Chapter 2
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Walking back home from a battlefield THAT he wasn’t supposed to be with was awkward already, but walking around with legends that he only had heard from stories, was awkward and nerve-racking as heck. But here he was with the Tobirama, the second Hokage, who was holding his hand like a child.
Not to mention with The Uchiha Madara at their back, following their steps like a duckling following its mother.
Good thing Iruka knows how to look composed even when pressured. Because one of the few things the the third have thought him is behaving when it’s necessary and having a poker face while having a breakdown inside.
He can hear Asuma’s snickering somewhere beside him but he chose to ignore it, letting it go thinking that he has one less person for him to grieve. His pseudo older brother is now alive again, his daughter will not live without a father, but there was a snicker again and this time Iruka is praying for longer patience.
He tried to look as to where Asuma is to give him a glare but his vision was suddenly full of Uchiha, a sight that he thought he would never see. Like a tide of black hairs with a hot aura surrounding them. And it seems that they are all following Madara’s steps.
But funnily, Madara has a pout on his face while following Tobirama, whose holding his hand. And Tobirama was keen on ignoring Madara. He avoided the scene, not wanting to laugh at the scene that is happening.
Iruka then sees Kakashi walking beside his old teammate, he can see both are smiling at each other. Iruka smiles at the thought of somehow most got their happy endings. When he turned back he didn't see the two looking back at him.
There were loud cheers that welcomed them back to Konoha. Not used to the attention Iruka walked sideways to avoid the crowd, going to the direction of his house. But a hand seemed to pull him in another direction.
“Uhm, Nidaime-sama?” Iruka asks, confused as to where they are going.
Tobirama looked at Iruka with an arched eyebrow. “Nidaime?”
“I-I don’t know what to call you.” Iruka shyly whispers, and he heard Tobirama’s soft chuckle.
“Whatever you want, just not my title. I am family, not your superior.” Tobirama squeezes his hand.
“Sōsofu then.” Iruka smiles. “But where are we going?”
“Home.” Tobirama answers, “Ready yourself.”
“Ready for-” then Tobirama hiraishin them to the old Senju compound, a place that Iruka has never been to. “Iruka would probably be amazed at the preserved beauty of the place if his stomach is not tumbling upside down “Fuck, imma puke.”
“There are few who mastered my technique, but with practice, I’m sure that you can master it in no time. Maybe I can place my mark on you later. So that you can access any place with my mark on your own.” Tobirama explains as he unsealed the door.
The place was preserved, yes. But it was not outgrown with plants that are very obviously alive because of the mokuton.
“We need a little bit of a clean-up.” Iruka laughs, amused at how some of the branches seemed to follow him. Not noticing Tobirama’s eyes following the movement.
“We need more than a clean-up.” Tobirama sighs and smiles.
Iruka laughs, one of the branches blooms with peach blossoms that immediately turn into a fruit. “If only there was a place like this! I’m sure we wouldn’t be hungry.”
“What do you mean?” Tobirama asks
“After the Kyuubi's attack, there were many orphans that the orphanage couldn’t handle us all, those who have known clans or at least known parents with high ranks were placed in the house, but for us, who’s simple shinobi family with no roots to call were out on the streets.”
“What?” Tobirama asks with horror, “You were out on the streets? What did Saru do?”
“He did everything that he could, he tried to adopt me, but the politics got involved. The council was stating that if he’s going to adopt someone, better adopt those who have roots from Konoha.”
Tobirama was angry, but he don’t want Iruka to feel it. He put on his well-known mask, the unfeeling Nidaime of Konoha “But you are from Konoha, your parents are from Konoha even if the truth is still not out in the open. You have roots in here.”
Iruka looks at Tobirama and suddenly gets it, his emotions are so well guarded that people didn't realize that it’s only a mask, he smiles before answering “Well, my mother came from a civilian family, the one that you’ve given oji-san to. And my father came from Kirigakure.”
“But their still shinobi of Konoha!”
“I know, that’s what Sindaime insists. And my parents are not really just simple shinobis. My mother was an ANBU, though no one knows that I know that. And my father was on his way to being a seals master. But blood is more powerful here than skills.” Iruka stated. “It’s okay Sōsofu-san. Sindaime-san cared for me even when he can’t adopt me, I grew up beside his own son. And even though I'm low ranking, I think I turned out well."
“You did. You very well did. You’re a great teacher.” Tobirama assures Iruka. “Don’t mind your rank, it’s all about what you were able to teach, the lessons you’ve shared. And the people that you’ve influenced, just like Naruto.”
