Chapter 5
“Did you know Nidaime's mother was a Hatake?” I said once Kakashi started to wake up, voice soft and kind.
Our sensei made a noise, having heard the question but too out of it to do anything but be upset about being in pain. Unfortunately, I couldn’t help with that. The chakra net was way out of my limited abilities, it was so fragile that trying to mess with it without being a professional could fuck up the entire thing, cripling the patient.
Or so the books had said, descriptively.
Anyway, what I could do was to sedate him. But I would do that after reassuring Kakashi that it was fine and he didn’t have to fight it because shinobi. Stubborn as fuck, the lot of them.
“Yeah,” I continued, bruising his hair of his sticky-with-sweat face. “Of course, he was never allowed to be one. Butsuma already despised him, looking like a pale Uchiha ghost and all that. So his mother always encouraged him to be a Senju. The perfect Senju. And he was, because he loved his dad, his mom, his clan. But first and foremost, he loved his brothers. And for them, he made himself a sword. Unfeeling weapon, lonely wolf. And what a sad thing, isn’t it? An alone Hatake.”
Kakashi whined, sad and sorrowful.
I smiled, it seemed like I had hit the jackpot. Good to know that some headcanons weren’t that far from reality.
“I know.” I said soothingly, “But he made do, created a pack for himself in his brothers. All four of them. Except, he slowly lost them. Ripped from him by the war, all except one. Hashirama.”
My hand glowed green, pressed against his forehead, when he opened his eyes. Still unfocused, yet sharp with intelligence. Oh, the things this man must be thinking.
“He loved Hashirama more than anything.” I say with conviction, “More than life itself but that didn’t mean he was any less lonely. So his brother said, think of the village as your pack. We are one big family, one big pack. And it worked, at least for a while. He put the village above himself and died a hero, giving his life to protect his people…”
I gave a bitter laugh, “Or so the history says. But I personally think he gave his life for his students, his kittens. Sons and daughters in everything but blood. Yes, his team was his pack. And sensei? I think yours should be the same. We are yours now and in return you are ours. You’re pack.”
Aw, tears.
I whipped them off with my best smile,
“So you need to take better care of yourself, alright? We can’t go without you.” I pressed a pill against his mouth. “Now, you must rest. I can’t do anything but relieve the pain a little but this should knock you out for a day and let you heal faster. Don’t worry thought, I will take care of the other two for you.”
Kakashi hesitantly opened his mouth and swallowed, I leant to press my lips against his brow once his chakra went back to restful. This close, I was able to feel it buzzling inside my mind.
Unlike Zabuza, Kakashi’s chakra was neat, sharp and focused. Like a...well, like a lighting. It reflected his nature. Huh, maybe Zabuza’s did too. A river, to represent water.
Curious.
Well, not that was done…
I stood up, walking towards the exit of the room Tazuna had lent us. His daughter had been there to welcome him back, she had seemed scared of me. Naruto was grumpy and that left Sasuke being the nice one.
I needed to get back to them before this went kahoots when Inari opened his mouth, really, he couldn’t have chosen a worse team to let his pessimistic nonsense out.
“How’s Kakashi?” Sasuke asked, as soon as I came on sight.
“He’s fine,” I said reassuringly, “Sleeping better now that I gave him the pill but I will return to see him in a few hours. Where’s Naru?”
“Outside.” Sasuke deadpanned, “That dobe has no sense of manners.”
“Hey,” I scowled.
“Oh, I don’t blame him.” Sasuke said, standing up. “I’m blaming you.”
“...fair.”
Sasuke snorted. “Does that happen often?” he asked as his expression turned more serious, almost concerned.
“What does?” I had an idea but…
“Civilians calling you devil.”
“Ah,” I wince, “Sometimes.” Not so much now than as the first days after moving with Naruto, the villagers were definitely not nice but between me and Naruto, making them leave us alone was easy.
