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Chapter Text

Tobirama was proud of his village.

The young Senju had poured his all into making it as sustainable as he could. He had created a vast number of programs-- the Konoha Police Department, the Ninja Academy, the ANBU, the village's rankings, and even the voting system! He had worked day and night to make sure everything would be perfect for his brother's dream.

There was always one lingering threat to all his hard work, though. Those Uchiha. It would only be a matter of time before they put the entire village in peril, intentional or not.

For while it was true that the clan was filled with outstanding shinobi, Tobirama knew for a fact that he couldn't trust them half as far as he could throw them. They would rebel, sooner or later.

When the time came, the village would be in serious danger. To have so many fierce shinobi attack from within would be fatal to the village if there were no defences in place. And despite his many warnings and discussions with his elder brother, Hashirama had never listened.

Tobirama loved his brother, but the man was willfully naive when it came to the Uchiha. He had always claimed that they would come around; that one day, they would become one with the village. That Tobirama would learn to accept them and that they would grant him the same respect.

It was one of the many things he was never able to agree with his brother on.

How could he blindly believe in the Uchiha, hoping that they would decide to fall into line someday? Tobirama knew the Uchiha, and he knew them well.

Just as the Senju followed the way of the earth with their unyielding perseverance and strength, the Uchiha had always followed the way of fire.

Their clan was relentless-- fierce and determined, willing to consume anything that stood in their way and use it to fuel their own power. Sure, they were content for now, but who knew how long that would last.

At the very least, Tobirama had always known exactly how to deal with them, despite his brother's dislike of his strict actions towards the clan. If the Uchiha insisted on living as fire incarnate, he would treat them as such.

A flame could be powerful after all; an excellent weapon that could bring even the strongest of shinobi to their knees. Yet, it was also one that needed to be treated with a watchful eye. For unlike a sword or kunai, a flame refuses to stay still unless forced to do so. If not properly reigned in, it would be easy for the weapon to get out of hand, burning enemies and allies alike. Its only focus is to sustain itself; to expand its power. The very same thing could be said about every Uchiha he had ever met.

Not once had he met an Uchiha who was missing this fire. He'd hoped to guide this flame into something that would protect the village in its entirety, not just the clan. But even so, after forming the police force and pushing for them to focus on the village in the same way they did their clan, Tobirama had lingering doubts.

Some were willing to be reigned in, sure. There was Kagami, for example. His precious student was the embodiment of everything he hoped to see the Uchiha become. Powerful, loyal, and village-bound. Unfortunately, the young Uchiha seemed to be more of an exception than a rule.

He could still sense the unease of the Uchiha. He had known it was a very real possibility that they would rebel the moment he looked away.

He refused to let them burn their way through the village, whether Hashirama was willing to listen to him or not. He would protect the people of Konoha with every fibre of his being- even if it was an attack from within.

Tobirama had promised his brother that he would help him see his dream of the perfect village to the end, and even beyond that. Konoha was their masterpiece, and he refused to let it burn to the ground due to his brother's overly trusting attitude.

He would protect this village.

He had made this oath, and he intended to follow through on it, even in death.

It had taken some time, but he had figured it out, eventually. He was a master of the scroll, after all. He had probably created more jutsu than most shinobi even managed to learn in a lifetime.

He was by no means an arrogant man, but he wasn't as oblivious as Hashirama seemed to be when it came to his own abilities. He was powerful, and he knew that. Which was why he hadn't hesitated to use this power to protect his village.

It was deplorable, to say the least. Even as he worked hard in the dead of night, away from all prying eyes, he knew it. He had practically felt the judgment of his long-gone father and the sadness of Itama's sullen eyes. He had ignored these thoughts as he had worked to set it up, time and time again, trying to perfect it despite the feeling of damnation that welled in his gut each time he got closer and closer.

The dead should stay dead. That's what anyone with even the smallest bit of common decency would say. It was what his father had told them each time he heard Hashirama grieving; the boy demanding that this wasn't supposed to happen. Itama was supposed to make it out alive, Hashirama had said more than once, often accompanied by a tearful desire for him to be with them once more.

Their father had never been willing to listen to these grievances, nor had Tobirama been willing to listen to his father's incessant urges to simply 'move on as a good shinobi should' as his brothers followed one by one into the grave. It was ironic really, that the man who proclaimed to respect death so much was the first to also dismiss it so easily. His father had always treated it as though it were nothing, claiming that they would adapt to it once they grew older. They never had.

Tobirama knew, even as he cast the final seal to link his soul to the village, that death was anything but insignificant. It was necessary, but never trivial. To suggest such a thing was unimaginable. Death needed to be treated with the same respect as life- it would be foolish not to.

As such, he had been very particular when creating the seal. He knew he was committing an atrocious act, but no more so than taking another life, as far as he was concerned. A necessary evil. So he pressed on, setting up the rules for the seal in such a way that he almost hoped it never activated.

He had taken a breath once it was cast, the normally stoic man having to remind himself that it was for Hashirama and the safety of the village for all time. Even if his elder brother knew nothing of his vice, he would continue on for his sake. For the sake of his dream. If that included having to tie his damn soul to the village and keep watch over the Uchiha, he would do it.

He'd come back to deal with the Uchiha, no matter how much he hated the very idea. His one comfort was that, at the very least, he would only have to return in the most dire of circumstances. He had made sure of that when creating the seal.

It would not activate unless a large scale decrease or increase occurred with their chakra at any given point. This way, he'd be able to know if they were killing each other off especially fast for the mangekyou. He would be able to step in and make sure their forces didn't grow too powerful. At the same time, if they sharply increased, he'd be able to know about it if they were to use some sort of kinjutsu to bring back the past Uchiha. There's absolutely no good reason for them to want to resurrect the amount required to trigger the seal- so it would be best if he was around to stop whatever plot they'd be planning, he assumed.

The seal seemed perfect in almost every way. He was proud of himself for his results, even if the work in question was beyond repugnant. He would be able to fully come back- body, mind, and soul- without any of the oddities that came with the reanimation jutsu. No sacrifices were required for this seal, nor could it be activated by force before the time was right.

There was just one not-so-tiny issue. Since the seal was made to build him up from practically nothing, it took much longer to bring him back. Specifically, a month. It was something he had tried again and again to fix, but a month was as low as he could bring it down to without risking a mutation in the creation process.

As such, he had bitterly admitted, he would have to act fast once he felt his consciousness returning to him. He would have no time to wait around if the sharp change in chakra happened a month before his awakening.

He would have to be fast if he wanted to destroy whatever threat the Uchiha had built up in time.

Chapter Text

Embalming is not something typically used in the Senju clan- they are shinobi of the Earth and as such prefer to return to it after leaving this world. As strange as it might seem to the other clans, it is often a small comfort to see the deceased bodies beginning to fail at the funerals. It means that they are becoming one the earth- that they will remain as dirt for their kin to live off of. In this way, they can continue to serve their clan by offering nutrition for future crops.

To embalm a body means that it will take far longer for the body to return to the earth. It will remain for years- slowing the process of their true end. It was nearly unheard of for a Senju to be embalmed, but no one had objected when they had read it in Tobirama's will. For that, he was grateful.

It meant he didn't have to find an excuse as to why he was so serious about being properly preserved. It wasn't as though he could tell them the truth- that he wanted his body in good condition in case the seal was one day activated.

He could still revive without it, of course, but it would make the process a lot longer and would be much more uncomfortable. By embalming his body, he wouldn't have to wait for the dirt and water to nourish him from the bone out. That would take nearly a year. Since he was properly preserved, it made things a lot easier.

It only took a month for the dirt and water to push in through the pores of his skin, nourishing his body as it built him up, layer by layer. He was crafted fully from flesh to bone, slowly and steadily. The last pieces of his body to be brought back were his organs and nerves, the Senju having specifically designed it to be that way. He'd much rather avoid having to feel any more than necessary.

As such, when he felt his mind slowly hazing back to life from the darkness, he had been grateful for his foresight. His eyelids had opened carefully, the effort required not going unnoticed. The Senju felt his fingers testingly grip the hardwood of his casket, his arms aching at the energy it required.

His chest heaved inwards as a dry cough left his chest, the resurrecting shinobi's arms falling back to his sides as musty air filtered into his chest. The dampness of the muddy water that had snuck into the casket felt increasingly suffocating, his lean muscles reflexively shuttering as he tried to control his breathing. He didn't need to waste all his oxygen by panicking.

His body ached, the man taking a careful breath as he began to gather himself. His body was sore, so he supposed it must have just finished the bulk of the seal's process. His body was ready, though his nerves must be receiving the finishing touches. Tobirama, unfortunately, couldn't check due to the lack of light in his casket.

So, instead, he settled on letting the scroll finish its work, the Senju idly moving his fingers and shifting as much as he could in an attempt to help wake the previously destroyed nerves. He made a point to stifle his chakra as well as he could, not wanting anyone nearby the feel his awakening. That would cause more problems than he would like to deal with.

Tobirama focused on stifling his chakra and awakening his nerves, refusing to acknowledge the issue of the casket's stench. He knew the more he focused on it, the more it would be an issue. Still, he found it hard to ignore the sickening reek around him. This was what happened when you put a corpse in a box and stick it underground for a few decades, he supposed. He had known he wouldn't be waking up to the smell of roses, but still. He hadn't known it would be this bad.

As he tried to ignore the urge to hurl his guts out, the man felt his body coming completely to life. He could feel his body's soreness enhance, his skin feeling as though it were on fire, though he supposed that was what happened when dirt and water pressed its way into each pore. It was excruciating- not only the process, but the slowness of it all.

He didn't know how long it took. All he knew was that the total time of the revival shouldn't take more than a month. Which was what made it so hard. He knew it wasn't as long as it felt, but each second felt like torture. Each moment he stayed in his casket, healing, was another moment for the Uchiha to do whatever the hell they had planned. He needed to get to the village as swiftly as he could.

With this in mind, he willed himself to move. His nerves seemed to be refreshed, so the only thing holding him back now was the ache in his bones. Unfortunately, that was unlikely to disappear anytime soon. So as he lifted his hands to push the casket open, he was prepared to get going despite the soreness.

His heart skipped a beat as the lid of the casket didn't move, a moment of realization crossing Tobirama's mind. Right, he was six feet under. He had a lot of earth above him that he would need to break past if he wanted to get to the surface. His brows furrowed as he forced himself onto his stomach, taking a few deep breaths of the revolting air. He needed to get out before he ran out of oxygen. The seal had finished its work- he was just as alive as he had been all those years ago. Which meant he needed to breathe just as much as any other living being.

Taking a calming breath, Tobirama rammed his back into the lid of the casket, fingers clenching around the watery dirt that had made its way into the casket over the years. He was momentarily glad that he had been buried in his armor, otherwise, this would probably hurt a lot more than it already did. He was going to have to take it slow and steady if he wanted to get out of the casket without heaving in too much oxygen at once.

So he found himself counting in his head, staying as composed as possible in such a situation. He thought with a steady rhythm, 'One, two, three, four, five-' THUMP 'One, two, three, four, five-' THUMP, continuing on despite the distant question of its effectiveness. Distantly, he could feel the bits of dirt that had made its way into the casket over the years, fingers digging into the familiar soil of Konoha. With each thump, his chest filled with a renewed source of death-filled air. It was one thing to smell the fresh stench of a dead carcass, he realized, but it was another thing completely to be in a box that had been building it up for years upon years. Had he been a lesser shinobi, he might have admitted to the gag welling up in his throat with each thump. He needed to get out of this terrible place.

It took some time, but eventually, he felt something hit the back of his arms. A thin smirk of satisfaction found its way onto his previously frustrated face, the silver-haired shinobi turning onto his back once more with a huff of effort. He settled a hand on his chest, feeling the rapid thumping of his heart as he tried to steady himself. He was beginning to feel light-headed, much to his rising panic. He had to do this the right way, otherwise, he'd only succeed in suffocating or burying himself into the dirt once more. He couldn't afford to die a second time- not so soon after the Uchiha had been acting suspicious enough for the seal to activate. He needed to get out; he needed to be at the village's aid as soon as possible.

Using this as his motivation, he pushed against the lid once more, lifting it just enough to give an opening; only a bit of dirt crumbling in from the side.

His hand moved, silently cursing the darkness as he began pressing his hands flat against the dirt on the side, compacting it. He smoothed both his hands over the earth, his back holding up the lid of the casket despite the protests of his spine. He pressed the soil as well as he could, gritting his teeth at the labor it required.

Bit by bit, the soil settled into place. Soon, he had a smooth wall of dirt by his side. Now for the risky part. He needed to get up to the surface, but he couldn't just break through six feet in one swoop. He didn't have the brute strength of most Senju. He had to work smart. Luckily, this wasn't too much of a challenge. He was used to needing to play tactician to get through things. Today was no different- he was sure he'd manage.

Using this thought for motivation, he began using his fingers to carefully dig into the dirt. His chest felt tight as he did so, the silver-haired Senju resisting his natural reaction to tear into the wall. He blinked as his eyes pulsed despite the darkness, closing them tightly. He was Tobirama Senju- he could do this. He would escape and aid his village. All he had to do was dig one measly tunnel towards the surface.

Fingers moving shakily, he began to dig. His nails scraped against the soil to the left of his casket, the man moving the dirt to rest at the bottom of the wood. His lungs had begun to burn, so he focused on taking steady breaths. He could feel his eyes glossing over, which he assured himself was a result of the slowly occurring suffocation. His hands moved quicker as his mind moved on its own, finding it hard to follow his own logic as the panic crept into his skin.

He repeated his goal in his mind, hoping to will his body into listening. 'Make a circle beside the casket to crawl into. Make a tunnel to the left to crawl out of. Use your hands to flatten the sides of the tunnel for stability.'

The shaking in his hands became more apparent even to him, the Senju trying to shake it off. He could do this- he was a man of legend, damn it! He refused to die of suffocation. He blindly stumbled to smooth the circle he had built around himself, carefully crawling into it.

At least he was one step closer to being away from that horrid smell, he encouraged his sluggish mind. His hands moved to scratch to the side of one of the walls, the man's movements not nearly as coordinated as they had been only moments ago. He willed himself forward, reminding himself, 'For the village, for the village!' as soil crumbled from his upper left and into his hair.

Bit by bit, he carved out his tunnel, calloused palms clumsily pushing the walls into place. His chest heaved with the effort it required, lips curling into a glower despite his best efforts. Slowly, the dirt tumbled past him and into the casket below. He blindly dug, eyes clenched as he pulled at the earth. He was almost there, surely! He had never been one to act on blindly positive thoughts, but right now, he needed them. He'd never admit it, but he almost wished Hashirama was with him. The brunet would probably spout some overly-simplistic encouragement right about now.

He could practically hear Hashirama's praise as he felt his fingers grip at the next bit of dirt, his fingers swiping through the wall with none of the normal resistance. Tobirama allowed his lip to curl into a satisfied grin as light filtered in through the hole, burning his eyes. His body ached as the sun hit against his deathly-pale skin, oxygen rushing into his lungs as he finally allowed himself to hack out a nasty cough.

His arms gripped onto the side of the hole he had dug as he let his body lurch forward with each hack, steadying himself. He still felt a bit light-headed, but he didn't hesitate to crawl out of the stenchful hole, laying his body against the dirt as the sweetness of the fresh air swept through his chest. He gave himself a moment to regather his composer, fingers gripping the soil as he laid his head to the ground, eyes closed. Fuck, he was going to kill those damn Uchihas.

Chapter Text

Though it took him longer than he would like, he finally settled himself. As much as he would prefer to bask in the glory of his achievement, he still had much to do. With this in mind, he pulled himself up into a standing position, stretching his arms and back until they gave a satisfying crackle.

First, he easily decided, he needed to clean himself up and figure out when he was. It wouldn't due for him to walk around covered from head to toe in filth and age-old armor. The last thing he needed was to draw attention to himself, lest the Uchiha realize they had been caught doing...whatever it was they had done this time.

Peeling his old armor off his body, he settled on dumping it in the hole he had just crawled out of. He leaned over, effectively pulling on his sore muscles as he used the nearby dirt to pat the armor into the ground. It'd surely lead to suspicion that something was off if he just left it out for anyone to see.

Tobirama hoped he would be able to sneak in, deal with the problem, then return to the Earth once he was sure the problem was taken care of. He could always reset the seal in case further problems developed in the future.

As such, he would need to be precise with how he handled whatever the situation was. If things went accordingly and he was able to return to the Earth, he made a mental note to not have his casket buried so far underground next time.

Giving the ground one final pat, he stood back up, rubbing his shoulder idly. Now that his armor was gone, he wore a solid black outfit. His turtleneck and leggings still reeked of muddy death, even if he had escaped that hellish hole.

Yeah, he couldn't walk into town wearing this. Shinobi village or not, he'd cause high alert right away. Luckily, if nothing else, he was sure he could find a pond around. He knew the land of fire, but first, he needed to figure out where he was.

It didn't take long to figure it out. Based on the giant stone faces he found the moment he stepped out of the half-caved area he had been in before, he realized he must have been buried below the Hokage monument. The same area as Hashirama, then. The silver-haired shinobi made a point of not glancing around the cave too much, not wanting to be distracted by the renewed grief of his elder brother. There would be time for that later- right now, he kept the pain in his chest tucked down. Acknowledged, but not acted upon.

Tobirama ran a hand through his crusted silver hair, looking up at the Hokage monument. Four faces. So there had only been one new Hokage. He didn't count Hiruzen in this counting since, well, the boy had become Hokage right before Tobirama had died. The Senju felt another swell of grief in his chest as the idea resonated with him. His precious students were probably dead by now.

He forced his gaze over to the area below. His village. It was bigger than he remembered. His eyes narrowed slightly at the sight of the main roads, which he could just barely see from his spot upon the cliff. The village didn't look anything like he had left it. The roads all twisted in different directions.

Why on Earth would they redesign the entire village? Perhaps it just came with time, or Hiruzen had found a more efficient way of routing it. He shook his head back and forth lightly at the idea, carefully leaping down from the cliff.

He made way for one of the nearby rivers, doubting it would be gone even if it had been a while. It had always been one of his favorites due to its hidden nature. He would have never found it had he not actively gone out in search of nearly every possible fishing spot.

When Tobirama finally arrived, he was satisfied to see that it remained undisturbed, even years later. The resurrected shinobi stripped, getting into the water once he was sure he was alone. It was cold, but he ignored it in favor of scrubbing his clothes into the water beside him. The dirt that had been mucked onto him and his clothes finally seemed to rinse into the water as the man considered what to do next.

He idly scrubbed at his clothes as he pondered. There had been four Hokage's total, unless one was newly appointed and was yet to have his face carved into the wall. The carvings had been crafted within a few months of his and Hashirama taking the role of Hokage. He wasn't sure how long it would have taken for Hiruzen's statue to be built. Regardless, it must have been finished after the war, or at the very least at a leisurely pace. Hiruzen looked like he was quite old during the time of the craving. There was also the issue of how long Hiruzen's successor had lived.

Hiruzen was probably seventy or eighty when the statue was built. So that would mean he'd been dead for at least fifty or so years. As for his successor, shinobi usually lived to around thirty years old, so he would assume it had been anywhere from fifty to eighty years, depending on how long he had survived. There was always the factor of whether or not living in a village allowed for a longer life, but Tobirama couldn't be sure of that. Hokage's had to be on the front lines, so he doubted it would affect them much, but it was possible. So, eighty or ninety years, give or take?

That sounded about right, he mused, ringing his clothes and pulling the water from them with ease. He could always gather info from the village if the time period became increasingly important. Until then, he should focus on getting to the root of the problem.

Tobirama was still a bit tired from reawakening, so he decided against a hinge as he got back to land, redressing. He had lessened his chakra flow so that he wouldn't draw attention to himself. Unfortunately, this also made it more difficult to use his normal sensory abilities. He had restricted the flow so that he could only sense those within twenty or so yards of him. As uncomfortable as this made him, at least he wouldn't attract too much attention this way.

His chakra signature was perfectly hidden. As for his physical appearance, he was sure it wouldn't be too hard. With a mere glance around the edge of the water, he found his disguise.

It wouldn't be too hard to disguise himself-- the Hokage monument didn't have color and he doubted anyone would take the consideration of a dead Hokage walking down the street seriously. He used a bit of vegetation to tie his hair back, a short ponytail doing wonders to his appearance as he inspected it in the now murky water.

His tattoos would be harder to hide. He mentally cursed himself for making such distinguishable markings, but didn't waste too much time on it. Tobirama brought his fingers to the ruffles of his turtleneck, lifting it up and over his nose. He normally only used the face-covering folds for stealth missions, but he didn't have any qualms about using it as a daily mask. If anyone asked, he could simply claim he had a cold.

Taking one last look at his reflection, Tobirama stood. Now. It was time to go check out the situation with the Uchiha. Whether they had the plan of a silent strike or had already begun starting issues, he'd take care of it.

He made way for the village once he was presentable enough, having used his water manipulating abilities to force the clothes dry. He passed through the streets of Konoha, ignoring the glances he got. A pit of unease settled in his stomach as he walked through the town, eyeing the surrounding villagers with a calm but analytical expression. He would sneak, but he wasn't sure if the overall abilities of shinobi had increased or decreased. It'd be troublesome to get caught sneaking and have to use some idiotic excuse as to not get caught.

As such, Tobirama endured the stares, keeping his gaze just sharp enough to encourage the villagers to keep their distance. He was too busy for idle conversation. With any luck, they'd assume he was simply a moody traveling salesman or something of the sort.

He moved through the busy streets, noticing the many shops and houses despite his attempts to focus. He needed to look for the Uchiha compound. It wasn't where he last remembered it being, which was odd, but not overly so. He supposed it must have been relocated around the same time the rest of the village had been redesigned. It had taken him a moment, but he had eventually seen the Uchiha crest off in the distance. Ah, there it was. He went directly for the compound, which he noticed, was rather close to the Hyuuga's now.

He mildly wondered if they were on better terms now, to be able to be only a few blocks away. He doubted it, really. The Hyuuga had always been a respectable clan-- their Byakugan had always been far less deceiving than the Uchiha's Sharingan. They had never once caused trouble for the Senju. In fact, their leader had sided with both the Senju and their Uzumaki allies before. A thin smirk of approval lined Tobirama's lips as he passed by the clan gates, nodding in passing to the guards. There was a clan you could trust- reliable, intelligent, and above all else, honorable.

His good mood didn't last. Once he made it to the Uchiha compound and saw the empty guarding stations, his annoyance surfaced. Those idiot Uchiha shinobi and their pride. He knew how they were; they thought they were so untouchable. That was fine by him, even if it was aggravating. Let them be idiots if they wanted. Still, to leave the gate so open was a foolish move. Anyone could walk right in and bring harm to the children or civilians living within. Said person would be met with death the moment their prey cried out, sure, but it was a reckless move none the less.

Tobirama shook his head back and forth lightly as he set this thought to the side, even if it was an infuriating one. He moved towards the gates, finally moving into a more stealthy position. It was one thing to walk through the village as a possible tourist- it was another to walk straight into one of the compounds.

So he found himself crouched beside the wall, his eyes narrowing as he placed a hand to it. The Senju's brows furrowed as he silently checked over for the chakra signatures, expecting to find them spread out. His face fell from irritated to blank as he felt the absence of chakra.

Well...that was odd, to say the least. He stared forward for a brief moment, trying to wrap his mind around the absence. Had they migrated? Were they no longer part of the village? Or perhaps they had simply chosen to hide their chakra signature. No, that didn't seem likely. That wasn't something civilians or children would normally be able to do. It wouldn't make sense.

It was then that he caught the subtle reek. His eyes turned downcast towards his own clothes, wondering if he had carried the smell of death with him. He hadn't thought so, but perhaps he had missed it. He moved to scale the wall carefully, squatting as he entered the Uchiha compound. No, it definitely wasn't coming from him.

He took a steady step forward as his eyes narrowed, looking over the sight of the compound. It was an absolute mess. Windows were busted open in nearly every house, shards of glass yet to be picked up. Large pools of blood seemed to of crusted onto the empty sidewalk, police tape wrapping around each house and shop.

Tobirama knelt down to look at the blood, frowning as he reached a hesitant hand below. He touched the dried blood wearily, easily able to understand once he saw just how crusted it was. This blood was old- it had been there a minimum of three weeks, a maximum of two months. It was beginning to dull, but he could still see the stains against the concrete.

The stains and crust took on many different appearances- some large, some small. Some puddled, others splattered. All of them had one thing in common, however.

They had drag marks, leading up to the main house. The only house to remain without police tape, Tobirama noted with a sinking feeling. Just what exactly happened here?

Chapter Text

Gritting his teeth, Tobirama stood, practically marching forward. Following the routes of blood, he made way for the main household. He had to forcibly calm his chakra as to not alert anyone, the silver-haired shinobi torn.

There was no way the Uchiha clan was gone. They had once rivaled the Senju, fighting with determination no matter the circumstances. As untrustworthy as the clan was, Tobirama had never once considered them weak. They wouldn't allow themselves to be knocked out so easily- Tobirama had seen this time and time again as their numbers dwindled side by side with their own, the red-eyed shinobi never giving any indication of letting up. He had watched, over and over, as the Uchiha fought down to their very last capable man with everything they had.

Tobirama knew the Uchiha. They wouldn't die this easily. Even as he walked over splatters upon splatters of what could only be theirs, he found it hard to believe. Hell, even if the Uchiha had been attacked, surely they would have had the common sense to retreat, right?

Pushing the front door of the main house open, he mentally corrected, they probably wouldn't. Damn Uchiha and their pride. Still. The idea of their once mighty rivals falling seemed ludicrous. Surely they hadn't fallen so weak over the course of only a few decades?

It was inarguable, though, as he searched the compound for any chakra. For all his sensory abilities, he didn't feel a single shred of Uchiha chakra. His eyes scanning over the main house, he used his strained voice for the first time in who knows how long, "Hello?" the question rung through the air heavily as he tentatively moved to the doorway. "...Uchiha?"

His red eyes glanced over the opening room, frowning at the lack of response. Surely, if this house was still open, there had to be someone living here? Had it been an outside attack where only the main family had survived? Or was it a power grab, perhaps? The latter seemed unlikely. It must have been an attack from outside. Perhaps the main family had been the only ones able to hide? Or, he bitterly considered, any Uchiha would technically become the leader if the others were dead. It couldn't have been a power grab. If it had been a power grab, the children and civilians wouldn't be missing.

That was the most disturbing thing about this all, really. He could understand why the Uchiha shinobi would be dead- they were shinobi. Death was, unfortunately, part of the job. It would be normal for them to be targeted. The only reason the children and civilians would have been targeted by an enemy nation would be if they had only been a means to an end.

Even still, that was sinking too low by most shinobi standards. The very idea was just...wrong. Shinobi were one thing. He could even understand retired shinobi. They knew how to defend themselves. It was entirely different to point a sword at someone either too old or too young to protect themselves. Even people who had simply decided to take on the role of civilians didn't deserve that. How was someone who baked bread for a living supposed to defend against experienced fighters?

He hadn't seen any other clans with missing guards...was it only the Uchiha clan? On one hand, it was good that the damage had only hit one area of the village. On the other, it was sickening to consider. He could practically envision it- the enemy shinobi slipping past the border and into the Uchiha compound. It would have been easy, with them being on the edge of Konoha. It was quite possible that this had been a personal attack, actually. It would explain why the rest of the village didn't seem to be suffering any losses.

He crossed his arms more on instinct than anything as he considered this, unsure of how to feel about it. Well, there was definitely no threat. Still, it was wrong on so many fundamental levels. He absent-mindedly moved forward, walking past the oddly clean living room, considering how things were outside. None of the windows were broken in this house, nor was there any blood.

The couch looked as high quality as one would expect from a clan head, the bookshelves on either side of it lined with books of all nearly all genres. The weapons lined up neatly on the wall looked a bit dusty, but besides that, everything seemed to be in order.

Tobirama turned into the kitchen, moving past the counter as he checked the pantry and fridge. He was satisfied to see that it was full of surprisingly fresh fruit and vegetables. The kitchen had pretty much everything besides meat and alcohol. Well, at least he knew there was definitely someone living in the house, then. There was no way those fruits were more than a week old tops.

Overall, the house seemed pretty well taken care of. He at first assumed the contents of the kitchen meant that a man or woman had survived the attack, but this idea was questioned as he went to the side of the fridge. His foot kicked against something, which he quickly found to be a step-stool. Leaning down, he carefully picked it up, brow quirking. It was a child's step-stool, little toy kunai decorating the sides. If it was out in the open a month after the attack...

Tobirama let out a light sigh as he sat it back where he had gotten it. Perhaps, if nothing else, the children had been pitied in the attack. He could only hope for that much. Even if he didn't trust the Uchiha, children were just that. Children. They didn't deserve to see so much death, let alone face it themselves. He would know.

Distantly, he felt his own hands reach up to run over his face. He continued on his walk through the house, glancing in the bathroom briefly. His conclusion was backed by the towels hanging on the wall. Their designs matched the step-stool from earlier, and honestly, he didn't see either of those being something an adult would use. He might have been hoping for too much, but he allowed himself to do so against his better judgment.

If the children were indeed alive, where were they? The ninja academy, perhaps? That was the most likely option. This lead him to wonder, though, had they all been school-aged? Were those the only ones allowed to live?

He passed the dining room and back porch, not noticing anything out of the ordinary in either of the areas. He didn't have to look over to know that his knuckle was turning white as he gripped onto the staircase, his legs heavy as he forced them upstairs. When he did make it up to the second floor, he felt his shoulders sag at the effort it took to look up. There was a hallway with a distinct lack of photos lining the wall. Another bathroom with similar towels. Only three bedrooms. He didn't have to look into the master bedroom to tell it hadn't been touched in weeks. The door handle had dust on it, which Tobirama held off on opening. He would try to avoid being caught in the house, for now. That just left the two other bedrooms. Were all the children squeezing into these rooms...? He hadn't seen any pallets set up in the living room...

Tobirama felt heat rising in his chest, both out of sorrow and rage. How could children be expected to live like this? He stared wearily at the first room he entered, which had probably belonged to a teenager at some point, based on the size of the bed. The room was so bare-- the only form of entertainment seemed to be the abundance of books and perhaps the miscellaneous jars of sweets on the desk. Tobirama's blank eyes landed on neither of these, however. Instead, he found his red eyes locking onto a shelf.

It was filled with awards. Slips of papers lined the back of the shelf, congratulative kunai resting in dust. Tobirama felt his hand move up to grip the bridge of his nose as he read a few of the awards.

'Top of the class for graduation year...'

'Second highest score in the history of the ninja academy as of...'

'A genin of Konoha as of...'

'A chuunin of Konoha as of...'

Well, this kid just did it all, didn't he? Based on the names and ages on each of the awards, this 'Itachi Uchiha' was doing pretty good for himself. Though, Tobirama narrowed his eyes, so much for Hashirama's whole argument of 'Children should not participate in deadly activities' idea. Unable to resist the agitation building in his gut, Tobirama settled on lightly throwing his hands into the air. "At least the Uchiha were integrating into the village well!" voice filled to the brim with sarcasm as he headed out of the room, closing the door maybe a little harder than necessary.

Part of what pissed him off the most was the chakra signature at the bottom and top of multiple of the awards. They were mostly of people he didn't know, but he could recognize Hiruzen and Danzo's signatures anywhere. They had both signed at the bottom along with a mix of unfamiliar others. At the top of each, he could sense chakra engraved into the signature of 'Itachi'. That chakra was far too light. The boy probably hadn't reached adolescence before he became a chuunin

Brows furrowed together, Tobirama moved onto the next room, setting his urge to find his students and scold them to the side. He had taught them better than to let a child qualify for war!

His hand opened the final room of the second floor, his mood shifting back from bitter to disheartened. He stepped into the room, the last bit of composure going out the window as his fingers curled into a tight fist. The room was clean, but it clearly belonged to a child. He leaned on the doorframe, staring with a bluntly troubled look.

The bed was a soft pastel blue, the curtains behind it a similar colour. The room had an end table with childrens' books lingering atop it, a few dull practice kunai resting in miscellaneous areas around the room. The green carpet was surprisingly clean, given the fact it probably belonged to a child. Based on the books, Tobirama was pretty sure they'd be ten at most, five at minimum.

It took a moment, but Tobirama willed himself forward, noticing that the toys were all placed inside a closed toy box at the moment. He shook his head lightly at this-- the room was too clean to be housing multiple children. The only sight of any grime was on one of the toys. A green dinosaur plushy, from the looks of it. It had a few food stains, but besides that, it seemed like everything was in order.

Which was odd for numerous reasons.

To start with, the dust on the master bedroom's handle had been too heavy. No one had entered that room for a while. Which wouldn't make sense, unless there simply hadn't been any adults alive to take the room.

This only raised further questions, unfortunately. If there were no adults, who was taking care of this child? Even if the teen had stepped in, would that really be a good idea? Based on the dates from the awards and how recent seemed, this 'Itachi' couldn't be more than thirteen or fifteen. It was possible, but...if he was an active shinobi, the boy would probably be busy a lot. It wasn't realistic to have him watch over the kid. There had been plenty of villagers on the way to the compound, couldn't one of them kept an eye on the kid until he got older?

Tobirama brought his hand back up to his temples, rubbing away the oncoming headache. He could speculate as much as he wanted, but he wouldn't know unless he went out and found a reliable source of information to give him clues as to what exactly happened.

With no better option, Tobirama decided it was for the best. He'd go into the village and subtly ask around. After all, it seemed to be a recent incident.

Just as he turned to leave the room, a voice echoed through the empty house. It was tired and strained, Tobirama pausing briefly at the sound of the child calling out, "I'm home..."

Chapter Text

Tobirama moved quickly- he couldn't afford to be caught in the Uchiha compound. It would be much simpler to walk right up to the child and ask him about what had happened, yes, but it wouldn't be the smartest move.

If he asked the child face to face, they might mention it to the teenager or a villager. 'Oh, I came home yesterday and there was a shinobi I didn't know in my bedroom. He asked me about the compound and a recent tragic event'. Yeah, that'd go great, he thought with dry sarcasm.

Not to mention it'd probably freak the kid out or lead to unreliable information. If he was going to hear about what had happened, it was going to be from someone more objective. Preferably a chuunin, at the bare minimum.

...That wasn't to say that he couldn't make his own observations, though. He found himself easily moving to use the Dusting Bewildering Cover Technique, standing still as he stood against one of the walls. He wasn't surprised to hear a lack of response for the child- after all, no one had been home as far as he could tell.

Tobirama inched through the house silently, the child clearly unable to detect him. After all, he was Tobirama Senju. He wasn't one to fluff his own ego, but he doubted an academy student or even a genin would be able to see past his work. Still, he took great care to stay silent as he headed downstairs.

It didn't take long for him to find the child. It was a boy, one that couldn't be any older than six or seven. He was definitely an Uchiha, no doubt about that. His hair was such a hard shade of black that it almost seemed to give off a blue hue- then there were those eyes. They weren't the bloody red he had grown accustomed to over the course of his childhood, but rather, the pitless ebony that only ever seemed present off the battlefield.

None of that really processed through his mind at first, though. Instead, he was stuck staring at the sullen posture of the boy as he walked to the kitchen to set what looked to be a school bag down. One name rang in the back of his mind, the voice refusing to silence itself no matter how hard Tobirama stared at the boy. He found himself crossing his arms as he stood across the counter from the boy who had taken to unloading his homework. His grip tightened on his own arm, staring wide-eyed at the boy who didn't even know he was there. It was as though he was looking face to face with Izuna once more.

He had to force himself to keep his breathing quiet and calm, watching as the boy reached over and into the fruit bowl on the counter. He bit into an apple, beginning his work without so much as a glance around. His sharp eyes had the same tired look, the one he had seen on the faces of many shinobi. He had long ago dubbed it the 'Just keep marching' face. It was almost disturbing to see the lack of usual Uchiha fire in the child's eyes, though he couldn't quite blame the boy.

It was easy to tell, really. The boy wasn't making a point of hiding it or anything of that sort. The way his head was tilted down ever so slightly to stare at the homework ahead of him, his dull eyes staring wearily at the paper. Tobirama could see the bags under the boy's eyes, his skin too pale even for an Uchiha. His arms looked heavy, his hands trembling with the effort it took for him to write out the kanji.

Tobirama watched the mini Izuna, his red eyes glancing the boy over. Despite the hell he'd seen out front, he didn't seem like he'd been roughed up all that much.

His focus was thrown as the boy dropped his pencil, apparently finished. The boy wasn't as injured as Tobirama had expected. It seemed most likely that he'd been thrown aside when the attack went down. Based on the look of the boy, though, the young Uchiha knew. Really, how could he not, given the situation outside. There was something in Tobirama's gut, however, that told him the boy had seen a bit too much.

The child moved to put his things away, dropping his apple core into the garbage and setting his re-filled backpack on the coffee table. He was silent throughout all of this, staring blankly ahead as he did so. The only sign that he was anything more than an empty husk was as he headed upstairs, he rubbed at his eyes with a small huffy noise.

Tobirama followed, keeping his feet in rhythm with the child's as to not be caught. He watched silently as the boy headed over to the smaller bedroom, pushing the door open. He found himself silently annoyed as the child headed into the room, shutting the door quickly behind him. The silver-haired Nidaime could only stare forward as the door planted itself firmly between him and the child.

He allowed a gruff noise of annoyance to pass his lips, shaking his head back and forth. He listened through the door as small noises clashed, the child most likely moving something around. He reappeared only a moment later, the green stuffy from earlier now being held tightly in his arms. Tobirama had to step out of the way swiftly to make sure the boy didn't run into him, the young Uchiha running down past him and down the halls now. He found himself urked- hadn't anyone ever told him not to run inside buildings?

This annoyance was set aside as he speed-walked after the boy, staying quiet as usual. What had him in such a rush? He paused as the boy made way for the couch, nesting himself into the corner of it so that he could scan the entire room. The young Uchiha was holding tightly to the stuffed dinosour, looking around the room with owlish eyes. Tobirama felt his own brows furrowing- there was no way this child could see him. He had this jutsu mastered and, well, the boy wasn't even ten yet. It had been too sudden, as well. The young Uchiha had been so empty only a moment ago, but now he was on high alert. Tobirama couldn't think of anything that could have set him off.

Still, the issue remained as the dark-haired boy sat on the couch, arms wrapped around his toy. The small body was shaking, breath ragged as he bit down on his lip. "Go away. Itachi, please." the voice even more strained than when he had first arrived at home. It was caught somewhere between frustrated and frightened, widened eyes wearily watching the rest of the room. "I can feel you watching me. Even if I can't see you." the boy moved to hide his face in his knees, Tobirama furrowing his brows at the words.

Ah, the kid's instincts were strong. He'd noticed long ago that the Uchiha tended to have particularly strong senses, so he wasn't too surprised by mini-Izuna's notice. What was surprising, though, was how strongly the boy reacted to it. Most would brush it off. Then again, he had just been through something that by all rights should leave him paranoid. Tobirama shifted his eyes away from the boy, looking upwards as a silent breath left his lungs. Oh, Hashirama, help him.

"I don't have the eyes...I don't have the eyes!" he sounded as though he was begging, much to Tobirama's discomfort. One, 'Itachi' wasn't here. Two, the child looked ready to either fight the air or cry at any moment. Then three, to top it all off, he had no way of seeking help for the boy since he technically wasn't supposed to be here. "Please...I know that I have to hate you. I do. I hate you. I hate you. I hate you!" The boy's voice rasping more and more as he went on and on with words of nonsense.

Tobirama briefly wondered if 'Itachi' was perhaps bullying his brother or something of that sort. For not having the Sharingan, based on the boy's barely coherent words.

Tobirama found his eyes widening as the boy stood with one quick motion, reaching his hands up in front of him. The child began forming hand motions, the silver-haired shinobi not having to even process the signs before it set in his mind. It was a jutsu he knew well, for it had been used against him more times than he could count-- the fireball jutsu. Quickly, Tobirama moved, not bothering to muffle his movements as his jutsu dropped.

He was across the room in a tenth of a second, the child not having finished the Ram sign by the time Tobirama was in front of him, the preparation for the fire stopped. He held the boy's hands apart, preventing him from weaving any more signs. Ebony eyes looked up to meet red ones, freezing at the sight of the stranger. Tobirama felt his own desire to freeze, but he shoved it to the side, doing his best not to sound as uncomfortable as he felt. "...That's not a jutsu for inside, boy. You'll burn the house down." motioning with his head towards the wood walls and floors.

It had taken about five seconds of starring before the child began struggling. Tobirama let out a sigh of mild annoyance, not bothering with quieting his breaths as the child reached his knee up to kick Tobirama. The silver-haired shinobi only shifted so that he held both the boy's wrists in one hand, above his head. He held the child at arm's length, allowing him to kick and scream, "Let go of me! You're not allowed in my house!" voice demanding despite the circumstances.

When kicking didn't work, the boy changed tactics, leaning forward to bite at the stranger's hand. Tobirama only glared lightly, moving to push him carefully against the floor. Tobirama reclined him onto the ground, using his hands to retrain him so he couldn't hurt himself. The Nidaime laid his leg out, keeping the young Uchiha's legs down as well. He could hear the child's fumbling threats, but didn't bother listening to them. He let the boy scream himself out, not moving. He only watched with steady red eyes, his face resting as an unimpressed stare. He really hadn't wanted to show himself so early, but he couldn't let the child set the compound on fire either.

It took some time, but slowly, Tobirama noticed the changes. Threats of bodily harm shifted into threats of telling his sensei or the Hokage- Tobirama had to keep himself in check as he resisted snorting at that. They had continued to shift until slowly he was no longer being threatened. Instead, the child was a trembling mess, the flailing only stopping after one final attempt to kick Tobirama's leg off. The boy was a mess when he finally did give in, his chest rising up and down as he looked away from Tobirama, tears welling up in his dark eyes. He seemed just as much frustrated as he was frightened, lips curled into a snarl despite his compliance.

Tobirama stayed silent even as the boy yielded, not letting go. Tobirama watched as the child blinked away the building tears, lip quivering in the direction away from Tobirama. Letting out a noise of mild annoyance, Tobirama instructed, "Breath. If I was here to harm or kidnap you, I'd have let you burn yourself." he commented, firm and to-the-point despite his concern. Unfortunately, it was a tone he'd never really been able to switch off very well.

His serious words seemed to reach the child, at least. Ebony eyes finally shifted over to Tobirama, a look of almost recognition falling over him. The boy was only able to nod feebly, his fingers curling into a tight fist in Tobirama's hold. The Nidaime sighed lightly, glad he was at least listening. He gave the child a sharp look, speaking firmly, "I'm going to let you go now, understood?" earning him another nod. "Then, I'd like to have a little chat." red eyes scanning the young Uchiha as he kept his eyes matched to his.

Chapter Text

Tobirama found himself annoyed as the boy tried, again and again, to flee once he released him. To be fair, he knew it was a reasonable reaction, but that didn't make it any less troublesome to have to recapture him and set him on the couch. After the fourth attempt, Tobirama lifted the boy under the arms and held him face to face.

Looking the young Uchiha in the eyes he furrowed a brow with a long stare, his face showing no signs of amusement as they locked gazes. "Child." he warned, "Sit." his expression as unyielding as ever.

Giving the mini-Izuna a moment to comprehend this, he set him down on the couch gently. He gave a small hum of approval as he saw the boy finally settle, even if it was a few feet away from him. Tobirama sat, crossing his legs in hope of giving the child some ease. He'd rather not have to interrogate him if it could be helped. As such, he did his best to repress his 'resting bitch face' as Izuna used to call it. Damn bastard.

Before he could even begin to ask the millions of questions lined up in his mind, the Senju trying to pick the least damaging one, the boy spoke. His voice had a tremble to it, as suspicious as anyone would be in this situation. "Who are you?"

Well, that was a difficult question to answer. Luckily, he had already prepared a cover name in case he went out into public while resurrected. The story...would need to be modified. For now, though, he settled on giving his calm answer. "My name is Tobira. What is your name?" head tilted ever so slightly with interest. It'd be preferable to not have to continue calling him 'boy' and 'child' every time he thought of him.

He quirked a brow with a sense of amusement as the mini-Izuna muttered almost shyly, his hands moving to tug at his fingers nervously, "Sasuke". Tobirama paused momentarily- wasn't that the name of Sarutobi's father? He'd only met the man in passing, but the few times he'd shown up to watch his son train had been...interesting. The man had been the picture of discipline and power, so it was odd to see such an apprehensive boy sharing the same name.

He saw the boy open his mouth to say more, but nothing came out. It took Tobirama a moment to realize he was probably trying to choke out his last name, to no avail. The Senju took pity on the boy, moving on. "How old are you? Aren't you a bit young to be home alone?"

While it would have been normal for him or really any child of the warring states period to be alone at that age, this was different. They'd been fighting in wars at that age, for hell's sake. They knew how to take care of themselves, even if they shouldn't have had to. One of the few things Hashirama had utterly demanded he put in the curriculum for the academy was safety.

Young children shouldn't be left on their own, even if they were powerful for their age. Someone with experience could always show up to take them out if they ventured too far. It had, sadly, been something he had learned right alongside Hashirama when the infamous meeting at the lake had taken place.

That day had pressed the idea further into his mind, even if he'd known it previously from the various battles they'd fought. He hadn't realized beforehand that an adult would go out of their way to harm a child outside the heat of battle. Even if they had been rival clans, he'd assumed the viciousness would only stretch so far.

Tobirama's inexperienced mind had been proved wrong as he followed his father to the lake, the man ready to use the chance to kill a young Madara. This had only been reinforced as Tajima had stepped in at nearly the same moment to do the same to Hashirama.

The albino shinobi had to blink away the memory as he watched the boy in front of him looking just as distrusting as Izuna had each time they met. The difference was, this child had most likely been born into Konoha. He wasn't supposed to have that same distrusting and battle-ready look. That had been the entire point of his and his brother's village!

This anger remained locked down, however. Quirking a brow with a slight tug of his lip downward, the boy finally spoke. "Six. I'm old enough to take care of myself." the Senju nearly rolling his eyes at the boy. He only eyed him with an unimpressed look, the boy insisting as he listed things off on his fingers, "I am! I can do everything a grown-up can do. I can cook, keep the house clean, go shopping, and fight! I know what I'm doing." hands moving around in front of him as he spoke.

"Oh? So what I'm hearing is that you intended to burn the house down? How mature." Tobirama supplied with no lack of sarcasm. The child- Sasuke, he reminded himself - went red at the mention of the fire.

The little Uchiha glared daggers at Tobirama, crossing his arms. Well, at least he didn't seem as frightened anymore. "I know how to use my jutsu." Sasuke spoke firmly, demanding, "Was I just supposed to ignore the intruder in my house!?"

"No, but the point is, you shouldn't be keeping guard by yourself. You almost set fire to a wooden house. Had I not stopped you, you would have burned your house to the ground. Hasn't the compound been through enough already?" he spoke seriously, red eyes starring towards the child firmly.

Tobirama watched as the young Uchiha faltered at his, his annoyed expression turning into one of hurt. Damn it, Tobirama cursed, he never had been good at sugar coating. This was Hashirama's area of expertise, not his. He watched the boy swallow back his emotions, clearly resisting the urge to snarl up at Tobirama. "You're another one of those Konoha reps, aren't you?" The child scowled, much to Tobirama's surprise. "I already told you all, you can tear the compound and clan from my cold, dead, hands."

The albino mentally sighed -- typical Uchiha. Threaten him and he squirms and tries to run, but take a shot at his clan and he's ready to release a Katon jutsu. Tobirama only leaned forward, towards Sasuke. His eyes narrowed, warning, "I wouldn't use those words so lightly. Stop your yelling. It isn't helping."

The albino shinobi made a point to ignore Sasuke's sullen look, the young Uchiha scooting back further into the corner of the couch. Tobirama took a breath, steadying his patients. "I'm not a village representative. I have no interest in taking this compound from you. You're an Uchiha, so you and your kin are fully within your rights to keep it to yourselves."

Sasuke seemed surprised at his words, the little ravenet nodding quickly in agreement with him. The boy threw his hands up in an exhausted fashion, though his voice wasn't as loud as it had been a moment ago. "Exactly. It's my compound." looking pleased with the elder shinobi's agreeance. The child seemed to revel in this confirmation for a brief moment before forcing himself back down to earth. "...If you aren't a village rep, why are you in the compound?"

The half-truth left Tobirama's lips before he could think to question them. "I came to check on the Uchiha clan," he explained, the lie passing his lips with frightening ease. "I've been away for a while, but I had heard there had been some sort of attack, though I don't know the details." his head tilted ever so slightly as he eyed the boy.

Sasuke seemed to pause, hands gripping the bottom of his own shirt as he looked up at Tobirama with widened eyes. His lip was quivering ever so slightly, and Tobirama wondered if he had said something particularly harsh. He didn't think so- but then again, the boy seemed to be switching between sorrow and rage at speeds that would make even Izuna impressed. He wasn't prepared for the six-year-old to ask in the tiniest voice he'd ever heard, "Are you a member of the Uchiha clan? You've just been away? Why didn't you come home sooner?" his voice sickeningly hopeful.

Tobirama didn't like the idea of pretending to be an Uchiha in the least. The only thing he liked less than that idea would probably be crushing the kid's anticipation. He settled on a half-lie once more, the albino giving a sigh to mimic grief. "Not quite. I was married to an Uchiha. He passed away quite a while ago, unfortunately, never meeting any of his clan. We didn't have the resources to travel from our home in the Land of Water to Konoha. I didn't have much reason to go by myself after he was gone, but I heard the news and it seemed like a good idea to at least check in on his old clan." his hand running through his hair in only half-false stress. He didn't want to lie, but 'I came back from the dead to knock some sense into the Uchiha only to find they're all dead!' didn't sound any better.

The young boy seemed beyond tired, his brows knitting together as he listened to Tobirama's words. His lips were pulled into a soft frown, the back of his hand coming up to rub at his eyes. "You said you didn't know the details...?" Sasuke asked with a faint sigh. "Didn't the Hokage tell you when you came?"

"No. I haven't gotten into contact with the Hokage yet. I came to the compound as soon as I arrived in the village." Tobirama mused. "Though, I do plan on visiting soon. I wanted to check in on any of the surviving members first."

The albino shinobi was surprised as he felt the six-year-old scoot across the couch, expression bitter as he settled himself closer to Tobirama. Sasuke didn't seem like the openly-affectionate type, that much Tobirama could tell even in the short time he'd been watching him. The boy must be tired, he supposed. It was nearly six pm, and he had been through a lot today and in general. As such, as uncomfortable as Tobirama found himself, he let the child inch closer and closer on the couch until he was less than a foot away.

It was one thing to want to protect the children of the village. It was an entirely different struggle to have to interact with one directly. This point was proven as Sasuke muttered grumpily, "Survivor. Member." his voice pointed as he corrected Tobirama. "Everyone else is dead besides me and the killer."

Tobirama felt his stomach drop at the child's words. "...You and the killer?" was that why Sasuke was screaming seemingly into the air for Itachi to get away? The room he had been in not long ago had belonged to the one responsible for all this?

It had been an attack from the inside? Perhaps he could have understood had it been any other clan, but for the Uchiha clan to fall by their own kin? It was the last thing he'd expected. His disbelief was forced down as Sasuke nodded, the boy now tugging at the end of his shirt and refusing to meet Tobirama's eyes. "Mhm. Everyone is dead except us. He only left me. I was too weak for him to be bothered to kill." the boy's hands reaching up from his shirt to grip at his own hair as he spoke in a cracked voice, "I have to kill him. I have to avenge my clan." his teeth gritting as his pupils dilated. "How am I supposed to do that when I can't even keep my compound safe?"

Tobirama reached over, hesitantly resting his hand on the child's head. He watched as the boy's eyes widened, snapping out of the crushing panic to look up at the albino. The Senju wasn't sure what to say to break the tension, but after a long moment, settled on- "...Take a breath."

Chapter Text

This was...very uncomfortable, to say the least.

Tobirama had been around his brother's children and grandchildren long enough to know how difficult they could be, but there was a stark difference between watching Hashirama coddle his children and having to care for them himself.

That wasn't to say he'd been an absent uncle or granduncle, no, but he had never had the same responsibilities as Hashirama when it came to the children. He listened to them babble on about stray animals, sure. He was able to assist the academy-aged ones with their homework when Hashirama hadn't been much help, even. He had no problem training the teens and had happily congratulated his niece at her wedding.

Still, that was all very different from what was happening now. He'd never had any of his brother's little ones seek him out for emotional support. He might be close to them, but he was the last person anyone should go to if they wanted comfort. He was more likely to give the grieving person logical advice on how to deal with a situation or attempt to convey his comfort through somber silence than to offer up one of Hashirama's overly warm hugs. Which probably wouldn't work for him, anyway.

He had thought this was abundantly clear. Most people picked up on it fairly quickly. That was, except for Sasuke, apparently. That, or the child had simply decided he didn't care.

Tobirama had to resist his first instincts to tell him to stay still while he went to go get Hashirama. There was no Hashirama, not anymore, unfortunately. So Tobirama was forced to look over at the panicking boy whose lips had begun to blubber, eyes watering over in a pitiful display of misery.

With no shortage of discomfort, Tobirama realized that his hand was still planted carefully on Sasuke's head as the boy took unsteady breaths. He knew he was supposed to do...something. Had this been Hashirama and his little ones, the loud-mouthed shinobi probably would have swooped the boy up and allowed the boy to let out ugly sobs against his chest.

Then again, Hashirama knew his family quite well. Tobirama had no such liberty when it came to Sasuke. He'd barely met the child- they hadn't even succeeded in a full conversation yet. Yet here he was, the only one around to aid the boy. He supposed his way would have to do for now, even if it wasn't ideal for dealing with young children.

"...Put your hands up," he spoke firmly, eyeing the confusion that began to mix with Sasuke's teary face. When Sasuke showed no signs of moving, he carefully moved his hands, reaching out to lift the child's wrists up so that they were over his head. He luckily didn't receive any resistance, Sasuke seeming to of settled on listening for now. That much he was grateful for. "Good. Now take a deep breath." he paused momentarily, "Then let it out. Good." he praised as Sasuke at least attempted to follow his instructions. The boy's breath was still shuttered, small hiccups escaping his trembling lips.

The few loose tears that had been dribbling down from Sasuke's eyes and to his cheeks had begun to slow their pace after a moment, the boy seeming to stop more due to the praise than the actual assistance. Well, Tobirama would take what he could get, he supposed.

When the boy had stopped shaking quite so much, Tobirama let go of his loose hold on the boy's wrists, settling on awkwardly resting it on the boy's back. The albino shinobi watched as Sasuke hurried to wipe at the tear stains, sniffling in an attempt to clean himself up. His embarrassment was clear, the child not knowing what to do any better than Tobirama himself. Well, at least he wasn't crying anymore.

"Are you hungry?" the elder of the two settled on asking, watching the boy's dark eyes shift up towards him. Spirits, it was so strange to see someone who looked so much like Izuna act like an actual child. Sure, Izuna had been a bit hot-headed and even teasing at times, but his rival had never shown such vulnerability. He supposed he should count this as a testament to how well the village has done.

It wasn't exactly common, but there had been times when camps had died out with only one or two survivors. Back then, those shinobi would usually grieve for a week or two then shove it down to focus on the rest of their allies. To see Sasuke so openly broken a month after the event spoke wonders for how rare mass death was these days.

So why didn't he feel any joy when he saw Sasuke's small nod, the six-year-old wearily wiping his eyes and murmuring something about having just finished shopping the day prior? He bit back the feeling in his gut that told him this was all so wrong. It gave him that same terrible taste he always found at the end of a victory. The same bitter taste that grew when he saw his kin laying dead at his feet alongside the Uchiha. It was a sickening thought- to feel joy over the fact that fewer people were dead. There was always that small voice there to antagonize him, pointing out that he had no right to be joyous over a victory where even one of his allies had died.

He found himself moving despite his inner conflict, the trained shinobi casting calm red eyes over the young Uchiha who had settled on pointing at all the different ingredients in the kitchen, babbling on nervously about what they could make. "-Or there's the stuff for tomato sandwiches, or rice and vegetables, or egg sandwiches-" the boy suggested.

Tobirama furrowed his brows at this, drawn out of his stewing thoughts as he heard the child's words. "You said you just went shopping yesterday?" he inquired, watching as the boy snapped his mouth shut, nodding up at the unfamiliar shinobi. "Where's the meat?" he asked, not having seen any in the fridge.

Sasuke didn't seem to happy with the question, but pulled out some packaged turkey, letting it drop onto the counter unceremoniously. "There's this. I haven't bought any new meat since it costs a lot," he explained. "But it started getting fuzzy. I figured I should save it for last since it tasted weird. I don't want to eat it unless I'm really low on money." he explained.

Tobirama felt his lip slightly curl in disgust, his eyes drifting over the obviously foul meat and clueless boy. He picked it up, glancing over the indeed fuzzy texture. He could see a spot where it had a small bite taken out of it, probably bitten into and repackaged by the six-year-old out of disgust if he had to guess. "I sincerely hope you didn't swallow that?" he sighed, relieved when the mini-Izuna shook his head back and forth.

"It tasted weird, but I didn't want to waste it so I just spit that part out. I figured it would be a good back-up meal if I really needed it," he explained, as though it was the most reasonable thing to do. Tobirama supposed it would be, to someone as young as Sasuke. He doubted proper food maintenance and preparation had been on his parent's minds when he was still in need of a step-stool to reach half the house. The academy or training were most likely far more pressing matters at that point in time. They must have assumed they had plenty of time to teach him still, Tobirama thought sourly.

Shaking his head briefly, Tobirama tossed the package in the trash. "It doesn't matter how hungry you are. Do not eat things with fuzz, weird colors, or strange tastes." he spoke with renewed annoyance at the lack of adults in the house. Whose bright idea was it to leave a six-year-old alone like this? "Does anyone come by to check in on you, Sasuke?"

He was at least glad to see a small nod as the little ravenet moved to play with his small bangs, Tobirama pressing past him to get out the rice. He supposed this would have to do for now until he could go out to stock up on some meat. It wasn't healthy for someone that young to not have a balanced diet and he doubted the kid was making sure to get protein from other sources.

Unfortunately, the shinobi's relief was short-lived as Sasuke's words came from behind him. Tobirama was glad he was busy filling the pot with water and rice, back turned to Sasuke. Otherwise, he might worry that the darkening expression on his face would scare the boy. "Mhm- the Hokage said he'd visit every month to give me my monthly budget from the Uchiha clan's savings. He came by every other week to make sure the burning was progressing, but he stopped those visits since I finished." his voice quiet as he spoke.

"...Burning?" he could understand keeping the clan savings until the kid was older- who knew what a child this young would do with such a fortune- but what the hell did he have to burn? He knew the Uchiha burned their dead- after all, it was one of the many things that had always struck Tobirama about the clan. The way they'd fight and fight, never giving up until they had every single dead body that had fallen on the battlefield taken home. He'd only learned later on from his brother that they apparently found it essential to burn each and every one of them without exception. Still, surely the village hadn't left him to take care of his dead clansmen on his own? There had been far too much blood for it to of been a small clan. They clearly hadn't shrunk much.

...Mentally, he reminded himself to check in on the other clans. He hadn't felt any Uzumaki or Senju, but that wasn't too shocking with his repressed chakra. Not to mention the Uzumaki's tended to live in their own village despite Hashirama's assurances that they were welcome to join them. He could only hope a tragedy such as this hadn't occurred with his clansmen. The thought made his insides turn, gulping at the thought as he set the rice on low and worked to chop the vegetables.

Focus on what was in front of him, he reminded himself. Focus. He could feel the boy watching him, but didn't comment. He wasn't too excited to get his answer, and the boy didn't seem too eager to give it up either. Unfortunately, it was probably a bad idea for the village to have let the boy set fire to who knows what given the little incident in the living room barely an hour ago. Damn pyromaniac Uchiha.

"The clan." Sasuke finally muttered when Tobirama continued cutting while staring him down. He felt a bit bad, knowing his eyes had been unsettling to those around him for numerous reasons throughout his lifetime, but still. He needed the confirmation. To hear Sasuke admit that his guess had been correct was not comforting in the least. He might have sliced the last carrot a bit harder than necessary, but he paid this no mind as he saw Sasuke's cheeks puff up in nervous fear. "You better not tell me that I should have let the village do it too." he spoke, nerves laced with anger.

"Well, from what I gather, the Uchiha clan was quite large. It's improbable for you to have burned them all by yourself. If you wanted to be present for the cremation that would be understandable, but to do it alone would be-" he began, dumping the vegetables in as he spoke. He only paused as he felt a small pressure on his side. He set the cutting board aside, looking down at the little ravenet.

The boy had shoved both his hands against Tobirama's side, as if to shove him. "I said I didn't want to hear that!" the little Uchiha demanded, glaring up at Tobirama. He seemed to freeze when he met Tobirama's narrow red eyes, hands lowering to sit anxiously in front of his chest. His pale little fingers gripped into his palms, fists shaking ever so slightly despite his continued glower towards Tobirama. When Tobirama only raised a slender brow, the boy seemed to hesitate further. "...Uchiha take care of Uchiha, in matters of both life and death." the child spoke, words Tobirama had heard uttered among his rival clan more than once. He had no doubt it was a phrase that had been hammered into the boy from a young age. "The village shouldn't have tried to take them away. It wasn't their place...it was mine. They were my clan. They were my responsibility." his words unhindered despite the small steps he took back from Tobirama. "They...you have no right to try and make me feel bad about not giving up my clan's rituals for the sake of hurrying. I don't care if it took me a few weeks. I did it right."

Though he had no idea why the boy kept backing up whenever he looked at him, Tobirama had to admit he was at least impressed he was able to speak through his obvious nerves. He supposed he could be rather intimidating. Still, though, Sasuke wasn't really wrong. The village was supposed to unite the many clans to become something great but there were some lines that simply couldn't be dissolved. How the clan's dealt with their own dead was one such line.

"I am aware that it was your right to control the situation how you saw fit." he mused, wiping his hands. Even if Sasuke was barely past his waste. "That didn't make it any less probable. I was merely going to point out that it would have been difficult for someone so young to chop the wood required and such. Even if you didn't want anyone interfering with the ceremony, you probably should have accepted the help when it comes to setting it up. Unless it's particularly important who cuts the wood for the pyre, there's no harm in seeking a bit of help from your village." he spoke firmly, turning his attention back to the stove as he sturred the veggies into the already cooked rice.

Handing the boy his bowl and a pair of chopsticks, Tobirama motioned him to the table. Sasuke seemed uncertain about his words, merely watching him with a look of distaste. The thought of the boy standing over pyres every day for weeks made Tobirama's stomach turn. That couldn't have been healthy to go through on his own. Tobirama internally hoped that the boy had at least had a sensei there for moral support, if nothing else.

After a brief moment, small fingers wrapped around the bowl, Sasuke taking it despite the sullen expression on his face. Tobirama found himself mentally sighing for what seemed like the hundredth time that day. Oh, this child wasn't going to make this easy, was he?

Chapter Text

Tobirama found himself sitting cross-legged across from mini-Izuna, not bothering to get himself a bowl as he settled onto the zabuton. He wasn't particularly hungry, his stomach still settling after reforming. It was probably best not to waste food anyway, if the boy's budget was so tight that he was keeping that disgusting meat just in case.

A budget which clearly didn't take his appetite into consideration, the Senju noted as the boy took calm, large bites of his dinner. The boy's cheeks seemed to puff up, the child's baby-face becoming emphasized as he ate.

That was yet another thing he'd have to discuss with the current Hokage, he mulled, idly tapping his finger against the thick wood of the dining table. It made sense to moderate how much Sasuke was able to spend, but it should at least be enough to make sure he was properly fed. It seemed like he was piling up quite the list of inquiries. Hopefully, this new Hokage would cooperate with him without much hassle.

Though he had originally planned to slip in and out, things had changed. That much had become evident the moment he saw the blood splatter lining the streets of the Uchiha compound.

He had expected the Uchiha to be the ones in need of reprimand, but as he looked to the boy in front of him, it seems he was wrong. As Sasuke scowled down at a bit of vegetable he had dropped onto his lap, it was obvious that it was the Uchiha who needed aid from the village. Aid they- or rather, Sasuke- was not getting or accepting for some reason.

It was something he'd need to bring up and get fixed as soon as possible. Asura forbid the only survivor die of malnutrition or food poisoning. If this was how the only remaining child of a clan as prominent as the Uchiha was being treated, he found himself concerned for the village dependants as a whole.

When he'd envisioned his return to life, he'd assumed the village would have grown into something even better than he had left it. Not...whatever had happened that resulted in him being made to comfort and cook for a six-year-old Uchiha child.

He still found Sasuke's earlier explanation detestable, to say the least. The Hokage only showed up every month to give the child his monthly allowance. Tobirama sat back a bit, hands resting on his knees as he took a breath of annoyance. His sharp scarlet eyes watched the boy make his way through the bowl, displeased at the idea of him being alone so often.

Sure, he likely spent most of his time at the academy, but that was vastly different. The staff of the academy had who knows how many children to look after-- they hardly counted. They were fine to supervise him, he had no doubt. That didn't mean they'd be able to competently make sure he himself was actually alright.

Then when Sasuke came home, there was apparently no one there to make sure he did his homework? Kept the house in healthy conditions? Fed himself properly? Given, he was doing all of that minus his lack of protein, but that was beside the point. He was six. As Tobirama sat across from him, the boy's head barely came up past his elbows.

Surely, there had to of been someone willing to play babysitter for at least a few hours of the day? Hell, make it a high D rank mission. Babysitting was part of that category. Surely the village wasn't doing so poorly they couldn't afford to pay some genin to do that much.

Even if he was able to take care of himself, anything could happen to the boy. Ire at the thought filled him as he watched the little ravenet fiddle with his chopsticks. He could be kidnapped by someone wanting a sharingan. With all the boy had gone through, Tobirama highly doubted he hadn't unlocked it yet despite his earlier cries of not having 'the eyes'.

Or, worse yet, Itachi could return to finish his younger brother off.

That was a thought that disturbed Tobirama immensely, fingers tightening ever so slightly on his knees. It would be so easy for Itachi to slip back into the walls of Konoha, given his current power level seemed to be astronomical for his age. He could sneak in at any time to kill off the child in front of him, ending their bloodline outside of he himself.

Come to think of it, how had Itachi seemingly killed them all off on his own and escaped? From what he had gathered, it had been a massacre from within, by the hands of Itachi Uchiha alone. Sasuke hadn't called out for anyone else. The teen seemed to be a fairly well-established shinobi, based on his room. Even so, the boy hadn't had a certificate for advancing to the rank of jonin. So a chuunin had taken the entire clan out in one night, the only exception being his younger brother?

Something felt off about it, but Tobirama couldn't quite place it. His eyes narrowed further at the thought. It seemed unreasonable to think that someone so young was able to cause such damage without setting off any warning signs.

Then again, it wasn't impossible. If someone as talented as Madara, for example, had been born in a time of peace...well, it wouldn't look pretty to be on the opposite side of his interests. That much alone could be told from the crusted crimson that decorated the Uchiha compound.

Yes, he'd definitely have to ask around and gather more information on the Uchiha Clan's slaughterer. It was dangerous to have a person so willing to murder his own family roam the lands free. Who knew what he'd do, or if he'd come back to finish things up.

The muttering of an uncomfortable 'Thank you' pulled him from his thoughts. His previously narrowed eyes snapped out of their thoughtful position, the elder shinobi giving Sasuke a glance-over once more. Ah, he'd absent-mindedly noticed the child's squirming, but he hadn't realized it was pointed at him. He really should avoid falling into his own mind when he was unable to use his sensory powers at their usual potential.

"You're welcome." he settled on, standing and taking the bowl as to give himself something better to do than accidentally scare the boy. He moved towards the sink, inquiring, "What time do you usually go to bed?" as he quickly rinsed the bowl and chopsticks.

He could hear the boy standing from behind him, his footsteps padding softly against the floor as he moved to stand nearby. The boy was doing that a lot, Tobirama noticed. Tailing him around despite his weariness. "When I'm tired."

Well, that was specific, Tobirama sarcastically huffed in his head at the boy's vague answer. "And when, typically, is that?" he asked, finishing the dishes and rubbing his hands against the kitchen towel as he turned to look Sasuke over. A shrug was his only response, much to Tobirama's inconvenience. "Well, are you tired now?"

"Yeah." was the only response he got, Sasuke idly having taken to looking around the room rather than at him.

Tobirama noticed his displeasure at the mention of sleep, but didn't comment as he suggested, "You should go brush your teeth and head to bed, then. It's getting late."

"Yeah." came the apprehensive reply, the child moving towards the stairs to get ready for bed. Tobirama sighed to himself as the boy headed off, rubbing his temple. That was a good sign, he drawled sarcastically.

Tobirama took steady steps over to the living room, the dark-clad shinobi settling onto the window seal with a brief shake of his head. His fingers wrapped around the soft fabric of the curtain, pulling it back. The sky was dark, the moon a clear waning gibbous. Perhaps he was still just adjusting to his body, but to him, it seemed like the moon rays were almost washing over the compound.

It would have been quite beautiful, had it not been for the morbidly contrasting bloodstains on the sidewalk. They seemed to taint the easy tranquillity of the compound, a heavy reminder of what had happened. The glass shards seemed to shine under the moonlight, the broken windows aiding the blood in destroying any previous disillusion of a peaceful night.

Tobirama's hand ran through his hair, the Senju feeling a wash of guilt flow over him as he let the curtains fall closed. He hated the idea of making the boy go to bed when he was so obviously trying to avoid it, but there wasn't much that could be done. He had seen enough horror throughout his lifetime to have a pretty good idea of why the boy was dragging his feet so much, any holes being filled by the gruesome image outside. Nonetheless, the boy couldn't simply stay up until he drove himself to exhaustion. It wouldn't be good for the body-- he would know.

The ruffling of clothing behind him had him turning his head to eye at the boy who'd apparently finished brushing his teeth. The young Uchiha had also changed into a pair of dark blue pajamas, he noted idly. He didn't miss Sasuke's pointed looks away from him, the six-year-old's sulking being aimed towards the rest of the room.

Small hands made to grab at the dinosaur plushy, holding it close to his chest as he paused briefly. The boy's brows were pushed together as he hugged the toy, large dark eyes flickering over to Tobirama after a moment.

The elder shinobi merely rose a brow, waiting for the boy to say what was on his mind. He had turned from the window seal, fingers interlocking as he eyed the boy up and down. He waited for a moment longer, frowning to himself as the boy turned to head upstairs. Sasuke padded over for the staircase, apparently abandoning his initial question.

Tobirama shook his head briefly at this, standing to follow the boy at a much calmer pace. He was sure Sasuke had noticed, since the boy paused at the top of the stairs to look down at him. The little ravenet looked almost nervous as Tobirama didn't stop his pace towards him, the silver-haired shinobi only pausing as he reached the top of the staircase as well.

Sasuke's quick movement out of the way left Tobirama standing at the top of the staircase alone, the boy moving to put his hand on the door. "I'm going to bed." the boy spoke in almost an assuring manner, though it still held the tint of weariness to it.

Tobirama nodded, arms crossing on habit as he eyed the child. "I'm aware." he mused, raising a brow at the boy as he moved forward. He silently ushed Sasuke into the bedroom, the small Uchiha sending him huffy looks at his vague replies. Well, if the kid wasn't going to be clear about what he wanted, Tobirama couldn't very well help him. Outside of not wanting to sleep, the silver-haired shinobi wasn't sure what the kid wanted.

So he settled on leading him to the bedroom, watching as Sasuke moved to climb into bed with the toy. Weary glances were directed at Tobirama, which he couldn't really blame the boy for. Still, as the boy nested under the covers, Tobirama couldn't shake the distinct feeling that the boy had something he wanted to say.

When the the boy's mouth remained closed, his dinosaur plushy tucked firmly under his arm, Tobirama finally gave in. Sasuke was sending him an owlish look, his pale complexion and big dark eyes not helping him steer the image away. "If you want something, you need to ask. I can make my guesses, but I'm not a mind-reader," he commented, leaning on in the doorway with his arms and legs crossed idly. The light from the hallway filtered in through the room, illuminating Sasuke's small form in the dark.

The young Uchiha's eyes widened slightly at the words, seeming to nest further into his blankets. His mouth opened, only to snap shut the next moment. Tobirama steadied his patience as he waited on the boy once more, remaining calm. It took only a moment longer for Sasuke to finally summon the words that had been caught in his throat. "Are you going to leave soon?" the words unsteady and weary as they left his mouth.

"I was planning on heading into the village tonight, yes." Tobirama tilted his head slightly as he examined the boy briefly. "Though, I do plan to leave a clone behind should you need anything." he added.

Sasuke's head shook back and forth briefly, emphasizing, "No, I mean. Are you going to leave soon?" his words overly pronounced as he repeated the question. "To go back to your home."

Ah, so that's what he was going on about. "I don't plan on leaving anytime soon." he admitted, "I'll be staying in Konoha until I'm sure this situation is better."

"Situation...?" Sasuke's brows furrowed as he looked up at him in confusion. "But the clan is already gone. There's nothing to fix here." his fingers tightening on the toy beside him. "The only thing left to do is kill Itachi, but I can't do that for a while yet." his eyes widened as he finished speaking, jolting up and into a sitting position as his voice rose. "You can't kill Itachi, that's for me to do!"

A soft sigh left Tobirama's lips as he moved forward and out of the doorway, hand moving to rest on Sasuke's shoulder as he nudged the child back down. "That's not what I meant." it was definitely something that needed to be addressed, but later. Not now, right before the boy went to bed. "I meant you. Not Itachi." he explained.

