me that child right the fuck now or you will finally understand you are in over your fucking head!" Okay, that escalated a bit, but spare him some, his patience has been worn too thin.
That's seems to be the wrong thing to say because Fugaku retreats back.
The window is closed and so is the door, there is also no way Fugaku can scape two of the best shinobi that ever lived. He is good, but he isn't that good.
There is a vein popping in Tobirama's forehead, he prepares, in less than a millisecond, to snatch the dozy child.
Hashirama holds him back by the hand still on his shoulder. He glares back and pointedly does not release any more chakra. This is his brother who never did him much bad, Tobirama can trust his judgment. He waits for his brother to speak and Hashirama does.
"You could snatch that child from his fathers arms easily Tobirama, you could kill everyone in this room, me included, if you wanted. Honestly aside from me and maybe the Shinigami, they are all amateurs compared to you. Little Saru seems to have grown but we both know that even all of them together would probably die before they could even form a justsu.
They don't understand. They won't understand if you don't explain, from the beginning, all the way to the end, patiently."
"I don't have anymore patience, I've explained enough." Even though he says that he doesn't move.
Shikaku interrupts, firm but calm. " I understood, Nidaime Hokage-sama, at least some of it. I could explain if you would like."
Hashirama nods enthusiastically and Tobirama stares unblinkingly at Tsuyoshi for a few seconds. The little one nods his head off of the big shoulder and it falls a little, a mockery of a nod. Tobirama nods, this close to just forcibly taking Tsuyoshi, he will give the Nara five minutes, not a second more.
Shikaku nods and starts talking like a debrief. He knows he is well respected for his deduction skills and all these shinobi have been under his command at some point, he thinks most, if not all, of them will trust he is trustworthy in this.
"Well, from the story and assuming it truthful. Which I believe it is. We can already establish that we know too little about our past Hokages, there is no mention of Tobirama Senju being anything but a well loved and respected member of the Senju clan.
It's true that most children in the clan wars were indoctrinated to believe their rival clans something undoubtedly evil, even more so in clans with long histories of rivalry, such as the Uchiha and Senju.
Theoretically a child with such a distinct feature of their enemies would probably be killed. Even if proven the feature had nothing to do with the Uvhiha, a child with red eyes in the Senju clan would be comparative to a a child resembling the Tsuchikage, with the Tsuchikage's bloodline and name being born to Monato right now.
We've evolved since the clan wars, we consider our enemies people and even though we are exposed to enough to violence to start hating them we really have mellowed out from how it was.
From what I have read even wearing blue in the Nara clan, we were rivals to the Yuki clan, in that time was considered being a spy and such."
Making sure to look at them all, like he always does relaying information, he continues.
"Hypothetically, rumors having been spread and Tobirama being in a position in which he could only be disposed of with he clan heads approval many people would have approached the clan head to inquire of it but as soon as they were shot down, the loyalty to their leader would give Tobirama some protection.
Even so, it is a no win situation. If such a child was bad at the ninja arts, it would be taken as proof of him weakening the clan and demonstrative of his fragile loyalty. If he was mediocre he would probably be bullied and ignored to the point of isolation and that would be taken as proof of his shiftiness and, again, lack of loyalty and camaraderie. If the child exceeded expectations he would be considered unnatural and fake, due to his previous illness, probably would be isolated even without interference from his elders and people would start to fear his potential, increasing the rumors of his weirdness."
Tsume interrupts. "Sure, that could happen but wouldn't the child eventually be assimilated if he wasn't killed? Even outcasts get accepted if proven useful."
"Exactly, and that's a mentality that makes hopeful outcasts to be the most hardworking and dedicated of children. If they do not abandon this mentality they often tend to jump into opportunities too recklessly and end being killed, at least shinobi ones.
The ones that don't die end up being eventually accepted but even so, most of them tend to turn into one track minded people. By the time they are accepted they have trained their mind to achieve certain goals by all means and in this case such goal, to this Senju, would be winning all battles with the Uchiha, even after achieving the initial goal of acceptance it's likely that person is not even capable of connecting normally with people and that one track mentality doesn't just vanish over night. "
He turns to look at Fugaku. "I think that is what Nidaime Hokage-sama was talking about, not the period characteristic mentality but the personal one. Also, I think it unlikely Hokage-Sama will do something nefarious to Tsuyoshi-kun."
He has worked closely with Fugaku in the last war, it just ended and their trust in each other is not complete but it's habit. They depended on each nother and made most of the strategies in tandem. He respects Fugaku's mind, he thinks the Uchiha respects him too.
Shikaku looks at Tobirama. The ex-Hokage stays still but his statuesque face looks on to Fugaku, waiting his verdict. Shikaku can't tell if all his assumptions were correct, Tobirama shows nothing on his body language, it is a constant since he entered the room. But he feels he was right anyways.
Tobirama takes a tired breath in but his face and posture are a perfect polite blank.
Before anyone can think to stop him again he has sped up to Fugaku, taken the boy and sped up to his brother's side again.
