Chapter 4
Sasuke wasn’t sure what to do of Tobirama. He was as different as one could be from Sakura, even if both shared the somewhat violent personality and the obsessive behaviour. It was nice to know that it wasn’t directed at him, though.
He was also weirdly helpful to him, pointing out some things that would make him stronger , even if he still called him ‘Uchiha-san’ and avoided being as touchy with him as he was with the other two.
Naruto was spoiled into oblivion, making him adore Tobirma like he held the moon and the stars— It actually reminded him of how he treated Itachi when he was younger. Which was why he tried his best to be nice to Tobirama so he wouldn’t see himself reflected on Naruto’s angry words.
“You’re going full fangirl, aren’t you?” He said, pointing to the new headpiece the albino was wearing.
Tobirama touched it with two fingers, before smiling. “Yes! I have wanted it for a while but the order took a while since is not really that common.”
“You look amazing, nii-san!” Naruto compliments happily.
“Thanks, Naru.” Tobirama pets the blond’s hair, before his eyes turn glacial. “Ah, good morning Tazuna.”
The client meeped, hiding behind Kakashi. Sasuke chuckles, Tobirama can be quite terrifying and is always funny seeing how quickly people cower under his gaze.
“Sensei.” This time a lot more warm and welcoming.
“Good morning, Tobirama-kun.” Kakashi drawls in amusement, “Sasuke, Naruto. Are you ready to go?”
“Hn.”
“We are, believe it!”
“Very well, Team 7, let’s go.”
Tobirama taps Sasuke’s shoulder as the puddle comes into their sight, the message reads: possible enemy.
Kakashi had shared some hand-signs with them when Tobirma asked, but they had also learned morse code. Sasuke nods. Tobirama moves to do the same with Kakashi, their sensei sings back: Let’s see who the target is.
Tobirama backs in place at Naruto’s side, who is alert even as he shatters nonsense about his favorite ramen place to the bridge builder. He is good at that, maintaining the cover so the client wouldn't worry over the serious matters at hand.
As well as keeping the enemy ignorant.
It happened fast, faster than Sasuke was expecting. And yet, he was happy to notice his time response was adequate. The moment the shadows jumped and seemingly cut Kakashi, he moved forward.
At the same time Naruto created two shadow-clones, created a wall in front of their client, and Tobirama faded from the battlefield.
Sasuke jumped, using a shuriken and a kunai to nail the chain to the tree. He kicked them as he landed on their extended arms. The chain broke, the enemy moved in mirrored positions, circling Sasuke.
Tobirama intercepted the one on the right as he passed Sasuke’s side, landing hard on his back and using his sword to kill him at the same instant.
Kakashi stopped the other before it could touch Naruto.
“Good work, everyone.” Their sensei said, showing them his happy eye.
Tobirama preened at the praise before turning his attention on Naruto, complimenting the boy with enthusiastic smiles and a quick hug. He didn’t seem the least perturbed at his first kill, Sasuke noticed with an unhappy twist of his lips.
“Tazuna-san,” Kakashi spoke.
The bridge builder gulped, “Y-Yeah?”
“We need to talk.”
Naruto nodded along Kakashi’s explanation, it was incredibly obvious that the enemy was targeting their client. Tobirama was proud of his little brother; Naruto was like a sponge, he grew fast with the right kind of attention.
It made him mad at the academy, spoiling someone with so much potential with their negligence.
Another thing on the list, Tobirama sighed, the more I spend time in this, the more I want to strangle the elders. They’re all a bunch of stupid kids.
In the end, Kakashi had no option but to continue the mission.
After all, he would have a revolt if he tried to send his team back after this. All the three of them wanted to prove themselves and Kakashi could admit, they were closer to chunning than gennin in level.
It would be good for them.
Tazuna had been apologetic, explaining the rest of his story in the boat. It was certainly a sad story but Tobirama wasn’t that impressed. Unfortunately, Naruto wanted to help them and so Tobirama wanted to help as well.
The blonde had him on his little finger; just as John had in his past life. He just hoped that Naruto wouldn’t find the need to kill him to get his dick wet. Because if he did—! Well, then Tobirama was going to have words with the grim-reaper.
Harsher words, in any case.
Tobirama threw a kunai to the bushes, sensing a presence close to them. Everyone was on high alert as he narrowed his eyes and moved towards the spot, finding a white bunny.
“Replacement.” Tobirama hissed darkly, Kakashi nodded.
“Get down!” Kakashi screamed.
Sasuke pushed the client down; Naruto and Tobirama pressing themselves against the ground a moment later.
Zabuza’s sword passed over their heads, embedding a few inches in the three. He landed on it, twisting his neck so he could see them.
Are all jonnin this dramatic? Tobirama huffed, crouching besides his little brother, keeping a warning hand on Naruto’s chest.
“Well, well, if isn’t Momochi Zabuza of Kiri.” Kakashi said, hand going to his headband.
Sasuke shifted his posture, gazing at Kakashi with surprise.
“Protect Tazuna but don’t interfere.” Their sensei ordered, exposing his sharingan.