When the boy hesitantly laid back down, Tobirama removed his hand, instead laying it in his lap. He had squatted down beside the bed so that he didn't hover, his voice low in hopes of keeping the boy calm. "I know you've been living alone for almost a month now and are getting used to it, but it can't stay like that any longer. It's not safe."

Sasuke looked like he wanted to argue, but luckily, didn't. Tobirama was grateful for that much. "You've done a good job of taking care of yourself and your clan. I'm sure they'd be proud of you. Even so, they'd want you to accept help from the village at some point. You mentioned that they've been sending people to help, but you've been sending them away?" he ventured as carefully as he could.

The young Uchiha blushed lightly at the praise, a warmth emitting from him as he heard it. His eyes seemed to well with a sense of pride, smile making its way to his lips for only a moment before it promptly dropped again. The joy seemed to filter out of him the moment he heard mention of the village representatives, a small pout replacing his smile. "Yeah..." the boy looked torn between apprehensive and unrelenting. "I don't want the village's help. I'm an Uchiha. Uchiha are supposed to take care of their clan. That means it's my job to keep what's left safe."

"The village is here to help you, Sasuke." Tobirama reminded, eyes narrowing ever so slightly at the boy's words. "The Uchiha clan is part of the Leaf Village. They aren't opposing forces-- they're on the same side as you."

"No, they aren't." Sasuke looked frustrated as he tried to explain, looking up towards the ceiling as he pulled his words together. "The village isn't helping, even if they say they're trying to or think they are. They want me to move into public housing and away from the compound. They tried to take over the funeral process. How- how would you feel if your village tried to take your home? Or didn't let you put your husband to rest?" his head shifting to look at Tobirama, meeting his eyes with something akin to desperation.

Tobirama found himself quiet for a moment, rolling over the thoughts in his head. His initial response was to defend the village's integrity- to point out that it was safer for Sasuke to be in the village, where it would be harder to kill or kidnap him without notice. Not to mention the damage it most likely caused, to be living in a place where so many clansmen had been murdered. It was unreasonable for a six-year-old to of burned so many on his own, his mind supplied as well.

Even so, Sasuke's questions echoed in his mind as he sat in silence. Tobirama felt his brows furrow at the thought. After all, as village-centric as he tended to be, he did still have a clan. He found himself momentarily wondering what it would be like- to be in such a situation. He could almost imagine it-- his clan somehow dying out, being forced to live with the Uzumaki clan and denied the right to bury his family.

Logically, it would make sense. If he were six when such a thing happened, it would be hypocritical for him to say otherwise. The Uzumaki were long-time allies of the Senju. It would be similar to Sasuke being made to integrate further into the village, if not better since it'd be one clan rather than an array of them.

Still, he couldn't bear the thought. He was by no means an emotional man, but he wasn't heartless either. He loved his clan. They were his family. Just as the Uchiha were to Sasuke. Not to mention the Uchiha clan's painstaking love for each other.

It took a moment for Tobirama to settle his thoughts and swallow the lump in his throat, but finally, he explained it as best he could with the child's perspective in mind. "I understand why you're hurting, Sasuke. The village was wrong to try to take them from you without cooperating, but that doesn't mean you need to refuse all aid. If you and the village are going to fix this, you both need to work together."

After another long moment, Sasuke finally spoke, though his heavy eyes had turned to look back up at the ceiling. "But what if I mess up?" his small voice came, clearly uncomfortable. "If I say something and accidentally give them permission, or stop fighting, they might take it all. This is all I have left of my clan. I don't want them to make me move or try to take over something else."

In other words, Tobirama noted grimly, he was scared that the village would take advantage of him not knowing how this all worked. So he was refusing all aid. If Tobirama had to make an educated guess, he'd say that them trying to move in so quickly on the compound and funeral had made him weary.

"They won't take advantage of you. The village is supposed to help the clans that make it." Why it was being so pushy about all but stealing clan property and the dead, he wasn't sure. The clans make the village-- the village doesn't own the clans. Obviously, something had changed since he had left. The possibility of an incompetent Hokage seemed more and more likely by the minute. As one of the village founders, he refused to allow it to stand if this was the case. The village he helped make didn't try to intimidate children into giving up their home. "...I'll make sure they don't."

Sasuke ventured carefully as he rested his stuffed dinosaur on his stomach, playing with the arms as if to distract himself. "...Because you're kinda my clan too? Even if you were far away, you were married to an Uchiha. So you're part of the Uchiha clan too, which makes you wanna protect it?" he asked, Tobirama finding it bittering that the boy found it necessary to draw such lines.

"I want to protect the Uchiha clan because it deserves to be protected just like any other clan of this village." the words feeling heavy in his mouth, almost foreign. It deserved to be protected just like any other clan...he couldn't help but feel a bit deceptive even as he spoke this full truth, considering the eggshells he'd walked on with the clan and all the precautions he'd left to keep it in check.

Like a flame, he'd said...now he wondered if he'd snuffed it too much. He could only hope that the village wasn't taking advantage of the clan's downfall because of anything he'd said or done. He had only wanted them to be watched, not...this. Their clan's downfall possibly being used as a chance to seize property and remove all possible traces of it from this child. It was as though they were trying to eliminate the clan itself by taking advantage of its internal issues.

"So you don't count yourself as a member of the clan?" Sasuke's voice cut through his internal struggles, the young Uchiha looking at the toy on his stomach and pointedly away from Tobirama. The boy's jaw was locked as he spoke, blinking a bit too fast to be normal. Tobirama sighed at the boy's clear attempt to hide his misty eyes, a sense of unsureness filling him.

His knee-jerk reaction would be hell no-- he was a Senju, to claim to be an Uchiha was just wrong on so many personal levels. The sour taste it left in his mouth only worsened as he internally glowered. He wouldn't have such a reaction if he had to pretend to be an Uzumaki or a Hyuuga, he knew. His initial response only strengthened the lingering feeling in his stomach. Perhaps...he really had been too strict with the Uchiha. Which may have led to the village's similarly sour perception of the clan.

That would mean, he narrowed his eyes at the thought, that this may be partially his fault. Perhaps this was karma's twisted way of responding-- leaving the results of his actions right there in front of him, watery-eyed at the thought of a possible clansman rejecting their title. He could only hope he was looking too far into it. That this had all been a big coincidence. Selfishly, though he hated the thought, he almost hoped the new Hokage was merely corrupt and would take advantage of any clan's downfall the same way.

...Regardless, that didn't stop the torn child in front of him from looking any worse. He'd lost his clan, and was struggling to hold onto the last of its remains. To refuse the title when Sasuke was so clearly choked up about the idea of there being someone left would be cruel. As conflicted as it made Tobirama, he wasn't about to smack away the child's hidden attempt at reaching out just to save his pride.

Tobirama was not an inherently cruel man, and so, he found his cold hands moving to smooth over the boy's spiky hair with a low murmur of, "I never said that."

Chapter Text

"You should sleep," Tobirama commented after a long moment, the silver-haired shinobi giving Sasuke's hair one final smooth over before returning his hands to his own lap. The young Uchiha, thoroughly drained after such a conversation, didn't raise any complaints despite his look of uncertainty.

Tobirama hadn't a doubt in his mind the boy was still wary of sleep- after all, with all he had seen, Tobirama doubted he was able to sleep very soundly in recent weeks. Regardless, there wasn't much he could do for the boy, so he settled on hoping his presence in the other room would be enough to calm him. It wasn't as though Tobirama was going to leave him alone after such a conversation-- it felt wrong. He would go out tomorrow, when the boy was at school, he decided. After today, he was fairly sure he had enough information to confront the current Hokage. He had planned on gathering more before heading in, but that was before realizing how dire the Uchiha clan's situation was looking. If Sasuke had done homework already rather than waiting until later, Tobirama found it fairly safe to assume it would be a weekday tomorrow. He would have time.

The red-eyed shinobi watched as the boy shifted so that he was on his side now, facing towards the elder with his toy tucked between his arms. "I will." blinking with a bit more force than was necessary, Tobirama noted. It was as if he were commanding away any lingering doubts. The young Uchiha gave a firm nod in his direction, conviction filling his voice as he spoke, "I'm going to bed. Goodnight."

"Good. Sleep well." was Tobirama's bemused response at the boy's bravery against his nightmares, standing up from his squatted position so he was over the boy. He made sure to let Sasuke know, "I'll be in the living room if you do need anything."

This explanation was met with confusion, the young Uchiha's brows furrowing as he looked up at the silver-haired shinobi. "I thought you were going to the village tonight?"

Turning to make his way towards the doorway, Tobirama merely pretending to ponder, "I thought you were going to sleep?"

The boy gave a resigned look as he heard Tobirama's response, his cheeks puffing up as they came to a stalemate. He only muttered, "I am.", as if he were pointedly getting the last word out. Tobirama let him have it.

He opened the door, shaking his head briefly at the boy's antics before heading out and into the hallway. He closed the door behind him, hand resting on the doorknob only momentarily as he stood in the well-lit hallway.

As Tobirama stepped out and into the hallway, he was able to clearly see the room across from it. The heavy wood door felt much different now that he knew more about the person who had once inhabited it. Itachi Uchiha.

He moved forward, forcing himself to walk past the door and down to the living room. That door led to a room that had been lived in by a teenage shinobi. One he had earlier worried about being burdened with the stress of taking care of an academy student. Now, however...

Tobirama couldn't help but feel a heavy weight in his chest as he sat on the couch, flipping the lights off. It wasn't as if he were weak at the sight or thought of a murderer-- no, that wasn't the case. All shinobi were murderers. It was part of the job description. Even so, the thought that someone so young could be so cut-throat in a day and age which he hoped would bring forth peace was disheartening.

It would be one thing if Itachi had killed an entire clan from another village, or even another from Konoha. That much he could understand. There were circumstances that could lead to those deaths, even if they were displeasing to consider as well. Clan rivalries, personal grudges, resources- those would all make sense. There was nothing to gain from killing one's own clan, though. Let alone the Uchiha. Of all the clans in Konoha, the Uchiha were the last he'd expect to fall from within.

There was always the Sharingan, Tobirama considered as he leaned back on the couch, arms and legs crossed. The regular Sharingan was unlocked due to extreme emotions, which he supposed killing one's own kin would bring forth. If that were the case, though, then that would mean the teen would have killed the entire clan without the sharingan. That didn't seem plausible, but then, neither did the entire clan falling. A possibility, then, but unlikely.

The mangekyou sharingan, perhaps? Madara and Izuna had always been tight-lipped about their special sharingan, but Tobirama had picked up on what was happening regardless. They got their mangekyou after the two they were always watching out for on the battlefield- their friends, most likely- died. Then there were sudden surges of Uchiha dying with an uneven amount of battles to account for.

So that had to mean the mangekyou was created when death was involved, Tobirama had settled on long ago. If this young shinobi was trying to awaken his mangekyou, Tobirama supposed a massacre of this capacity would do just that. It seemed like overkill, though. Surely he hadn't needed to kill everyone...unless it was a precaution to make sure no one came after him. There was always Sasuke's babbling about promised revenge, but that wasn't reliable enough to consider. Just how much of the child's feelings had mixed with Itachi's supposed demands wasn't clear.

So the boy had most likely worked to get the mangekyou, if he had done it for a certain reason. The only other goal he could have had would be revenge, but Tobirama highly doubted so many would be the target of revenge, let alone civilians or children.

Unless, of course, there simply wasn't much thought process behind any of it. It very well might have been for some form of the sharingan or revenge against his kin, but at the same time, it was possible it had been a different motivation completely. Who was to say this motivation had to make sense to Tobirama, either. It was very possible that something was going through the boy's head that no one but he himself could understand. It wasn't as though the Uchiha were known for their well-tempered choices and acts of perfect clarity, he thought momentarily despite himself.

What if, he wondered as his eyes slipped closed in the darkness of the room, the young shinobi had simply gone insane? It wasn't too far of a leap, considering all he's seen so far. The heir to the Uchiha clan, seemingly some sort of village prodigy, and all the while being in a clan that was seemingly being tested by the village...he couldn't say it was too far of a stretch. But then, time would tell. Or rather, the current Hokage would.

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With his thoughts racing over the different possibilities of what could have possibly happened, one would assume Tobirama would have a hard time falling asleep. They would be right.

The thoughts had run through his mind endlessly as he sat in the dark living room, his eyes closed and sensors opened just enough to keep notice of Sasuke's chakra signature upstairs. Even when he had finally been able to fall asleep, it had not been a restful one. He was never a heavy sleeper, per se, but the lingering wonders hadn't helped him any. He was a man of logic-- he didn't like having so many unknown factors.

At the very least, he knew his sensor abilities weren't any less sensitive than they had been before. Even as he held them inwards, restricting their flow to avoid being detected, he could feel the sharp shift in the floor above him. Tobirama made a low gruntish noise as he woke up, the elder shinobi's eyes slowly opening as he leaned forward. The sun filling in through the open curtains at least reassured him that the boy wasn't waking up at an unnatural time, if not a bit early. So he'd made it through the night without nightmares, then.

His back crackled slightly as he moved to stand, the silver-haired shinobi twisting his shoulders to get all the sleep out of him. He could hear Sasuke beginning to move around upstairs, so he assumed the boy was already getting ready for the academy.

Good. While he did that, Tobirama could go ahead and get him something to eat. He should get him his lunch too, while he was at it. Better not to have the kid linger at the house longer than necessary. Tobirama wanted to get an early leave to the Hokage's office, and he couldn't very well do that if he had to wait for Sasuke to get ready.

He made his way for the kitchen, the dark-clad shinobi rubbing the back of his neck as he began to wake up. He flipped the lights to the kitchen on as he got some rice and eggs out, wanting to get it done quickly so he could move on to other matters. He let the rice cook and boiled some eggs, making enough for the both of them. He'd held off on eating last night since it wasn't necessary, but he wasn't about to starve himself. Especially not before such a big conversation. Hopefully, his kin hadn't bankrupted the Senju clan funds. Which, if he knew his niece, was a very real possibility.

Tobirama let this thought go however as he noticed that the eggs had finished fairly quickly, the rice following soon after. He could still hear Sasuke moving around upstairs as he split the rice between two bowls and one bento box. It sounded like the boy was having a morning shower, based on the running water. Hopefully, he'd be down before the food got cold.

The two bowls of steaming grains were set to the side with a bit of soy sauce, an egg cracked and applied to the top. Tobirama sat a pair of glass plates over the top to keep the warmth in until Sasuke was ready for breakfast, moving to split the boiled eggs in half while he waited on the boy to come downstairs.

The silver-haired shinobi laid the egg halves on top of the bento box's rice, taking a moment to toss some diced carrots from the fridge into the free space. Eying the blackberries on the nearby shelf he tossed in a handful, and the bento was all set. He closed it tightly so that it wouldn't spill when the boy grabbed it later.

Speaking of which, it seemed Sasuke had finally finished getting ready. His feet were heavy as he made his way down the staircase, the young Uchiha now dressed in a pair of black shorts and a dark shirt to match. The only difference being the Uchiha crest proudly displayed on his back, the red and white contrasting sharply with the opaque fabric. It didn't take long for the shinobi-in-training to catch sight of Tobirama in the other room, the boy making way to join the other in the kitchen.

He seemed to be torn between happy and meek as he joined Tobirama in the kitchen, the silver-haired shinobi quirking an amused brow as the boy greeted, "Good morning." looking up at the much taller man.

Tobirama picked up his bowl as he spoke, setting the plate aside for now. "Good morning."

He made his way towards the table, Sasuke's taking ahold of his own bowl and following behind Tobirama. When Tobirama settled himself on the right side of the table, Sasuke settled himself on the left. The boy sat parallel to him, once more giving a simple 'thank you' to the other. Tobirama nodded in turn, beginning to eat alongside Sasuke.

The young Uchiha used his chopsticks to mix his egg into his rice, Tobirama doing the same as they began to take bites of the still-warm grains. The elder shinobi watched Sasuke take satisfied bites of the breakfast, the boy's slightly damp hair puffing up slightly post-shower.

"You have to go to the academy today, I'm presuming?" Tobirama commented between bites of his own. The boy looked up at him as he heard his question, giving a nod as he swallowed down his food and wiped his mouth of a few loose specks. "I see. I wish you luck with your classes." he encouraged raising brows as Sasuke gave a sharp nod.

The boy leaned forward slightly as he looked up at the dark-clothed shinobi, spine straightening. "I will- I mean, I'll do good in them," Sasuke spoke, dark eyes looking up at Tobirama almost uncertainly. It was a strange look for a boy who could very well pass as his former rival's mini-me.

"That's...good?" Tobirama ventured as he watched the six-year-old stand to go rinse his dishes. The kid ate fast, didn't he? Tobirama would question the behavior, but he wasn't too worried about it. He wasn't about to go grill the kid on why he was acting strangely when Tobirama himself had no idea how this bizarre situation came to be. It would...take some getting used to.

The Senju stood from his spot, using the sink to wash his own dishes when the young boy moved out of the way. He could hear Sasuke shuffling behind him, probably putting on his backpack if Tobirama had to guess. "Don't forget your bento." Tobirama reminded while he was thinking about it, jerking his hand over towards the boxed lunch on the counter. "We should leave soon. I need to get to the Hokage's office before things get busy there. You'll be a bit early for the academy, but I'm sure you'll be able to put it to use," he commented off-handedly.

He didn't get a response for a long moment, but the boy had moved to grab the bento at least, agreeing from behind him, "Yeah. We should. Thank you."

Tobirama turned to face Sasuke, who was looking over at him from a few feet away with his bento held carefully in both hands. He had a brown bag around his shoulder now, the one Tobirama had seen him put his homework away in. Understanding this meant the young Uchiha was ready, Tobirama nodded. "Let's go, then."

He moved past the child, the soft padding on the floor behind him assuring him that he was being followed. They exited the front door, and there he was met with a sight he had almost forgotten. Right, the bloodstains.

Sasuke seemed to duck his head as they got outside, the front door closed behind them. Tobirama walked through the eerily empty compound with the little ravenet, leading him through it as fast as he could without making the pace uncomfortable or making them pass over a stain. He could feel the distress coming off Sasuke as he walked a bit too close to Tobirama, the Senju feeling his ire restored. He knew Sasuke was freaking out about the idea of leaving the compound, but he doubted the kid was attached to the damn bloodstains. This wasn't healthy to live in.

Tobirama restrained this undirected irritation, however, as they reached the gates of the Uchiha compound. He pushed the gates open, the bustling village ahead of him barely taking notice as the two of them stepped out of the compound. Those who did notice however sent looks towards him with varying levels of suspicion. He merely continued on walking, even as he saw a few ANBU stalking them. Oh, so all it took was suspicion of kidnapping for them to properly watch their dependants, he sarcastically glowered in his mind.

Tobirama kept these thoughts to himself, however, as Sasuke was now walking alongside him. The young Uchiha looked pleased about something or another-- though, Tobirama wasn't quite sure what. He didn't remember any of his brother's children being this pleased at the idea of going to the academy.

It wasn't like he was complaining, though. He had worked hard on making the village's education system. Even if it had taken two more generations, he was glad someone was enjoying it at least.

Soon enough, they found themselves at the academy gates. It had gotten bigger over the years, he noted with pride. There were many children entering through the main gates, ranging from those Sasuke's age to pre-teens. The young shinobi seemed to stick to those their age, the only exception being a few who seemed to be leading their younger siblings or clansmen into the building.

Which was smart-- village or not, young children shouldn't be alone for such a long walk. Especially if they lacked training. It was simply dangerous. Which was another thing he needed to consider. He would need to be back to pick Sasuke up once school ended. It should be manageable, since all he needed to do today was speak to the current hokage and perhaps look into the Senju clan's savings account

It would be best to make sure Sasuke was on the same page with him, though. It'd cause issues if the boy did somehow get off school earlier than he got back and went off on his own to train who knows where. With this in mind, he glanced down at the young Uchiha who was eyeing him with an interested look.

"So here's the deal." Tobirama began, watching Sasuke's face snap from interested to considering. "I'm going to head to the Hokage's Office for the day. I'll be back here to pick you up when school ends. It ends around three, I'd presume?"

Sasuke gave a nod on confirmation as he looked up at the elder shinobi, "Mhm, it ends at three." his dark eyes watching Tobirama carefully, as though his instructions carried the weight of the world with them.

"Good. Make sure you're out front, then." Tobirama spoke, pleased. "I should be waiting. If I'm not there by three-thirty, you can head home. Though, I doubt that will be the case."

"Got it." Sasuke's serious tone had Tobirama smirking ever so thinly in amusement, the elder shinobi nodding in approval.

The red-eyed shinobi tilted his head towards the school, "Alright. I'll see you then." he spoke in departure, the child nodding firmly.

"I'll see you then. Goodbye!" Sasuke spoke, voice kept down but with an undoubted conviction.

"Goodbye. Good luck." was his easy reply as he watched Sasuke weave his way around the others, heading straight for the building.

Well, that was taken care of, he supposed. Now for the less pleasant matters to be attended to, he mentally sighed as he turned to head towards the Hokage office.

Chapter Text

It had taken a total of five minutes for Tobirama to make his way to the Hokage Tower. Getting in, on the other hand, was something else entirely.

When the village had first been founded, he had made a point of making sure it was difficult to reach the Hokage without proper reason or rank. This had never been an issue for him since he was, well, the Hokage's brother.

Tobirama found that it was much more difficult to get a personal audience with the Hokage when he was playing the role of an outsider.

While it was pleasing to see the security was so tight, it was hard for him to find much appeal in it when he was the one being locked out.

Still, he had to persevere. Soon enough he'd be able to speak with the Hokage and get this mess of a situation figured out. With this in mind, he took a deep breath to steady himself.

His sharp red eyes locked on to the jonin behind the desk, pressing on in the so-far unsuccessful debate, "I understand that the Hokage is a busy man, but it is important that I speak with him soon. It's in regards to the recent Uchiha Clan issues."

This seemed to get his attention. Dark green eyes snapped up from behind the desk, the man pausing in his previous idle work to give Tobirama a look-over. "If you have information concerning the whereabouts of Itachi Uchiha, you need to fill out a high-alert information report." pointing across the room to another jonin-filled desk. "The Hokage will look at the report as soon as he can. You will be informed and called back in if further detail is needed."

Tobirama could tell the man was growing tired of dealing with him, but quite frankly, the elder shinobi couldn't find it in himself to pity him right now. He was far too tired of dealing with his own system as it was. "It's not in reference to him. I need to discuss Sasuke Uchiha and his arrangements. He-"

His lips paused before he could say more, his attention pulled elsewhere. The sound of the tower's door opening was easy enough to ignore. The feeling of a set of familiar chakras wasn't. Especially when he knew one of them oh-so-well.

Tobirama paused as he watched the two elderly men enter. Hiruzen. His long-time student. He was wearing the Hokage's robes, so Tobirama supposed that meant it hadn't been as long as he'd thought. The fourth man on the mountain must only be preparing to take up the role. By his side was another man, on that he could place easily as Danzo. An elder of the village, he would guess. Those two always had been rather close as children, he reminded himself. It seemed their friendship had lasted even into their twilight years.

Though, he noted, it was easy to see how it had changed even with a brief look. They were speaking amongst themselves, leaning towards each other as they whispered in hushed tones. Hiruzen's brows were pulled together in weak concern, all the while Danzo looked tired and uninterested.

Their chakra, which was similar but not quite the same, reflected this. Hiruzen's seemed so dull and worn out, nothing like the warm compassion he was used to feeling from his student. Even Danzo, who he didn't know nearly as well, had vastly different chakra. Unlike the firey determination he had always felt within the boy, his chakra now seemed...cold and consuming. Their chakras had both darkened with time, matching their unenthused expressions.

He ignored the green-eyed man's objections as he took heavy steps towards the two men, his sharp ears listening to them speak as he neared. They were looking towards each other, as if pointedly refusing to look in his direction while they walked. "You're fabricating things out of unwarranted guilt." Danzo's quiet but firm works snapped at Hiruzen, as though they'd been having the conversation for a long while. He made a shushing motion with his walking stick, cutting off the conversation as Tobirama finally parked himself in front of them. It was then that they were no longer able to ignore his presence.

"If a questionable chakra appears in the village, it doesn't seem very leader-like of you to ignore it." Tobirama's heavy voice cut in, watching as Danzo gave something akin to an unnerved leer. Hiruzen, on the other hand, paused at his words completely. His hand, which had been holding a smoking pipe, slowly lowered as he looked over the man ahead of them.

Tobirama imagined that he must look quite the sight. Dressed from his nose to toe in black, his hair pulled into a ponytail with a weed he found on the side of a lake. He would worry that his student might not recognize him, or that he would perhaps mistake him for a man of the Hatake clan, had the Sarutobi not looked into his red eyes for so many days in his youth.

Alongside this, it would have been truly saddening had his star pupil not recognized his chakra. Even after so long, the memories of a loved one's chakra signature wasn't something someone just forgot. If he thought back, he was sure he could remember what Itama's tender aura had felt like.

That was a thought he quickly dispersed, instead steeling his expression as he watched Hiruzen try to gather his words. The jonin from before was standing to the side, right in between the three. A few ANBU had left their positions in the shadows, watching Tobirama with narrowed eyes. He wasn't surprised they didn't recognize him-- short of his red eyes and hidden cheek markings, there wasn't much to connect as far as the history books went. He lacked both his armour and his spiked hair, after all. "Lord Hokage, Lord Danzo, would you like us to handle him?"

Tobirama eyed the man who offered to take him on only briefly before turning to Hiruzen with a quirked brow. His hands folded under his chest, waiting for his answer expectantly. Hiruzen placed his pipe back in his mouth momentarily, a long moment dragging on as he seemed to consider it. Tobirama knew, though. He knew his student when he was finding his composure. So as irritating as it was for it to seem like he was considering sending those ANBU his way for him to deal with, he waited until a heavy voice came from behind the pipe. "No, no. All is well. We have business to discuss with this young man." a smile came to Hiruzen's face as he spoke to the ANBU, masking his discomfort easily. "It will need to be private, of course. So please do give us some time to speak."

The ANBU gave synchronized nods, the shinobi disappearing with a flicker at Hiruzen's words. When his student turned back to him, he continued on with his path towards the Hokage's quarters, Tobirama standing by his side as they walked. Danzo was on his right while Tobirama was on his left. A deafening silence overcame the three as they walked.

It wasn't until they were in the Hokage office, shutters closed and soundproof seals activated, that he was able to lower his mask for the first time since he arrived in the village. He sat himself in one of the room's chairs, waiting for Danzo and Hiruzen to do the same. "We have some things to discuss." he frowned, the growing realization that the Uchiha clan had fallen under his student's watch unsettling him. What the hell had happened in such a short time period?

"We do." Danzo agreed from where he sat on an opposite chair, eyeing Tobirama suspiciously. Tobirama only quirked a brow back, the silver-haired shinobi listening as the bandaged wrapped shinobi spoke. "Perhaps we should begin with how we've all come to be in the same room once more?"

The Senju decided to let the cold layer of arrogance slide in favor of getting his much-awaited answers, simply nodding as he eyed the two. "We should. Then, we can move on to more important issues," he added. The red-eyed shinobi noted the way they locked in place, as if steadying themselves for the conversation. Good. "But first, I have to ask why you're here. This is a discussion of great importance, as I'm sure you've gathered, Danzo. I suppose you've taken the role of the Hokage's advisor?"

As Danzo was about to answer, Hiruzen cut in, his words serious as he watched Danzo. "He was formerly a member of the elder council and as such an advisor. He is no longer, but if this has anything to do with what I believe it does, it is important for him to be here. He has helped run this village for the last few decades, after all."

Danzo sent Hiruzen a blank look, the only noticeable shift being a small narrowing of his eyes. Tobirama quirked a brow at this, inquiring, "What, exactly, made Danzo choose to or have to leave the advisory position?"

"Nothing of notice. He merely grew tired of it, I suppose." Hiruzen answered, not skipping a beat as he offered a smile. This one was vastly different from the one Tobirama was so used to seeing, though. This wasn't one of his genuine or sweet smiles. This was mixed. It was the kind of smile he would give when he was covering for Koharu or trying to get Homura to do something questionable with him. He had become better at disguising it, yes, but he had seen Hiruzen's genuine smile too many times to not know the difference.

He decided to let it go, now convinced that something was wrong. His student wouldn't lie to him so blatantly, not over something as serious as this. He would let Hiruzen talk himself into a corner, if need be. It wouldn't be the first time.

"Very well, then. It was a seal. One I created before my death. It was similar to the reanimation jutsu, though it required neither a caster nor a sacrifice." Tobirama explained, omitting the information he deemed necessary, "It was a month-long process. One which would only activate under certain circumstances."

He watched as Hiruzen seemed to mull over the information, the dark-eyed shinobi watching the smoke float out of his pipe with a calm expression. There was an underlying sense of sadness within that calm stare forward, one which led Tobirama to believe that he knew exactly what he was talking about. As such, he continued, "This seal was set to activate only when there was suspicious activity involving the Uchiha."

The words felt a bit sour on his tongue, now that he said them out loud. He had been so sure that the Uchiha would make a power grab, he had barely considered the possibility of them being the target of almost complete annihilation. "I returned just yesterday. I went to check on the clan, only to find out that my previous worries seem to have been misplaced. I've seen the destruction that the Uchiha clan has faced, as well as the little it has left behind." he paused briefly, composing his thoughts before he spoke, "I met with Sasuke Uchiha last night. He has told me what he knows of the Uchiha downfall. However, I would like to hear what happened and what is going on from you, Hiruzen." After all, a six-year-old's perception wasn't always the most reliable form of report. Perhaps there was some other side to this Sasuke was simply too young to have noticed.

"As you have seen, the Uchiha clan has fallen," Hiruzen stated the obvious, going over all the basic information as he spoke. "There are only two members of the clan left, as far as we know. Itachi and Sasuke, the two children of the former clan head." he sighed, "Itachi slaughtered the clan roughly a month ago, leaving only Sasuke behind. It seems as though he was overwhelmed with his stance as the clan heir as well as being one of Konoha's top prodigies."

Danzo nodded solemnly, adding, "He was also facing unofficial murder accusations from his kin for some time before the slaughter occurred. It is believed that he murdered his elder cousin, the only one who had been able to keep up with him as far as power goes. It was never confirmed, but from what Sasuke has told us, it seems that these accusations were true."

"So all in all." Tobirama summarized, "He murdered his cousin in order to secure his place as the top shinobi of his time." and most likely to gain his mangekyou, he noted internally, "However, his plans were slowly coming to light. Knowing he was doomed and that his reputation would be gone soon, he snapped, killing off his clansmen. Most likely due to a large majority of them being part of the police force while the others were caught in the crossfire, I take it? Though, that does leave the question of why Sasuke was left alive."

Hiruzen brought his pipe down from his lips, explaining with a somber tone, "Exactly. As for Sasuke...he was left behind as a form of self-punishment, it seems. Based on the information Sasuke gave us when questioned about the night, Itachi plans to wait for Sasuke to come after him. He wants Sasuke to be the one to kill him off, once his brother becomes strong enough. Knowing Itachi, he most likely sees it as a sort of poetic irony."

Tobirama narrowed his eyes at this, leaning forward in his chair as he listened. "Yes, it does seem that you had to have known Itachi fairly well, or had at least have taken notice of him. I saw quite a few awards in his bedroom when I was inspecting the main house. Many of which included your and the elders' chakra signatures. His own seemed pretty young at the time of graduation. He seemed to progress rather quickly through the ranks, as well."

Though, he noted, the chakra in the signatures hadn't felt hostile in the least. They'd had an almost bittersweet feel to them. Still. That could go many ways. He could have been bitter about not having progressed sooner, but glad to have done it. Perhaps he was proud to have the second-highest score, but jealous of the one who had beat him. There were many ways to tie his subtly stinging chakra signatures to the ambition Hiruzen and Danzo described.

"Yes, Itachi was truly something." Danzo mused, "He had fulfilled the graduation requirements within a year of his entrance into the academy. According to his sensei, it was unlike anything they'd seen in a long time."

Hiruzen seemed unable to resist a small look of amusement at this, chuckling lightly as he pulled the pipe away from his mouth to speak, "It wasn't just his teacher's praising him, either. Sage knows the girls of the village would all but trip over themselves to get a chance to talk to him. The boys on the other hand-"

He was pulled to a stop as Tobirama leaned forward, the red-eyed shinobi not nearly as amused with the idea as Hiruzen was. He knew how Hiruzen tended to get off track when he was uncomfortable, which wasn't really something he was in the mood to deal with when it came to their current discussion. "In case I have not made this blatantly clear." he interrupted, "This is not intended to be a social call. So if you would sit up, stop going off-topic, and answer my questions, it would be much appreciated."

Feeling a stinging in his nose, which was assaulted by the heavy stench of smoke, Tobirama's frown deepened. The underlying frustration of having to listen to his student discuss the early graduation with such ease must have been getting to him, for when Hiruzen was paused in place, holding that damn pipe, he couldn't resist but to snatch it straight from his fingers. "Along with this, it is incredibly rude to be smoking in such a closed-off room. The windows are closed, and frankly, I do not need a face full of smoke while I'm trying to speak with you." he asserted.

Something seemed to have snapped in Hiruzen's brain, as when his former sensei leered towards him, his entire attitude shifted. His eyes shut briefly, pipe lowering before his eyes opened once more. "Of course. My apologies." he spoke, the amusement dropping from his voice and returning to the stern yet hesitant expression he'd sported as they first sat down.

Tobirama wondered briefly if he had really been gone that long, that Hiruzen thought it was okay to first lie to his face and then try to evade subjects. He shook his head briefly as he leaned back, adding, "And you-" to Danzo, "Need to stop being so snide." he made eye contact with Danzo's one visible eye. Honestly, he couldn't even keep himself from looking half dead, but found it within himself to try to act high and mighty with Tobirama? "This is an important conversation. I am the former Hokage, he is the current Hokage. You are the Hokage's aid. If you were not chosen to be Hokage, there is a reason for that. Either be helpful or get out." he turned to face forward, not allowing Danzo a chance to argue. "Now, if you are done, it would be an appropriate time to tell me why the gaps between Itachi's promotions were so small, Hiruzen." his arms crossing over his chest.

"Of course." Hiruzen cleared his throat, at least having the decency to look half ashamed of his words before continuing, "Itachi began the academy at age six. He graduated at seven due to his impressive abilities and at-home learning. He became part of team two and stayed until he was ten and passed the chuunin exams." though he seemed hesitant to add in this next piece of information, he added, "He became a member of the ANBU at age eleven, then a captain when he was twelve."

"The minimum age to become an ANBU captain is thirteen." Tobirama pointed out, brows pulling together as he listened. "Have these requirements been rearranged?" His legs were crossed, not the least bit pleased as he heard Danzo's next words.

The bandaged shinobi spoke in an eerily calm voice, one he still wasn't quite used to hearing from the boy who had been so hot-headed and emotional. "We rearranged Itachi's paperwork to state that he was thirteen. He was more than capable of running his own group, despite his age."

Tobirama, though normally a cool-headed man, was finding it hard to keep his calm after being run in circles with the jonin this morning and now with his own former subordinates. "Evidently not, if he decided to massacre his kin within a year of getting the job. What purpose could you two have possibly have had to push him through the ranks so fast?"

"War was continuous around those times." Danzo reminded, "The Third Great Shinobi War seemed to begin just as soon as the second one came to an end. It was best to have experienced fighters for when the next war came around. Sometimes young fighters are necessary-- you know that just as well as anyone."

"Yes, young shinobi were necessary during my time period." Tobirama scowled, "Which was the express purpose of the village. It was to make sure children weren't fighting in life or death situations constantly. As the village developed, the age requirements should have too. It would be unrealistic to jump straight from allowing six-year-olds to fight straight to only allowing young adults. Hence the middle ground we found with overseeing young teens. The system we created was meant to be the minimum- not the maximum. It seems we did not make this explicit enough in the founding records."

Hiruzen let out a breath, assuring Tobirama, "It wasn't a common occurrence, I can assure you that much. These cases only happened under very specific conditions with shinobi who had proven themselves."

Tobirama gave an irate sigh in turn, the former Hokage clarifying further, "It doesn't matter how much they prove themselves. Even going beyond the ethical implications, having children fight is a terrible idea from a military perspective. No matter how smart or strong they are for their age, they're still children. Children lack general experience, have habits of being rash, and are not emotionally mature enough to endure these types of conditions for long periods of time. Children are a danger to both themself and others under these conditions."

"It seems rather hypocritical for you to be preaching ethics, all things considered." Danzo quipped, the hot-headedness that Tobirama remembered hidden behind a layer of icy impasse.

Hiruzen gave Danzo a silencing look, ready to say something, but was unable to as Tobirama replied in a cutting tone, "If you want to accuse someone of something, do it. Dancing around the issue is of no help to anyone."

Danzo didn't miss a beat, ignoring Hiruzen's warning look. "They're not accusations. Simply facts. You've done things that many would consider abominations. Your reanimation jutsu didn't just appear one day. You had to have experimented with raising and controlling the dead. Your expertise in the realm of kinjutsu is proof enough now, as you stand here! Everyone can agree upon one thing, no matter how interesting they find the second Hokage. He was not an ethical man. Even Hiruzen can agree that there are faults to be found."

Hiruzen paused at this, Tobirama quirking a brow at his student. He didn't say anything, remaining in his seat with his arms and legs crossed as he listened to Hirzuen. His former student looked uncomfortable with the attention on him, excusing with a stiff and serious posture, "I never said they were faults, Danzo. Just actions I didn't agree with."

"Such as?" Tobirama inquired, not moving from his spot as he listened with narrowed eyes.

Hiruzen explained, "You sold the tailed beasts after Lord Hashirama had already suggested that the other nations would be receiving them free as a way to balance power. They didn't appreciate that, in the long run. Nor did they like Konoha keeping the nine-tails, which is believed to be the strongest."

"That's not all," Danzo spoke, watching Hiruzen with sharp eyes. "Hiruzen, tell him."

The words were quiet, hushed as if he were the guilty party and not making an accusation. "You left me to be the Hokage."

Tobirama's brows drew together, "Of course I nominated you to be the Hokage. You were the strongest of your generation and had a good heart to lead. I don't see how this is an issue." He had thought Hiruzen would be the next Hashirama while Danzo would be the next Tobirama. Apparently, he had been wrong.

This much was obvious as Hiruzen's eyes narrowed, accusing with something that seemed close to heartbreak. "We were on a mission. You left to go die. My sensei, who I'd known for over half my life, went to go die while we ran. When I returned home, there was no time to mourn. Instead, I had to start giving orders and sending my other comrades off to die."

Voice tight, a thin layer of bitterness slipped through his saddened expression "When you took over as the Hokage, you knew the position inside and out. I didn't. I had to learn bits and pieces I couldn't have known despite being your student. There was no training. I was just thrown into it and expected to lead a war while managing all the normal Hokage duties. I made so many mistakes, which ended with far more deaths than should have been necessary! Within a month of you dying, I had accidentally sent Kagami to his death!"

Hiruzen was pale as he spoke, unsettled by the words just as much as Tobirama was. The news of Kagami's death felt like an arrow through the heart that he couldn't acknowledge right now. If he did, he didn't know if he'd be able to continue with this meeting.

"The village needed a leader. You were the best option at the time." Tobirama frowned, fingers silently digging into his crossed arms as he steadied his expression. "I regret leaving you with such a burden, but it was a necessary evil. I assumed you would be able to lead them for some time and then would find a successor when the time came. I didn't think I would return to you still working decades later!"

Hiruzen glowered back, not in the least bit surprised by his former sensei's blunt words. He made eye contact with Tobirama, and despite the circumstances, the silver-haired shinobi was glad to see his student hadn't become a complete pushover. "I took up the role of Hokage for what I thought was a manageable enough time. I forged peace with the other nations! I took on a team and trained them! I even picked a successor and trained him to become the Hokage after he proved himself trustworthy and fit for the job. I never intended to continue this job for so long, but I didn't have a choice when Minato died. No one else was reliable enough to take the job. Or willing, for that matter! None of my students were willing, and everyone who did step forward had questionable leadership skills."

Tobirama rubbed his temple, holding out his hand. "You know what, if you're that stressed out, and think you're that bad at it, hand the hat over. You've tried more than enough, but it seems you just aren't emotionally capable of running this village anymore. Not if what little I've seen of the situation is any indicator."

Danzo objected, "You've been gone for decades. What makes you think you'll be able to find a good enough successor now? Or do you plan to be reinstalled as the Hokage? Don't tell me you're choosing to ignore all the issues you created during your short time in office!?"

"I'm not ignoring them. I'm fixing them. This village has strayed so far from what Hashirama and I originally planned, and I refuse to let it go on when I'm fully capable of doing something about it." Tobirama asserted.

Danzo scowled, "So you plan to just waltz right into the village, reclaim your station, and continue on as though you hadn't been dead for years? Do you truly think the citizens will accept that? For that matter, what about the voting system? No one is going to vote against Hiruzen."

"No, I won't be reclaiming the title. Merely working with or instructing Hiruzen while we work to find someone more suited and willing." Tobirama spoke seriously before turning back to eye Hiruzen, who was handing over his hat with careful hands.

He could feel the utter shame coming from Hiruzen, his student seeming caught between being embarrassed for his inability to handle the role and relieved to be able to finally take the hat off. Above all else, he seemed shaken as the restrained turmoil rinsed off him. Not that Tobirama could blame him. "Good. We can work out the official issues later on. For now, we have more important matters to discuss than who caused this mess. We're all to blame. Me for shoving the job onto you without warning, you for continuing while incapable, and Danzo for pointing the finger at anyone but himself."

With that said and done, he sat back further in his chair, scowling, "Now, if we're done with this ridiculous argument over whose fault this is and how we got here, I would like to start discussing how to fix it."

Chapter Text

Hiruzen nodded in agreement with Tobirama, letting out a breath. Danzo begrudgingly agreed, hands overlaid as he leaned on his cane. They seemed willing to fix what they'd helped to break, though one more than the other, Tobirama noted. He didn't know what sort of change Danzo had gone through, but so far, the silver-haired shinobi couldn't say he was impressed. Regardless, the man's arrogant attitude wasn't what was important right now. They needed to sort through the known issues and bring out any the two had neglected to tell. Despite their compliance, he didn't quite trust them to be completely honest.

"First of all, why is Sasuke living by himself? Not only is that incredibly dangerous for him, it's a threat to clan security and by extension the village. Itachi could return to finish him or, worse, he could be kidnapped by another village. I'm not sure if it's still a common occurrence or not, but the threat remains. If someone was interested in obtaining the sharingan, Sasuke being left alone would be the ideal situation. He'd be easy to kidnap." Tobirama spoke with his arms crossed in silent disapproval.

Hiruzen nodded, sighing as he agreed, "Kekki genkai thievery has unfortunately continued to be an issue in recent years, though it has become less common. We didn't want to leave him alone, but there wasn't much choice with how the Uchiha clan's contract with the village was arranged."

The contract in question needed no explanation. Tobirama knew it well. After all, he'd spent months with Hashirama and Madara going back and forth over the details of it. While all of the clans had made it clear that they needed a certain degree of self-rule, it had been important to the Uchiha clan in particular. Though not all the clansmen had found it so important, Madara and the elders definitely had. They'd made sure their land, supplies, wealth, and manpower were all but separate from the village. Had they not been one of the founding clans, it would be hard to believe they were part of the village at all. Typical Uchiha, always so untrusting to anyone who wasn't their own.

...Then again, Tobirama reminded himself, it had worked out in their favour this time. The village had tried to turn on them in a sense, by trying to manipulate their heir into giving up their belongings. Had Sasuke been any less stubborn, the village may very well have taken the property and sent him to go live in the dependant's district. As a matter a fact, it might have happened eventually regardless, had he not shown up.

Sure, the mutual sense of distrust probably led to the village's actions, but that didn't make it any less appalling. "I see. So their contract hasn't changed much since I left?" seeing a shake of his student's head, he asked, "Even with the contract, though, I hear you were trying to convince Sasuke to give up the land. I presume this was so he could be placed somewhere easier to supervise?"

"That was my intention, yes." Hiruzen nodded, snapping himself back into work mode and restraining his emotions. "I have a nice apartment on hold for him once he's willing. The funds that have been set aside for village dependants will cover his rent and other necessities. This way he can live comfortably near others. There are jonin and ANBU members living in that section of the town as well with orders to keep an eye on the children living there. I believe it would be better for him to live elsewhere for both safety reasons and his mind. I doubt living in the same house as the massacre is good for him."

Nodding, Tobirama gave a small hum of agreement. "I understand that reasoning, but at the same time, I doubt having his home taken from him so soon after he lost his family would help him. From what I've seen, he's very protective of both his compound and clan. He's trying to keep what's left intact. Being made to move into an unfamiliar area would most likely only make him feel like he'd lost even more. Have you considered assigning someone to be there in the afternoon or night when he's home? Even having someone move into one of the empty houses would be preferable to him being alone."

Danzo leaned slightly with his walking stick between his legs, eyeing Tobirama with a tight frown. "Unfortunately, I highly doubt this would end well. Sasuke is not the most sociable of children. This has always been evident, even before the massacre occurred. He's never gotten along very well with those who live outside the compound, tending to stay within its walls when possible. His brother was the one he trusted and cared for most, and as such, his sense of trust must be severely damaged. Having someone there to clearly watch him would only frighten him. Which is why we believe having neighbours discreetly watch him would be for the best."

He noticed the barest flicker of discomfort in Hiruzen's eyes as Danzo spoke. That wasn't the first time his student had seemed unsettled at the mention of the massacre. Still, it wasn't the same sort of distress he himself had felt upon realizing what had happened. There was definitely something going on that they weren't telling him. He'd find out soon enough, though. That much he'd make sure of.

"He seemed to be tolerant enough of me yesterday." Tobirama settled on mentioning for now, quirking a brow. "That may be due to the cover I gave him, though."

Hiruzen's brows furrowed, leaning forward on his desk in interest as he heard this. "Of course, your cover. You couldn't very well expose yourself as a resurrected Hokage without causing alarm. What did you say to him to make him willing to listen? Everyone who has gone to check on him, myself included, has been met with distaste."

Tobirama commented offhandedly, "Yes, I've heard." he couldn't say he blamed Sasuke, though. This was all horribly stressful, he was sure. "As for my cover..." he leaned his elbow on his chair, hand hovering in front of his mouth on instinct as he spoke a bit awkwardly, "I told him that I was from the land of Water, and had come to check on the Uchiha clan after hearing of a disaster involving them." he started, watching the two eye him expectantly. "The reasoning I gave for being interested was that I was married to an estranged Uchiha who had passed away years ago. I figured this would be a good way to calm him down and find out what was going on."

"You said you were...married to an Uchiha?" Danzo asked, the cloud of arrogance that had been surrounding him all day coming to a standstill as he watched Tobirama.

The white-haired shinobi merely crossed his arms, nodding firmly in confirmation. It was the story he had made, and no matter how awkwardly it clashed with his slowly diminishing views of distaste for the Uchiha, he would stick with it. It was too late to go back on it now. Besides, it had given him a lot of information from Sasuke that he previously wouldn't have had.

He stubbornly ignored the small feeling of guilt for lying to the child, reminding himself that it was for the best as of right now.

Danzo seemed stunned to silence, and Tobirama was momentarily distracted by the hidden surge of satisfaction at the cocky man's lack of words. Hiruzen too seemed surprised by the cover story, pausing momentarily before clearing his throat.

"I- yes. Yes, that would give Sasuke reason to consider trusting you. At least a bit. I'm sure he was interested to see another clansman, no matter how vague the connection." frowning slightly as his shock died down into something more melancholy. "The Uchiha do, if nothing else, truly care about each other."

Though he spoke to Tobirama, it was easy for him to see that his student's thoughts were elsewhere. "That they do." he agreed, watching Hiruzen carefully.

He tapped the hat in his lap as a silence fell over the room, Hiruzen suggesting after a moment, "Perhaps...if you've been able to get along with him this long, it should be you to stay with him."

"Me?" Tobirama asked, "I may have been able to handle the situation last night, but I'm hardly the type of person who should be the sole caregiver to young children." he spoke sceptically, though the gears began to turn in his head. "It would also mean I'd have to stay for a while, to make sure I didn't give him hope only to crush it soon after. Though, I suppose I'll be staying for a while regardless if I need to sort out the Hokage situation and any other issues that have arisen."

He rubbed at his chin absent-mindedly, considering it despite his immediate reaction being doubt. "He would need someone strong enough to protect him from Itachi, and I've already made it clear in my story that I came with the express purpose of checking on the clan. No one else seems to be doing any better..." nodding firmly to himself as he didn't pay Hirzuen's inner grimace or Danzo's glare any mind. "You're right. I'm in the perfect position to aid him. I'll have to figure it out. It'd be a waste to let this opportunity go to waste."

Hiruzen seemed somewhere between somber and amused as he listened to his flow of logic, brows pulled together as Tobirama decided on it. "Perfect. I can have you reinstalled into the village and create the necessary files for a believable existence."

"Good. We can go over the details another time, but as of right now, we have something much more important to discuss." he spoke firmly, red eyes focusing in on Hiruzen as he did so. It was time for the part of the conversation he'd most likely hate the most. Whether it was their fault or not, Itachi was a dangerous being as of now. He needed to be, if nothing else, captured for safety's sake. "Itachi Uchiha. You've had squads sent to deal with him, I'm sure? How successful have they been?"

He watched him with a sharp look, eyes narrowed in suspicion as his student looked at him with a blank expression. He could all but see the wheels turning in Hirzuen's head, no matter how well he had learned to hide his expression. Even if he'd been dead for the last few decades, it felt like only days ago that he'd seen his student.

Tobirama watched, silently daring him to omit the information they had clearly been holding back so far.

The air was heavy, Hiruzen letting out a breath and bowing his head as he spoke in a low tone. "...There have been no squads sent out in search of Itachi."

The dark-clad shinobi listened, not taking his eyes off his student even as he heard Danzo cut in easily, "The risk was too high. We lack the shinobi to go after him at the moment. Instead, we've set up a strong defence for the village in case he-"

"That's enough, Danzo. If he intends to sort through the pile of mistakes we've unintentionally created, it's better he find out now. Giving excuses won't help the village any." Hiruzen's soft voice cut through Danzo's words, pausing briefly before continuing, "We were untruthful about Itachi's motives."

Tobirama's fingers tightened on the fabric of the hat as he listened, a million possibilities flowing through his mind even as his face remained impassive. "I assumed as much."

He watched as his student admitted, "He didn't snap. He was ordered to do as he did. An S-Rank mission to eliminate the entirety of the Uchiha clan, the only exception being Sasuke." his voice a deep whisper as he finally locked gazes with Tobirama. "It was an idea proposed by Danzo and accepted by the others on the council. They believed it would be the best way to stop the Uchiha clan as they were planning a coup."

Immediately, Tobirama's sharp eyes snapped between Danzo and Hiruzen. "You ordered the mass murder of an entire clan? Of one of your own clans, at that?" his voice harsh and cutting. "And you let him!?"

"It was for the best." Danzo met his hard look with one of his own, "Had we not had Itachi end his clan, the entire village would have been at risk. I gave him the option. He never had to accept."

Tobirama was not a particularly violent man. Even so, he had to steady his breath as his hand curled into a fist. "Options, options-! What sort of sick sociopath gives a thirteen-year-old the option to commit mass murder? If he was willing to go this far for the village- I can only imagine the stress he must have been under!"

Fuck, he wouldn't be surprised if Danzo had pressured him or gave some sick twist if what he'd seen with how they were treating Sasuke's property was any indication. "There were innocents in that clan, coup or not! Civilians, children, genin who probably knew nothing of it- you sentenced them to death as well? By the hand of their own kin, nonetheless!"

"It was merciful!" Danzo's voice rose as he watched Tobirama with an unwavering look in his eye. "Had it been someone else, they might not have killed them as quickly. Besides, he had been acting as our double agent for years. He was the best for the mission! Had we spared the innocents, they would have grown hateful in time and we'd have to repeat the situation! By using Itachi, Sasuke will grow to hate him, and one day kill him in the name of the leaf. The Uchiha clan can start anew, so long as Sasuke is molded correctly!"

Tobirama had to withhold his chakra, which was ready to lash out as he heard Danzo's repulsive words. "You utter idiot, they are part of the village! The Uchiha civilians, children, shinobi- all of them. The only ones who could be justifiably killed are the ones actively participating in the coup! Even then, I'm starting to wonder how justified this uprising might have been, with how things are being run."

He snapped his head towards Hiruzen, who looked completely lost and tired, demanding, "Hiruzen, arrest him! For mass murder. For war crimes, if you wish to see the coup as a separation from the village. For abuse of power. He is an embarrassment to everything this village was built to stand for!"

"He's already been removed from the council. Action is being taken-" Hiruzen promised, words serious.

His face fell as Tobirama stood, ordering in a firm and inarguable voice, "I said. Arrest him." a thin veil of threatening chakra surrounding him as he eyed his former student. What the hell had the village done?

A spark of chakra came from Hiruzen, calling the ANBU into the room.

The two matched eyes, dark eyes meeting with light ones as their thin layers of chakra met. Hiruzen was right. He wasn't suited for this job in the least. Kagami had only been the beginning- and Tobirama would make sure Itachi was the end.

Silently daring Hiruzen as the ANBU entered the room, the two paused for a brief moment despite the hostile and stiff chakra's lowering. Hiruzen, though hesitantly, was the first to lower his gaze.

Tobirama sat heavily in his chair, back straightened with a scowl on his face as he watched Hiruzen speak sternly from his seat. "Take Danzo to the police department. I'll be down there to discuss what is happening later on in the day.

Tobirama didn't listen to Danzo's excuses, not finding them worth his time as the bandaged man was led out of the room. The man was led by the ANBU Hiruzen had called, Tobirama making note of how some of the shinobi seemed more than willing to haul Danzo off while others led him with the utmost respect even as they arrested him. Great, was the ANBU in need of fixing too?

He let out a breath as the door shut heavily behind him, the room filling with weight. His arms remained crossed as he glowered at his student, asking in a more controlled tone, chakra having coiled into his stomach, "What was the purpose to the village?"

Hiruzen's tired eyes did little to relieve the tension of the room. When Tobirama merely quirked a brow, Hiruzen cleared his throat. "...To protect children from war."

"Precisely. Hashirama and I-" he paused briefly, "As well as Madara were the creators of this village. Hashirama built it up and made it home to many. I worked out the details in the system that he didn't know how to go about. Madara- he protected the village, for a time. We all wanted to ensure the safety of the innocents when this village was created."

As hard as it was, he found himself considering his brother's heartbroken words once more. Right before Madara had left the village, according to Hashirama, he'd said he was worried for the safety of his clan. That he suspected Tobirama would be the second Hokage, thus endangering them. At the time it'd been insulting. Now, he couldn't help but wonder if Madara had somehow foreseen this.

It by no means justified Madara's actions. He had still attacked the village they had worked so hard to make, endangering innocents. Even so, he had to wonder just how much merit the elder shinobi's feelings actually had.

"We wanted to protect the people. Our clans. Our village." he emphasized. "So what made you think it was okay to take an innocent - a child - and have them kill others of the same kind? To kill these people, these clansmen, these villagers." He frowned deeply, his seething settling into a deep frown of disappointment instead. "Not only did you hurt those innocent people, you very likely slaughtered what little was left of his own innocence! I may not be able to say for certain, seeing as I don't know him, but murdering your own kin would be hard on anyone - let alone a genin-aged child."

Hiruzen nodded lightly, a tight frown on his lips as he admitted, "It did hurt him. He took it on as his personal responsibility. His father was leading a coup. He'd been spying on them for us along with his cousin, Shisui. The two were always watching for us. They were true shinobi of the leaf." he shook his head. "Even so, they loved their clan. They did everything in their power to put a stop to the coup. They tried their best, down to the last moment."

The man paused, as if collecting his thoughts. He explained, "It must have been too much for Shisui-- his suicide was so sudden. He drowned himself in Naka river a few months back. The note he left behind claimed that there was no hope for the Uchiha clan, nor him. He was too worn from his duties. I believe this is what led Itachi to do as Danzo ordered. He was discouraged from following his clan and was unsure he would be able to protect it on his own."

Tobirama's eyes narrowed as he was given the truth, his mind flashing to the lie they had given him earlier. "I presume what you told me earlier about Itachi being jealous of Shisui was the story released to the public?"

His chakra coiled and pulled in his stomach, even as he held it back. "So what I'm hearing is that these two put their lives on the line time and time again for the village, only for them to be disgraced with that sorry excuse for a cover? Not only should they have never been in such a position, they should have at least been able to keep their dignity. You made Itachi out to be an absolute sociopath." he rubbed his temples, "Shisui died due to village negligence. You're a disgrace, to sit there with your pipe, turning a blind eye to what was happening. Now Itachi is most likely suffering too, along with Sasuke. They aren't even able to seek aid in each other with how they've been pitted. Shisui is dead, Sasuke is alone, and Itachi is where?"

"He went to join an organization known as the Akatsuki." Hiruzen pursed his lips, not bothering to argue against Tobirama. It seems he knew he had messed up. "He wanted to spy on them for the leaf as they presented a threat to the village. He is scheduled to send in reports every three months, though more may come if he deems them important enough."

So having him become a kin murderer wasn't enough. He had to be placed in the belly of a second beast less than a month after too, Tobirama mulled with displeasure. "How soon can you have him return? What steps would he need to take to remove himself from this organization?"

Hiruzen had the gull to look surprised at his words. "We couldn't have him return without giving the truth. It would frighten the villagers too much. Not to mention, if we did that, the Akatsuki would know he was a spy. It's more dangerous to take him out than to leave him in."

"Hiruzen." Tobirama frowned. "I'm not saying we remove him straight away. I'm saying I need to speak to him, hear about the Akatsuki, and formulate a plan to get him away as soon as possible. Whether that means having him try to get missions further away from them, pretending to hold him as a prisoner, or killing the Akatsuki off if it's possible-- we'll find out when we get his report."

Tobirama watched as Hiruzen considered his words, nodding after a moment as he estimated, "A week if we tell him I need to speak to him, three days if I say Sasuke is in danger. If I claim the second one, though, he may end up overworking himself to get here."

"A week, then. Tell him he needs to get here to discuss something of great importance." Tobirama nodded.

He watched as his former student leaned forward, elbows on his desk as he spoke. "Got it. He'll be here in roughly a week. Until then, you'll be with Sasuke. I'll be taking care of your paperwork and telling the apartment owner it's no longer needed. I believe that's all, then?"

Tobirama shook his head, "Correction- we will be arranging my paperwork, keeping an eye on Danzo's interrogation, be going through the events of the village in recent years in case there's anything else we need to work on."

Hiruzen tilted his head at this, asking wearily, "Are you sure you'll be able to do all that on top of keeping an eye on Sasuke?"

"I will be just fine." Tobirama merely chided, standing from his chair and performing the shadow clone jutsu with ease. Just like that, there were three more of him. "I'll take care of Sasuke. You will continue to act as the Hokage, but only act. My clones will instruct you. Do not make any large choices without their agreement. We can't afford any more issues to arise."

Chapter Text

This was weird, Sasuke had decided. He was currently picking at his half-eaten bento box, the berries he'd bought just the other day slipping into his mouth one after the other. He glanced around the classroom as he ate, the day having been strangely normal thus far. It felt off to him, when he thought about everything that had happened the night before.

He'd headed to class and sat down like normal this morning. No one had bothered him. Well, besides Sakura and Ino, but those two were always arguing over who got to sit by him. The lesson had been pretty normal too. They'd just went over the usual-- kanji, history, taijutsu, weapons. That sort of thing. Now here they all were, eating lunch in the classroom.

It was odd to watch as the girls sat together, the three eating lunch and whispering to each other. The only exception was Ino, who seemed to be bickering about something or another with Shikamaru. Those two always seemed to be at each other's throats. Though Choji tried to help, Naruto didn't seem interested in joining the effort. The idiot was provoking Ino, despite Shikamaru's nonchalant attitude about the argument. Then there was Kiba trying to snatch some of Shino's lunch, only to end up with a face full of beetles...

It seemed like a normal lunch, he noted, still snacking on the bento. Iruka was out of the room, some other sensei having popped in and led him elsewhere. He probably needed help or something, if Sasuke had to guess. The sensei in training who was supposed to be watching them was trying and failing to calm everyone down, the majority of the students either too easily distracted or not caring enough to listen.

It was really annoying. He just wanted to eat his bento in peace, but no, everyone had to be all loud. At least Hinata and Shino weren't making a racket. Even if Shino was freaking Kiba out with his bugs.

A loud clap rang through the room after a moment, the door having opened and revealed a not-too-happy Iruka. Sasuke moved his eyes down to his food as the brunet ordered, "Quiet, quiet! Ino, Shikamaru, opposite sides of the room. Shino, put your bugs away, and Kiba keep your hands to yourself."

Just like that, the room seemed to clear of chaos. Sasuke snacked on his eggs as he watched the room quiet down, Iruka heading over to his desk and beginning the rearrange some papers.

Sasuke found himself wishing lunch would end already, the young Uchiha ready to move on to some more physical learning. He was pretty good at the worksheets and tactics- he got top scores on almost all his papers. He was at the top of his class. It still wasn't good enough, though. It hadn't been up to fathers standards, so it definitely wouldn't be up to Itachi's. The thought made his shoulders drop a little, pausing before setting the lid on his bento. He suddenly wasn't really hungry.

Thinking too much, he reminded himself, hurt. At least once they started their physical training for the day he'd just be using muscle memory for the most part. There wasn't as much thinking when it came to fighting. There would be one day, Iruka was always telling them, but right now they just had to work on getting the motions down. The repetitive motions were nice, he thought as he put his bento away.

His dark eyes flickered up as he heard the sound of Iruka moving from his teaching desk towards Sasuke's own. He glanced to his side briefly. No one was there. He could see Iruka's tired expression as the brown-eyed man squatted beside him with a thin smile. "Hey, Sasuke. You finished with lunch already?"

The young Uchiha nodded, brushing his fingers over the hem of his shirt as he listened to Iruka's question. "Yeah." was his response, not sure what Iruka was wanting or if he'd done something. He was pretty sure he'd been okay.

"Did you pack a big lunch today?" Iruka tilted his head as he spoke, eyeing the box momentarily before looking back to Sasuke.

"Mhm." was his response once more, dark eyes matching Iruka's and pausing slightly. Well, technically he hadn't packed a big lunch. Tobira had done that for him.

Iruka didn't need to know that, though. Or did he? If Tobira was staying like he said, did that mean he was going to be in charge of all Sasuke's school stuff? He wasn't really sure.

"I see." Iruka's words snapped him out of his thoughts. The man rubbed at his neck. Sasuke wasn't sure why he did that, but he did know it was something his mother had always done when she was worried about Itachi.

Internally, he swatted the thought away. No, no, no. This was Iruka, his sensei. Sasuke barely looked over at the man, sure that he was keeping his face neutral as he merely nodded.

Iruka offered, "Do you want to go ahead and train with your shuriken outside?"

Well, Sasuke didn't have anything better to do. He was done eating and he didn't really want to talk to any of the others. Sitting at his desk for another fifteen minutes would be a waste of time, not to mention boring. "Sure."

He could hear Iruka's sigh, though he wasn't really sure what that was about. Hadn't he just offered? Or was he sighing at something else? Sasuke had never really got Iruka.

Standing to follow the taller man, he moved past the other in the classroom. He noted a few glances following him, but focused on Iruka's back as they walked. Iruka passed him over to another sensei, Mizuki, as they got to the hallway. They exchanged a few words, though he wasn't particularly interested in paying attention to them. The silver-haired man led Sasuke away after only a moment, down to the schoolyard where a group of upperclassmen were practicing.

He was then passed along to Daikoku as they got to the training fields, the bearded sensei greeting him with a smile after Mizuki waved him over. "Hey, mind keeping an eye on Sasuke while he practices on a spare target? Iruka wanted him to get some air."

Sasuke could see a few familiar faces amongst the other class, namely Neji and Lee. He knew of them both, though he didn't remember ever speaking to them. His mother had suggested he try to make friends with Neji a few times, though his father had never cared for the idea much. Something about stirring the pot. Either way, he'd never tried to. As for Lee...well, he didn't really know anything about him, but he'd seen him in the training fields. It seemed like he trained quite a lot. He'd actually considered asking if he wanted to train with him before, but had never gotten around to it. It wasn't like Lee was an Uchiha. Being friends with a non-Uchiha was risky. Father had mentioned that before, though that was when he was having his fight with Itachi. He was acting so weird, back when they were fighting...

His attention snapped to Daikoku, eyes landing on the elder man as he watched Sasuke with the same smile Iruka had given him moments before. Daikoku spoke once he had Sasuke's attention, "The training shuriken are over in their usual spot, alright? If you need anything, I'll be over right over there." motioning to the area behind the students. He merely nodded, heading over to the open target after retrieving some shuriken from the supply box. He stood on the far left, next to a girl with buns in her hair. He just hoped her aim was better than his classmates.

He took the weapons in his hands, taking a breath as he began his warm-up. Steady. Ready? Go. Steady. Ready? Go. Steady. Ready? Go.

In just a few steady motions, he sent his shuriken flying towards the target. He got a solid bulls-eye on each of them. He retrieved the weapons. Steady, ready, go. Steady, ready, go. Steady ready go.

The shuriken hit the target much quicker now, though they'd inched towards the outline of the bulls-eye. He'd need to work on that, he noted as he got his weapons back once more. Steady. Ready? Go.

In one fluid movement, the shuriken landed on the board. Two in bulls-eye, one in the circle surrounding. Hn. That wouldn't do. His arms had begun to grow tired, but he ignored this as he got the weapons back once more. Steady. Ready. Go.

Three shuriken landed in the bulls-eye spot, though he had taken a moment to make sure he really was ready. Again. He took his shuriken, prepared himself to toss them, and-

The sound of congratulations from behind him threw him off, Daikoku patting the brunette beside him on the shoulder as he praised, "Very good, Tenten! Six in a row. Impressive!"

His eyes reflexively wandered over to the target beside his own, eyeing the six shuriken that had made their way into the bulls-eye. Oh. She did have good aim, then. He wondered how long it had taken her to get that good. How long would it take him to get that good? She merely smiled at the praise, "Thank you, Sensei." an aura of pride coming from the girl.

Sasuke could hear his own class coming along now, Iruka nodding to Daikoku in greeting before the man continued, "Alright class, pack up. It's time to head in for the next class."

A few loose groans escaped the upperclassmen, though a few looked relieved to toss their weapons into the supply box. They barely had time to do so before his classmates were making grabs for the shuriken, quick to try to get ahold of the better ones.

...He lamented to himself as Naruto got ahold of one of the better ones, the blond grinning as he held it up over his goggled head. Damn it. Of course it had to be him.

Sasuke watched as his classmates fell into line beside him, relieved that Naruto ended up near the middle. Hinata had ended up beside him, which was great as far as the threat of being knicked with a kunai went. Her aim was pretty good, when compared to some of the others.

With this in mind, he refocused on the board. He'd keep an eye out of course, but he was pretty sure he was safe against stray shuriken today.

Steady. Ready. Go. The shuriken landed in the bulls-eye once more, all three of them landing. Though it had taken more time, he had got them all in the center.

Sasuke continued on, working to find a middle ground with his speed and precision. It was difficult, but by the end of the training, he'd at least managed to have the three meet the center four times. It wasn't the best, but it was better than he'd done yesterday. He'd only managed to hit the center two or three times the day before.

He soon fell into the steady rhythm of training, relaxing ever so slightly as he sent the dull weapons flying towards the far away targets. Thick thuds rang in his ears as he practiced, only half paying attention as the girls left halfway through to go participate in their kunoichi classes. The boys were left to continue their shuriken practice for a while longer, which was fine by Sasuke. He needed all the practice he could get.

As he continued to throw his shuriken, he found his mind wandering. Normally, he would end up zoned in on the target or thinking about how great he was going to be at this someday. Instead, without even realizing it, he found his thoughts drifting to Tobira.

Back when he'd been about to set off his fireball jutsu, Tobira had known and stopped him right away. He had to be a pretty good shinobi to be able to move that fast. Plus, he'd hidden so well when he was first home. Were those the kinds of things all shinobi were supposed to be able to do? He'd seen Shisui move like that a few times, and some of the older shinobi seemed able to predict other people's jutsu even without the sharingan. Maybe Tobira was a Jonin, back in Kirigakure?

That was the Land of Mist, according to their history lessons. The Mist got brought up a few times, though not as much as the other nations. They'd never really talked about the village itself, only that it was known to be a powerful place and very far away. An island, with a bunch of small ones surrounding it. The trip to Konoha must have been long, he noted as he idly threw his shuriken. How had an Uchiha even ended up over there? No wonder Tobira's husband had never got to meet his home clan.

Tobira must be a strong shinobi, to have lived in such a strong village and have the skills he'd seen yesterday. Was he good at throwing shuriken too? Maybe he could ask him later, if he didn't seem too busy. He'd just have to make sure not to bug him too much and make him want to leave or be annoyed with him.

If he had Tobira's help with training, he was sure he'd be able to do a lot better than if he was just practicing on his own or with his classmates. Hopefully, Tobira would have time. He had said he needed to talk to the Hokage about fixing the problems with the compound and finding someone to watch him. Sasuke wasn't sure because of how Tobira had said it, but he was pretty sure his elder clansmen planned to stay with him. Well, sort of elder clansmen. Either way, he hoped Tobira would be willing and around enough to train with him. He hadn't trained with anyone other than his classmates all month.

The sound of Iruka calling, "It's time to move on, boys." called him out from his inner thoughts, the Uchiha pausing his arm which had been about to throw another round of shuriken. He merely nodded as he moved to drop his shuriken into the supply box, following after a rushing Naruto towards Iruka and the others. He sat his question aside for now, figuring he'd be able to ask Tobira when they got home if he seemed in a good enough mood.

They all headed inside, Sasuke moving along with the other students as they made their way over to the sparring area. The girls had already regrouped, their class becoming whole once again as Iruka urshed them onto the sidelines. "Alright." Their sensei spoke, standing in front of them. "Today we'll be doing a few standard spars, though three people will have to rotate since we have an uneven number. You'll all be going at the same time today to practice with your concentration. I'll be keeping an eye on things from the sidelines."

Sasuke would be fine with anyone other than Sakura, Ino, or Kiba. He didn't want to fight someone who would make it awkward, but he also wasn't really in the mood to deal with Kiba's dog.

The young Uchiha listened as he heard Iruka call out the sparring partners, starting off, "Sakura v. Choji."

Well, that was one person off the list. He stayed quiet as his sensei continued to list, "Naruto v. Shino, Kiba v. Shikamaru v. Ino, Sasuke v. Hinata-"

He wasn't about to complain about that match-up. Hinata wasn't the best fighter, but she was far from the worst. Her clan did specialize in taijutsu, so she was pretty good at it. She'd give a good spar, he thought.

Chapter Text

Sasuke was ready to get this done, the young Uchiha decided as he stood across from Hinata. The two had formed the seals of confrontation, preparing for the spar as Iruka spoke. "Ready? Begin!"

He wasted no time, leg moving to strike the opponent's side as soon as the match had begun. The movement was matched equally, Hinata's own leg blocking without hesitance. A distant sting welled up as they struck each other, hand moving up to strike her shoulder as they started falling into rhythm.

Her shoulder was struck, but at the cost of his own arm being caught. Pulling him forward, she delivered a strike to the head, his own body twisting and turning to sweep the girl's leg despite the brief moment of disorientation. As her leg was swept, she went to the side, losing balance for barely a moment. By the time Sasuke was moving in for a second hit, the Hyuuga heiress had already gathered herself and was able to block with ease.

That was always the thing about sparring with Hinata-- her balance and defense were hard to get around. Sasuke found himself delivering hit after hit, his usual quick and offensive style a fair match for Hinata's strong defenses. Their fighting styles were a reflection of their clan-- the Uchiha and the Hyuuga.

Though Sasuke had little clan to left to look good for, he wasn't about to throw the match. Especially against the Hyuuga. He didn't have a problem with Hinata personally, but it was common sense that she should be defeated in honor of his clan. The young Uchiha wouldn't be surprised if her thoughts were the same as his. As such, it wasn't a wonder as their strikes went on for even longer than the other groups.

Sasuke moved in for the attack time and time again, moving quickly as he worked to break past her strong defense. Occasionally, she would strike him, causing a momentary shift in the defense. While the strikes hurt, he barely noticed. Instead, his focus shifted to the opening that was left. As soon as she got a move in, he would get one in turn. This went on for a while, up until Sasuke found just the right moment. Just a blow was delivered to his shoulders, forcing him back a bit at the force, he was able to get in a hit. Hinata's arm, which was still out from the blow, was kicked upwards.

His arm hurt as he turned, arm swinging to strike her down while she was unsteadied. A small squeak left her as she tumbled down, Sasuke pausing over top of her as the spar came to a halt. Breathing out of pace, sweat made his bangs cling slightly to his face. Remaining over her for only a moment longer, Sasuke stepped back. She had bruises up and down her arms that matched his own, large lavender eyes blinking lightly as the Hyuuga nodded in defeat.

Hinata stood with a tired look as Iruka praised, "Very good, you two. Now, the seal of reconciliation." he urshed, Hinata stepping forward with her fingers crooked. Sasuke did the same, the two performing the seal quickly so that they could have their injuries taken care of. Iruka prepared to patch them both up, the others already having been tended to. Sasuke watched as Hinata was treated first, Iruka then turning to wave him over. "You next, come on."

"I can do it myself." Sasuke huffed slightly, but moved towards Iruka nonetheless. He could hear giggling sounding off from Sakura and Ino, the ravenet puffing a singular cheek up as he was turned round and round, Iruka taking care of his injuries just like he had everyone else.