It is so quick Fugaku startles at the loss and speeds up to take the boy back, instinct mostly, he knows he won't be able to, only for his body to not move. He doesn't understand for all of a split second and when he does he cannot move his head to glare at the Nara. He can speak though."Release me right now Nara." gritting his teeth.
Shikaku can say he sympathize with the second Hokage, in a family on geniuses, or at least compared to the general population but not the high end shinobi, he can say he has been frustrated many times when telling stories or trying to get a point across. Even jokes are sometimes frustrating outside of 25% of the clan. He can plainly see the man would have progressed differently had he wanted to hurt anyone, which includes the limp child currently going trough a detailed medical checkup by the white haired male.
Shikaku can tell by the lack of treats from Fugaku that the man knows it as well.
This situation is much harder to explain than a 15 minute childhood story, and all the clan heads know that explaining something as detailed and unprecedented as this mess to their level of detail will take some couple of hours, even more obvious is that Tobirama doing the explaining will take some three times those many hours.
Fugaku is annoying him by tugging on his shadows but Shikaku watches the second Hokage carefully, he seems to care too much for a being he does not know or doesn't have any clear connections to so far as logic dictates. The possibility of actual, real, reincarnation is leading his other justifications with 30% of likelihood, it's a lot, considering he has many theories and they all take a little off of the 90%. He always reserves 10% for unthought of theories.
"You are ok." Tobirama's whisper is loud in the room, over all the tension. He is so in the moment, for a little while immersed completely in making sure the limp body in his arms is ok, that even the people that do not know him can feel the honest fondness and relief in his tone. His body language doesn't give an inch until he starts sawing a little.
He should but a better mask on but finds himself kissing the boy's brow. Fuck it, he is dead, Harry will be the one dealing with this mess.
For the first time all ninja can notice how much the ex-Hokage cares for this boy. His instance changes significantly. It's still tense and straight backed. His face mostly expressionless, but they can all see it.
If this is an act, color Shikaku impressed.
Tobirama puts his left hand beside Tsuyoshi's head and pets the hair covertly because he can't not do it, his right arm under his burden, holding him securely to his body. He makes a rat sign, one handed, and promptly starts transferring chakra, it's very difficult business, and quite dangerous, specially for children, but if there is one thing Tobirama was good at was justsus. Medical ninjutsu is still justsu, he helped Chiyori-sama redesign this one for easier learning in the war and he feels safe transferring his chakra to Tsuyoshi's tiny body in his arms. So tiny and frail and cute.
Broken out of his trance by his Anija he looks at Hashirama and answers the question he didn't hear. "He is ok, just mild chakra exhaustion." Hashirama raises his eyebrow at him.
"Well, that's fantastic news." Hashirama smiles but doesn't add, 'call you tell me why you care so much about him now? Reincarnation really isn't a proper explanation'
Giving Tobirama a second to do his magic he walks to the blond man beside little Saru. He smiles as he aproches, sure that the other shinobi in the room are a little more tense by Tobirama's display of speed.
The blond smirks gently back at him but Hashirama can see the pain the man is in. His brother is occupied and the room, though unappreciative of the confusion they are in, can appreciate the break and respect their position in all of this. They are not stupid, they were called here for a reason, they know the Shinigami and child demanded their presence, they can see the second Hokage, that should be dead, has a strong connection to the suspicious child, they can also deduct their time has not come to press for answers.
Their best option is to let it all unfold. Besides, they would have tried to extract the child if they actually believe it's innocence or if he seemed in great danger.
Fugaku knows this as well, but that is his kid and this is all too much fucking stress, he had to deal with much chaos tonight from kyuubi and protecting the civilians and whatnot, he just cannot calm himself down enough.
Hashirama looks the blond in the eyes and his own crinkle at the edges. "Tell me if it hurts differently from a bruise ok?"
Minato rubs the back of his head. "Yeah, sure. Thanks Hokage-sama."
Hashirama starts healing him from his midsection up, always better to make sure the guts are safe. The blond has a lot of damaged tissue in his chest but most of it is semi-healed, he must have received care immediately or he would have bled out.
Over the years Hashirama had seen so many people bleed out it was a bit ridiculous considering the other things medical ninjutsu was able to do.
"So, how did you end up like this little one?" Hashirama knows the most likely cause but it's never bad to know more.
"Maa... The kyuubi did a number on me, my wife died and I was trying to seal the kyuubi and it just went from worse to worse until I got pierced by its claws."
I was sure I would die but my blood started to trickle instead of gush and I survived somehow, he doesn't say. I'm still unsure what I would have preferred, he doesn't say. He doesn't need to, Hashirama looks down at him like he hears it just fine.
Minato smiles with watery eyes at the founder of his home. Hashirama smiles softly back and pets him in the head.
The first Hokage focuses on rejuvenating the most dreadful wounds and relieving the pain, mostly Minato is out of danger after he finishes the first aid work and there isn't much else he can do. The previous medic had already stopped any bleeding and fixed what bones could be fixed quickly.
Hashirama's smile goes back to being big and happy. "There you go! All patched up, anything else you will have to go to the hospital or ask the white haired dope over there!"
