Secrets
~*~*~
Slithering up to the beach, Tobirama let himself shrink and shudder, shedding his serpentine form. It was odd to walk on two legs again after such a long time at sea. The sand felt nice and cool against his bare feet as he strode up the beach, heading towards the base of the cliffs lining the shore.
He found his sandals and armor in his stash, slipping them on with methodical boredom. He also retrieved his sword and its sheath from where he had them cleverly hidden, protected from the harsh elements in the rock.
Then he began the long and arduous trek all the way up the narrow path winding up the sea cliffs. Once at the top, he’d cut cross country to the Senju compound. It irritated him that his clan made their base so far away from the sea, his usual patrol and haunting ground. But he was the only water natured member of the clan, so of course, he was the only one sent on the long, boring trip.
As he neared the compound, with its towering wood and rock walls, covered in a curtain of vines and flowers, he breathed in deeply, inhaling the scent of wood and earth, overtaking the salty, fresh smell of the sea.
Basking in the sunlight on the compound walls' upper walkways was a large, snake-like creature with a sharp, arrow shaped head, and white diamond shaped patterns running down its entire body, standing out sharply against the solid, deep brown of its scales.
With a low, grumbling hiss, the rock serpent lifted her head, watching his approach. For a moment she didn’t move. Then she recognized him, and uncoiled herself, slipping down the compound walls gracefully and shifting down into her human form.
“Welcome back, Tobirama,” Toka called, waving. He gave her a two fingered salute in response.
“Hey, Toka,” he greeted. “How’s everyone?”
“Bored,” she said with a sigh, falling in step with him. “But good, as always. Anything new out at sea?”
’I should tell her about that dragon. And the Uchiha’s plans to go through our territory for their trade routes…’
“No. Per usual.”
“Ah, don’t sound so bored and annoyed. Everyone knows that you enjoy your time away. You and your favoured solitude.” She shook her head in amusement, and Tobirama shrugged.
“It’s peaceful out there.”
“Mhm. Hashirama gets mopey when you don’t come back for so long.”
“Why do you think I stay away for so long?” he shot back. Toka chuckled.
“I can’t fault you for that.”
Tobirama hummed quietly in response, and they walked in companionable silence through the gates and into the compound. Toka sent him on his way with a cheeky grin and a pat on the shoulder before disappearing off to wherever she wanted to go, and Tobirama continued trudging through the compound, heading towards the clan head house at the center of it.
He strode in, unannounced, and made his way to the kitchen. “Welcome back, Tobirama,” his sister in law greeted, without turning around from where she was brewing three cups of tea. Her lack of surprise at his return was not surprising. She had this way of knowing everything all the time.
“Mito,” he replied, accepting one of the mugs when she handed it to him.
“It’s been almost two weeks,” she said dryly. “You’re late for your usual check in.”
“The waters were nice.”
“Good luck explaining that to Hashirama.”
“Hng. Where is he anyways?”
“Upstairs.”
Tobirama sighed, taking a sip of his tea. “Okay.” With that, he headed up the stairs to the second floor, finding Hashirama in his home office, pruning one of his little inside trees. “Hashirama.”
His brother whirled around, and his expression changed to one of delight. “Tobi!” he said excitedly, setting his pruners down and giving him a too tight hug. Tobirama grunted, but by now he had long since learned not to try and wiggle out and just let the hug last as long as it was meant to. “You’re late!”
“Yeah, I know. The waters were nice. Didn’t feel like coming home yet.” Hashirama pouted a little, sitting down at his desk.
“Anything to report? Probably not, eh? No Uchiha’s running around. We haven’t seen them in so long, why would we now?” He chuckled softly, and shook his head.
Tobirama shoved his hands in his pockets, and met his brother's gaze. “No. Nothing to report. No Uchiha’s in sight, per usual. And I doubt we’ll see them anytime soon.”
~*~*~*~
Curling his tail around his back talons, Madara dug his front claws into the ground, frowning at the sand covering them. The sea lapped at the tips of them, and he watched the white foam reaching for him on the beach.
Spreading his wings to let the ocean breeze wash under them, he inhaled the sea’s scent. Previously, he never really thought about how pleasant the scent of the sea was. But now, it was all he could think about.
The sound of flapping wings reached him, and he looked up, watching as another dragon flew towards him. With a heavy rumble and a shaking of the earth, Taijima landed next to him, sweeping his wings back and folding them neatly to his sides.
“What bothers you, my son?” he rumbled, sitting down on his haunches and tilting his head at him. Madara sighed heavily, tiny jets of flame shooting out of his nostrils.
“Nothing.”
Taijima hummed. “Oh? Since when do you stand on the beach gazing contemplatively out to sea, mhm?”
Madara gave his father a long look. “That was dramatic, father.”
“I have you and Izuna as my sons. It rubs off.”
Madara couldn’t even be offended by that. He shrugged, lifting his wings with the motion. “Are you sure we should be sending our people through Senju territory?”
Taijima sighed. “Madara, we’ve had this discussion already. We have not seen scale or tail of a single Senju for years. At this point, I’m considering their claim on the sea null.”