Sasuke pointedly didn't respond when Iruka sighed, "I know, I know." his hands working quickly on the young boy. Sasuke's pout didn't leave his face even as Iruka stood. It only faltered when he saw Shikamaru out of the corner of his eye. He swiftly looked away, moving to follow after Iruka. No pouting, he huffed at himself. He was going to be a shinobi. Shinobi don't pout. They scowl.

Right, that was it. Just as his cheek returned to normal, he furrowed his brows, tilted his head back, and followed Iruka with a scowl. Hearing one of Shikamaru's exaggerated sighs, Sasuke merely crossed his arms, following Iruka inside. What did Shikamaru think he was looking at?

They made way through the hallways together, the day having finally begun to come to an end. They were led outside after one final count-through, Iruka letting them stop by the classroom before waving them off as the class began to pour out the front gates. Sasuke stood near the school entrance, watching silently. Even if they were being let out a bit early, some adults had already been waiting outside.

Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji each went one way as per usual. He watched them chatter on, the young Uchiha standing with his hands awkwardly in front of him. Naruto and Shino had begun making their way home, walking out of the gate separately. Then came someone who looked like Sakura, probably her mother. He looked elsewhere to avoid staring, only to catch sight of Hinata being picked up by an elder clansmen. Sasuke's head ducked, arms crossing as he leaned on the school building. It was only a matter of time before Tobira came. No need to head off just yet.

He stayed there, doing his best to ignore the fact that Iruka was still there. He seemed preoccupied with talking to one of the other sensei, though. While Sasuke stood against the school building, Kiba had taken to sitting on the ground and letting Akamaru jump at him. It seemed the dog's patience had worn thin from having to sit still all day, and was now taking the chance to bark and yip happily at its master. Sasuke was sure Kiba was petting it, even if he didn't look over to check.

"You're still here." He heard Kiba's voice, merely nodding in reply. He wasn't really used to speaking to the other outside of a few remarks here and there, so it was hard to know what exactly he was getting at. Silence was apparently the wrong answer, the brunette snorting at him as he nodded. "How come? Don't you usually go home right away?"

Well, that was true. Usually, he left the school right away. Even before...everything...he usually either went straight to the training grounds or compound. Occasionally, the store. Regardless, he supposed it was weird for him to be here still. Today was different, though. Today he was waiting, just like Tobira had said. He'd stay right here and wait. "Yeah, usually."

Sasuke glanced over at Kiba, watching the other sit on the ground with his dog on his lap. Normally, he'd leave it at that. It was none of Kiba's business why he stayed. For some reason, though, the shinobi-in-training felt a strange want to explain further. He had a clansman. A clansman that was going to come pick him up. Eyes lingered on the puppy which was staring up at him only briefly. The ravenet turning to look forward again, explaining in an almost sheepish tone, "...But I'm waiting for someone today. A clansman of mine is going to pick me up." a weird sense of pride swelled in Sasuke's chest as he spoke, "His name's Tobira. He's from Kiri."

"Woah. Kiri, that's the mist, right?" Kiba asked, holding onto Akamaru as did so. The brunet was petting the animal, no longer looking up at Sasuke. "Isn't Kiri supposed to have a bunch of awesome shinobi or something? Is he a good fighter?"

Well, Sasuke wasn't sure, but it seemed like it. "I haven't seen him fight yet, but he's definitely strong." nodding as if to reaffirm his point. "He's really fast, and can hide pretty good. Plus he's really smart. It's like he knows everything I'm thinking, he's so good at knowing things."

Kiba snorted at this, Sasuke blinking as the other stood from his spot, holding Akamaru in his arms. "Really? If he's that strong, maybe he has a jutsu or something that lets him hear what you're thinking!"

Eyes widening at this, Sasuke scowled and stood a little straighter. "I didn't mean it for real. There's no way someone could read minds if they aren't a Yamanaka or something." he spoke confidently, though his voice had an edge of uncertainty to it. "Besides, I don't want him to know exactly what I'm thinking. That's weird." flustering only slightly at the idea. He had made it feel awkward enough yesterday, he really hoped Tobira hadn't been able to hear all his thoughts. That'd be horrible! He shook his head, "Plus, he said yesterday that he couldn't read minds! Just take his best guess."

"Sounds exactly what a mind reader would say." Kiba pointed out, looking as though he were thinking hard on it. "Maybe you can test it? Think something, like a question? Or talk a lot in your head and see if he looks like he notices?"

Sasuke blinked. Kiba was right. That was just what a mind reader would say. Maybe he did have a jutsu or kekki genkai that let him hear what he was thinking? "Well, maybe." the young Uchiha spoke uncertainly. "But he always has this super serious look on. Shinobi are supposed to be unreadable. How would I tell?"

Kiba only shrugged, "You're supposed to be Mr. Genius, aren't you? I'm sure you'll see something. If he doesn't admit to it, everyone's gotta lose their temper eventually. Just keep doing it until he tells you to stop."

"I'm not making him mad at me just to check and see if he's able to read minds." Sasuke deadpanned, arms crossed as he spoke. Maybe he could just ask him? No, that'd be weird.

The other wasn't much help, the young Inuzuka speaking with amusement, much to Sasuke's annoyance. "Guess you'll never find out, then."

Unsettled but not sure how else to argue with that, Sasuke merely gave a low huff as they returned to the silence. They stood side by side, Iruka having headed in by now. People were still leaving their classrooms, though the flow from the school had begun to slow as more and more people got picked up.

It didn't take long for a woman to appear, all but barking at Kiba as she spotted him, "Hey, time to go." her facial markings easily marking her as a member of the Inuzuka clan. The large dog by her side didn't hurt, either. She seemed pretty tall to Sasuke, but then again, everyone did.

"Comin', comin'," Kiba spoke from beside him, the brunet heading over with Akamaru. His voice had carried hints of forced annoyance as he ran over to the woman. The boy only paused briefly to turn around and give a half-hearted wave goodbye. The dog-lover merely gave a simple, "See ya." before disappearing after the woman. Sasuke only nodded in turn, waving ever so slightly as he watched the two head off on their own. He could feel the woman's eyes on him, but ignored her out of awkwardness.

Tobira appeared not long after. It was four minutes past three when the silver-haired man came into view, stopping just as he reached the front gate. Sasuke perked up as he finally came into view, the young Uchiha holding onto his backpack as he began speed walking towards him. Tobirama still had that serious expression on, the one that reminded Sasuke so much of his father. Even so, it was...different? He wasn't sure how to explain it, nor would he try to. For now, he was content to just have Tobira. Even if he did seem a bit scary.

Chapter Text

The closer Sasuke got, the more the excitement in his chest began to falter. While Tobira had looked like his normal serious self when scanning the schoolyard, his mood seemed to shift when he saw Sasuke.

Dark eyes blinked up at Tobira as the young Uchiha came to a halt in front of him, holding onto his backpack. When Tobira didn't say anything, the elder shinobi instead looking him over briefly with those sharp red eyes, Sasuke's gaze moved elsewhere. Looking to his bag, he saw his own hands messing with the strap. Maybe Tobira didn't like fidgeting?

"Did you have a good day?" the silver-haired shinobi's words snapped the boy out of his thoughts, hands locking to his sides as he looked up at the elder clansmen. Tobira was turning to leave, so Sasuke made way to follow after. The two walked side by side, heading away from the school as they spoke. Huh. He guessed Tobira wasn't in a bad mood after all. It was hard to tell with him.

"Yeah. We just did history, chakra theory, shuriken-- that kind of stuff. It was pretty normal." Painfully so, outside of the talk with Kiba. It felt off to sit through class and continue on training so soon after Tobira arrived. He knew it was necessary to focus on his academy work so he could grow into a good shinobi, but it was hard. If Sasuke was being honest, he'd much rather spend more time with Tobira. They might not know each other very well, but they were still sort of clan.

The elder shinobi had said he would make sure the compound and him were alright. Everything was going to be alright. As alright as it could be, anyway. Nothing was really right, but maybe Tobira could at least make it better. The red-eyed shinobi had said he would, and had helped a lot last night. Not to mention how strong and smart he must be, to be able to talk to the Hokage. He wondered briefly if he had actually been able to.

Sasuke couldn't resist glancing over at the other as he considered this, blinking lightly when he saw a look of what almost seemed to be amusement. Why was Tobira looking at him like that? The masked man merely nodded, apparently having no interest in sharing whatever it was that he found so funny. "That's good. Do you have any homework tonight?"

Oh, the homework. The young Uchiha would have done it during the second half of the lunch period, but with Iruka letting him train outside, it hadn't really crossed his mind. "Yeah. I have to do some history, and he asked us to practice meditating if we had time. It's supposed to be good for your chakra."

The boy listened as Tobira merely nodded, agreeing, "It is, especially late at night. Your chakra recovers and replenishes after a long day." seeming prepared to begin one of his patient explanations. While they were usually pretty lengthy compared to how little the man spoke, Sasuke didn't mind it too much. As much as he'd tried to hold it back, the young Uchiha was a curious person. He knew it was a bad trait to have. Father and brother- no, he corrected himself with a small scowl, Itachi- were always telling him he needed to learn to not pry into things so much. Shinobi did as they were told, no matter the details. That's what he'd heard many times before from outside the compound too. So it didn't seem like one of the things that only their clan did.

"Are you paying attention?" Tobira's words caught him in his distraction, his back reflexively straightening as he looked up at the silver-haired man. The elder had his brow raised, much to Sasuke's discomfort.

He glanced away from the sharp red eyes that reminded the young Uchiha a bit too much of the sharingan for comfort, head moving back and forth. It was better not to be caught in a lie, he was sure. "...Sorry."

Sasuke really didn't like the sound of his voice. It was so low and thin sounding. Not shinobi-like at all. He hated it.

Tobira at least didn't comment on it, the silver-haired shinobi seeming to let him off as he excused, "It's fine. We're here anyway."

Well, now Sasuke kind of wished he'd been paying more attention. Both to what Tobira had been saying and where they were going. Why had they gone to the market? Glancing around at the stalls and then the elder, he questioned, "But I just went shopping the other day?"

Sasuke blinked as Tobira moved a hand, motioning for him to follow. "Yes, but you don't have any meat. I'd also like to pick up a few other things, and would rather you weren't home alone while I was shopping."

A small pout formed on Sasuke's lips, even as the ravenet followed after Tobira. "I can take care of myself, I told you." he muttered the reminder more to himself than anyone, not sure why the man was so against leaving him at the house if he knew exactly what they were getting. It wasn't like Sasuke wouldn't be fine. Even if everyone was gone, Sasuke was strong and smart enough to handle it. He was, he reaffirmed to himself even as he followed behind the taller male.

It wasn't like the boy wanted to be alone, or that he didn't like Tobira's company, but it was strange to be with the older shinobi so often. Being put to bed, walked to school, shopping together-- it all felt so strange. He'd been entertaining himself long before the murders.

That must be it, the somber idea occurred to him. The murders. Maybe Tobira was worried Itachi would choose to come back. It had been something that he himself worried about a lot, no matter how unreasonable it was. Sasuke trailed behind the other as the items were bought and paid for, a bag of meat, ice, and spices filling his arms. Maybe he should mention it. "Itachi won't come back to kill me, you know."

The words were more uncertain than he'd like, though they were spoken with a matter-of-the-fact expression. Sasuke forced himself to ignore it despite the pain in his chest. "I'm not worth killing yet."

That must have been the wrong thing to say, if the way Tobira paused meant anything. The vendor they were buying spices from seemed uncomfortable, though Sasuke paid him no mind. Instead, dark eyes were cast upwards to look into lighter red ones.

"...Itachi is not the only danger in the world." Tobira seemed to settle on, motioning Sasuke to follow after he quickly paid for the groceries. "There is plenty to fear, as you well know."

Shoulders sagging slightly, he trailed after Tobira. The man's voice was low, though a few passersby still eyed the two of them. Sharp eyes landed on him, Tobira seeming to watch him for a long moment. The man let out a sigh.

For the briefest of moments, Sasuke couldn't help but feel a flicker of familiarity in the way Tobira looked at him. He didn’t know why, but something felt painfully familiar about it. The young Uchiha decided easily that he didn’t like it.

When Tobira turned back to the road, continuing on towards the shopping district, he kept his head down. "It's not that I think you'll be harmed, there are just too many unknowns for you to be alone right now. It's better for us to stay together, for now. When we get back to the compound and settle in for the night, you can do as you please. Alright?"

"Alright," Sasuke conceded, trying to keep the huffiness out of his voice as he followed the other. He watched as Tobira swiftly paid for five outfits, each of them identical to the one he was wearing now. Sasuke couldn't help but deadpan, "You really like turtlenecks, don't you?"

Without missing a beat, the older merely nodded. "I do." seeming to glance around for a moment before moving on.

Tilting his head, the young Uchiha pushed lightly, "Why didn't you pack clothes when you came?" tailing after the man and eyeing the passing civilians and shinobi. They slowly began to dwindle, the closer they got to home. "Or anything."

"The Land of Water is a long way from here, so it would have been a hassle to bring my things along." not seeming to mind the question as much as Sasuke would have thought. "It's much easier to just buy new things."

Moving to stand more by his side than behind him, Sasuke leaned forward to look up at Tobira. "Don't you miss some of your things, though?" brows furrowing in thought. Sure, he'd go back to them eventually, but he'd hate to go to a strange new place without at least his clan embroidered clothes. Then again, Tobira probably didn't have a clan other than the Uchiha. He hadn't seen any crests on the elder shinobi, anyway.

Looking down at him for a brief moment, Tobira had a look Sasuke couldn't quite understand. "Some things, perhaps, but it doesn't matter. I don't need them anymore."

That made sense, he guessed. The want to bring it and the need to leave it clashed. Sasuke didn't ask further, turning to look forwards and towards the road. They were almost to the compound and, frankly, the conversation died in his throat as he saw the gates.

The young boy tried his best to look unbothered as they reached the gates, the smell of death assaulting him. Whether the smell really still remained or not, he wasn't sure. All he knew was that, as he moved ahead to push the gates open, his hands ached.

Sasuke stepped in, leading Tobira along through the blood-soaked compound. The air felt different, here. It was heavy, like someone had burnt something and refused to air out the room. He took step after step, moving past the blood and doing his best not to identify it.

He moved a bit faster than was probably necessary as he passed the bakery. They needed to get to the house. The food would go bad if not. If he wanted to do his homework while it was still fresh in his mind...

The front door of the compound was right ahead of him. Pulling it open, he quickly took off his shoes. He blinked as a pair landed beside his.

With a thick noise, the door shut. Sasuke could feel Tobira watching him as they finally made it in the house, though the boy made himself look away. Moving past the opening room, he made way for the kitchen. It took a moment, but Tobira was right behind him, setting the bags on the counter.

Slowly, the drumming in his ears began to die down. How it hadn't been noticed up until this point, Sasuke wasn't sure.

Busying himself, the young Uchiha set out to help put away the meat and fruits. Sliding some hunks of fish and chicken into the fridge, a question popped up. "Wasn't this expensive?" hoping the man hadn't got and used the monthly funds from the Hokage or something. Sure, it was more practical to have meat in the house now that he had someone to properly prepare it, but it was still expensive. He didn't know how reliable the village was anymore, now that Tobira had confirmed his worries about the village acting weird.

"It's fine. I used my own cash so don't worry about the cost." the silver-haired shinobi didn't even bother looking over, continuing to stack and put away spices.

Well, as long as he wasn't using the monthly funds, Sasuke wasn't going to object. It seemed like forever since he last had a meaty home meal. "Alright..." he settled on, finishing putting things away first. Then again, Tobira didn't seem like he was in a rush. The man was setting up the spices in groups, very orderly.

While he did that, Sasuke moved to set his bag down on the table. If he got his homework done now, that would mean more time to do other things. Like asking Tobira to train with him.

Out of the bookbag came a binder filled with history work. They were going over more past clan leaders. Again.

The young Uchiha looked over the pages of the school book, flipping through them one by one. The book was to his right, a piece of paper to his left. One by one, Sasuke wrote down the names of the clan leaders and their significant accomplishments. A paragraph for each...so five sentences...they were going over ten of them--

He should probably stop counting and focus. Blinking heavily, his attention shifted to the first leader. An Uzumaki. Conquered lands, had an unnecessary amount of children, known for his justice...sounded about right. Just like every other leader they'd learned about over the last week, the young Uchiha thought with boredom.

Then the Hyuuga leader. Conquerer, children, just, wealthy-- mhm. Sounded about right. It seemed this was a cycle in the history books. Only a few clan leaders had differing reputations. The Nara leader was a moderator...the Yamanaka's was known to be intelligent...the Akimichi was one of the most reasonable--

The Uchiha was unyielding. This one, he recognized vaguely. Tajima. A strong leader, based on the few clan stories he'd heard. His fingers absent-mindedly traced over his image. His greatest accomplishments? His rise to power, gathering of wealth, and children. His rival was Batsuma... whose greatest accomplishments were likewise. His children in particular. His son would go on to create the leaf village.

History really was dull. Sasuke had never got Itachi's interest in it. Especially not the Senju Hokage. Sometimes Sasuke wondered what the elder found so interesting about him. He seemed like any other leader in the book. Other than the added list of pages with more information on him. Sasuke would bet the brunet was evil, just like Itachi. Some sort of secret monster. He smiled so brightly in the photo, but then, maybe he was an actor too.

"What are you doing?" Tobira's voice came from behind him, the young Uchiha dropping his pencil from where he had been jabbing at the photo maybe a little too roughly with its eraser.

The voice was firm, mimicking how he'd sounded back when he had almost set the house on fire. Sasuke didn't look back at him, though he lifted his hand to retrieve the pencil. "...Nothing. Homework."

Chapter Text

"Mhm." Tobira's voice drawled from behind as the man moved to sit by Sasuke's side. It seemed the spices were done being sorted, not that it was exactly the center of his attention at the moment. He was more focused on the firm-faced shinobi who had settled beside him. Sasuke wasn't sure if it was better or worse to have the masked shinobi sitting or behind him. Probably better. "I'm fairly sure glaring and stabbing at the Hokage's face isn't part of the assignment."

So Tobira had definitely seen what he was doing. Not that it really mattered. It wasn't like he'd hurt the photo beyond repair. It'd be fine if he just smoothed it over. A small pout of embarrassment crossed the boy's features, muttering stubbornly as he continued to write down the final bits of work required, "I wasn't glaring. Or stabbing."

Okay, he had sort of stabbed the picture. It had only been with an eraser, though. Sasuke was pretty sure that didn't count. It hadn't even hurt the picture, other than maybe wrinkling it a little. Kiba and Naruto were constantly doing way worse to their books. Drawing in them, bending the pages, poking lead through them. Not to mention he was pretty sure Akamaru had wrecked a few of them beyond recognition...

Given, he wasn't like those two at all. Or the freaking puppy. He had respect for the academy property. He was an Uchiha. Well behaved- and- well-

His pencil pressed against his paper, lines dark as he tried to finish the assignment. Fine. Maybe he shouldn't have been poking at the picture. Tobira didn't seem very happy that he'd messed with it, even if it had been minor in his opinion.

Pausing only momentarily, he allowed a somewhat sincere "Sorry." to pass his lips. Sasuke hadn't meant to hurt the book, he just...had. He'd been doing that, sometimes. Getting distracted and doing things without thinking. The boy wasn't exactly sure why, though. A feeling of relief settled in his stomach as he heard a hum of acknowledgment from the other.

"Why?"

Huh? He blinked over at the other, pencil hovering over the homework. Why?

"Why are you sorry?" the elder clarified, watching him with sharp yet interested red eyes. His arms were crossed, leading Sasuke to shift slightly in his seat.

Toying with the pencil, he brought his hands away from his book and towards his lap. "Because I made you upset and messed up the book?" his answer sounded more like a question, even he knew as much.

"I'm not upset. I just want to know why you're being rough with your school book. People had to work to get those materials to teach you about those people, you know." his tone was scolding, though it lacked the bite that usually came when people yelled at each other.

Sasuke puffed up his cheek, though he tried not to react too strongly. He didn't want the conversation to take a turn for the worse, but it was hard to explain. Being annoyed at the picture was one thing, explaining why he had done it was another. "I don't know. I just did. It was making me angry." he muttered, pushing the tip of the pencil idly into his hand. He watched the faint imprint of the lead dent his skin, only to fade a moment later.

Though he tried not to let the feeling of eyes on him bother him too much, it seemed like the more they got into it, the more uncomfortable the eyes made him. He looked up only briefly to see the sharp red eyes. "What did it do to make you angry? Was the work hard?" his tone sharp and curt despite the calm look he gave Sasuke.

"...No." the young Uchiha admitted, breaking eye contact once more to away to look at the photo with poorly hidden disgust. His lip curled back at the photo, eyes narrowing at the sight of it. That big grin for some reason made his blood boil, his arms tensing. He didn't like that Itachi looked up to the man so much, but there was something else. Something that made him uncomfortable. It took a moment, but when he figured it out, his brows furrowed. "Lord First's photo is dumb. Why's he smiling like that?"

Sasuke could feel Tobira's eyes on him, though he didn't look up to see the expression on his face. "Perhaps he was happy." the masked man suggested, hand gently tilting the book so he could see it better.

"Or he was just acting." the words came out more sour than he'd like to admit. It seemed too bright and sweet next to the serious photos of the other leaders.

For a long moment, Tobira was silent. Glancing up at him, Sasuke could only see an unreadable look on his face. A breath escaped the elder, who seemed to tear his eyes away from the page and towards the younger male. "Why do you think he's faking it?"

Why, why, why. Why did Tobira have to ask it so much? Sasuke crossed his arms with the pencil still in hand, looking down at the photo and sucking in a cheek silently. His chest hurt a little as he looked at that idiotic grin, not sure how to explain it. "People always fake it. I don't know why. They do. Sensei does it when our class is being annoying, Shisui did it for a long time, and Itachi's been doing it forever!" listing them off, unable to stop himself as malice slipped into his voice.

Sasuke wasn't sure why, but it only frustrated him further when Tobira remained calm in the face of his outburst. Why was he so calm and focused all the time?

He felt his irritation melting into surprise as Tobira nodded. "You're right. A lot of people do lie." the confirmation making him pause. He was right? "Sometimes they do it to hurt the people around them. Sometimes they do it because they think it will help." Sasuke listened, trying to sift through the words in his mind. "Then there are people who tell the truth. Some people do it because they don't want to cause issues. Others do it to hurt others with harsh reality."

So...sometimes lying was good, sometimes it was bad? Sometimes the truth was good, other times the truth was bad? Sasuke wished he understood, but he really didn't. Tobira was like that, though. Sasuke didn't always understand what the man was getting at. Sometimes, it almost seemed like the silver-haired shinobi did it on purpose. That might just be in his head, though. "So Lord First might have been lying, then?" he settled on, figuring it would at least answer his question of whether or not Tobira was on the same side as him.

"He might have." Sasuke let out a breath at the other's words, though his brows drew together when Tobira tapped another photo. An Uchiha leader at one point. Madara? He looked serious, just like most of the others. "Then again, so could he. Maybe Madara was happy when this photo was taken. If everyone lies, that would include him, right?"

Sasuke's head hurt. He had a feeling he'd be stuck thinking this through for a while. "...I guess."

"If you don't know whether or not Lord First told the truth, you can't know if Madara was telling it either. Right?" Tobira's words were almost coaxing, much to Sasuke's displeasure. Well, technically that was true. Even so, it felt strange to hear it flipped the other way around.

The young Uchiha uncrossed his arms, hands landing in his lap as he let out a huff of air. Hands on his ankles, he leaned back a bit, then forward. "No. I couldn't." the sulk in his voice was undeniable, even to him.

Tobira seemed determined to push as he carried on, "But you didn't poke at his photo. Just Lord First's. If they're both lying, why not pick any of the others? Why just be angry at his?" eyes steady on him as he spoke.

Why just the person who was smiling? He didn't think it was hard to answer. People who pretended to smile were a lot worse than people who pretended to be cruel...

For a split moment, an image of Itachi flashed in his mind. Itachi, always poking him away. Itachi, always giving him piggyback rides and encouraging him as they walked down the road. Itachi, always talking to him by the dojo. Talking about how they were flesh and blood. How they'd always be there for each other. All with that lying smile. Always pretending. At least father had been honest with his disinterest towards Sasuke.

"I-" swallowing down, Sasuke eyed the photo and then Tobira. A burning sensation filled the young Uchiha's chest as he clenched his fingers into fists. Looking up at Tobira and seeing the other's unreadable expression, he bit the inside of his cheek. Finally, he bit out while looking away, "Itachi- Itachi liked him. Lord First was probably just as much of a fake- dumb- actor!" standing from his chair roughly and glaring down at the offending paper, pointing to it accusingly as the frustration that had been dying down began to frow once more. "They even have the same annoying smile!"

A growl left his throat as Tobira watched him, not reacting to his words past a tightening of the jaw and narrowing of his eyes. It wasn't fair, why was it so hard to understand people!? All anyone did was lie and show what they wanted, it was nasty! Why couldn't people just say what they felt, and why couldn't he do it too without being called mean? "I was just- I barely touched the picture, you just made it worse than it really was."

"I didn't make it worse than it was." Tobira sighed. "You were glaring at the photo, whether you noticed or not. It's not healthy to blame Lord First for any of your brother's actions." standing as he spoke. Sasuke took a step back, watching Tobira's sharp eyes. "Regaurdless of whether Itachi thought highly of Lord First, he didn't know him. Neither do you. There's a lot people can come up with, even if they only see photos and hear stories."

Sasuke wasn't sure how to respond to that. He still felt the burning in his stomach, though an uncomfortable itch beneath his skin began to build as well. For some reason, he felt short of breath as Tobira walked past him. Heart squeezing, he couldn't bring himself to respond. He could barely process the words, let alone respond to them.

"It looks like you finished your history paper. Do you have others to do?" Tobira asked as he stood in the living room, voice low. It jarred Sasuke's already worked up nerves, the boy crossing his arms and digging his fingers into them. He shook his head. "Good. Then put your papers away, shut the book, and come here."

Turning to the papers, he grabbed them, putting them away as calmly as he could. They wrinkled slightly under his tight hold, flattening as he tightly closed his binder. It was shoved into the bookbag, along with the previously discarded pencil. Then was the book.

Picking it up, Sasuke held it, eyeing the numerous images and descriptions with an ache. How many times had he seen books like this beside Itachi's bedside? The book snapped shut, the boy resisting gripping or throwing it as he shoved it into his backpack.

Feet heavy, he headed towards the living room. The man had cleared it out, rearranging the coffee table so that there was more room. Lingering by the doorway, Sasuke asked in a bitterly small tone, "What are you doing?"

"Your sensei told you to meditate if you had time, didn't he?" Tobira quirked a brow, motioning him closer. "It seems you do."

Puffing up his cheeks, Sasuke glanced out the window. "But it'll be getting darker soon. I wanted to train."

Preferably with taijutsu. The young Uchiha didn't think he'd be able to focus on his aim when he felt like this.

"Meditation is training." the silver-haired shinobi pushed, motioning him closer once more. Sasuke moved towards the taller shinobi, arms still crossed as he looked up at him doubtfully.

Tobira let out an approving noise as the younger finally came over, seeming to look him up and down before motioning to the floor. "You can do physical training tomorrow if you'd like. For now, focus on this. Alright?"

Chapter Text

"Give it at least half an hour. I'll come get you when dinner is ready, and we can go from there." Tobira instructed, the young Uchiha having settled onto the floor after stretching briefly.

Looking up at Tobira, Sasuke bit the inside of his cheek. "Okay." he agreed, albeit a bit bitterly. As annoyed as he was, the anger was outweighed by the suddenly hallow feeling stomach. Tobira didn't take long to head off to the kitchen, the ravenet laying a hand on his stomach. Maybe he should have eaten more at lunch...and not skipped his afternoon snack.

Back straightening, he let out a breath. The young Uchiha's hands curled slightly from where they laid on his knees, dark eyes coming to a close.

He'd tried meditating before. It wasn't that the boy was new to it. It was just...it had been a while. He never had been particularly good or bad at it, but now, he found it hard to focus.

Quiet shifting in the kitchen had his body readjusting itself, sitting straighter as Sasuke tried to steady. Wounds that had long since healed stung.

The young Uchiha tried his best to ignore it as his arm stung with the phantom feeling of a kunai, his knees feeling as if he'd only fallen moments before.

A quiet woosh of liquid from the kitchen led to a soft flinch, fingers wrapping around his knees as he tried to focus on the breaths entering and exiting his lungs. Sasuke's chest rose and fell in a less than even rhythm, the coiling in his stomach shifting from frustration to unease.

He'd felt decent enough yesterday. It had been a good day, especially compared to the previous month. Tiring, but not bad.

Yet today, everything felt off. He'd woken up embarrassed by how he'd acted the day prior, bored his way through school, overshared to Kiba of all people, messed up his book, upset Tobira, and was now feeling fake injuries. It was all so messed up. He hated it. He hated Itachi for making it like this. Why- why-

Sasuke wasn't supposed to be thinking about these things. His mind was supposed to be cleared. It was so difficult, though, with so many thoughts and feelings nagging at him. How was he supposed to focus on breathing when he wasn't even certain he was? Why was he short of breath when he'd not even moved?

"I want to stop!" Sasuke called into the kitchen, unhappy with the way it wavered. Eyes opening, he found his heart squeezing. The room felt off-balance, the colors around him sharp and blurred all at once. The boy stood, making way to follow the smell of spices with quivering ankles. Feet thumping slowly against the house's floors, he arrived in the kitchen a moment after his declaration.

Sasuke looked up at the elder man, uncomfortable as a cold itch ran under his skin. Brows drawn together, he shoved his feelings down as best he could. He shouldn't...he couldn't get worked up again. he was supposed to be a shinobi in training. Shinobi knew how to control themselves. That's what his father had always said, anyway.

It was harder than he made it sound. Now, anyway. Sasuke had been able to do it back then, at least somewhat. He'd known how to swallow his discomfort. It wasn't so easy anymore.

Tobira had taken a pause from making food, the silver-haired man eyeing him. "You only started ten minutes ago." though his objections seemed limited, even to Sasuke. The boy nodded despite the look odd look he was receiving, heading over to stand by the other with his shoulders stiffened.

"I just- I'll try tomorrow. I can help you cook." he offered, willingly ignoring the skeptical look in the masked man's eyes.

Sasuke willed for Tobira to let him come help cook instead. He didn't want to meditate anymore. It hurt. His head was going to explode-- if his chest didn't first.

A wave of relief washed over the boy as Tobira let out a sigh, passing the cutting board over. Sasuke took this as a sign of agreement, quick to pick up the kitchen knife and begin slicing the veggies. The young Uchiha was glad to take it, forcing himself not to pay attention to the occasional glance Tobira sent his way. A silence fell over the two, neither of them speaking as they worked to make dinner.

Focusing on cutting the veggies, Sasuke willed himself to ignore the twisting of his heart. He wasn't sure how else to explain it. It felt like all the air had left his chest and someone was banging his head against the floor.

Dark eyes shifted to the ingredients, listing them off as shuttered breaths hesitantly escaped him. Why was he so worked up? It was fine. He was fine. Everything was fine.

It was what he'd told himself for the last months, and it had worked so far. He wasn't dead yet, was he? Sasuke was okay. Sasuke Uchiha was okay, he reaffirmed as he recognized the bits and pieces of the food surrounding him.

Though he wasn't sure what exactly they were making, Sasuke was pretty sure it was a kind of soup. Hopefully, it would come out well. Last night's dinner had been some of the best he'd had in what seemed like forever.

Slowly, the squeezing in his gut began to settle bit by bit. The pot Tobira was sturring gave off a nice smell, the spices all mingling with the meat within. "What kind of food is this?" he asked quietly, chopping through the greens as he tried to make things less uncomfortable. His stomach still felt coiled, and his heart throbbed so loud he worried Tobira might hear it.

"It's just dumpling soup." the elder answered him from his spot by the oven. After a brief moment of silence, the man asked, "Do you like this kind of thing?"

Though he couldn't see Tobira, eyes focused ahead on his cutting, the boy nodded. "I like soup. Do you cook a whole lot?" head tilting ever so slightly. It'd explain why the silver-haired man was so good at cooking. Plus, it would make sense. It didn't seem like he was usually around a lot of people. Maybe he was used to cooking his own meals?

Sasuke's idea was confirmed when Tobira gave a low noise of agreement, musing, "I do, actually. It's an important skill for anyone to have. Especially shinobi."

"Especially shinobi?" the young Uchiha mirrored the words, considering them. His shoulders lowered ever so slightly from where they had stood stiff, focusing on the task on hand as he wondered at the words. Why would a shinobi need to know how to cook any more than a civilian would? "Because they're out in the forest a lot? So they wouldn't be able to go into restaurants." considering it momentarily before adding, "Plus they would need good food to do well on their missions..."

Seeming pleased, a nod came from the man as he leaned on the counter, letting the soup cook for a bit. "Exactly. Shinobi need to be able to prepare quality food. Sometimes, in less than ideal circumstances."

Sasuke blinked. What was that supposed to mean? He carried the cutting board over to the sink, getting his footstool from off to the side. The ravenet listened as he dumped the vegetables into the pot, back turned. "In the forest, they often need to cook with only a hand-made fire. If their mission has been a long one, they may need to find ingredients. Which means knowing where to look." Tobira sounded so sure of himself, Sasuke noted as he turned back to look at the man. "If a shinobi is unable to make use of their environment, they're hardly shinobi at all."

That made sense. Using the environment to its fullest seemed like it would be important. For cooking, healing, hiding, trapping- the dark-eyed child imaged it would be pretty important. "You're a shinobi, then?" he found himself asking, even if he was fairly certain with the answer.

With how Tobira acted and spoke, Sasuke would be more surprised if he wasn't a shinobi. He'd never met a civilian who acted the way Tobira did. He could see a brief look of amusement passing over the other, the boy pouting briefly at the look. "I am."

Hands resting behind his back as the man moved to stir the soup, he wondered if now was the right time to ask. The boy wanted to learn how to move like he had, but at the same time, they'd hardly had a good afternoon so far. The silver-haired shinobi might say no if his mood was bad when asked.

Still...Sasuke really wanted to be trained. Tobira had moved as fast as Itachi or Shisui. He'd come out of nowhere. There had to be some trick to learning to move that fast. It couldn't just be running typical laps.

Sure, they'd probably learn how to do it in class eventually, but the young Uchiha wanted to be stronger now. Not later. He needed to be strong. It was just like Tobira had said-- there were so many dangers. Even if Sasuke told himself he'd be fine alone, that didn't mean he should pass up the chance to learn how to defend himself. Or at the very least runaway.

If that was even possible, the enemy considered. It wasn't like Itachi was an everyday shinobi. He'd done so much, before and after the murders. Could Tobira even teach him anything good enough to hold him off or give time for an escape? Sasuke wasn't sure.

So if he did ask and got yes as an answer, it was possible the training wouldn't be enough to do anything anyway. Still, if he didn't ask, Sasuke would be going through the same training as the elder in the academy. He wouldn't know anything Itachi didn't. It would all be up to whether or not he got a good sensei. Who knew how long that would take.

A sour taste filled the boy's mouth. It felt like asking Itachi to train him all over again. Dumb nervous feeling, making his stomach feel weird...

"Here's your bowl." a voice droned, the young Uchiha glancing up from where he'd been subconsciously looking downwards. A bowl rested in Tobira's hand, the masked man watching. Sasuke had a feeling he'd zoned out, much to his own displeasure. Hands wrapping around the bowl, he accepted it quietly.

The only thing he said was, "Thank you." as Tobira moved towards the table. He followed after, the two settling into the same seats as this morning. The food was good. Even with his stomach twisted into knots, the ravenet could tell that much.

Glancing back up at Tobira, he found red eyes bearing down at him as they ate.

The silver-haired shinobi's words rang in his head. He had said that he couldn't read minds.

...Then again, Kiba had pointed out that it was exactly the sort of thing a mind reader would say to throw him off.

Cheeks puffing out slightly, Sasuke met Tobira's eyes as they ate. Kiba was an idiot. Always skipping class, yelling at everyone, and doing everything he wasn't supposed to. It figures someone as dumb as him would come up with that sort of annoying idea...

Eyes narrowing as he looked up at the elder shinobi, Sasuke internally growled at the idea. It made no sense.

Though, it'd definitely make things easier, at times. He wished Tobira was able to hear him now. It'd make it so he didn't have to make the choice of whether or not he'd ask, at least.

Eyes averted, he looked down to his bowl. Taking a bite, he bitterly thought despite knowing it was a dumb idea, 'Can you train me sometime?'.

When silence followed, he glanced back up. Nothing but a quirked brow. Was that a response to his question, or was it something else?

Sasuke pouted slightly at the silence, face reddening at his own actions. Of course there was no response. It was ridiculous, just like he had thought. Kiba was probably trying to make him act like this on purpose. That annoying jerk.

Chapter Text

The words left his mouth heavily, the taste of metal lingering against his tongue as he ate. Well, if he really had no other options, it was better to have the possibility of something than nothing for sure. "Can you please train with me sometime?" adding carefully as he saw Tobira quirk a brow, "...When you're not busy?"

That had always been Itachi's excuse. The elder had always said that, even if Sasuke now knew it to have been a lie. He just hadn't wanted to-- the few times he had trained with him had merely been part of an act. A necessary action to make sure he'd have some decent training. It would be impossible to kill Itachi if he didn't have a strong base...now it was up to him to use those skills to be strong enough to win. As painful as it was, it was how it had to work. What other way was there to go about it? It wouldn't be smart to pass up a possible sensei, even if it made the food in his mouth taste slightly worse.

Looking up at Tobira, Sasuke squared his shoulders. This was his job. No matter how much it made him hurt to think about it, the Itachi he thought was his big brother never existed. It...it was all a lie. Now that he'd shown his true colors, it was Sasuke's responsibility to kill him for what he'd done. Itachi was a monster, and he needed to start working on killing him now rather than later. He'd been putting off starting for too long. Tobira being here had to be a sign that he was supposed to get going.

"Perhaps." the silver-haired shinobi mused after a long moment, seeming to look through Sasuke as the boy kept his eyes zoned onto his. "What do you want to learn, to start with?"

A jolt of excitement ran through Sasuke, the young Uchiha asking between bites, "You seemed really fast yesterday, like your appeared out of nowhere! Can you show me how to do that?"

After all, Sasuke had barely been able to finish the first few hand signs for his jutsu before he was interrupted. No one had been in the room before that, so Tobira had to have been watching from outside just as he'd said. To get there so fast was amazing.

"Hm." a low noise of consideration came from across the table, Tobira seeming to look him over briefly. Reflexively, the young boy straightened under the calculating gaze. "If you want to learn to increase your speed, I can help with that."

Perking up, Sasuke's lips pulled into a rare smile as the man agreed. Awesome, he'd get a teacher years earlier than Itachi ever had! Even so, his brother had been being trained by father occasionally...so that meant Sasuke would still have to make sure not to slack. He couldn't waste this.

"However," Tobira's almost amused tone came, the young Uchiha blinking up at him with big dark eyes as the man ate a dumpling. "I will warn you now that this training will be far from easy. If you want to become stronger and faster, you'll need to put in the effort."

"I will, I promise." the ravenet spoke seriously, "I'll train really hard."

It wasn't like it'd be new to him. He was used to having to practice hard. He'd spent a week out by the docs working on his fireball jutsu, and he wasn't afraid to put in the same effort for this.

Even if, in the back of his mind, a whisper reminded him that father wouldn't be there to see this time.

At least he'd be getting stronger. It would be one step closer to getting the revenge he knew he'd one day have to get. Even if it made him sick to think about, his clan deserved to be put to rest. They deserved better than to have their killer running around.

Tobira stood, seeming satisfied. "Very well. We can start tomorrow afternoon, once you're done with the academy for the day. For now, you should head to bed. Rest is important if you want to become stronger."

Oh. Bed. Right.

The young Uchiha nodded, watching as Tobira took their bowls to the sink to wash them. A silence fell over the room, the boy not sure what else he could say to keep the conversation going other than, "Okay. Thank you."

Sasuke tugged on his hands behind his back as Tobira gave a low hum of acknowledgment, the dark-eyed boy pouting slightly. So it really was time for bed then. It wasn't like he could drag a conversation on if Tobira wasn't going to give responses.

Walking sluggishly, Sasuke fetched his footstool and made his way towards the bathroom. The thick curtains covered the windows, the boy standing as far away from it as he could. Sasuke brushed his teeth quickly, not wanting to be stuck lingering in such a small room and next to such a large window.

Once the teeth were brushed and his face was cleaned, he made way for the staircase. The young Uchiha climbed up, making it to his room in no time. As he made sure his door was shut, the boy slipped into his pajamas. Then, he was ready.

Sasuke looked around the room. The door was shut, his window covered in the same heavy curtains from the bathroom. It was fine, he assured himself. No one could get in without being noticed.

...Closing his closet and making sure the window was locked, Sasuke took hold of the dinosaur plush from his bed. The boy knew he was probably getting a bit old to carry it around, especially after everything that had happened, but it was so much easier to flip the light switch off with the toy in his arms.

He needed to grow up. He was the last hope for his clan. This was what the young boy told himself, even as he climbed into his bed with his toy held tightly to his chest.

Small fingers pressed against the toy in the darkness of the room, Sasuke's heart squeezing as he clenched his eyes shut. A deep breath escaped his lips, the young Uchiha envying the way he'd all but passed out yesterday.

He supposed it was too much to ask for it to happen twice in a row.

Sasuke bit the inside of his cheek as his door opened, a silhouette appearing in the doorway. The hallway light was just enough to let Sasuke see Tobira's almost uncomfortable expression. The man cleared his throat, the sound heavy and calm as he spoke. "Goodnight, Sasuke. If you need anything, I'll be on the couch. Alright?"

For some reason, it took a moment for his voice to cooperate. Sasuke's mouth opened, though it took a long moment more for the words to leave him. "Okay. Goodnight."

Despite the brow Tobira raised, the man didn't object. Sasuke was grateful for that, at least. That was something the boy liked about Tobira. He wasn't too pushy. Sasuke doubted the masked man would make him explain what had him upset a second time today- which was good, because Sasuke didn't think he was ready to explain that.

It was hard enough to push the images from that night out of his mind. The nightmares only made it worse. Explaining it to the ANBU had been horrible.

Sasuke didn't want to explain it again. It just made things even more vivid each time he thought about it. If he just stopped thinking about it- dreaming about it- maybe he'd be able to forget. Even if it was just a little bit.

When Tobira turned to leave, Sasuke tightened his hold on the toy. There. He was gone, so there would be no explaining. It would be straight to bed. Now all the boy had to do was sleep. That should be easy enough.

That's what he would have thought last month, anyway. Then again, when he was worrying over nightmares before, it was far different. Back then, he worried over his brother not returning from his missions. Occasionally, the frightening thought of father being disappointed in him would enter his dreams. Then, more recently, there were the instances where he'd dream about Shisui.

Sasuke missed his cousin. His dumb tickling games, promises of training him when he got older, the way he'd been so sure he was stronger than Itachi...

What if Shisui had been stronger than Itachi? Things would have been so different. Everyone would still be alive, besides maybe Itachi. Would Shisui have killed Itachi? Or would he have brought him to the police?

Shisui had loved Itachi so much. It seemed like everyone had. Why did Itachi have to do this?

Because he was bored. He wanted to see if he could. That's what he'd said.

Father must have known. That was why they were so upset with each other leading up to the murders...maybe father had sensed that there was something wrong.

Maybe he'd realized that Itachi was faking- it would explain his sudden interest in teaching Sasuke the fireball jutsu.

Father was preparing him to kill Itachi. That had to be it.

Pulling the toy dinosaur closer to his chest, Sasuke let out a shaky breath. He would be the one to one day kill Itachi. How, though?

With sheer speed? Power? Chakra? Shuriken?

Itachi had been unmatched in all levels of fighting. The young Uchiha had thought he could take on the world...maybe he could. If fighting the entire clan wasn't enough for him to reach his limits, then what was?

Did he even have any faults in his fighting? Would he be able to become strong enough to beat Itachi at all? Would he have to kill the person he cared about the most to do it? If so, who in the world would that person even be?

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

The next morning, Sasuke woke with heavy eyelids. The room was still dark, though light had begun filtering in past even the heavy curtains.

Pulling himself up, the young Uchiha rubbed the sleep from his eyes, setting his toy to the side. He'd luckily not had to deal with any nightmares, though he hadn't slept very well. The extra weight in his limbs as he pushed the blankets off guaranteed that much.

No, no. He didn't want to think about how worse it could have been. It was better to only get a little sleep than to have nightmares.

A good start, he assured himself. Today was going to be a good day, and good days had to be used well.

Sasuke hauled himself out of bed, moving towards the closet to switch into some new clothes for the day. Without looking twice, he grabbed a high-collared grey shirt and some black shorts.

As he stepped into the hallway, the boy could hear quiet movement downstairs. Tobira was probably awake and making breakfast again.

...After glancing downstairs briefly to make sure it was indeed the silver-haired man, Sasuke headed into the upstairs bathroom. Making sure there was a clean towel for him to use afterward, the young Uchiha removed his clothing and stepped into the shower. The cold water washed over him, forcing him awake.

Okay.

Tobira was making breakfast, he idly thought as he showered. He'd be off to school soon, and the elder would be off doing other things. Then they'd go home and train, probably after his homework was done if he understood how Tobira was in the least.

Today would be a useful day. Sasuke was going to make it one, he assured himself. The day would be productive. He needed to use the time he had with Tobira to the fullest. Who knew how long it would take the man to fix the compound problem. He'd said Sasuke also needed help too...that he shouldn't be on his own. Eventually, the man would have to go back home. Until then, Sasuke needed to learn what he could.

Stepping out of the shower, the young Uchiha dried himself off and slipped into his clean clothes. Though Sasuke's hair was still damp, he paid it no mind. It would dry on its own soon enough.

Only after stopping by his room to toss his dirty clothes into a basket did he head for the stairs. Noting to himself that it was almost time to do laundry again, he headed downstairs. The smell of eggs lingered in the air, two omelets resting on either side of the table.

Without even turning to face him, Tobira greeted, "Good morning." seeming more focused on putting the spices from the eggs away.

Sasuke could see the chunks of tomatoes in the omelets, the young Uchiha heading over to help wipe off the counter. The sooner it was clean, the sooner they could eat. "Good morning." he nodded, biting back a small smile as he saw yet another bento box wrapped on the counter.

Sasuke wasn't sure why it made him so happy, but the warmth in his stomach was undeniable. He really didn't understand his feelings much anymore.

No, no. Now was not the time to think about that. Now it was time for breakfast.

Chapter Text

As the two settled at the table, Sasuke was quick to give his thanks and begin eating. After all, he'd need plenty of energy for their training later on today. The last thing he wanted was for Tobira to think he wasn't worth putting effort into.

No, Sasuke would prove that he was worth training. He'd impress Tobira enough that there wouldn't be room for doubt in the elder shinobi's mind.

With this thought fueling him, the ravenet took bite after bite of the tomato-filled omelette. The two ate in calm silence, Sasuke preoccupied with his food and Tobira not exactly being the most sociable of men.

It didn't take long for the food to disappear, Tobira taking the dishes to the sink to wash off. Meanwhile, Sasuke stood, moving over to get the fresh bento box on the counter.

"You should try to eat more today." the silver-haired shinobi noted from across the kitchen, glancing over at the boy only momentarily. "You don't want to be training on a half-full stomach."

Sasuke held the bento in his arms, pausing uncertainly before nodding. That would definitely make it more difficult to keep up with things. "I'll eat more today. There was just more in there than I was used to packing."

The young Uchiha picked up his backpack as Tobira finished up the dishes, the man seeming only somewhat discontent with the response. "Good. You need to get used to eating more if you want to have enough energy. You're tiny enough as it is."

"But aren't shinobi supposed to be tiny?" Sasuke couldn't help but ask as they headed towards the front door, Tobira leading him out. He didn't know of many large shinobi. All the best ones were small and lean-- Shisui, Itachi, the Hokage. Even father hadn't been particularly bulky. "So they can be sneaky."

Tobira's brow rose, the two walking along through the compound but not daring to look anywhere but at each other. "They can be." the man admitted, "But there are many ways to be a shinobi. Some are loud and straightforward while others choose to be silent and stealthy. It depends on their methods of fighting. This doesn't change the fact that they all need lots of food for energy. Bulky or lean, muscles are all a result of your body turning food into power. The exercises you choose to do and your natural build just so happen to influence which way the muscles will turn out."

Blinking, Sasuke found a small 'oh' leaving his lips. Having strong and explosive jutsu was one thing. There had to be a fight eventually. Having a big presence, though? He'd always assumed people from the Inuzuka or Akimichi clan were just naturally bad at being shinobi. "But how can someone stay hidden if they're bulky? It sounds hard."

Seeing Tobira's considering look, the young Uchiha explained as they pressed past the gates of the compound, "Shisui used to say that shinobi are supposed to get rid of threats secretly. So that the people who don't fight are safe without being scared."

"It depends." the taller man's voice lowered as they entered the streets of the village, the boy ignoring the occasional glance they got. Everyone seemed so interested in Tobira, the young boy had noticed. Not that he could blame them. The man was really...something. "The world needs many types of shinobi. Some are meant to lead, some fight head-on, while others focus on getting things done quickly. Strategy based shinobi, healers, jutsu inventors, silent protectors-- they all work together to create the shinobi world. Each is important, in their own right."

Sasuke couldn't help the way his eyes widened slightly as the man spoke. There were that many types of shinobi? They'd talked briefly about specialists, but those were mainly jutsu types...not like these. "What kind of shinobi do you think I'll be best as?" he questioned, thinking back to his clan. They'd mostly been leaders and fighters, if he had to guess. They had been the police force, after all. Other than Itachi and Shisui. They probably fell closer to the silent protector's role. Well, the boy noted with offhanded bitterness, Itachi would have before he decided to give up his act.

The boy stayed planted in place as he asked his question, bento held close even as students began passing him. Though they had arrived at the school gate, he didn't want to leave just yet. He wanted to know what the man thought.

Even as silence passed between them, Sasuke stayed still. Letting Tobira touch his masked chin as he looked the young uchiha over. Sasuke reflexively straightened as red eyes ran over him, shifting as Tobira seemed to decide on an answer.

"Though I haven't known you long enough to say for certain, nor have I seen you fight enough to be sure, my first impressions tell me this." Tobira's low voice came, bringing Sasuke to further attention. "I believe you would do well with speed or perhaps as a strategist. You definitely seem to have the mind for it."

Sasuke blinked as Tobira lightly tapped his own head, the ravenet nodding ever so slightly. "My family was really fast. I'll have to wait until I have my sharingan for that to really be an option, though." words laced with disappointment. "Until then, maybe I can try to be a strategist. I'll probably need it to fight Itachi..." looking upward as his brows furrowed in thought. He still wasn't certain he'd ever become strong enough to win against Itachi if he tried to have a forward fight. As long as he had a good strategy, though, there was hope.

He'd have to have a really good strategy to fight someone as tricky as Itachi. Even if his brother was evil, Sasuke couldn't deny that he was on a special level when it came to fighting. Speed, power, strategy-- the young Uchiha had heard praise of all types for his brother strung across the village before.

His thoughts were forced to the side as he noticed Tobira giving him a look that the young Uchiha couldn't quite place. Was it doubt? Curiosity? Discomfort? He had no idea. The red eyes that laid on him, however, lingered a moment too long for comfort before looking over towards the school. "We can discuss your sharingan and combat focus later on, during training. For now, you need to get to class and I need to head to the Hokage's office to discuss the details of the compound."

Dark eyes followed Tobira's line of sight, the boy eyeing the school. The front area was pretty much vacant, with the exception of a few lingering older students and some staff members encouraging them to move `inwards. There were fewer sensei lingering out front than normal.

"Okay." he agreed, taking a breath and steadying himself as he saw the school. Right. Once class was over, he'd be able to train with Tobira. A productive day, if he was able to focus. "Do I have to stay here for you again?" he double-checked, not wanting to waste training time by having their days not come together right. The boy was satisfied as the silver-haired shinobi gave a nod.

"Yes. That'll be our rule unless I say otherwise-- I should be here to pick you up on time, but if I'm not, you know where to go." the man confirmed.

With that, it was time to part ways.

Sasuke gave a small nod, turning towards the school building with his bento in hand and bag on his shoulder.

The small boy walked forward, passing by some of the lingering older students and one or two newer students who still seemed to be having trouble parting with their parents for the day.

As he walked along the halls and towards his classroom, Sasuke noticed fewer and fewer teachers around. There was, however, a steady flow of people coming in and out of the staff room. The teachers looked...nervous?

Reflexively, the boy's back straightened and he held his lunch to his chest. Even as Sasuke forced a calm expression, fingers twitched around the full box.

They'd talked about what to do if there was danger. The teachers had to bring them to the shelter. Plus he hadn't noticed anything off in the village. So it was probably just a work problem. Maybe one of the teachers got in trouble or something?

Entering the classroom, Sasuke glanced around the sensei-less room for a seat, finding one soon enough. It was empty, but unfortunately, the two seats beside it were not.

The ravenet would normally try to arrive early so that he could sit next to someone less talkative-- like Shino or Shikamaru. If they already had someone sitting next to them, he'd opt for a seat by the wall so that he'd only have one person to deal with. This wasn't an option today.

Setting his bag and lunch by his feet, Sasuke slipped into the seat between Sakura and Ino. He half wondered if they'd set their differences aside just to plan it, false looks of innocence they sent him as they sat down. The boy rested his elbows on his desk, leaning on his hands and trying to make the disappointment that bubbled in his gut disappear.

It wasn't like he hated them. They were both smart, and it wasn't like they were terrible in a fight. It was just...they'd been acting so strange lately. It was fine at the start of the academy, and the times he'd met Ino before that had been alright.

The young Uchiha could remember the few times Ino and her parents had been invited over to the compound, as well as the times following that Ino had invited him over to her house to hang out. In the beginning, he'd just been mimicking his father. Trying to get along with Ino like the elder Uchiha had tried to do with the Yamanaka. It wasn't as hard as he'd thought it would be.

They would go out to the backyard and practice ninjutsu while the adults spoke. Sometimes they'd even sneak into one of his aunts' gardens and steal some of her cherry tomatoes. Sasuke didn't like them as much as regular tomatoes, but apparently they were Ino's favourite. It was fun to try not to get caught, but when they did, at least Ino was always able to charm even the strictest of his aunts into not telling their parents.

All in all, she'd been alright.

Still, the brief warmth he'd felt when they were together began to fade not long after it had begun to grow. Sasuke had no idea what had gotten into her, but she'd suddenly started refusing to participate in their usual sneaking games. That had been weird, but fine. She'd seemed pretty adamant about it, so he'd suggested they train some. She'd said no to that too.

The weirdest part was, even after the sudden change, she'd been upset when he said they could just sit and wait for the adults to get done. Sasuke still didn't completely understand why she was so upset about not doing anything after rejecting all their usual games and training. Nor did he understand why she kept staring at him for the remainder of that night.

The Yamanakas had left early, and the boy had a feeling it had something to do with the way Ino had suddenly stood and all but stormed off to pull her mother off to the side.

When the blonde returned with a polite yet direct offer of visiting their home for dinner, Sasuke had hesitantly accepted. The eyes of the four adults on him had made it too uncomfortable to question it.

Even now, thinking back on it, Sasuke had no idea why they'd all seemed to find it almost...funny? The young Uchiha shifted in his seat as he heard the girls silently arguing from beside him. That day had been so out of place. The dinner, the amused but almost pitying look from her father, the tour of their garden- the insistence from the girl that they shouldn't train because they were supposed to be relaxing together.

Then she just got stranger and stranger. Always wanting to spend time with him, but never wanting to do anything that he liked. Loudly insisting that they were very close to anyone who would listen. Doing things together began to make him feel the same cold discomfort as when his aunty would force sweets upon him back when he was younger.

Eventually, Sasuke found himself telling lies, no matter how guilty it made him feel. He was busy. His mother needed help today. His brother was going to train with him. It worked for a short while, until she started asking to join.

The young Uchiha wasn't sure why he'd said it, other than to get some of the weight off his chest. He'd admitted to it. To not wanting to spend time with her, to wanting to be alone. Strangely enough, it had just made her push harder.

At some point, he couldn't deny her following him around was annoying. No matter how quiet she was. It made something under his skin crawl. He didn't want to spend time with her. Especially not after his family was gone...the flowers hadn't made him feel nearly as good as she seemed to think they would.

He just...wanted to be left alone. Sasuke always had. The boy wanted to be alone with his clan-- the only ones who had ever been able to make him feel so warm and, well, loved. Their support made him...him. His father's love for his clan was the very same that Sasuke had. His mothers urge for productivity and what he had thought was his brother's holy devotion to the village. The air of safety Shisui had always carried when taking care of the clansmen younger than him.

Sasuke no longer had a chance of following in the footsteps of his father nor Shisui. It felt like a piece of him had been pulled out. The realization that he would never be able to go down in his clan's history book as one of their strongest fighters made his stomach feel cold. No one would ever write in the clan documents about how hard he'd worked to become powerful, or how he used his power to make everyone safe. No one would write in them at all. After all, what was the use of recording it if there would be no one to read them in the future? His only hope for being remembered was as the sole survivor of a powerful clan, so weak its destroyer didn't bother killing him off.

Ino hadn't understood. It was only then that he began to understand how selfish she was.

It made a different warmth fill him when she'd suggested he be included in his wife's clan's history. It wasn't a nice warmth. This one burnt. It was a feeling he'd gotten familiar with.

No one understood. How could they? He'd lost his clan. If Ino, who was not only a clan member but an heir just like him didn't understand, how could anyone?

Sasuke paused. He was having those thoughts again. The ones that made him feel like he was going to puke at any moment. The boy rubbed his face, quietly looking around the full classroom with desperate eyes. When was sensei coming? It was so much easier to not think about those things when others were near.

Part of him felt guilty as he shoved the thoughts away, but the other half couldn't help but want them to quiet down. The boy supposed he'd gotten a little too used to Tobira always being there. Even if the man wasn't very talkative, he at least gave Sasuke something else to think about. It was better than before, where all he could do to make the thoughts quiet down was train himself until all he could focus on was the ache of his body. Or, worse yet, before that-- when he'd not been able to distract himself, let alone let others do it. When he'd rejected what was happening completely.

Maybe one day the thoughts would quiet down. It'd probably be the same day Itachi was finally dead. Once his clan was finally put to rest. When their souls could really be in peace.

Sasuke hoped it would be soon. Maybe, if he focused especially hard on his training and used what Tobira would give him right, he'd be able to fight Itachi in a few years. Even if it seemed like a dream now, it was something he'd have to do eventually. For the sake of his family's souls and his own safety. He would need to avenge his clan, even if he wasn't sure he was ready to think about that just yet.

Really, if he could just stop thinking all together, that would be perfect. The young Uchiha knew it wasn't possible, but lately, he'd definitely been wishing it was.

"I think you've finally broken him." Shikamaru's dull voice came just as a finger pressed to his cheek, Sasuke reflexively yanking his head back with a warning look.

Shikamaru was watching him, turned around in the seat in front of him. How hadn't he noticed? Was he really that out of focus? "Shut up, Shikamaru." the grumble left his lips without much thought, not that he regretted it. The spiky-haired Nara only rolled his eyes, bringing his hands back to lounging over the chair as Sasuke rubbed at his cheek.

Ino's barky voice came from beside him, the blonde nodding furiously, "Yeah, Shikamaru! He was obviously thinking about something important!" she scolded, much to Sasuke's ire. Why she insisted on leaping to his defence and rooting for him he'd never get. He'd thought he'd made it perfectly clear how much she bothered him. He wasn't going to suddenly start wanting to be her friend again because she told people that annoyed him to shut up.

Unfortunately, Sasuke knew that wasn't going to be the last voice that gave an unwanted comment. The ravenet didn't bother speaking right away and, just as expected, a firm voice came from his other side. This one, no matter how shaky it might be, rang with the same second-hand anger as Inos. "Exactly! He was probably thinking about training or-"

Sakura's voice was cut off by a huff from Shikamaru, the brunet waving his hand lightly. "Okay, okay. I got it. Sheesh."

Sasuke had to admit, as annoying as it was to be poked, it might be forgiven since that got the green-eyed girl to quiet down. Again, he didn't exactly hate the girl, but it was weird how she acted just as bad as Ino without even knowing him.

"I don't really care about you all being a drag to Sasuke," Shikamaru promised, which somehow earned him dirty looks from the girls too. Was there any winning?

Leaning forward in her seat, Ino sent the Nara a displeased look. "Well, what do you want, then?" an obvious attempt to get him to go back to minding his own business.

It didn't seem to work, the dark-eyed boy tapping at his seat with a bored expression. "I was wondering if he had noticed it too, if maybe that's why he was looking around so much."

Probably too proud to ask what he meant, Ino merely gave a roll of her eyes, leaning forward on her desk to look at him. A silent command for answers.

Sasuke's fingers twitched as a low voice came from beside Shikamaru, their bug loving classmate balancing a beetle on his finger as he noted, "All the sensei have been in the staff room. Sensei was supposed to be here ten minutes ago. My father was acting off this morning."

Shino's voice was not one Sasuke heard often. Though he had to strain to hear it, the words made him pause. Shikamaru's small nod and addition of, "Mine was too." made him more uncomfortable.

So he had been right. Something was off this morning. "So was mine, now that I think about it." Ino's voice was smaller now, no longer holding the warning tone from before as the words sunk in.

Chapter Text

Sasuke thought back to this morning-- had Tobira been acting off? What counted as off for him? It wasn't like they'd actually known each other very long. It had barely been three days since the man had appeared. The young Uchiha hadn't noticed anything super off, though.

...Then again, that was assuming Tobira even knew. They had gone straight home after shopping yesterday.

Speaking of which, no one had seemed this rattled yesterday. "It must have been last night or this morning," he suggested, leaning on his hand. "No one was acting weird yesterday."

"True." Shikamaru mused, "Couldn't be an attack, or we'd be headed for the shelter. So it's probably just the adults arguing again. Maybe someone important got in trouble or they announced a big change."

Sakura tilted her head from beside Sasuke, the pink-haired girl asking, "Who would get in trouble? Like a clan leader, or a person on one of the councils?"

It was possible, Sasuke had to admit. It would definitely shake things up if one of the clan leaders got in trouble, though he doubted anyone on the council would. After all, most of the people on the council seemed like they had been there for a long time. It was much more likely for one of the clan heads to get in trouble.

"If it was a clan head, it'd explain why the teachers are so busy. A lot of our parents are heads." Ino suggested, Sasuke nodding along despite the discomfort that came with the topic of clans.

Shikamaru looked ready to agree when the door to the classroom opened. The room quieted, even Naruto's and Kiba's back and forth coming to a still as Iruka made his way towards the front. It was strange to see the strict brunet so out of wack.

Sasuke watched as the others slowly settled back into their seats, waiting for the man to hopefully tell them what was going on. The young Uchiha would be lying if he said he wasn't the least bit curious himself.

"Something has come up that needs my attention. While I'm away, you will all be given extra time to work on any missing or incomplete work you may have in the library with the other students. If you don't have any, you can take this time to study." the unspoken words reaching Sasuke easily-- something had happened that required the attention of quite a few sensei. They had to sit in the library and behave.

A few grumbles of disappointment came from Sasuke's classmates, most unhappy with having to sit in the library all day. They began picking up their things even so, preparing to make their way to the room.

As the young Uchiha picked up his bag and bento, heading towards the door with the others, he could hear Ino's questioning.

"Where are you going, sensei?" Ino spoke as she stood by him, looking up at the taller man with a tilted head. Sasuke focused on following Iruka down the hall, pointedly looking towards the floor even as he listened to them.

Discomfort laced the man's words as he answered, well aware that more than a few of them were listening. "It's nothing to worry about. The academy has just gotten some news about a few new students, that's all. So we need to go meet them and get them ready for school so they can start soon."

"Oh." was all the blonde said, the small group arriving in the library soon enough. Even as Sasuke watched the man lead them to tables to work, instructing them to behave for the librarian, something felt off about it. Either Iruka wasn't telling them everything or it was a real pain to sign students up.

He probably couldn't tell them everything. That was how it worked, after all. Whether Sasuke liked it or not, they were just academy students. So even if he knew something felt wrong, it wasn't like he could just call the elder shinobi out on it.

It was none of his business.

Still, as he sat down and began unpacking his books, Sasuke found himself hoping Tobira would know. He really didn't like being left in the dark.

"Naruto, you go by Sasuke and Shino." the instruction made Sasuke grimace just as much as it made Naruto pout.

The blond headed over, though he looked like a kicked puppy as he pulled his chair out. "Why do I always have to sit with them?" crossing his arms and sending a pitiful look over to Shikamaru and Choji, both of whom sat together at another table.

"Because, Naruto, you'll be able to focus better around those two." Iruka spoke with tired irritation as he helped Sakura, Kiba, and Hinata get settled at a table.

Sasuke watched Naruto pout as he opened up his school binder, miscellaneous half-finished homework sheets stuffed within. The young Uchiha couldn't help but blink at the sheer amount of papers flooding out of the binder.

Naruto was quick to pick out what was probably the easiest-- a hand-seal labelling sheet. The blond began scribbling in answers, occasionally eyeing Sasuke and Shino with a look Sasuke couldn't quite place. Sasuke pointedly turned to look elsewhere, not wanting to give the other any ideas. He definitely didn't want the other to decide to try and get them to do something that would end in trouble.

Though the ravenet didn't know Naruto well, he did know that the other didn't take it well when things didn't go his way. Sasuke really didn't want to have to deal with Naruto making a ruckus because they refused to play along with one of his little plans.

Shino seemed to share the sentiment, the quiet boy focused on a taijutsu form book. Sasuke was quick to follow his lead, the boy pulling out his book on chakra theory and flipping to the current chapter. The boy knew it fairly well, but he had been a bit busy with figuring out the whole Tobira situation. If nothing else, he probably needed to practice his reading. Some of the words were getting a little tricky.

That, and he would rather not get scolded for doing nothing. Though Iruka had gone a few moments ago, the librarian wasted no time in walking between the tables as she kept an eye on them. Not that Sasuke blamed her. There were so many students piled into the library. It seemed even the older kids had ended up stuck in the library for the day.

Absently, he wondered if Iruka would be gone all day. Sasuke already had all his work done, and it wasn't like he was behind in their studies. He was near the top of the class, in fact.

Though, he supposed his score had started to go down the last few weeks. Studying was just...harder than it had been before. He'd still done it, though. No matter how much it made him want to bang his head on the table.

After a moment of looking through his chakra theory book, flipping the pages absent-mindedly, he paused. He probably shouldn't waste his time on something he knew so well.

Sasuke knew that he should try to review the genjutsu content. Unfortunately, the very thought of using it made his stomach do backflips. The moment he tried, visions of red eyes and smeared blood entered his mind.

For all the work he'd put into learning his clan's specialities, that one just left a bitter taste in his mouth. He'd done well in the last week-- he'd only fallen into that scary place once. To be fair, though, there had been a strange man in his house. So he had been sort of right to freak out, right?

No, Sasuke decided, there was no way he was going to work on his genjutsu right now. Not when things were so...off. The last thing he wanted was to have one of his prickly feelings while he was at school.

This was starting to give him a headache. Sasuke didn't want to do something he was good at and waste time, but he didn't want to get sick by doing something that he was bad at. Even practising the words in the chakra theory book was getting old. So many of the words were used again and again.

Shifting through his backpack for anything to fill the time, Sasuke let out a small breath as he saw his core skills book. The young Uchiha swapped the books out, flipping to the language part of the book. Perfect. He could practice his writing and reading. This book would have a lot more words.

Soon enough the boy set his pencil to paper, tracing the letters and doing his best to keep them neat. Sasuke focused on his work for a long while, only stopping occasionally to wipe the led from his hand onto his shirt or flip the page.

By the time lunch rolled around, it was safe to say he was getting a lot better. Though, he should probably do something else after he ate his lunch. The lines were starting to get a bit slanted from where he was doing it too much. It was probably time to practice his reading some.

First, though, came lunch.

Sasuke sat his pencil down, letting his hand rest for a moment as he waited for the librarian to give them permission to eat. He wasn't sure if they'd be eating in the library or somewhere else. Probably somewhere else, considering the danger involved in letting so many kids eat near so many books. Not to mention the carpet.

He was proved right as the woman in charge spoke, "Alright, it's time for lunch. Everyone leave your bags here. We'll be eating outside today!" she spoke in a tone that urged them to be excited. It worked on most, the students more than happy to get some fresh air after being stuck inside all day.

Even Sasuke had to admit it would probably be nice to have some fresh air. Then again, he would probably be happy to eat anywhere. Tobira was a really good cook, in his opinion.

As he stood, silently following everyone outside, he held his bento to his chest almost protectively. The others were rushing outside with their own lunches, most likely trying to get the best spots to eat. It was rare that they got to eat outside, so they probably wanted to make the most out of it. Luckily, the playground spots considered the worst to most were Sasuke's favourites. He never did understand what was so great about sitting on the swings or climbing up high on the playground equipment. It was way too crowded, anyway.

He much prefered to just sit by the walls of the building. No one would bother him there, and it was a lot less likely he'd wind up getting crashed into by someone who was jumping around.

So as Sasuke made his way to the spot he usually sat at, he was satisfied. What wasn't satisfying, however, was the sight he was met with when he finally got there.

He'd almost forgotten that all the older students were with them. There wasn't nearly as much space on the playground. Even his normal spot by the wall was almost full.

Neji sat leaning up against the wall, Hinata sitting beside him despite the way they both looked elsewhere. A few feet from them was Tenten, the older girl eating her lunch and glancing around idly. Then there was Shino, who had made himself comfortable beside a bush at the end of the wall. All of them had a good amount of space between the groups, but the only other place to sit would be beside the swing with Naruto or with Sakura and Ino near the other kunoichi in training.

Sasuke settled on sitting in between Shino and Tenten. There were still a few feet in between them, so he didn't think it would be too crowded.

As he made himself comfortable against the school wall, the young boy pulled out his bento. He wasted no time in opening it, a warmth filling his chest as he saw noodles and chopped broccoli.

Sasuke set to eating his lunch, idly glancing around as he did so. The librarian was nowhere to be found, though Mizuki had taken up the post. The silver-haired man watched from the front entrance, quietly scanning the students over.

Most were focusing on eating their lunch, though a few had decided to rough-house while they ate. Sasuke was just glad the people along the wall seemed to have enough sense not to fight while they were eating. Someone spilling his food would not end well. Bite after bite, he was sure of this.

Chapter Text

Quietly chewing his food, Sasuke felt the time pass at a painfully slow rate. The young boy wasn't sure why, but he felt uneasy.

On one hand, it wasn't really that big of a deal. The teachers were just busy preparing for a bunch of new students, so the kids had to hang out in the library for the day. There wasn't anything wrong with that.

Still, Sasuke found himself nervous as he looked down at his slowly disappearing food. Why were a bunch of new students coming? Why had it felt like Iruka wasn't telling them everything? Where would they be coming from? What would they be like? Sasuke had no idea.

Thinking about it now, if there were a bunch of new kids coming, the hokage would probably be busy too. Sasuke could only hope that Tobira was able to talk with the hokage at all today...he really wanted the compound stuff to be finished up soon.

These were the thoughts that lingered in his mind as he began to empty his lunch, the noise around him doing little to ease his mood. Hopefully Tobira would be able to do at least some of the stuff he had wanted to. If not, at least it gave him more time to plan out how they'd be training for today.

Sasuke was really excited to learn how to move as fast as Tobira had the other day. If the man was that fast without the sharingan, Sasuke was sure he'd be able to move like lightning once he got his and combined it with Tobira's teachings. Maybe one day he could even be as fast as Shisui.

The very idea sent a strike of awe down his spine. That'd be amazing. He'd have to work really hard to get as good at them, though. Tobira had said that the training would be hard. He wondered what it would be like? Maybe they'd be using chakra somehow? Sasuke wasn't sure anyone could move as fast as Tobira or Shisui without some sort of extra help.

"Lunchtime is over!" he heard the silver-haired sensei from earlier call, clapping his hands together. Sasuke startled, looking up from his now empty box and up at the teacher. "Remember to bring all your trash inside and throw it away."

With more than a few groans, the students did as they were told. Slowly they began to make their way inside, Sasuke following suit once he was sure he didn't leave anything behind. The last thing he wanted was to get in trouble and have to stay after. The boy had a feeling Tobira wouldn't be in the mood to train with him if that happened.

Following the others inside, they returned to their seats. He could see Naruto trying to slip off to be with Shikamaru's table, but to no avail as the librarian ended up dragging him right back to his seat.

"This is so dumb." Naruto hissed as he was made to sit back down, the two tablemates silently watching the blond as he whisper-ranted, "I don't see why I have to sit here." pouting as he rested his head on the table.

Head tilted, Shino pointed out, "We're supposed to be working, and you probably won't if you're anywhere else." book still open from when they'd left. Sasuke glanced at the librarian who was speaking to Mizuki, the young Uchiha leaning on his arm as they spoke. "You'll probably just talk if you sit by Shikamaru or sneak off if you're with Choji..."

"Besides, don't you have a bunch to do?" Sasuke added, eyeing the messy binder. He didn't even recognize some of the sheets, and found himself wondering mildly if their sensei would even take something that overdue.

Naruto eyed the papers with a sigh as they spoke, "I guess..." the blond admitted, voice quieter than usual as his hand rested in his hair. Sasuke watched as the blue-eyed boy glanced both him and Shino over, his own dark eyes momentarily shifting elsewhere. When Naruto watched them so carefully, it sent a jolt of discomfort down Sasuke's back. How was Naruto so loud and obnoxious one minute only to look like some sort of sad puppy the next?