A blue armor comes flying at Hashirama's head. He ducks and laughs merrily.
Then he is back at his brother's side. Approaching carefully, slowly bringing his hand to the child's head and petting it, then smoothing his fingers down the soft cheek and softening up himself, that is one cute child.
He always liked children, one of the things he, Madara and Tobirama had in common. Madara would protect anyone younger than him twice as hard and many times Hashirama had caught him preventing toddlers from toppling or hurting themselves.
Tobirama would just watch them from afar, making sure the orphanage always had what it needed and the caretakers were fair and decent, once or twice Tobirama had held a baby and, aside from today, those were the times he had seen his brother at his most gentle.
Hashirama refuses to consider the times his soldiers died and Tobirama held their hand as they faded. That was more resignation and pretending than real softness.
As he looks up to his brother's face the little bundle of cute stirs up and the green chakra tappers off.
Automatically Tsuyoshi wraps his fingers in Tobirama's clothing and squeezes his eyes tight shut, even though Tobirama knows he smells awful Tsuyoshi gets closer, looking for even more contact.
Tobirama shakes the child awake gently and the kid rubs at his eyes and looks at him. Realizing who it is and that it's not a dream he smiles adoringly at Tobirama and Tobirama smiles back, a little oddly from disuse.
"Hey you, awake now hmm? Everything ok?" Tobirama says in whisper.
"Hummmm." Tsuyoshi shakes himself from side to side a little and Tobirama makes sure to hold him securely and adjust his hold so the boy is more upright, not realizing until then that he ended up holding him like a baby.
Tobirama bounces him a little to make sure he doesn't fall asleep again. "Tsuyoshi-kun I need a favor, a really important one, can you help me?"
Tsuyoshi is holding him tightly around the neck and he tries to look the child in the eyes."hey, Tsuyoshi, it's really important, don't you want to help me?" He feels a little bad manipulating the child, knowing he feels a pull to help Tobirama and doesn't even know why, but it's Harry, eventually he will forgive him for it.
Tsuyoshi pulls himself closer to Tobirama, peeking out just for a second, and nods in his neck." But I'm sleepy Draco."
Tobirama starts the chakra transfer again, to give the kid a boost, even with the chakra replenished the person still feels fatigue. By filling up Tsuyoshi with chakra Tobirama forced his body to wake up momentarily but he won't stay awake much longer.
"I know you are tired love but I need you to be strong right now, I promise that next time you wake up you won't feel tired or itchy anymore ok?"
"Okay."
"Very good. I need you to repeat something back to me. Ready?"
Tsuyoshi pulls back a little and nods at Tobirama, who cuts the chakra off again. In the corner the Shinigami pays extra attention, he knew there was a way for the couple to get the soul out of each other's body safely but he had never seen it.
"Repeat it back to me ok?"
Tsuyoshi nods. The room is on the edge of their seats.
" What would you do, trapped in Hogwarts' restriction wards, naked, and the giant squid pulls you under?"
Tsuyoshi looks at him with an adorable pout.
"I'll repeat it again, you don't have to say it perfectly, just understandably." He says it slower. "What would you do, trapped in Hogwarts' restriction wards, naked, and the giant squid pulls you under?"
Tsuyoshi nods again and looks determinate as he takes a breath and starts talking. " What would you do, trapped in Hog-art' restition wards, naked, and the giant squid pulls you under?"
Tobirama smiles at him. "I would put on a bubble head charm and wait it out, the squid is friendly, everybody knows that." He raises an eyebrow as the child's eyes turn avada green and knowledgeable.
Harry smiles back. "You always have to find another answer don't you? Just agree to the tattoo protkey, you know you want to."
"I refuse another tattoo, one is more than enough thank you." Tobirama breathes and suddenly Tsuyoshi's body is limp, from the mark in Tsyoshi's leg a smokey shadow rises up until it starts getting solid and opaque.
Tobirama's stag moves acros his ribs, moving its head closer and blinking up at the smoke, than looking away and back again.
The ninjas all get ready for more trouble but can see that this is what Tobirama was after all along, they can only wait and be ready.
Fugaku appears by Tobirama's side and feels Tsuyoshi's neck for a heartbeat, it's strong and healthy, Tsuyoshi looks gently asleep. He doesn't dare take Tsuyoshi now but as soon as he stops staring at his kid there is a green eyed, disheveled black haired man in a weird smokey like, opaque black clothing and a funny quirk to his lips.
The Shinigami bows to this man and before anyone can say anything Tobirama gives Fugaku Tsuyoshi and punches the man in the face. Then holds him by the arm and pulls him into a hug, holding tight.
The man gets his mind in check and hugs Tobirama back, rubbing his back and whispering "hi" in his ear "I missed you Draco, so much." The man buries his nose in Tobirama's smelling hair.
Tobirama deflates against the man in absolute relief, he hasn't felt so well in way too long, not even once in this life time and he lets Harry hold him upright for just a second, holding him close by the hairs in the back of Harry's neck, making sure he is solid an real and right there. Fuck, Draco missed this.