“It seems like I will be seeing the sharingan, I’m honored.” Zabuza mocked.
“Sharingan?” Naruto whispered,
“Tell you later,” Tobirama whispered back.
Sasuke caught Tobirama’s concerned gaze and he nodded sharply, he was alright. This wasn’t going to slow him down.
They were in position in the next instant, covering Tazuna, as Zabuza landed on the lake. The fog covered the entire place, Tobirama closed his eyes. Visual clues were useless right now, this way he had more chances to feel Zabuza anyway.
You could train to be a sensor, just as you could train to be a medic-nin. Though one could say that it was ten times harder because most sensors were born that way and couldn’t teach how they did it. But Tobirama had a vague notion of what he needed to do and with the help of the clones he practiced every day, every night, without pause.
He was low on chakra so he kept himself with taijutsu and kenjutsu, hoping to at least be able to sense Zabuza when his aura was washing over them in the incoming mission.
His hopes had been heard by the heavens; he could sense Zabuza’s chakra. Cold and harsh, like a violent river.
It was all over the place, so it made little difference.
What it helped, though, was that he knew the additive cues.
“Trust me,” Kakashi said, signaling Zabuza’s imminent attack.
Tobirama turned, right hand gripping hard the halt of his sword as he unsheathed.
Zabuza landed in the middle of the formation and Tobirama’s sword connected with Zabuza’s. The other man laughed darkly, Kakashi jumped to intercept him as he pressed and Tobirama fumbled to find his step.
Sasuke jumped backwards, Naruto did the same while grabbing Tazuna’s arms to move their client out of the conflict zone. Tobirama landed in front of them, red eyes narrowed as the Kakashi-clone broke down.
Kakashi goes flying, landing in the lake.
“Stupid.” Tobirama hisses.
Sasuke sees why when Zabuza traps their sensei in a bubble, then the man makes a clone and he curses harshly. This is not good.
“Naruto, Sasuke.” Tobirama warned, grabbing Tazuna and backing up. “Let’s do what we did with the bells!”
Right, because Naruto and him were offensive. And while Tobirma was quick on his feet, he had no jutsu beyond the basic three. Furthermore, he was the medic of the team, he couldn’t be a front fighter.
“No!” Kakashi yelled, “You guys need to run. Take the client and leave.”
Sasuke frowned, that wouldn’t do.
If they ran, Kakashi would die and then Zabuza would hunt them like dogs. They’re only chance was freeing their sensei.
Zabuza totally wiped the floor with them, much to Sasuke’s annoyance. But that was alright, they weren’t more than a distraction and as long as Zabuza continued to belittle them, he wouldn’t go full force. No, he wouldn't even try to kill them.
Because in his eyes, they were nothing but a bunch of kids.
Well, fuck him.
Naruto’s plan works beautifully; the shuriken pass the clone. Zabuza caughted one, jumps over the hidden clone. It transforms into Naruto and Zabuza is forced to jump out of the way, freeing Kakashi.
Tobirama is at Sasuke’s side at the next moment, hands glowing green.
“Is not broken, thank God.” He sighs, after checking the damage. Bruised ribs and fatigue, nothing he cannot heal.
“Thanks,” Sasuke mumbles distractedly, eyes still fixated on the ongoing battle.
“It seems that my outoto doesn’t need me,” Tobirama wines, once Sasuke was completely healed.
“That’s not it, nii-san!” Comes the response from behind them, the clone in the water pops just as Kakashi stopped Zabuza’s swing with the shuriken.
Sasuke snorts.
“You need to have more repertory.” He tells Tobirama, making the albino sigh.
“I know, I know.”
“What’s that?” Naruto asks, seeing as their sensei and Zabuza are now facing each other.
“Water dragon,” Tobirama says, “We should back up a little.”
“Hn,” Sasuke goes back to his feet, Tobirama follows and together they return to Naruto’s side, forming a protective formation in front of the client once again.
The vortex is impressive, that Tobirama can admit.
Seeing Haku is almost painful, Marco adores the boy but he’s well aware that it will be almost impossible to save his life. Not if he wants to keep the game as it’s going, because Tobirama should not feel affected by an enemy shinobi.
“What’s an ANBU?”
“They hunt missing-nin, like Zabuza. To keep the secrets of the village safe.” Tobirama explains.
“What really?” Naruto says, surprised. “But he can’t be much older than us!”
“In Konoha is not common but other villages don’t mind having soldier-children. He might be one, to be so strong while being so young.” Tobirama adds sadly, “Is not something you should feel jealousy off. Is highly probable his mind and body are broken beyond repair.”
Haku flinches, small but noticeable before kneeling and taking Zabuza with him.
Kakashi is looking at Tobirama with severe eyes but decides to not comment on his words, “Come on, we have to keep going. Our mission is not over yet.”
“I’m sorry about all this,” Tazuna laughs, “But you can all rest when we arrive at my home.”
“Alright, lets go.”
“Sensei!” Sasuke and Naruto call when he faints.
Chakra fatigue is not something Tobirama can heal, he sighs mournfully as he goes to check their sensei. This sucks.