"It's not like it really matters all that much, though," Naruto whispered, looking down at the paper. "I'll probably end up messing most of it up anyways. Might as well do something I like instead," he argued, his annoyance fading as he watched his friends out of the corner of his eye.

Shikamaru was half asleep, playing tic-tac-toe with an annoyed Ino. Sasuke personally couldn't see the fun in losing over and over again to Shikamaru or sneaking off like Choji and the others tended to do. What was so great about losing and getting in trouble?

Shino cleared his throat, the other silently reminding the two that he was there. "Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly. That's what my uncle always says."

"Why would you do something poorly?" Sasuke's nose scrunched up as he heard this. Shino's uncle didn't sound all that smart. If he was going to do something anyway, why not do it as best as he could?

"I don't know, not exactly. It's just something he says. I guess he means it's better to do a little than nothing at all." the hooded boy shrugged, tapping his pencil to a book.

Naruto seemed to get it, the blond nodding as he swayed idly in his seat. "I guess that sort of makes sense. Giving it your all even if it isn't a whole lot."

Well, they'd lost Sasuke. It sounded like picking up toys and putting them on the end tables instead of in the toy bin...it didn't make much sense. Or wiping up blood that had already stained. Even if it came up a little, it wasn't going to make it go away completely, so what was the point?

"Sounds lazy." the young Uchiha settled on mumbling, "Besides, doing stuff halfway doesn't sound like it'd do you any favours. It'd probably make it a lot harder to get the things you want done, uh, done."

Naruto blinked as he heard this, "Maybe, but there isn't really a whole lot I want to get done." he smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Nothing I can do now anyway. All I really want to do is be with Shikamaru and Choji. Can't really do that if I'm stuck here."

Sasuke deadpanned as the blond spoke, noticing Mizuki and the librarian begin to slow their conversation. The ravenet moved to work on his own practice papers, voice lowering as he muttered, "Just do it after school, then."

He wasn't about to get in trouble for talking of all things. Naruto didn't seem very pleased with the answer, opening his mouth to make some undoubtedly dumb argument. He was cut off by a sharp kick to the shin from under the table, Sasuke narrowing his eyes at the startled blond. "Shut up, idiot. We'll get in trouble if we keep talking."

"Ow! You don't have to be such a jerk about it-" Naruto growled under his breath, leaning into his papers as if he were working. Sasuke ignored the blue-eyed boy's glare, mimicking Shino and returning to quietly completing his work. A sharp pain on his own foot had his leg jerking upwards, the Uchiha hissing quietly at the other.

Seeing Naruto stick his tongue out and scoot his chair back so he was out of Sasuke's reach, the young Uchiha did the same with a huff of annoyance.

The two glared at each other, the steady sound of Shino's writing unnoticed by the two as they made faces of irritation at each other.

Naruto's was the first to dissolve, changing from irritation to a mixture of surprise and apprehension as Mizuki spoke. "Naruto, please come with me." the man standing by the table, words soft as to not disrupt the other students. Sasuke blinked up at the silver-haired man as Naruto startled, the young Uchiha having been so focused on Naruto that he hadn't even noticed the man.

"I didn't do anything!" was the blond's loud response, looking up at the man with furrowed brows. Sasuke frowned as Mizuki set his hand on Naruto's shoulder in an attempt of comfort, the young Uzumaki calming down ever so slightly.

With a shake of his head, Mizuki assured the boy, "I know, I know. Someone just wants to talk to you, okay? Then you can come back, I'm sure." he encouraged, the thin smile on his lips making something in Sasuke twist.

There was always something about Mizuki that made Sasuke feel slightly uncomfortable, though he wasn't sure what it was. Mizuki was nice, sure, but if anything his kindness only made the young Uchiha more uneasy...

Somehow, though, it seemed to comfort Naruto as he was led away. Shino watched alongside Sasuke, the two not speaking as the blond headed off. Had they seen Naruto kick him? As obnoxious as the other was, Sasuke sort of hoped they hadn't. It'd be a...what did his father's work friends use to call it...?

The small boy couldn't recall, no matter how he searched his mind for answers. He hated how that worked. Why did he always remember the things that hurt so much so clearly - almost like a photo - but never the useful things? It was really annoying, he couldn't help but think.

Time passed by even slower once Naruto was gone, Shino and Sasuke left to work in peace. They each went through their own pages, working piece by piece to pass the time. Sasuke in particular found himself shifting as time went on, caught between his eagerness to train with Tobira after the academy and his curiosity as to where Naruto had gone.

Strangely enough, the blond didn't return before the academy day came to an end. Mizuki had returned not long after he'd left, but Naruto was nowhere to be seen during the next few hours. Even as the teachers announced and end of the day, the other was out of sight.

"Alright, that's enough for today everyone." the librarian spoke, standing by the door. "Hopefully you were all able to catch up some today." they idly commented, "We'll leave in order of age, from youngest to oldest. Starting with this table." tapping onto the table where Hinata sat.

Everyone was quick to pack up, Sasuke doing so especially fast in hopes of their table being chosen next. The cleaner the table, the more likely they were to be allowed out, he figured.

As the librarian walked between the tables, glancing them each over, Sasuke held his bag to his side. A thin smile laced his lips as their table was tapped, out of his seat as soon as the words left their mouth. "This group next."

Sasuke paid it no mind as Shino walked behind him, the young Uchiha speed walking towards the exit with his back held close. Up ahead he could see Hinata meeting up with an elder Hyuuga, Sakura doing the same with an older man. He paid no mind to either, walking past an already sitting Kiba and Akamaru. His sights were set near the gate, where a group of men stood.

It didn't take long for Sasuke to recognize them, Choza's soft yet striking laugher ringing in his ears as he got closer. Sasuke could see the light smirks of amusement lining Inoichi and Shikaku's lips, the two's arms crossed alongside Tobira's. Sasuke couldn't help but think it was sort of strange, how stern their stances were despite the apparent amusement. Even Tobira seemed to share in whatever was so funny, the silver-haired man shaking his head back and forth with entertainment.

Whatever it was, it seemed to get funnier as they noticed the young Uchiha, Shikaku running a hand over his face as Inoichi cracked a thin grin at him. "Hey there, long time no see, Sasuke." his soft voice greeted, Choza clearing his throat gently.

"Hey," Sasuke greeted, blinking up at them as he held his bag close. Whatever it was, at least Tobira seemed to be in a slightly better mood today than he had been yesterday.

Chapter Text

Sasuke felt the three jonin glance him over, the boy's attention grabbed as Tobira moved forward to take his hand. The older shinobi's gloved palm fit warmly against his own, Tobira not seeming to think much of it as he spoke to the others. "Well, I should get going, then. I promised Sasuke I'd train him for a bit, so we'd better head off before it gets too late."

Inoichi nodded in understanding, musing, "Finally getting that training you're always craving, huh?" eyeing Sasuke with amusement.

Something in Sasuke seemed to perk up, the young Uchiha nodding quickly as he held onto Tobira's hand. Though he tried to keep his excitement reeled in, the ravenet gripped his bag tightly. "Mhm. I'm going to train my speed." he couldn't help but tell the elder shinobi with pride. He could already imagine how great he'd be.

Shikaku rose a brow from where he stood, eyeing Tobira briefly as he heard Sasuke's words. "Oh? Well then, you make sure to train hard for Tobira. Good to use the chances you get."

The man didn't have to tell Sasuke twice. He of all people knew just how rare the chance to be trained one on one was. "I will." he nodded seriously, looking up at the masked shinobi with determined yet reserved eyes.

"Sasuke!" a shout from behind them came, the young Uchiha grimacing as he heard the voice. His excitement shattered as he realized Ino was fast approaching, Shikamaru and Choji walking leisurely behind the short-haired girl.

The boy gave a final wave to the elder shinobi before quickly agreeing, "Yeah, better not waste it. We should go." moving to walk towards the gate. Sadly, the hand attached to his own didn't seem to follow.

Sending a pout over his shoulder, Sasuke couldn't help but send Tobira an irritated look. Tobira seemed like a pretty smart guy, from what Sasuke had seen. Which was why the boy was certain the silver-haired shinobi had to understand what he was doing. "Let's go, Tobira. I really want to get started." he insisted.

Upon seeing no reaction past a mere raise of Tobira's eyebrow, Sasuke felt an overwhelming sense of defeat. This feeling was only further supported as Tobira scolded, "That's a bit rude, isn't it Sasuke? You should at least respond."

Oh, why was it always him? "No- you don't-" Sasuke's objections were cut off as Ino reached them, her own hands reaching out to clasp his free one. A jolt of displeasure ran through him as she watched him with stary blue eyes, Shikamaru rolling his eyes from behind while Choji merely tilted his head. Would it kill them to help him out just once?

At least Tobira had the sense to look mildly surprised by her sudden grip on his hand, the young girl speaking with excitement, "Hey, I'm glad I caught you before you left."

Sasuke definitely felt caught. "It was so sad that I got stuck at a table without you." she pouted, though she seemed to brighten up as she suggested, "I know! Why don't you come over today? It's been a while since we got to be together."

Taking a step back, Sasuke moved towards Tobira without thinking. "No way. I'm busy today." he objected, words as cold as he could muster in hopes of getting his point across. He was not getting stuck in her garden with flowers being shoved in his face or sickeningly sweet tea being pushed down his throat again.

"Doing what?" she insisted, pout having returned to her face. It took a great weight off Sasuke's shoulders as Inoichi set a hand on his daughter's shoulder, hesitantly shaking his head at her.

Sasuke felt the warmth of Tobira's hand disappear, only to reappear on both his shoulders. He'd moved back a bit further than he had realized, the young Uchiha practically on Tobira's feet as he pulled away from the too-close-for-comfort girl.

His shoulders sagged slightly in relief as Inoichi spoke to Ino, carefully motioning to Tobira as he spoke. "Honey, Sasuke has training with Tobira today. A good shinobi needs to practice, right?"

"Right..." was the blonde's bitter response, hand slowly dropping from Sasuke's as she heard her father's words.

"Besides, daddy has to do some extra work tonight. You don't want to leave your mother all alone in the flower shop, right? Don't you want to help her water all the pretty flowers?" he urged, deadpanning as she sent him a pout.

"I guess not." the six-year-old muttered after a long moment, arms crossed as she spoke. Her temper seemed to dissolve slowly, though not before sending Tobira a look of disdain.

Sasuke was fairly sure his classmate had just put the elder shinobi on some sort of mental hit-list.

"Man, you two are always so bothersome," Shikamaru grumbled, walking past them and over to his father. Choji followed right along, Shikaku shaking his head in amusement.

Glaring over at the Nara heir, Sasuke objected, "Hey, it's not my fault she's so grabby!" grimacing as Ino sent him a wide-eyed look. Ah, probably the wrong thing to say in front of her.

"I'm sure he didn't mean anything bad by it, Ino. Sasuke just likes his personal space, that's all." Choza comforted, shaking his head at the look of hurt on her face.

Looking back at Tobira, Sasuke furrowed his brows. Well, it was true. He wouldn't have a problem with her if she wasn't so grabby and weird all the time. She'd started it! She didn't treat anyone else in class so weirdly!

At least Tobira seemed to have some mercy, the masked man eyeing him briefly before letting out a sigh. "He certainly could have worded it better, but he isn't completely wrong. He clearly doesn't want you holding onto him. Keep pushing, and he may very well decide he doesn't want to be around you at all." the man shook his head, "Friendships can not be forced."

Inoichi looked conflicted with the man's words as Ino stared up at him with a mixture of frustration, surprise, and hurt. Sasuke couldn't help but feel the slightest bit bad as he saw her expression, blinking at her as Tobira spoke. "If someone doesn't want to accept your friendship, that is their choice that they have to live with. All you can do is let them know you'll be there should they change their mind. Now." Tobira looked down at the young Uchiha, "Let's go. If you want time to train while it's still bright out, we should go now."

The elder shinobi's words still processing through his mind, Sasuke gave a hesitant nod. He did want to train before it got dark, but there was something about Tobira's words that gave the boy an odd sense of déjà vu.

Tobira led him away with a hand on his shoulder, Sasuke glancing back only briefly to see the varying looks of surprise and resignation on the three jonin's faces. Even if they seemed uncertain of Tobira's words, it appeared they didn't exactly disagree. Sasuke had a feeling it was more the upset Ino they were concerned with.

Sasuke was suddenly very glad the weekend was coming up. He wasn't sure how to feel about this all. On one hand, he was beyond happy with the idea that she would finally back off and stop her weird attitude. On the other, it was unsettling to see the girl so upset. It wasn't exactly that he wanted their friendship to end, he just wanted to go back to how it was before. He missed sparring while their fathers watched on...

Though, he supposed that was off the table regardless of whether she was acting off or not.

"I was talking to you too, you know," Tobira spoke once they were past the school gates, the taller shinobi finally letting go of his shoulder. The two walked side by side, the young Uchiha looking up at the other. "Friendships can't be forced. They'll only happen if both people are trying. You can refuse a friendship, yes, but keep in mind that the stance you make is one you have to live with. Even if you later decide to go back and try to work something out."

Walking alongside Tobira, Sasuke settled on looking anywhere but at the other. Eyes scanning over the busy street ahead, Sasuke defended, "I do put effort in. She's the one acting weird." he spoke sourly, "I miss training and doing fun stuff."

"Well, what do you consider 'weird' about the way she's been acting?" The masked man implored, Sasuke's eyes tracing over the people passing by and crows picking from the trash outside Ichiraku Ramen.

What wasn't weird with her? It felt weird to talk about it- how he felt about others wasn't usually something that got brought up past his classmates' surprisingly unstealthy arguments over who he prefered. Though, he supposed Tobira would know what to do if anyone. He seemed to at least have a vague idea of how these things worked.

Still, where to start? "Well, she doesn't want to do any of the things we used to do. She just wants to sit around smelling flowers or drinking tea." he huffed, "The flowers are boring and the tea always makes my stomach hurt. It's way too sweet, but she gets all upset when I tell her that. Why can't we just train instead? We're both going to be shinobi anyway. It's not like she never wants to train- she does it all the time with Shikamaru and Choji. Just not with me."

It didn't make sense to Sasuke in the least, but something must have clicked with Tobira. A low hum of understanding came from the elder shinobi as they rounded a corner, the man asking, "I can't say for sure as I don't exactly know her, but perhaps she just likes those things now and wants to share them with you."

"But I don't like them." Sasuke deadpanned as the Uchiha clan walls came into view. Did he have to sit through them even if he didn't like them? Was their friendship really worth being miserable the whole time? No, it wouldn't work even if it was. Even when he'd followed his mother's advice and tried to sit through it, she'd still seemed upset! It was a lose-lose situation.

The man's next suggestion had him feeling like a bit of an idiot. How had he not thought of it before? "Then make it into something you both like. Bitter teas exist. Perhaps try training your mind with her by talking about strategies. It won't be ideal for either of you, but it will be something if you truly have no even ground and want to find something to share."

Oh. Well, that might work, if she was willing to. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't still a little agitated...or maybe the right word was hurt?...by the way she had steered away from any mention of him missing his clan after the murders. Then again, in the far back of his mind, he was reminded that he himself had refused it outright in the beginning. Maybe it was expecting too much of the girl, to ask her to...well, he didn't know what he wanted her to do.

This was why he didn't think about it often. Ino always made things so complicated. Was everyone outside the clan so difficult? Then again, his father and Itachi were both pretty hard to understand too. Maybe some people were just like that.

"I wouldn't worry about it too much." Tobira settled on moving ahead, pressing the gates open for them. "I'm sure there's still plenty of time to figure things out if you decide you do want to be her friend. Worrying now won't do much good. You have other things to focus on."

That was right. Sasuke did have other things to focus on. He had training to do.

Taking a step forward, the boy nodded, bag held close as they moved through the gates and into the compound. The sight he was met with had him slowing ever so slightly.

The blood. It was gone...but there. The ground looked as though it had been rubbed half to death, the spots he knew oh so well no longer crusty. Instead, the concrete was dark, as though it had been scrubbed aggressively with water.

Even as they walked by them, Tobira not mentioning a thing, Sasuke found his eyes attracted to every wet spot. Flashes of red found their way into his vision, replacing the wet spots as they walked past them. It was almost nauseating, seeing the spots flicker. From a dark grey to a crusted red, they switched briefly, pooled blood intruding on the visions.

Eyes closing tightly, Sasuke paused with a deep breath. He just had to keep going, over to the training field where he knew for a fact no blood had been spilt. Not on that night, anyway. The young Uchiha followed the steady footsteps of the man ahead of him, gathering his composure as he walked along the all but empty streets. The puddles were long gone, let alone the remains, and yet. With the images pulsing in his eyes, the boy could only do his best to follow after the silver-haired shinobi.

Chapter Text

Sasuke didn't look well.

He'd lost weight over the last month. Even so far away, perched high in the trees of the Uchiha clan's training ground, Itachi could see as much. The teen didn't have the energy to activate his sharingan as his dark eyes carefully scanned over the pale boy, searching his small body over. By the looks of it, his younger brother hadn't been getting enough iron. Though he supposed the paleness could also be attributed to a lack of sleep. A combination of the two was most likely.

Either way, it was beneficial to Sasuke in the long run. The lack of sleep most likely meant nightmares. Nightmares were...useful. They were sure to replay the most horrific parts of that night to the boy, embedding each detail in his mind. Details that would remind him of his weakness, echoing in his mind each time his blood spilt so easily.

Sasuke had been given a terrible start to life. One Itachi was sure he'd despise. Still, it would all be worth it. All the suffering he had to endure now would be eased once he was finally able to kill his wicked older brother off. Yes, Itachi reaffirmed as Sasuke moved along. The desolate expression on his brother's face was a good sign. Even if it made the teen's insides tighten, it was for the best.

The young Uchiha would grow strong. Sasuke would kill him someday. The leaf would praise him for killing off an S-rank criminal. His younger brother would become powerful, respected, and maybe even appreciated.

It was just going to take some time...and a lot of work. Sasuke would need to learn how to endure his life before striving to improve it. He'd have to move one step at a time if he wanted to pull himself through the gruelling process. As painful as it would be, he'd come out of it strong enough to survive without him. Itachi was sure of it.

The teen had hoped to keep an eye on this development from afar. After all, if he wanted his brother to learn how to endure things on his own, he couldn't play babysitter and risk interfering more than necessary.

The world was a cruel place. Sasuke knew that. Now he needed to learn to accept and deal with it so he could one day thrive. If he could just do that - survive the more open and obvious threats - Itachi would take care of the more grueling hidden ones.

Unfortunately, the world had a way of attacking when Itachi least expected it. Stepping in to remind him that, in the grand scheme of things, he was just as powerless as the little ravenet.

The proof stood tall next to his little brother, walking alongside the boy as if his very presence didn't offer up a dozen new issues for Itachi to consider.

Who was he? Where did he come from? What was he doing here? Why was he here? When had he arrived? How had he managed to get so close to Sasuke without the hokage interfering?

Hiruzen had sworn no one would harm Sasuke so long as he lived. Once again, the man's promise of aid felt half-hearted to the teen. How could he promise that no harm would come while simultaneously allowing this stranger to linger?

Itachi had of course heard the rumours on his way towards the village. That the man was from far away; that he was distantly connected to the Uchiha through a lover of some sort.

Then there were those he'd listened in on when waiting for Sasuke to be released from the academy. The ones that claimed he was an old ally the Hokage had made while he was visiting the Land of Water for negotiation purposes.

Neither felt right.

It wasn't that Itachi had a reason not to believe these rumours, per se. It was something more...instinctual. It didn't help that the man looked almost...familiar?

There was something about his eyes, Itachi noted as he traced tired sharingan over the man.

Though his eye colour was striking, it wasn't that alone. No, Itachi couldn't help but focus on the look in his eyes. That serious yet regal look embedded itself in the teen. Where had he seen such features and expression before?

The eyes were not sharingan. Who else had he met or seen with red eyes?

There was that red-eyed woman he'd seen in passing...but her eyes looked nothing like his.

Maybe he was thinking of Kakashi? That could be it. The silver hair, mask, and red tone could be what was making him think the man was familiar. Though, Kakashi's expression looked less sharp than this man's.

Itachi supposed it wasn't something he needed to find out urgently. It was important, but definitely not at the top of his to-do list.

First, he needed to figure out the man's motive. Why was he focusing on Sasuke? That was the most important question right now, followed closely by the question of whether or not the Hokage knew what was going on. Perhaps it was what the man had called Itachi for.

The shinobi he'd listened in on had all been of a higher rank. Which meant their words most likely held more truth than the villager's interested musings of a mysterious outlander.

Itachi had a sneaking suspicion Hiruzen knew exactly what was going on. Perhaps the man was indeed from overseas-- a fresh and unrecognizable face. If it were the case, Itachi wouldn't put it past Danzo to encourage Hiruzen to give Sasuke a secret attendant of their choice.

A fire lit itself in Itachi's stomach as the thought of Danzo getting his hands on Sasuke entered his mind. Eyes narrowing, Itachi's lips pursed in distaste. Was that the man's role? Was he sent by Danzo to preemptively grab control?

Was he called back to the village so Hiruzen could tell him of Sasuke's new keeper?

What would the man say? That he was here to make sure Sasuke wasn't harmed? That he was supposedly a distant relative and they couldn't keep him away without seeming suspicious? Or perhaps he'd be forward enough to admit the man was a precaution of sorts?

Each excuse Itachi thought of made him more frustrated than the last. Closing his eyes, the teen took a breath.

He was making dangerous assumptions, though he was unsure if he'd prefer for them to be right or for the man to have his own motive after all. Perhaps Itachi could deal with it, if the man was truly a surprise thorn after all. That was yet another possibility. Perhaps he had been called back to handle the issue personally-- though the teen couldn't begin to think of the hokage's reasoning if this were the case.

The red-clad shinobi supposed only time - and some investigation - would tell.

Itachi believed he had led the hokage to believe he was slower than he actually was. It was important for him to have more time to consider and gather information, especially back when the coup had been building. The days he had spent on missions were the perfect times to consider the situation without the threat of his clan or ANBU interrupting.

Now he was especially glad to have lingered on tasks longer than necessary.

If Itachi had to guess, the Hokage most likely assumed it would take him four to five days. Perhaps he could even push it to a full week if he used the justification of having to slip under the Akatsuki's radar. After all, it was risky to leave shadow clones on either side...

Oh, he couldn't help but lament, his little brother was such a handful - even now.

Itachi was sure even the silver-haired stranger, 'Tobira' he believed he'd heard him called - thought as much. With the way Sasuke had decided to move ahead for the training grounds, it wouldn't surprise the teen in the least.

Whatever the man wanted from Sasuke, he was sure to get it at this rate. Itachi of all people knew how much the boy enjoyed training. It seemed as though the man had picked up on it too. It was something he intended to use, the teen was sure.

Sasuke definitely seemed appeased, if nothing else. Once they arrived, it was like a flip switched in the boy's mind. Itachi watched as the young Uchiha glanced over his shoulder momentarily, towards the compound before moving back to the training ground with a huff. Quick to remove his school bag and set it to the side, the boy looked up at the masked man with a serious expression.

Their lips moved, and though Itachi was too far away to hear what they were saying, it was clear that it was time to get down to business. The air around them shifted, the larger shinobi straightening up as he began speaking. Dark eyes scanned over the man, shifting between him and the attentive six-year-old.

Tobira had picked Sasuke up from school. He seemed to have made a good impression on the jonin. Even the hokage himself seemed to get along with him, if he'd really managed to speak to the elderly shinobi so soon after entering the village. Now here he was, pointing around the training field and calling out firm orders on where to go.

Itachi moved across the tree branches with soft footsteps, nearing the two as he slid through the shadows. Leaning his back to the rough bark of a tree and away from the two, the young shinobi peered up with one leg drawn into his stomach while the other dangled loosely.

As much as he would like to watch the two, he had no idea what the power level of the elder shinobi was. Being caught with his head out would be...inconvenient. Whether the man was with the village or an independent, it could bring up questions Itachi would rather not answer at the moment.

Not to mention it could cause a few shifts in his plan if Sasuke saw him again so soon after the massacre. It wouldn't be a big issue, per se, but it would definitely affect his plans and future appearances. He'd need to act more as a present threat than a lingering one if he wanted to keep Sasuke's perception of him steady.

Yes, the risks far outweighed the benefits of being able to see their body language. No matter how useful it was. Besides, Itachi was tired. If he were an inch bolder, he'd let his eyes rest. The trees were swaying above the teen-- the intricate veins of the leaves dancing above him as he listened.

"Yes, I'm serious." Tobira's voice came, the low tone laced with some form of mild entertainment. "How do you expect me to help you improve if I don't know what you can do?"

Itachi could practically envision his brother's pout, the elder Uchiha's brows coming together in light amusement.

"Okay...but remember to leave time to teach me something after!" The small boy's voice rang out with an insisting tone, one that struck Itachi's chest harder than he'd thought it would. Even as his expression remained impassive, Itachi's chest tightened.

He hadn't thought he'd miss his brother so much. He'd known it would be painful, but even he couldn't have foreseen the extent of it. It was merely weeks ago that Itachi had tried to convince himself that it wasn't as terrible as it seemed to be. That it was for the best, in the long run. That he'd taken on missions that lasted much longer than a month and been fine without his brother...

This was different, though. Itachi wouldn't lie to himself and say otherwise as he listened to the steady thumping of Sasuke's feet against the training ground. This wasn't a three-month-long mission where he'd fight his hardest to return home as soon as possible. There wouldn't be a welcome dinner waiting for him. Sasuke's wouldn't scurry up from his toys to meet him at the door. No proud hums of approval would ring in his ears.

This mission wasn't going to end until he was gone. It would end with his guts spilt, Sasuke running at him with killing intent, and angry battle cries of betrayal.

Itachi had made his bed, and now he had to get ready to lie in it. Even if the sheets were made of sandpaper and the pillow was hard as stone.

That of course didn't make it any less uncomfortable, the pained expression on Sasuke's face flashing through his eyes and the steady thumping in his ears mimicking their rare training sessions from only a month or so ago.

Hand slipping upwards to rest on his forehead, Itachi rubbed his enflamed temples. It was for the best, even as the light thumps rang in his mind. He didn't regret what had happened. He couldn't.

Itachi would have plenty of time to lament in purgatory.

He was sure he'd be there a while.

Chapter Text

This man was…quite meticulous.

It had been two hours thus far. The training field had come alive in a matter of seconds once the two began, Tobira's steady commands balanced by the keen compliance of the young Uchiha. The two seemed to find a rhythm with ease, a stable connection formed and solidified rather quickly. Its only wavers came when Sasuke would follow through on a command a bit too well.

Itachi might find it amusing, if it weren't so worrying. Sasuke never was the best at knowing when it was the time to stop. The little ravenet just kept going, aiming for the sky when he could barely reach the ceiling. This inability, or perhaps refusal, to acknowledge his limits had landed Sasuke in a medic's grip more times than Itachi could count.

Which was why, as Tobira called out for Sasuke to get as many leaves as he could with only five practice kunai, the elder Uchiha grimaced internally.

Only a month ago, he'd been the one training with Sasuke. Itachi was sure the man expected Sasuke to either aim at a few naturally lined up leaves or manoeuvre them to rebound and hit multiple. This would be fine, but unfortunately, Sasuke wasn't as collected as he tried to make himself out to be. When the boy lost his composer, whether it be due to a crack in his wall or his eagerness slipping over, well...

The sharp clang of two kunai meeting rang behind Itachi, the teen schooling his expression into one of apathy after the initial concerned twitch. Forcing his stiff hand to relax, Itachi reminded himself that there was nothing he could do. Sasuke was on his own right now, in terms of his safety.

Only two people were near Sasuke, Itachi reinforced as a second sharp sound bound from the other side of the tree. Hands folding carefully inwards, the third crash of the weapons happened without so much as a blink from the elder shinobi. Only two people were near. A missing-nin with only malicious intent and a questionable set of eyes, most likely sent to weave Sasuke into a being of the village's design. The youngest Uchiha was on his own to fend off against both, along with the projected kunai he'd just thrown.

It would be fine. A minor cut, or perhaps a small puncture. It would be fine.

As one kunai flew into Itachi's peripheral vision, the final cling of metal bounding only a second before, the teen set his jaw. A leaf was pierced, lining up along with three others on the blade as it struck the bark of the tree. A strangled gasp came from behind, Sasuke's breath pulled from him.

Itachi did not look behind him, eyes instead falling on the leave-covered kunai. Its partner was surely only a few yards away, dulled tip embedded either within Sasuke or far too close for comfort.

A long semi-silence filled the air, Itachi's back straightening as three heavy thumps rounded behind him. The sounds mimicked the one that had landed only feet away, though one among them didn't quite fit.

One of the kunai never landed in the earth. Nor in Sasuke, if the lack of upset noises from the boy was anything to go off of. There was an uncomfortable ringing in the air, Itachi finding himself tempted to peer around the corner. He would, if not for the kunai lodged only a few trees over. He was too in focus now.

His eyes shifted away from the weapon, standing slowly as he heard the silver-haired man speak from behind the tree. His tone was steady and low, the displeasure easily heard in his tight tone. "I think that's enough for today, Sasuke."

"But it's only been like two hours, and you haven't taught me anything yet..." the six-year-old's words came, laced with upset. "You said you'd teach me how to be quicker."

Silently pressing his chakra to the forefront of his feet and the palms of his hands, the young Uchiha quietly scaled the tree whilst continuing to listen.

"I said I needed to get a good grasp of your skills before I taught you." Tobira corrected, "Today I got a pretty good understanding of where you are physically, but continuing from this point would be useless. You're clearly losing focus and not thinking as well as you were at the start. That kunai could have seriously hurt you if it hadn't been caught in time."

Distain built in the young Uchiha's tone, even as their voices began to dull further away. "I could have caught it." Sasuke insisted, Itachi peering at the two as he reached a well-covered spot higher up in the tree. The two had begun walking away, Sasuke being led by the hand out of the training ground. "Can't we just practice a little more? I'll do better-"

"How well you do is not the point. That's the third time you've almost managed to injure yourself because you took a basic instruction too far. Being reckless is not how you get stronger. It's how you get hurt. We can continue tomorrow if you'd like, but we're done for now." He reaffirmed, expression unwavering even in the face of Sasuke's huffy sulking.

"You swear we can come back tomorrow?" Itachi watched his younger brother press the elder shinobi, the pre-teen jumping from tree to tree with agile steps. He followed them, the training fields slowly fading behind as they neared the centre of the compound.

Nodding his head and thus marking it a promise, Tobira turned his attention from the boy to the house. "I swear. So long as I am able to, I will." the man mused. "For now, though, I believe you have homework to work on while I get dinner ready."

So it seemed some sort of schedule had already begun to form, Itachi mused with narrowed eyes. This in combination with the man's promises of more training had Itachi leaning in the direction of his former concerns. The more he saw, the more likely it seemed that the man was indeed here to mould Sasuke into a well-trained shinobi. The moulding was no surprise in itself, it was more so startling how quickly the man had been able to make base.

Perhaps after Itachi figured out how to rid Sasuke of the man he should stop by and briefly reveal himself to his younger brother. Though the man was surely up to no good, Sasuke did seem attached to some degree. Would it help Sasuke if he revealed the man's plot, whatever it ended up being? Or perhaps it would help him more to have Tobira pushed into abandoning him without explanation.

Either would surely stop Sasuke from being so open with his last remaining bits of trust- Itachi was sure he'd learn to be more dubious. The less he was willing to hand out, the less likely he was to be tricked and manipulated with it. If Sasuke got attached to him now...well, it would only make things more painful in the long run. Though he supposed it would be a good set-up for the mangekyo if he chose to wait a bit longer...

So many choices, but which one was for the best?

Pausing outside the housing district, the ravenet slid down the tree and lept deftly into a bush. Steadily following the two through the streets, Itachi dipped behind the houses. Hands behind his back, he watched Tobira walk side by side with his younger brother. A large and calloused hand found its way to Sasuke's shoulder, the man doing so half-heartedly as they walked along the formerly blood-splattered concrete.

Sasuke's eyes shifted downwards, pace picking up as the two passed house after house. Itachi followed swiftly, eyes focused tiredly on the two as they inched closer and closer to the main house. It occurred to Itachi that the smell of blood was still heavy, though it smelt more of must and soap than it had the last time he was here.

Ah, he really was starting to fit into the new role of rogue shinobi well. The sight of his kin's blood no longer made him want to weep. Rather, a cold hollowness sat deep inside his stomach instead. A deep ache, but not one that threatened to slip out like it had before.

Even as he slid past Izumi's old home, eyes flickering from the duo over to her mother's steadily overgrowing garden, he merely dipped his head and focused on following the two. It shouldn't take long to pick a course of action, so there was really no use in paying the deteriorating compound too much mind. It was sure to get worse from here on out. Honestly, it was a wonder Sasuke hadn't been removed from it yet. He was sure it wouldn't be long before the last remaining house was boarded up along with the main gate.

The compound would soon lose its last few residents, replaced by the many forgotten plants. Perhaps the animals would expand their territory. He knew Izumi's hyperactive rabbits would have no issues finding food. Well, so long as they didn't find themselves prey to Shisui's cat or Tekka's pups.

Hopefully the majority of them had been able to survive without their owners around.

A few of his own crows had remained behind when he left, mostly the ones that had been particularly fond of Shisui. Two sat just outside the house now, picking at some less than fresh meat from the garbage. They came to alert as they spotted Tobira and Sasuke, letting out a protective cry that went mostly ignored by the two. The most the birds got was a small sigh from Tobira, who shook his head and pressed the door open for Sasuke.

The two entered the house, Sasuke settling in the living room while the silver-haired man went to the kitchen. Itachi himself crept over to beside the crows, crouching by the trash and allowing them to hop over. They continued tearing at the mouldy meat as Itachi looked through the window. He could see the man prepping some fish with lemon and pepper, a bag of rice and broccoli set to the side for now.

If he peered further to the side he could see Sasuke beginning to meditate, though the boy seemed a bit too restless for it right now. He seemed to settle somewhat after a moment, silence falling between the two once more. Sasuke practiced meditating while Tobira cooked, the two falling into an easy rhythm once more.

Fingers tracing idly over the feathers of his crow, Itachi glanced between the two. Tobira seemed to have Sasuke at least somewhat under control already. He supposed telling the boy he was a clan member was a good way to gain at least a small sense of loyalty. From there, it would have been easy to lure him into a false sense of security.

Itachi had to wonder, though, which faction he was from. The man had the posture and attitude of a ROOT member, but he was far too expressive to be one.

As Tobira cared for Sasuke he seemed to shift between a Danzo-level of solemnness and a round of Kushina-style instructions or scoldings. Yet there didn't seem to be any disdain mixed in with the man as he served Sasuke his dinner or urged him towards the bedroom for rest.

This man seemed to be either a very good actor looking to fulfil an interest Itachi couldn't quite grasp yet, someone special called in just for this mission, or a member of the ANBU. Given how unlikely it would be for the hokage or Danzo to call in help from elsewhere to deal with the village's dirty business, Itachi would lean towards an ANBU member.

He didn't recognize the man as anyone he'd seen in the locker rooms or at the special mission request desk, but it was unrealistic to presume he had seen every member of the organization.

An ANBU member or an ambitious shinobi skilled in sliding through loopholes, then.

Chapter Text

It took some time, but Tobira slowly managed to get the small Uchiha in bed. Itachi did not follow them up to the second floor, the only vantage points being far too open. Instead, he waited below, eyes resting on the empty staircase as he awaited the man's return.

He'd seen how he acted in front of Sasuke, but now that the boy was asleep it would be the perfect time to let his facade fade.

As Tobira walked carefully down the stairs, however, he did not waver. Making quick work of the dishes and straightening out the shoes by the door, the silver-haired man seemed content to set himself on the couch. The room was darkened, a formerly folded blanket lifted into the air. Drifting over the man in one easy movement, his eyes slipped closed, chakra settling as he seemed to fall into a light sleep.

Silence washed over the house in a blink, the only sounds coming from the animals outside or the small creaks that came with the old house. Wind blowing gently against the wood, Itachi took a few steps back from his former home.

Looking to the sky, the clear blue had dulled considerably. A layer of darkness had fallen over the heavens, glittering stars outshining the thick sliver of moon left. If not for the sharingan's ability to grasp onto what little there was to see, Itachi might have trouble navigating the dim streets.

So it was that he stalked through the disarrayed compound, making his way towards its outer walls. His crows had finished their meal, flying ahead as Itachi trailed after.

With the birds to guide him, the boy made his way towards the southern half of the compound. The shrine slowly came into sight, though he passed by it after a brief glance. He'd told Sasuke to read the shrine's manuscripts carefully if he wanted to become stronger, though he wasn't sure whether the boy had done it or not.

Itachi doubted his younger brother had built up enough will to go anywhere but the training grounds or home. He wouldn't be surprised if it took him a few months to go through with his instructions, but now was hardly the time to be taking risks. Things could turn sour fast if by some curse Sasuke chose to look now. Or, worse yet, if Tobira decided to go snooping around and found him.

Theoretically, the man should have no idea about the secret meeting room housed beneath the shrine. Still, if Tobira was here to take advantage of a susceptible sharingan user, it would make sense for him to be thorough with his exploration of their clan's shrine.

So it was off-limits as a resting place.

The area behind it, however, was not.

With each step he took forward, the shrine fell further and further into the distance. Long grass rubbed against the outside of his sandals, the terrain changing from finely kept to loose and untended. He moved easily through the trees despite there being no path, having made his way through these woods more times than he could count.

Itachi moved between the thick trees, eventually finding that the ground had shifted from dirt to rock. If he were to go forward, he would be able to look down at the flowing Naka river below. He did not.

Instead, he trailed the perimeter of his camp. Setting up wire strings from a few yards into the woods, he enclosed himself in the semi-circle of land. With flash and smoke bombs set to go off upon contact, he was sure to notice if anyone managed to find the hidden area. The lingering crows could scare off any animals, but humans would probably be a bit more resilient than that.

Once he finished setting up his traps in the woods, he did the same to the rim of the cliff. Should anyone try to climb up it, they would have rigged flash bombs waiting for them as well. These distractions would give him plenty of time to wake and flee the area.

By the time he was done securing his spot, the moon had risen much further into the sky. His stomach growled in protest of its emptiness, the young Uchiha unwillingly thinking back to the plentiful leftovers storied in the main house's fridge. It would be a bit of a hassle to slip through his traps in the dark, not to mention risky. The silver-haired man was resting on the couch only yards away from the kitchen. Going back for some of the meal was more of a fantasy than anything.

Settling onto the ground with his cloak wrapped around him, the pre-teen slid off his shoes without a word. Hair falling out of its loose ponytail, he slid his hands into his pant pockets. From there he retrieved a half-eaten bag of sweet bread. He had packed himself five pieces for the trip, though only three remained. If he ate one tonight and two tomorrow, that should hold him over until he was able to sneak into town and buy something more.

Itachi leaned back as he pulled tonight's rations out, taking his time as he chewed on the bread bit by bit. Looking over the horizon of the cliff, he could see the slight shifting of the trees. He allowed himself to enjoy the fresh smell of the forest, not having realized how much he missed it when compared to the constant cloudy skies of Amegakure.

About half of the sweetbread sat heavy in his stomach when a familiar weight nested itself on his head. Letting out a small sigh, the pre-teen broke off a small piece and lifted it above his head so it could be snatched up by his bird. This of course called the others to attention, the nearby crows sturring. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed them about a fourth of it, finishing the last bit himself. They downed it in mere seconds, a few of them flying off with a chosen crumb.

Laying himself back and feeling the crow on his head fly upwards, he watched the slowly disappearing birds as they fled with their meal into the nearby branches. They devoured it swiftly, seeming pleased with the meal as Itachi watched on.

After a bit of shuffling between themselves, the crows seemed to finally settle for the night. This was what Itachi slowly fell asleep to - the soft shaking of leaves and occasional ruffling of feathers. With each passing moment his vision fell in and out of focus until, eventually, a light sleep took him.

As the life of a rogue shinobi called for, he found himself waking at every twig snap in the distance, more often than not being the result of one of his crows.

Not that he'd be able to enjoy the sleep he did manage to get. Such a possibility had died years ago.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Light filtered in past the boy's eyes as the sun began to rise, the ravenet lifting an arm over his face as he turned from his back to his side. His head felt clearer than it had yesterday, the dull pain in his temples having subsided momentarily.

Staring out and into the bushes, he could see his crows resting up in the trees. One or two had made itself comfortable laying against his side, but was quick to fly off as he made himself move. A hand reached up to wipe the ground's residue from his hair, the young Uchiha slowly standing. He rolled his shoulders, ignoring the way they popped in protest.

It seemed none of his traps had been set off last night. That was good, at least. It meant this was a well enough spot to camp out until the situation with Sasuke was sorted out.

Wiping the remainder of the dirt from his cloak and pants, he pulled his hair back into a ponytail and slipped his sandals back on. The fresh breeze from the night prior remained, though the sky now held numerous clouds. It didn't look like rain, but then, time would tell.

The birds around him seemed to notice his wake as well, the feathered animals flocking towards him despite his mild ire. It was too early for them to be cawing at him, though he supposed it was his own fault.

Well, his and Shisui's. Why had the other boy always been so pushy about them feeding them? If Itachi had known it would become a daily thing, he might not have admitted to his cousin just how much he enjoyed it.

...But then, he supposed that would mean he wouldn't get to see them nearly as much. Nor would he have the unyielding loyalty of an animal bribed with food.

Crumbling up half the piece of bread from his pockets, he tossed it behind him as he walked, sure the crows would finish it off by the time he looked back. The other half was placed in his mouth, piece by piece until it was no more. The sweet grains filled him up somewhat, so he settled on saving the last piece for in case he couldn't make it into the market today.

After all, he had a lot to do. He had a very limited time frame to gather information before he had to meet with the hokage. The sun looked as though it had only risen about an hour ago, which meant Sasuke was going to be off for the academy soon.

Today was the last day of the week, so it was important to use this time to watch Tobira. While Sasuke was at school would be the ideal time for him to make any reports or do any snooping he had planned.

Slipping past the many traps and returning his last bit of bread into his pocket, Itachi made his way quietly through the compound. His chakra remained as a tight ball in his stomach, suppressed as he wandered back past the shrine and into the housing district.

He didn't feel anyone else in the compound, but then, it wasn't as if he were a sensor.

Itachi wouldn't mark his sensing abilities as bad, per se, but it definitely wasn't one of his stronger skills. He was...adequate at perceiving those nearby. Not enough so that he'd be willing to stride into the compound without looking twice.

Activating his sharingan once more, Itachi felt a small pinch behind his eyes. The houses looked exactly the same as they had yesterday, the only shifts being a cat or two out for the morning. He made a point to travel along the roads where he knew no dogs had lived, not wanting to risk being barked at.

When he finally made it to the main house, he found a cluster of lavender and icy blue chakra heading off the porch. Focusing his eyes, the clusters sharped into the forms of Sasuke and Tobira - off for the day, most likely to drop Sasuke off at the academy.

They walked past him without so much as turning in his direction, the young Uchiha hidden behind the tea shop as the older shinobi led Sasuke towards the gates.

Come to think of it, there was probably non-perishable food leftover in the houses and shops if he didn't get a chance to stop by the shops later today.

Itachi watched as they walked into the distance, standing from his spot only as the gate clicked shut behind them. He would follow from a distance as to not call attention to himself. With time, the man's motives were sure to be revealed.

He'd yet to see any ANBU members in the area, so it didn't look like he was under much surveillance. Following him through the village should be easy enough so long as he kept his head down.

The pre-teen took a step forward, not wanting to fall too far behind. It was less than a yard later that he heard a low voice from behind him, the dark-haired boy flashing his sharingan as he turned to see who was there.

"So, you must be the famed Itachi Uchiha, then."

Chapter Text

Turning towards the voice, Itachi spotted a duplicate of the man he had just seen walking alongside his brother a mere moment ago. The chakra running through his body assured the ravenet that this was no ordinary clone - it had to be a shadow clone or the original.

Yet another hint towards the man being a shinobi of the leaf.

Tobira made no move forward as Itachi scanned him over, the silver-haired shinobi standing with his arms crossed. His red pupil's laid on Itachi's headband, most likely looking deliberately away from his sharingan.

The young Uchiha merely nodded, watching for any signs of attack from the elder shinobi. In a flat tone, he confirmed, "That would be me," eyes never breaking away from the man as he spoke. "And you must be the enigmatic Tobira I've heard word of."

Itachi did not appreciate the fact that this man apparently knew of him. This meant that the masked man had at least some form of knowledge about him while Itachi could only work based on a day's intel. The pre-teen could only hope Tobira's knowledge didn't span into combat-related information.

So far, all Itachi knew of his fighting style was that Sasuke thought the man had impressive speed and wanted to learn from him. That didn't say much, considering Sasuke was only six and most likely had a low bar for what was considered fast. He could also infer that the man was skilled with detection if he had been able to find Itachi despite his suppressed chakra and hidden movements, but that was about it.

If a fight broke out, in terms of preparation, Itachi doubted he would have the upper hand.

"I suppose I would be." Tobira agreed, voice steady as he spoke. There was a slight pause, the man seeming to consider his words before he mused, "We have much to discuss. Would you prefer to come inside or head to the hokage's office?"

Something in Itachi's stomach turned, though he spoke with the indifference he'd drilled into himself for the past month or so. His thoughts immediately went to the summons he'd received from the hokage, though he wasn't so foolish as to openly reference such an event in front of the stranger. To assume he was referring to the event could easily result in a domino effect. The hokage couldn't be caught dead having those sorts of interactions with known criminals - it would look horrible for the village.

It was probably best to work on the assumption that that was a threat to turn him in. "There is nothing for us to discuss."

Itachi wasn't going to assume the man was with the hokage, but he definitely wasn't so clueless as to let himself be talked out of information behind closed doors.

Pausing to consider whether it would be better to attack him now or retreat and meet with the hokage first, his eyes narrowed in thought. No, a fight wouldn't do if this man was working directly under the hokage or Danzo. Fleeing would be the best option, though that would mean having to think of an excuse for not reporting directly as he had been instructed to.

Brow lifting, Tobira challenged, "If we have nothing to discuss, then why have you been parked in the compound since yesterday afternoon?"

Something on Itachi's face must have shifted, because the man seemed more than willing to answer the unasked question that filled his mind. "Your chakra suppression is impressive. Had I not spent decades sensing those around me, I would have surely missed it."

That was putting it mildly, Itachi couldn't help but frown on the inside. He'd been able to slip past the border patrol team with ease, yet this man had supposedly sensed him right away.

"You don't look decades old." he accused instead, the silver hair on his head looking more like Kakashi or Hidan's than an ageing man's. His face had the hard angles of a senior shinobi, sure, but it lacked the creases that naturally came over time.

Then again, perhaps the man had simply aged well. It had never been a trait of the clan, but then, this man wasn't of the Uchiha.

It wasn't much of a point, but it was something. If he could figure out the man's age range it would help pinpoint how exactly he was connected to the hokage or what he wanted with Sasuke.

A meagre matter, but one that could grow important in time.

Either way, Tobira didn't seem to take offence to Itachi's accusation, the silver-haired man merely scoffing in what sounded like bitter amusement as he finally moved from his still stance. Itachi took a step back, shuriken dropping from his sleeves and into his hands as the man neared. Instead of striking out, however, Tobira merely walked on - going so far as to keep his back turned to Itachi as he headed for the gate.

"Nor do you look like a twelve-year-old." was the only reply the pre-teen got. Itachi paused in his movements, the remark ringing in his ears.

At first, it registered as a mere jab at the lines etched into his face. That was, until he remembered that he was not exactly twelve. Not legally, at least. His bingo book and the village documents should all have him registered as thirteen. It had been that way ever since his ANBU promotion a few months back.

Tobira shouldn't know his real age. Not unless he really was connected to the hokage as he claimed or had some sort of access to what should be buried information. The man must have sensed the way Itachi stood still, the man briefly throwing a glance back over his shoulder. The sharingan-wielder resisted the urge to flicker the shuriken between his fingers, staring the man down. "I'm thirteen." he corrected despite his internal debate over just how much the man knew about him.

"Just as you're the cold-blooded clan-killer of the leaf?" Tobira finally cut through the silence, brows coming together in what seemed to be annoyance. Before he had a chance to consider the layers behind that sentence, the silver-haired man sliced through their vague back and forth. "I understand. You clearly want to do this with your hokage present. If we don't leave now, though, we might not have time to meet up with him before Sasuke gets out of the academy. This is going to be a long conversation, so we should head out now. He is expecting you, after all." he turned his head slightly when Itachi didn't move, asking, "Agreed?"

With Itachi's attempts at moulding the conversation into something that could work better for his position squandered, he felt his lips tug into a slight frown. Just who was this man, to be so confident as to grab the conversation by the throat and put it in the direction he wanted?

Along with this, who was he if he could announce that he would be joining in a private conversation between the hokage and one of his double agents? If Itachi was understanding the undertones of his previous statements, he definitely didn't like how much the man seemed to know about him. Let alone his situation. Even so, if this man really was with the hokage and had been filled in on things, there was no way Itachi could refuse him. No matter how exposed it made him feel to have had his secrets exposed to a stranger while he was away.

As always, if the stranger was powerful or trusted enough, his secrets were those for the village to hand out. Through the long collar of his coat he spoke, turning his head slightly despite the way his eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Agreed."

With that, the man continued walking, heading for the gate. This time, Itachi followed. A small scroll was lifted from his pocket as he paced forward, a hat slipping out of the material at his command.

Lifting it up and over his head, Itachi slipped the circular wood piece on. It did a well enough job of covering his face, his coat doing the same for the lower half.

He exited the compound with his hat on, a henge covering his body as he walked. His previously long hair shortened, fading from its naturally opaque colour to a dim brown. With a blink, his face had smoothed over, appearance hidden behind the guise of an ordinary traveller in simple black robes.

The henge was locked into place as he walked behind Tobira, each step calculated. The jutsu itself was an easy one - a must-have even for genin. Still, it didn't make it comfortable to walk around in a body that wasn't his. Balancing between making his movements look natural, keeping the henge up, and keeping guard for anyone who could see through the genjutsu, he kept his pace brief. Easy or not, it was far from comfortable to him.

No one seemed to pay them much notice as they walked, the only exception being a slight nod from Choza as they happened to pass him. Itachi pointedly did not make eye contact with him, keeping his head down despite the feeling of the man's eyes on him. He trailed slightly behind Tobira, focusing on steering clear of the people around.

When they did finally make it to the office, Tobira lead the way past the security without a word. The numerous ANBU on the building watched him go without issue, though they tensed sceptically at the stranger clearly with him.

Only when they made it to the hokage's office itself did Tobira speak, the ANBU guarding the doors bowing to the silver-haired shinobi.

"We have a meeting with Lord Hokage to attend. Be sure we are not interrupted." the firm order came, two synchronized nods of confirmation being his only response as they stepped aside.

He could feel their gazes on him as they entered, though the click of the doors locked them away from the conversation. Behind his desk sat Hiruzen with what seemed to be yet another version of Tobira standing over the desk.

Itachi was starting to get the inkling that this man favoured the shadow clone jutsu.

Finally looking up, Itachi's darkened eyes met Hiruzen's. The elderly shinobi was for once without his pipe, hand shifting from the paperwork he was going over to wave at the window behind him. "Leave us."

A silence filled the room as any ANBU stationed outside left, Tobira's clone disappearing not long after via the man standing beside him. Once the room was emptied of all but the three, Itachi carefully lifted his hat from atop his head. Hair flowing back outwards and returning to its natural shade, the henge releasing like a breath of fresh air.

The pre-teen got down on one knee, kneeling in front of his hokage. One hand resting on his propped up knee while the other was curled into a fist against the ground, his head bowed. His voice was low despite the soundproofing of the room, eyes cast downwards as he reported in a rigid voice.

"Itachi Uchiha, ready to report on operation Akatsuki." the practiced words came, the young Uchiha going through his report in his head as he filed the question of the silver-haired man into the back of his head for now.

A hum of notice came from across the room, Hiruzen musing, "I welcome you back, Itachi. The matter of your mission is of great importance, but it is not the only thing on the agenda for today."

Itachi had expected as much. It would have been more off-putting if the man hadn't made a reference to the increasingly strange situation and atmosphere. Lifting his head, the young Uchiha gave a nod to the elder.

"Take a seat. This won't be a short conversation." he bid, the two seats across from the desk coming into focus as he glanced over. Itachi stood, glancing over at Tobira for only a brief moment before doing as instructed.

A small breath left the boy as the three sat, hands settling against the smooth fabric of his lap. For better or for worse, it was time to get some answers. He could only hope they would be ones he could work with.

Chapter Text

"Now. First of all, I believe some introductions are in order." Tobira suggested, taking charge as he sat in the chair a few feet away from Itachi. He sat with a firm posture, upright and serious. With one leg crossed over the other and an arm leaning on the chair's arm, he finally looked Itachi in the eyes. "Of both the official and unofficial kind."

Nodding, the pre-teen matched the eyes of the elder shinobi. He allowed his sharingan to remain faded despite being on edge, the silent peace offering understood as they sat parallel. "That would probably be for the best." he agreed, more than willing to accept any information the man was willing to give. After all, it seemed he already knew quite a bit about the young Uchiha. Definitely more than Itachi would have ever willingly given him.

He could hear Hiruzen shift slightly in his seat, though he didn't pay much mind at the moment. Instead, he listened carefully to the masked man across from him. "There are three layers to my identification. Public, Classified, and Executive."

That would make sense. It wasn't an uncommon system, particularly when it came to people involved in either the ANBU or Internation cooperation. Itachi himself had been part of the system, for a time. To the public, he had been a chuunin. Meanwhile, he had actually been classified as an ANBU member to those with a high enough clearance level. Then, finally, the hokage and elders had the executive knowledge of his stance as a double agent.

As such, he wasn't particularly off-put as Tobira went on to explain his own layers of identification. "To the public, I am Tobira. I am related to the Uchiha clan through marriage, though my spouse has since passed away. I came for Sasuke in honour of their memory since I couldn't bear to live alone in my old lands any further."

This much Itachi had already heard, namely from the gossiping travellers he had passed during his travel towards the village. It was good to hear it confirmed, helping Itachi paint a picture of what was going on. Or, well, what they wanted him to think was going on.

"At the secondary level, I am Tobira, one of Hiruzen's close allies he met during the Third Shinobi War and kept in contact with. I've come to visit him and lend a hand while he focuses on making some administrative shifts."

This peaked his attention. Administrative shifts? The boy leaned slightly so that he was laying on his right arm, though his left hand remained on his lap. Fingers reflexively hovering in front of his mouth, he listened, saving his questions for after the man was finished talking. If this was the second level of classification, he wasn't quite sure what they could be locking behind the executive level.

Itachi simply nodded as Tobira paused, silently assuring the man that he had heard. Dark eyes shifted between the silver-haired man and Hiruzen, focusing on the masked man as he reached up to touch his clothed nose.

"There are currently only four people with executive knowledge. Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado. We have made preparations for both you and Tsunade Senju to be added to the list, though it has not been finalised yet." he explained, the black fabric sliding down his face and revealing three evenly-placed tics on each side of his jaw.

Itachi's dark eyes scanned over the patterns on his face, the image ahead of him clicking in his brain. It synchronized with the crystal-like memory that came with the sharingan, overlaying against the images of a man he'd seen time and time again throughout most of his childhood.

An imposing stone, carved so high into the sky he'd once had to strain his little neck upwards to see it.

The regal man, posed for photos upon photos in his academy history courses.

A confident scientist, image taped to back of shinobi concept texts he'd find in the library as a curious genin.

The frowning form of the Lord Second, printed in a few select pages of ideology books. Right next to the more prominent discussions about Lord First, his red eyes embedding themselves in a young chuunin's subconscious.

This man couldn't be Lord Second.

Nearly every text he'd ever read had listed his date of death right beneath his long list of achievements. Danzo's curt lectures about the importance of self-sacrifice. The worn and faded photographs lining the books.

Yet his youthful face sat across from Itachi, patiently folding his mask on his lap and allowing himself to be scanned over like some sort of newly recovered ancient scroll. His words carried on in a calm tone despite the way things seemed to slow around Itachi, the teen pressing back the layers of images that floated through his mind. "On the executive layer, I am Tobirama Senju."

As the man sat his mask on the desk, eyes focused on the fabric, Itachi sent a quick glance over towards Hiruzen. He had been Tobirama's student, so if anyone knew the man's chakra, it would be him.

The brunet man simply eyed Itachi with a nod, silently endorsing the silver-haired man's words. Lord Second's words, he reiterated in his mind.

Feeling the eyes of said man return to him, Itachi glanced away from the wrinkled man. His ebony eyes moved from across the desk to Tobirama, the young Uchiha feeling something unsettling nest in his stomach as they made eye contact once more. This time, it was not Tobirama who looked away.

The pre-teen, slightly unsure of what to do, bowed his head as the pause in conversation threatened to slip into awkward silence territory. "I see." he managed to force out, eyes tracing over his own hands that had somehow ended up back on his lap.

What exactly was he supposed to say? He was far ahead of Itachi in age, skill, power, and knowledge. Yet this was also the man he'd just spent the last day lurking around, watching from a distance as the red-eyed man pretended not to notice. All the while he trained with Sasuke, cooking him a nice dinner and putting him to bed. Resting a hand on the six-year-old's shoulder as they passed through the compound.

The care Tobirama seemed to take with Sasuke ran on a loop in Itachi's mind, clashing with the rumours and speculations surrounding Tobirama's feelings towards their clan.

While Itachi wasn't so presumptuous as to assume the things he'd heard about someone over their actual actions, an unsettled feeling swelled in his chest.

He wouldn't allow himself to be led by the accusations of others, especially those who never knew the actual man themselves, and yet...

It felt as if an icicle was stabbed through his heart as the intrusive thought entered his mind: Was Tobirama staying with Sasuke to safeguard the last of their clan, or was it to gain easy access to its demise?

If any of the rumours rang true, it would be the perfect time to get rid of them. Danzo had certainly taken to using the coup to its fullest.

Tobirama could end Sasuke any time he wanted. Itachi, as skilled for his age as he was, wouldn't stand a chance against one of the legendary founders of Konoha. He could fight, yes. He could threaten the leakage of village information, sure. In no case, however, could he kill this man as he was.

Suddenly, Itachi felt foolish for his early pondering of whether he should kill Tobirama or drive him away.

His fingers felt cold, a pain pinching behind his eyes once again as his sharingan activated on their own. Stress built up in Itachi at the mere thought, though he schooled his face into remaining passive. He stayed still, forcing the chakra away from his eyes and towards his hands to still the slight twitch they'd acquired.

Dragging his pupils upwards to look at Tobirama, the pre-teen met the gaze of the elder. He held not a single pose from any of the books he'd seen over the years. He did not appear regal, agitated, or confident in this moment. He looked...somewhere between discontent and curious, his brows pulled together ever so slightly with a slight frown on his lips.

"If that is so," Itachi watched him carefully, "Then may I ask what you are doing here?" eyes focusing on the youthful-looking elder as he spoke. "I can only assume this is the work of some sort of jutsu, whether it be closer to the impure world reincarnation or transformation ends of the spectrum."

A bemused look crossed the man's face, though he kept his tone focused as he looked over to the young Uchiha. "It was, in fact, the work of a technique quite like the impure world reincarnation. However, this technique does not require a sacrifice nor caster at the expense of taking a longer time to go through. Specifically, it takes around a month to finish."

Itachi frowned tightly at this. A month. So it did have something to do with the massacre, then. He stayed quiet, listening as the silver-haired shinobi explained, "It was designed to bring me back should there be any unusual movement with the Uchiha clan." his red eyes narrowing as he spoke, seeming less than pleased. "It was a safety precaution for the village, meant to allow me to step in if things got to the point they triggered the seal."

Oh. The ravenet could see exactly where this was going. The sudden dip in the number of Uchihas must have activated the seal, awakening the man from what should have been an eternal rest.

That couldn't be what this meeting was about, though, surely? Was this why he was called back? To apologize to Lord Second? He hadn't gotten the impression that the man was so vain, and yet. With Sasuke hanging so carefully in the balance, spot still unclear in all of this, he was less than willing to express his potentially offensive question.

He was of course guilty for waking the man from his rest, but if this was indeed the reason he had been called away from his mission, it did put a damper on said apology.

Itachi stood from his chair to lower himself into a deep bow, offering his apology in a serious tone despite his reservations. If nothing else, at least he had practice when it came to offering apologies he didn't fully agree with. Generous courtesy of Inabi. "I understand. You have my deepest apologies for your wake." he apologized, though this didn't seem to be what the other had in mind.

"Do not- Itachi, stand." Tobirama ordered, waiting until the dark-eyed boy lifted himself back up to speak. What had previously been displeasure shifted into flat annoyance as he spoke, words almost scolding. "My rest is the last thing we need to focus on right now. If I were so concerned with it, I never would have planted the seal." his eyes narrowed, "If anything, I should be offering you thanks for setting it off, accidentally or not. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to see the mess this village has become."

That was. A lot to unpack. The mess the village had become? Did this have anything to do with the administrative shifts they'd mentioned earlier? Finding himself confused, Itachi slowly sat down as Tobirama motioned for him to do, a small frown on his face. "I'm afraid I don't understand, Lord Second. The village has avoided most major conflicts for nearly seven years now. The only issues that have been prominent have been the ninetails incident and the coup, both of which have been dealt with as far as it was possible."

"Too far." he corrected, "They both went too far. The amount of child sacrifices I've seen since being revived is sickening, even without going into the lousy systems they've put in place to care for the children that do survive. Many children are still suffering immensely despite the villages' supposed claims of prosperity, but no one seems willing to lift a finger to aid them. That." he put an emphasis on the word, looking Itachi in the eyes as he spoke, "Is what today is about. Things are going to change around here, starting with you. This village will not stray any further from its path."

Chapter Text

The village wasn't going to stray any further from its path.

The words rang in Itachi's ears, mind filing back through what he knew of its founding and how it related to the children he spoke of.

It had been created as a safe haven for the clans that resided in the land of fire, each group giving up a set amount of shinobi and craftsmen in order to lay out the foundations. Those who didn't belong to a clan but still wished to join the village typically offered a variety of non-combatant skills and helped the economy flourish, serving as the glue that brought the group from a glorified alliance to a village.

Things progressed from there as more people began to pledge their loyalty to the village for personal reasons rather than clan-inspired ones. People grew with the knowledge that the main reason they made it through childhood was because of the extra safety of the village. The childhood mortality rate steadily decreased after the founding, though it increased during the First War.

Which would make sense, given they were in the middle of a war. Of course the mortality rate would go up. It was because of this increased rate the clans temporarily pulled back their support, holding onto their clan heirs. The number of shinobi from civilian households increased, the village calling for any willing fighters.

The clans took offence to their heirs being shown up by civilians, which led to an increase in quality over quantity when it came to clan shinobi during the Second War. Many civilian-raised shinobi died while the clan heirs prospered. This led to a drastic dip in the number of civilian-raised shinobi, one that has yet to raise.

Because of the lack of ready fighters in the Second War, the village pressed out as many shinobi as they could in the time span between the end of the Second War and the beginning of the Third War. The childhood mortality rate has increased over the last two wars, yes, but it has yet to reach the level it had been at before the founding. In fact, it has been slowly lowering since the end of the Third War. Now that people have begun to understand that fighting is always on the horizon, they seem to be working on a balance between keeping their children safe and prepared.

In the back of his mind, the war field flashed. Dead men littering the ground, blood soaking the air as his father warned him of the life he would live.

Itachi had been prepared for this world, just as he wanted Sasuke to be. He didn't want to make the same mistakes the clan heads had during the Second War. He wanted Sasuke to live if the day came that there was no one left to protect him. He needed to make sure Sasuke knew how to create his own safety.

"To start with," Tobirama spoke, standing and making his way over to lift a stack of papers from the desk. "The systems that were put in place have taken multiple hits. The systems as a whole remain the same, though the requirements and responsibilities have shifted severely."

Hiruzen nodded, agreeing, "Due to my lack of experience during the beginning of my term, I made the mistake of lending Danzo too much authority. At the time, it seemed like the best way to manage the build-up of duties I didn't understand. This had detrimental effects on the village, ones which I never found the resolve to fix. This means we have years worth of Danzo's work to undo."

"Hiruzen and I have been working on adjusting the systems and making them more applicable for today's generation." The silver-haired man explained, carefully passing over the documents. Itachi took them, holding the stack on his lap as he listened. "We would like a second pair of eyes to review them, specifically ones that have seen so much of Danzo's work. Hiruzen recommended you as someone who has worked with the man a decent amount but shows limited signs of loyalty for him."

Limited was a kind word. Itachi was loyal to the village, Shisui, and his brother. Not Danzo. "He had my cooperation, for a time." Itachi settled on saying instead, sharingan flickering on as he scanned through the documents with speed. Flipping page after page, his brain processed the words in quick succession.

The pile was sorted into different rankings, the general requirements and responsibilities listed in each group.

Academy students were to start school at age six. They were not to graduate until they were proficient in the curriculum and of the minimum age requirement. Eleven.

Responsibilities for Genin included D-Rank missions for the first year, followed by occasional C-Rank missions if approved by the supervising sensei.

In order to move on to the rank of Chuunin, a genin must have completed at least 50 D-Rank missions, 10 C-Rank missions, the chuunin exams, and meet the minimum age requirement of thirteen.

So shinobi would have to spend two years minimum as a genin with plenty of experience.

Their responsibilities would then shift to C-Rank missions with a few B-Ranks mixed in.

In order to move past this rank, they would need to have 50 C-Ranks on record, 20 B-Ranks, a completed and passed Jonin Test which included five A Ranks, and at least 3 worthy recommendations from senior shinobi on record. The shinobi must also be of at least age fifteen.

Likewise, to become a Jonin Instructor, they must have completed 70 C-Ranks and 30 B-Ranks. They must also have completed and passed the Jonin Test and missions as well as the Instructors Course. The three recommendations are also required, with a minimum age of seventeen.

He paused, eyes lingering on the qualifications for Jonin Instructor. He didn't know as much about the Jonin Ranks due to his inexperience with them, though he found it odd that no one had ever mentioned this course to him before. "Is the Instructor's Course new?"

"It is." Tobirama nodded, "It has yet to be established, but will have by the time these shifts take place. Being a sensei requires more than experience. Having a sensei that lacks the ability to properly prepare his students can cause many issues down the road, especially if the situation happens enough." he explained.

Nodding, Itachi flipped the page once more. He supposed the man made a point. It had been quite a pain, having an instructor like Yuuki. Perhaps if the man had spent more time teaching them and less time trying to compete, Tenma would have survived.

Pushing these thoughts aside, however, he continued to scan the documents. ANBU requirements.

The shinobi needed to have completed at least 50 D-Ranks, 40 C-Ranks, 30 B-Ranks, and 20 A-Ranks, and 1 S-Rank. They must also have the approval of the hokage, minimum age requirement being 18.

As for captains, they had to have completed 50 D-Ranks, 50 C-Ranks, 50 B-Ranks, 30 A-Ranks, and 3 S-Ranks. They must complete an induction mission and pass a leadership screening. The hokage must approve of this promotion and said ANBU member must receive at least 2 recommendations from worthy sources. The minimum age to become a captain would be 20.

Itachi stared down at the paper, fingers tracing over the text.

In times of conflict or a severe lack of shinobi, the minimum age requirements may be lowered by a maximum of two years.

His sharingan flickered off as he glanced upwards towards the two hokages sitting nearby. "There aren't going to be very many shinobi around with such high age requirements. They'll be of much better quality, but with these numbers, there would be a gap in the village's ability to protect itself over the next few years."

"Which is why our focuses will shift over the next few years." Hiruzen nodded in agreement, "The village will be vulnerable for a time, and the economy will surely take a hard hit, but it will be worth it in the long run. We can hold on with the reserves while we will focus on protecting our borders and strengthening the shinobi we do have."

So they've decided to try and create a large quantity of quality shinobi by reducing their intake. It could damage the village's overall reputation as one of the five great nations, but that could be made up in time if things went smoothly.

The biggest issue, however, was not how the outside would deal with the shift in powers. "What about the shinobi who will no longer qualify for their current positions?"

Itachi wasn't 20, nor had he taken part in any leadership screenings as far as he knew. The recommendations would also be a bit tricky to receive, considering he was no longer in contact with any of his old allies. Not to mention he'd only taken on 1 S-Rank mission, not the required 3. Then again, he supposed, he was no longer a shinobi of the leaf. These requirements wouldn't apply to him, he reminded himself.

Though. Tenzo was only five years older than Itachi, so the elder boy wouldn't meet the requirements either. He'd be off by one year, though Itachi had no idea if he met any of the other criteria.

"Off the top of my head, Tenzo and I would no longer meet the requirements due to our age and Kakashi would be just old enough to continue. Though he may lack some other requirements. I'm sure there will be no shortage of shinobi in the same situation. The current Jonin Instructors would also all need to take the new course, which could interfere with pre-existing teams if too many of them have trouble with it." Itachi considered out loud, darkened eyes casting upwards as he spoke. "How can the village function with so many pieces being rearranged into spots they might not fit? Will a separate faction be made for shinobi that no longer fit in these parameters?"

Tilting his head slightly to the side, he mused, "It shouldn't be much of a problem for me specifically since I'm a rogue and don't need to worry about staying in the lines, but most people will."

When neither of them spoke, Itachi glanced between them, unsettled. Had he said something inappropriate? They had asked for his eyes, but perhaps he had overstepped.

Hiruzen cleared his throat, hand resting in front of his mouth as he finally broke the silence. "We have arranged for these steps to be taken slowly over the course of the next year or so, starting from academy students and working our way up to ANBU captains. This will give the village plenty of time to manage any issues that come up and give people time to adjust. Most requirements should be easy to fill over the course of a year, with the exception of age. For those who won't meet the requirements, they will be demoted to the appropriate ranking with all of their village benefits intact."

"As for their titles, they may request early screening so that they can be promoted right away as they age up." Tobirama explained, "Those who are approved would obtain an additional title to the one they are demoted to. A Jonin that is demoted to chuunin, for example, could request early screening. Once they are approved, they will have both titles of 'chuunin' and 'jonin-in-waiting'. There may of course be different situations, such as yours."

Something unsettled Itachi about how he explained this despite the fact that it should, in theory, work. The biggest issue would be the hurt pride of some shinobi. Itachi held this feeling back as he nodded, asking, "I presume you mean those who are currently involved in long-term missions? Shinobi working on such long projects could be handled in many ways, though the simplest would be to allow us to finish what we started. Is that your plan?"

"It will work on a case-by-case basis." The silver-haired man shook his head, "Depending on the sensitivity of the mission, we will either send in aid or try to remove them as carefully as we can from the situation."

Before Itachi could really process this, he continued, "However." in a weighty tone. "These are rare situations as only a handful of ANBU members are under the age of 18, let alone taking on long-term high-difficulty missions. Your case, in particular, is different from most others. Yours must be handled with extra caution."

"Oh?" the ravenet questioned, brows raising as he listened. Danzo had never been the most trustworthy person, and yet. "Lord Danzo made it sound like this sort of thing was much more common."

Hiruzen mused, "I believe he was referring things on a larger scale, not solely in the ANBU department. This is a much more common issue in the ROOT subdivision, which I have been working on dismantling over the course of the last month. The transitions have been smooth so far, and have given us an idea of what things will be like when we make such shifts on a larger scale. Most of the shinobi have been transferred to either the ANBU or chuunin rank depending on their trustworthiness. As for the children he had..." Hiruzen grimaced slightly, "They were only recently discovered after some digging, but are currently being integrated into the village."

"So it was less so that they were common missions for the village than it was they were common missions for him to give out." Itachi mused, internally glad they had a point of reference despite the darkness of it all. At least they would be out soon.

"Precisely," Tobirama confirmed, crossing his arms as he leaned back a bit in the chair. "Now, if that clears up all the issues we can think of with that document, we still have other things to discuss. Your mission, specifically."

Itachi nodded, setting the stack on the desk and sitting up a bit straighter. "Of course." he turned to Hiruzen on habit, asking, "Would you like my mission report, Lord Hokage?"

As he was given a nod, Tobirama spoke. "Yes. Fill us in on what intel you have gathered so far and we can work from there."

"Very well." he mused, Itachi scanning through all the information in his head as he arranged his words. "Their hideout is located in a small village just north-east of here: Amegakure. It is a small village, but its defense system is beyond impressive. I haven't figured out how it works yet, but nothing seems to get past it. The leader came to meet up with us the moment we stepped into the village for the first time." he explained, "There is also a secondary and more physical defense system in place, one that requires those entering to go through a multi-level screening."

"The village does have a decent shinobi population, though it has a surprising amount of civilians. Its residents, both shinobi and civilian, do not seem aware that their leader has such an organization resting in their village." Itachi explained, thinking of the small flourishing village.

"Hanzo is leading the Akatsuki?" Hiruzen's brows shot up, though they settled as Itachi shook his head.

The pre-teen corrected, "No, not Hanzo. He has apparently been dead for a few years now. He died in a civil war that occurred due to the villager's distaste for Hanzo. They have a new leader, the man who killed him. He goes by the name of Pain."

"Pain?" Tobirama reiterated, clearly making sure he had heard the young Uchiha right.

"Yes. The leader of the Akatsuki goes by Pain." Itachi confirmed, well away of the bizarreness of his name. "His right hand, Konan, also hails from Amegakure. The two seem to be the ones in charge of the operations." he mused. "I have not been there long enough to have acquired any information on their battle tactics, though they claim to be working towards world peace." the words sounding odd on his tongue.