“I don’t mind. I look the way I do and there’s nothing wrong with it.” I shrug, feing tiredness and acceptance before my lips twitch in a sardonic smile, “Also, I’m aware the red eyes are disconcerting.”
Sasuke scowls, petulantly saying “I think red eyes are pretty.”
I snort, “You would, Uchiha-san.”
“What do you mean?”
“The sharingan is red, isn’t it?” I say amusedly, if a bit distractedly, walking toward the exit in an obvious intention of going outside to look for Naruto. “I remember your clan obsession with reds and fire.”
“You remember?”
I outwardly freeze; internally allow myself a victorious smile. Gotcha. I had decided this was a good time to let them in the ‘secret’. And this was a good opening as any.
“I…”
“Tobirama.”
I sighed, “There’s something I need to tell you. Both of you.”
“Let’s find Naruto.”
“...alright.”
Sasuke’s eyes were hard as he brushed against me, taking the head as we excited the house. Tazuna and his daughter were absent; not a surprise after what happened. It had taken a while to calm Naruto down enough to allow me check adequately on Kakashi.
I wasn’t sure if they were avoiding us in shame or in fear, although it may be guilt as well. Or if we are lucky, a mix of the three.
“Naru!” I called, causing my brother to turn and his expression to change from anger to delight. He ran at me and tackled me in a hug, “Nii-san!” I hugged him back, amused. “How’s Kakashi-sensei?”
“He will be fine, Naru. Though, he needs to rest. At least a week.”
“Would that be ok?”
“Yes, I think we can take care of whatever comes this way from Gato.” I say confidently, “Even if Zabuza isn’t dead.”
“Zabuza isn’t dead?!” Sasuke glared at me.
“I don’t think so.” I said, “But first, I have something to confess.”
“Confess?” Naruto asked innocently.
“Yeah…” I looked at Sasuke, “Don’t interrupt me.”
He nodded.
I gestured for us to sit at the porsche; Naruto glanced at me concernedly as I took a deep breathe and evidently made an effort to calm myself.
“Before you wanted to know what Sharingan is, right Naru?”
He nodded, still looking confused.
Sasuke’s eyes narrowed.
I opened my mouth and proceeded to explain everything I knew about the doujutsu; Sasuke's eyes grew big as I started listing things he didn’t know off, like the fact the mangekyo could leave him blind and the reason the ultimate form. He glared hatefully as I continued with the explanation of the curse that ran in his blood, Naruto looked between us with growing concern.
Sasuke’s lips were pressed in a thin line, hands shaking and knuckles turning white around the fabric of his shorts.
“That—! How do you know that?”
“I studied it for a few years of my life.” I said coldly, staring right into his eyes. “You could even consider it an obsession for I focused on that for decades of my life.”
“Decades?” Naruto asked, confused. “What do you mean, nii-san?”
“I meant what I said: I studied the sharingan for nearly three decades. How could I not when they were the reason why my clan was murdered? How could I not when it represented exactly how dangerous the Uchiha were?”
“Enough.” Sasuke snarled. “You’re taking this too far, Sakura.”
I glared back, snarling “I’m not Sakura.”
Sasuke hesitated, unused to the anger present both in my tone and my expression. I was always calm around him, always gentle and polite. Protective and a little bit silly, never this and the shock threw him off.
How easy to manipulate a child, even if the said child was meant to be a shinobi. The academy didn’t teach mind-warfare because few shinobi did this kind of thing when they relayed on genjutsu and torture. Simple and pure manipulation wasn’t even in the radar, it was almost laughable.
“I’m not Sakura.” I repeated; calm, sad. “My name is Tobirama. What you think is an obsession is just me trying to regain a bit of myself…” I let a bitter chuckle, “Is me trying to not get lost in a body that’s wrong. In a body that’s weak. In a village that has long stopped being my home. In a reality where my clan is gone.”
My voice cracks; Sasuke flinches violently, eyes going big and complexion turning pale.
