Outsiders

Hitomi crashed into Izuna’s life quite literally. In the middle of a battle against the Hagoromo Clan, injured, feral, and lashing out against the man that was fighting Izuna, cutting him cleanly with the tanto he carried. 

When he turned and their sharingans connected, Izuna knew something was deeply wrong, there was something familiar, intimate, in the other Uchiha’s eyes and when the younger one fainted he caught him in his arms, calling out for a medic with the same desperation he would if Madara had been hurt. 

Hitomi survived. But it was a close call. Too close for his confort, and Madara’s when they discovered the truth. 

For moments Izuna wondered if it would have been easier if he had died. Of course, most times he was grateful that Hitomi had arrived at their lives when he did. 

“Remember when they told you that using you Mangekyo had consequences?” Hitomi’s tone was neutral, but the glow in his eyes was more playful than anything. 

“Are you saying you’re the consequence?” He raised an eyebrow; his tone shaking and heart fluttering in fear and incredulity. 

Hitomi shrugged; laughing in silence in the same way Izuna did when he wanted to make the elders temper ignite. It wasn’t really a thing that a stranger could copy. And just another proof, of the many, Hitomi was giving him freely so he could understand what had happened. 

“Fuck.” Izuna cursed, passing his hand through his hair. “Of all the consequences I thought it would have...Well, reincarnation, wasn’t one of them.”

“Yeah, it results that sucks to be you.” He smirked, more amused than anything now that he was aware of when he was. Because it was the past. His past. And he, being here, could (would) change everything.

He would protect their brother.

He would ensure that Konoha was founded; that his brother’s dream was fulfilled, as well as that Madara would live to see it through and enjoy it. 

He would make sure that the massacre would never happen. 

And speaking of changing things…

“You better start using that fucking armor or so help me, Izuna…” He told the older Uchiha with a sweet smile. Izuna paled a few shades; he knew that smile. He used that smile. And it never represented good news. 

He raised his hands in surrender, “...It’s really necessary?”

“Listen, Izuna-chan.” Hitomi's smile grew. “Unless you fight with all your power, you will be using that armor. It’s no negociable.”

Izuna’s eyes narrowed. 

“Are you insinuating that he will kill me?”

It was easy to read between the lines. Izuna had died, Hitomi was born. And for the reactions he was obtaining it hadn’t been a nice death. Murdered. Probably by Tobirama as the Senju was the only one that could see him eye to eye. 

And only because he wasn’t using his full power. 

“I don’t insinuate anything.” Hitomi's smile becomes sharper. “I’m telling you. I won’t be having Madara suffer like that again. Not ever.” 

Izuna closes his eyes, exhaling a shaky breath. 

Madara’s his treasure; the most important person in his life. Everything he does is because he wishes Madara to be happy. 

“I understand.”

Hitomi humms. 

“His dream is not as stupid as we thing. It can be done. We just need to be careful.”

Izuna snarls, his opinion about that issue has never been a secret. He’s very against it. 

“Hashirama is not a threat.” Hitomi rolls his eyes; he’s not lying. Not exactly. He knows the story of the village at heart and it’s not pretty. But he’s sure that Hashirama loved his brother as much as their anija did. “We just need to be careful about it. Be supportive. Friendly, even. Be with the Senju what we aren’t with our Clan.”

Izuna’s expression turned sweet. “So they can’t see us coming.”

“Exactly.”