They listened as Itachi continued on, listing the members of the organization. "Those two have collected a number of S-Ranked criminals to push whatever plan they have forward. Jūzō Biwa formerly of Kirigakure, Sasori formerly of Sunagakure, Deidara formally of Iwagakure, Kakuzu formally of Takigakure, Orochimaru formerly of Konohagakure, and Zetsu of unknown origin. These six are currently members. Tobi is, within the organization, of unknown origin. He also participates in organization duties, though he is not an official member. His role is still unknown." pausing slightly before adding, "Though, this is merely an alias. From what I have been told and seen, his true name is Madara Uchiha."

Hiruzen's hand twitched at the mention of his old student, a far off look entering his eyes as he spoke. "I see." the man settled on sighing out, Tobirama pointedly not looking at his student as an aura of slight ire escaped him. For both not mentioning Madara, assuming he knew, and for the mention of a Konoha rogue.

The silver-haired man glowered, "All notable threats that will need dealt with when we have time." glancing over at Itachi, "Madara is an issue that will need to be discussed at length when we have more information on how he could still be around. For him, I'm sure he was able to find a way. However, you also mentioned Kakuzu formerly of Takigakure. He once attempted to assassinate Hashirama, though that was long ago. How is it that he is still alive, all these years later?"

"Immortality." Itachi deadpanned, pressing Tobirama's increased ire at the mention of Madara being involved in all this to the side. "To an extent. His jutsu allows him to take the organs of others and integrate them with his own. In other words, as a piece of his own body stops working, he can simply replace it with a new one."

"And which of these members is your partner?" Hiruzen pried, the image of his polite yet brutal partner entering Itachi's mind.

With his hands resting in his lap, Itachi reported, "I have been placed as the partner of Jūzō Biwa. We have not been on many missions yet, though there have been enough for me to have a rough idea of his fighting style. He is a swordsman with a vicious battle-style, though his attacks are thought out and coordinated. He fights with precision, notably showing a preference for battle formations."

His voice was cold despite his betrayal of the man, not a speck of friendliness filtering into his tone. The two had made it quite clear at the beginning of their work relationship that neither of them expected loyalty of the other; only cooperation and perhaps mercy if it was clear the other was going to suffer.

"Of the missions you've taken part in, what are they like?" Hiruzen asked as the two processed the information regarding his partner. "What seems to be their short term goal?"

"The Akatsuki is currently taking missions all across the country." Itachi mused, "These jobs are mostly comprised of ones the villages won't take or do not want in their shinobi's records. Whether it be the assassination of a neighbouring leader or the transportation of illegal goods. We have been instructed to take on odd jobs for now in order to build up enough reputation. That is all I know of them thus far, though I'm sure in time more information will be revealed. I have only been there a month and do have a record of betrayal, so it's natural that they would be wary of me."

Tobirama nodded, tapping his hand idly on the chair as he considered, "And what was your cover, to be able to come here without any suspicion being raised?"

The pre-teen glanced over at the silver-haired man, idly holding his sleeve's fabric in his hand as he explained, "We are allowed to do as we wish in the times between missions. Jūzō and I usually just work on our formations or train during our free time, but I told him I wanted to take our current free time to do some research on Orochimaru and prepare for the day when he attacks me."

Seeing the face Hiruzen pulled, Itachi sighed, "I apologize, Lord Hokage, but I won't allow myself to be killed by him." that would be Sasuke's job, one day. "At the very least, I should be prepared to defend myself. Not to mention it's a moderately realistic cover."

"Precisely. It's for the best." Tobirama approved, "Not that the day will ever come, if we plan this correctly."

Shifting in his seat, Itachi questioned, "Do you wish for me to kill him, you mean?" considering it as he mused, "Friendly fire has been a reoccurring theme that doesn't seem to be a punishable offence by Pain's standards."

Or, well, Kakuzu has gotten away with it plenty.

"No, that's not what I meant." Tobirama shook his head. "We need to find a way to pull you out of the mission if possible. This might mean faking your death, claiming some sort of jutsu forced your actions, exposing Danzo's blackmail, you luring them out from the safety of their village, or something else entirely. There are many options to explore."

The ravenet stilled at this.

He...wasn't excluded from the shifting systems?

Chapter Text

"I can still finish my mission." the dark-haired boy shook his head, calm despite the uncertainty that swelled in his stomach. Eyes drifting between the two senior shinobi, he pressed, "I'm not technically a part of this village anymore. No one will expect me to return, so it won't reflect poorly on the village if I proceed."

Tobirama quirked a brow, crossing his legs and leaning forward as he spoke in a steady tone. "I am well aware that you could, in theory, continue on with your mission. That is not the point. The point is that these changes are being made for a reason."

It felt as if there was a fire kindling in his chest as he objected, one that should have theoretically been stomped out by the clan and Danzo long ago. "To help the current and future villagers and make sure they are ready in both times of war and peace." he nodded, "But there's no way to do that without someone to do the dirty work."

"It's true that the life of a shinobi is gruesome," Tobirama spoke steadily, watching Itachi with careful eyes without a waver to his voice. "However, it is unrealistic to place all of this darkness on one person. The more a person holds, the easier it is for them to crack. That was the point of the ANBU - to spread the suffering that was inevitable with this lifestyle across the many. Not to pile as much of it as possible on each person until they're unable to operate. You have had more than your fair share of darkness."

His words made sense, and yet, Itachi found the thoughts uneasing if not a bit insulting even. "I am still plenty able to operate." He spoke firmly, though he kept his tone in check as he continued, "The possibility of leaving the darkness was destroyed the moment I decided to kill my clansmen." he spoke, voice and eyes steady as he did so. That dreadful night had killed every Uchiha in one way or another. His clansmen were dead, right alongside Sasuke's innocence and his own light. "The only light that remains in me is that of my mangekyou, and even that will someday fade. The only thing I want from this life is to be used to my fullest capabilities by the village and Sasuke. That is the only light I will ever be able to enjoy."

"Does it really bring you joy? Or have you convinced yourself that this is the best you'll ever have?" the silver-haired shinobi prompted, red eyes focused intently on Itachi's darker ones. "It brings you joy to know Sasuke cries at the thought of his lost family? To know he cries in his sleep each night, whether he realizes it or not? Or that he can't manage to meditate for longer than ten minutes without fleeing the room? The way he can barely look me in the eye due to its hue?" he mused, "Or perhaps it's the cold ground you find yourself laying on each night, hidden behind an abundance of traps and waking at the smallest shift? The way you keep your sharingan active almost all the time, adding to your already damaged body."

"No." Itachi's tone sharpened despite his passive posture, strained as he kept the bark from his voice. "I enjoy the thought of Sasuke growing old and being able to fulfil himself. Of a future for our clan, if Sasuke so chooses, where the young can grow to be a part of the village without having to be shrouded in the darkness of old grudges. It brings me peace to be able to act as a stepping stone for my future nieces and nephews; for my village to be safe from war, even if only for a little while longer."

Tobirama pressed his lips together, not commenting on the young Uchiha's defensive tone. "You want Sasuke to live a long and fulfilled life at the expense of your own. To die as the last Uchiha to know of your clan's darkness?" he shook his head, "Sasuke is no more deserving of those things than you are. You both deserve to see your clan become one with the village, to have a safe place for any heirs you may produce. Neither of you should be drowning in darkness; it's the village's fault that you are, so it's up to the village to bring you up for air."

"I'm his big brother and a shinobi of Konoha." Itachi tried to put things into perspective, "It's my duty to make sure they both prosper."

Without his brother or village, there was no point in living.

"I'm your senior shinobi and a former Hokage." Tobirama frowned, unrelenting as he seemed to drill holes through the boy with his eyes. "In the same way you have a duty towards Sasuke, I have a duty towards you as a child of the village."

Hand reaching up to lightly press against the spot between his sore temples, Itachi frowned, "I'm not a child. I'm a shinobi." he argued, hand lowering as he saw the way Tobirama stilled with his words. A heavy silence filled the air, Hiruzen glancing between the two as the silver-haired man exhaled deeply.

"Itachi. Hiruzen tells me you've shown a deep interest in the past." he finally spoke, resting his arm on the chair and curling his fingers into a stiff fist. Itachi's brows rose at the change of subject, nodding hesitantly. "Allow me to tell you an account, then. Are you familiar with the shinobi Kawarama Senju?"

The name did seem familiar, and after a moment of searching Itachi's memories that could be related to Tobirama, he found it. His voice lost the slight sharpness as he gave his quiet reply, fingers rubbing against each other as he sat them in his lap. "Your brother, a casualty in the warring states period."

"Correct. A very talented young shinobi, one far above average for his age. He spent years training alongside our other brothers, working hard to protect our clan. He swore that he would do anything to protect us, just as we would do anything to protect him." Tobirama mused, words calm and restrained.

"He was sent out and into battle at age six, dying by seven. He proclaimed many times that he would give his life for the clan, lined up right along with the elder shinobi as we went into battle. Carrying the weight of the clan's old burdens, he died exactly as he wished to; right alongside many others twice his age. Do you think he deserved this fate?"

While the automated response of, 'no', rested on Itachi's tongue, he did not voice it. He was well aware of what the man meant to say, the story filtering through his mind on a loop. There was no world in which a seven-year-old deserved to die, regardless of whether he wanted to or not. There was so much he was sure Kawarama missed out on - times of peace he probably couldn't have imagined. Instead, he died unbearably young, acting as one of the bases of Konoha's inspiration. Even so... "Of course not. He had a future; I'm sure there were many things he could have accomplished if he had lived longer."

"So do you." Tobirama sighed, "You don't need to bury yourself for this village or Sasuke. You're only twelve; in this day and age, shinobi can live beyond what was imaginable back then. Turning thirty is no longer an exceptional feat. There are many who make it to fifty or even sixty these days. You've barely reached half of twenty-five, let alone any real milestones. You still have much time left."

"To do what, exactly?" Itachi finally let out, eyes drifting to his fingers. "Sasuke wants me dead. My clan is gone by my hand. My former friends will only ever greet me with a kunai from here on out. Strangers fear me and want me eliminated. Even if I did leave the Akatsuki, there is nowhere for me to go. The organization could target the village if I stay here, but there would truly be no point in existing if I went into hiding. If I'm with the Akatsuki, at least there will be some significance to what I'm doing."

"You can have significance outside of the village." Tobirama's tone seemed to soften ever so slightly, the seriousness of it smoothing over just a bit. "There is significance in giving Sasuke the joy of an elder brother and your friends the happiness of being with you. Existing is significant on its own. It may not be easy, but we will find a way to make it possible for you to leave and start a new chapter. We aren't saying you need to quit your life as a shinobi- we only want you to take a step back and rest, if not for your sake then for the sake of others around you. You can't help anyone if you're dead."

Lips pressing together, Itachi eyes the man, uncertainty swelling despite his straightened back. Worth outside of the village. Outside of his clan. Itachi knew it was possible on some level, and yet it conflicted with the flashes of his own blood-covered body he saw in each of his dreams. With how far he'd gone, was it really possible to return to the light? Did he even deserve to at this point?

He wasn't sure, though he did know one thing was for certain.

If this man was telling the truth and he truly did plan on doing everything in his power to prevent more suffering for the villagers, Itachi should help in any way he could. Even if he wasn't quite sure his contributions would be nearly as large under the shelter and restrictions of the village.

He would also be lying if he refused to acknowledge the yearning that came at the mention of being able to hold his little brother once more. To be able to apologize for all he'd done and pull Sasuke close would be unreal, to say he was sorry to Kakashi and Tenzo for not saying goodbye. To visit Shinko at her teashop or chat with Himuka at the fruit stands once more.

"The Akatsuki's intel gatherers are quite skilled. It would be difficult to stay hidden here for long. Staying would paint a target on Konoha. The Akatsuki knows I've gathered at least a bit of intel on them. They'll send someone after me, whether it be to silence me or as retribution." the weary words left his mouth, throat unbearably dry.

Tobirama pressed his fingers together against his striped chin, quiet for a moment before musing, "Not necessarily. Depending on how we do this, we may find a way to end this without excessive bloodshed. After all, beyond needing to remove you, the group is an issue that will need to be dealt with eventually."

Fingers drumming against his pale skin, the man glanced towards Hiruzen. "Sending a spy out to scope the organization has given us some very important intel: That their goal is supposedly world peace. Since they've been marked as a suspicious group, I can only presume their methods are questionable. Perhaps there is a middle ground we can find. One that will help both of us reach our goals. I'd say it's safe to say peace talks have not been offered nor made yet?"

"No, they have not to the best of my knowledge." Hiruzen shook his head, "Though I can look through Danzo's office to see if he has anything in his documents. He was the one to bring this group to our attention, after all, so it's possible he will have something that could help." turning towards Itachi. "From what you've seen thus far, do you believe these talks are worth the risk of alerting them of our knowledge?"

Itachi thought back to Pain and Konan, a small frown lining his lips. "From what little I've seen, I believe there is a possibility that they could go well. Though, as I said, my knowledge surrounding the organization's leaders is not very far-reaching. I can't claim to know what is motivating them nor how they'll react to such an offer."

Chapter Text

Hiruzen considered this, leaning back in his seat as he listened to the words of the young Uchiha. Itachi believed peace talks were a possibility, however, there was one large problem with such a plan. "We do have to consider that many of its members are S-Rank rouges, however. To open communications with them could lead to unrest for the villages they come from."

After all, it wouldn't look good for them to speak with the enemies of their fragile allies. Whether it was in private or not, if word got out, it could have long-lasting effects. Even if the other villages didn't attack, it wouldn't exactly help their view of Konoha. This could be detrimental if another war came around and they had to choose who to support.

"If it helps," Itachi considered, "The two leaders, Pain and Konan, are not technically rogue shinobi. They might have been rogue shinobi of Amegakure at one point, but this is no longer the case. Any bounties placed on them would have been taken down since they managed to successfully seize power. So if you can speak with them as the leaders of Amegakure, it will look much better than if you were to reach out to the organization as a whole."

After all, as they say, the victors write history. No one would be out for the two without some sort of reward. The war had ended years ago, so any Hanzo loyalists should be long gone by now. Let alone the ones with enough cash to offer up a bounty on a villager leader.

Tobirama stood, moving across the room and picking up a folder from underneath one of the many stacks of papers. He opened it up, flipping through the thick book. "That is true, but the two of them haven't done anything to land them in either of the other village's bingo books? With the sorts of missions you've described, it's possible their identities might be known regardless of how the civil war ended."

Shaking his head lightly, Itachi explained, "Neither of them seem to go out on missions other than a few recruitments I've heard of. Pain doesn't seem to come out of wherever he stays very often, usually giving us our orders indirectly. As for Konan, she doesn't seem to leave the village very often. More often than not she spends her time handling the affairs of the village and carrying across Pain's words to the villagers. They're most likely trying to keep themselves hidden so that when they do move on to larger operations they can do so without nearly as much suspicion."

After all, if someone managed to line up their faces, it would be a dead giveaway as to where they were hosting operations. It would cause issues for not only the Akatsuki itself, but their village as well.

"Good." a sharp nod came from Tobirama as he finished flipping through the oversized list of wanted rogues. "If that's the case, we can settle on a spot to meet under the guise of discussing importations or something of that nature. We'll both know of the true nature of the meeting, but this will be a suitable explanation. We can figure out the details on how we'll handle their members afterwards."

Itachi ran over the plan in his mind, trying to find any gaps in the course of action.

They would meet up with Pain and Konan to figure out what their goals were and whether or not they were an actual threat. If they were, they would try to defuse the situation by finding equal footing. If they weren't, which was more than likely not the case, then the matter would settle itself. Afterwards, it would be far easier to handle the rogue shinobi they had following them. Whether it meant the group merely disbanding or the elimination of the S-Class criminals.

Best-case scenario, it would be a rather simple task. Unfortunately, things rarely worked out like that. Instead, the worst-case scenario played in the pre-teen's mind. "What will we do if they reject your request to meet? Or become hostile once you reveal your knowledge of their group. They could very well launch an early attack on Konoha."

Not to mention the fact they'd most likely end up interrogating him once they realized their position had somehow been leaked. He and Orochimaru would both surely have suspicion cast on them even with their rogue statuses.

Hiruzen interlocked his fingers, letting out a sigh at his question. "If they refuse to meet with us, we'll have to resort to one of our earlier plans. As for if they become hostile, we'll have no choice but to fight. It's better now than later, while their forces are still incomplete."

"I see." Itachi settled on, tired eyes scanning over the man's serious expression. "It will take at least a day or so for the message to be received, then an additional day or two for them to have time to discuss their course of action and send their response. During this time, will I remain undercover as to not arouse suspicion?" unaware of how swiftly they intended to attempt this.

Tobirama shook his head, returning from his spot by the documents as he slid a page over to Itachi. "Yes and no. You will report to Pain and request time off to seek out Tsunade. From what I hear, she was last seen in Takigakure and has become quite the healer. Explain the long term benefits of having her look at your eyes - if she can find a way to at least slow their decay, you'll be able to carry on with Akatsuki duties for far longer."

The image of a blonde woman could be seen on the paper, her village overview sheet. He'd seen her once or twice before, her face alongside summaries of the Second War and the few sections over medical ninjutsu.

"We don't necessarily expect you to find her." Hiruzen explained, "This is more so just to fill time while we speak with them to avoid putting you in excessive danger. She's been off the grid for a while now, so if you can't get in contact with her, it will be no surprise. If you do manage it, though, it will be a welcome one. You'll have until our meeting is over to find her. After that, you will be recalled to the village and we can work from there to get you settled back in."

Giving a small nod, Itachi sat the sheet down. A tracking mission. He'd been on quite a few during his time as an ANBU member - after all, the younger the shinobi the less likely they'd have suspicion cast upon them by the target. He wasn't a master by any means, but he'd say he had enough skill to at least make a worthy attempt. "Understood. Upon finding her am I to request she returns?"

Tobirama nodded, though Hiruzen huffed in amusement. "I highly doubt that will be enough to bring her home. She's been refusing every agent that manages to find her for years now."

Brow twitching, Tobirama remarked, "Do you truly have zero control over any of your students?" rubbing his temple before turning to Itachi. He held out his hand, taking ahold of Itachi's small arm. "I'll mark you with the Flying Thunder God Technique's seal. It is a marking made with my unique formula, so she should be able to recognize it. Even if she doesn't, it requires a fair amount of chakra to create. Enough that she should be able to recognize it as mine, if nothing else. Tell her I've returned and need to speak with her. It should bring her home, if nothing else to come after what she believes to be an imposter." he spoke, tone shifting into light amusement.

Lifting his hand up and pointing his wrist outwards to the elder shinobi, Itachi nodded in confirmation. "I'll make sure to show her, should I manage to find her." watching as the man rolled up the cloak's long sleeves. A pale arm was exposed, Tobirama frowning in what Itachi assumed was concentration as he wove his chakra against the pre-teen's wrist. The very same icy blue chakra from earlier sinking into him.

"Good." Tobirama gave a hum of approval, tapping Itachi's arm twice as he finished. "This will also give me a way to travel to you right away should I need to." slowly releasing his arm, Tobirama tapped the side of his face lightly. "Now that I think of it, I should mark Sasuke too, in case something goes wrong. Tsunade and Hiruzen as well..."

The man shook his head, seeming to set the issue to the side for now. A matter to be settled later, more likely than not.

Itachi lowered his arm, feeling a tingle run up it as Tobirama's chakra soaked into him. He would expect it to be fridged and biting, but instead, it felt almost like a fresh breeze was brushing against his skin. "Alright. Is there anything else we need to discuss before I go to meet up with Pain?"

Well, actually, it would probably end up being Konan. Details, details. It was all but the same thing, from what he'd seen thus far.

Tobirama shook his head after a long moment of consideration, deciding, "I believe that is all for now, so long as you have the necessary supplies to travel? Do you need any food or a restock on traps before you go?"

"I have enough cash to buy some once I head into the next town," he assured the man. While he had originally planned to either sneak into town or take some of the non-perishable items from the compound, that was no longer necessary. If he was going to leave anyway, it was less of a risk to buy it in the smaller towns.

"If you're sure, then that's all for now." the silver-haired man nodded in parting, warning the young Uchiha as his henge reappeared, "Be careful. I'll take care of Sasuke and the village. In turn, I expect you to pay yourself the same respects."

Though Itachi didn't quite understand Tobirama's need to make a point of it, he gave a promising nod. "Understood, Lord Hokage."

Just as the words left his mouth, he was gone, sliding out of the door like a whisper in the wind. Disguise in tact once more, he did not stop to look at the ANBU stationed outside, trailing towards the exit without comment.

By the time he made it outside, free from the long and tiring meeting, it was half-past noon. It would be a long walk to making it back to Amegakure, but at least it would give him plenty of time to grow familiar with the chakra engraved along his arm.

The feeling of a fresh breeze had begun to subside, though it was definitely still there. Itachi could feel it contrasting against his own chakra as he worked his way towards the village walls, the chakra signature feeling like an extra layer atop his own.

Once he was out of the village and far enough to release his henge, his red eyes scanned over the formula. It no longer glowed in the same way it had when it was first laid upon him, instead sitting directly below his skin. The mark was invisible without the sharingan, though it seemed to glow subtly when he pressed his own chakra against it.

He spent the time in between Konoha and Ame toying with the seal, kneading against it gently with his chakra. It was fluid and strong at the same time, moving in a steady rhythm against itself in every-which-way.

Itachi memorized it, knowing it would be similar to the person he'd be tracking over the next week or so. Chakra tended to have the same sort of feel for those within a clan, so Tsunade's shouldn't be too far off from his. If anything, it might be a bit less fluid and more vibrant due to her Uzumaki blood.

Lord First had married to an Uzumaki woman, he knew this much. As for his children's spouse, the ravenet wasn't sure. Hopefully the Senju's chakra would be close enough to Tobirama's that it would be of use to his search.

Chapter Text

It took some time, but he eventually made it to Amegakure after about a day and a half of travelling. He was sure to limit his breaks, not wanting to arrive near the time of the letter and risk being tangled in their discussion. If he arrived and got permission early, more likely than not, Pain and Konan would discuss it and possibly talk with any nearby members about it. They wouldn't bother sending someone out to bring him back while he's travelling with such vague aim. They could in theory call a meeting using their shadow holograms, but that required a lot of chakra. Not to mention it would be easier to lie with his appearance so disfigured and hidden.

He allowed himself to go through the various security checks as he entered the village, the sky that had slowly darkened the closer he got finally letting loose. The rain fell over the village, soaking Itachi's outfit. The hat atop his head at least shielded his face, protecting it from the soft rain as he moved.

By the time he was finished with passing through the security checks, half an hour had passed. The sky was now darkening from the time rather than the rain, his sharingan helping to guide him through the dim streets.

Most of the civilians were hidden away in their homes, most likely beginning dinner right about now. Some shinobi lingered in their doorways, speaking to others before parting to meet with their families. These appearances slowly disappeared the later it got, the streets emptying with the exception of a few guards.

They moved through the village, alert yet calm. Those who saw him merely offered a nod, well aware that the symbol of a red cloud was a symbol of protection.

Well, in this village it was.

Itachi sent back a nod to those he saw, keeping his face covered by the safety of the wooden hat and feeling the warmth of the crows hidden in his coat. The guards lingering in front of the village's centre building parted as he flashed his sharingan, side-stepping for him to pass with ease.

Carefully opening the door to the building, he entered. He took steady steps as he passed those busy with late-night paperwork, heading towards the back of the building and into a small room. It was one of two storage rooms, filled to the brim with non-perishables in case of a poor harvest.

He ignored the piles of food since he had stopped to eat not too long ago in one of the nearby villages. Even if he hadn't, he was well aware they had food stocked specifically for them in the hideout. There was no reason to take the food the civilians may one day need.

Instead, slim fingers traced over one of the seemingly empty corners of the room. He easily found the seal that had been hidden under a high-level genjutsu, pouring some of his chakra into it.

From there, he sat back and waited for entry to be granted. It didn't typically take more than 5 or 10 minutes for Konan or Pain to notice and open the seal, though as luck would have it, this was just enough time for him to run into another member.

The pre-teen remained sitting, not bothering to look over his shoulder as he felt the somewhat familiar chakra of the elder member. He was weary, however, mangekyou shifting into existence once more as he covered himself in a preemptive genjutsu.

"Hello, Itachi." the polite words came from beside him as Orochimaru knelt down, pressing some of his own chakra into the seal as he spoke. The man's fingers missed by a few inches, unable to see exactly where it was, but coated the floor in enough of his energy that some leaked in regardless. He remained kneeling next to Itachi, waiting for one of their leaders to open the passage.

The ravenet merely gave a small nod in greeting, not bothering to reply as the snake beside him gave a false smile. Orochimaru opened his mouth to say more, but never got the chance as the seal ahead of them glowed gently.

They both reached their hands out to touch it, Itachi shifting his hand to the far left while Orochimaru laid his across the middle. Within seconds they were transported to the basement-like area of the centre building, Konan eyeing the two passively.

Her gaze lingered on Orochimaru just a second longer than it did Itachi, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly before addressing them both. "Welcome back. Is there anything of immediate importance to report?" calm tone betraying the momentary shift of her expression.

The man beside him shook his head, a pleased look crossing his face as he reported, "Not a thing. The mission went according to plan, though Sasori opted to return separately and at a later date."

"I see." she nodded, "Be sure to fill out your team's full mission report by tomorrow morning, then." effectively bidding him to leave as she turned her full attention to Itachi. "Now. Jūzō turned in the report for your last mission and mentioned that you would be taking some time off to make some...preparations. Did you happen to come across anything of significance that you think Pain or I should know?"

Shaking his head lightly, Itachi finally spoke. He tried to keep his exhaustion from his words, though he wasn't sure how well he was able to do considering he'd just run for a day and a half and was now soaked with sore eyes. "Nothing of particular importance was found." he shook his head, "Though it did serve as some...inspiration, for personal objectives if Pain and you will so allow me the time."

Raising a brow, she nodded, glancing him over briefly. "Once you've rested a bit, we can discuss it."

"I'm ready to discuss it whenever you two are willing. Preferably sooner rather than later." firm in his words despite the way she sighed at him.

A brief silence filled the room, a still atmosphere lingering despite the lack of hostility coming from either of them. Uncomfortable, to say the least, but Itachi didn't mind too much if it meant he could get to Pain in a timely manner.

After a moment, Konan idly waved a hand towards the rest of the hideout, settling on ordering, "Go take a shower and eat something, then be in the meeting room in half an hour." her eyes narrowing ever so slightly. "No sooner, no later."

He gave a nod, moving past the woman with a mere murmur of, "Understood." as he headed out of the entryway. Upon opening the door, he was met with their lounge and kitchen.

He was still getting used to the idea of their base being so...house-like. In theory, it made sense. When they weren't out on missions, it was far more realistic to have somewhere for them to settle than to have them spread out throughout the village. It made for easy access and fast protection of their organization, and yet, it was unsettling on some layers to walk past Jūzō snacking on warm ribs while Orochimaru occasionally snagged a piece.

It was all too humanizing, but then, it wasn't really something Itachi could avoid with his position as a spy.

"Hey." Jūzō's weighty voice came just as he passed by, Itachi pausing and looking down at the sitting man with his ever-present sharingan. "That didn't take nearly as long as you said it would. Are you finished or is this just a break?" sharp and to the point as per usual.

Frowning, Itachi eyed the man from behind the sagging collar of his coat. "I've finished with my past arrangements, though I am preparing to make more. In other words, I would suggest you continue requesting single-man missions for the time being."

Though Jūzō seemed less than pleased about the possibility of having to continue to take solo missions, he merely nodded, lifting a piece of heavily-sauced meat and flipping his wrist outwards for Itachi. "Got it. Estimated time of return?"

Itachi glanced between the meat and the older shinobi, silently pushing down the real answer. "Two to three weeks."

Orochimaru hummed, "Interesting. What will you be taking this time off for, then?" interest shining behind piercing eyes as he tilted his head.

"Doesn't matter." Jūzō broke through Itachi's initial frown towards the man, who pushed the extended piece of meat further in the ravenet's direction. "Just be sure to return in the estimated time frame or send a letter if it'll be longer. I don't need to waste my time on smaller missions if you're here to do bigger ones with." eyes narrowing, "While you're at it, you better be keeping yourself up to standard."

"Mhm." he settled on, lifting his hand just to carefully push the larger one down. "I am more than capable of managing my upkeep. You, on the other hand, should be sure to keep up with our formations. It would be unfortunate if we end up having to extend our training time."

After all, it wasn't as if Itachi was going to forget them. He didn't particularly think Jūzō would either, but it wasn't as if they'd been partnered long enough for him to be certain of this fact.

The man only gave a soft snort at Itachi, bringing the food to his mouth and tearing at it with a nod of agreement.

Orochimaru smiled in what seemed to be amusement at the two, crooked head leaning forward to rest on his propped elbow as he eyed Itachi. "I'm not quite sure I can agree with the upkeep bit, Itachi. You'll catch a cold if you continue to wonder in wet clothing; not to mention I can tell by your hands alone that you aren't eating well enough. Are you certain you don't want some?"

The snake-eyed man's seemingly concerned words filtered through Itachi without earning anything more than an unimpressed stare. Itachi couldn't help but feel a bit ridiculed, to think that the man thought he was being subtle with his wants.

Orochimaru wanted him to take care of his body, and Itachi was no fool as to why.

"I'm certain. I have plans to find something more to my liking after I finish my shower, but do enjoy your meal." dismissing himself and not bothering to comment as he heard Orochimaru's eerie coos from behind.

The yellow-eyed man tsked to Jūzō, disregarding the fact that the swordsman would undoubtedly ignore him, "Teenagers, so picky."

Silence and quiet chewing were all that remained as Itachi stepped further and further away, eventually finding himself in his room.

The last remnants of noise disappeared as he shut his door behind him, crimson eyes darting over the room for any shifts from the last time he was there. When he found nothing, he deactivated his eyes, a quiet breath leaving him.

He slid off his soggy shoes, grimacing slightly at the realization. He'd more than likely just finished dragging water through the hideout without thinking about it.

The pre-teen settled on sending a crow out to clean it up for him, the boy releasing the one that had been nesting in the back of his wet coat collar. It flew with a rag from the pile of folded laundry on his shelf, not so much as pausing in its efforts. The small animal was off in no time, Itachi moving past the shelf and still-made bed without a second thought. The red fabrics and dark woods flowed past him as he made way for his bathroom, room almost forgotten in the mix of the last week or so.

He'd have to be sure to bring his stored cash and items if this was truly going to be one of his last visits to the group.

Which was...still odd to think about, he mulled over as he disrobed and quickly got into the shower to wash his hair. He was set to leave this place soon. It wasn't as if he were particularly attached -- it had barely been over a month since he joined. Even so, a mere week ago, he had planned to spend the next decade or so of his life in this hideout.

Now he was set to go...well, straight into unknown territories. Sure, they had mentioned that Tsunade was last seen in Takigakure, but that was only a temporary stop. He'd go there and then follow her tracks for roughly a week or so if things went according to plan, but after that it really depended on the meeting's outcome.

If the Akatsuki refused to or found themselves unable to find level footing, they would most likely begin the process of killing the members off. A full-fledged fight would start if that was the case.

Meanwhile, if things went a bit smoother, their options were more open. Tobirama and Hiruzen had said that they wanted him removed from the mission, though that would be difficult to do even if things went well. Revealing that he was a mole would create tension, potentially destroying the fragile balance. They'd need to find a way to work him into the village, though he was still unsure how they planned to do that.

He allowed the water to run over his face, frowning at the thought. He'd need to be especially careful with his words over the next few weeks. It wouldn't do for him to misspeak and contradict either himself or someone else's perception of the situation.

With these thoughts in mind, he slipped out of the shower, making way to the conjoined bedroom after drying off. It shouldn't be too hard, especially since he was going to be out searching for the next week or so.

Itachi slid his shaded purple shirt over his head, matching pants coming soon after. Once his necklace was reattached to his neck and ring readorned, he slipped on his spare coat. He did so swiftly, knowing he only had ten or so minutes left before he had to be with Konan and Pain.

His shoes were still wet, though he used the shower towel to remove the excess water so that he could slip them on. It was slightly uncomfortable against his leg warmers, though he knew it would pass soon. This was, in contrast to his hair, which he was sure would take a few hours to fully dry. He left it down for now, the strands pulled neatly behind him so that they didn't tangle.

Preparing to head out, he stashed his sleeves and legs with an adequate amount of weapons. On his hip was his sword, right next to his money pouch.

He'd normally leave the bag, but since he was unsure of when or if he would return, he kept it at his side. The blade wasn't something he tended to use in combat anymore, but it was something he wanted to keep nonetheless.

It had seen him through his worst moments, sitting drenched in just as much blood as Itachi himself over the years.

A sword was a loyal companion. It was one of the few things Itachi could agree with Jūzō on.

The pre-teen cleared his head of this, however, instead giving his room what could very well be his last goodbye. He left after a brief once-over, making his way through the halls and towards the shared living space once more.

Orochimaru and Jūzō had both disappeared, leaving the room silent as Itachi moved towards the fridge.

He found some cabbage, covering a few pieces with tomato paste and covering it with cheese. He spent the next five minutes idly eating piece after piece, downing it with some water from the sink.

By the time he finished eating and putting things away, there were only four minutes remaining. Just enough to make his way down the opposite hall and wait patiently for the start time.

Itachi waited by the door for about a minute, only entering as the clock ticked over and onto the correct time. He shut the door behind him, eyes lifting up to meet the other two.

They stood across the room, plans and documents lining the walls and shelves. None laid on the center table, however. It was laid bare, though Itachi stepped forward to meet them across from it even so.

"Itachi, welcome." Konan cut through the quiet, noting, "I've already informed Pain of the recent journey's results."

Well, more so its lack of results, but that went unsaid.

Pain merely nodded in confirmation, Itachi listening as the elder shinobi frowned. "It's unfortunate that you were unable to find anything of much use. Though Konan tells me it has led you to a new one instead?"

"That is correct." the ravenet's back straightened, words leaving his mouth at an easy pace. "While gathering the information, I came across some of his teammate as well."

Konan's lips fell into a firm line, the orange-haired man questioning, "Lord Jiraiya or Lady Tsunade, I presume you mean?"

"Mhm." he mused, "Lady Tsunade has been recently spotted in Takigakure. I had originally planned on seeking her out to find more information on Orochimaru, though this doesn't seem necessary anymore. I've acquired enough information to handle him easily, should the need come."

They didn't object to his threat. Not that he had expected them to - the snake was hardly one of their more valuable members. From what he'd learned, he was never supposed to be one at all. An allowed addition.

The two only listened to the young Uchiha speak, a vague speck of interest in their eyes. "It is my intention to seek her out and have her reverse some of the damage done to my eyes. If anyone is able to heal the optic nerves of a sharingan, it would be her."

"Yes, I'm sure the surge of use they received during your clan's downfall has left them in a less than ideal shape." Pain considered, the gears seeming to turn in his head as he spoke. "Very well, you may go. We will hold off on assigning you missions while you are away."

Konan added with a slight frown, "Though there is one thing you should look into for us while you're there." she suggested, sharing a brief look with Pain. "We'd like you to check on the jinchūriki that resides there. Her name is Fū, a young girl with vibrant green hair."

"The Seventail's jinchūriki..." Itachi considered despite his nod, knowing that Takigakure held the beast but unfamiliar with its jinchūriki. "Yes, understood. I will observe her while I am there. Is there anything specific you would like to know about her?"

The fact that they were interested in the holder of a tailed beast was far from a good sign, though he supposed there wasn't much to do about it for now. He'd have to make sure to let the hokages know about it when he next got the chance.

"If she still resides in the village, if she's being trained, and how guarded she is." Konan mused, "We have intel that claims she is under the protection of the village leader, though as you know, that says...little of the situation."

Yes, that was true. Naruto was technically under Hiruzen's protection, and yet that said very little of the run-down apartment and lack of guards. Honestly, it was a wonder the boy hadn't been stolen away yet with the small group in charge of watching him.

Itachi only nodded, however, agreeing with their orders for the moment. "I will find and watch her while I am away."

With that, the two seemed content to allow him his leave.

Chapter Text

Itachi gave himself one final look-over as he left the meeting. It wouldn't do to be unprepared for a week-long trip. Beyond the fact it would be an annoyance, it would slow down his tracking considerably. They'd said it was doubtful that he would be able to find her, but he wanted to at least do it to the best of his capabilities.

With this in mind, he went over the mental checklist.

He had cash to stop for food along the way, and if he really needed to, he could always deal with picking some fish from the rivers to eat.

The crow from earlier had returned, having taken to resting in the back of his coat collar.

Weapons lined his outfit, a secondary pair of clothes stored in the scroll on his left hip alongside his other belongings.

His medicine was also placed securely in said scroll, the young Uchiha silently reminding himself to take it before bed.

Headband removed, he set it alongside both items, the mission's aim requiring stealth rather than intimidation.

Alright.

Besides being tired from all the travelling and rain, he was fine to go. His first stop would be Kusagakure, which was about a day's journey from where he was currently.

As he left the hideout, sticking to the routes with overhangs to avoid getting any wetter than necessary, he considered the best course.

It was already night and the day had left him thoroughly worn out. He could have slept at the hideout, but he didn't want to risk overlapping too much with the peace offering. It would be better if he was at least out of the village when it arrived to avoid having to craft any additional lies or stances to defend.

Camping outside for the night would work fine, though it would cut down the amount of info he could gather if he slept at night. From what little he knew of Tsunade's habits, he did know that she was an avid gambler. With gambling often came alcohol and, well, Itachi doubted most of their patrons would be lingering around during the day. A few, but not the vast majority.

If he was there at night, he was sure he'd find much more information.

It was nearly midnight now, so if he continued on he could be there by late afternoon. After checking into a hotel and getting some food he could rest for a few hours so he'd be ready to go for the night.

Nodding slightly to himself as he left the village with only a slight dampness, he took a sharp turn towards the north. Yes, that would work. He could gather information for five or so hours at night and then be off around dawn if he found nothing. Finally, he could adjust his path depending on where the trail led from there.

Alright. Time to actually make his way there, Itachi mused as he popped a food pill into his mouth. The boy made a mental note to re-stock on them when he had a chance, his bag getting low.

Tree after tree he passed, watching as the concrete bases and muddy terrain shifted into lively nature over time. Itachi shoved down the burning in his chest, instead focusing his attention on the sky. It was pitch black, the moon growing smaller with each night.

It was no longer the focus of the sky. Instead, the small stars that had previously lingered beside it shone brightly. Night covered the ground in a thick layer of darkness, the only light coming from the patch of moon and small stars which were more than far enough to be rendered useless. Itachi enjoyed them even so, watching with tired red eyes as he slipped through the shadows.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

The sky slowly shifted over time, the lights becoming fainter and fainter as the pitch-black sky began fading to grey and into blue. The grass beneath him became greener and greener as things lit up, the dark-haired boy continued on for hours until he spotted something in the far distance.

Tall buildings loomed, stretching into the sky even as they hid behind the village gates. The long grass swayed around the village, rubbing against Itachi's legwarmers.

The pre-teen retrieved his hat, lifting it from his scroll to lay on his head.

It felt as though there was a fire burning in Itachi's chest, the orange buildings looming overhead doing little to help him repress this thought. He slowed his pace as he got closer and closer to the village, not wanting the pain to be evident and draw attention.

Pace steady, his back straightened as he made his way towards the gates.

Two guards stood in his path, a younger man and an older woman. The man stood to attention, stiff as he approached. Meanwhile, the woman turned her eyes to scan over him briefly.

Itachi's sharingan had deactivated, dark eyes looking up to meet hers. He'd been in her position before - stuck guarding the gates. Those days were always the slowest. It only became more and more boring with each person he'd run through security, but it was an important job nonetheless.

Over time, it became easy to pick out the good from the bad; not that there were many bad to begin with. He was sure this was even more so the case with such a small village.

Even with this in mind, he offered a small nod in greeting. He played through a mental checklist, avoiding any actions that would have put him on alert. There was still a younger guard present, meaning the boy might not have grown tired and lazy as some tended to do when they were on guard duty too often.

"Name, alliances, and purpose for entry?"

"Itatsi, allied to none, looking to wager with the local businesses." he allowed the words to come with ease, relaxing his posture as a thin smile traced his lips.

The woman narrowed her eyes at him, Itachi easily guessing what was going through her head. The shame he should have felt never reached him, her expression laying light on his shoulders. He didn't skip a beat, tilting his head towards her with a polite tone, "May I enter?"

Her nose scrunched up slightly, moving to the side so that he could enter. "Yeah, sure thing. Just go easy on it, alright kid?"

"Of course. Thank you." he mused, walking passed her and ignoring the criticizing pair of stares on his back. It was far from the first taboo he'd broken over the years.

As he entered the village, his hat was repositioned. Soft steps fell across the main road, the dark-haired boy casting his gaze upwards and towards the busy streets. A few Kusagakure shinobi cast glances towards him, the children on the street paying him little mind. Shop owners shouted out, beckoning any passersby towards their stalls.

Itachi ignored all three of the groups, walking quietly through the streets as he scanned the signs.

The Jasmine Dragon

Angel's Share

War Maiden

No, no, no...

There seemed to be an infinite number of shops filled with imports from Konoha, Suna, and Iwa. There were even a few stands holding items from Kumo and Kiri, though those were far fewer. Mingled in these were foods and trinkets from places unknown to the dark-haired boy. Had he not known better, it would be easy to mistake the village for a port town.

Itachi had never been to Kusagakure, and though he knew of its history, it was another thing altogether to see the effects of their efforts.

He settled on stopping by a street vendor after a moment of glancing around, figuring it would be faster to simply ask a local than to waste time seeking out a resting place on his own. Besides, it had been a while since his last meal and it would help contribute to his simple traveller pretext.

Glancing over the menu sign at the base of the cart, Itachi quickly decided on what to eat.

"Excuse me, could I get a bowl of kake udon?" he asked, hands drifting to his wallet as the man nodded.

Itachi pulled out his ryō, holding it as he waited for the man to prepare the meal. "One kake udon, comin' right up." the man's confirmation came, beginning to cook as the dark-eyed boy took a seat. "Haven't seen you around here before, you new to the village?"

"Mhm." he hummed out in verification, "I am." tilting his head back to look at the vendor as he inquired, "It seems like a nice village so far, though I was hoping to find a good place to rest for a bit after my journey. If I may ask, do you have any recommendations?"

Rubbing at his chin with one hand, the man slowly walked over to hand the boy his bowl. "Well, there are only really two places to stay around here. The Tiger's Eye downtown and Seventh Heaven over in the west part of the village. Tiger's Eye is a bit more pricy, but it's a nice little hotel if you've got the money for it. Otherwise, Seventh Heaven isn't too bad if not a little cramped."

Itachi passed over the payment, carefully taking the warm bowl in his hands. "I see. Thank you." glancing in the directions he pointed. He would have to check out both places and search the area for any chakra resembling Tobirama's. If he reached back far enough, perhaps he could remember how Kushina's had felt as well. Either would serve as a good base.

The conversation between the two died down as Itachi quietly ate his noodles, sitting on a nearby bench. The onions tasted fresh against his tongue, no doubt locally grown.

In what seemed like no time at all, the bowl was empty, a filling warmth dwelling in his stomach. Itachi carefully swiped a finger over his lips to make sure there was no residue, standing quietly.

It was late in the afternoon by now, the sky not yet dark but well on its way to be. He passed the vendor back his bowl, giving his thanks for the meal before turning back to the busy streets. More children were out, the ones who were most likely in school released for the day.

He walked passed them, passing along the road and towards the closer of the two hotels. The noise level had increased considerably as well, the small children talking to their parents in less than quiet tones as they asked for this or that and moved every which way.

The pre-teen only avoided them, not wanting the rowdy children to bump into him. He focused on making his way towards Seventh Heaven, blocking out the conversations around him.

When he did find the hotel, he paused in front of it. Itachi felt around at the chakra signatures within, closing his eyes as he compared them to the one on his arm and his dusty memory of Kushina's. He had been far too young to properly memorize it at the time, though her energizing aura had been strong enough that he was sure even Sasuke could have felt it on some level.

He didn't feel anything from within the hotel, none of the signatures feeling close enough to warrant checking out. The fact that the majority of them felt more like civilians than shinobi didn't help.

Not feeling anything, he cracked an eye open, shaking his head as he mumbled, "No, I should just pay the extra." seemingly making up his mind over where he was going to stay for the night to anyone who had seen him lingering.

He turned on his heel, making his way north. Perhaps he'd have better luck at the second hotel. He wouldn't be too surprised if nothing came from the other area either, but it was better to check just in case.

Itachi made his way through the streets once more, finding this hotel faster than he had the other one. It was among many other businesses, the gambling house catching his eye as he passed it. He made a mental note of its location for later, focusing on the well-furbished hotel ahead of him.

Feeling around at the chakra within, he once again felt nothing worth looking into.

A low sigh left his lips as he moved forward, saving the rest of the town for after his rest. For now, he headed up to the counter, pulling out his wallet once more. "One room for two nights, please." he ordered, waiting as the man behind the counter picked a key up off the array and slid them across the desk.

Itachi returned the gesture by sliding over the amount due according to their price board, nodding in thanks before turning to head upstairs. He moved towards his room slowly, his body tired from the long travel but luckily not burning as much as it could be. The food and extra pauses he'd taken throughout the night had helped, he supposed.

By the time he reached his room the sky was starting to grey. He opened the door, locking it behind him as he slid his shoes off. Doing the same for his hat, he sat it on the dresser by his bed.

Pulling out his storage scroll, he got the medication from within as he unzipped his coat. The crow that had been nesting within lifted as he undid his collar, flying over to rest on the pillow. Itachi paid it no mind even as it stared him down with a single annoyed red eye, setting himself on the side of the bed and leaning his head back.

One hand reached up to hold his eye open, the other dropping the liquid drops in one at a time. The coarse Kotarō burnt against his eyes, the young Uchiha adding two drops to each despite the pain that welled up as a result.

His lips fell into a tight line as he allowed it to settle, lowering his hands but keeping his head tilted back. He screwed the bottle up, not blinking to avoid any spilling over the edge. The medication was far too expensive to waste.

When he was sure it was finished, the boy put his head forward with a heavy blink. A pain swelled behind his eyes despite his inactive sharingan, Itachi pressing the backs of his hands to his closed eyelids and letting out a slightly shaky breath.

He sat like this for only a moment, head pounding as it flowed through his body. After what felt like an eternity but was more than likely only ten minutes, his chest loosened considerably.

The tired ravenet lowered his hands, vision blurring slightly as his eyes opened. He blinked a few more times, reaching out towards the direction of the bottle and re-sealing it in his scroll.

Itachi closed his eyes once more as he put it away, letting himself fall back and onto the bed. He manoeuvred himself so that his head was by his crow, pulling his feet up towards the upper half of the bed.

He fell asleep to the faint sound of his crow's preening, the bird sounding much further away than it was.

Chapter Text

It was only four hours later that he woke, the young Uchiha's eyes slowly drifting open. He didn't move right away as his vision focused, the small sliver of moon in the sky giving the room a faint glow. The stars had returned, shining brightly alongside it.

Itachi rubbed his eyes, sitting up after a brief moment and setting a hand to his chest. He felt a lot better than he had earlier, the potent medication all but erasing the pain in his chest for the time being. His eyes were still slightly off focus, but not enough to throw him off too badly.

As he rose from the bed, his gaze turned towards the resting crow on his pillow. He laid a single finger on its head, waking it. His hand retracted as it woke, the bird beginning to shake itself and move around the bed.

Meanwhile, he undid his ponytail and began combing through his hair with a brush from his scroll. Itachi didn't bother putting his Akatsuki cloak on this time, instead leaving it folded by the foot of the bed.

He did, however, change into his second pair of clothing. He now wore a long-sleeved black shirt with matching leggings, hair pulled into a loose bun in order to shift his appearance. He could always use genjutsu, but it'd be tedious to keep it up while travelling around so much. Not to mention he'd need to be flexible with his chakra tonight so he could keep an eye out for any notable signatures. The only exception to this came in his eyebags, which he concealed despite the tediousness. He knew very well just how prominent they were, and it wouldn't do to end up getting caught in one of Konoha's ally villages.

Sliding his shoes on, the pre-teen took a moment to glance over at his crow. He opened the window so it could follow him from a distance. It quickly flew away, leaving Itachi to check and make sure his wallet was still on his side before heading out.

He moved down the stairs once he was sure he was ready, vision mostly back to normal. The ravenet walked passed one or two people in the hallway, the noise having died down. He'd slept a bit later than he would have liked, but it wasn't a terrible overreach. It looked like the sun had been down for a few hours, which meant the gambling house should be active.

Passing by the front desk once more, he ignored the man's glance and focused on making his way through the front door. As he stepped out, there was a stark difference from earlier in the day.

He walked along the quiet roads, the only noise coming from the still-open businesses and a few drunkards passing by. The patrol shinobi carried on in their duties despite their suspicious glances toward him, the dark-eyed boy making his way to the gambling house. He didn't linger, not wanting to arouse suspicion.

As he reached the location, it merely became a matter of heading in.

No one stopped him as he slid into the brightly-lit building, eyes dancing over the front room. His ears zoned into the faint cheers and complaints in the back rooms, chakra washing over the ones within.

Once more, there was nothing of interest.

Itachi carried on nonetheless, well aware that Tsunade may have made a stop here recently. He came to the front desk, unblinking as the man behind it merely raised his brow. "Can I help you with something?"

"I'd like twenty-five red chips," he spoke, pulling out his wallet as he did so. He wasn't foolish enough to think anyone here would give the information for free, so he settled on getting the injury to his wallet over with.

The man behind the counter only gave a small grin of amusement as he handed over his cash, quick to pass him over the chips in question. "Trying to double up on your savings, huh?"

Though the guess was reasonable, Itachi only shrugged in response as he reached to take ahold of the chips. He held them in a stack, ignoring the man as he continued on despite his lack of response, "The room over on the left has some guys that're always down to play with some newbies, if you need some teachers."

Glancing over towards the door in question for only a brief moment, Itachi turned his unimpressed expression towards the man. Oh, he was sure they would love that, wouldn't they? Who wouldn't want to play against someone with little to no experience? Especially when there was a good chunk of cash on the line.

Unfortunately for them, he was no beginner.

This was far from his first go-around. It wasn't as if he'd never been on an intel-gathering mission before. With his ANBU status, such a feat would be impossible.

Even so, his feet moved softly against the floor, leading him to the room in question. He could go around all of the rooms if need be, but this certainly wasn't a bad place to start.

The door opened with a small creek, the boy stepping in. He could feel the shift in the room, the men and women within turning to see the newcomer. Itachi glanced over them, seeing the spark that appeared in most of their eyes as they saw him.

They were mid-game, separated into two rows of three. There were a total of six players, one cup in between each row. Itachi moved forward, sitting to the side as he waited for an opening. Either for them to switch to a new game or for another person to enter as his partner.

This came quicker than he thought it would, a few of them sending each other subtle glances or glares before an older-looking woman spoke up. "You know how to play?"

Giving a small shake of his head, Itachi lied through his teeth, "No, I don't."

He allowed his voice to be just a bit louder than usual, forcing his eyes open and out of their usual heavy state. His legs were crossed, the dark-haired boy enhancing his features so he looked more his age, if not younger. He watched her attentively, easily giving her his attention.

"Ah, that's alright. Gotta start somewhere. Want us to show you how?" she asked, sweet tone ringing in his ears.

Smiling in turn, he nodded, "Yes, please." to her. Behind his smile, he resisted rolling his eyes.

He shifted to give her more room as she came closer, holding two dice in one hand and a cup in the other. She settled herself across from him, a younger man frowning deeply at the woman. "Kichi, we shouldn't teach kids to gamble."

"If he wants to learn, it's up to him." she shot back with ire, turning her head to glare at him for a brief moment before refocusing on Itachi. "Now. I'll explain how it works, if certain people are done interrupting."

When silence rang through the room, she began. "It's an easy game, really. Anyone who knows how to count can play." she mused, moving her hands to follow the instructions she gave. "One person takes the dice and places them under the cup, shaking them enough to make them roll."

Itachi watched her place the dice on the floor and shake the cup, feigning attention as he sat with his legs crossed. He leaned forward as if to get a better look, listening as she continued. "They stop after a moment and the other player has to guess whether they have an even or odd number on them." motioning towards him with her head.

The pre-teen was silent for a brief moment, acting as though he was considering it. Instead, he felt out the chakra of those within the room. The majority of them had loose chakra signatures, meaning they more than likely weren't shinobi. Two, however, did. The man who had advised her against teaching him and another who'd yet to say anything. Their signatures were more construct, hinting at a shinobi lifestyle.

He weighed his options, deciding cheating was worth the risk. His luck had never been very good, but more often than not, a little genjutsu went unnoticed. Yes, Itachi decided, he was far less likely to be caught than he was to end up naturally playing each round how he wanted to. With this in mind, he leaked his chakra into the surrounding players in order to cast his genjutsu. "...odd?"

She lifted the cup, smiling as she saw a one and a five. "See, if this were a real game, you'd of lost and had to give up however many chips we'd been betting! If you had said even, though it would have been a win and you'd of gotten my chips. Get it?"

Giving a small huff at his apparent loss, Itachi nodded in understanding. "Got it."

He made no comment as she swooped the dice back up, waiting to see if his genjutsu would be called out. No one had said anything as of yet, the actual roll of a three and a two seeming to go unnoticed.

"So, ready to play for real?" she asked, eyes holding the same spark from earlier.

Itachi nodded in agreement, the man from earlier seeming unable to hold his words back anymore as he stood. He made his way over to Itachi, sitting down beside him with a tight frown. He ignored the woman's annoyed glare, sending her back one of his own. "Don't get your wires in a twist, I'll be leaving soon enough anyway."

Tilting his head up at the older man, Itachi stayed quiet as he turned to look down at him. "I'm not going to interfere if you want to play, but I ask that you think about this. Twenty or so red chips is a pretty good sum of money. You must've worked hard to get it all saved up, right?"

Well, not really. It was at most a few D-rank missions worth. Which would be a lot if he were a genin or civilian he supposed, but that was hardly the case. He'd been on far too many missions with payments much larger to bother worrying about the comparably small loss.

Not that he could say as such. Instead, he settled on assuring the man, "I did, but I don't mind losing it if I have to." filling his voice with what should appear as restrained excitement, "Lady Tsunade loses sometimes but she still plays."

"Miss...Tsunade?" the man deadpanned, resting a hand on Itachi's shoulder as he spoke. "That's not- She is the last person you should be trying to mimic. Saying she loses sometimes is a huge understatement."

Puffing out his cheeks, he rose his voice an octave. "Lady Tsunade might lose a lot, but when she wins she wins big!"

Which wasn't something he knew for sure, but it was easily enough inferred. How else did she manage to always have funds to gamble away despite her horrible nickname? Sure, she had her mission savings, but with how renowned her losing streak was it was all but impossible for her to not be winning at least a few good rounds.

He crossed his arm, giving the man an aggravated look as he baited, "Besides, how would you know whether or not she really loses as much as the stories say? They're probably exaggerated."

A snicker came from one of the other men in the group, "Oh we know just how bad she is, trust us."

Lock and target.

The pre-teen widened his eyes, turning his full attention to the man that had spoken. "Have you met her?" an only half-fake hope rining in his voice.

"Yep!" The man leaned back on his hand, gutting the other towards his puffed up chest. "She lost pretty badly to us just last week. Her title as the Legendary Sucker was definitely true enough then."

Tilting his head, the young Uchiha asked, "Last week? Do you know where she was headed next?"

The man thought for a moment, rubbing his chin before cracking a grin. "I could tell you, but that wouldn't be much fun. Instead, let's wager it over a game." he decided, Itachi having expected as much.

The concerned man that had been trying to talk him out of playing let out a defeated sigh as the pre-teen nodded, standing and making his way for the door with seven black chips in hand. "Fine, fine. You're clearly not going to listen. Don't say no one warned you when you end up being out a week's worth of work, though." mumbling in annoyance, "Good luck, kid."

Itachi watched him leave, not commenting as the man seemed to give up. It was a nice effort, but not one he really needed right now. At least he'd served as a way to bring up Tsunade.

"Don't worry about him." the woman across from him waved a hand, "He's just blinded by your age. We know you're more than mature enough to handle playing."

Mhm, the pre-teen thought sarcastically, he was sure that was exactly why they were willing to play with him.

She continued, "Though, I suppose you'll probably leave once you get your information if you intend on following her."

He nodded, watching as she proposed, "In that case, to make sure everyone has a chance to profit, how about this. Three rounds. If you win all of them, you get all our chips plus the information. If you win twice, you only get the information. If you win once, you don't get anything. Then finally, if you win zero times, you get nothing and have to give us your chips. Seem like a good deal?"

It sounded like a deal from paradise, which was exactly what filled Itachi with suspicion. Had he not been sure his genjutsu worked on them, he would have been more hesitant with his nod of agreement. "Deal." he mused, watching as the snickering man came to sit beside the woman alongside another man who'd thus far not spoken.

Three cups were placed in front of him, the six dice covered. The three shook their containers, keeping their eyes on him as he leaned forward to watch the cups. Tightening his hold around each of their chakras, he infected them with his genjutsu.

Once they stopped, he took a moment to think. He could win all three times and get the cash and information, but that would more than likely upset them. They'd be more inclined to limit the information than if all they'd lost was the game.

With this in mind, he made his choice, pointing to the woman's cup. "Even." he decided, watching her lift it. Her face fell as the pair of threes came into view, Itachi giving a thin smile before pointing to the snickering man's cup. "Odd."

Once more Itachi watched as his opponent's lips twisted into a frown, the two and one under the cup securing his victory.

Finally, he turned to the silent man, pointing to his cup. "Odd?"

The man lifted his cup with worry, the other two leaning in to glance at the dice. The three grinned as they spotted the even ten, the snickering man chuckling, "Can't win them all, I suppose. At least you'll have your info." beaming at their secured coins.

Itachi nodded, not commenting on the silent man's cast genjutsu. His chakra was prodding at Itachi's own, trying to cast a genjutsu on him and force him to see even numbers on the dice. The pre-teen allowed him to think it had worked - it saved him the trouble of having to cast his own and force a loss for himself.

"Any information on Lady Tsunade is more than enough for me." he hummed in agreement, a fake smile lining his lips. "A chance to find and play against her would be worth a hundred black chips to me."

The woman nodded, slapping a hand down on his back as he spoke with amusement, "I'm sure you'll get to her. She isn't far away, after all. She and that assistant of hers were headed for Takigakure as of last Sunday. Spent three days here, so if you're lucky she might be in Takigakure long enough for you to catch up or at least find her next stop."

"Hopefully," he spoke, pleased with the extra tidbit of information. He'd of course known about her lingering in Takigakure, but now he also knew how long she'd stayed in Kusagakure. It would help in determining how long she tended to sit still, if the search became prolonged enough.

Itachi stood, noticing the mix of disappointment and amusement mixed in the faces of the remaining players. The pre-teen considered whether it was worth the time it would cost to swap the chips out, eventually settling on scooting the neatly stacked pile towards the center of the room with his foot.

He should probably go ahead and swap them out - after all, they'd spent the majority of the night trying to get their hands on his chips by taking advantage of him - but it was an awful waste of time just for the sake of pettiness.

"Thank you for the info." he settled on saying, turning to exit the room as he heard them shifting from behind him to split the chips up.

The silent man finally spoke, mumbling, "Sure thing," as Itachi stepped out of the room. The person behind the counter saw him walk out, looking amused as Itachi headed for the door empty-handed.

"Not getting any more chips for tonight?" he asked as the pre-teen reached out to place his hand on the front door.

Itachi shook his head, musing in a quiet tone, "No, I'm done here." as he shook his head, eyes having relaxed back into their usual tired frames. His shoulders straightened as he stepped out, the soft glow of dawn welcoming him.

Since it had begun shifting to morning and the way to Takigakure was a two-day trip, he settled on making way for the shopping district. He would more than likely be camping out the next few days, so he should stock up while he could.

The twelve-year-old walked at an easy pace, passing by the shinobi and vendors heading off to work. A few people stood in front of stores, tiredly opening them while others had only just begun coming out to sit on their porches.

Not many places were open yet, though there was one woman standing behind a fruit stand. She nodded in greeting as Itachi approached, the boy scanning over her produce briefly.

Apples, oranges, berries, pears, kiwi...tomatoes.

His dark eyes settled on the red orbs, carefully lifting one up as he turned it around. It was perfectly ripped, as were most of the options. It was heavy, certainly one of the juicer options. Sasuke would love these, he couldn't help but think.

Itachi shoved this thought down, however, looking at the other options as he held it. A tomato would be fine for now, but not so much for the road.

He already intended on buying some more sweet bread once he found someone selling grain, but for now, he settled on purchasing some from the vendors that were open.

"Two apples, a kiwi, and one tomato please." he decided, pulling his wallet out as he momentarily sat the fruit back down.

The woman nodded, pulling out a bag and placing the requested food within. "Alright, here you go." handing it over only once Itachi had slid the necessary ryō towards her.

The ravenet tilted his head in thanks as he took the bag, commenting without much thought, "Thank you." before turning towards the rest of the street. More stands had opened up, though there were still few customers.

Itachi moved passed the closed udon stand from yesterday, instead stopping in front of a vegetable stand. He didn't linger so long at this one, speaking as soon as he arrived. "Some asparagus, please," he bought, figuring he could roast them later tonight.

The vendor said nothing, only passing over a bag with one group of asparagus within. Itachi stayed quiet as well, settling on passing the payment over quickly so he could move on.

Finally, he found the bread stall. There weren't as many options as the others, but it was well enough. He only planned to get some sweet bread, anyway.

Sadly, his plans were ruined as he saw no such option. Lips curving into a small frown, he let out a silent sigh. Well, it wasn't a huge loss. Most breads were filling enough and would serve the purpose he needed to. "Can I get four sourdough rolls?"

"Of course!" the man selling them made quick work of it, asking, "You want a new bag or have you got it covered?" motioning to his two others.

Itachi thought for only a moment before settling on shaking his head, "I don't need a new bag." shifting his groceries into one bag so that the apples were on the bottom with the kiwi, tomato and asparagus on top. He held the single bag out towards the man, letting him drop four rolls on the very top. "Thank you." he commented.

"Absolutely. Have a good day!" the man noted in parting before quickly turning to the next customer.

That should be enough for the next two days, Itachi decided. A tomato for today, some sour bread for lunch, and roast asparagus for tonight. Then he could have some apples for tomorrow morning, sour bread for lunch again, and a kiwi for dinner.

If he left around noon today, he could make it to Takigakure by noon the day after tomorrow. He could save a piece of bread for that morning and eat once he got to Takigakure. Perfect.

With this thought in mind, he made way for the hotel once more. It would be best to make sure he was well-rested so he could make good time.

He carried his bags in his left hand, walking at an easy pace. He did so for a few moments, manoeuvring through the streets and up the stairs once he reached his destination.

Considering it had only been a few hours, it was a wonder sleep took him so fast once he was inside.

Chapter Text

Noon came sooner than he would have liked.

He'd fallen asleep without any issues, though the sun glaring in through the window had made his awakening less than pleasant. The bright rays clashed against his sore eyes, the pre-teen moving to wash his face in the bathroom as he slowly pried himself away from his pillow.

Itachi rubbed water into his dulled eyes, leaning forward as he looked into the mirror ahead. His ponytail was loose from sleep, a few dark strands sliding out of place. They contrasted sharply with his pale skin, which was starting to look lighter every day. He looked sickly, though he supposed it was no surprise.

His illness and nightmares had been bad enough before. Now, with the last month's worsening sleep and meal schedule, he couldn't expect anything more. The nightmares, too, had hardly gotten better since the murders.

He'd found that the best way to avoid having them was to work himself to the point where he was too tired to dream. It was one of the many things he'd learned from working with Kakashi over the years.

Moving his hands up to fix his hair, he swept the loose strands in his ponytail.

The gory thoughts that came with his time in the ANBU filled his mind despite his best efforts, blood that he knew wasn't there lining his hands. His palms came to rest against the glass of the sink, the pre-teen leaning forward ever so slightly as he forced his now scarlet eyes closed.

Mouth opening, he took a quiet deep breath. It stayed in his chest for a long while before being allowed back out, his body repeating the process on its own as he listened to the faint noises of the crow beside him.

When he finally did look up, it was Shisui's eye sharing him down from the rim of the sink. His own worn eyes leveled with the bird's, the faded red seeming blinding against the feathered animal.

His hands trembled slightly as he watched it, though he quickly forced an end to this as he pulled them away and against his sides. Itachi took another breath, eyes closing shut once more as he stilled his mind.

A mission. He was on a mission.

He didn't need to be thinking of past ones when there was still work to do.

The dark-haired boy allowed himself time to settle before cracking an eye open for a second time, his tired figure finally coming into view as he did so. The water on his face had dried up, the blood dispersed and out of sight.

It took a horrible amount of effort to pull away from the sink, eyes glued to his own reflection until the very last moment. It felt as if lightning was shooting through his veins, heart rate accelerated and out of control despite the unexpressive reflection.

Itachi took careful steps away from it, eyes focused downwards as he moved through the room. His hands were now steady as he reached for his bag and scroll, ignoring the static that ran through his body.

Low and evenly practised breaths left him as he slid his hat on, lips pressed together. Sunlight burnt into him as he glanced through the window, the young Uchiha standing still as he collected himself.

Slowly, the lightning eased from his veins, shoulders lowering slightly as he let out evening breaths. Though his eyes stung from the collected pain of the sharingan, sun, and medication, he eventually managed to calm down enough to deactivate them.

Itachi turned away from the window, hand moving upwards to pull the hat further over his face as he took steady steps forwards.

He needed to get out of this village. It already looked like it was later in the afternoon than he'd wanted to set out.

With these thoughts to drive him, he took collected steps towards the hall and out of the building. Alright. A two day journey. It wouldn't be a problem, he reminded himself. He was more than capable of doing such a simple task so long as he focused.

He pointedly didn't think about the many longer journeys he'd had to take for missions far harder.

Instead, he alleviated himself with the knowledge that he'd been given a simple task. Tracking. He could do that much, surely.

After all, he had more than enough to work with. The chakra on his arm felt vibrant as he felt it over once more, the pre-teen making his way through the streets of Kusagakure at a steady pace.

The village was more lively now, he noticed as his brain fog slowly began to clear. It looked more like the busy place from yesterday, with so many people wandering around. It was once again filled with civilians and shinobi, the children more than likely off to school.

The only exception being those too young for class and a single red-headed girl. He more than likely wouldn't have noticed her with how she sat leaned up against the side of the hospital, head bowed as she stared down at her feet.

She pulled so far into herself that he was sure he would have missed her had he not felt the familiar chakra swelling within her.

It was nothing like the chakra in his arm, but he recognized it nonetheless. She wasn't the one he was looking for, but even so, he couldn't help but trace her over with his eyes as the warm chakra came into his range.

She had a strikingly similar chakra to Kushina, Itachi couldn't help but notice. It was warm and lively just like hers had been, though the red-headed girl's gloomy appearance clashed heavily with this.

It was unsettling to see, the dark-haired boy being reminded of yet another Uzumaki he knew.

Naruto might not be full-blooded, but his subtle warmth was just enough to remind Itachi of his mother's. This girl's chakra did just the same, though its vibrant nature led him to believe she had much more Uzumaki in her than Naruto did.

But what was an Uzumaki child doing slouched up against a hospital of all places? Their clan was said to have impressive healing abilities, though this conflicted with the wounds lining her body.

There was no blood, yet her arms looked swollen and agitated. Scars lined her skin, tears that looked suspiciously like bite marks covering her arms and legs.

His brain told him to move on. He was already running late and he really had no business interfering with a neighbouring nation's child without knowing what was going on. More likely than not, her mother or father would be along at any moment to pick her up or lead her inside. A stranger had no business talking to her, let alone one who was supposed to be in the village for gaming purposes.

Even so, the underlying implications of her clan's chakra properties and her location drove his instincts over the edge. Maybe it was the fact she was so close to Sasuke's age, or perhaps it was Kushina giving him a push from beyond the grave. Further still, it could be Tobirama's claims that the villages were supposed to be better than this by now rining in the back of his mind.

Itachi wasn't quite sure. What he did know, however, was that if nothing else the worst that could happen was he'd be scolded by a villager for not minding his own business. If it came to that, he could always feign ignorance of what he'd done.

He would be a bit behind schedule, but he was sure he'd move forward easier if he stopped now.

With this in mind, he moved towards the side of the hospital. "Hello," he spoke politely, squatting down to be closer to her level. His face remained impassive even as he glowered internally at the girl's alert look. She stood straighter, hands pulled into her chest as she watched him with nervous eyes.

"Hello..." her rough voice came, tone almost raw as she spoke. It was as though she'd been yelling out recently - which, given her wounds which seemed relatively new - didn't surprise him all that much.

"You seem rather injured. Is someone coming to take you inside?" he questioned, knowing the process of signing into the hospital could be a bit difficult for someone so young.

She seemed startled by the question, pulling her hands to her side as she forced eye contact with him. Her eyes gained a glint that Itachi couldn't quite place as she shook her head, "I'm okay. I don't need to go inside." lips pressing together as she looked up at him.

"Your wounds will get infected if they aren't cared for. Does your guardian know you're injured?" he pressed forward, watching the girl's unsure expression.

"They know. The hospital is taking care of me." the words sounding insincere and doubtful as she spoke them. "I have...special ways of making sure they don't get infected. Thank you for asking, but you don't need to worry."

Itachi considered this, racking his brain over what he knew of their clan before asking, "You mean your healing chakra, I believe?" frowning as she only seemed more alert by the question. "It's a very useful quality to have. I once had an Uzumaki friend who spoke of its benefits."

A bold-faced lie, but there was no reason for this random child to know of his research habits.

"Your wounds may not get infected as easily, but it's still good to close them up to avoid opening your injuries further. Has anyone taught you how to fully close your wounds?" he inquired. Silently, he hoped they had. He might know the theory of Uzumaki chakra properties, but he had no idea how it worked in action. If he had to guess, they'd press the chakra to their wound, but he wasn't about to advise her over something he didn't fully understand and risk her hurting herself.

Relief pooled in his chest as he saw her nod, the red-headed girl watching him carefully. "Yeah, my mom taught me how to a little."

"Then why aren't you?" he hinted lightly, staying quiet as he saw varying levels of confliction cross her face. He would offer to bring her to her mother but, well, if she was staying with the hospital and her mother had only taught her a bit - it wasn't hard to guess how that would go. The woman was more than likely either working long hours or dead.

The girl rubbed at her sore arms as they fell in front of her, glancing away with her answer. "The hospital says I have to give my chakra to the injured if I want to stay here. Mother...is gone...because they took too much of hers. I don't want them to take too much of mine and die too, so I'm not using more chakra than I need to."

Hearing the confirmation left a bitter taste in his mouth, though Itachi only nodded in understanding. "I see." he settled on muttering, feeling out the area around them for any chakra signatures. There were some inside the building and a few along the road, though none of them seemed close enough to be eavesdropping.

The price of her staying in Kusagakure was her chakra. The thought repulsed him, at first. Forcing a child, especially one so young, to worry over her impending death was bad enough on its own. Let alone the fact she'd seemingly had to watch the same slow process happen to her mother before.

His disgust was cut off, however, by a more realistic thought. It wasn't unusual. A trade of resources for safety - wasn't that what most places did? Pain allowed them safety in numbers in turn for their skills. Villages, as a general rule, allowed its people to come together on the condition of equal contribution. Even within Konoha, Danzo had allowed his men layers of protection from the law on the condition of absolute obedience.

It being normal, however, did not help the uncomfortable turn in his stomach as he looked into the small girl's distressed eyes.

The village was taking advantage of her because she was too young to know any better. That, or she didn't have the power to stop them. It was no different from the way the gamblers had thought they were playing Itachi himself.

It was no different from the way the village had manoeuvred and used him over the years. The difference was, however, that Itachi knew he was being played and had found his own ways to play them back in turn. This girl...he wasn't so sure she was capable of that. He wasn't so sure she should need to be capable of that.

Things were supposed to get better in time. Shisui had said that it was their responsibility to keep the young ones safe so that things had a chance to. It was the reason Itachi was so willing to sacrifice his own miserable life - to provide a promiseof happiness to his brother and the other young of the village. Or, in this case, villages.

Itachi had originally thought things were coming along fine. He'd been doing alright, even if it wasn't perfect. Now, though, Tobirama's distaste for the way things were being handled made him unsure.

Tobirama had lived through the Warring States Era. It was a time of endless bloodshed and terrifying life expectancies. If someone who'd thrived in a time like that thought the village was being savage, maybe it was.

'Many children are still suffering immensely despite the villages' supposed claims of prosperity, but no one seems willing to lift a finger to aid them. That is what today is about. Things are going to change around here, starting with you.'

The words ran through his mind, taking on a new meaning as he listened. Things would change, starting with him.

Tobirama may have been speaking about the village's legal direction, but Itachi saw no reason why it should be restricted from personal interaction.

The silver-haired man was far stronger than he was with loads more wisdom. Itachi wasn't foolish enough to think otherwise. It was why he could call for such changes without Hiruzen blinking an eye.

Itachi...had not yet reached that level of power. Despite his well-known name, he didn't have the right connotations to help this girl. Whether he worked as an empty-headed teenager trying to help a small girl or as a missing-nin stealing her away, it wouldn't work in the long run. Conflict could start if she was found elsewhere later on.

This needed a diplomatic solution. A trade, or perhaps a pressuring offer from Konoha to reunite her with one of her last known clansmen. Itachi could hardly do such a thing as a missing-nin, but the least he could do was pass her whereabouts onto Tobirama and hope he'd be willing to reach past the barrier of the village. After all, in a way, he was connected to this girl through his brother's marriage.

