Memories of the future/ part 2/?
Already posted this chapter on the fic's standalone:
Memories of the future past
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The fire at his father’s body together with the elders was different from a normal pyre, the flame was high and roaring like it has a life. The same feeling that Tobirama has in his chest, the same feeling that is consuming his whole being right now.
Anger.
Anger towards everything that is happening around them, but most specifically his brother. He still feel the blood rushing out of his father’s wound, his last words, his smile that was directed toward him for the first time. All were robbed because of one man. His own brother, whom he devoted all his life.
He hated how blinded he become towards his brother. How he was ready to jump to a cliff for his brother’s dream. How ready he was to sacrifice his own name, his own legacy, to be the villain of the village just for his brother to be happy.
He remembers in his past life, whenever a meeting was held, how his brother will immediately put him under the bus, how it was always his temper that the council meeting has taken many recesses, how it was him, his fault that Madara didn’t want to stay in the village.
He remember the words, the pain that it caused, how up until now it was etched in his heart. How gaslit he become just to have his brother’s approval.
But that stops now.
He makes his final decisions as the smoke in his father’s turned white, as the sun has risen after a day of mourning. This time, this new lifetime was his. And he will not let his brother get in the way of his own happiness.
His musings stop with a hand on his shoulder, and a gentle voice of Mito coaxing him out of his bubble “Tobi? It’s been three days, you need to rest, or at least eat something.”
He nodded. Saying his last prayers for his father’s soul, he follows her as her hands guide her to his room. “Thank you.” His voice coarse from heavy crying and being rarely used the past few days.
“Whatever for?” Mito asks, handing him a bowl of soup.
“For staying with me.”
Mito smiled at him, the tags on her hair buns flowing animatedly because of the wind, “I will always be by your side this time, just like you did before.”
He dreamed of a meadow, where his brothers are running and his father and mother are having a picnic, he saw some faces, some are familiar, some are new but their eyes, their eyes are achingly familiar.
His hands were tugged by a child, a boy with short light-brown hair, hazel eyes, and distinct blushes on his cheeks, he was laughing “You must be Tobi-ji-chan!”
“Tobi-ji-chan?”
The boy grinned “I’m Nawaki! You're grandnephew! Why are you here? You are not supposed to be here yet! You’re supposed to live a long life! So that when you return here your gonna tell me so many stories!”
But Tobirama didn’t answer, he was still looking, he heard about Nawaki when he was summoned to participate in the 4th shinobi war. But he didn’t know how come the boy knows about him.
“Tobirama?” Batsuma calls him. “Go back. It’s not yet your time. Live your life.”
He woke up the next day, with the heaviness in his heart gone.
“Tōka.” He calls for his cousin. Which immediately appeared on his side.
“Yes, Nidaime.”
"I'm not.” Tobirama cringed at the title but sighs knowing that Tōka is both teasing him and loyal at the use of his title. “Can you summon a meeting this afternoon with all of the clans?”
“Can I?” Tōka gasps, “Can I? Are you asking cousin? The famous Nidaime of the Konoha, asking me?” Tōka teases his cousin.
“Tōka, please. Not now,” Tobirama pleaded, as his cousin laughs at him.
“Okay. Okay, I will hold a meeting at the grand hall.” Tōka finally answers after a round of laughing.
“Thank you,” Tobirama says, glad that Tōka is by his side.
“No prob favorite cousin of mine! Though I expect a raise for my services.” Tōka replies as she exits the room using the window.
Tobirama sighs, but as he sensed her going from clan to clan, he smiles.
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Tobirama died with only 10 clans in the village with five still pending. And when he was summoned at the fourth shinobi war he found out that there are 19 major clans, plus some shinobi’s that come from small families to be considered as a clan.
But as Tobirama roam the streets from his house towards the main hall, he sensed that there are more people than he anticipated. He was almost taken aback when he saw the number of people in the meeting hall.
Everyone stands up when he entered the room. “Nidaime-sama”
He gestures to everyone to take a sit, and Tōka immediately went to his right while Mito is on his left.
“I requested your presence here to finally talk about the future of our village.” Tobirama started as he sees the eager faces of each clan’s representative and the representatives of those who don’t have a clan.
It was an easy meeting, as all of their memories are intact, they now know what to do and what not to do. And now with some of the Uchiha’s inside their village, everything turns smoothly as it can. Plumbing, allotted areas, school, etc, was quickly laid out as those who lived the longest shared all of those they remember before their death.
A village that is full of travelers. Tobirama smiles again.
“I think we need more space if this continues.” The Aburame clan representative states “From what I gathered some clans from the other villages are learning about us and wants to join us.”
“Why don’t they just create their own village, just like what we did? If they also have their memory then it will also be easy,” The Shimura clan representative asks.
“They don’t have any memory, only us with the direct connection to Konoha did. And they like the direction that we are going.” The Hatake clan representative replies, “And I think they’re getting pissed from the defector and Madara’s interference with them.”
