Finding home

Hatake Akari wasn’t a woman one messed with, she was well known to have a vicious streak and no patience for idiots. That being said, there was one idiot she adored, one she happily claimed as her grandson. Hashirama stood before her for the first time in almost 10 years, ever since his mother had died. He was a sight for sore eyes.

Though she had never expected Hashirama to come to her like this, not that it wasn’t her greatest wish. She had always wanted her Keiko’s children to leave the Senju and join the Hatake. And soon Tobirama would also be with them.

After the letter she had received from the Uchiha clan head she was eager to also see her granddaughter again.

She gave him a great big sharp smile, “Hashirama! I have to say even with your letter I am still surprised to see you here. I am so thankful though, I have alway wanted you with our clan.”

Hashirama gave a great big boisterous laugh, “haha, yeah it was a surprise for me too. But it turned out the Seju weren’t the clan I thought they were.”

Touka huffed a laugh and slapped him on the back. “What he means is he took out the trash. You should have seen him! A true Hatake that day. He ripped out a man's throat with his teeth! I wish you had been able to see the way he slaughtered the scum in that clan.”

‘Oh? Does this have anything to do with what the Uchiha told me happened to your sister?”

“I didn’t realize you were in contact with them. But yes, I took care of all the men that had a hand in hurting my sister. I challenged them to an honor fight, five on one. They all paid the price in blood. The elder responsible for making the assault possible was hunted down and made to feel the same fear he caused.”

“That’s my boy! We will have a feast so we can all hear the details. I always knew those Senju wouldn’t be able to tame your true wolf spirit. Are you ready to claim your place among us? It will mean fully forsaking your Senju name.”

Hashirama got serious now, the laughter draining off his face. “I don't intend to ever take up the Senju name again. Any clan willing to condone rape isn’t worth being a part of.”

Akira nodded solemnly, “pathetic pigs, they are lucky you already killed the men responsible or I swear I would have slaughtered them all to get to them.”

“I wouldn’t have stopped you. I am ready to become a Hatake in name as I am in blood, if you will accept me.”

“We are happy to welcome you among us. Let us have that feast tonight and tomorrow you can swear yourself to the clan and if you want to pick yourself a wolf pup as tradition dictates to raise them to be your constant companion.” Then turning to face Touka she addressed her too. “And you? Do you intend to forsake the Senju name and embrace that Hatake way?”

“Can I? I have no Hatake blood.” Touka kept all emotion out of her voice, she didn’t want to give away how much she wanted that.

“Of course you can! The Hatake are more our spirit than our blood, I can tell you have a true Hatake spirit in you with the call of the hunt strong in your blood.”

Touka let a feral smile creep onto her face. “I’ve always found the Senju to be a bit stiff for me.”

Akari laughed, “yes they always have had a stick up their asses. I think you will be much more suited with us.”

She couldn’t wait for the Uchiha to get here, to have her family together again and to see them embrace the Hatake the way she had always hoped for.

***********

Tobirama couldn’t believe she was really on her way to see her brother. Five months ago and she didn’t even know if she would see him again. Not only that but they were about to become formal allies with the Hatake. Madara had even talked about the possibility of joining with them, like the village Hashirama had always dreamed of.

Oh gosh, Hashirama. What is he going to say about the baby? Will he be angry? Is he angry that she cost him the clan? What had happened that day? Would he tell her?

As excited as she was, she was also so nervous. She had to worry about Hashirama, her grandmother, and Touka’s reaction to not only the baby but also to her relationship with Madara.

“I can see you freaking out imouto. What are you thinking about?” Izuna asked her as they jumped from branch to branch. Madara was up front leading them like a good clan head should be, which left Izuna to stay with her. Because although she was one of the strongest shinobi in Fire country, she was also 20 weeks pregnant. She knew she wouldn’t be able to fight the way she used to, and more importantly it was the only way Madara was willing to agree to let her come.

It had been a huge fight between the two of them. She understood Madara had trouble seeing her as the strong capable shinobi she was because he had never seen that side of her. Though he knew intellectually that she was the White Demon, he just didn’t see her that way, it was like he was blinded by the version of her he met five months ago, the one that didn’t have access to chakra and couldn’t even fight 4 bandits. It was infuriating to be underestimated like this, but for the safety of her child she allowed it.

When this baby was born though? She was going to put his ass in place, she would make sure he never again forgot why she got the name the White Demon.

Izuna at least didn’t seem to have a problem remembering that, he hadn’t questioned her at all since they set out, never once asked if she needed a break. In fact they spent much of the journey talking about looking forward to being able to spar with her and have a decent opponent again.