For now, however, he settled on pulling out his scroll. "Here, then." he passed her over a decently-sized can of ointment. It might not last very long with how many wounds she had, but it was better than nothing. He stayed quiet about his intentions to get her out of the village, not wanting to get her hopes up if it didn't work or Tobirama found himself too busy. "This should help them heal quicker, at the very least."

He stood as she took the can, holding it in her palms and looking up at him with surprise. "Don't you need it?" she asked.

"No, it's fine. I have more than enough," he assured her as he slid the scroll back into place. It wasn't exactly true, but he had enough to hold him over the next two days. "Though, I do need to get going soon. Lots of places to visit." he smiled and tilted his head, well aware that a spectator had joined them from behind the corner of the building. His facade returned, though he still allowed his question to slip out. "Do you need anything else before I go, though?"

Shaking her head, the girl gave a shaky smile up at him in turn. "No, thank you." she declined, watching as the dark-haired man gave a small nod.

With that, he was off, making his way towards the main road once more.

Chapter Text

Though his chest felt a bit heavy at the thought of leaving the small girl behind, it was for the best. He had things to do and places to be. Places that weren't suitable for someone her age, let alone the added threat of missing-nin trackers. It'd be difficult to protect himself and keep an eye on her if he was attacked.

Instead, he resolved to focus on his mission with Tsunade. If he found her, he could let her know that one of her kin was in need of help. After all, despite the Senju title she held so proudly, she was an Uzumaki too. It was the responsibility of the elder clansmen to take care of their younger kin when they could. Surely Tsunade would at the very least know where to send the girl.

If not...well, Tobirama was the closest person he could think of with connections to the Uzumaki. Besides Naruto, but he was if anything younger than the girl. Hopefully one of the two could aid her. If not, it was something he could consider further in the future.

For now he could only hope that things would go smoothly and Tsunade would be able to help once he found her.

The grass around him merged into the background as he considered this. First, he'd need to find her. Then he'd need to explain the Tobirama and child situation to her.

He couldn't exactly explain the Tobirama situation to her in public, so he'd need to convince her to speak with him in private. This could be difficult, depending on how cooperative she was. Bringing up the child first would more than likely help.

If he explained that first, he could slide in that he knew another member of her clan that couldn't be spoken of so openly. He could mention that this clan member had sent him to deliver a private message.

It would work better than saying he was an agent of the village, this much Itachi was sure of. At least this plan left more of an opening for communication.

Then, if all else fails, Tobirama's marking would apparently bring him when the time was right. Itachi would simply have to stay in her vicinity so that Tobirama could appear as the proof itself if she wouldn't believe his words.

Yes, that should work, he settled on as he noticed the sky beginning to dim. Upon passing a shallow stream, he was reminded of the food clutched in his right hand.

He hadn't eaten his tomato or sourdough bread as he'd intended to earlier in the day. He'd been far too caught up with reaching through his mind fog and checking on the girl.

Itachi glanced over a sign along the side of the road as he ran forward, deciding he'd have his tomato now. His roasted asparagus and bread could wait until tomorrow afternoon when he made camp.

So it was that he slowed ever so slightly, moving forward as he took careful bites from the juicy fruit. The last thing he needed was to have to stop and spot-wash his shirt.

It was gone in no time, the pre-teen speeding back up as he ran along the road. Not many people were out during the night, though the sun rising did bring forth the occasional shinobi or merchant.

Itachi paid them no mind as the sun rose higher in the sky, stopping only momentarily to build a fire. He cooked his asparagus and warmed his bread, allowing himself to have a secondary piece as well. He still had his snack apples, but he wasn't hungry enough to eat those too.

The ravenet saved them for later in case he got hungry on the road, resuming his travels once he was done eating and resting for a few hours.

The rest of the day passed on without any trouble, the boy snacking on the kiwi and apples as the sky once more fell dark. Time seemed to pass along easily as the ground softened the closer he got to Takigakure.

He was only half a day away, now.

Itachi fell closer with each step he took, the boy's chest beginning to burn extra around the start of the morning. He could stop, he knew, but if he continued on for just another few hours he'd be able to check into a hotel. Besides, if he really needed to, he could pause for a moment.

He didn't, however, and as such continued on. River after river he passed, slowly becoming closer and closer until he was finally able to catch sight of the long-awaited location: Takigakure.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

"Name, alliances, purpose for entry?" the guard at the gate stood to attention, back straightened as he looked down at Itachi. That was no surprise - they were known for their dedicated shinobi, weren't they?

In the far back of his mind, Kakuzu's files flashed. With these, it was fairly easy to see why this was considered normal in their village...

"I am Itatsi, allied to none. I'm just a traveller looking to wager with the village businesses." he gave his explanation, looking up at the man with darkened eyes as he was run through the heavy security check. It took a few moments, though in the end, they of course found nothing.

The man looked him over for a long moment before nodding, motioning him over to his partner. The man allowed him inside with a simple warning of, "Don't go getting yourself into any trouble."

"Of course." he merely smiled up at the man without a trace of guilt, following the secondary guard that lead him through the gate and over towards the actual opening of the village. His eyes were covered as he was led through layers of what felt like water, the air growing slightly thinner.

He eventually made it to the village itself, the guard pausing for only a moment before leaving towards the opening gate once more. With him gone, the boy lifted his hands up to carefully remove the blindfolds.

Itachi supposed this was why the village had never been invaded before. Slipping in one or two shinobi wouldn't be a problem, but trying to invade as a task force would prove more difficult.

Which was...impressive, to say the least, when the other village's invasion numbers were considered.

The lack of blindfold gave him a clear view of the village, the pre-teen silently admitting to himself that it lived up to the stories he'd heard.

Itachi eyed the main tree, watching as water glided out of it and into the lake surrounding. The waterfall was gorgeous as it pooled into the running area beneath, the village having a full view while being safe from its harm. The thick walls surrounding it assured them that much, at least.

Walking along the entry path, he glanced around at the simplistic yet well-structured buildings. The people within this village seemed to take notice of him faster than those in the previous stop had. Which...wasn't necessarily a bad thing. After all, they did have more well-known valuables than Kusagakure.

Itachi wasn't sure if their Hero Water was in the makings this year - and realistically he doubted it would be the one time he decided to stop by - but he certainly wasn't going to ask around. His curiosity wasn't that important.

Instead, he made his way through the calm streets, looking for any resting places. It had already been about a week since he set out, which meant he was running out of time to find her before he was called back.

Busywork or not, he didn't particularly want to fail.

With this in mind, he reached his chakra out, feeling over the surrounding areas as far as he could and comparing it to Tobirama's marking. Itachi moved through the streets, focusing intently as he walked. He found a small gambling house, though it was closed for the day with no chakra signatures within.

A single hotel eventually came into view as well, it too being small in comparison to the last village. He supposed it made sense - this wasn't a village tourists tended to visit. Even those that did, more often than not, were there to sight-see. Not gamble.

He let out a sigh as he didn't feel any chakra resembling Tobirama's within the hotel building. She must have moved on, then. It was really no surprise, and yet, the promise of more days on the road made his weariness double.

Well, there wasn't much to be done about it. Checking into the hotel and paying the receptionist, he considered how he was going to go about this. First and foremost, he needed sleep. Then, perhaps once he woke up, he could go out and eat some dinner.

He still had the matter of gathering intel on the jinchuriki. Hopefully he'd catch sight of her in the afternoon, once school let out. If not, he would just have to search her out with the information he did have on her. At least she was more than likely still in the village, unlike Tsunade.

Itachi took his room key with a slight nod of his head as he played through the movements of the transaction, mind shuffling his day into order as he walked through the halls.

The young Uchiha unlocked his door without much thought, wrapped up in his own mind as his shoes slid off his feet and onto the hardwood floors. He didn't, however, forget to lock the door behind him before he moved onto his bed.

Outer layer removed, Itachi settled himself into bed and began focusing on the area surrounding him once more. The ravenet sat his scroll on the side of his bed, checking to make sure the windows were locked before allowing himself to pull the blanket over him.

His alertness rose as he prepared to rest, the boy quick to find a balance between the two polar opposites. His legs pulled upwards slightly as he laid down, his consciousness fading bit by bit as he laid down. Hands resting to his side and idly holding onto his hair as his eyes slid closed, Itachi made a note to shower before he headed out.

He'd need to look at least somewhat presentable if he was going out later tonight.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

Sleeping for a good few hours, Itachi woke to a sharp tingling. Red eyes snapped open, the boy quickly scanning the room as he shot up in bed. He didn't sense anyone in the room, though the tingling spread further and further through his body. It felt almost like genjutsu, though the chakra seemed to co-exist alongside his own rather than infect it.

It didn't take long for him to locate the starting point, Tobirama's seal glowing along his arm and shining dully - much like it had when it had first been applied.

Quickly it clicked that the man would most likely be coming soon, the young Uchiha sliding out of bed in one quick movement and smoothing a hand over his clothes. He took ahold of his scroll on the off chance it wasn't as it appeared, placing it on his side and waiting for a brief moment.

Hastily glancing around the room, he was quick to catch sight of the silver-haired man. He appeared much closer than Itachi would have predicted, though he repressed the initial reflex to leap away from a too-close figure and into a battle stance.

Instead, he only met the man's red eyes, focusing on draining his chakra away from his sharingan. The tingling sensation remained, though it was much more subtle now. It made it harder to deactivate his dojutsu, though not impossible.

Soon enough he was watching the former Hokage steadily, the man took a step back so they weren't so close. Itachi knelt down in response, greeting, "Hello, my Lord." making a point of not addressing him by his title, knowing the room wasn't soundproof.

"Hello, Itachi." the masked shinobi's own low greeting came, Tobirama pausing only momentarily before noting, "I don't sense Tsunade nearby. I take it you weren't able to locate her, then?"

"No, I wasn't. I've gathered partial intel on her rate of movement, however, as well as which direction she has been moving in," he reported. "She stayed in the last village for three days, though I've not gathered how long it takes her to move between villages yet. She was seen in Kusagakure, which means she's more than likely headed to the Land of Earth or into the rim of Fire territory. Unless, of course, she plans on trying to find a less populated location in the northeastern areas to do business."

A low hum of acknowledgement came from Tobirama, the man putting a hand to his masked mouth as he met Itachi's gaze. "I see. Given that she's visited both Kusagakure and Takigakure, I'd say she's sticking to medium-sized areas for now. The stone or fire lands are our best bets in searching, then." he noted, asking, "Anything else to report?"

"Nothing of the mission, though I have come across some distantly related kin that you may wish to know about," Itachi commented, looking up to the other man as he spoke. When he received a small nod, he continued, "A young Uzumaki girl is living in Kusagakure as a ward of the hospital. Her mother has passed away from what was most likely chakra exhaustion and blood loss. The village was using her mother to heal the wounded and, in exchange, they were allowed to live within their walls. With her mother passed, however, they have started taking alarming amounts from her daughter and her wounds are not being properly cared for. Based on what I saw, it would come as no surprise if she eventually died from the same causes as her mother."

Tobirama's brows furrowed at this, the red-eyed man not seeming pleased in the least. "Thank you for informing me of this. I will see to it that she is reconnected with some of her kin as soon as possible." shaking his head slightly as his arms crossed, "Though, from what I've heard, it doesn't sound like there are very many Uzumaki left to send her to."

"The only Uzumaki I know of that are still alive are Naruto, who seems younger than even her, and Lady Tsunade."

After all, it was as Tobirama said. There weren't many left after the fall of their village.

"If need be, I can ask Tsunade to send an official request as the child's elder kin and we can figure things out from there." The man decided, Itachi silently feeling a wave of relief at the thought.

With that decided upon, Itachi paused to give the man a moment to ask any further questions about his half of the mission. When he received none, the dark-haired boy gave his own carefully worded question.

"Am I to continue searching for Lady Tsunade so this request can be made or do I have other work to do regarding my involvement with the Akatsuki?" he inquired, mind buzzing with questions. If the man was here, it most likely meant that it had gone well. Still, that did little to quell his inquiries. He wasn't used to being so far from the centre of a conflict with so little access to the proceedings.

Shaking his head briefly, Tobirama explained, "A bit of both. We will find Tsunade first, meanwhile Hiruzen will be staging an official investigation on Danzo and the other elders under the guise of being alarmed by what we learned during a meeting with the Akatsuki leaders. Once we find her, Hiruzen will call us back and we will hold a mock-meeting to discuss files we found surrounding the Uchiha Clan Downfall. They'll be fake and certain details will be shifted, of course, but it will be a fine way to bring Danzo's actions into the public eye and shift the blame without making you seem traitorous to the Akatsuki."

Tone displeased, he instructed, "You are to express during the meeting that you were under the false impression that Hiruzen had given permission. Though we both know he did allow it to some extent with limited consequences for Danzo, it would cause too many problems if the public became distrustful of him right now or the other nations saw his weakness. He will receive his consequences in the dark, though his incompetence will not be focused on in the proceedings. It will appear as if he is handling the situation with a firm hand in order to stabilize the village's standing amongst the other nations."

"I understand." Itachi nodded, personally preferring that things worked out as such. He would never want the village's safety to be threatened over something as petty as reputational vengeance.

"Afterwards, you will be pardoned with stipulations. For the villager's safety of mind, you will be restricted over the next few months. For this, I apologize, but we will do our best to make sure it isn't excessive." Tobirama sighed.

Once again, this much Itachi could understand. After all, it would of course be alarming to learn that someone so close in proximity could and would be willing to do so much damage.

He was sure it would be quite the ugly transition, though he couldn't blame anyone for it. He'd just have to lay low and not do anything to provoke more weariness than was necessary.

"I understand," he repeated, though the question that had been lingering on his mind over the last few days was finally released. Tone calm and formal, he questioned, "Has the location where I will be while these stipulations are underway been determined yet?"

"Somewhat." the silver-haired man nodded, "We will originally declare that you are to remain in one of the Uchiha district homes so that I can sense you and deal with things if a threat is detected. Seals will be placed to restrict your ability to leave the house. This will of course only be temporary, until we can see the reactions of those in the village and Sasuke. It will also make it easier for me to keep track of you in case any shinobi or villagers seek to harm you out of paranoia."

That was...a very real possibility, and despite the discomfort associated with being so restricted, Itachi knew it was probably the best he could hope for. It was already a hundred times better than what he'd previously been expecting. Staying quiet as the man continued, Itachi only nodded along.

"Though it depends on how things unfold, the plan is to give you and Sasuke an opportunity to reconnect if he so chooses." Tobirama noted, "I can't force him into it of course, but I will do my best to explain things to him and assure him that you don't wish to hurt him."

"Thank you." Itachi's lips pressed together at the elder shinobi's words, his stomach twisting at the thought. "I will do my best to show that I mean no harm, though if he decides to keep his rage it will be perfectly reasonable."

Sasuke certainly owed him no forgiveness, that much he would not lie to himself about.

A low sigh left Tobirama, the man noting, "He's not so much angry at you as he is sad and confused. He doesn't yet understand his feelings enough for that. With any luck, your relationship can still be salvaged. Only time will tell, however."

"It will work out as it is supposed to, I suppose." Itachi settled on, not being foolish enough to get his hopes up. "As of right now and while we are busy locating Lady Tsunade, where is Sasuke?"

Tobirama mused, "I left him in the care of Shikaku Nara. Though he's a bit rough around the edges, I will not deny, he seems more than capable of keeping an eye on Sasuke while we are away. He's a smart man from what I've seen thus far and his son is reasonable enough that it shouldn't be terribly uncomfortable for Sasuke."

"Shikaku is strong and well-meaning. I'm sure he'll keep Sasuke as safe as he can be." Itachi agreed. "Sasuke also knows him to some extent, so that should help."

"Precisely." Tobirama mused, "Until then, all we can do is try to finish the mission quickly and give Hiruzen time to let the process play out. It's unfortunate that we can't be with him when he gets the news, but I don't have the chakra to use the Flying Thunder Technique from so far and uphold clones in the village. It would leave me too tired if an attack does come." he shook his head.

Nodding, Itachi noted, "Things should go a lot easier and faster with your sensor abilities."

Or so he hoped.

Chapter Text

"They should." Tobirama agreed, glancing around the room momentarily as he made way for the window. "What are your current plans? Do you intend to gather more intel here even with the knowledge that she isn't around or will we move over the rim of the lands in search for her?"

Though it would take more time to gather intel, Itachi was fairly certain it would be better than scanning so much land on the off chance of feeling her chakra. Even alongside Tobirama's sensing ability, it would depend a bit too much on luck for his liking.

"I was planning on gathering more intel first. The local gambling house is pretty small, so it more than likely has a pretty regular group of visitors. If one of them knows which direction she went, it should be fairly easy to get it out of them." he mused, watching as the silver-haired man's brows rose.

Red eyes focused on Itachi, the elder shinobi agreeing, "Gambling houses are a good source of information, though keep in mind that this is Takigakure. I'm well aware of your experience regarding intel gathering, but this village is a lot stricter with their view of the three prohibitions. If someone doesn't care enough about them that they'll go out even considering the negative connotations it attaches to their name, they'll hardly be the type to give in easily."

"That is true." Itachi considered, "It may be better to leave the gambling house as a second resort. They seemed to have a fairly nice bar, which would hold similar benefits and ease the restriction of intel. After all, the regulars within will more than likely have looser tounges."

Though Tobirama seemed less than thrilled about the idea, Itachi supposed he couldn't blame the man. Liquor was pungent and things were usually uncomfortably loud for his own taste, but it was an ideal spot nonetheless. Besides, knowing Lady Tsunade's reputation, he was sure she'd stopped by or at the very least sent her assistant to pick up some booze.

"I can go to the bar to gather intel while you visit the gambling house in order to save time." Tobirama decided after a moment, though Itachi frowned thinly at this.

If the gambling house was the more difficult of the two, one would think Tobirama should manage it. Though, he supposed, there was less risk in this plan. It was a very real possibility the bar workers could refuse to serve him, which would make it harder to mix in. When it came to the gambling house, however, the worst roadblock he'd probably face would be some dirty looks.

With this in mind, he settled on nodding in agreement. "Understood. Will we be headed out soon or do you need rest from your travel?" he asked, knowing it was still a bit early to head out but figuring it couldn't hurt too much to check it out.

"I'm ready to go. I'll get us food while you get prepared. I'm presuming you were resting when you felt the marking?" motioning to the freshly departed bed. When he received a nod from the pre-teen, he mused, "We should move on by tomorrow afternoon at the latest. Have you rested enough that you'll be able to move out tomorrow morning after we gather the information or will you need to rest?"

"I'll be ready to go immediately afterwards," Itachi confirmed, noting, "I'll meet up with you in the plaza once I finish signing out of the room and gathering my things."

The masked man turned for the door, moving at an easy pace as the words filtered through Itachi's ears. "Good. Is there anything specific you do or don't want me to pick up?"

Itachi wasn't too worried about what they ate, so he only responded by shaking his head lightly. "I'm fine with anything."

It was true that he wasn't really one for meat, but he supposed he should probably eat some soon regardless - for his own health. It had been a while since he'd eaten any and it wouldn't be good to go too long without any.

Noting his answer, Tobirama merely gave a stiff hum of understanding to the boy. "Alright. I'll see you then," he spoke in parting, pulling the door open and stepping out.

The room filled with silence once more, the pre-teen rising from his report stance and letting out a light sigh. He moved quickly towards the bathroom, not wanting to leave the man waiting longer than necessary. After all, it didn't take long to order food.

With this in mind, he began to strip the dirty clothes from his body and pulled out the old pair from his scroll, setting them in the sink and scrubbing them against each other between the palms of his hands. Once they seemed adequately rinsed, he twisted them, draining the fabric of extra water before leaving them hanging on the back of the shower bar to dry.

Itachi turned the water up as hot as it could go while his clothes dried, hoping the heat of the room would speed up the process.

He rinsed himself off, letting the water run through his long hair while idly watching the fogging mirror from across the room. His crow had perched itself on the bathroom counter, preening its feathers.

The pre-teen would be lying if he said a small sliver of amusement didn't run through him as he saw the bird, the boy shifting his eyes downwards and turning so that he could wash his face.

By the time he finished and opened his eyes once more, the mirror was fully steamed and the animal was simply eyeing him in a relaxed nesting position. Itachi turned off the water, twisting the moisture out of his long dark hair. It pattered against the floor of the shower as he dried off using a nearby towel, stepping out only once he was sure he wouldn't drip on the floor.

Reaching up to touch the clothes, he found that they were of course still damp. They were somewhat drier, but not enough that he could realistically head out without drawing attention to himself. As such, he lifted the clothes one by one in his left hand, using his right to form hand seals. Small but steady streams of flames came out, the boy being careful not to catch the fabric on fire as he turned and twisted it.

In what seemed like no time at all, they were dry and ready for use. He slipped on the now fresh clothes, his own hair being dried by the temperature of the room. The secondary pair was placed back within the scroll alongside his coat, the young Uchiha brushing his hair and letting it settle around his shoulders.

He made sure everything was packed before putting his scroll by his side, prepared to head out. The hotel towel was tossed into the laundry basket behind the door, bed fixed in a few simple movements. The room was finished up fairly quick, Itachi moving to slip his shoes and hat on before heading out.

The door was left unlocked since he wouldn't be returning, the room key held firmly in his right hand. He passed through the quiet halls, only seeing one or two people along the way. He nodded in turn to them, keeping to himself until he reached the front desk.

Gently, Itachi laid the keys to the room down. The receptionist only nodded in turn, reaching a hand out to take them as Itachi headed out. Having paid yesterday, it was now only a matter of heading towards the meeting point.

Making sure to keep his pace level, he passed through the front door and along the now busier streets. He kept an eye out while he walked, gaze filtering over the villagers as he looked for any sign of the jinchuriki he had been instructed to hunt. Whether the intel would actually reach the Akatsuki or not at this point was set to the side, the young shinobi knowing it was best to at least have a bit of information on her if he did indeed end up needing it. After all, it was business as usual so far as he was supposed to know.

Though many young children passed through the streets, he saw none with the vibrant green hair they'd spoken of. His eyes didn't linger on any of them for too long, the boy making sure his gaze occasionally fell on those who didn't fit his target on the off chance someone noticed his subtle glances.

The centre of the village soon came into view, Itachi tilting his attention up further as he reached it. A small frown traced his lips, though he stood patiently by the water fountain even so. It was unfortunate he'd been unable to find her, but there was still time. For now, he waited, keeping an eye out for either her or Tobirama.

It was a bit odd that the man wasn't yet back from getting food, but Itachi sat this to the side. Perhaps it was taking a while to cook or he got caught up in something else. Wandering to look for him wouldn't do much good, the two having made a meeting spot for a reason.

As such he merely folded his arms in front of him, waiting patiently as the minutes ticked by. With nothing to do besides keep watch, his hands moved idly over the outer layer of his nail, feeling over the disrupted polish.

It was rough against his skin, disarrayed and scrapped from the long days of travel. Without paying it much mind, he picked against the mauveine colour bit by bit.

Soon enough his nails were bare once more, the pre-teen making a mental note to repaint them when he got the chance. For now, he let time carry on, only pausing in his musings as he finally saw something that caught his eye.

A small bundle of green appeared, Itachi's attention drawing to alert as he spotted the little girl it was attached to. She was rushing through the streets, a grin on her face as she was chased by a frazzled young man.

Though he was too far to hear the words that left his mouth, he could hear her calls from ahead. "Hurry up, Lord Shibuki!" her excitement all but radiating off her as she pressed passed the other villagers.

Said villagers seemed less than happy with the young jinchuriki's disruption, though their annoyed expressions were kept to themselves. They sidestepped away from her so that the man, presumably the village leader, could follow her easier.

Itachi considered following the two, though he decided against it. On one hand, he had two-thirds of the information they'd requested. She was in the village and certainly well-guarded, if the trailing leader and lingering shinobi in the shadows around were anything to go by. On the other, he still wasn't sure whether she was trained or not.

While he would like to have all the information they requested so that he could best filter it, he found himself unable to follow. If he did so, it could very well give Tobirama the wrong impression.

Splitting off from their plan in order to gather intel for the Akatsuki could be seen as playing in favour of the other group, whether it was explained or not.

Itachi didn't know Tobirama well enough to put such a possible strain on things. The man was inspiring on some levels, and they did seem to have many overlapping objectives, but that hardly meant they were on solid enough footing.

So it was that he stood by the fountain, watching the girl and her guardian fade into the distance while waiting on the elder shinobi to arrive. The aggravated villagers soon returned to their days, none stopping for long despite the interruption.

Uncomfortably enough, Itachi could feel the occasional glances that were sent his way, the pre-teen well aware of the numerous pairs of eyes on him.

Chapter Text

Itachi was, by many accounts, the perfect shinobi.

He was strong enough to handle herds of enemies twice his age without a problem, taking them down quickly and precisely. His techniques and abilities had an impressive range, clearly well-developed and considered.

The boy worked hard to protect that which he deemed important despite the natural talent Hiruzen spoke of, guard risen at any given moment. He looked for openings while simultaneously making sure his own bases were covered, heeding each noticed detail carefully.

With a mind that seemed to be constantly spinning and rearranging, he used his intellect to handle each situation in what he gathered to be the best way possible while still adhering to those nearby.

His actions and words were controlled despite the boldness that came with them, the young shinobi clearly aware of his skills' worth. He sharpened and perfected his abilities, delivering them to those he pledged his loyalty to with finely chosen suggestions on how to use them best.

If these suggestions were ignored, he didn't complain. The boy would have a sense of displeasure or annoyance shining in his darked eyes, yes, but he would hardly protest an order he disagreed with beyond offering up other possible solutions. He was undoubtedly a high-quality puppet, however, he was also one that didn't seem opposed to the idea of yanking at its strings if the puppeteer needed some...nudging, in the correct direction. If he was pulled hastily enough, though, it seemed he was willing to allow himself to be dragged in whichever direction was demanded of him.

He was dedicated to a fault, fulfilling his duties even when disagreement lingered subtly throughout his body language. Tobirama wasn't foolish enough to believe Itachi did this out of blind loyalty alone - no - he was sure the ravenet's sharp mind had a solid reason for continuing to put up with the frankly atrocious commands he was given over the years.

Even so, whatever the reason behind his dedication and allowance of the dragging may be, it hardly served to falter his stance as an immaculate warrior.

Strong.
Alert.
Intelligent.
Disciplined.
Tame.

Willing to sacrifice everything he had to give if it meant victory for the chosen side.

Tobirama couldn't help but think of how much his own father would have loved to have their clan's young grow as Itachi had. It filled him with a cold disgust, to think that the village they'd worked so hard on had resulted in the shinobi he saw standing in front of the waterfall only a few yards away.

Hiruzen and Danzo both claimed that they had only taken the boy as he was. No amount of double-sided questioning or interrogation had changed their answers.

Danzo had taken special notice of his potential first, or so he had said.

The man had spoken of the strong impression the seven-year-old had left on his academy teachers. The precision with which he threw a kunai. The way he hardly glanced at the others as they threw their weapons, too busy analyzing and criticizing any miscalculations his own throw had held. His sheer disregard for his classmates, uninterested in cruelty nor companionship as a child.

Initially, Danzo had been under the impression the boy was simply a prodigy with an ego too inflated to bother with anyone else. He had spoken of the wealth of skill the child could someday use on behalf of the village, of the way he could so smoothly fit into place as an ANBU.

As time went on, this plan both failed and excelled, the puzzle pieces clicking together in Danzo's image even as their edges warped and made themselves look unplaceable next to each other.

The more Danzo and Hiruzen looked into the boy and his potential, the more Danzo found himself both disappointed and interested.

Itachi had, despite his general lack of interest in others, allowed his fate to be tethered completely and utterly to his younger brother.

When Sasuke laid in his arms as an infant, Itachi's senses heightened.

When Sasuke began to tottle around the house, Itachi's training became more severe.

When Sasuke grew old enough to wield a kunai of his own for the first time, Itachi became twice as willing to cut down any perceived threats.

Hiruzen had described it as a whole-hearted devotion, one that may have rivalled that which he had for the village itself. The man had apparently not thought much of his long-time partner's fascination with the boy, chalking it up to another one of his military exploits.

To his student, Itachi had been to Danzo as Shisui had been to himself - a young man he saw promise in and wanted to push to be a great shinobi someday for the good of the village. If that had meant pulling on their strings using Sasuke or the clan respectively, so be it.

The fate of the village was more important than the fate of two young Uchihas, or even the clan for that matter. Hiruzen may not have liked using the two to do their bidding, but he had done it nonetheless.

His disgust at his actions did not negate the severity of them. This was something Tobirama was coming to realize only after his life had slipped through his fingers the first time. It was something he had only recently been able to impart upon Hiruzen and failed to convince Danzo of during his interrogation.

How sad it was that it had taken them so long to realize this while the young boy they had played as a puppet had already come to terms with it.

Tobirama had found himself lucky enough to get a second chance and fully intended to make the most of it. He would work to fix his mistakes, pushing the village in a better direction as a result.

Itachi deserved this same second chance. He deserved to be apologized to for the wrongs that were committed against both him and his clan, followed by the opportunity to make things right with his brother.

Sasuke may hold no obligation to forgive him, but if what he had seen and heard thus far was anything to go off of, at least there was still a sliver of hope for the two.

Tobirama intended to personally ensure that he got this chance. After all, how could he look at his village and say he was proud of it in these conditions? When the village was made, it was supposed to be the start of something new and great. It wasn't made to simply recolour the horrors of war.

It had been shameful for a group of grown shinobi to corner and kill his brother, all those decades ago.

It was just as shameful now for Danzo to have poked and prodded at a child fresh out of the academy, filling his head with ideas that would one day lead to his death while Hiruzen watched on without action.

The two drug both children into the mess, essentially circling them in the same way those Uchiha once had poor Kawarama. The only difference this time was that the children were expected to hoist the blades into their own stomachs, once everything was said and done.

Because in the end, that was exactly where Itachi Uchiha was headed at the moment. He may not intend to bring the kunai to his throat himself, but he was certainly helping Sasuke hold the blade steady.

At twelve years old, Itachi was prepared to orchestrate his own death for the satisfaction of his beloved younger brother.

The perfect shinobi he may be, but that didn't mean he was invincible.

His body had moved on its own, following Tobirama like a hawk in the woods - unease hidden under the guise of ruthlessness, likely ready to stage an unfortunate accident if he caused Sasuke harm.

He allowed the crows surrounding him to nestle into his oversized collar for warmth at night, the many traps laid around him aided by the earned loyalty of the birds.

His eyes still flickered with hope, if just barely, at the mention of home.

Under his layers of strength, intellect, and ruthlessness - in the farthest corner of his heart - Tobirama was able to see that same yearning for peace and willingness to protect Hashirama had once shone so brightly with.

He fully intended on grasping ahold of this small corner of his heart and bringing it to the light. If Itachi was blessed enough to have a single ounce of willingness to let himself hope for the future after all that had happened, he would make sure it was expanded tenfold.

Tobirama of course realized that he was probably the last person that should be making such declarations. He wasn't sure he had ever held that same level of bravo that Hashriama did, the one that inspired so many and pushed them to look within themselves and find hope for the future. The light that had drug he himself through so much darkness until they were able to find the matches to start their own fire.

But then, if he didn't at least try, who would?

No one had ever been in Itachi's corner and made it through to the end. Whether it be due to outside forces or Itachi himself pushing them away, it seemed like the boy had never truly had anyone he could really count on to always be by his side through rain or storm.

Tobirama could not promise that he would make the boy feel cared for. He did not promise him family nor love. He wouldn't even be so bold as to promise companionship. He wasn't nearly confident enough in his abilities for any of those things. However, he would make him the same promise he had made Sasuke somewhere along the last few weeks without even realizing it: If nothing else, the two would have Tobirama in their corner.

This was the oath he made to himself, watching the young pre-teen as his eyes scanned over the passing figure of a child running along the street with what seemed to be her guardian.

Itachi stayed still, eyes lingering on her for a mere moment before drifting back to the folded hands in front of him. The boy sat down as they passed, keeping his head down in a direct effort to not draw attention. He looked exactly as he should: A young traveller, waiting on his partner to arrive.

Tobirama was beyond ready to have this mission be over with and return home to Sasuke with hopefully both Itachi and Tsunade. He knew it would be far from easy on any level, but was certain it would be worth it in the end.

Tonight, once Itachi was resting and he had some time to himself, he would make himself a list of the endless loose ends he needed to tie up. The last thing he needed was to forget anything and have it come back to bite him in the ass.

The weight of the many issues left to solve weighed heavy on his shoulders, though he supposed it was nothing new. He would work through it, just as he always had. Tobirama refused to allow the problems to be swept under the rug once more, ignored for another few decades until it blew up in their face the same way the Akatsuki or Uchiha Clan matters had.

First, however, he needed to focus on finding Tsunade and trying to convince her to return home with him. If he could do that much, he could at least know that was one ally likely added to their side. With any luck, his grandniece would be willing to return and help - or at the very least hear him out.

Tsunade had always been a strong-willed little girl, ready to work hard and prove that she could do anything she put her mind to. Whether it be something as trivial as managing to sneak an extra cookie from Mito's jar while she thought her granduncle was distracted in his duty of watching her or rolling up her sleeves to challenge her grandfather to yet another destined failure of chō-han.

If she was anything like she used to be, which he acknowledged might not be the case as the decades and experiences have worn on her, he was sure she would be a great asset to have on their side. He would do his best to bring her home to Konoha. If nothing else, it would be good to see a familiar face that didn't immediately give him a migraine every time they locked eyes.

Finding her would also be a good stepping stone mission for Itachi. Based on the boy's barely restrained displeasure at being taken off the Akatsuki mission, he wouldn't do well with being asked to sit by idly while they worked on setting up his transition back into the village. It would be better to deescalate his responsibilities, after all, it wasn't as if they intended on ripping his shinobi career away completely. He merely needed to take a step back.

Besides, he had a fairly good record with tracking assignments and an outstanding one when it came to covert missions. Tobirama was sure he would be quite helpful when it came to intel gathering as far as where she had gone.

Just as soon as he had the boy functioning, that was. Even now, sitting patiently by the water fountain, he looked exhausted from what little Tobirama could see behind the hat. The dark lines under his eyes were heavy, head bent downward in a resting position despite the way he made his back stay straight as a stick. His small hands sat carefully in his lap, pale fingers rubbing absent-mindedly over the chipping nail polish.

Had they had more time, Tobirama would have loved to allow the boy to rest just a bit longer on the fountain. Unfortunately, they really did need to get a move on soon. The faster they found Tsunade, the faster they could return home. Besides, Itachi should probably eat something sooner rather than later if the poor excuse for a meal he'd seen the boy eating at the compound was anything to go off of.

Hopefully he was fine with kabobs. It was the most worthwhile looking food at the stalls, the fish from the lake surrounding and veggies grown with the freshwater seeming to fit perfectly on the thin skewers. For now, it would be a good meal until they were able to really sit down and eat.

The older shinobi moved forward, towards the boy. As his head lifted, hat tilting to see the other, his eyes lost some of their tiredness - in its place, a look of focus came. The boy stood, bowing his head in greeting. Tobirama did the same, the two slipping into their roles as travelling partners.

Chapter Text

"Thank you," Itachi spoke, words softer than anything Tobirama had heard leave the boy's lips yet. It was in this gentler, younger tone and slight idle tapping of his heel against the ground below that Tobirama was able to quickly see Itachi's facade shift. He watched as Itachi adjusted his body's more subtle signs, back loosening and eyes focusing entirely on eating the kabob as he slipped into the role of the young travelling partner he was supposed to be. It was as if he'd relaxed completely and utterly in the presence of the elder, conflicting with the subtle stiffness in his eyes as he sat beside the former hokage.

How sombering it was, to see the child use innocence like a disguise to be worn.

"Not a problem." Tobirama dismissed, sitting down a bit roughly beside the boy as his own persona was slipped on. He ate his kabob as they sat, enjoying the taste of the fresh fish with his eyes nearly closed. He kept them downcast as any experienced wanderer would, minding his own business and speaking lowly to the younger shinobi. "You see any good spots to check out after we're done eating? We have another few days or so until we have to be on the way back north, so we've got time to kill if you want to stop by a few stores to take a look." warning with a hint of faux grouch, "But only to look. I don't need you filling up our travel scroll with any more of that souvenir junk."

His words filtered out easily, regardless of whether anyone was listening or not. After all, the best policy when trying to stay on the down-low was to always stay in character, lest an unnoticed ANBU-esque type detect that something was off. And with Itachi being...well, Itachi Uchiha, it was best not to draw too much attention to them.

With this in mind, he focused on eating, not paying the passing people much mind in direct distinction to Itachi, who leaned into the young still-learning act by watching them closely with naively interested eyes. "It's not junk if I'm going to use it." the pre-teen huffed between bites of his food, as if it were an argument they'd had a million times. Tobirama sent him a doubtful look out of the corner of his eye, the boy waving it off as he spoke, "Besides, this village doesn't really seem like the type to have anything cool. All I've seen are some tailors, general stores, food stalls, yada yada." moving his nearly empty kabob from side to side as he tsked.

In one smooth movement, however, the pre-teen's eyes widened, a faux spark entering his dark gaze as he turned to Tobriama. "I saw they have a gambling house here, though! How about this, I can go there and earn some money for us. Then, I can get my own travel scroll to keep my treasures in!"

A low sigh escaped Tobirama, the red-eyed man shaking his head at the younger. Partially for the sake of the conversation and partially to shake off the bewilderment of seeing Itachi act in such a star-struck manner. "What, so you can make even worse choices with your allowances and hide it in the scroll?" he accused, musing further, "And let me guess, to add onto it, you'll want a little advancement for this oh-so-worthy endeavour of yours?"

Tobirama forced himself to keep a flat face as the oh-so-regal Itachi he'd seen in recent days sat beside him, puffing up his cheeks in the exact way Sasuke had a tendency of doing when he grew agitated. "Just a little one, and it'll have a great payout! I won over half my games in Kusagakure." the stick from his food discarded into a nearby trashcan so that the boy could slap his hands together into a pleading motion. His head was lowered, sending Tobirama a pair of puppy-dog eyes that would have had his brother digging in his wallet on the spot for Tsunade.

A larger hand came down on the boy's head, Tobirama giving a low grumble as he seemingly gave in. He could feel eyes on them, though they lacked any hostility to them. Good. "Fine, but you're getting 500 ryo, and that's it. I don't want to hear any whining if you lose it all within the first few games." he warned, standing up and moving to pull out his wallet after discarding his own kabob stick. "I'm going to go get a drink or two while you do that, but I expect you'll be back at the hotel before nightfall. Got it?" he asked as he passed over the bills, Itachi feigning excitement as he took the cash and got permission.

"I will be, don't worry. I'll probably meet you in the bar in an hour or so. This shouldn't take long." the boy agreed arrogantly, giving the elder a teasing glance as he added, "Someone has to pay for your drinks, after all."

Tobirama merely waved a hand at the boy, shooing him, "Yes, yes, now go on and get going before I change my mind." he pressed, watching as the boy turned on his heel with the cash to make his way towards the casino.

The silver-haired man was left in silence as he watched the boy's retreating figure, red eyes trailing after him until he was effortlessly lost in the crowd.

Well. If he somehow hadn't been assured of Itachi's acting abilities before, he was now. Really, what missions did they have that boy doing outside of the coup situation? Tobirama shook his head, hands on his hips as he considered whether he actually wanted to know or not.

As well as whether the drink he was about to buy would be all for show or not.

The silver-haired man ran his fingers over his face, letting out a small breath as he felt someone approaching from behind. He made no move to turn to look at them, mildly prepared to use the chakra mark he'd left on Itachi to teleport to the boy and make for an emergency evacuation if need be. It was a background thought, however, the man fairly confident whoever it was had no ill will - even as they laid a hand on his shoulder from behind, setting off every reflex that had been trained into him from birth.

He pushed down the urge to grab the stranger by the wrist and snap their body to the ground; reminding himself that such a movement between strangers was not terribly uncommon, if not still rude. The travelling civilian get-up certainly did him no favours, as he was sure they wouldn't have pulled such a stunt had he been in his headband or armour. He turned to look over his shoulder, a strained smile being shot at the stranger as he spotted them.

Ah.

The fool not being absolutely slammed in the middle of the afternoon would help too.

It was an older man, the grey-haired drunk easily having a good fifteen or twenty years on Tobirama's current body. His face was flushed red, glassy brown eyes watching Tobirama as he seemed to steady his footing using the younger man's shoulder.

"Sorry 'bout that- lost my footin' there..." he slurred despite the remaining grip, looking out of focus as he mumbled, "Gotta little distracted, listening to that boy a' yours. Ya poor bastard."

Tobirama merely lifted a brow as the man gave him a heavy pat on the shoulder, rambling on.

"Ya boy's- Ya boy's gotta real-" he looked mildly as though he may puke, the silver-haired man narrowing his eyes as he considered whether he should take a step back or not. "Kids today're so... such brats, arguin' with their fathers in broad daylight. Takin' their leisure money. You deserve a drink for dealin' with that one."

The man shook his head back and forth as he laughed at his own joke, the action nearly causing him to stumble and resulting in him holding tighter onto Tobirama's shoulder.

Had this not been such a good opportunity to have a discussion with one of the obviously regular patrons of the bar, he would have probably pried the man's fingers off him a solid three words in - if that. Instead, Tobirama took the man's ramblings for what they were; an opening to discuss the boy, and in turn, the gambling house.

Tobirama did not bother to correct the stranger's assumption about their relationship, supposing their mutually pupilless eyes and thin brows did make them look mildly similar if nothing else. Rather, he settled on turning towards the man, keeping him stable with a faint steadying of his wrist. The grey-haired man had continued to ramble on about the boy, Tobirama resisting the urge to roll his eyes at the cursing directed towards 'todays youth' considering the man had probably been but a sprout during Tobriama's first go at life.

"Always runnin' their mouthes, always gettin' into shit- hell knows my stupid gran'son is gonna have my boy joinin' me for some shōchū before he hits his fuckin' hips." the man rambled, and Tobirama could vaguely feel the numerous pairs of agitated eyes on them. Not that he could blame the onlookers - had he not needed the old fool's information, Tobirama was sure he himself would be long gone. Unfortunately, he did need the information, meaning he was left with the damned responsibility of coaxing him back towards the bar to loosen his lips further.

He settled on agreeing, ignoring the glares he got from the other villagers. It wasn't as if he meant the words leaving his mouth with any real hostility, so he let them gape without bothering to acknowledge the pointed looks sent his way. "Kids can be quite the pain in the ass when they don't listen." he sighed, following the script he'd heard from various parents outside the Academy gates and the loud complaining he'd heard leak past the elders of his own clan towards him and his brothers as children. "I don't know how the boy got it in his head, but it seems like he's unable to help himself every time we hit a new town - it's off to the gambling house he goes, doing his damnedest to follow in Lady Tsunade's footsteps for some gods damned reason."

"The legendary sucker? Poor boy just missed her I'm 'fraid." the man howled in laughter, allowing himself to be led on towards the bar as he shook with entertainment. "Was here just- just last night. Was playin' her like a fiddle, but then-!" his smile promptly fell, brows screwing together as a sneer made its way onto his face. "She lost her damn mind outta nowhere! Got all red-faced and pissy, left before I could cash in. Played with that bitch for an hour then she just-"

His enraged rant was cut off as Tobirama's previously steading grip turned hard, his hand now wrapping around the man's wrist with a crushing strength instead of the previously mindful hold. A sharp gasp left the man as he was pulled to the side, a string of curses leaving his lips as Tobirama warned, "Careful, you almost tripped over that tree root."

The former Hokage did not slow down even as the man turned to look behind them, stumbling along as Tobirama loosened his grip once more. "I know what 'm doin'! I didn' see no damn tree root, outta your damn-"

"Oh? I thought I had seen one. My eyes must be playing tricks." Tobirama forced the corner of his lips upwards into what he hoped resembled a smile, letting go of the man as they got to the near-deserted bar. The elderly man rubbed at his wrist, looking prepared to give the other an earful for the rough treatment - stopping himself only as Tobirama offered, "Allow me to buy you a drink, as an apology."

Thus the man found himself non-too gently shoved onto a bar stool, a perhaps too heavy round of pats on the back leading him to grumble, "You owe me a helluva a drink, boy. Didn't your father ever teach ya' to mind yer elders? No wonder that boy doesn' know how to talk ta ya! My boy would nev-"

Tobirama slid 300 Ryo across the counter as he listened to the man's verbal barrage, the bartender accepting it with a simple quirk of his brow as the silver-haired man sat himself beside the other. He let the man's unsolicited parenting advice filter in one ear and out the other, shoving the urge to throttle the information out of him down for now.

It would be a long road back to the desired topic of his grandniece, and and even longer one back to where she might have gone. He settled into the bar for now, making a loose motion towards the brand of sake he wanted for the bartender.

Hopefully Itachi was having an easier time than he was.

Chapter Text

It took an obnoxious amount of time to subtly pry the remaining information about his grandniece from the man as they shared drinks, even longer to filter past the crude parenting tactics that sounded like the creed his own father had lived by, and the absolute longest to find a way to casually slip away from the man. 

The chance only came in the form of the other man's own bile and the annoyed bartender who was apparently fed up enough to shoo out one of the few customers he had. Tobirama watched as the man was escorted out, warnings to go home before they had to have his son come fetch him filtering through the air.

Tobirama himself was given a firm warning to find a better drinking buddy this time around, which he agreed to with a wave of his hand. Though it was irritating, he supposed he couldn't hold much ill will towards them. After all, he was sure he would have the same sentiment had he been on their side of the table. A concept he was doing his damnedest to practice considering over the last month or so.

He was less than pleased that he had been forced to draw so much attention to them in order to get the necessary intel, but then, he doubted they would have been able to make it through this mission without getting noticed considering they were out to dig in the two slimiest places in town. He was at least content he had only drawn attention in the sense that the villagers probably thought of him as an annoying traveler that couldn't keep himself or his son on a straight and steady path. It was better that than them hiding in the shadows and drawing attention to themselves as suspicious figures. 

The silver-haired man took one more sip of the drink he'd been nursing for the last hour. He may hold his liquor well enough - and no, his brother's opinion frankly did not count due to the fact his blood was probably fifty-proof itself - but he hardly wanted to come back to the hotel hammered. Not to mention the thought of the rest of the mission being completed with a hangover.

He stood as he slid his cup back to the bartender, paying for the day's drinks now that he had determined it had been long enough that the old man should be long gone. He glanced around briefly before heading out just to be sure, but upon seeing no signs of him, carried on towards the shared dwelling. He followed the dirt roads silently, it having gotten late. 

There was no sign of Itachi's chakra in the gambling house, though he could feel the faint pulse of his signature coming from the hotel. Tobirama followed the barely lit streets, it having gotten darker in no time. It seemed to have taken longer to get the food and intel than he had thought it would, the town's light fading away as he walked.

Non-food vendors were beginning to shut down for the day, the vast majority just starting to pack up despite the many edible stalls that remained open. He eyed them mildly, supposing he could get them dinner from one of them quickly and be on his way. But then, the thought of handing the boy another quick and small meal didn't sit quite right with him. He hadn't liked doing it for his students when they were still that age, and the thought of doing it to the boy didn't feel any more appealing. Non-combative or not, this was still a mission. He needed his energy.

Besides. Itachi was so small for his age, not to mention the chronically drained colouring of his face. The boy reminded him vaguely of a ghost, and if he were to allow his thoughts to stray too far, of the hundreds of children he'd seen lost on the battlefield in his childhood. The echoed way in which he moved coupled with his blank eyes, devoid of the Uchiha Clan's usual fire, reminded the man of a corpse that had not yet been retrieved from the field. 

The silver-haired man had never thought he'd one day find himself almost missing the steady beat of unrelenting flames in the eyes of their clan. Yet looking at both Itachi and Sasuke, he couldn't help the uncanny feeling that something was terribly wrong with the both of them. 

In an effort to control and direct the clan's flames, it seemed he had only managed to help snuff them out.

He only hoped he would be able to help rekindle that which he had destroyed.

...The silver-haired man shook his head, willing the horribly Hashirama-like thoughts from his mind as he approached a take-out restaurant. He could damn himself a thousand times over, but it wouldn't help any. What would help was the steps he was taking to fix what he'd broken.

For now, this meant getting the boy a proper enough meal. Perhaps once they made it home he could make the boy the meal he deserved and most certainly needed.

He stood in line with this thought, waiting as more and more people moved in and out of the building. It was busy, the dinner rush just beginning as he watched families sit at tables and shinobi step in for a quick meal. The man glanced at the menu, briefly considering what to get them. Itachi had seemed to like the kabob from earlier well enough, though he supposed the boy didn't seem like the terribly picky type.

He settled eventually on a mixed box of filled dumplings and a side of noodles, something with a bit of everything in it and plenty for the price.

"Thank you," he spoke with a bow of his head as he took the meal, paying for it quickly so he could get out of the crowded restaurant. With any luck, he should be able to get to the hotel with the meal before it cooled down too much. 

He held the boxes steadily, making his way past the flurry of people and down the street. It didn't take long for him to make it to the hotel, the crowd thinning out as he got inside. There weren't many visitors in a town like this, so naturally, the area was all but deserted. 

The receptionist was moved past without more than a simple nod, the man making a note to himself to remember to pay for their stay the following morning if Itachi hadn't already. Based on the fact his chakra was upstairs and the keyholder for their room was gone, it seemed the boy had already re-checked them in.

Tobirama let out a small breath as he finally made it to the entrance of their room, opening the door which had been left unlocked for him and stepping around the array of shinobi traps that had been left nearby. His fingers reached up, sliding his mask down his face and sliding off his shoes as he locked the door behind him.

Red eyes trailed over the room, landing on a figure to the lower left. One of the layers of blankets from the bed had been laid over the floor, the fabric folded so that half was to be laid on while the other half could be wrapped around as a cover. A pillow had been taken from the bed likewise, loose strands of dark hair pooling over it. 

Equally dark eyes were cast upwards, gaze shifting from alert to uneasy then blank as he recognised the man in the doorway. 

Well. Tobirama was two for two on waking the boy up from his attempt at resting today.

He would have much rather let Itachi continue to sleep, gods know the kid needed it, but unfortunately, that didn't seem like it was going to happen. For one, out of sheer stubbornness on Itachi's part as the boy was already hurrying to sit up, then for two, because the young Uchiha needed to eat.

So instead he settled on moving further into the room, speaking, "I got us some mixed dumplings and noodles for dinner. Is that fine with you?" 

Out of the corner of his eye, Tobirama could see the boy consider his words briefly before simply nodding, "Yes, thank you," dismissing whatever he had been about to say as he sat up from his makeshift bed. The elder man elected to let it go after a brief moment of consideration on his own part, finishing slipping the dumplings and noodles between the two trays evenly as Itachi made his way over.

The pre-teen had discarded his coat to the side for now, leaving him in a simple navy blue netted shirt and black pants. His shoes remained near the front door, dark socks padding steadily against the floor as he slowly made his way over. The sapling looked so much younger with his hair down and headband off to the side - folded neatly atop his coat along with his necklace. The outline of his face was still soft, reminding him of the dreaded 'babyface' Hiruzen and Kagami had worked so hard to train off themselves back when they were his age and still trying their damndest to prove to him that they were  Real Shinobi  who could handle higher ranked missions because they were to be taken  Seriously.

...Though the dark lines under the boy's eyes helped his case a lot more than any amount of showing off to him had ever helped the other two. 

He passed the plate over to the boy, dismissing the thoughts as he took his own plate and made his way to sit on the bed. There wasn't really anywhere to eat in the room other than that, but the bed was decently sized enough to fit them both as long as they were sitting up. So he sat, picking up his chopsticks to begin eating.

The dumplings were good - or at least better than he was expecting. The beef inside was well-seasoned, the tangy sauce complementing it nicely. He was a solid two bites in before Itachi elected to sit down, the boy moving with his plate to sit in his nest of blankets and eat. Tobirama quirked a brow, glancing over the foot of the bed as the pre-teen sat down to pick at his dumplings; lightly poking through them to see which one had what inside it. 

Clearing his throat in what he hoped wasn't as awkward of an attempt at getting his attention as he felt it was, Tobirama noted, "There's room on the bed if you'd like to sit while we eat and discuss the information we gathered." 

A critical pair of eyes cast upwards, the young shinobi eyeing the bed with something akin to buried reluctance. For a moment, Tobirama thought he might reject the idea, but this thought soon went out the window as Itachi stood to make his way over to the other space on the bed with a calm and expressionless nod.

"Thank you." the dark-haired boy spoke, eyes focused on his meal as he bit into what seemed to be a vegetable dumpling. Despite his agreeance and thanks, a mild air hung around the boy. Though it was subtle enough that most wouldn't have given it a second glance as anything other than Itachi being the quiet type, Tobirama couldn't help but get the sense that the young shinobi would rather be anywhere other than sitting across from him.

It left Tobirama himself equally as uncomfortable, it being a bit late to tell the boy he was free to stay on his pallet of blankets if he wished but not caring in the least for the way Itachi acted as though he were required to sit there.

A steady beat of awkward silence lasted between the two as they ate, though Tobirama broke it off before it could get too long. "I spoke with a man at the bar and gathered a good amount of intel on where she may be, or at the very least, where she was. According to him, she was here last night at both the bar and the gambling house but left in a hurry with her attendant. Apparently, she left halfway through their game, saying she had something pop up that had to be dealt with immediately. Though that bit is up in the air since she was supposedly losing pretty badly and may have just been opting to leave to avoid having to payout." 

Her grandfather's grandchild she was, that one.

Itachi listened carefully, mouth falling into a thin frown as he finished chewing, hand lowering as he finished his third dumpling. "I heard similarly. The men at the gambling house were still quite upset about it." 

Tobirama was sure they were. He made a mental note to work that out at a later time, doubting he wanted to deal with the headache that would come once all the people she owed money to learned she was in one spot if she did return with them. "We may not know exactly what direction she headed in, but we now know she was here only a day ago. If we head out first thing tomorrow, we should be able to pinpoint where exactly she is based on her chakra signature. She'll have most likely stopped last night to rest, plus at some point today. So as long as we get up early enough tomorrow, we should be fine."

"If we leave now we should be able to find her by early tomorrow morning." Itachi pointed out, idly poking at his noodles before taking a bite.

Shaking his head, the older shinobi took another bite of his dumplings, dismissing the idea. "She's been away from the village for a while now from what I've heard. Finding her one day earlier isn't anything to strain ourselves over - besides, Hiruzen and I planned for it to take at least a few days so he can go through with the official investigation regarding the elders." which, by the gods, wasn't that a bizarre title for the kids he'd once watched argue over the best place to put their headband. "We should rest here tonight and try to meet up with her tomorrow. We'll be able to cover more distance that way as well."

A light nod came from the boy despite the way he side-eyed the older shinobi, and that was that. They would eat and rest tonight, then head out the following morning to find Tsunade. With any luck, they would be back home in only a few days time.

Chapter Text

The two ate the rest of their dinner in silence, Tobirama considering the best way to go about leaving the village tomorrow as he did so. It would probably be best to have Itachi head out first then teleport to him from the outside, since he had never technically checked in with the guards he was sure were stationed out front. He didn't want to start something the moment they were ready to head out.

Itachi meanwhile ate his food steadily, putting piece after piece in his mouth long after he seemed full enough to be done. He stared forward as he ate, dark eyes lingering on the food even as he appeared to lose himself in thought. Tobirama would occasionally eye the boy out of the corner of his vision, though he said nothing as the pre-teen kept to himself.

Eventually, they were both done with their meals, ready to head to bed. Tobirama stood, taking the disposable plate from the boy's lap and moving to toss it in the trash without a word. By the time he returned from the other side of the room, the pre-teen had returned to the floor to rearrange his bed for use. Tobirama quirked a brow at the ravenet as the boy sat down on his pile of blankets, noting, "You can use the bed, Itachi."

The young Uchiha in question only frowned at this, shaking his head. "I'm fine with sleeping on the floor." he assured the elder with a dismissive wave of the hand. The unspoken addition of 'You are a former Hokage and I am a former ANBU member. This is the natural order of things.' lingered heavily in the air despite never being vocalized.

Now. Tobirama may be a firm believer in respecting the seat of Hokage, but he wasn't about to kick a twelve-year-old out of the bed he had just paid for so that he could have a slightly better night's sleep. As such, he wasn't able to resist snorting softly at the boy's words. He kicked the rule of seniority to the side for now, shaking his head. "So am I. A good portion of my life has been spent sleeping on the ground outside. Laying on a blanket wrap in an air-conditioned room is the least of my worries. Besides, you've been travelling for days while I've had the luxury of a couch to sleep on for the last few weeks or so."

"Is that not more of a reason you should get the bed?" Itachi quirked a brow back as he remained seated in the pallet, narrowing his eyes as his voice balanced on the thin line between argumentative and respectful. "I've had the luxury of sleeping in a bed for the majority of my life outside of missions. When was the last time you slept in one? I'd wager it hasn't been for a while now. Surely not in the last month, and likely not in the weeks leading up to your original passing either."

Tobirama looked at the boy blankly, half glad he was at least willing to pull himself far enough out of his weary state to argue and half wishing he would just take the damn bed. The Senju's hands landed on his hips, eyes narrowing in turn as he glanced over the boy. The pre-teen fidgeted lightly at the older shinobi's gaze - doing his best to remain collected and, for the most part, succeeding.

The slight twitch of pale, barely painted nails against a hotel blanket was the only thing to give away his unease which seemed so easily stomped down, Tobirama's patience waring a bit as their equally steady gazes met. Calm yet daring ebony eyes met slightly narrowed red ones, neither looking away for a long moment until the elder sighed down at the boy.

"I'd say you've been in too many gambling houses over the last week." the silver-haired man settled on accusing, shaking his head at the boy's refusal with a roll of his eyes. Itachi's brows shot up at the other's words, opening his mouth but clicking it shut once more as the elder shinobi moved towards the bed.

For a brief moment, the young Uchiha let out a breath of relief, clearly under the impression he had won their debate. That was, until Tobirama lifted the second blanket from the bed along with a pillow, spreading it out over the ground to make a second pallet on the floor. The boy's expression which had up to this point managed to remain at least mildly compliant shifted, brows coming together in slight irritation as he spoke, "Lord Second, it's ridiculous for neither of us to sleep on the bed."

"Agreed." the former Hokage merely nodded firmly in utter agreement as he finished making the pallet, laying down and rolling onto his side so that he could face away from the boy. A quiet yet almost appaled sound could be heard from the other side of the room as he laid down, Tobirama's brows raising even as he closed his eyes. He could hear Itachi pause as the older shinobi laid down, a long beat of silence filling the room as the other debated on where to sleep.

After a long moment, he could hear the boy moving behind him to lay down on his own pallet.

Tobirama was beginning to think that Itachi Uchiha was a lot more stubborn than Hiruzen gave him credit for.

The silver-haired man remained motionless as he mulled over this, allowing the sapling to do as he pleased with no signs of moving even as he rolled his eyes at the boy's self-righteousness. He could hear Itachi doing the same, lying silently on the other side of the room.

After a long few moments with no sign of the boy giving in to take the bed, Tobirama turned to look over his shoulder. He squinted in the dark lighting of the room, eyeing the young Uchiha a few feet away from him - his eyes closed, wrapped tightly in his blankets with shoulders a tad too tense to be comfortable.

...Not for the first time, Tobirama couldn't help but wish it had somehow been his elder brother to return.

While he was grateful for the chance to fix his mistakes, he couldn't help but feel that Hashirama would be leaps ahead of him by now. Perhaps not in terms of administrative shifts, but if nothing else, he'd at least not have Sasuke nearly alone in his classmate's house while Itachi made an admirable attempt to fake-sleep a few feet away from him.

Silently, his hand ran further down his face before he turned back into his pillow. Oh, what he would give for that to be the case.

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Tobirama woke to the faint sound of running water.

The man rolled from his side onto his back, squinting as the blinds blocked a good majority of the outside light from entering the room. Vibrant red eyes blinked away the weight of his uneasy rest, spine cracking more than he'd like as he sat up from his blanket pallet. The elder shinobi swore under his breath as he held his back, glancing around the room briefly to confirm his suspicions.

Itachi had somehow managed to wake before him, a feat not many besides Hashirama and Kagami had ever been able to claim. He'd even succeeding in collecting his things and passing by the elder shinobi to reach the bathroom, the aged and noisy plumbing being his only give-away for having moved through the room at all.

Had he been so tired he'd failed to notice?

It was a ridiculous notion he quickly shook off as he forced himself to his feet, stretching and rolling his arms.

He had felt Itachi's presence in the compound, though it had been faint and well-hidden. Clearly, the boy was decent enough at making himself undetectable when he wanted to be. Despite the younger shinobi's cooperation over the last week, it hardly meant the young Uchiha was as harmless as he let off in their meetings.

Tobirama looked over towards where Itachi had previously laid, his blankets for now remaining spread across the ground. It seemed that the young Uchiha had remained there throughout the night.

Such a stubborn sapling he was, Tobirama couldn't help but grouch silently to himself. He moved to pick up both their makeshift beds from the floor, holding them in his arms before bringing them over to set at the foot of the bed.

The silver-haired man left them for cleaning, running his fingers through his hair as he waited for Itachi to finish with the bathroom. He supposed they had a long day of travelling ahead of them, so he'd rather they get a move on as soon as possible. The faster they found his niece and Hiruzen finished with his half of the plan, the sooner they could return home to Konoha - and by extension, Sasuke.

Itachi seemed to have followed the same line of thought, the young Uchiha not taking long to finish his shower. In the time it had taken Tobirama to wake up, clean up their mess, and gather his things for his turn in the bathroom, the boy's water had finished running.

It couldn't have been four minutes later that the ravenet himself stepped out of the restroom, dark hair draped over his shoulders as he silently moved past Tobirama with a courteous nod of good morning. He had taken to a darker outfit today, the shirt styled in that high collar the Uchiha clan loved so much. Tobirama supposed the one from yesterday had been looking a bit too worn to pass by with mere sink washing. As he moved past the man and towards the end table to retrieve his items scroll, however, Tobirama couldn't help but stare at the blank back of the fabric. It was an odd, almost wrong feeling.

Of course a wanted criminal couldn't wear such identifying insignia. It would paint a clear target on their back. Still, it left an uneasy feeling in the elder shinobi's gut. He didn't want to imagine how the realisation must have felt for the boy, one he must have had barely a month or two ago.

Dark eyes turned to glance at him as he stared for a minute too long, the silver-haired man turning quickly on his heel towards the bathroom and closing the door as if he hadn't noticed his own scanning.

Staring at the hollow spot would do no good.

They were so close to finding Tsunade. Once that was done, they'd be one large step closer to somewhat clearing Itachi's name.

Tobirama owed him at least that much, for all the village had taken from the younger. It wouldn't be easy, but he would help Itachi and Sasuke rebuild their rubbled lives. They at least deserved that much, whether Itachi thought so or not.

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By the time they had managed to get their disguises ready, gather their things, go over the plan once more, and sign out of the room, it was late enough in the morning that most shops had begun to open. Tobirama lingered beside a food stall as the man behind opened for the day, watching Itachi's figure disappear into the distance.

He would gather their supplies and then meet up with the younger shinobi outside to avoid suspicion.

This started with a small bag of oranges, a few veggie sandwiches, some protein bars, and a couple of bottles of water. It wasn't ideal, but it would serve them well enough on the road for a few days without rotting.

He held his purchases in one hand, scanning along the vendors for anything else that may be of use to buy time until Itachi would realistically be out of the area. There wasn't much in the terms of shinobi supplies, though he supposed that was to be expected in a village like this. It was more likely than not locked up, hidden behind a storefront for their fighters to gather and buy with more ease - away from the many civilians and curious children.

Tobirama did, however, manage to find a few things that would be of use. Some thin rope that could serve for either fishing or trapping, a few boxes of matches to avoid wasting chakra, and a container of medical ointment Itachi had mentioned being out of when asked about any needed supplies.

Honestly, how could the boy let himself run out of first aid of all things? It wasn't as if it were of much use to Tobirama considering he could heal himself just fine with his chakra, but considering it was one of the few skills Itachi didn't seem to have mastered, one would think he'd avoid running out of medical supplies. It was, to be frank, less than Tobirama expected from the young genius.

Even so, he set it aside, supposing the young ravenet was only human after all. At least glad he'd been able to find it along with the other items, and it had given him something to do while he waited. It hadn't taken long by any means, but certainly enough time that Itachi should be out of the village by now.

So it was that he moved along after paying for each item, heading to a more secluded area to place the items within his travel scroll. He watched carefully for any prying eyes before performing the jutsu to place them within, followed by the more exhausting one to teleport him towards the pre-teen on the outside.

At the very least, the boy was a much shorter distance away this time.

Chapter Text

Tobirama soon found himself standing near a field, directly under an overhanging tree. The man steadied himself on the rough bark beside him, gathering his footing and scanning the area as he grounded himself.

Itachi stood a few feet to the left, leaning against the tree with his gaze on the elder shinobi. He seemed to have stopped to hide in a semi-secluded area a few yards away from the village entrance, making the landing from the teleportation much smoother than it would have been had he been running.

Upon seeing Tobirama once more, however, he continued on with the silver-haired shinobi following suit. It didn't take long for Tobirama to match his pace, the two moving upwards and through the trees.

"We should head for the spot between the waterfall, grass, and rock lands so that we can get a decent reading into each of the three territories." the silver-haired shinobi noted, Itachi nodding wordlessly in agreement as they ran for the rim of the borders.

They moved quietly through the woods, leaping in bounds through the gaps of trees and easily maneuvering the increasingly rough terrain. The two weaved past the stray travelers here or there, easily covering a good third of the distance towards the three-way in a few mere hours.

Once the initial stiffness of a newly begun journey with a half-known travel companion wore off, the two found an almost comfortable silence falling between them.

Tobirama watched the surrounding area shift, eyes darting over the terrain while reaching as far outwards as humanly possible to feel for his grandniece's chakra. His legs carried him forward, a dull yet familiar ache creeping up them after decades of neglect. It had been too long since he was able to give them a good stretch, the man being all but confined to the compound or Hokage tower the last few weeks and his body having sat rotting in a box for years before that.

Though he was more than ready to find Tsunade, bring Itachi home to Konoha, and return to Sasuke, the man would be lying if he said it wasn't a nice change of pace to be able to let off some of the steam that had steadily built over the course of this second life.

He would feel worse about the way his legs pumped him forward at an unnatural yet comfortable speed if not for the fact Itachi followed behind him at a seemingly fine pace; not quite able to keep up but certainly not falling behind. The boy didn't seem any more tired than he usually was, instead following with an almost lulled expression; as if the steady beat of sandals against bark eased his unrest as well.

This small retreat for their minds was, as most things were, temporary of course.

The calm that had managed to settle between the two travelling shinobi was broken as Tobirama felt a distinct chakra in the distance - near the border of the lands of waterfall and rock.

It stood starkly against the meagre signatures of travelers ahead, her strong chakra following side by side with a slightly smaller and tamer one.

As immense and full of life as the former was, burning brightly like a beacon they were meant to follow, he hadn't a doubt within himself. That was his brother's grandchild.

That was the little blonde terror that had once fit so perfectly in the crook between his lap and newspaper during hide-and-seek with Hashirama, now likely tall enough to look him properly in the eye if they stood parallel.

Tobirama tried to tell himself he was ready to see her; the last of his clan, his sweet yet stubborn Tsunade.

The way his words seemed to stick to his tongue as they ran, lodged in his throat as his feet unconsciously picked up their pace, gave him an inkling of a doubt - something he would ignore for now as he finally got managed to speak the observation into existence. It wasn't as though he intended to back out now, after all.

"Follow me; I can feel her signature up ahead along with what I am presuming is that attendant of hers. Let's hurry before we lose the trail." he gave the directive, glancing over his shoulder to confirm the boy had heard before straying a bit to the left.

A light nod was his only response, Itachi's legs lunging forward to keep up with the fastened pace of the elder shinobi. They moved quickly, Tobirama leading him towards the familiar chakra without pause. As the terrain became sturdier, mucky grass lessening, it seemed as if they were moving at twice the speed.

Occasionally, Tobirama would look behind to assure himself that he had not accidentally lost his younger travelling partner, content each time as he found the ravenet on his heel. A time or two he would ease his pace when the distance began to spread a bit too far, forcing himself to remember they were too close to lose her trail now. If anything, it would probably be harder to lose track of her than anything as they grew closer and closer.

This became the case further as he noticed a pause in her movement, the younger Senju and her travelling partner seeming to take a break in their travels. Tobirama's brows pinched together as he stared in the direction he knew she was, feeling as her chakra whipped outwards; flexing outwards in a violent and irate manner.

Had she wound up in a fight? He doubted as much, based on the lack of chakra surrounding her. If anything, the two had made their way into a rather secluded area - a rocky mountain which loomed in the distance, signature striking outwards from within it; as if challenging them to come to her.

If he was reading her movements correctly, it would seem that his grandniece had begun to pick up on his chakra.

The almost warning-like way in which her chakra moved was not the most promising, but it at least provided a chance for them to catch up.

Tobirama slowed a bit further, steadying his breathing after hours of travel. Itachi neared his side as his pace eased, the younger of the two joining him in bounding up the rocky terrain and past the trees that had found a home on the small cliffs near the edge of the mountain.

He could feel the tension radiating off the boy, his shoulders having stiffened as they ran - eyes darting over the area ahead in search of Tsunade just as Tobirama's did.

"...You should wait here; her chakra feels hostile. I'll have a better chance of talking her down alone." the two pausing in their journey as he spoke; just a few yards away from their target. Itachi's eyes narrowed, lips falling into a frown as the silver-haired man continued, "On all official accounts, you are still a rogue shinobi. Not to mention she likely has her own conclusions as to why she can feel my chakra at all after so long. She has every reason to be on edge right now - it would be best to not make it look like we've come for a fight."

A tense moment passed before the boy nodded, turning back towards the outer rim of the mountain. "I'll keep watch to make sure you're uninterrupted."

"Good. I'll be back soon." the words were spoken with perhaps a bit more optimism than he felt, the silver-haired man turning on his heel towards the deeper parts of the cave.

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"You sure took your time, didn't you?" a heavy voice riddled with disapproval came as he moved further towards the center of the mountain. He moved past a few stray trees, hand resting against the familiar roughness of its moss as he looked upwards.

His grandniece had taken the high ground, arms folded over her chest as she sent him a scrutinizing glance. Her attendant was nowhere to be seen - her chakra signature having faded further up the mountain.

Tsunade stood solely along the elevated land, back straight as a pole with feet planted firmly in the ground. Her amber eyes pierced him, blonde hair reaching down her back.

She had grown a lot over the years; more likely than not, she would stand a mere few inches shorter than the silver-haired man had she not been towering over him. It was a stark difference from the sprout he'd left behind - a girl hardly out of mourning for her grandfather, still young enough for the wounds of war to pierce her heart without any of the horrifying yet soothing numbness that came to so many with time.

He wondered, morbidly, how it must have hurt to lose him a mere few years later as well.

"...It would seem so. You have my apologies, Tsunade." he crossed his arms likewise, head tilted up to match her gaze. He shoved the hammering in his chest down; rooting himself in place as he spoke, "Am I correct to say you recognise me despite my lateness?"

Tobirama wasn't sure whether it filled him with more relief or guilt when she gave a stiff nod, frowning down at him. "I do. Though your actions and travelling partner initially gave me some doubts, Lord Second." her tongue just a tad too sharp for the otherwise mild words leaving her mouth.

"Oh? Lord Second, am I?" Tobirama's brow rose as he watched the other carefully, "Has my lateness and pursuit left me demoted?"

An almost amused spark flickered in her eyes, overshadowed only by the cynical expression along the rest of her face. "I highly doubt you've come here as my uncle today." lip falling further into a frown as he tried to find the words to respond to such an accusation.

She let out a light sign, hands falling to her side briefly before one landed on her hip - drumming impatiently against her own side. "Allow me to make this easier for the both of us. Are you here to try to convince me to return to the village?"

"That is my intention, yes. Though from what I've heard, I may not have the best luck." Tobirama spoke with blunt honesty to match her own, keeping his eyes locked on hers.

She only nodded in turn, fingers coming to a still at her side. "You've heard right, then. I have no interest in returning to Konoha." she paused as she turned her eyes away, tone remaining steady even as a trace of regret crossed her face.

"I served my time in the second war and aided in the medical efforts for the third. I may not look it, but I have seen enough fighting for my lifetime. I've earned my retirement, and I don't plan on throwing it away just to work myself to death like-" she bit down her words, the steadily increasing heat in her voice faltering. "Like you, grandfather, and Lord Third all have. As many shinobi of Konoha have. I've done my duty as a shinobi of the leaf - it's time for the next batch of sprouts to bloom and defend their home. I've paid my dues."

A stretch of silence fell between the two, the silver-haired man steadying himself as the words pierced into his chest. Her words were spoken softer than he would have expected once the initial frustration washed away, neither quite able to look the other in the eyes. She remained turned away from him, his own gaze locked onto a stone near his shoe.

To Tsunade, Konoha had become nothing more than a place she owed her life to. She had survived and thrived as a child due to the safety that came with the walls around her. It was something she seemed to know well, something she clearly appreciated despite her refusal to return. It had protected her, and in turn, she had protected it.

Even so, at some point in time, it seemed that Konoha had stopped being Tsunade's home.

Had it been when she lost the last of her Senju kin?

Or was it when the Uzumaki clan began dwindling so horribly that the only ones left were half-bloods and a stray estranged refugee here or there?

Was it after the countless comrades she must have lost, to have fought in two large-scale wars?