Tobirama winced at his brother’s title.
“I don’t want them to join our village just because they are at war with my brother. A good foundation of relationship comes from a good intention.” Tobirama sighs, but quickly added, “Thank you, Aburame-sama and Hatake-sama.”
“Our pleasure, Nidaime-sama.” They both answer, “We’ll still be on the lookout.”
And on the last topic that they discussed is the recognition of their home. They decided that some entourage will go to the Daimyo for him to recognize their village, but one issue arise, the name of their village. But it was solved by Kagami’s mother, she has given them one, Heiwagakure.
Heiwagakure the Village hidden in peace, Tobirama liked it.
“If you all decided that I will still lead you, then I request that my title be kept.” Tobirama requested as the representatives he now calls council members, or simply councilors debated on what he’s supposed to call.
“I know that it has a shadow from the past, but it’s mine, and as you said, I made it my own,” Tobirama added as he sees some who want to disagree.
“I agree.” Hikaku says nodding to himself, “I think it suits our situation, a second flame from the shadows. A second chance.”
The council takes on a different topic. But Tobirama was able to pick out a certain conversation.
“Wise words.” Tōka purred.
“Of course, gotta impress someone,” Hikaku replies, as he slides his hands into Tōka’s. "Are you impressed?"
Tobirama just looked at the two, mouth gaping as his brain cannot comprehend what was happening in front of him. He only shuts his mouth when he felt a pinch from his left side. He looks and sees Mito silently laughing, using the sleeves of her Kimino as a shield.
“What’s happening?” Tobirama whispers to Mito, not wanting to disturb the meeting.
Mito smiled at him, her cheeks blushing, eyes filled with joy “A second chance.”
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Mito wants to come, but Tobirama forbids her. If something will happen to him, he knows that Mito can lead the village. She was hurt, he knows, she’s scared of the prospect of her being left alone again. The last time had hurt her till her last breath. But agrees as responsibility always comes first.
Everyone wants to volunteer to come with him, but he declined. They appointed him as their leader, they must let him lead, they must let him protect them with the only thing that he got. It’s his number one duty to his people, that was embedded into his being even from a young age.
They changed places, Tobirama observes. The tailed-beast are gone from the original place where they were found. Dread comes to Tobirama as he suddenly thinks that his brother was able to get them first, that is until he felt it, sensed it, a mammoth size chakra, and it was calling him.
He follows it, like a familiar voice calling him home. It was in a cave, and instead of the tailed beasts, it was the sage himself.
“Senju Tobirama. Welcome.” The sage of six paths appears in front of him. “It appears that you’ve come too.”
“Someone else was here?” Tobirama asks, dread appearing again in his stomach.
“Yes, Asura’s and Indra’s living reincarnate. They came here for the same reason as you are, but yours are different from them.”
“Your speaking puzzles.” Tobirama replies, “I’m here to ensure that the tailed-beasts won’t be turned into weapons.”
“That’s where you were different.” The sage smiles at him. “You both want peace, but different paths. Your brother wants the Bijuus to make sure that there is peace, while yours want them also to be part of peace.”
The sage neared him “Hashirama and Madara were disturbed by what you did, I was also.”
“Disturbed? I don’t care about what they feel. Get to your point.” Tobirama sneers, tired of puzzling old man.
“My point is that my mother is not going to be a problem anymore, but the tailed beats are still roaming the earth, as their right. Your brother is also searching for them, but they are hiding, as for now, you don’t need to worry about it. What I want you to worry is this, longing is a greater enemy than hate.”
Tobirama ignores the riddle that the old man is saying. “How can I not worry if the tailed beast is still there and might get capture.”
“Let me worry about that. This I pledge to you, leader and protector of Heiwagakure, peace will always be by your side, as it is the meaning of the name of your village, as long as peace is wanted, it will be yours. I will come back after ten years, and then we’ll talk.” The sage started to fade, when he added, “Your brother and Madara made a miscalculation. And now they’re suffering. Remember this Senju Tobirama, longings is a greater enemy than hate.”
Tobirama exited the place with more questions than answers and though he doesn’t really trust the Sage, the only choice that he got is to hold on to his words. Ten years, he needs to note that.
He was already halfway into the village that was hidden by more protection than Konoha had gotten before when he sensed something, something big and angry. The pressure makes him fall to his knees, then he sees plants sprouted from the land, entangling on his legs and wrist.
“Tobirama. I'm so happy.” The man calls him, he still looks regal, but his eyes, his eyes looked like mad. “Otouto it’s me, Anija.”
“What do you want?” Tobirama asks as he tries to stand up, but the pressure was back, much harder than before, like a heavy lead on his back. He gasps, as he felt his brother’s chakra was joined by another.
“Tobirama.” Madara greeted him normally like he wasn’t kneeling and being chained by roots.
“Again, what do you fucking want?” Tobirama sneered, using his hiraishin to send some clone to warn his village.
“This.” And he was suddenly facing Madara, his Sharingan activated.
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