“H-How…?” He asks.
Naruto is silent, there’s no anger or distrust. Just confusion. And behind that trust and acceptance as he holds my hand, silently confirming that I had nothing to fear on that flank, he would be by my side no matter what.
“It started with your clan, actually.” I allowed a humorless laugh, “They all arrived to the pure lands together. It created a commotion, me and Kagami… We were to see what it was about, as that kind of thing was just asking for me to be interested. It was a good thing, though. This time, at least. I… Your clan was under the impression I hated them. They refused to talk when I asked what had happened, all except one. Shisui. He was Kagami’s blood so I’m not that surprised.”
Everytime I say Kagami’s name, I put special attention to keep my tone fond and loving. Kagami was the Ninidaime’s student, it was only suitable that the man had a special spot for him.
“He...said some things.” I hesitated, “Things that were just wrong. I knew I had to do something. I— It started with your clan but it ended with Naruto.” I turned my gaze back to my little brother, “You’re family. Uzumaki’s and Senju’s were tied by blood in anija’s line but beyond that, we were bound by honour.” I greet my teeth, letting my voice take a deeper undertone. Almost like a growl. “Konoha didn’t help Uzushio. The land of your clan is destroyed and the village that should have been your home treats you like a bad omen.”
I took a deep breath, “I couldn’t stand that.” I looked back at Sasuke, smirking sardonically at him. “So I plotted.”
He gulped, “...what did you do?”
His black eyes were full of fear, I wondered what stories the Uchiha had about the Ninidaime and how my act entered into that because I had no doubt, he believed what I was saying was the truth.
“I had raised the dead once. I was sure that with some time, I could find a way to go back.” Sasuke choked on his spit, Naruto’s eyes grew bigger as he gasped. “Homura, the sage’s brother, didn’t like that. So he made a deal with me after four years of me pestering the afterlife, he would send me back, gift me a body of someone who had recently died so I could interfere with the world of the living.”
“Nii-san!” Naruto had a big smile on his face, so big that it must hurt. “I knew you were amazing but you’re the best of the best.”
If his loyalty wasn’t cemented before, now it was.
I was someone that not only treated him like family, in his mind I had fought the shinigami so I could come and save him.
I huffed a laugh, “Thank you, otouto.”
“So Sakura died?” Sasuke looked disturbed. “How can you be so nonchalant about it?”
“I’m a necromancer, I’m not afraid of corpses.” I say seriously, pretending to miss the point entirely. He flinched at the reminder that I had, apparently, raised the dead. It was pretty fun, I loved messing with people like this. “I had an entire plan about what to do if I started discompossing but it proved unnecessary, the body is fine. I even gained some of her memories. Which, let me tell you are awkward as hell because she wanted to kiss you and…”
“And?” Naruto pushed, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
I scrunch my nose in distaste, he laughed so hard he fell backwards.
“Hey!” Sasuke squeaked in offence.
“It’s not you.” I say with an embarrassed cough, feeling my cheeks grew warm as my face turned red. My complexion didn’t help, when I blushed I looked like a tomato. It wasn’t cute at all. “Uchiha-san is a person I don’t mind being around but...ah, you look too much like Izuna. The idea of kissing you, makes me think of kissing him and I rather kiss my cousin than to do that. So the memories were awful, thank you very much.”
I ended my rant looking thoroughly disgusted.
“Who’s Izuna?” Now, that’s morbid curiosity Sasuke. Tsk, Tsk, bad turtleduck.
“Madara’s little brother.” I said, “You’re almost a carbon copy. Except he didn’t scowl that much.”
Sasuke scowled, “I don’t scowl that much.”
“You do, teme!” Naruto said happily.
“Shut up, dobe!”
I rolled my eyes fondly, so this was what Madara and Hashirama could have if things had gone better. Ah, such a pity it ended like that. The banter was quite amusing, though. Unlike in cannon, they were both smiling and it was obviously friendly.