After years of self-doubt, especially when he clashed with Kakashi, Iruka felt relieved. That he did not fail in being a sensei. Tears flow and Iruka cries.
Tobirama laughs, wiping Iruka’s tears. “You’re very much like Izuna, tears ready to burst at any time.”
And Iruka laughs with him, not noticing the various plants that grew around them. But Tobirama did notice.
After minutes of pouring his heart out, they try to catalog the place.
“Tsk. Did no one oversee the place? Tsunade should have at least made sure that this is livable. How many orphans of war can benefit if they have a roof on their heads.”
“Hokage-sama didn’t live here for a long time, she only came back after the Sindaime died,” Iruka explains, and then there was a sudden sharp and cold chakra. But it disappears quickly as it appeared.
Tobirama looks at Iruka with seriousness in his eyes “Tell me everything.”
And Iruka did, starting at Sakumo’s death up until the 4th shinobi war. They were talking until Iruka’s stomach growls so loud that Tobirama ended up laughing hard. And Iruka turning into a red tomato.
“I don’t think there’s anything edible in this place, maybe you could introduce me to the famous ramen that you keep on mentioning.”
Iruka’s eyes sparkled and Tobirama can’t help but laugh again.
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They were being followed, Tobirama observes as they existed in the Senju compound. Chakras are unfamiliar but from the looks of it, they are all children. and from the looks of it, Iruka can also sense it. But Iruka seems at ease that
“There are 3 children near the trees.” Tobirama informs Iruka.
“Uhm,” Iruka scratched his scar and informs Tobirama “Actually there are four.”
“Four?”
“Yes, Madara-sama is just behind the kids, he’s good at hiding though. Even the children can’t see him even though he’s just an arms away.” Iruka explains.
Tobirama was impressed. “How did you sense him?”
“I didn’t.” Iruka answers and sees the confusion on Tobirama’s face “It’s something that my mother and father invented. It’s like echolocation. I don’t sense their chakra to see them rather I use their physical body.”
“Your chakra bounced back, creating a form. That’s why you know it’s Madara.” Tobirama quickly understood.
“Yes, it’s the hair.” Iruka laughs. “But I can also feel them thru the earth, though mine stronger than my mother’s.”
“Feel them?”
“Like the flow of chakra in our body. I can make my chakra flow on the earth, and poke to see around.” Iruka explains as he closes his eyes to feel where Madara is. “My mother says it’s like a mole.”
Tobirama suddenly understood what Iruka was saying. “Can you wrap your chakra around him?”
“Wrap?” Iruka asks, opening his eyes at Tobirama.
“Imagine your chakra wrapping on Madara’s ankle, then pull him into the earth,” Tobirama explains.
“I don’t think I ca-” Iruka started but halted with Tobirama’s arched eyebrow. Iruka gulps “Okay, I’ll try.”
Iruka then proceeded to do what Tobirama had told him, his chakra slither from his feet into the ground, then went to where Madara is. Position his chakra around Madara, slowly and carefully encircle Madara’s ankle. And when he’s sure he got him, wrap around and pulled him into the earth.
A loud scream that was followed by other tiny screams was heard in the trees beside Iruka and Tobirama.
“Wh-what happened?” Iruka asks, looking widely at the large tree branch that is around them while trying to console three children that are clinging to him.
‘“It seems that the compound has awoken your mokuton.” Tobirama explains calmly, looking at Madara whose half body was buried in the ground.
“Senjuuu! Pull me out!” Madara screeches.
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Iruka looks around him as he tries to bury himself into the earth. People all around are looking at them. Them, him with Madara and Tobirama.
“What is wrong with living with me? The Uchiha compound is much more livable than yours, my house is already built.” Madara insisted.
Tobirama sighs “I don’t need your pity.”
“It’s not pity!” Madara insisted “He’s my brother’s great-grandson! I’ve got a say on his life.”
Tobirama looked from his bowl back to Madara “You have many Uchiha who came back with you. If you want someone to take care then pick one of them.”
“He’s my blood,” Madara growls.
“Much more of mine than yours” Tobirama answers back.
“I’m just giving you a place to sleep, Senju!”
Iruka picks up his bowl and seats at the center where Tobirama and Madara are. “I said I want to eat, so, please. Let’s eat.”
The two stop, but keep on growling at each other.
“Sōsofu-san and I will go to my house.”, Iruka informs them, cause the two might be legends, but Iruka was an academy teacher, if he can handle 50 children, then he can handle these two.
“But-” Madara tries to talk but was stopped by Iruka.
“No buts!” Iruka says with finality. Madara gaped at him while Tobirama was silently laughing at his other side.
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