“But maybe we got lucky with this single voyage,” Madara protested. “What if next time, or a few months down the road, we aren’t so lucky and the Senju return to check on their territory just to find us intruding and-”
“Madara,” Taijima broke in. “You worry too much, my son.” He spread the wing closest to Madara, draping it over his back and tugging him against his side. With a low grumble, Madara leaned against him, and Taijima rested his head on the arch of Madara’s neck, between two of the sharp spikes lining his spine.
“You will make a good clan leader, but you have to take risks at times, little spitfire. The Senju aren’t here, haven’t been for a while. We have to do what we can to ensure the prosperity of our people.”
“But we’re at peace, sort of,” Madara said with a sigh. “I just feel like we’re taking an unnecessary risk for the sake of stability.”
Taijima rumbled deep in his chest, and Madara could feel the vibrations through his side. He pulled Madara a little closer against him. “It is a risk,” he agreed. “Which is why we will take the utmost caution. We will not allow our people to go without an escort. One of us will come with them to protect them, if need be, on every trip.”
“Let me go the first few times,” he requested. “Just to be safe.”
“So eager to get away?” Taijima teased. “Careful, spitfire. I’m starting to think you want to run off for a world of adventure and irresponsibility.”
“I would never turn away from the clan,” Madara vowed. “But I do want to spend some time enjoying myself before taking on the responsibility of being clan head.”
Taijima chuckled, and slowly lowered himself down onto his belly, tugging Madara down with him. With a quiet purr, he pressed himself against his fathers side, and the older dragon shifted his wing to cover Madara’s entire back. He twined his tail around his fathers, enjoying the warmth of his scaly side.
“I am proud of you,” Taijima said after a few minutes, nudging Madara’s head against his chest with his chin and resting it on his forehead. Madara could feel the warmth of his breath on the top of his head. “Even if you drive me crazy sometimes.”
“Way to ruin it,” Madara complained, and Taijima chuckled. But the sentiment still stuck, and he closed his eyes, letting the bigger dragon dote on him. Despite his fathers reassurance, he couldn’t push away the uncertain anxiety that plagued him at the thought of once more crossing into the Senju territory.
~*~*~*~
Flying ahead of Kageyasu’s ship, Madara watched the waters below, searching for any sign of the Senju serpent. But there was nothing. Not a flash of white scales or a long, sinewy body. By now, they were deep within Senju territory, but still nothing. It was disconcerting.
Growling to himself, he pulled in one wing, rolling steeply and sweeping back towards the ship. It was a bigger vessel than the last one, enabling the merchants to carry more goods. And it was big enough for Madara to land on the deck without having to shift down into his human form.
Kageyasu strode up to him as he landed near the bow and folded his wings. “Dara,” he greeted, reaching out to pat him on the shoulder. Madara wrinkled his nose. The man was getting almost too comfortable and familiar with his dragonic form. Maybe he should bite him, put some healthy respect back in the man who was far too casual.
“Don’t call me that,” he complained, bumping his head against the mans side. Kageyasu just chuckled.
“Any sign of more serpents? Or the same one as last time?”
“Not yet,” Madara said, glancing back over his shoulder at the open seas ahead.
“Then stop worrying so much! You’re going to turn grey soon. And believe me, I think you look much better with black scales than white ones.”
“I’d look good in any colour scales,” Madara said defensively. Kageyasu just shrugged.
“Maybe not pink.”
“Whatever. Just keep doing what you’re doing. I’m gonna go take a look again.”
“It’s not like you need the exercise, you skinny bastard,” Kageyasu muttered, stepping back as Madara spread his wings in preparation. He snorted at the man, shaking his head and launching himself into flight. He circled the ship a few times, then arched up into the sky, so high up that from the ship he’d look like only a tiny little black dot in the blue sky.
In the distance, he could see the island and the sea stacks he visited before. Without any other ideas, he looped around and flew towards them. He landed on the same sea stack as before, pacing around in the limited space he had upon it.
He leaned over the edge, tilting his head at the water. Starfish and sea anemones lined the rocks below its surface. It was pretty, in a way he had never considered. He leaned over it further, carefully spreading his wings for balance, and climbed down the sea stack headfirst, digging his claws into the rocks.
When he reached the water, he carefully looped his tail around an outcropping of rock to anchor himself, and reached into the water to gently pluck a red starfish from the rock. Its sticky little arms clung to his claws. He watched it cling to him for a while, then carefully put it back in the water.
He spent a bit more time watching the ocean and its little creatures. Then he sighed, carefully upwrapping his tail, his anchor. He kicked off from the sea stack, spreading his wings wide and quickly arching up and around to land on the top of the sea stack again.
It was very warm out, humid. With a low sigh, Madara settled himself on the rock, tucking his forelegs under him and wrapping his tail around him. Half closing his eyes, he breathed out a small jet of fire, setting a dead bush on fire. He watched the fire burn for a while, until the bush was gone and the flames went out without their fuel.