“Ejem.” I said after a few minutes. Both of them blushed, Sasuke looked away and Naruto sent me a sheepish smile “Sorry, nii-san.”
“I don’t mind.” I said sincerely, “But I think we still have things to discuss. You surely have some questions, don’t you?”
Sasuke's expression turned grimm, darkness curled inside his black eyes. “If you’re the Nidaime then you must be strong.”
“No really.” I said, “I have knowledge but my body is weak. It was part of the deal we made, he didn’t like me before. He likes me less now. He doesn’t want me to succeed, I was half waiting to wake up a civilian. I’m glad I’m not, though. This makes things easier but you must understand, your opinion of me before today wasn’t wrong. I am weaker than you two.”
“You’re not weak, nii-san!”
I disagreed but decided to not say anything, “I could help you to get stronger, though. That’s what you want, right Uchiha-san?”
He nodded, “I want to kill the man that destroyed my clan. As a Senju, you must understand why.”
“Yes,” I said coldly, “I also understand why you think you can do it by yourself. I’m telling you don’t.” Sasuke opened his mouth, I raised my hand to shut him up. “As Head of the Senju, I understand the need to take everything on your shoulders but we are a team now. A pack. I will help you take Itachi down, so will Naruto. I can make us strong enough that hunting him will be easy.”
“You can’t promise that.” Sasuke hissed.
“I can, Uchiha-san.” Dead serious, not even a shadow of doubt, “Because I have killed many of your blood, I know how to fight and win against an Uchiha. Let me help you.”
“Itachi is strong.” Sasuke’s voice is small.
“Izuna was strong too, he had the mangekyo as well, you know? I still killed him.” I said quietly, “Madara, on the other hand, was strong. So strong only anija could touch him. If Itachi was Madara, I would hesitate in extending my help. But Itachi is not Madara. Your generation is weaker than mine, that is unmistakable. I can help you to get strong enough to kill Itachi.”
“...alright.” He said shakely, “Together.”
“Together.” Me and Naruto echoed; Naruto had no doubt in his heart. If I wanted this, then he wanted it too. Helping Sasuke was a plus, one he liked, but not the real reason. He and I were well aware of that.
It was trilling, to have such devotion.
Konoha was so lucky that I had decided to play the Nidaime or this could have gone so differently.
“Now, back to Zabuza. The ANBU doesn't take the body with them, they work the body in the place it touched the ground. He is also well trained, no doubt about it. But he’s not ANBU level. Jonnin at most.” I explained, “The way he took Zabuza out, as well.”
“Senbon.” Sasuke said in realization.
“Exactly,” I said approvingly, he brightens. Such a cute reaction. “There are muscles on the neck that can put a person in a dead-state. Zabuza’s heart stopped, Kakashi verified so. The recuperation time is close to a week. Same as Kakashi. Our sensei will want to take Zabuza so our job is to take the boy.”
“How?”
“You both need to get a better control of your chakra, I will teach you how to mold it better so you can advance quickier.” I said seriously, “It’s something we were taught at five, is walking on water. You put chakra on your feet. You have two days to master it. Alright?”
“Yes.” They nod seriously.
“Good.” I smiled, “We start tomorrow. Today, though, I want you to see what kind of edibles are near here. Tazuna shouldn’t have to feed us and this is also an important part of being a shinobi, you should be able to survive alone in enemy territory and that includes feeding yourself.”
Sasuke has a thoughtful frown, Naruto is nodding and smiling, “We can do that, nii-san.”
“I know you can.” I had pushed him to learn a little about herbology so I was kind of confident he wouldn't eat something poisonous by mistake. “I will stay here and keep an eye on the client and sensei.”
“Alright,” Sasuke stood, “See you when we have the food.”
I waved as they entered the forest, smiling to myself, Quite satisfied as how thing were going, yeah, life is good.