“I’m just worrying about everyone's reaction to the baby and my relationship.” She said answering Izuna’s question. “Hashirama had always joked that he would kill anyone that tried to date me. I don't know how serious he was because no one has ever been willing to date someone like me. But still it makes me worry about what his reaction will be.”

“What do you mean someone like you? Anyone would be lucky to date you.”

She gave him an incredulous look, “you know what I mean. I’ve told you what my clan thought of me.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t mean to make you think about them. But I really do think anyone would be lucky to date you. I wasn’t joking. I will admit though I have been wondering about his reaction too, I saw what he did to your father, and you told me what he did to the rest of them. If nothing else I’m sure I’ll get a good laugh out of it. Madara is sure to flail, say the wrong thing and make a fool of himself.”

Tobirama laughed a little, “haha he does have a habit of flailing.”

“Just imagine him trying to tell Hashirama, instead of breaking it to him easily and letting him know you two are dating, he's just going to blurt out something like I’m sleeping with your sister. Oh gosh I’m going to burst a rib this week. I can't wait to see all the ways he screws up.”

Now Tobirama was full on laughing, “oh my gosh you are right. He is going to be such a mess. I don’t even need to worry about telling Hashirama, I’m sure Madara will handle it for me”

“Also remember, if anyone reacts badly about the baby, they don't matter, you’re already an Uchiha to us. You aren’t just Hashirama’s imouto any more, you are mine too.”

All she could do was smile at him. It was about time she returned the honor of being called family, “thank you Izuna-nii. I feel much better. I don't know why I let myself get so worked up about it. Usually I am able to hold these things in and hide them much better.”

“I think they call that pregnancy. That, and have you ever had a safe place to just let all your emotions free before?”

“No, I haven’t. I hope you are right though and it's mostly just pregnancy, I don't want to go back to being cold and unfeeling but I would like to have better control over my emotions again.”

“That's understandable. I’m sure it will get better after my little niece is born.”

“Niece? Is that what you think I’m having?”

“Oh I don't think, I know, and uncles can just tell these things.” Izuna said, throwing an easy smile her way.

“Ha, really? Isn’t it supposed to be a mothers intuition?”

“I’ve never heard that, pretty sure it's an uncles. We know everything.”

She couldn’t be more thankful for Izuna than right now. He just had a way of making her feel better. Madara was great at being there for her of course, but something about Izuna was just different. He really did give her the comfort that came from family. They developed the relationship that Hashirama had always tried to cultivate with her, but she had been too afraid of her father to allow it to happen. She hoped it wouldn’t hurt Hashirama to see her having that bond with someone else, and maybe they could finally have that too.

The two of them continued to talk about the baby and plans for her, because Tobirama decided to go along with Izuna that the baby would be a girl, when she was born. It was more fun than she had anticipated. It made the trip a lot shorter.

Before she knew it they were approaching the gates to the Hatake compound and standing at the front, looking almost like a stranger, was Hashirama.

With a burst of speed she flew past everyone else to stand in front of her brother, taking in the way he was dressed. No more earthy colors, he was fully clothed in grays and blues with black fur around his shoulders, he looked even bigger than he usually did. Or had it just been that long since she last saw him? She stood silently in front of him. What she wanted to do was wrap her arms around and cry. But would he even want that from her? She cost him everything.

She let her eyes search his face for any sign that he would welcome that from her. At first his face betrayed nothing, just staring back at her, then before she had a chance to speak he had her wrapped in his arms pulling her to him.

“Tobira, I have missed you more than you could ever know.” His voice was thick with emotion. Suddenly everything was okay. Her anija was here. She thought she felt safe with the Uchiha but apparently there was a part of her that still felt some fear, but that was gone now.

“I missed you too anija. Leaving you was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I'm so sorry for what you had to do for me. I never meant to ruin things in the clan for you.” She tried to keep her voice steady, but with the tears already streaming down her face it was a lost cause.

Hashirama pulled away and placed his hands on either side of her face, using his thumbs he brushed her tears away. “You didn’t ruin anything for me. I finally had my eyes opened to everything wrong with the Senju and I made my choices. Killing those men though? I would do it a thousand times over. I wish you had given me their names from day one. They never should have drawn another breath, and now they wont. I am so sorry I wasn’t there to protect you, more than that, for all of the times that I failed you in the past. We should have left the moment mother died, maybe if I had taken you all, our brothers would still be alive.” Hashirama looked truly ashamed.