Or had it been the pain of seeing those she trained alongside disperse in the wind like-wise, one even opting to follow a path against the very place they had served together for so many years?

Tobirama couldn't help but loathe the thought.

Chapter Text

"...You have done the village many great services over the years, you are correct." he spoke after a long moment, eyes drifting up to scan her over once more. "Hiruzen has praised you many times over in the short few weeks that I've been back. He's told me of your hard work during the wars and your advancements in the medical field - of the thousands of lives you've saved, with both your hands and through the refinements you've suggested for the shinobi squad system I laid down. He's quite proud of you as his student."

The silver-haired man cleared his throat, adding with no shortage of awkwardness despite the certainty in his tone, "As I am of you, as your uncle. You've worked hard to protect the dream which many worked so hard to build into a reality. Your parents and my brother would be proud of you as well. Even if I can't convince you to return with me, I hope you know that much at least."

Amber eyes softened slightly at the praise even as her arms crossed once more, fingers tightening around the sleeve of her outerwear. The younger Senju's lips pressed together firmly, pigtails swaying to the side as she let out a quiet, almost agitated, sigh at his words. As if admitting to something almost unfortunate, she spoke, "...I know, uncle. You must also know that despite my absence, I'm glad the village has carried on."

She tilted her head down a mere moment later, leaping from her spot up ahead and back towards where he stood.

The woman stood across from Tobirama, looking at her granduncle carefully with a thin frown. "Speaking of it carrying , I've not heard word of any substantial threats to Konoha in recent weeks. What has caused you to return from your time gone?" her attention shifted over his shoulder and towards a form of chakra she couldn't see, but certainly felt. "...I don't imagine Lord Third would bring you back just to deal with the Uchiha brat, but I doubt you would be here speaking with me if he had managed to resurrect you for another of his rampages." her eyes narrowing at the thought before snapping back to Tobirama - silently urging for him to give her an answer.

Tobirama felt some of the tension from his shoulders ease as Tsuande proposed the question with what seemed to be sincerity, unsure whether he was more relieved that his grandniece truly didn't seem to know of what had transpired behind closed doors or frustrated by the thought that this accusing tone was likely a sentiment that boy would hear plenty of in the short period leading up to his trial and likely a good bit of time thereafter.

"I have come back of my own accord." he shook his head, "I left certain...seals on the village; ones which were only to activate under specific conditions. It was a pet project of admittedly poor taste looking back on it, but fate seemed to be on my side and has allowed it to end up being of use. It was because of this seal that I am here. On the night the Uchiha clan began to fall, I began to rise. The things I've found in the time since have left me more disappointed than I could have ever imagined."

A heavy frown came forward, the silver-haired man less than pleased to consider all he and Hiruzen had dug out in the last while of constant digging. His chest constricted with grief as he spoke, thinking back to the home he'd left behind and how it had warped in decades recent. He spoke honestly to his grandniece, not insulting her by sugarcoating his feelings. He could be both proud of her and ashamed of the path the village had begun to take - she was smart enough to know the difference in his praise and scolding of each.

"Konoha has lost its way - no matter how much territory we have collected or the immense wealth we now hoard. We've changed in the time I've been gone; from a promising sapling to an overgrown weed, so full of itself despite its extensive body being composed almost entirely of rotten leaves. I left this village in Hiruzen's hands trusting that it would grow into something great in the years to come - not what I've returned to."

A heat he couldn't quite control filled his chest, throat dry as if smoke had been blown down it. Even so, the admission left his lips as he spoke to his fellow clansmen, "I did not prepare Hiruzen for the hardships that were to come, then allowed my feelings that remained after the wars to influence Danzo and the other young shinobi's judgement of our clans. Both have failed to properly tend to the generation of tomorrow just as I once did - it is my hope that in my time here, I'll be able to mend these wrongs and help the village move forward in a better direction. It's such a shame, to see so many shinobi like yourself follow this will of fire while their leaders seem incapable of doing the same. Myself, Hiruzen, and the 'elders' council of the village have all failed the village thus far. My mission in my time back is to fix my wrongdoings and stop others from making the same mistakes I did - for the good of the village."

"...It is true that Konoha has changed a lot over the years." Tsunade settled on after a long while, taking in the elder clansmen's words. "I can't say it has been for the better or that I've always agreed with the way Lord Third goes about things, however, I wouldn't say Konoha has become a failure. A place safe from war, famine, and suffering as grandfather once spoke of..." She shook her head, "Such a place could never survive in this world. The village could have never succeeded in living up to such high expectations."

A low noise of reluctant agreement came from the silver-haired man as he listened to his grandniece, Hashirama's words ringing fresher in his ears than hers. "...My elder brother did have a habit of allowing his optimism to stretch a bit too far, but he wasn't a fool. He knew just as well as you or I that a place like that could never truly exist, but he wouldn't allow that to stop him from trying to build something close. Had he been content to give up on such a possibility, he would have simply continued on as he was. He wouldn't have risked his life time and time again if he didn't feel that his dream was worth fighting for. Nor would I have, if I hadn't thought there was any merit to the thought."

"We did not create Konoha to be perfect - we wanted it to be better. We wanted a better home for the future of the clans. One where children weren't sacrificed for the benefit of their elders and those unable to defend themselves didn't find their lives slipping away in an instant simply because they are no longer of use. Konoha may not be a failure, but it certainly hasn't been a success. It has grown to be a...fine village, but to accept it as it is would be a waste of potential. Konoha can be so much better than it is currently, if the work is put into it." Tobirama pressed, though he settled on running a tired hand over his face as he saw Tsunade's uncertain expression.

The man hoped his voice was as steady as he thought it was as he presented his thoughts, "This is the dream I have decided to follow, in life and death. I thank you for all that you've done so far, and won't insist on your return if it truly conflicts with your will. I can only hope you'll at least stop by to visit every so often. However, I do have two requests to make of you."

Tobirama bowed down at the waist, asking, "First, if you are willing, I ask that you keep an ear out on your travels and write to me if anything sounds amiss. The village will be going through a lot of structural changes over the course of the next few years. The village's current head of the spy network will be in the village to offer extra protection until further notice, so we'll have less efficient ears on the outside."

"Jiraiya is returning to the village?" Tsunade spoke with a quirk of her brow, scowling slightly as Tobirama nodded in confirmation. Her foot tapped briefly in thought before she shook her head, "Having him return to the village makes little sense. He'll be of more use out in the field, continuing to network. It would be more efficient for me to return and for him to remain working outside."

The red-eyed man straightened himself once more, frowning at her words. "Perhaps, but a willing shinobi will always be inherently better to have around than an unwilling one. He has written back and agreed to return, while you seem as if you'd rather remain outside the village. Hiruzen and I thought this would be a decent compromise, even if it isn't ideal."

Tsunade was quiet for a long moment, looking her granduncle up and down as she seemed to consider her options. The blonde allowed herself time to think, and for a moment, Tobirama wondered if their suggestion had for some reason agitated her. This worry was quickly washed away as the woman shook her head, speaking, "I may have...reservations, about how close the village can truly get to its initial goal, but I know you believe in it. I trust that if anyone can bring such a place to reality, it will be you. So allow me to help you, if anything for a little while. If you believe it can be done, so do I." she nodded, as if reaffirming herself as she looked up towards him.

The elder clansmen gave a thin grin, musing, "I'd be honoured to have your help, Princess Tsunade." the silver-haired man ignoring the exaggerated huff she gave him at the nickname, amber eyes silently scolding him for it. "I'll send word for Jiraiya to cancel his trip to Konoha the next chance that arises."

"Yes, you would be." the younger Senju doubled down with a wave of her hand, the woman herself ignoring the warmth that built in her chest at the childhood nickname that had become so formal in recent decades. "You said you had two requests, however. I've accepted your first, but what else is it you've come to ask me?"

Tobirama's smile faltered slightly at the mention of his second request, though he continued with a low muse, "My second request is that you allow me to use your Right of Kin in connection to the Uzumaki clan."

"The Uzumaki Clan?" Tsunade asked, uncertain as to why he should need her to call upon her title as an elder of her clan when there were hardly any members left. Much like her Senju side, the Uzumaki were nearly extinct with the exception of Kushina's child and herself. When a clan consisted of no more than a handful of people, well, it hardly meant much as a title. "What for? Has something happened with the current jinchuriki?"

"No, not Naruto Uzumaki." Tobirama shook his head with a thin frown, "There were some recent troubles with his living and care arrangements, but they were fixed fairly easily due to Hiruzen's indirect custody over the boy. This is about a young Uzumaki girl living in Kusagakure. I was recently informed about her whereabouts and unsafe living conditions. I was hoping you would be willing to send a letter or make a visit to the town as her elder kin to transfer custody to Konoha. Or at the very least act as a backing voice in my request."

As if pieces had fallen into place, Tsunade nodded, "Right, Naruto was the child's name." though her brows pinched together at the second and third comments. "I'm not sure how he managed to find trouble with his living arrangements, but I'm glad it's been handled. As for the girl, we can stop by Kusagakure on the way back to Konoha or I can send a letter. What kind of concerns are there with her safety?" her medic-focused mind likely taking over as she seemed to consider his words.

"I can't say I know for sure. I was only told this information second-hand, but from the sounds of it, she has the Uzumaki healing blood and the hospital of the village is taking advantage of that. Her mother died recently due to excessive use and by the sounds of it the daughter may follow suit." he explained, watching as Tsunade's frown deepened.

The younger Senju noted, "We'll stop by directly to check and her and speak with the ones warding her, then. Long-time use of that sort of ability is dangerous for an adult in full control of their powers, let alone a child. We should leave as soon as possible, and you can fill me in on the other information along the way." motioning loosely behind Tobirama, towards the seemingly untended criminal in the distance.

"That would be for the best, yes." Tobirama sighed in agreement as he turned on his heel. "We can gather your apprentice afterwards."

Chapter Text

"Those ballless bastards had the kid do what!?" Tsunade's tone rose higher than Tobirama had heard in a long while, and for a moment, he was glad they were in the middle of nowhere; far away from prying ears.

The man cringed slightly at her vulgar outrage, reminding himself that Tsunade was now closer to her fifties than the five he so closely recalled. "Precisely why I've decided to step in. He never should have been put in that position by the village, let alone his own parents. I don't know what could have been going through any of their minds, but to having a child run back and forth to play messenger and executioner at his leaders' wills..."

Tobirama couldn't help the gnawing thought that it sounded all too much like something his own father would have found worthy of immense praise.

Perhaps it was presumptuous to criticize them, considering he himself had never sired any children, but he could hardly imagine how they could have felt it acceptable to put the boy in such a position without backup. He himself would have been reluctant to send his own grandniece on such a mission - not until she was at least double Itachi's current age.

Hiruzen had said that the hidden struggle between the clan and village had gone on for years. How old must Itachi have been, the first time he looked to his father, mother, and Hokage only to realize his place in their conflict; sitting directly in the middle, like a dog with too many leashes attached to his collar - being yanked every which way until he was provoked into biting at least one of them?

To realize that none of them were all too concerned with the rings of red they left behind, too busy chanting in their minds for him to bite, bite, bite!

The wrenching realization that it had been made his responsibility to decide the fate of hundreds, no more than a tool for the ones who claimed to care for him so closely.

It was a role not many experienced shinobi could handle, let alone one that likely hadn't even begun to experience the faintest cracks in their voice yet.

"...It is unacceptable in a village meant to preserve and encourage peace for the generation of tomorrow. Itachi's mission goes against everything Konoha was made to stand for. He never should have been put in such a position. He and Sasuke have both been through more at the hands of the village than they ever should have. What's done is done, but it stops now. They will be paid their dues just as all the others hurt by Hiruzen's willing ignorance and Danzo's vile acts committed in the name of the village."

He could see the hardly restrained ire at the situation in the way she pinched her brows beside him, her pace slowing as they neared the area where the boy was waiting. He eased his speed likewise, noting with a shake of his head, "I won't act as if the situation can ever be truly fixed. Those two will never be able to recover all that they've lost, and I know that. All we can do now is make sure they don't have anything else taken from them."

"They were hurt because I failed to properly prepare Hiruzen for what was to come, and though I may not have realized it, allowed a harmful attitude to circulate in the village and influence Danzo. I was too blinded by my personal feelings towards the Uchiha to see that I was hurting the village I had worked so hard to create alongside my brother. Now the village has suffered the loss of an entire clan's worth of manpower and a steadily growing generation of children that have no reason to give their loyalty to this village."

The image of a blood-soaked compound weighed heavily in his mind, the instant relief of seeing a child's footstool overshadowed by the hallowing realization that he was, in fact, the only child that had been left behind.

A crushing weight in his chest when he learned that the other had been all but chased out, beaten down by the village until he had nothing left to offer. The ache that filled him seeing that even after this, the child still knelt and offered his respect and scraps of information - willingly gifting the village his bones mere weeks after they had ripped the flesh straight off of him.

An empty apartment, dirty and unkept as its sole occupant sat in class somewhere - milk curdled on the counter from being left out the morning prior. Laundry scattered the floor, window left carelessly open as if silently declaring that there was nothing for any thief to bother stealing.

A dim room echoing in his memory, shinobi of numerous clans lined up at attention upon his and Hiruzen's search of Danzo's base.

Adults that had fought them without question wrangled down one by one as they slipped silently from room to room - hands eventually bound with mouths that refused to move no matter the two's attempts at negotiation or interrogation.

Hollowed stares that had been sent their way, clashing with the almost feral movements of the teens who had fought likewise and remained just as uncooperative. The only sign of anything besides hostility towards the two had been the faintest twitch that came to some of the teens as Hiruzen and Tobirama passed them over to do a count, eyes pointed down as if their tensed shoulders didn't give away the fear in their hearts they were so determined to prove didn't exist.

Numerous children that had knelt voluntarily upon seeing the elders subdued, heads inclined inwards to avoid looking towards the two. Once they were rounded up and the supporting ANBU had regrouped with the leaders of the search, the children had stuck closer together, shying away from the strangers. A spare few had been willing to speak among even them, the majority of the information on what exactly was going on coming from the records held in Danzo's hidden office.

Records upon records of the origin, medical history, and progress of each member of the glorified child trafficking operation. Tales of parents that had given their child away, thought they had gone missing, or simply not noticed their disappearance at all until it was far too late to act concerned.

The roots of the village had been sullied, the concept of a shinobi's honour fading further and further behind the blind loyalty that had been drilled into their minds.

A man could only make it so far on loyalty alone. Without something to inspire them to move forward - whether it be honour, their clan, a dream, or something else entirety - their body was sure to give in eventually even if their mind was willing.

Tsunade let out a small nod of acknowledgement from beside him, the two standing with a heavy silence between them as thoughts of how the village had changed for the worse lay heavily in their minds.

Tobirama steadied his heart, reminding himself that all the regret in the world meant nothing; not if he didn't at least try to do better in the future. After all, guilt without the resolve to improve was no better than self-pity.

He had never much cared for self-pity.

"We'll just have to give them a reason to believe in the village, then." Tsunade settled on after a long moment, eyes sharpening as she straightened her back beside him. "You were able to do it once, uncle. You have my faith that you can do it again, starting with that sapling up ahead. We'll bring him the justice he deserves - along with all the other children of Konoha."

The silver-haired man stomped any reservation he may have down with a single nod of agreement, "Of course we will. With you here to help, it should be easier than ever." a soft snort of amusement left his lips as he spoke, no real displeasure in his tone despite his picking words, "You at least seem to have a better head on your shoulders than Hashirama ever did."

Well, besides the tempter she'd developed, but he supposed it wasn't the worst to work with if it was aimed in the right direction.

Tsunade only huffed in amusement at his words, shaking her head as she moved forward, "Speaking ill of the dead, how disgraceful." her bold words and heavy footsteps quickly being noticed by the boy as the two moved slowly across the few yards between them and Itachi.

The dark-haired pre-teen had stayed near where Tobirama had left him; though he had moved a bit further to the left - towards an overhanging cliff. His dark eyes had been staring down it up until he felt the presence of the elder two shinobi; gaze quickly snapping upwards to look at them as his body turned to give him their full attention.

His previously sagged shoulders moved back as they appeared, back straightening like a line as he glanced the two over for any sign of alert. When he found none besides the standardly stern face of Tobirama and the amusement that fell into focus for Tsunade, he returned the gestures with a mere respectful bow in greeting. "Greetings, Lady Tsunade."

The blonde woman only nodded in turn, eyes scanning over the boy with a considering expression. "Hello, Itachi." she settled on, explaining with a serious expression, "I've already been filled in on the situation and mission - my assistant Shizune should be here any minute now, so let's set what exactly we'll be doing down now so we can move on as quickly as possible." glancing to Tobirama for confirmation as she spoke.

When the elder Senju nodded and moved to stand between the two so they were encircled, she continued, "First, we'll make way for Kusagakure to look into the ordeal of the orphaned Uzumaki girl. You two can lead the way while I pass on the details to Shizune." glancing over to Tobirama as she spoke, "She is a skilled medical-nin that has been travelling and training with me since she was a young child. Looping her in would be for the best; she's a good asset to have and with how she sticks to my side, it will be hard to discuss the more sensitive parts of the mission if she only knew the bare minimum."

The masked man was quiet for a moment, considering her words before nodding, "...If you believe she can be trusted with the information of who I am and the circumstances around the massacre, then go ahead and tell her. I've been considering making my true name known to the public in a few week's time in order to keep our village from looking vulnerable during all these shifts in power, though there are still a few issues to work out first. So let me of course know who you are telling, but as a general rule, I'll trust your judgement with who can hold the information about who I am responsibly."

After all, for Tobirama, this was an array of nearly all new faces he'd been dealing with on a day-to-day basis. Tsunade on the other hand had grown up in this village around many of these people - if nothing else, it was to be expected that there would be at least one or two shinobi out there that would have proven their trustworthiness and loyalty to her by now.

"Good. Then that's settled. We'll head to Kusagakure first, I'll inform Shizune of the details, and then we can be on our way back to Konoha." she glanced towards Itachi now, noting, "It will be best for our arrival times to stagger with Tobirama's to avoid extra circulating rumours, considering he's currently been looking after your brother. It would probably be best for him to go ahead of us with the girl if we end up bringing her back with us while you, Shizune, and I follow behind."

The blonde woman frowned thinly as she spoke, "Unfortunately, I would also suggest we go into the village directly instead of attempting to sneak you in."

Itachi nodded before she had a chance to explain her reasoning. Tobirama wasn't surprised. He had been in the ANBU after all - he likely knew just as well as anyone why it was the case.

It was typically important to try to sneak criminals in for interrogation, if they had to be within village walls at all. There was no reason to cause distress among the civilians and children; however, in this odd case they would likely be distressed more if he were snuck in.

They were to hold a trial of formality soon. He would likely be released with limitations afterwards.

Since this was a future they knew would likely cause distress to at least some villagers, it made more sense to ease them into it by letting them know of his presence before it was a more permanent one.

Bringing him into the village well-guarded and heavily restrained would likely ease their minds much more than sneaking him in and announcing he was there right before the trial.

It wouldn't be pleasant by any means, a shinobi being put in a position where their life was in someone else's hands never was, but it shouldn't be something that lasts long. The ease with which Itachi agreed led Tobirama to believe he understood this as well.

"Good." Tobirama agreed, noting, "It sounds like a plan, then. Itachi, you come ahead with me. I can feel the girl approaching - we should sprint ahead to give them both the time to discuss what they need to. For now, show me the way to the little Uzumaki girl."

Hopefully, it would be a quick stop on their way home.

______________________________________________________

They had been running for a good long while now - a day and a half of going without pause, Itachi and Tobirama staying towards the front of the group while Tsunade and Shizune lingered towards the back even after they had finished speaking.

They ate as they travelled, the knowledge that they were almost finished with their journey pushing them to move faster than the first time they had passed along the route. A steady silence came over them as the group of experienced shinobi bounded towards their small stop, none of them tired enough to complain.

Especially with the unspoken truth that was, for each break they took to sleep, it was hours added to the small Uzumaki girl's suffering.

Tobirama watched as Itachi kept pace well, moving perhaps a bit faster than he had been when the two had been on the look out for Tsunade. By the time they made it to Kusagakure, the boy had admittedly lost a bit of his extra speed - stopping just a bit ahead of the gates to slip his travelling hat on and loosen his posture.

Likely putting on whatever airs he had held last time he was in the village, if Tobirama had to guess.

His suspicion was confirmed soon after it was developed, a young guard at the gate giving him a once-over and tsking, "You - uh - Itatsu wasn't it?" his eyes narrowed in thought, asking, "Weren't you just here? Not long after you?" attention turning to Tsunade soon after.

Tsunade only raised a brow at the boy's words, a shared mental grimace passing between the four more experienced shinobi at the less experienced one's bluntness with his suspicion.

"Yes, I was," Itachi spoke with false yet calm grievances, speaking to the other as if he were a classmate rather than someone in charge of inspecting them. He complained to the boy only a few years older than him, shoulders sagging, "The next village on our stop barely had anyone in their gambling houses, and the people inside were much less pleasant to deal with. So I decided to come back here."

It would never not be off-putting for Tobirama to see the regal boy slip into such casual airs so swiftly. He kept up with the lie however, nodding and keeping their story straight as he laid a hand on the pre-teen's shoulder. "As for me, I'm the unfortunate keeper of this one. Hopefully he didn't cause this village any trouble last he was here."

The single puffed-up cheek-pout Itachi gave him for this comment should be reserved for Sasuke's use only, in Tobirama's professional opinion.

A laugh came from the guard, however, the teen shaking his head. "From what I've heard from my father - he works down at the gambling house - the only trouble he caused was for his wallet." giving Itachi a knowing look while the ravenet only huffed dismissively.

The young guard seemed thoroughly amused, wiping his eye at his own joke and Tobirama's sigh before sombering up a bit at last. "Truly, though, I do need to know why you ladies have returned too. You seemed, ah, unpleased with your last round of games here." giving Tsunade a sheepish look. "If you intend to enter, I'll have to ask you be a bit more careful with your exit next time. The indents from your stomping weren't exactly the easiest to fix up."

She only gave a low scoff, crossing her arms with a stubborn scowl while Shizune sighed from beside her. Tsunade agreed regardless, "You don't have to worry about that - I'm here for a meeting with your village head, as a matter a fact. I'll be sure to repay any damages left behind."

"Oh! A meeting? When for? I hope I haven't kept you?" the guard flustered, quickly moving to the side. "I'll call to have someone bring you to him, I'm so sorry if I have."

Amber eyes sharpened, seemingly content with the assumption that she had an appointment. "That would be for the best. I have important matters to discuss with him."

Tobirama watched as his grandniece effortlessly flipped the script on its head, the young guard calling for an escort while shooing the silver-haired man and ravenet inside.

Itachi hummed quietly as they were moved along quickly in favour of fulfilling Tsunade's needs, content with the outcome. He didn't bother to wave goodbye to either of the occupied healers, instead moving through the streets at a steady but driven pace.

They passed shop upon shop, Itachi not pausing twice at any of them.

The Jasmine Dragon, Angel's Share, War Maiden, Tiger's eye-

Itachi stopped abruptly in front of a narrow alleyway beside the hospital. It was empty, a fact that seemed to displease Itachi immensely. The boy's eyes turned to the building, likely sensing the same distressed Uzumaki chakra Tobirama had noticed upon their entering of the village.

The silver-haired man looked up and into the various windows, failing to spot anything no matter where he looked. A warm chakra whipped and flashed from within, scalding hot with distress even as silence rang deafeningly from within.

Various voices from behind muffled into the background, the vendors and passing civilians fading into oblivion as he took a step forward.

"I wouldn't do that." Itachi's tone fell flat, conflicting with the way he stared the building down as if it had cursed them personally. A cloak of chakra emitted from the boy, falling over the surrounding area to render them unnoticeable despite the tiredness in his shoulders. "We don't have the necessary voices to go retrieve her ourselves. Our current faces are that of a drinker and a gambler; then our truer selves are that of a criminal and a Konoha official. If we go in now, we'll either be rendered trespassers or someone coming to cause trouble. Lady Tsunade will be here any minute to handle it and get her out in a way that won't reflect poorly on Konoha."

What the boy said was true. If he were to go in now, as a traveller without any injuries, he'd likely be kicked out nearly immediately. Then if he were to go in as Tobira, he'd likely end up doing nothing but causing a headache between this village and Konoha since he had no blood-claim to the girl.

Logically, he knew Itachi was right. They should wait it out - as painful as it was to feel the girl's chakra twisting with such distress.

But then, he supposed, he had never been all that good at letting things that were out of his control remain so. Not when he had a way to change it.

The silver-haired man slid a kunai from his sleeve, prepared to give himself a substantial enough injury. The gut area, away from any organs would probably be for the best, he decided. He didn't want his leg injured in case they needed to for some reason flee before meeting back up with Tsuande, and his arms were essential for jutsu. A long but shallow cut would be for the best, so starting from above would-

An almost irritated sigh came from behind him. Tobirama turned, brow quirking at the boy as he moved past him and towards the front of the building. "I'll go in as a sickly patient to get us in a room with her, then insist they listen to all my symptoms while you keep her company until Tsunade shows up. I'll offer enough compensation to make it worth their while to listen to me and keep her in the room so she doesn't have to heal anyone else for the time being."

It was eerie, a bit, how quickly they managed to formulate such similar plans.

Tobirama gave a reluctant nod in agreement, allowing the boy to play the part if he would rather. He watched as the boy's genjutsu field faltered, the young shinobi moving from the side to being fully in front of the hospital. His hat was removed as he walked, hair pooling down his shoulders as his bangs grew to match the rest of his hair's length. The creases of his face faded just a bit, shoulders lowering as he pressed a hand to the glass.

The door slipped open just in time for him to bring a hand to his mouth, a too-real cough wracking his body. His head jerked forward into the cough, speckles of chakra-covered blood hitting his palm and covering his hand. His brows creased together, a pained expression registering on his young face as he took unsteady steps towards the front desk. Tobirama recongized the faint overlay of chakra as genjutsu, likely meant to make his tiredness seem sick instead. All in all, it was the perfect picture of a sick man.

The woman behind the desk looked to him with alarm, Tobirama settling himself beside the boy as he played along with Itachi's characde. For a mere moment, Tobirama had to remind himself that this was all an act. The boy was able to switch between respectful and hateful, manipulative and childish, kind and brutal, calculating and adhering all in a matter of seconds - a bit of fake blood should hardly be that difficult for him.

Yet. There was something about the way his face pinched, chakra curling in his stomach as if truly pained to his core. An act or not, it wasn't pleasent to see on a proud face like Itachi's.

It was an unsettling and unnecessary feeling he shoved down for the moment, instead focusing on the matter at hand. The pre-teen was hacking up a storm, perhaps laying it on a bit thick. Regardless, Tobirama sped up his pace to follow him, one hand coming out to steady him while the other rested firmly on his back; the silver-haired man trying not to look as awkward as he felt as he rubbed the boy's back and played into the guise.

He looked to the woman behind the counter that had moved over to meet them even as the younger's coughing eased a bit, speaking seriously, "My son is ill and needs medical attention urgently, please, see him and I'll pay whatever is necessary. I've heard his village has a strong healer who will be able to take care of him quickly, so please, call them."

The woman nodded, looking at the boy with a thin grimace, "Right this way. She's currently occupied with another patient, but she'll be done in just a few minutes. We'll send her right in afterwards - for now, let's get him laid down."

"Of course, thank you." the red-eyed man agreed, walking alongside Itachi towards the room the woman motioned them to. He separated from the boy as she took his wrist from him, leading the ravenet to a bed to sit up in while they waited.

She tucked a pillow behind his back, inclining him to relieve some of the pressure from his back. He played along, allowing her to do so while letting the occasional lighter cough leave his lips. She slid on some gloves and took a handful of tissues from the counterside, handing them over to the pre-teen. "Here. Use these to clean up your hands and mouth - I'll call for a nurse now, okay?" lightly patting his leg in what was most likely meant to be an act of comfort.

Itachi only nodded, using the tissues to clean himself up quickly while she made her way out of the room. Soon enough, he looked hardly any worse than when they had entered, other than the red staining his teeth. It wasn't long after that a young man stepped into the room.

He stood tall, short brunette hair pulled into a tight ponytail as he moved into the room. Behind him trailed a smaller, brighter shadow - a girl roughly Sasuke's age, of clear Uzumaki heritage. Her short red hair swayed with each unsteady step, vibrant puffy eyes hidden behind brown glasses. Her clothes were likewise plain, cropped at her knees and elbows to expose her scarred and torn skin.

It left a horrible pit in Tobirama's stomach, to see the repetitive wounds lining her young skin. Bite marks covered the exposed skin, blood leaking from her arm where she had likely had teeth sunken into her mere moments ago.

What sort of disgusting animals would agree to bite a little girl - in fact, what sort of repulsive demons would offer up a little girl in such a manner?

Tobirama's fists curled against his lap as he sat in his visitor's chair, imagining his grandniece or Sasuke in such a position.

It sickened him to his stomach - which was quite a feat in itself, all things considered.

Chapter Text

"Hello, my name is Yukiya. I'm the village medic which will be seeing you today." he spoke, flipping through a clipboard as his eyes squinted. "I see you two have come in for an emergency visit without an appointment. Can I have your name, age, and reason for coming today?" glancing between Itachi and Tobirama as he spoke, the man quirked a brow.

Itachi merely nodded, speaking, "My name is Itatsi. I'm thirteen, and having trouble with a few different symptoms-" he began to explain in serious yet excessive detail, not skipping a beat. For each necessary question the doctor asked, he would reply ten-fold, explaining the false symptoms inside and out.

Tobirama listened for a moment as the boy's voice filled the air, ten minutes easily passing by this way. After the first fifteen, the young doctor finally spoke over Itachi's third summarizing of his throat pain, suggesting they attempt a practical cure-all they had to see if it would help any. This fumbled on to a long-winded explanation about how it hurt too much for it to possibly be so easily fixed, and any suggestions for if the issue was to come up again or how it may have come to be to start with. It was at the twenty-five minute mark that the medic suggested they see his primary medic about the issue if it was persistent, followed by a mournful one-sided discussion on Itachi's part about how hard it was to find a primary medic when they were on the move so often.

Tobirama was content to sit off to the side and let the boy spin his web, ignoring the medic's occasional glance for help or question by only assuring the man that the boy knew his symptoms better than he would.

Around the forty minute mark of this back and forth, Tobirama could see the man adding a few zeros to their bill below his notes on the boy's health.

The silver-haired man silently mourned his wallet's fading health, letting out a small sigh.

It wasn't until nearly an hour in that he saw the small Uzumaki girl move from her spot behind the doctor, her attention turning from the ceiling where she had been hollowly staring down to her own hands. She briefly looked over at Tobirama, then back to her hands, and then up once more.

He gave the girl a brief wave and nod, which seemed to be permission enough for her.

Vibrant red eyes looked over her shoulder and up to the young medic before seeming to decide on it, hands still fidgeting in front of her as she slowly walked over. She sat in the empty waiting chair beside him, hands folding and unfolding in her lap.

She said nothing as she sat, only occasionally glancing over towards the door as more people filed into the waiting room. It wasn't a surreal amount - a mere one or two at most - but it was one or two more than Tobirama would have cared to let get ahold of her while his grandniece was busy with formalities. The girl itched at her arm, picking at scabs half-consciously as she switched her gaze between the others and herself.

A wave of relief washed over Tobirama as he felt the approaching chakra of his grandniece, the man leaning back in his chair a bit and glancing between the three others.

Itachi was slowing in his explanations, having run out of ways to stretch his symptoms and now having moved on to criticizing and denying different treatment options the man was offering.

The medic was red in the face, holding his clipboard with a million notes a bit harder than was strictly necessary and struggling to keep his professional smile from falling as he spoke to the picky patient.

The young redhead had turned back towards the door as Tsunade entered the building as well; shoulders stiffening a bit. Whether it was due to her hearing another person enter or her recognising the faintly familiar feeling to her own chakra, Tobirama couldn't say.

He could say, however, that as his grandniece finally made it to their room - the stressed looking receptionist from earlier following behind - the young girl's reaction was immediate. She stilled in her seat, all previous unsettled movements stopping.

Her hands stilled in her lap, gripping her shirt and watching the woman with wide eyes behind her dark glasses. A striking look of familiarity seemed to strike through the girl, her hand moving up to rest on her stomach; as if feeling her own chakra alongside the blonde woman's.

Still, she remained silent, only watching as the amber-eyed woman kept her full attention on the medic ahead of her. Tsunade spoke curtly, nodding in greeting to the man, "Good afternoon, medic of Kusagakure." she spoke the word medic reluctantly, as if unsure it was befitting of him. "I am Tsunade Senju of Konohagakure, granddaughter of Hashirama Senju and Mito Uzumaki. I have come to collect Karin of the Uzumaki clan as her next of kin. The leaders of this village have already been spoken to on the matter and fairly compensated for the hospital's inconvenience."

The way she said it made it sound all too much like she'd bribed them into not bothering to argue back, which was more than they deserved, but Tobirama supposed the most efficient.

"They told me this is the place I should be able to find her." she continued on without missing a beat, "So please, don't let me interrupt your session, but I will be needing her to come with me now."

She waved a hand easily to beckon the young girl closer, either hardly noticing the power her word held even outside her village or using it without hesitation.

The small Uzumaki girl looked a bit dazed as she stood, slowly moving towards Tsunade. Her head was inclined down, as if too nervous to look up at the situation before her. Still, she did as instructed, standing silently beside her as the young doctor tried to force words from his mouth.

"I'm done." he finally spoke after much effort, storming past Tsunade and tossing her his clipboard. "I'm done! Take the brat, deal with the other brat and his useless father. I'm done!"

His voice was riddled with irritation and exhaustion as he stormed past the receptionist and out of the building, face somehow reddening further with annoyance. Tobirama might have found it within himself to feel a bit bad, had it not been for the fact the man had been prepared to use a child like medical equipment mere moments ago.

Instead, he only sighed, watching as his granddaughter's lip twitched at the rudeness of the amateur doctor. She seemed to restrain herself from shouting anything in retort, though it was at the expense of the clipboard in her hand.

It cracked under the pressure of her fist as she looked out the door, the redhead beside her shrinking into herself further at the commotion. Tsunade noticed, at least, and eased her grip on the broken board immediately.

She sat it to the side, shaking her head briefly and turning to the door. Her hand was sat on the girl's upper back as they walked towards the door, Itachi and Tobirama both standing to follow her.

"Lady Tsunade, he didn't mean it." the receptionist called with a fluster at the woman's irritated face, "We can still see to those two, so please, don't worry yourself with them."

"Clearly not, based on the amount of time he's taken just speaking to the boy rather than treating him." she settled on speaking callously, "Consider it a favour, taking such a troublesome patient off your hands. Besides, it looks like you have bigger fish to fry than a poached patient." she motioned to the multiple waiting patients that had seen the young doctor storm out.

Tobirama couldn't help but think that the blonde reminded him of Mito, the way she took control of the room so effortlessly. Though, that temper certainly wasn't her grandmother's.

It was as impressive as it was tiring regardless, the silver-haired man following behind the three girls with Itachi lingering just slightly behind him. Shizune, who had been lingering to Tsunade's right for the majority of the exchange, seemed to share Tobirama's sentiment as she sighed to herself.

They made their way out of the village, not lingering lest any problems have time to fester.

Their pace had slowed considerably now that they had a young child with them, and one that looked like the wind may blow her over at that. They would need to make camp outside the village to have her injuries healed up and to get some rest. Tobirama was sure it would make the last leg of the trip less hellish if they took the time to do that at least.

"We'll explain to you what's going on in just a moment, but for now, you don't need to be afraid. We're not going to hurt you, okay?" Tsunade spoke firmly to the girl which had taken to standing practically on top of her feet, rightfully anxious about the sudden shift in scenery.

The small redhead only nodded, wiping her eye with the back of her hand as she followed them. Tsunade sighed lightly at the silence, but said nothing as they carried on - merely continuing to lay her hand on the girl's upper back in the same way Tobirama had seen his brother do to his daughter a hundred times over.

Silence rang in the air until they made it to a safe enough spot, deep in the woods beside the main road to Konoha. Tsunade turned to speak to them as they made it to the area, noting, "This is a good spot to rest for tonight. Itachi, go ahead and set up the fire while I speak with her and explain our circumstances. Tobira, we'll need some fish to cook if you don't mind. Shizune, work on healing her injuries while we do all this. Alright?"

Both of the younger shinobi nodded, moving to do as they were told. Itachi gathered sticks nearby while Shizune had the little redhead sit down on a log beside her, carefully inspecting her wounds. Tsunade sat on a log across from them, Tobirama merely nodding and heading over to the nearby river to give them room to talk.

He unfortunately didn't have anything to fish with, so he settled on doing it the slightly messier way. The man rolled up his pant legs and sleeves, getting to work as he listened to his grandniece and familiarized himself with the details.

"As I said earlier, my name is Tsunade Senju. My mother was an Uzumaki, so that makes me an...elder member of your clan." she didn't sound all too pleased with her own phrasing, but then, it was what it was. "I came to collect you because I had heard that those with closer blood ties are...no longer among the living. As your closest living family member, it is my responsibility to see that you are looked after. The head of the village put me in contact with someone who gathered all your things for me, so I have them here."

Tobirama could hear her digging in her pockets for a moment as he stared down at the water, watching the steadily increasing stream of fish until he was sure plunging his hands in would be worth disturbing the water.

"I know this all must be a shock to you, but we'll get it fully settled once we're back in Konoha. You can write to any friends you had and if there's something not in the travel scroll we can send someone back to get it. Is that acceptable to you?" Tsunade asked, the soft chill of Shizune's healing chakra hitting Tobirama's back as he reached down - quickly pulling two large fish from the water and tossing them off to the side to die.

The girl - Karin, he reminded himself - must have nodded, as he heard nothing in response. There was a beat of silence before she finally answered, "I don't have anyone I need to write, but..." her voice was strained, tightened as if forcing herself to ask, "Where am I going to go, in Konoha? Am I going to work at the hospital there instead?"

"No, Konoha has a fine number of medical shinobi that can handle the hospital." Tsunade quickly asserted, "You can stay with Shizune and I, for the time being."

Tobirama looked down at the water, steadying himself to catch another fish before plunging his hands into the water again. He only managed to catch a single medium-sized one this time, the other slipping through his grasp. His brows furrowed in annoyance as he tossed the single fish to the shore with the others, expression pinching further as he heard Karin's questioning.

"What do I have to do to live in Konohagakure, then?" she pressed, "I had to heal in Kusa, so what do I have to do to earn my keep there?"

Tsunade was quiet for a moment before letting out a low tsk, "We have different rules there. You're too young to have to earn your keep in Konoha on your own. As your elder clansmen, I'll be in charge of paying for your place in Konoha, so don't worry about it kid."

Tobirama dug his hands into the water once more, pulling out two more good-sized fish and tossing them into the pile. Good. That made five.

"Like my mom did?" Karin's voice was small, and when Tobirama stepped out of the water to look at her, he saw her playing with her fingers.

At the very least, she looked a lot healthier without the gaping holes up and down her body.

"...I-" Tsunade seemed to debate on her next words, though after a long moment, she nodded, "Yes, in a similar arrangement."

Karin quieted as she heard this, Tobirama moving to grab the fish and give them a quick rinse-off in the river before returning to the steady fire Itachi had built.

The boy was poking at it with a stick currently, eyes lost as he tended to it and seemingly listened to the conversation as well. He only turned from his work as Tobirama approached, moving to hand the elder shinobi some sticks for the fish.

Tobirama set to cleaning and skewering them as Itachi shoved a few logs around the fire to sit at, seemingly drawing the little Uzumaki girl's attention in the process. She asked, rubbing at her eyes, "Should I help heal him, at least? Since he's sick and you just used all that chakra healing me?"

Shizune shook her head quickly at the offer, assuring the child, "I have plenty of chakra, so don't worry. And besides..." she looked over to Tsunade, knowing the inevitable discussion was probably better to have now rather than later but unsure how to put it.

Itachi answered bluntly for her as he moved the last log, "We were being untruthful earlier. I'm not unwell and the man over there is not my father." he shook his head, "It was an excuse to keep you in our sight and out of the other rooms, to stop the other patients from inflicting any more injuries on you than they already had."

He sat down on one of the logs, accepting a now-cooked fish as Tobirama handed them out to everyone. He tore a bit off all the bigger fish to feed to the pig, which sat comfortably atop Shizune's lap. The girl looked at him owlishly as she held her stick of food, asking, "You lied? You all live in Konoha too?"

There came the fun part, Tobirama drawled internally.

"It's complicated, but sort of." the silver-haired man confirmed, "Tsunade and Shizune have been away for a long time, but they're travelling back to Konoha to help the village leader and I with something. I recently moved to Konoha to look after a family member there, then finally, Itachi..." he debated on how to put this before settling on, "He used to live in Konoha, but due to unfortunate circumstances, he is now marked as an enemy of the village. A terrible crime occurred, and they aren't sure whether he did it because he wanted to or because someone made him do it. So we're bringing him back so he can talk with the village and explain his side of the story."

The girl listened, scooting a bit closer to Tsunade as she swallowed her food. Karin looked Itachi up and down, asking, "Did you do it because you wanted to? Or was it someone else's fault?"

Tobirama bit into his own fish, the fresh taste dampened by the surrounding conversation.

"...No, I didn't do it because I wanted to. It was still me who did it, so I can't say I'm not the one at fault but...I did not simply do it for fun. I do not enjoy hurting others, so you don't have to worry about that." he shook his head, Tobirama running a hand over his face as he listened. "Besides," the boy added with a thin smile of amusement, as if trying to ease the girl's worry while simultaneously earning a blank unamused look from the elder Senju in question, "Lady Tsunade and Lord Tobira are more than capable of handling me if I were to try anything."

He succeeded on both accounts, Tobirama feeling three years added onto his life while Karin let out a small laugh at his words - covering her mouth with her hand.

Tsunade shook her head at his words likewise, standing and tossing the now empty roasting stick off to the side. She tsked at the boy's attempt to humour and level with the small girl, "Yes, yes, we can control our captives well. How amusing." before moving past him and pulling out her own sleeping quarters. "Now how about you make your way to bed, unless tucking in prisoners is part of a new protocol update, brat?"

She plopped down on the fabric with a low smirk, popping out a bottle of alcohol from seemingly nowhere. Itachi frowned at her teasing, seemingly unsure of how to take it. Karin, on the other hand, found herself delighted - a small smile making its way to her lips as she wiped away the crumbs on her lips.

A low sigh left Tobirama's lips as he put in a jab of his own, asking Tsunade, "A drink before bed, really? You're as bad as your grandfather."

"Bad for the body, good for the spirit." she merely waved him off, taking a swig as the others all got their beds ready.

Well. He supposed she was old enough to do as she wished, and there were two other adults nearby to watch Karin.

Besides, there were bigger matters to settle, such as the lack of an extra sleeping blanket.

He was prepared to curse himself when Itachi pulled a second from his scroll, brows furrowed. It was twice as large as Itachi's, though he tossed it on the ground even so. Seeing Tobirama's quirked brow, the boy only muttered, "I seemed to have forgotten to give Juzo his sleeping bag back."

He shook his head, dismissing it as he laid them out, "I'll use his and Karin can use mine."

Itachi set the girl's between Tobirama and Shizune while he sat a bit off to the side closest to the silver-haired man.

Karin was quick to crawl into the sleeping bag, making herself comfortable beside the other two. She laid there, gaze drifting across the shinobi surrounding her until she eventually drifted to sleep.

Tobirama watched her vaguely, attention shifting between her and the pre-teen to his left. The boy had turned his back on the rest of the group, henge dispersing as he fell asleep. His shoulders seemed to have loosened ever so slightly, as if put at ease - even if it was the smallest bit.

Chapter Text

The next morning, Tobirama found himself to be among the first ones awake.

With a low roll of his shoulders, he sat from his spot on the ground, glancing to the surrounding others.

Itachi lay in the same exact spot as before, though a pile of berries suspiciously close to one of his crows had appeared alongside what seemed to be some candy wrapped in a shiny plastic.

Tsunade was sprawled out, her limbs sticking out every which way, dead asleep with an empty liquor bottle beside her.

Shizune meanwhile had curled up to their pet pig, holding the small being against her body as she slept quietly.

Then there was Karin, already awake at his side. She laid on her stomach in the too-large-for-her sleeping bag, dragging her fingers through the dirt to make designs.

Her attention had been gathered, however, as Tobirama sat up. He saw her motions slow to a stop, the drawing stopping as the little redhead looked over at him with uncertainty.

Tobirama stood in one easy movement, not lingering on her gaze and letting it become awkward. "You can get up, if you wish. You don't have to stay in that bag if you want to get up and move around."

He headed over to the firepit, the lack of rain the night prior making it easy to get it prepped for another fire this morning. He gathered a few fresh sticks, listening as he heard the quiet shuffling of the girl getting out of bed.

Before he knew it, she was by her side, watching what he was doing. "Are we having more fish for breakfast?"

Tobirama nodded, "More likely than not, since they seem to be the easiest food to find in the area. Though, depending on how far out they are, we might get some berries as well." motioning to the pile beside sleeping Itachi.

She looked over at them, brows squinted at the pile. "Where'd he get those if they aren't nearby?"

"When crows like a person, they'll bring them gifts they think they'll like. Such as berries, nuts, and shiny things - or anything else they can carry and notice that the human likes. They're very intelligent animals." he explained as he picked up the last bit of wood. "Some crows seem to have taken quite a liking to Itachi, so it looks like they wanted to leave him a present last night."

The girl listened, watching the small bird eye them from across the clearing. She asked after a moment, "How do you make them like you?" looking up at the masked man with impossibly large red eyes as she spoke.

"You can't make them, not necessarily." he settled on answering, "You can encourage them to trust you by giving them food and being kind to them, but whether or not they like you is up to them. It can take months for them to really latch onto one person that's showing maximum effort, or weeks to someone who hardly seems to care. They have their own gut feelings about us, I'm sure, just the way humans do about each other."

Seeing the small pout on the girl's lip at this answer, Tobirama tried his best to ease the lecture-like tone from his voice. "...Of course, all crows are different, too. Just because one doesn't like you doesn't mean another won't. Alright?"

Karin nodded, watching the crows carefully before answering, "...Alright."

The man cleared his throat, asking in a weak attempt to cheer the girl up, "Do you want to learn how to catch fish?" motioning to the river he'd stood in yesterday, he noted, "This is a good spot to learn if you don't already know how - there are lots of them this time of the year."

"Mhm!" her spirits lifted immediately, bounding on the heels of her feet as she looked to the water. Tobirama let out a light huff of amusement as he moved over to the water, her steady footsteps not far behind.

"First, you'd usefully need to cuff your pants and shirt like this so they don't get wet." he showed her slowly as he did his, though she needed to do no such thing currently due to her lack of sleeves. "Then you move into the water, and stand as still as you can so you don't scare them off."

He stepped into the water, watching as the girl did likewise with a light shiver. It was a bit chilly, since the sun had barely been out for more than a few minutes.

"Next, you crouch down, like this." he leaned forward, hands ready to reach out. She mimicked his actions, footing a bit uneasy but fine besides that. "Try to stay as steady as you can. Watch for the slower fish. Then when you find one-" he plunged his hand into the water, grabbing one and twisting his body to chuck it on land. "Grab it by the gills and throw it towards the land - in a bucket if you have one, but if not, the ground will do fine."

"The gills? The part on their neck?" she asked, nodding to herself as Tobirama made a noise of confirmation. She looked down at the water for a long moment before digging her hands in, the fish effortlessly sliding past her on the first few tries. She continued to try to grab at different fish one after another, failing each time until she heard Tobirama's voice.

"If it escapes you the first time, take a moment and stand back up. Grabbing one after another in the same spot will just scare the fish - it's best to take a break between attempts to keep the water calm." he corrected her idly, taking a minute to let it mellow before reaching down to grab two more of his own to toss on land.

The girl pouted a bit, but listened and slowed down. The girl went on like this for a good long while - trying and failing to replicate Tobirama's movements - until finally, she managed to get ahold of one.

She gasped as it squirmed in her hold, freezing up and holding it to her body. "I got one!" she stumbled a bit with it as it flailed, struggling against her hold.

"Throw it on land!" Tobirama rushed, not wanting her to lose it after she'd tried so long to get it. He watched her turn her body, doing her best to keep hold of it and throw it towards the shore.

The small redhead unfortunately wound up stumbling along with the fish as she threw it, landing wrist and knee first against the rocky terrain of the river with a light yelp. She was thoroughly soaked by the rushing water, her shorts and a good quarter of her shirt covered in river water.

Tobirama grimaced, cursing silently as he went over to check on the girl. "Are you-" he hardly got half his sentence out before she jumped up from her spot, eyes bright with excitement.

"I caught one!" she pointed to the land where it lay, flopping miserably.

She seemed to have only gathered small scrapes from her fall, which had already begun to heal by the time she stood. The silver-haired man let out a small breath, setting his hand on the girl's head with a thin smile of amusement. "Good job. You caught a pretty good sized one too."

She nodded, eagerly asking, "Can I try to catch another one?" looking up at Tobirama with far too much excitement so early in the day.

"Mhm, go ahead." he mused, "We need one more for the people, and if you can, one more for the pig. If you think you can get those on your own, I'll go ahead and go get the fire started. Just come get me if you need assistance. Alright?"

Karin nodded quickly, making her way over to the water once more.

As he headed back to the campsite a few yards over, he found that more of their group had joined the world of the conscious.

Itachi had put his and Karin's sleeping bags up, resealing them into his travelling scroll along with the candies from before. The berries had been left out, set in a neat pile beside the fire.

The pile in question had doubled in size, Itachi sitting and sorting them out into five even groups while his bird sat on his shoulder - as if silently overseeing his work.

Shizune had taken to gathering up her own things alongside Tsunade's, the pig currently fighting against it by laying flatly from the blankets. The younger medical-nin gave the animal an exasperated look, one which was almost pleading.

Looking down at the fish, Tobirama couldn't help but think that at least one animal hadn't managed to overrun their small group.

He lifted them into the air by their tails, moving to sit beside Tsunade. The blonde was tying her hair up into their usual pigtails beside the already-lit fire, so Tobirama settled on instead preparing the fish for them.

It was as he was sliding the third fish onto its skewer that Itachi spoke up, "We're getting close to Konoha now, so it'll be safest and fastest to start taking the main roads soon. Do we have my restrains ready for when we do?"

The matter-of-the-fact tone with which Itachi spoke was both comfortable territory for Tobirama and sickeningly uneasing to the more experienced shinobi.

Neither of them liked this, and they both knew it.

"I do. We'll get you situated before we leave the clearing so that anyone we run into can be under the impression you've been restrained." Tobirama nodded, knowing full well he had the materials in his travelling scroll. "We'll be slowed down considerably now that we have Karin with us anyway, so don't push yourself to keep up under all the captive material."

Itachi only nodded, glancing over Tobirama's shoulder as the girl in question came over holding two more non-living fish.

Tobirama turned to her, spotting the fish in her hands and musing, "You catch on fast. Go ahead and pass them over to me-" he took them one by one, skewering them for her and digging them into the dirt. "Good. Thank you."

She nodded, pleased with the praise, though as she looked at the other two people beside the campfire she paused slightly. She looked at Itachi for a long moment, the ravenet in question continuing to somewhat distantly sort through his berries.

Karin moved around Tobirama with perhaps a bit too much comfort near the man she just learned the night before was a possible criminal, standing beside him as she picked at her nails. She looked down at his berries then back up to him, asking, "Aren't you the guy with the big hat?"

"Mhm." he settled on answering vaguely, "I am."

"I thought your chakra was close, but your face looked different yesterday." the little redhead spoke a bit pushily now that she seemed a bit more comfortable, eyeing him uncertainly as if testing the waters.

Itachi only mused, "It was just genjutsu - I needed to look different, for the lie, if you recall?" a hint of amusement lingering in his eyes as she blinked up at him for his bluntness at having lied.

She turned her body around, pointing at Tsunade and asking, "That's the Uzumaki friend you talked about?" brows furrowing up at him as Tsunade huffed in mild amusement at the young girl's lack of manners.

Tobirama quirked a brow as Itachi merely shook his head, having assumed the boy told her that as an explanation of who he was going to find for her or something of that sort. Instead, he simply noted, "No, the Uzumaki friend I spoke of...was someone else."

"Can I meet her too?" Karin asked, the little redhead too young to recognize Itachi's bored appearance for what it likely was - a shinobi, locking off his feelings. She sulked a bit when he didn't answer right away, though this disappointed look melted away as he finally gave his response.

"No, unfortunately not. She's no longer among the living, so it would be quite difficult for you to meet her." he dismissed, handing her a bundle of berries which she quietly took.

Shizune frowned as she finally sat down beside the three, pig on her lap. "If it's not Lady Tsunade, and Naruto is still alive last we heard, that just leaves Kushina, right? She was a good few years older than me when we left the village, though, let alone you?"

Itachi passed along the rest of the berries so that everyone had a small handful, musing, "She was my godmother, so of course she was a good bit older than me." he settled on explaining, "I was...roughly six when she passed away, so cognitive enough to retain the stories - and by extension information - she told me about the Uzumaki bloodline traits. As well as piquing my interest enough for me to bother looking into it on my own. Though, at the time of Karin and my earlier discussion, it was easier to say I had an Uzumaki friend than explain all that since it wasn't relevant to the information I was passing on."

Tobirama watched as the boy dismissed the conversation easily, "Though, with Naruto still alive, perhaps you could meet him instead. I'm sure he'd be thrilled to have you as a friend, if you'd like."

The boy bit into the fish Tobirama passed him just as the rest of the group did, and for a brief hypocritical moment, Tobirama wondered if he was capable of saying more than four words without making it sound like a report or defense.

Karin only nodded at his final words, the mood a bit damped despite Itachi's efforts to end the conversation on a more positive note.

Chapter Text

Karin was looking at him as if he'd personally cut down her mother.

They had finished eating and gathering their things, completely prepared to head off towards the main road to Konoha. Itachi had handed over his travel scroll to him for safekeeping, waiting patiently at his side as the silver-haired man put it away and took out the standard restraints used to capture enemy shinobi.

He'd stayed completely still as Tobirama bound his hands and covered his eyes, only allowing himself to twitch slightly at the chakra-draining and restraining talisman placed on his stomach.

Not that Tobirama could blame him. Fighting without his hands and eyes would be unpleasant and tedious - doing it without either of them or chakra was downright hell.

Luckily, as Tobirama reminded himself and he was sure the boy was doing as well, he would not need to fight under these conditions. On the odd chance an attack came as they went down the road, Tsunade and he would be able to handle it without any issues while Shizune watched him and Karin.

The only other brief upside to the situation was that they had decided against splitting up, seeing as Tobirama was leaning more and more towards announcing his true name to the village anyway. Any circulating rumours about possible kinship between him and Tsunade wouldn't be able to outweigh the benefits of reassurance the villagers would receive seeing two high-ranked shinobi guarding Itachi rather than one.

That still didn't mean anyone liked it.

Still, they carried on down the long road towards Konoha, Karin switching between sticking to Itachi or Tsunade as they walked. She had impressive stamina for someone her age, only beginning to drag her feet every few hours. Shizune had offered to carry her at one point, though the small redhead hurriedly said she was fine and sped up. After the third offer, Shizune finally gave up and let the girl be as stubborn as she pleased.

Her pace only truly slowed down as the Konoha gates came into view and she was nudged lightly away from Itachi - towards Shizune, while Tsunade moved a bit towards the front of the group to speak to the quickly alerted ANBU out front.

"We have a captured missing-nin with us; Itachi Uchiha formerly of the leaf. We have received a direct order from the hokage to leave him alive so that he can be questioned further about his crimes," she spoke, arms crossed as she looked at the guards. "We've also been instructed not to waste time opening up the underground channels and to bring him directly to the holding rooms beneath Hokage Tower."

"We'll send someone to alert the Hokage right away." a young man in a bird's mask nodded swiftly, "And call for backup in escorting him through the village."

The blonde only nodded in turn, waiting with a small tap of her foot until another four ANBU came. Just enough to help guard but not enough that they would be in the way.

"Shizune, take Karin to the house while we get him situated. I'll meet up with you in a bit." Tsunade dismissed her apprentice temporarily, who only moved to do as she was told even as Karin sent concerned looks over her shoulder and towards Itachi.

Each of the ANBU took a side of Itachi - boxing him in while Tobirama and Tsunade stood in front of and behind him. They walked through the streets, Tobirama and Tsunade doing their best to look as imposing as possible while Itachi seemed to shrink into himself and put on an air of defeat.

People were nervous still, shinobi taking to backing up a bit and watching them carefully for any sign of assistance being needed while the civilians made quick work of getting inside whatever shop was closest. Sharp eyes lingered on the group, but at the very least, there were no disturbances up until they got to the Hokage Tower.

The accompanying ANBU didn't seem amused in the least by Itachi's attempts to look unassuming, a man wearing a fox mask to his right musing after a moment of walking in silence, "What, is the great prodigy weasel still too good to talk to us even now?"

Another to his left in a hound mask tsked at the man's blunt jab, speaking scoldingly despite her obvious agreeance as they moved downwards through the building, "Old fox, leave poor little weasel alone. Let him have some peace before Ibiki has him in pieces."

A bird-masked man nodded to her left, asking in a pretentiously kind tone, "Yes, have some empathy for the kid. Imagine the embarrassment of having a tantrum so big it ruins your career as a shinobi. Imagine disowning your village because you think you're too good for it only to get your shit wrecked and be drug back barely two or three months later."

"C'mon guys, really, be nice. We should be thanking him." a cat-masked man spoke, laughing praisingly, "He did us all a big favour, taking out that clan of his. Don't you remember how boring it was, getting stuck watching the security footage all day? How annoying it was, waiting for them to attack so we could stomp them like the bugs they were?"

Tobirama could see Itachi's shoulders stiffening a bit, though he got the distinct impression it was more so out of irritation than any fear. The group had at least waited until they were through the village and down towards the basement of Hokage tower to begin antagonizing him, though that just barely made it any better.

The silver-haired man opened his mouth to warn them off from their verbal assaults when Itachi's head snapped to the side, tone frigid, "You would know about bugs, wouldn't you, kit?" he bit back with a steadily patronizing tone, "I wonder, how many did it take to decompose your teammates after you ran with your tail between your-"

"You still have that fucking pompous attitude of yours even now?" the cat-masked man asked, getting a bit too close to Itachi's face as he spoke, "As if you're anything but a coward who did the same. Running from your village, from your clan, from your team, your problems, your blessings - from that little girlfriend of yours, and your snot-nosed -"

He kept his own tone firm and steady as he cleared his throat, warning the accompanying ANBU, "Don't provoke him. Your job is to escort, so escort. If we need someone to rile him up we'll let you know." turning to Itachi shortly after, "You, don't feed into their instigating. You're smarter than that."

The ANBU and Itachi both separated a bit at his words, the group of four's mood souring while Itachi was impossible to read with his head pointed downwards and shoulders stiff.

Tobirama ran a hand over his face, making a mild note to himself of Itachi's apparent lack of popularity with his fellow ANBU members and how it would play into his eventual house arrest in the compound.

He also noted, mildly, the remark about a girlfriend. Was that someone in the village? A detail no one had been kind enough to share with him that could easily come to bite them in the ass if she were mad at him for leaving? Or had she been an uchiha that had fallen with the compound?

Tobirama settled on the conclusion that it was likely the latter. He wasn't sure how things were now, but he knew kekki genkai clans never had cared for spreading their abilities too far outside the clan in the past. Besides, with how this village liked to pass rumours around, he would have heard something by now if he had left a lover behind.

As it was, he wasn't terribly concerned with it as far as current threats ranked.

When they finally made it to the basement of the tower, the ANBU members opened and unlocked the gates - leading them into the opening section of the interrogation floor.

"You can go now. We've got it from here." Tsunade spoke curtly, dismissing the four ANBU with a flick of her wrist.

Tobirama meanwhile was momentarily glad Itachi's sharingan rendered it disadvantageous to have his eyes free, as the area before them was clearly intended to intimidate those brought down for questioning.

Then again, with him formerly being in ANBU, it was possible he'd already been down here to drop someone off for interrogation. Hopefully not, on principle if nothing else.

A large desk sat in the center of the room with a slot for a pair of wrists to be pinned, two standing hangers set up on either side of it. Full-body restraints hung on each, half still stained with the blood and vomit of the last prisoners while the opposite side was a familiar sterile.

Chests of items sat locked behind the desk, crusted with the same blood that clung to the table - the blades responsible hung up, as if silently warning those entering that the process of getting situated in a cell would be without an ounce of pleasantries.

To the left, a man with a bandana entered from the holding cells, carrying a now-empty jacket in his hand. He set it atop the dirty rack for now, wiping his hands briefly against each other as he headed towards the three. "Itachi, long time no see." he smiled almost bittersweetly, "You know the drill, so let's not make this more of a pain than it has to be, hm?" he set a heavy hand on the boy's shoulder, warning, "Unless that's how you're wanting it to be, of course. In which case, trust me in knowing I'll oblige."

Itachi only jerked his head forward with a tight nod, the motion fluid and steady; full compliance given without a spec of the fear the dark-eyed man was likely scanning him over for.

Even still, the interrogator only turned his gaze to Tsunade and Tobirama, momentarily dismissing the strong facade he had likely seen a hundred times over without a hint of ire. Any trace of amusement disappeared as he asked the two all too professionally, "Has the hokage put any limitations in place? What's our goal here today? Information, pieces, or?"

"He has." Tobirama only nodded with a thin frown, "Itachi is to be held in one of the cells until a trial can be held between the Hokage, his advisors, the clan heads, and the civilian spokesperson. It will likely be anywhere between a day to a week, depending on the availability of the last few clan heads we're waiting on."

"For limitations, there are a couple, but they shouldn't be too hard to follow." Tsunade explained, arms crossed, "Some new evidence was found suggesting that he may not be as at fault for the situation as we had previously assumed. We have already spoken with Itachi and confirmed these accounts, so gathering new information is not necessary at the moment. As for pieces..." she narrowed her eyes, warning the man easily, "It is expected that upon our return he will not have suffered any loss of limbs, blood, organs, senses, or have so much as a hair trimmed atop his head. He is not to be tortured or interrogated, nor is food or water to be withheld. All you need to do is make sure he stays restricted to his cell for a few days and given adequate nutrition to stay alive and healthy."

"So you want a babysitter." The man's eyes glazed over with boredom at his own summary, sighing with a shake of his head. "Fine, if it's what Lord Third asks, I'll do it." he took his hand off Itachi's shoulder, asking instead, "Have chakra seals already been placed on him?"

Tsunade nodded, "Good, and they have. He's completely ready to be officially detained short of the standard internal holding protocol. Which, if you'd like to go ahead and handle that now, we'll act in place of the ANBU backup due to his bingo level." she rolled her wrist in a motion to hurry up with it, hand on her hip as he nodded easily in agreement.

"Alright. Let's get it over with, then, so we can get things moving. The sooner he's in the sooner you all can do what you need to do to get him out of here." he settled on, moving over to a rack to pick up a clean restraints jacket.

As a leader, Tobirama knew they were doing the bare minimum to anyone outside the eight of them that had the full story.

Even as he watched Itachi be bound in layers upon layers of chakra-sealing cloth; arms pressed impossibly tight over his chest with hands pinned near his waist, he knew this. He understood for the crimes committed - whether it was of his own volition or due to orders he was bound by duty to follow - Itachi should by all rights be made incapable of even lifting a kunai up against them in the eyes of the rest of the village.

It was the safest thing to do, on the chance he was only laying low in his cooperation. For a shinobi capable of such mass destruction, not a single mercy should be given. Not when each mercy given was another risk taken for those they were meant to protect.

But then, as an uncle and the man that had spent nearly two months looking after the two young uchiha's safety, he felt his own chest tighten in turn with each strap that was wrapped and tightened against Itachi's body.

The larger shinobi held him against the table with one hand while he pulled the straps with the other, using his full and plentiful strength to make it near impossible for the ravenet to twist his body. Tobirama's own brows furrowed a bit as the boy's face pinched from beneath his blindfolds, brows pulled together in a brief grimace.

It was the first glimpse of a real pained expression he'd seen from the boy - all the others either having been faked for the mission or bred from concern for Sasuke and the village. It was almost haunting, to see the boy that had slipped under a dozen guises and manipulated a dozen people more let this small curl of his lip pass with each tightening of a strap.

It was unreal, to compare the master puppeteer he'd watched over the course of the mission lay against the table; a bit of the crusted blood from it rubbing off on his somehow paler-than-usual face while he simply allowed himself to be man-handled by the larger shinobi.

As a teacher, it made him sick. The small uchiha was hardly any older than his own students had been when he'd first agreed to oversee their training.

He could recall a few times he'd had to apologize for his student's behaviours at that age - usually mere seconds before he made them do the same for themselves. They had gotten in trouble before, of course, but never to this level. Then again, they'd never committed crimes to the level Itachi had either. He tried briefly to consider what they would have had to do to warrant the level of pain and punishment Itachi was expected to go through, and could only come up with one simple answer.

They already had. As a teacher, that was the only answer he could find. If Itachi was expected to be shut out, hunted for sport, hated, and tossed around like an animal upon his capture for crimes he never wanted to commit, should the ones who pushed and demanded for the crimes not also receive the same blame? For holding their over his head, corning him on hot coals and criticizing him when he could hardly take the hellish path they wanted.

He himself couldn't help but feel at blame for it as - to some degree - he'd come to terms with the fact it was. However, unlike Danzo, he at least hoped he was making a worthy effort to make up for the damage that had been done. As much as he was sure it would never be enough, he supposed working to improve things even a little was worth more in the end than him giving into the urge to destroy himself for his crimes.

However, due to their refusal to budge on accepting their wrongs, he couldn't say the same for the other's usefulness in being out. As far as he was concerned, Danzo and the elders deserved every bit of their stay in the cells across the underground chambers - if anything, they were lucky the hold on the trial had lasted this long. Based on the brief conversations he'd had with the other clan heads when picking up Sasuke from school, he couldn't say many of them would particularly object to their execution.

Tobirama couldn't find it within himself to feel bad about it as he and Tsunade followed Ibiki towards one of the empty backroom cells, face trained to impassivity while he walked behind them. Tsunade was giving the boy her own long, hard look as Ibiki firmly used both his hands to have the boy kneel - short chains attaching his ankles to the stone floor.

For a brief moment, Tobirama wished he had his usual fur coat to act as buffer for the child's knees. Unfortunately, it was long since discarded - deep underground along with his face guard.

"Alright, that should do it." Ibiki nodded to himself as Itachi's legs were bound together in one final move of precaution, dark eyes scanning the young uchiha over carefully. He gave the boy a heavy pat on the shoulder before standing to look at the other two, asking, "Is there anything else I should know or you two will be needing, or can I get back to work now?"

"...No, that's everything. I'll be back tomorrow to check in with him and give any updates on the trial date. However, if he requests for you to call for me for something, go ahead and send someone over." Tobirama instructed, looking to Itachi before adding, "Itachi, I'll be back in about half an hour to bring you something to sit on since I doubt they have anything here."

Itachi opened his mouth, brows pinching in the horribly too-Itachi-like way that meant he was about to argue that he was fine. Tobirama turned on his heel, dismissing the assurances before they had even left his mouth, "That is non-negotiable."

It was noon by the time Tobirama had finished bringing Itachi a blanket to sit on and said goodbye to his grandniece. He left Itachi with a brief assurance to be back tomorrow and Tsunade with a suggestion to go check in with Hiruzen, silently reminding himself that they would only be elsewhere for a short while. It wasn't a great feeling to depart from either of them as things were, but then, it was an even worse feeling to consider leaving Sasuke alone for any longer than he already had.

Chapter Text

Tobirama kept his pace easy, even as he passed shinobi and civilians alike. The silver-haired man could feel their gazes on him, more so than usual. He had only gathered a few as a new villager, though this doubled as people heard of his impromptu guardianship over Sasuke, and finally tripled when word got out that he was working with the hokage. Having escorted Itachi in alongside Tsunade, he supposed he couldn't be surprised a few more had begun to take notice.

He ignored this, however, focusing instead on heading straight for the Nara compound.

It was a school day, so Sasuke was likely at school. With this in mind, he had settled on going to see Shikaku and his wife for now to see how the visit had gone and pay them back for their hospitality. They had tried to refuse payment at first, but had eventually given in when Tobirama insisted. Sasuke was by no means a troublemaker, but he was still an extra head to have to keep track of. The man did not intend on free-loading off the head of the Nara clan just because the children were classmates.

He hardly paused at the grand wooden gates of the Nara clan's compound, pressing his hands against the doors and pushing them open with ease. A few gazes landed on him as he entered, though they dispersed soon after recognising him as Shikaku's previous guest.

A few of the shinobi sitting near shops and parents watching their children play in the yard nodded to him as he walked by, the silver-haired man only returning the gesture briefly in turn as he passed by.

His pace only slowed as he reached a house near the back of the compound, standing tall among the rest. It was one he had watched his brother help build the base of, dozens upon dozens of Nara once standing in this very spot watching his wood style in silent awe for the first non-combative time.

It was worn from old age now, though it stood strong all the same as Tobirama stepped up the stairs. He knocked against the familiar wood steadily, hand falling to his side soon after.

He waited for only a beat before the door swung open, Yoshino appeared before him with a scowl. Her shoulders were stiff, brows furrowed together as she looked to see who was at the door. Seeing it was him, however, her expression eased ever so slightly - becoming less severe in a matter of seconds.

Even as her face softened, however, Tobirama got the distinct impression he had just walked into something unpleasant.

"...I can return later, if now is a bad time?" he suggested with a thin frown, his own brows furrowing as she waved him inside with a shake of her head.

"No, now is the perfect time. Are you here to pick up Sasuke's things?" she asked, leading him further into the house as she spoke. Tobirama shut the door behind him, sliding his shoes off and following the brunette.

She led him into the kitchen, where she went to pour another cup of tea from the already-made kettle. Shikaku sat at the table, the man slumped down into his chair with a hand over his face and mug until he saw they had a guest.

The man sat up in his chair, clearly adjusting himself now that he wasn't simply alone with his wife. Tobirama couldn't help but think that it reminded him a bit of Hashirama, though his brother likely wouldn't have bothered to straighten himself. He only nodded to the man, however, not about to critique him for how he acted alone and with his lover. "Yes; I'm here to pick up his things, give my thanks, and make sure he behaved himself while I was gone."

He took an envelope from his pocket, setting it on the table and accepting the drink Yoshino pressed into his hands in place. He sat down as she motioned for him to, Shikaku taking a sip of his drink beside him before speaking, "Well, I'm sure he'll be thrilled." the man merely settled on, voice steady despite his clear attempt to find additional words.

"Did he cause you two too much trouble?" Tobirama frowned thinly before crossing his arms, noting as Yoshino sat beside them, "I apologize if so, he's been fairly manageable in the time he's been under my care, so I didn't think he would struggle any more with you two than he did with me."

"Oh, no! He hasn't been trouble, not really." Yoshino was quick to assure him, waving her hand in dismissal at the thought. "He's a good boy, he just...really missed you, in the time you were gone."

Shikaku nodded in agreement with his wife, "He is, he's a good kid." he noted, "He took quite a liking to Yoshino once he got through his initial shyness - he even offered to help her with dinner a couple of times."

"Mhm! Really, it's a shame he didn't rub off any on Shikamaru in that regard - or even with his dedication to his training, which he's been keeping up with perfectly, by the way." Yoshino added, a firm nod and slight agitation towards her own son's habits slipping through for a brief moment before she dismissed it, "I'm sure it was good for Shikamaru to have someone over to spend time with besides Ino or Choji."

Tobirama took a sip of the tea he had been given, considering the words momentarily before he ventured, "I'm glad he was at least helpful and stayed focused during his time here, but you're both giving me the distinct impression you want to say something. Did something happen that I should know about?"

A beat of silence filled the air for a brief moment, heavy between the three.

"Well, how do we put this..." the dark-haired man frowned after a few seconds, though he let out a breath as his wife sat forward. The man sat back in his chair a bit, content to let her speak for them.

She was blunt, leaning forward with a cup in hand as she spoke. It seemed more natural this way, the worry in her voice surpassing the want to not overstep. "It was only a week or so, but it was far too long to leave him."

Tobirama was surprised with this, not having thought the two would mind all that much but not prepared to argue with them on the matter either. He was prepared to apologize and compensate them further for the apparent overstay of their welcome, but the woman put a hand out to stop him when his mouth opened, silently urging him to wait.

His jaw snapped shut as she continued, "We did not mind watching him. He did not cause any trouble whatsoever and listened just about perfectly, but he was not ready for...this." motioning loosely, towards the entire situation. "He put on a brave enough face with you, but the bit of anxiety I'm sure you saw when you were saying goodbye just about tripled the moment you were walking away from the house."

...Ah.

So it was Sasuke who hadn't been okay with the stay, then.

A small pit of guilt hit his stomach for not making it back sooner, though he remained quiet with his hands folded over his chest - listening as Yoshino spoke.

"He stayed in the guest room just about the entirety of the first few days outside of school and meals, just studying and not coming out unless specifically asked if he would join us for tea or a game. Even then, he seemed unsure the entire time, like he was doing something he shouldn't." she explained, brows knitted in worry.

"Then by the third day, he had ended up getting into some sort of one-sided upset with Shikamaru. Sasuke came back from the academy just...doing his best to not show he was mad despite obviously being frustrated. I tried probing for answers but he refused to admit anything was wrong until I probed a bit too hard and, ah," she rubbed her neck, clearly frustrated in her own right at how things had played out, "He got a bit frustrated - not yelling or throwing a tantrum or anything, just - standing there, staring at the floor and asking if you were going to be back soon." She added reluctantly, "When I told him we weren't sure when exactly you would be back, he just got more upset and started asking if you were really coming back at all."

