Chapter 4
Moonlight softly illuminates the room.
Tobirama lies on the bed, gazing at the verdant leaf in his hand.
It should have been thriving just moments ago, but it was blown off the branch for no reason.
He looks at the leaf, tracing the winding veins that protrude, feeling the soft and moist texture unique to plants. Tobirama's senses are remarkably keen. With his eyes closed, he can hear the sound of footsteps from several rooms away, behind thick soundproof doors, on the thick carpets. The Senju household has several permanent maids, and those are their footsteps.
If he delves further, Tobirama can hear the regular tapping sound, occasionally accompanied by sighs. Itama is tapping the table with his knuckles, distracted and perhaps somewhat anxious, as the sounds of turning pages are irregular... Tobirama retracts his probing senses.
He opened his eyes and stared at the circular ceiling light emitting soft light. According to Hashirama, everything seemed perfectly normal; he was just the unlucky second brother who had been away for a long time and got into a car accident shortly after returning home.
However, Itama's reaction was far from normal. There was something lurking beneath the surface, like a shadow, barely perceptible but undeniably there.
He should go and ask his elder brother for more information...
...But what if Hashirama is untrustworthy?
Before that thought could fully form in his mind, Tobirama instinctively brushed it aside.
He gazed at the circular light for a while and then got up to turn it off.
It was quite late. He closed his eyes and let his consciousness sink into the ocean of sleep.
-
Unordered images and scenes flashed chaotically through his mind.
He saw a boy with a mushroom haircut come closer to him, saying, "Tobirama..."
A young boy with long, black hair, pulled back into a ponytail, appeared looking troubled as he tugged on his own hair. "Tobirama, do you think..."
Then came a young man with long hair, who had inherited the family's position. Afterwards, the emblem on his forehead changed.
Finally, he saw a blood-red setting sun, casting a crimson hue on every corner of the room. Everything seemed like a silent play. A man, partially reclining on a bed, with his long hair cascading down his back, stray strands falling in front of his eyes. His face was pale, his lips colorless, but he was smiling, reaching out his hand, lips moving as if saying something to Tobirama.
Tobirama instinctively tried to grasp the outstretched hand, but he caught nothing.
*Snap*. The hand fell on the mattress. The world regained its sound.
He heard the lingering echoes in the air.
"Tobirama..."
-
Tobirama opened his eyes. His spine felt cold, and he was covered in a cold sweat for a moment, but soon, those strange and unsettling dreams retreated from his consciousness.
The night was dark, and he had no idea how long he had been asleep.
In his room, the doorknob turned ever so gently.
The hallway light filtered through the slightly ajar door, casting a glow into the otherwise pitch-black bedroom. The visitor cautiously covered the light and gently closed the door.
Tobirama remained still with his eyes closed, all his senses acutely focused on the approaching visitor. The person's soft breaths intertwined with his own steady breathing. Tobirama found himself unable to muster any sense of alertness toward this individual.
Is it... elder brother...?
Tobirama kept his entire body in a state resembling sleep. To be honest, he didn't quite understand why he was so skilled at this... His brother stood by his bedside, silently as if assessing him.
After a moment, Tobirama felt the edge of the bed sink slightly as his brother sat down beside him. There was a gentle warmth on Tobirama's forehead as a hand gently brushed away his stray hair, then moved upwards, resting on his brow.
His brother's hand, with slightly roughened fingertips, softly caressed Tobirama's forehead. Unconsciously, it was like a parent comforting a child.
He sat there like that for a long time.
Until the break of dawn, the horizon started to brighten, and the hazy morning light pierced through the thin mist, illuminating the world. The chirping of birds and the flapping of wings filled the air, and it was only then that Tobirama felt the hand that had been caressing him retract. The edge of the bed returned to normal, and shortly after, the door opened and closed again, with faint footsteps fading away.
Tobirama opened his eyes, his vision crystal clear.
He turned his head to look at the door that had just been closed.
Brother, what is this...
-
The morning light sprinkled like golden dust on the faces of passersby.
A warm breeze carried the hushed murmurs of pedestrians. The scent of food lingered in the air, and on the side, young children joyfully held their parents' hands, strolling down the street.
"Tobirama! What are you looking at?"
A tap on his shoulder made Tobirama turn around, and he found his older brother leaning in, curiously observing him.
It was then that he remembered why he was here at this moment.
Hashirama, who had finally managed to clear his schedule, insisted on taking Tobirama out to relax. "You're always cooped up at home, and it's not good for your mood. We need to go out for a while."
He was right.
They left the confines of the Senju household and stepped onto the streets. The numerous alleyways from all directions converged onto a main road, resembling streams flowing into a river.
Surrounded by unfamiliar pedestrians and unfamiliar air, everything felt incredibly foreign, except for the people. They chatted, strolled through the streets, and the laughter of children echoed from a nearby park. Groups of elderly folks gathered here and there. Tobirama inexplicably felt a sense of serenity wash over him as he stood there.
Looking at Hashirama, he blurted out without thinking, "I just feel like, in such a peaceful world, big brother would really like it."
After saying this, he paused, unable to understand why he had said such a thing.
Hashirama眨了眨眼，笑道：“是吗？和平的世界……”
Hashirama blinked and smiled, "Is that so? A peaceful world..."
"I would definitely like it," he said softly.
Tobirama, however, fell silent.
After a while, he spoke again, "Big brother, I have a question for you."
"What is it?" Hashirama asked.
Tobirama looked at Hashirama's profile and slowly said, "I... It seems like Kawarama has some misunderstandings about me. Did something happen before... Did we have a falling out?"
Hashirama paused for a moment. "Well..."
He hesitated for a moment and then said quietly, "It might be because of a previous... argument you had."
"You said you needed some space, so you went out on your own... and then..."
"Kawarama has been feeling guilty."
"I didn't want to worry you..."
He rambled on, his voice lowering, and he asked cautiously, "I shouldn't have kept it from you, Tobirama... Are you angry?"
They stood at a bustling intersection, with white clouds drifting lazily under the morning sun. The traffic light turned green, and pedestrians from both sides crossed the road, converging and then quickly parting ways. Tobirama stood there, like a stubborn stone in the midst of a flowing stream. For a moment, no one spoke.
After a while, Tobirama let out a sigh.
He said, "I'm not angry, big brother."