The sun was starting to make him drowsy, and he was seriously considering just taking a nap, when he heard a quiet splashing. Lifting his head, Madara stared down at the water, watching as it churned around a white scaled creature swimming around the sea stack.
The sea serpent slipped out of the water with a quiet growl, arching its neck and shaking the water out of its eyes. “Hello again,” Madara said politely when it stopped moving around. The serpent just narrowed its eyes at him. “Have a nice weekend?”
Still, the Senju said nothing. Madara was starting to wonder if he couldn’t talk, or rather wanted to keep his silence on purpose just to irritate him. He pulled his lips back a little, and he tried to resist the urge to bare his teeth and snarl.
“Well. Anyways. I’m sure you’re aware, I have a ship sailing through. I wanted to ask you what you wanted in return.” For the first time, the serpent looked curious. It tilted its head a little at him. “Oh come on. I don’t expect you to let us pass through every week for free. So, what do you want? Surely there’s something your little heart desires. What do you like to do, besides hanging out in the water and destroying ships whenever you can?”
The serpent snorted, drawing its massive body closer, and coiled it loosely like a snake might. It regarded him for a long time. Its gaze was a little nerve racking, and he huffed. “Come on, Senju. Give me something to work with.”
The Senju snorted again. “Nothing? Really? Nothing interests you?” He stood up, and paced around in a circle. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Your brain is probably tiny, seeing as your head is so damn hard.” The serpent growled, and lowered himself further into the water. But he wasn’t leaving, not yet.
He sat down again, tail draping over his claws once more. “So. If this is going to happen, on a regular basis, I think it’s only fair there is some give, on both sides.” Another thought crossed his mind, and he tilted his head at his own considerations. Should he just stay here the entire time and bore the Senju? Should he just check in when his ship first enters Senju territory and then go back to join them for the rest of the trip?
Decisions, decisions.
He was starting to get the feeling that the Senju was getting annoyed. With a sigh, he stood up, spreading his wings. “Well. It was nice to see you again. I should check on my people, so…”
The serpent drew back a little. “See you in a few days,” he said in lieu of farewell. With that, he stepped off the sea stack, wings snapping out to their full length. He caught a strong air current, and he let it carry him up and away. He could feel the Senju’s eyes on him, until the other finally sank beneath the surface of the water again.
~*~*~*~
Tobirama stayed by the sea stacks until the dragon came back, three days later. He laid on the ocean floor, wrapped around the sea stack, and waited patiently. He sensed it when the dragon returned, feeling the water vibrate just a little as he swept overhead, stirring up the water with drafts from his wings.
As he landed on the sea stack, he unwound himself from the rocks, rising up out of the water. The dragon waved one wing. “Hi,” he said, settling himself on the sea stack with a yawn. “I wasn’t expecting you to be here already. Miss me that much?”
He snorted, and slid closer, daring to go so far as to let his chin brush against the rock, giving the image that he was going to rest his head on the rock. The dragon blinked at him, looking surprised, but not concerned. As if Tobirama wasn’t a mere few feet away, well within range of the dragon's teeth and fire. Just as the Uchiha was close enough for Tobirama to lunge forward and clamp his jaws around him.
They stared at each other for a long while. When neither moved, the dragon folded his wings to his sides, and sat down on his haunches, dark eyes bright. His body relaxed, the tension seeping out of him. “I’m going to trust that you’re not going to eat me,” he said, in a matter-of-fact tone. Tobirama rumbled lowly in response. He had no need, or desire, to eat him. He’d probably taste overcooked and burnt anyways.
“You ever been to the Land of Lightning?” he asked after a moment. Tobirama stared at him. The Uchiha took that as invitation to continue. “It’s nice there. I like it. Rich culture. Some very smart people. Lots of rivers and hot springs. You’re a being of water. You must like hot springs. I know I do. I don’t like getting wet, but hot springs? That’s a different matter entirely.” He shuddered, a full body shiver of delight at the thought. “Did you know they have a big ass turtle just hanging out?”
Tobirama hummed. He did know that.
“Have you ever eaten turtle?” the dragon continued. “I have. It’s gross. My little brother, though, Izuna, he loves it. He’s a pest about it, always whining and complaining when we refuse to eat it with him. Siblings, urgh. Do you have any?”
Tobirama narrowed his eyes. Was the dragon an idiot? Handing out information about his family, and clan? Had he already forgotten that they were enemies?
The dragon sighed when he didn’t respond, flicking his tail behind him. “Alright. Well. We have a few hours until my ship is out of your territory. Care for some company?”
’Do I have a choice?
He sighed, and rested his head fully on the sea stack. The dragon wouldn’t hurt him, he was almost sure of it. The dragon watched him relax, and curl his long body around the sea stack comfortably.
“I’m going to take a guess,” he said, and Tobirama snorted, “that you like fish. I mean, your breath reeks of it, so it makes sense that-HEY!”
Annoyed, and having been told by the dragon himself that he didn’t like to get wet, Tobirama rose a wave of water with his tail and drenched him, amused by his startled, indignant squawking.
If nothing else, he’s found some source of amusement.