She placed her hands over his. “Staying was the only option. We never would have made it here alive at that age, it was too far and we were too young. There was nothing you could have done. But thank you for killing them. I have been able to sleep easy knowing they can never find me. And….and for what you did with Butsuma. I had been so afraid of him finding me and taking my baby. Knowing that you stopped him? I was able to be safe and free. Thank you anija.”

“I didn’t stop him, Izuna did. I was weak and didn’t make the killing blow myself.”

“Izuna told me everything. You did stop him.”

Hashirama pulled her against him once again. “I am so happy you are here. I’ll never let you out of my sight again.”

At that Madara let out an awkward laugh, causing Hashirama to look up. Tobirama turned her head to look at him too. They had been so focused on each other they hadn’t even noticed everyone else arriving.

“Well you’re going to have to let her go when we leave.”

Tobirama’s eyes snapped up to meet Madara’s. He couldn’t possibly be planning to tell her brother right now. They hadn’t even talked to each other and he was just going to throw it out there? Oh fuck. They had been right, he was going to make a mess of this.

Hashirama straightened up, pulling her along with him causing her to have to stand on her tiptoes. “I understood why your father refused to allow her back to the Senju, but the Hatake are our mothers clan, she will be safe here. More than that she is my sister and she will be staying with me.”

She didn’t even have to try to sense to feel Izuna’s humor behind them.

“Tobirama is going to be my wife, she is coming back with me.” Yup there it was. Just throwing it out there. No lead up, no conversation, just two men being possessive. If she didn’t love them both so much she would probably kill them. Who do either of them think they are deciding where she will go. She felt Hashirama go stiff against her, his arms tightening to an almost painful degree.

What the fuck Madara. What were you thinking? She thought.

She couldn’t even speak with her face pressed so close to Hashirama’s chest.

“I don't think I heard that right. No one asked me for permission to court her, and since no one has asked me, my sister simply can’t be getting married. Because if someone was stupid enough to get engaged to my sister without asking, or even informing me, I would have to kill that person. So think it over, what exactly are you telling me?” Hashirama’s voice had gone cold. In all her life she had never heard him like that before. And that was when he let the killing intent out.

Sometimes even she forgot there was a reason people referred to him as the god of shinobi. She remembered now. But there was a reason why people called her the White Demon too. It was time they both remembered that.

Shoving away from Hashirama and standing between him and Madara she let her own killer intent out.

The reaction was immediate, between the two of them every other shinobi was pushed back except for Madara.

“Stop acting like I am a toy to be fought over. I will make my own choices, anija I respect you but Madara is my choice. I love him and I won't let anyone decide my future for me.” Her face was etched in fury, and her voice could cut steel.

Hashirama looked from Madara to her as she spoke, and then let his killing intent drop, causing her to follow suit.

“I wasn’t trying to take your choice from you imouto. I just wanted you safe. I didn’t want another man to hurt you.”

Tobirama softened. “I know, but Madara would never hurt me. He loves me too.”

That caused Hashirama to look back up to Madara.

“It's true, I do love her.”

“Then I'm happy for you. You must promise to visit me. And I want to be there when you give birth to my little niece or nephew.”

“Of course you can be. I want you there too.”

“Okay enough of this. You are all grown shinobi, we don't need to be throwing around killing intent,” admonished Akari.

“Sorry grandmother, I didn’t mean to cause trouble for you.” Looking around she saw all the Uchiha now looking wearily at them both, with the exception of Izuna who had a shit eating grin on his face. She couldn’t help the small smile she shot back at him.

“Uchiha, if you really do intend to marry my granddaughter you will need to prove yourself in a hunt. You will come with our hunting party today to hunt down our dinner. No jutsu are allowed kunai only. Prove to me you can provide for our Tobirama.”

Hashirama nodded in agreement. “Then you will have to prove yourself to me in a duel, taijutsu only.” Then looking over to Tobirama he said, “surely you can allow me this at least. It is my job as your brother to ensure he can protect you.”

“I can accept that. It’s unexpected seeing you embrace the Hatake way so readily.”

“She was my mother too, and though I haven’t shown it the way you have, Hatake blood runs just as hot in my veins as it does yours.”

She then looked over at Madara. “Do you accept these conditions?”

“I would happily prove myself to your family. It is my honor to do so.”

Tobirama couldn’t help the feeling of joy coursing through her. Though she had been accepted by the Uchiha, it felt right to have her mothers traditions honored, and to find that the Hatake also fully accepting her into their pack.