"I told him you would be, but he started getting more worked up - going on about how you were mad at him and going to leave him to go back to Kirigakure. Then about how you weren't a real Uchiha so it didn't matter to him if you did..." she awkwardly explained, "So he was a good bit mad at you for a day or two, just clinging to my side and taking every opportunity to remind me that he didn't care if you came back from your mission or not."

Shikaku put in his two cents, "I doubt he meant it, he was probably just embarrassed about getting so worked up about it. You know how boys are at that age." giving his own awkward attempt to reassure the silver-haired man that felt his stress headache grow stronger and stronger with each word from the couple.

"That was probably it." Yoshino agreed, "I'm sure he was just embarrassed at having lost his composure and wanting to prove that it didn't bother him. He seemed mostly cooled off by this morning, the most he had mentioned was wanting to know if he could go back to the Uchiha compound by himself if you weren't back by the end of the week." she sighed a bit, "Now I'm pretty sure he's just mad at both of us, since he clearly got a no."

She rubbed her temples, apologizing, "I'm sorry you left him here for a week and are having to come back to him angry with you. I was only trying to understand what had him so upset, but things spiraled so fast. Then we just heard the news from some of the clansmen that you've managed to catch Itachi, so I doubt that will help the situation any."

"...It's not your fault." Tobirama let out a breath, "Sasuke has a lot going on right now, and with him being so young, it's natural he's going to have trouble handling it all. If anything, I should have known better than to leave him without a steady promise of when I would be back. I just...thought he would be okay here for a short while considering how quickly he adapted to having me around."

Shikaku shook his head at Tobirama's words, "I've known Sasuke, at least distantly, for years now through his father and mother. From what little I saw the boy, he never seemed to be one to warm up to others all that quickly." a look of confliction crossed his face as he watched Tobirama, glancing the man up and down as he noted, "Sasuke loved his family just like any kid his age - if not more. He was constantly in that compound, only ever out and about if it was attached to his brother or mother's hip. I'm sure you've noticed he isn't exactly begging to have any friends over. His family was just about his entire world...having lost that, it's no surprise he's imprinted on you like a lost puppy."

The man sighed, as if it was causing him real and significant pain to have to be so involved in such a touchy-feely conversation. "You showed up when he was sure his family was completely lost, one way or another. He went from being alone in that cursed compound, surrounded by a million memories to haunt him day and night, to having at least some sort of family with him. I know you haven't been taking care of kids long, so I'll go ahead and tell you what I see when I hear him dismissing and cursing you for leaving: Whether it sounds like it or not, that boy looks at you the same way he once looked at his father," he leaned forward a bit, looking Tobirama in the eyes as he warned him lightly, "And at this point in his life, he can not lose that connection twice. It will break him. So I would suggest figuring out how to get the boy to understand that you aren't going anywhere, and I would do it fast. He's too young to be mourning for the people still in his life."

Chapter Text

Tobirama's knee-jerk reaction was to ask who the hell they thought they were, to lecture him. He had spent plenty of time with his brother's children, letting them babble to him about this or that and answering their questions. He had spent months in the academy during its founding, watching the children learn and making sure there were no gaps in the system. He had raised a group of kids up from still fumbling over water to being able to change the very shape of the pond they stood on without more than a single hand sign.

Who were they, to know any better merely because they had raised one singular son to age six? A son that was hardly willing to help his mother with the house or go on any of the training retreats Shikaku had mentioned twice already in the short time Tobirama had known the man.

However. He hadn't gotten as far as he had, in building relations with the other clans or in advancing his jutsu creations, by dismissing every critique that came his way. So it wasn't any sooner than he'd opened his mouth to refute that the boy was well aware he wasn't going anywhere that he snapped it shut, a tight frown making its way to his face.

Clearly, the boy didn't know as well as Tobirama had thought if going away on a week-long mission was all it took for Sasuke to feel the need to defend himself; to start declaring to others that he wouldn't be hurt if Tobirama was gone despite it clearly being the case. As if he had shown his vulnerabilities and was now prepared to be punished for it, regardless of any assurances otherwise.

As a shinobi in training, it was a promising sign. However, as a six-year-old boy...

Tobirama ran a hand over his face, utterly unsure of what to do.

He knew this wasn't the first sign the boy had shown of his attempts to sloppily cut out his own heart. Between the refusal to acknowledge so much as the room his brother once resided in, the way he dropped his toys like hot coal the moment he came in sight, and his flat refusal or denial of his own anger when confronted. Tobirama could see all the signs of a hardening shinobi.

He could ignore it and let the boy believe he had done the smart thing by throwing him away the moment he left; encouraging his self-sufficiency. Silently praise him in the same way Tobirama's own father had done to him upon seeing his refusal to cry for their third lost brother - before Tobirama had gone and ruined it all by defending Hashirama's softness of heart.

The concept left an uncomfortable pit in his stomach. The thought of tearing the humanity out of the boy to make a soldier Konoha could be proud of, the same way his father had tried so hard to do to his own. The way Hashirama had refused, pulling Tobirama behind him to march in their own direction.

A direction they had thought would be better, but had somehow wound up with a twelve-year-old boy being just as much of a victim of his leaders as Itama had been of his.

What was right? To let the boy stab his own heart out, or to promise him that he didn't need to despite knowing someone else would come and do it for him someday?

It felt like an almost pointless concern to have.

Tobirama was sure he had torn his own heart out years ago, but he still hurt all the same. The hole in his chest was just a hollow pain now rather than a screeching one, aching endlessly every time he dared to think too long about the family he had lost or those he was prepared to someday lose as well.

Was it even really possible to tear out your own heart? Did it truly stop any of the pain of living, or did it just undermind the few spare moments of joy a shinobi got in their lifetime? Did it even dull the pain at all?

Tobirama wished he knew the answer.

"I'm not exactly...the fathering type." Tobirama finally got out after a moment, brow twitching. He was just as uncomfortable with the conversation as Shikaku was now, his mood plummeting somehow further as he swirled his tea in his cup. "As I said, I used to be a teacher, deep in the swamps of Kiri. I've raised up dozens of young shinobi, though I've never been...full-time, in having to teach them how to live. I'm not sure exactly how soft their hearts are meant to be at this age, or how to respond seeing him look to me for answers so often. I've never been so lacking in answers before coming to Konoha."

Shikaku nodded, looking to the side as he took a long sip of his drink. "I've heard the lands of Kiri encourage, ah, a bit of a rougher approach in raising their shinobi and children than Konoha does."

Like fucking hell if Tobirama knew.

He nodded all the same, listening as Shikaku continued on, "We may not always succeed, but Konoha was built upon a bit of a different foundation. The basis of the strong protecting the weak. It's a naive dream for this world of ours, but it's one my own father believed in deeply - as well as being one I hope to pass on to my son in time. From what I figure, it takes a man to be a shinobi, and the only way to become a man is to be a boy first."

Yoshino nodded firmly beside him, "My mother and father both gave their lives defending me and the other children of the village, hoping that one day I would do the same for the children I am set to oversee. I want the same for my child - to grow into someone strong enough to protect those who can't do it for themselves. It's a cycle of love and strength I wish to see forever continuing, on until there's finally no need for it."

A cycle of love and strength. They were words he could easily see leaving his elder brother's lips, correct if not a bit sentimental.

The strong protecting the weak. They were words he was certain had left his own lips before, on more than one occasion.

That was right.

Uncertainties aside, when it came down to it, that was what it was. He was a former Kage, and Sasuke was a six-year-old. Shinobi in training or not, it was his duty to protect him just the same as it was his duty to protect Itachi from the vultures he'd mistakenly raised.

Before he had a chance to consider it too much, he felt a heavy hand on his shoulder. Shikaku stood as he spoke, "No parent knows what they're doing. Especially not the parent of a shinobi." he shook his head, "All you can do is try your best to fuck things up as little as possible. Anyone out there claiming they know exactly what they're doing or that they're the perfect parent doesn't care about their kid half as much as they say they do. You worrying is enough of an indicator to me that you're more cut out for it than you think."

The man stretched, grumbling, "I need a smoke before I go to pick up Shika."

"Don't forget to bring the shopping list with you while you're out." Yoshino perked up and called over Tobirama's shoulder, only shaking her head and standing as the man gave her a two-finger salute. She glanced down to Tobirama, motioning for him to follow her. "Sasuke's things should all be in the guest room. Like I said, other than having a bit of trouble with how he was feeling, he really was a good kid."

The silver-haired man stood, abandoning his now-cold and nearly empty tea at the table. He followed her to the back room, which was in just as fine of a position as it had been when Sasuke had been put in it. The bed was made with his bag at the foot of it, ready to go at a moment's notice.

He reached down to pick it up, nodding, "Thank you." the words were spoken briefly, though he added soon after, "...For watching him and being so concerned with him. Hopefully he wasn't too rude with your son during his little spat."

She only shook her head, dismissing, "Shikamaru is a smart boy. I've spoken with him, and he knows it was nothing he did." she sighed with only half amusement, "For Sasuke to have hurt his feelings any would require Shikamaru caring about anything going on around him, and well, I'm not sure he's quite there yet."

"Well, even so, Sasuke needs to be directing his anger at people who deserve it at the absolute least. Not the nearest unfortunate classmate." Tobirama frowned, shaking his head as he moved with the woman out of the bedroom and back towards the kitchen. "Whether Shikamaru cares or not, I'll talk with him."

"...Thank you." Yoshino nodded, the masked man giving her a brief nod in goodbye as he headed out and onto the porch.

Shikaku sat, scanning through a shopping list while smoking and listening to a pair of young Nara chuunin.

A dark-haired woman explained, "Extra security has been placed in the compound as well - we have a group of six volunteering to keep an eye on the compound parameter in rounds, and a group of four protecting the deer field."

To her left, an older man added, "A good number of shinobi have also mentioned their intent to not take on any missions outside of Konoha until the issue is resolved."

Shikaku only listened, considering their words briefly before nodding and folding the paper in his hands. "Good. I would keep at least one shinobi per street awake and on watch until it is taken care of. It shouldn't be long - we're just waiting on word from the Hyuuga clan head, and he won't want to linger too long. Not with the experience the kid has plucking eyes out." the man gave a dry grin to his subordinates, a weak attempt at poor-tasting humour and reassurance.

It was especially poor for Tobirama, who knew that Ibiki had just spent the last week or so prying said eyes from Danzo's arm with the assistance of a few of Tobirama's clones.

He said nothing however as the two chuunin only gave their own weak smiles before nodding, baking up as Shikaku stood. "Thank you both for your work. Go on now and don't worry about it. Take precautions, but don't let the fear bind you. We have plenty of capable shinobi to know to be on the lookout now, so he won't have much of a chance to do anything unless we go about it like fools. Right?"

"Right." they both agreed, taking a brief breath before disappearing with a flicker.

Shikaku glanced over his shoulder, sending a silent note of 'I hope you know what you are doing, bringing him back here alive' towards the silver-haired man in question.

Tobirama only kept his ground, steady in his decision and not prepared to give the other any reason to doubt their decision as he noted aloud, "It looks like it's about time to go pick up the kids."

All he got in turn was a low muse of, "It seems so." before Shikaku put out his cigarette on the ashtray, moving forward and off the porch - towards the distant gates of the compound. "We'd better head out if we don't want to be late, hm?"

Tobirama watched as he slipped the shopping list into his vest, the Senju only nodding in turn.

Of all the days to be late, today was not the one.

Chapter Text

The walk to the academy was a long yet peaceful one, the two shinobi walking side-by-side in silence. Tobirama could feel the tenseness of the air around him, though at this point, it felt more like they'd finally ripped off an overdue bandaid than anything.

The discomfort in the air was natural, with all the mentions of village reforms and removal of the elders council for the time being. Having a high-risk prisoner would of course only make it worse.

But then, it was a necessary chaos, just the same as it had been during the village's founding - when all the clans were still weary in their alliance and waiting for any sign to change their minds. The only difference now was that they were united in their uncertainty.

Tobirama let out a breath as they made it to the school gates, noticing a steep increase in the number of parents that had come to pick up their children. He supposed it made sense, given the uneasy aura of the village, but it was annoying nonetheless to move past the layers of parents as he parted from Shikaku.

There was a beat of stillness before he spotted the boys, Shikamaru slowly heading out behind Choji and Ino. Sasuke walked a good bit behind them, head down with a look of disinterest as he moved. Ino would glance over to him occasionally, though the girl made no move to talk to him this time.

It wasn't until Shikamaru spotted him, slowing in his pace and calling something over his shoulder that Sasuke bothered to look up from the bag on his hip.

The look of disinterest faded in seemingly an instant, his dark eyes widening impossibly as his shoulders snapped back. The boy shot off, jogging towards Tobirama until he found himself directly in front of the man - nearly toppling into him if not for the hand Tobirama held out to steady him. Sasuke held the strap of his bag impossibly tightly, looking up at him with such an impossibly bright smile that he had to wonder for a moment how he'd ever seen Izuna's hateful gaze in the boy. "You're back, Tobira!"

It was more energy than he could recall seeing from the boy in the entirety of their time together, short of perhaps the training fields. Tobirama's brow quirked, unsure whether to find it endearing or amusing. "I am. Though, I was under the impression that you were a bit more displeased with me than this?"

He took pity on the boy as he tried and failed to spit out a response to his words, settling instead on shaking his head and setting a hand on his bundle of hair. He looked all too much like a fish as he tried to explain himself, and as amusing as it may be, it was equally as pathetic to watch. "Tch, you're fine, you're fine. I'm only teasing." the boy gave him an owlish look, Tobirama settling on suggesting, "I have your things, so how about you say thank you to Shikaku for keeping you safe while I was away and we'll head home? It's been a long week."

The small ravenet nodded quickly, moving a bit to the side to go do as he was told while Tobirama waited at the main gate.

It didn't take long for the boy to bound towards the man and back to him, his small body tucked against Tobirama's leg with a scowl - as if daring him to escape from his sights again.

Really, it made it incredibly difficult to tell exactly how pleased or displeased the child was with his return.

The walk back towards the compound was a quiet if not difficult one. Sasuke had kept to his prerogative, holding onto his pant leg as he walked; an increasingly frustrating act. Particularly when the boy only looked off to the side, staring at passersbys as if refusing to notice Tobirama's pointed looks.

How was it that this small boy could be so incredibly dismissive and clingy, all at the same time?

The silver-haired man let out a small sigh at the childish antics, not allowing himself to begrudge the boy despite the hellishly slow pace it put them at.

That was, until he noticed an increasing number of stares being sent their way.

Dozens of eyes began to fall on the boy, ever so briefly, as if knowing their gazes belonged elsewhere. The smudge of pity Tobirama was used to seeing directed at the young Uchiha had tripled on this walk alone, and it didn't take a genius to figure out why.

Nor did it take one to notice the starting of their whispers, as was shown when the masked man noticed a small shift in the boy during their walk.

Sasuke went from merely holding his pant leg to all but standing on top of his feet, the ravenet staring back at the subtle glances with a silently demanding gaze. Pupilless eyes bore unintentionally into the souls of those passing by, encouraging the faint whispers without a speck of a clue as to what was going on.

Really, were the civilians of Konoha so unstealthy that they couldn't manage keeping their gossip to a whisper? Shinobi in training or not, he hardly thought it was that difficult to keep a low enough tone that a child couldn't hear his name muttered between them. Was it so hard, to keep their eyes trained on what they were doing? Or, better yet, simply not gossip while the subject matter was in the room?

Sarcastically, he drawled to himself, it wasn't as if he was stretching and asking them to do the impossible. Such as, say, not gossip about a child's tragedy.

Setting this aside, however, the silver-haired man reached down to lift the little Uchiha up from under the shoulders. He gave Sasuke the decency of ignoring the surprised squeak that left his mouth, setting him on his hip as he muttered, "We have a lot to discuss tonight, and these streets are far too crowded. Hold on tight and I'll get us home faster."

Sasuke was quick to do as he was told, holding on to Tobirama's shirt tightly as the experienced shinobi lept to the roof of a nearby building. There wasn't a doubt in his mind that he wouldn't drop Sasuke even if he were to go at top speeds, but still, he kept his pace easy so as to not startle the boy.

The young Uchiha would likely have quite enough of that feeling by night's end.

He forced said issue aside however as he focused on jumping from roof to roof, hand holding the boy securely as small arms remained tightly wrapped around his neck.

In a blur of wood and stone, shops passed, falling into the distance until finally the Uchiha crest was in sight. Tobirama manoeuvred around the select few shinobi out and about on the rooftops, not bothering to give more than a simple nod in turn. He had no time for pleasantries, and to be blunt, would much rather Sasuke find out about his brother's return from him. It was infinitely better than via civilian gossip or nosy shinobi wanting some inside info.

At least back at the compound, there wouldn't be a dozen eyes following every twitch of emotion on the child's face.

Really, Tobirama silently mourned to himself, it was utter bullshit that he was the one most suited for the conversation.

Even so, it was unfortunately the case. At the very least, he wouldn't be soaking in the boy's reaction to spread the moment he got the chance. It was more than he could say for some sections of the village, which were steadily becoming more and more like a snake pit if one was to ask him.

It wasn't until he got to the compound and moved to set Sasuke back down that he saw how damn stiff the boy was.

"Did I go too fast?" a thin frown made its way to his lips as the boy all but pried his own fingers away from Tobirama, hands held tightly in front of his body as he looked up to the elder shinobi.

"...No, you didn't." the ravenet shook his head, looking between Tobirama and the compound gates, then back to the village. He asked in a much too small voice, the detached expression from earlier crumbling a bit, "Did I do something wrong? Are they- are you-" his eyes narrowed wearily, clearly doing his best to put the words into a sentence but unsure how to.

At the very least, he was able to convey enough that Tobirama could understand his reservations. The man frowned thinly, putting a hand on the young Uchiha's back and ushering him towards the compound steadily. "They're not mad at you, and neither am I. There are just a few things we need to discuss, and they're being nosy. Don't mind them." he instructed, opening the gate for him and sending a brief warning look over his shoulder.

Honestly, he understood the urge to discuss the newfound information and how it would affect the village, but they were making his life ten times harder by not being willing to stay quiet at least for an afternoon.

Sasuke was all too quiet even after receiving this answer, allowing himself to be led through the now-cleaned streets of the compound by the firm hand on his back. He was quiet, though his expression told Tobirama he had plenty to say.

He looked torn between being suffocated by the silence and being unsure about breaking it, his feet beginning to drag a bit as they got closer to the house. Tobirama summoned all the patience he had worked so hard to build up over the years as he continued guiding the boy to the main house, a single brow twitch being the only indication of his aggravation as the young Uchiha came to a full stop in front of the porch.

"What is it?" he shoved down the frayed nerves this whole situation was giving him as the boy looked up at him owlishly, the shinobi putting years of practice forward to force himself to relax. He could feel the stress of having left Sasuke scared for a week mingling with the guilt of knowing Itachi sat alone in a cell, both feelings clawing their way up his spine to hiss in his ears and give him the world's worst headache.

The man set his shoulders, taking a breath and briefly closing his eyes as the little ravenet began to stammer stiffly, "I'm. I'm sorry I said I didn't care if you came back." he started, adding quickly as Tobirama opened his eyes to look down at the boy, "And- that I was- I called Shikamaru lazy. And, and," he continued even as Tobirama lifted a hand to motion for the boy to hold on, "And for trying to go back home when you said I had to wait for you in the, um, Nara compound. And messing up my test while you were gone, and drawing in my book, and not meditating when my teacher told me to, and-"

"Breath, sapling. breath." Tobirama repressed the instinctive frown that tried to crawl to his face, kneeling down to put a hand on either of the boy's unsteady shoulders. He could see the growing moisture in the six-year-old's big dark eyes as he tried to keep his spine straight before Tobirama, the Senju doing his best to pat his shoulders as non-awkwardly as possible. "I told you, I'm not mad at you. You were frightened, a completely natural response to the situation."

The boy glared a bit through his watery eyes at the suggestion that he was scared but Tobirama continued on, "People can act...unlike themselves when stressed. It was not right of you to speak down on your classmate, but there is still time to try to correct your mistake. Shikamaru seems reasonable, so I'm sure he would understand if you are truly sorry and try to convey it."

Tobirama watched as the little Uchiha nodded, using his sleeve to wipe his nose and blinking rapidly to try to dispel the remnants of the tears that had almost managed to come. "As for the matters with your academy work, they are important, but not worth me being particularly mad or you taking the issues too much to heart."

He debated only briefly with himself before adding, "The lessons you are given and the things your teachers tell you to do are important. They are both great tools the village has given you in order to help you one day become the kind of shinobi you aspire to be. However, they can only do so much. It's up to you to use the tools you are given. So while I'm not mad, I would suggest reconsidering your actions if you intend to live up to your fullest potential."

A look of conflict fell over the boy's face, brows coming together as he looked down - eyes filling with something between fear, mourning, and hatred. "I know," he spoke quietly, Tobirama waiting for a moment as the boy's mouth opened but no words came out, jaw clenching shut momentarily before retrying. His fingers were now tangled in his own sleeves, hands by his side in tight fists while he continued, "Itachi always had the highest grades in his class, and was already a genin by my age. I need...I have to do better if I'm ever going to kill him."

Great, Tobirama couldn't help the cynical and sarcastic voice that played in his mind, that was precisely the takeaway he was hoping to give the boy.

He let out a breath, giving the boy one final heavy pat on both his shoulders as he suggested, "Speaking of Itachi and tests, there is something to be said on both matters. However, I believe that conversation would be better suited for inside rather than out on the porch." he stood, trying not to be the least bit disheartened as the boy's expression grew more uneasy. "Come, how about we get you a snack? There's no danger in this conversation, I can assure you. I am not mad, you are not in trouble, and some good news may come out of it yet. Will you at least do me the honour of trusting me not to lie about these matters?"

Reluctantly, the boy nodded.

Chapter Text

Tobirama cleared his throat as they made it inside, opening the fridge while Sasuke made himself comfortable at the table. "What do you want to snack on?"

Sasuke's voice was low, head laying atop his folded arms on top of the dinner table. "...Can I have a tomato sandwich?"

He looked much too tired, clearly exhausted from the affairs of the day. If it weren't such a pressing issue, Tobirama might be swayed to let the boy not worry about it just yet.

However, with the whispers already increasing and the trial steadily approaching, he knew it wasn't a good idea. It was best to get it over and done with. At least here, he reminded himself, Sasuke would be able to handle it at his own pace.

So it was that he nodded - reaching for the last two bread slices and a slowly wrinkling large tomato. He supposed it was good they were using the rest of both, though it did mean another shopping trip would be due soon. He made a mental note of it as he spread some mayonnaise over the bread, sprinkling salt and pepper as he considered his words carefully.

"Do you know what the purpose of tests are, as far as the academy goes at least?"

The boy considered it for only a brief moment before answering, tone unsure - as if caught off by the obviousness of the question.

"To see which students understand what's being taught the best? So they can figure out which ones are ready to become shinobi?"

The masked man shook his head, reaching for a knife to slice the tomato into thin pieces. "You're almost correct, but not quite." he kept his tone steady, even as the young Uchiha deflated a bit. "Tests in the academy were made to help the teachers measure three things: What the test-taker knows, what they do not know, and how willing they are to put effort into learning it. "

He eyed the boy as he spoke, noting, "The teachers have their own uses for this information as far as the grand scheme of their classroom goes, but graduation is not on the forefront of their mind when looking at or giving these tests. They are looking to understand what their class as a whole does or does not understand - giving you all these scores to help indicate to the student what they individually need to work on."

"For you students, test results should be one thing: A report on what you need to work on. There is no shame in not knowing all of the material. It's a natural part of the improvement process to have to identify things that you are struggling with so that you can improve upon them." he explained, laying the slices one by one across the bread for him, "Those tests were made to be a bit harder than any student should be able to handle. Otherwise, you would never be able to tell what you needed to work on."

The young Uchiha frowned at his words, cocking his head as he sat up in his seat. A now fully formed sandwich was slid in front of him on a plate, Tobirama turning his back to put the last few ingredients away as he listened. "So I need to look more at what I don't know? So I can understand them, even if we're done with the lesson...because knowing the answers will make me a better shinobi."

"Precisely. Getting a low score does not inherently mean you are a poor shinobi. It simply means there are things you still need to work on to build a good base. If anything, acknowledging your weaknesses and seeking to cover them makes you a better student. It may seem tedious, but it will pay off in the long run." he spoke with certainty as he sat down, watching the boy begin to eat his sandwich.

Sasuke seemed to consider his words as he ate, brows slowly pinching. Once again, he was looking up at Tobirama, as if trying to will the words across to him. The silver-haired man simply let him, debating on reminding the child that he wasn't able to read his mind when finally the boy spoke. "What if I get points off on my physical tests, but still can't do it after? Or can't find the right answer even after I get my test back?"

"Then we can practice to try to find the issue, if you'd like." Tobirama mused, "For some techniques, it's all you can do. Simply let me know you're having trouble and we will try to figure out where you're slipping up at. As for the written tests, we can make it a weekly item. Every, say, Friday after the academy lets out. We can look at any missed questions on your papers and try to find the answers."

His brows crept up his face as the young Uchiha went vibrant red at the suggestion, face matching the tomatoes in his mouth. It was astonishing, really, watching the boy go from ready to fight the world to looking ready to hide under the table over the course of merely an hour. He at least had the sense to swallow his food, wiping his mouth on his sleeve before asking, "You won't be busy? Aren't you signed up to go on missions now, so you won't have as much time at the house? Or you'll be tired after working?"

"We do not have to review the tests or practice if you do not want to. It was only a suggestion, since you seemed unhappy with your grade." he waved a hand dismissively to his own previous words, realizing it might be a bit much for a child that was likely stressed enough as it was. However, Sasuke only looked to him like a kicked puppy, shoulders stiff as if trying to find the words to undo his objections. "Or we can. It's completely up to you. To answer your questions, however, I am signed up for mostly in-village missions so that I am still able to look after you. This last week was a special exception."

Tobirama watched as Sasuke scanned him over, as if deciding whether or not to believe him. The boy nodded after a long beat of silence, promising with an almost pained expression, "I'll be a good student, and I'll try hard here and at the academy. I'll do whatever I have to to become someone that can kill Itachi. I promise I won't waste your time."

Well. He supposed this was as good of an opening as he was going to get.

Clearing his throat, the silver-haired man spoke, "I know you'll try your best, Sasuke. You're a very hard worker. However, there is something I need to speak with you about besides your tests, as I've said."

The young Uchiha nodded, his sandwich long gone by now. He stood to go put the plate in the sink, stepping onto his footstool to rinse it off as he asked tensely, "...You said it's about Itachi?"

Tobirama could tell the boy was caught between wanting to shove the issue off and being entirely too afraid to, the masked man standing to follow him towards the sink. The running water and back turned towards him made it a bit difficult to talk, something he knew they didn't need right now.

Whether Sasuke liked it or not, this was not a conversation they could just have and dismiss. He was sure the child was hoping for something along the lines of a safety speech regarding his attempt to get the Nara family to let him go home by himself, but unfortunately, it was not the talk they needed to have. That would be so much easier.

The man reached over Sasuke's shoulder, turning the water off. He ignored it as Sasuke sent him a huff, the Senju noting, "Yes, it's regarding Itachi. Leave the dish for now - I can handle it later."

He ushered the young Uchiha away from the sink and towards the living room, lightly patting his shoulder to motion for him to sit on the couch. Sasuke was quick to follow his lead, sitting even as his back straightened so stiffly the man worried it might snap under the pressure. His shoulders were squared, looking to Tobirama with a clenched jaw. He was the picture of exaggerated bravery, the only giveaway for his fears being the smallest tremble in his fingers. "What about him?"

Tobirama sat beside the boy, trying his best to figure out how to put his words in an order that would both make sense to Sasuke and not scare the living hell out of him. Hands in lap, he spoke, keeping his tone as steady as he could.

"Sasuke, you see-"

"I say this as a shinobi-"

"As well as as your elder-"

For the first time in ages, he felt himself completely lost for words. He closed his mouth after the third pathetic attempt, letting out a breath through his nose and squeezing his hands together. Focus, he reminded himself. This was good news, at least to the extent of the boy's future. Everything horrific about the situation was nearly done - things were going to get better from here on out.

It didn't make it any easier to deliver the news of what had happened, but then, there was no undoing the past.

"I am going to tell you some things I have recently learned about your brother." he grimaced a bit at his own wording as Sasuke's frown deepened, though the boy remained quiet for now. "They are not easy things to hear, but they happened, and you deserve to know of them. The village is set to make an announcement concerning it in the newspaper tomorrow morning, and the village leaders will be holding a meeting soon to discuss the recent developments. I wanted to make sure you knew now, as is your right as a member of the Uchiha clan."

He didn't linger, giving the boy time to process his words before hurrying on to the next ones. "It has been discovered that three of the village elders have been massively abusing their power over the course of the last few years. There are dozens of examples, however, one of the prime ones is in regards to Itachi Uchiha. They have admitted to giving him missions that they knew were not approved by the Hokage. Telling him to do horrific things with threats of extreme punishment for him and his family should he refuse."

Tobirama was sure to word his explanation carefully, not wanting to cause any more suffering than the information would already bring. Itachi would never forgive him if he slipped up and let the youngest Uchiha blame himself.

"One such mission was the murder of the Uchiha clan." he watched Sasuke's shoulders hike up at this, eyes lowered to his lap as if refusing to look at Tobirama. The silver-haired man could see the boy's breath shutter, eyes screwing shut. He jerked his head, giving a sharp nod as he listened to Tobirama's words.

Reluctantly, the man raised his hand, setting it on the back of the child's neck. He could feel his breathing jolt under the touch, the ravenet doing everything in his power to not let the building tears escape. The silver-haired man tried to replicate the movement he'd seen his sister-in-law do for her children so many times, small uneven circles being rubbed into the child's neck as he spoke, "Itachi was told to choose. He could kill the clan and go on the run, or he along with the rest of the clan and villagers could face the worst punishment known to man. He...accepted the mission, in the end, and went on the run."

"It was a terrible situation all around. Itachi did not wish to hurt his clan or his village...but he was made to feel like he had to. I spoke with him while away this last week, and he is deeply hurt to have caused you so much pain. He misses you greatly." he continued on, even as the boy shook his head in refusal - small hics escaping his lips with each explanation.

It took everything in him to shove down the urge to stop his words, knowing they had to be said eventually if they were to move forward. "With the truth coming to light, it is expected that he will be removed from the bingo book but still receive some form of discipline for his crimes. While he has accepted this, he has also stated that he understands your anger towards his actions. He will not blame you should you choose not to forgive his crimes, and should you ask, would make it so that you never had to lay eyes on him again."

But then again, had the boy asked, Tobirama also had the unfortunate feeling that Itachi would have few qualms about driving a sword through his stomach for Sasuke's peace of mind.

An ugly sob escaped the boy as he finished, Sasuke's legs coming up to his chest as he hid his face against his knees. His shoulders trembled, a horrible noise of pain leaving his lips as he nearly pleaded, "That doesn't...that doesn't make sense." he hissed, Tobirama grimacing slightly and hoping the hand messaging his neck and shoulders was doing anything at all to help. "Why would the elders want to do that to us? We didn't do anything wrong...and...and brother - Itachi...why would he listen to them? Mother and father...mother and father-" he curled further into himself, all his previous attempts to keep his head high broken.

The silver-haired man's hand moved lower, down to the child's back. He sat beside him, grimacing a bit at his own lack of skill in condolencing. Sasuke's breath shuttered with each attempt to get the words out, only managing after a long moment, "Mother and father wouldn't have let them hurt him...or the clan...or the village...they, they protected people. It was- it was their job-"

His breath was quick and rapid beside Tobirama, as if all the air had fled from his lungs and he was unable to recapture more. Up and down his shoulders went, another ugly sob leaving his lips as he quivered, "And, and, and- Itachi's. Itachi. They couldn't have. They couldn't! He was able to take on everyone in the compound, he could have taken them. Why couldn't he have taken the elders instead- why didn't he tell on them? The Hokage- Lord Hokage-"

His Lord Hokage should have been able to handle it. The boy was right there. However, he kept his comments to himself, simply allowing the boy to get it all out as he wept, "Why me, why am I alive? Why not mother- or father- or Shisui- or our aunts or uncles- or- or-" his words sputtered out into nothingness, face so red and blocky the man worried he had burst a vessel. His shoulders trembled like that of a dying man, the mourning wracking his entire body.

Taking a deep breath, Tobirama reached over, carefully pulling his knees and arms away from his face. The boy jerked his body back, doing as Tobirama led him to but crossing his arms over his chest and looking away. As if turning his head would hide the way the entirety of his small frame trembled in sadness and hurt, loud sobs and gasps for air leaving him.

The silver-haired man buried his own shame and the crushing feeling of it being horribly unnatural to place his arms under the boy's shoulders, pulling him closer with ease and breaking his attempts to hide himself against the corner of the couch. The young Uchiha only cried harder at his efforts, and for a split second, the man felt pure and utter panic at his mistake.

That was, until he saw the boy's face fall completely against his pant leg - fingers gripping the loose fabric as he laid on his stomach, heaving heavy sobs into the elder man's leg. Tobirama grimaced, but reached out a hand to run his hands against the six-year-old's gradually lengthening hair.

"I- I- I hate- I hate-!" the boy seemed unable to finish as new tears tore through each attempt, and not for the first time, Tobirama found that he couldn't blame him.

Once he managed to calm down, Tobirama would do his best to explain the whys of each of his questions.

For now, if his few experiences with the boy's outbursts had taught him anything, it was best to let him get it all out.

Chapter Text

It took some time, and a good number of false alarms, but eventually the boy had managed to slow his heavy sobs to more manageable hics - his breathing still uneasy as he laid his head on Tobirama's lap, but calmer even so. He looked exhausted, eyes looking off across the room with weak sniffles.

After a long few minutes of Tobirama wondering if he'd been too blunt and accidentally managed to make the boy snap, a quiet voice came, throat ruthlessly raw from crying. "Why did...how did this happen? Itachi's always been so strong and so smart. He...he could have won if the village elders tried to hurt him. Or gotten our parents and Lord Hokage to help."

The boy's fingers continued to dig into Tobirama's leg, gripping onto him even as the masked man continued to move his hands steadily over his hair.

Tobirama hardly noticed, however, too occupied with listening to the child's words. A familiar pit of discomfort returned to his stomach as he listened to the child's indirect praises laced between blame, so sure that his elder brother could handle anything. "Unfortunately, sometimes, things aren't so simple. The elders...they targetted Itachi, long before any of this happened. They tricked him when he was too young to know any better - insisting they knew what they were talking about and making him feel like his only option was to obey their orders if he wanted to avoid his family being hurt." the man frowned, eyes narrowing as he spoke, trying to find the right words to explain.

"But if he wanted to keep us safe, if he loved us so much, why did he-" the boy's eyes screwed shut, as if unable to finish his sentence.

Tobirama let out a light sigh, leaning his head back against the cushion of the couch as he spoke, "It's a bit hard to explain. You'll understand better once you're older, but for now, let's just say-" he considered his words briefly before answering, "They told him that if he didn't listen, they would send someone to kill everyone in the clan in much more painful way. Itachi did not want this, so he listened, wanting to give them a quick and less painful end if they had to die. As for why only you were left alive...it was their reward for him listening, to be allowed to keep only you alive. The elders are terrible, heartless people who did horrible things to both you and Itachi because they think themselves fit to play gods. I wish I could give you a better answer, but unfortunately, that's simply the truth of it."

He shoved down the guilt at omitting a good number of details, knowing it was for the best and hoping the details he did give would be enough to quell the boy's unrest.

If they were going to keep Hiruzen's hand in the issue under wraps for the sake of the village's name and stability, the Uchiha clan deserved the same respect. Hundreds of non-combatives had already lost their lives, there was no reason to stomp on their grave by telling the villagers of the coup and placing shame on their clan name. Tobirama had no intention of giving them any excuses to justify what had happened or cast unfair judgment on Itachi and Sasuke.

There was only a small group of ANBU members that had been aware of it, so if word did begin to leak out, it would be quite easy to put a cork in the information spillage.

They would just have to do a better job of following through with their gag orders than they had with the current jinchuriki, he noted dryly as he watched Sasuke try to process the hell that had just been shoved onto his lap.

He would tell him one day, when he was older.

It wasn't as if the details contradicted the truth, after all - it was still a grave abuse of power on the elders' part, the three having indeed done all that he had said. Their excuses were irrelevant, as far as he was concerned.

They had said before that it was more efficient to have one man take the blame rather than leaving it open to interpretation. He didn't see why choosing three should be any different. It was for the good of Konoha, after all. The news of three madmen was sure to be forgotten quicker than the news of a failed coup.

As deep a pit as it left in his stomach, it was the best solution he had been able to come up with. He only hoped it was the right thing to do and wouldn't end up being counted as another error in his pile of mistakes someday.

He tried, extremely hard, not to think about whether the three's actions were a result of their own failures or of his as a teacher. It wasn't the time, no matter how it clawed at the back of his throat alongside all the other mistakes he'd made.

"So they really did scare Itachi, then?" the boy frowned on his lap, wiping his eyes as he pulled Tobirama from his thoughts, "It wasn't him testing himself? He really was trying to protect the clan, and villagers, and me?" his dark eyes looking up to Tobirama's vibrant red eyes only briefly before looking away, the man's nod seeming to leave a bitter taste in the child's mouth. "I don't...I." his hands came up to his chest, as if trying to force his lungs to work. "I miss him, but I miss mother and father too. I miss our clan, and how things were before. I just...if he had to go, why couldn't he have taken me with him? Why did he have to leave me here alone until you came?"

"He was on the run, Sasuke." Tobirama sighed lightly, rubbing the boy's back as he noted, "No one else knew what the elders had made him do. Lots of people wanted him dead, he had to sneak around to find food, and was forced to move from town to town doing missions for a group that was willing to hire him despite his past. He was living a dangerous life. He didn't want that for you, so he distanced himself."

"You and Itachi have both been hurt by the elders, but he understands that he hurt you too in his attempts to keep you safe. Itachi made some big mistakes, there's no denying that, but he did not do it to cause you pain. He was lost, trying his best to do what was right, but not knowing how to. Even so, you are well within your rights to be angry, or to not know how to feel about it all."

He took a breath before noting, "Itachi is currently being held in a very secure prison cell until his trial. Once it is over, I can set up a day for you two to meet again and discuss what happened if you'd like. Then we can go from there. We don't have to figure everything out tonight."

"Why is he in a cell if they made him do it?" the boy rubbed his nose, rolling over on the man's lap to look up at him with furrowed brows. His eyes glanced elsewhere as he muttered, "If the Hokage already knows they made him, why's he have to go there? Can't he...why can't I see him now?"

A light pang of relief hit Tobirama's stomach at how the boy spoke, as if already toying with the idea of at least trying to see his brother again. Whether it was out of blind desperation to reconnect their lost bond or a need for something to be right with the world again, Tobirama didn't know. Regardless, it was a good sign for now, taking a brick's worth of weight off the man's chest.

He had sworn to himself to be there for both Itachi and Sasuke. While it would be a lot more difficult to follow through on this if the two never returned to talking terms, he was more than willing to do it. He had no intention of leaving either brother out to rot.

"Because, unfortunately, he still did it whether he wanted to or not." Tobirama grimaced a bit to himself at the bluntness of the answer, "To have someone with that level of power that can be manipulated into following through with such horrible orders will make the villagers scared for their safety. So, until we can find a way to assure them that they are secure and that he won't be following through with those sorts of orders again, he'll have to stay there. It won't be for long - me and the Hokage are doing everything we can to get him out as soon as possible and he is cooperating very well. I know it isn't easy, but things will improve soon."

The young Uchiha nodded, ever so hesitantly. His dark eyes returned to Tobirama as he reluctantly sat up, eyes still puffy from the rough treatment of the day as he asked, "If Itachi comes back...are you going to leave afterwards? You said you'd stay to make sure the clan was taken care of but..." his brows pulled together, looking all too much like he was resisting every instinct to beg him to stay.

"I have no intention of going anywhere. Itachi is in no position to lead this clan - intelligent and strong as he may be, he still has plenty to learn before he's ready for that. Besides, what sort of teacher do you take me for, expecting me to leave when we've only just begun your training?" he tsked, brow raising as the boy's owlish expression began to melt into a sheepish look.

He had no room to question it as the child crawled further onto his lap, arms wrapping around his neck while his face buried against the fabric of his mask. Tobirama blinked, arms moving to wrap around the boy and pat his back as the ravenet mumbled, "I'm glad you came back from your mission."

The man could see Sasuke's ears tipping red in the hug - the young Uchiha's afternoon of rambling and sobbing seeming to catch up to him. Tobirama supposed he'd spare the boy any further embarrassment for the night and allow him to keep his face hidden uncomfortably deep against his throat, musing, "As am I, sapling."

It was nearly dinner time, but with each moment that passed and each breath that eased bit by bit under the careful rubbing of the boy's back, Tobirama found it more and more difficult to fathom making Sasuke get up. He could feel him falling asleep against him, and for a split second, the man debated on getting it over with and asking the boy what he wanted to eat.

This thought was dispelled as he heard long breaths begin to escape the boy; his opening closing due to his own lack of resolve in the matter. It was a newfound problem, the silver-haired man couldn't help but note with a sigh.

It had been too damn long since he'd stepped foot on the battlefield.

Between seeing his not-so-little-anymore grandniece again, Sasuke's childish attitude led by him indeed being a child, and seeing Itachi be treated as though he weren't currently the age most children graduated.

The man laid his free elbow on the armrest of the couch as Sasuke slept, getting the distinct feeling his father would be damn ashamed if he saw him now.

At the very least, there was that for proof he wasn't doing too terribly.

Chapter Text

Knocking.

Incredibly loud, if brief, knocking was what he woke to the next morning.

A single red eye cracked open from his spot on the couch, head turning to look towards the front door. The chakra signatures behind it were hidden, quelled deep within the stomaches of those who were waiting.

Tobirama at least mildly recognized them even so, the distinctly wild and striking chakra nature of the Hatake clan rebelling against the perfectly done suppression exercise with each breath the shinobi took.

Beside him, Tobirama felt a sickeningly familiar chakra - Hashirama's warm yet bold signature warped by a layer of...distortion, was the only word that seemed to fit. Certainly his at it's base, but with such a simply wrong tint to it.

He cursed under his breath as another round of too-loud knocks came, this time lasting a bit longer. It had only been a few seconds since the inital round, so Tobirama wasn't sure whether to be concerned or annoyed as he sat up - laying the young Uchiha down against the couch as he began to stir awake.

The boy's hair and clothes were a mess, hands reachig up to wipe the crust from the night's prior's tears clean as he looked up towards Tobirama. Sasuke had gone a shade redder once again, though Tobirama didn't have time to dwell on it much before a third round of heavy knocks came.

Considering the calm if a tad anxious aura of the chakra signatures outside as they impatiently continued, Tobirama leaned closer to annoyed and steadily further from worried.

"I'm coming, give me a second!" he called through the door, looking to Sasuke as he spoke. "I'll be right back. Why don't you go see what you'd like me to cook for breakfast and get ready for school." mentally kicking himself as he added, "And try to do some of your homework if you had any last night."

So much for his lecture about not taking the village's education for granted.

A low breath of relief escaped his chest as Sasuke moved towards the kitchen, mumbling, "I did it after I finished my lunch yesterday."

"Good job thinking ahead." was all he got to say before another round of knocks hit his door, the man turning on his heel before any more could be said on the matter.

He moved towards the door, pulling it open in one swift movement to see percisely two saplings standing on the front porch, partaking in the tamest arguement Tobirama had even laid eyes on.

"The human attention span is known to degrade as one grows older in-" a flat voice spoke, pausing midway through his defense for the incessant knocking to look up at the man in the doorway. He spoke bluntly, pitless eyes staring into Tobirama's own narrowed red ones. "-Gai was right, it is a direct gaze into your future."

He was seventy percent sure he was being made fun of either by the two before him or the universe itself. Perhaps by all three.

The blunt teen with chakra and hair all too much like his brother's stood at the forefront, a bulky face gaurd much like the one he'd worn every day from age ten to his death adorning his face.

He looked over his shoulder, towards a young man hardly out of adolecence - the Hatake's hand running over his face as he steadied himself from the younger's words in an all-too familiar way.

It didn't help that the young man had distinctly siliver hair to match Tobirama's own, the mask over his lower face ruining any chance of the similarities being ignorable.

Tobirama considered momentarily the possibility that they were here just to try their luck with mocking an elder shinobi that was still newish to the village, but shut the line of thought down fairly quickly.

Surely, the young Hatake wasn't foolish enough to go picking fights with the Hokage's newest advisor days after it was announced rather than the weeks he'd had before as a simple forgein shinobi.

Besides. The teen hardly had any way to know how incredibly mocking his appearance seemed in the context, considering Tobirama's identity had yet to be leaked as far as he was aware.

He must have been staring a bit too long, as the teen in question had taken to locking eyes with him, unblinking until the Hatake moved to loosely nudge the younger boy back.

The young man stood in front of Tobirama, seeming to have either not noticed or become used to the brown haired boy's strange antics. The Senju couldnt help the distinct feeling it was incredibly too early for whatever words were about to leave his mouth after the shit show that had been yesterday.

The young man only gave a bow in greeting, one clearly meant to be professional but dampened by the tireness that radiated off him. His single visible eye was cast downwards as he spoke, the brunet behind him quick to mimic his actions. "I am Kakashi Hatake - former ANBU captain over Itachi Uchiha. This is Tenzo, former ANBU teammate of ours. We are here on orders from the Hokage to discuss business he feels should not be left to your clones out of consideration for the fact they were cast yesterday morning and thus may have outdated opinions on the matter."

The young man, Kakashi, stood up as he finished talking - not quite straight but not quite comfortable either. His mood seemed to remain as soured as when he initially laid eyes on him; a mix of tiredness, uncertainty, and defensiveness all but radiating off of him. He looked as if he might keel over from having to speak so much, but Tobirama merely quirked a brow, greeting, "I see, and what may this business be?"

"We have been made aware of a meetng that is to take place between Lord Hokage, his advisors, the clan heads, and the civillian spokesperson within a few day's time to discuss his pentalties." Tenzo informed him, only straightening from his bow as Kakashi elbowed him in the ribs. "We come to request enterence to the meeting as well - as members of his former team."

Kakashi nodded, hands sliding to his pockets as he spoke - his aloof attitude likely meant to hide the way his body was tensed from head to toe. "If that isn't doable, I'd like to make a request of my own. To be able to attend as the head of Konoha's section of the Hatake clan."

...Just how small had the Hatake clan grown, for this young man to be one of it's heads? He was aware that their clan wasn't commonly known for their habit to stay together, but even with their dozens of packs throughout the land of fire, surely there was someone in the village senior to the one before him?

It took Tobirama approximately five seconds to dismiss this assumption as he heard the current technical head of the Uchiha clan darting up the stairs.

He shook the thought off, reminding himself mildly that one didn't need to be the eldest in a clan to have claim over the title of head. Even if it had been the case with each of the three packs Tobirama had come into contact with over the course of his life.

Even so. He leaned a bit on the doorframe, looking the two young shinobi over.

"I take it you have heard of the elder's misdeeds in the papers and spoken to Lord Third about the details of it as well then?"

They both nodded, the young Hatake confirming, "We have, as well as having been in the loop during the...finer details, at the time of conflict." he spoke the last bit lowly, the faintest frown visible from under his mask.

"I see." the elder shinobi nodded, arms crossed. "Do either of you have anything you believe will be of added value during the discussion? Or will we simply have more voices in the room to yell over?"

Tenzo shook his head, the motion looking almost unnatural as the boy spoke, "We know Itachi intimately-"

"Infinitely." Kakashi muttered in correction.

"-Infinitely better than the others present. Lord Hokage knows him as a loyal subordinate. The clan heads know him as a former future comrade to their own heirs. The civillaiin spokesperson knows him as just another broken pillar of safety. We on the other hand know him very well. We have spent many missions together and understand what kind of person he is as a shinobi or otherwise. We saw the cracks forming, we saw his decent towards the final break, we know of how much of what happened is Danzo's doing and how much is his-"

The brunet had gotten steadily closer as he spoke, and to be frank, it was perhaps a bit closer than was strictly acceptable. He looked up at Tobirama with a hollow stare, his expression displaying neither malice nor support.

Two hands fell on the teen's shoulders from behind, the young man grimacing a bit as he spoke kindly through clenched teeth, "Tenzo, please, you're making it sound like we want to send him to the woodchipper." the masked boy clearly caught between not wanting to hurt his teammate's feelings and desperately needing him to not continue his sentence.

Tenzo took a step back from Tobirama, a twitch of guilt appearing over the young man's face as Kakashi continued for him, "What Tenzo means is that we know him more thoroughly and so we can offer another perspective. We realize that from the village's view there are limited reasons to keep him alive after what he's done. Even if he is not a threat he still holds valuable information and likely won't be of much use in the field after this. He'll likely need to be permanently altered in such a way that he will lose significant value as a shinobi for other's peace of mind. It would be most efficient to stage an escape attempt and kill him off to avoid him being targeted for information or his eyes. We are both very aware of that. However." the young man's eye narrowed, dark pupil cast upwards to meet Tobirama's.

"As his former captain, I can say without a doubt that putting Itachi down would come to be a mistake in time."

Tobirama remained perfectly silent as he listened to the young Hatake. His eyes remained steadily on the other’s, the silver-haired Hatake’s single eye focused intently against his own as the younger shinobi spoke. There was a echoing guilt there, one Tobirama had become all too familiar with throughout his own time as a leader. "Even if he is permanently altered, he's a good piece for Konoha to hold in up their sleeve. I've worked with him long enough to know how far he's willing to go to avoid harm coming to the village - I know for a fact that I could have cut out both his eyes with my own two hands and he would still strive to complete the mission. More likely than not, he'd succeed. He's a competent shinobi. Someone you want around, even if it's not possible to keep him at his best."

Kakashi's words were sharp and serious, and had Tobirama had any less experience dealing with captives during his time before the village's founding, he may have missed the underlying truth of this attempt to 'share an extra perspective'.

Without a doubt, what he saw before him was not so much a shinobi trying to help his village, though that was a pleasant side effect. It was a leader trying to save his subordinate's life - bordering carefully on the line between pleading, warning, and persuading.

"He would also make for a good guard dog." the Hatake spoke flatly, his concern for his teammate stomped down and out of view in favor of trying to secure his safety. "Even if it comes down to putting him out of commision, the other villages don't need to know that. Especially as positions warp in the village - Lady Tsunade and Lord Third are good names to be able to claim but having a shinobi with less honor to his name will give our reputation a bit more of a bite. Enemy shinobi will be a lot less willing to snoop around if they know someone who could snap any which way at a moments notice was constantly somewhere within our village."

There was something so primal in the young man's exhausted eye and stiff shoulders, words spilling out in as if they themselves were an attack - daring Tobirama to refute any of his suggestions. His words were spoken boldly, hitting every point that objectively Tobirama should want to hear.

The man caught himself stuck between being disgusted by the words and impressed by the Hatake's attempts to secure Itachi's life, though he settled at last at bittersweet as he watched this young man speak - so clearly an experienced leader despite hardly being at the new minimum age to begin.

He didn't allow the former captain to speak further, disrupting him as he opened his mouth to make a third point, "You two have my blessing to partake in the meeting, should Hiruzen agree. Let him know I heavily advise him, in fact. I believe your input as his former teammates would be quite valuable.”

"Understood, thank you sir." the young man bowed in thanks, the semingly chronic wide-eyed teen beside him hurrying to do the same.

Odd little pair or not, if they were willing to vouch for Itachi and at least promising enough Hiruzen sent them to him, Tobirama wasn't prepared to turn them away. Even if they woke him at the crack of dawn to vaugely beg and warn him to not vouch for the young Uchiha's death. Perhaps because of it, he begrudgingly admitted to himself as he watched the two.

Chapter Text

Mark two for times he wanted to kick himself before seven in the morning.

As the two young men stood there, bowing in their thanks before Tobirama for only a few mere seconds, he could see the exhaustion radiating off of them. Their perfectly squared shoulders looked just a tad less strained than when they had first appeared however, as if the weight of the world had been taken off them by his acceptance to merely let them speak on why putting Itachi down like a rabid dog should be reconsidered.

The brown-haired boy's already wide eyes had somehow managed to pop further from his skull, if only slightly; as if shocked by the success of their self-appointed mission.

Tobirama wasn't sure whether he should be relieved to have more voices on Itachi's side or further displeased with the thought that these two were likely in similar positions of use not long ago.

He settled on allowing himself to be content with the knowledge that they were actively working to fix things, to avoid these sorts of situations from ever arising again. Even if he did have a list of names a mile long that he had been too late to do anything for.

Tobirama watched as, just as soon as they'd come, the two disappeared before his eyes - likely not wanting to keep him any longer than was necessary now that they had gotten what they came for. Tobirama watched them fade into the distance with flickering speed, considering momentarily the possibility of having those two put in charge of guarding Itachi during the transitional period from prisoner to villager.

He would have to discuss it with the boy first, to see what he thought of the idea. They seemed ready enough to stick out their throats for him, but with the way Itachi's other colleges spoke to him, it was worth confirming that his suspicions were correct and there was a second layer to their words. He hardly needed the young Uchiha around anyone who would genuinely refer to him as an honorless village mongrel. Itachi did enough of that himself.

"I'm done getting ready." Sasuke peeked his head over the stair rail from above, looking down at Tobirama as he spoke. He'd indeed changed into a new set of clothes, now wearing a pair of white shorts and a fresh long-sleeved shirt. His hair was brushed, though it lacked some of its usual puff in the back due to a mix of shower water and having at some point begun to grow a bit longer than when he'd first met the boy.

He'd need to see about where he usually got his hair done soon if he didn't want to find himself truly living with a miniature Izuna.

"Good. Did you decide what you wanted for breakfast? Or if you had anything specific you wanted for lunch?" he stepped back, shutting and relocking the front door before turning to move towards the kitchen.

"Can I have an omelette?" the boy watched him over the counter as he nodded and got to work, pulling out enough eggs and seasonings to make enough for two. "With tomatoes?" he asked, giving Tobirama an almost guilty look for his request, as though the addition of the fruit was what would break the camel's back as far as what he was willing to put up with.

The silver-haired man only gave a low huff of mildly bitter amusement as he reached for the container of cherry tomatoes, their last whole one having been used yesterday. "Certainly. Is there anything specific you want for lunch?"

Seeing the boy shrug a bit, he settled on pulling out the rice container. Rice and veggies it was, then.

Tobirama rinsed the rice in the sink briefly before setting it on the stove, allowing it to cook while he whisked the eggs to the side.

Sasuke's feet padded against the floor as he circled around from the kitchen opening to where Tobirama stood, peering past him to look at the eggs. "I can help." the boy suggested, looking up at Tobirama as his fingers fidgeted a bit against the counter - silently urging the man to give him something to aid him with.

The masked man considered it briefly before nodding towards the tomatoes, noting, "Those need cut into four pieces each, if you'd like."

He watched as the young Uchiha nodded, disappearing from the kitchen and into the bathroom only briefly before returning with a footstool in hand. He washed his hands at the sink quickly before nudging the stool towards the counter Tobirama stood at - technically able to reach fine without it but not having to reach nearly as much with the assistance.

"Thank you." he nodded as Sasuke began diligently cutting the small fruits, the boy puffing up a bit at the praise from beside him. "I'm going to go shopping today, since we're about out of everything. Is there anything specific we need?" adding idley, "Other than bread and tomatoes."

He hadn't wanted to buy more food than was necessary before his mission, knowing it would likely go to waste if no one was here to eat it for the week they were both out of the house. It left the fridge fairly barren, though they remained mostly stocked up on cabinet foods.

If he was going to restock, it might as well be with things he knew the boy would eat.

After a brief minute of consideration, the boy suggested, "We need milk, and we're almost out of vegetables."

Milk and vegetables. He was fairly certain his brother would have done horrible, horrible things for his children to ever go out of their way to request such things coming even close to their mouths.

He supposed he should count himself lucky, to have gotten such a pair of non-picky eaters.

"Alright, I'll be sure to get some of both and to refill our meat and fruit options," he noted mildly despite the lack of specifics as he finished whisking the seasoning and small pile of tomatoes Sasuke had cut together - setting them in a pan and finishing the last touches on the meal while stirring the rice. "I'm going to need two plates and sets of utensils for our breakfast as well."

He watched as the little ravenet moved to go get them with a nod, making quick work of it as he set them across the counter. It wasn't long after that they had two large omelets atop them, Sasuke smiling thinly as he looked at them over the counter - prideful in the meal he'd just helped cook. Or at the very least cut for.

Tobirama gave a light pat on his back, motioning him to the table. "Go ahead and eat while I finish making your lunch. You don't want it to get cold."

It took no further prompting before the child was at the table with his breakfast, eating a tad quicker than usual due to his early crash the night prior.

Tobirama made quick work of the few remaining vegetables in the fridge, packing them tightly atop Sasuke's rice. He hardly needed him grouchy from hunger mid-way through the day.

The dark-haired boy was done eating by the time Tobirama finished making his lunch, the two having just a bit of time to spare before they had to head out. He moved over to the table, setting Sasuke's bento in front of him before sitting down to eat his own meal.

He watched idly as the boy slid it into his backpack, standing to go rinse off his dish from today and the afternoon prior's snack.

Tobirama really needed to leave a clone at the house today to clean up a bit. Things weren't horribly messy, but the house could use a quick wipe-down and they were starting to run a bit dry as far as clean clothes went…

Standing, he moved to rinse off his dish as well. He supposed he could leave it for the clone, but considering he would be expending the energy regardless, he found that it didn't matter all that greatly.

He eyed the specs on the plate mildly as he cleaned it, mind briefly wandering towards the too-thin boy currently chained to the ground not too far away and whether Ibiki would laugh in his face for trying to bring food for a prisoner.

A low sigh left his lips as he turned towards the doorway, training his face towards neutrality as he watched Sasuke slip his shoes on. Tobirama did the same in a quick and easy movement, propping the door open.

Sasuke moved through it without having to be told, holding his backpack strap as he walked - lost in thought beside the elder shinobi.

His dark eyes remained trained to the ground, refusing still to look at the houses as they passed them and instead sticking close to Tobirama.

Neither allowed themselves to linger too long in the compound, the uneasy feeling lingering in the air even without the gore etched into the sidewalks.

The main house had at least eased a bit in that regard, if only partially.

It still left a haunting feeling of failure in his chest to stand in the hallway or near Itachi's doorway, and he had yet to let himself enter their parent's room despite the hell the couch was doing to his back. Something about it felt...incredibly wrong, to steal the room of the dead while watching over their children without their regard. He wasn't one to be easily spooked or restrained by the feelings of the dead by any means, but something about it just felt a tad too disrespectful to deal with as things stood.

Even so, Sasuke's room and the main house had at least lost a bit of their sickening aura. He was fairly sure Sasuke felt it too, if the way his mourning had developed from one of shell shock to a hollow sadness was anything to go by.

It wasn't much, but it was an improvement he would take as they walked through the empty compound - the gate before them opening with a light press from Sasuke.

The streets on the other hand were quieter than they had been yesterday.

For all the whispers and hushed tones there had been the day before, the people of the village had little to say now that they had been given answers to their questions. Theories of a mad man that reveled the blood of those who couldn’t defend themselves broke at the seams, whispers of a spoiled clan heir that was fueled by jealousy over his elder cousin’s beloved nature shattering in an instant.

There was a heavy air that lingered in the village as they passed through, the villagers suddenly seeming uncomfortable with the idea of discussing their visitor below ground.

Tobirama could feel Sasuke grip his pant leg tightly as they all but froze when they saw him, heads snapping down to focus on what they were doing as if they’d seen a ghost.

Sasuke’s shoulders sagged a bit at the entire ordeal, eyes scanning over the others until finally they made it to the front gate of the academy.

He meanwhile could feel the gaze of Inoichi, Shikaku, and Choza on him, but he forced his attention away from the clan heads and onto Sasuke for now. “Everything will be fine. I’m going to go check in with Lord Third to see if we have any updates on the meeting, I’ll go check in with Itachi, and then I’ll grab us some groceries before I come to get you. Alright?” hoping giving the boy something to go off of would ease him into it. “You just focus on your school work and I’ll be back in no time.”

Sasuke took a small breath, nodding up to Tobirama as firmly as he could given the situation.

“Okay. I’ll see you later.” he agreed, looking as if he wanted to say more but electing not to as he turned on his heel towards his teacher at the front door.

Sasuke's hand gripped against his bag as he approached the scarred man, warm brown eyes meeting sharp red ones momentarily with a brief nod.

The boy passed through the door his homeroom teacher was holding, and then, he was gone for the day.

Chapter Text

Tobirama didn't linger near the academy as Sasuke headed in, moving to make his way towards Hokage tower. He could see conflicted faces on the three clan leaders from a few yards away, but didn't stop to chat. He knew just as well as they did that any words that were shared would be simple formalities and obligations of non-stance-taking discussion over the matter, and frankly, Tobirama felt both his and their time was better spent elsewhere.

He moved along the road, briefly casting a few clones when he got to a more secluded street. One for the house, one to go speak with the Hokage on the matter of the trial's date, and one to go fetch some groceries for the house.

...Perhaps he was being a tad reliant on them, but then, he found himself a tad too impatient to twiddle his thumbs here or there today. Realistically, he understood that it wouldn't make time pass any faster, but off they went regardless. It was a better substitute for the second option to ease his impatience, which involved knocking down the doors of the clans they were waiting on and helping them accept a date his damn self.

The masked man continued on to the tower with a brief sigh and arms idly folded behind his back, following behind a quick-moving clone at a more leisurely pace.

He considered what exactly he should say upon reaching the cell where Itachi was being kept. They weren't exactly on more than acquaintance terms, but it felt far too cruel to ignore the child until it came time for the trial.

It wasn't as if he was going to open with standard pleasantries. He may not be the most socially adept person out there, but he had no intentions of walking up to a tied and bound prisoner to ask how his night had been.

Their mission to find Tsunade was over, so there was nothing to discuss there.

He couldn't quite bring the boy anything to entertain them, all things considered.

All that left was discussions of how Sasuke had taken the news and his own inquiries regarding the trustworthiness of the two young men that had shown up at his doorstep.

He supposed it would have to do as he pressed the doors to the tower open, by now having been inside enough that he had no further trouble from the shinobi stationed within to control the flow of traffic. The man behind the desk only eyed him mildly as he spoke to another shinobi regarding a mission, the ones near the stairways down nodding in greeting as he came. He supposed being escorted down by the village princess and Sannin herself would cause as such.

Steadily, he moved down the stairs, the lighting around him dimming as he moved deeper and deeper underground. He passed a few stationed guards, all of which straightened at the sight of a visitor. It wasn't until he reached the end of the hall that any of them moved from their spots, a young man in a bird mask moving to unlock the gate.

Tobirama nodded in thanks before moving inwards, the guard relocking it until he was ready to come out. He was left in the opening section of the interrogation room, waiting for only a beat before Ibiki emerged from one of the back rooms. "Here to visit, or have you come looking for something else?"

"Just here to visit." Tobirama shook his head, watching as the man nodded and began slipping off bloodied gloves to set them on the main table. He replaced them with a fresh pair from his pockets, a low huff of amusement leaving his lips at the absurdity. Tobirama found that he couldn't exactly blame him - he was sure a prisoner he was expected not to touch and one that was given special permission to receive daily visitors of all things hardly came across his table often.

"I see. Follow me, then." he moved down the hall, clearly wanting the matter to be over with so that he could return to his work. "There are cameras in each of the cells - if you need anything, motion to one of them and an assistant will let me know."

He nodded, stepping into the cell and watching briefly as the other shut the door behind him - the echoing footsteps of someone on the outside moving to guard the door sounding off faintly.

It wasn't until the door was shut behind him that the lights flickered on in the cell, a thin frown crossing Tobirama's lips as he looked the boy over.

He knelt in the centre of the room just as he had yesterday, head bowed downwards even as his shoulders stiffened upon hearing someone enter. His arms were still bound to his body, ankles chained to the floor with a blindfold obstructing his vision.

Two bowls sat in front of him on the floor - one empty besides a few specs of rice at the bottom and one only holding a small pond of water at its base. Breakfast, if the way one of the bangs framing his face dripped slightly was anything to go off of - a few loose pieces of rice sticking to the strands as he sat.

Tobirama momentarily looked to the bowls with ire they frankly hadn't earned, using his foot to scoot them off to the side so he could sit in front of the boy. "Good morning, Itachi." he spoke in greeting, not wanting to keep the bound boy guessing on who it was in his cell.

His brows furrowed faintly as the pre-teen nodded, a tight frown finding its way to his lips as well. Itachi looked somehow paler than he had the entirety of their mission together, a faint cold sweat having accumulated over what little there was to see of his exposed skin. The rest of his body seemed just as stiff as his shoulders, breath almost sounding uneven under the bindings as he answered dutifully, "Good Morning, Lord Tobira."

A great deal of hesitance could be heard in his voice as he addressed the elder shinobi, clearly unsure how to do so with the cameras on them while still conveying the same respect he felt was due.

Unease radiated off the boy, Tobirama narrowing his eyes a tad.

He considered calling for Ibiki to confirm that the man had remembered their instructions not to cause him any harm, but set the option aside for now. He didn't see any injuries, the only sign of unwellness being in his behaviour and his overall appearance. Unless the man had given him something of the more poisonous route, it seemed unlikely.

Had he become sick overnight due to the coldness of the cell? Or was leaving him alone with his thoughts for hours a cruel enough punishment in itself? Let alone the discomfort of kneeling for the entire duration, blanket or not.

Tobirama frowned at the thought, considering whether Itachi would tell him if he asked - reaching out to dispel the few grains of rice that had been caught in the ravenet's hair as he opened his mouth to ask how he was doing with it all.

His own hand darted backwards mere seconds after Itachi's head did, the young Uchiha reacting as if he'd been prepared to press a hot iron to his face rather than fix his hair.

The boy's head had all but dove down, shoulders tightening further even as his lips remained pressed shut.

Tobirama was reminded, briefly, that the boy before him was a shinobi. It wasn't as though he had forgotten by any means...but it was a bit jarring, to go from Sasuke who all but demanding any source of warmth he was willing to give at all hours of the day to Itachi, who all but panicked at the notion outside of when he was playing a role.

He frowned at his own actions, knowing if he had been the one completely immobilized and suddenly touched the other likely would have lost a finger to his teeth - and had to fight to get him off their hand to boot. "...Apologies, I-"

Tobirama felt his stomach drop as the boy's head leaned further still, ponytail sliding off the side of his neck to expose his neck to the elder shinobi.

The words of Itachi's former captain came rushing back, the suggestion that the village would consider killing him off covertly to avoid the mess of a trial and the use of resources to watch him having seemed a worst-case scenario in the morning - hardly worth thinking about beyond mild disgust at the concept.

Of course Itachi would consider the worst case scenario the most likely one to come.

He stood quickly, backing up as he spoke in the same mildly scolding tone he had during their first meeting in the Hokage tower when the boy had knelt before him; though, they had been a few floors up then. He frowned deeply to himself, almost sick of having to reiterate his words. "Itachi Uchiha, sit up. I have no interest in- I know what you're thinking, and no." his brows pinched together as his hands moved to rest on his hips, "I told you, now is a time of reform, and I don't intend on laying polished stones over cracked concrete. You merely had some food in your hair I was trying to get out."

The masked man only frowned further as the boy's head continued to lower until his forehead sat pressed against the ground, opening his mouth to say something before clicking it shut again a mere second later.

Carefully, Tobirama returned to his position on the floor - keeping his distance even as he watched the other with narrowed eyes. "...What were you going to say."

When Itachi only curled into himself a bit more, neck further exposed as if taunting Tobirama with the reminder that he could tear it out at any moment and be done with it, the silver-haired man frowned. He could feel an overwhelmed aura coming from the other, giving him a moment before repeating, "Itachi, what is it?"

"...I don't mind being the base the cement is laid on." a bit of hair slid further over his shoulder, bangs pressed to the dirty ground alongside his forehead. "I'll die without fighting it, if it will make things easier on the village. Just please, and speak honestly when I ask - should it come to that, Sasuke will be safe?"

"Should it come to that - to the point where the village refuses to accept your return - he will be safe." Tobirama frowned, "As will you. Neither of you are going anywhere, besides perhaps a house outside the village should worse come to worst. If I wasn't prepared to deal with things being difficult, I wouldn't have made the village." he found himself wanting nothing more than to reach out and help the boy sit up, but restrained himself. The last thing Itachi needed was another surprise touch right now.

"It doesn't...it's inefficient to go through so many steps to keep me alive while the village has so many more pressing issues that need attention. There is no shortage of people who can confirm Danzo's crimes, while I'm sure plenty will want me dead on principle." the young Uchiha spoke, Tobirama running a hand over his face as he sat across from him.

He sighed, watching the boy with steady red eyes, "I should have known better than to leave you here alone overnight. You've had far too much time to be alone with your thoughts." he shook his head, "Efficiency has little to do with progress, and progress has even less to do with ease. I've made up my mind, and these are the simple facts of it: I want to help the Hokage make this village better and I want to stand in both you and your brother's corner. You aren't in this alone, Itachi, so please sit up."

"...Why, though? I understand your obligation to the village and to some extent Sasuke, but you have no such thing in regards to me. There are no negative consequences to killing me, only new struggles that come with keeping me alive." he pointed out, voice tight as he added, "It's not that I want to die - I just don't understand how you can justify using the time and resources to keep me alive or what benefit it brings."

Tobirama knew that, objectively, the boy was right. It didn't make the words any more digestible. "I've never had a particularly honourable reputation." he settled on saying instead, understanding the boy's unease but finding it hard to put into words why it was unwarranted. "However, I am still a human. I've made mistakes, mistakes that have hurt you, and so I want to fix them." his voice lowered a bit as he spoke so the last bit wouldn't pick up on the camera, voice steady even so. "It's as simple as that. Perhaps it's my ego, not wanting someone else to take the blame for my faults - or perhaps it's my inner scientist, always wanting to improve and move forward - Maybe, just maybe, it's something that came from the things I learned during my brief time as an elder brother. Regardless, it's how I feel. There is unfortunately no answer beyond that to be given no matter how many times you ask, directly or otherwise."

The boy swallowed hard before nodding slightly against the ground, taking in what he had been told hesitantly.

Tobirama asked carefully, "Do you need help sitting up?" knowing the bindings likely made it difficult to balance.

The ravenet only shook his head, remaining quiet for a few seconds before muttering, "...I'm sorry." and sitting himself up.

Quickly, Tobirama saw the issue.

Itachi seemed to have somehow powered through the chakra-binding fabric around his eyes, a single large hole exposing his pulsing mangakyou sharingan. The blindfold looked as if it had been burnt, the young Uchiha's irritated and bloodied eye being cast to the side as he sat. A few drops of blood had collected near his tear ducts, jaw set in place as Tobirama took the damage to the fabric in.

Briefly, he set a genjutsu, covering the hole for the cameras while not obstructing Itachi's vision.

"It's fine. It's just a bit of blood, the sharingan is known to get a bit strained when the user is under stress." making sure he saw it coming as he reached forward, finger sliding underneath the illusionary fabric to wipe it away before it could crust.

He made no note of the considered attack, supposing he had agreed only moments ago that he himself would have tried to take a finger for surprising him while he was bound and tied.

Chapter Text

He understood Itachi's thoughts, truly.

It would make more sense to kill him off here and now - to be able to avoid fighting with the clan heads and the inevitable complaints of worried civilians. It would be so much easier to simply blame Itachi and say that he was still loyal to the elders even after his capture, to say his fear had brainwashed him and made it impossible to work with him.

He could slit his throat now and no one would blink twice beyond a few murmurs of sadness over the tragedy of it all. The village would be seen as reliable and compassionate for continuing to take care of the last Uchiha afterwards, for training the boy and keeping his clan alive. From there, it would be easy to mold the future generations into loyal shinobi of the village.

It made sense that someone who had spent so much time in the ANBU would understand each route that could be taken thoroughly and expect the easiest one to be the one chosen. Especially for Itachi, who had first-hand experience with how little the village liked to follow through with their promises of talking.

He supposed the boy must have spent too much time considering this throughout the night, the frail sense of comradery they'd developed breaking under the weight of him having to sit completely defenceless while the other was off with the most important person in his life.

Though. By the looks of his blindfold, it seemed it would be more appropriate to say he had to force himself to sit throughout the night and try to believe that no harm was coming to his little brother. Trying to decide whether it was worth believing that Sasuke was safe or if it would be better to break out and see for himself. Choosing between displaying his loyalty to the village and the fear that came with trusting anyone else with his brother's life.

He could feel the guilt and shame radiate off the young Uchiha as he sat with his burnt blindfold, the night's efforts broken by the barest touch.

Tobirama wasn't sure he wanted to consider why the heir to the Uchiha clan had no problem being marched through the streets in disgrace, bound from head to toe against a dirty table, manhandled towards a cell with only the barest necessities, and forced to take his breakfast like a dog on the floor but drew the line at letting his hesitance to trust the village's words slip out.

He supposed it was a shinobi's nature to be ashamed of their feelings, in those early stages before they learned to accept that shutting down their heart wasn't the same thing as acting with bravery. He knew he himself had taken decades to understand the concept even with Hashirama all but holding his hand the entire way.

Tobirama ran a hand over his face, watching as the boy sat across from him with eyes cast off to the side.

This time, he asked, "Do you want me to remove the rice from your hair? It's going to be difficult to brush out if it stays there too long." only moving his hand forward to pick the pieces from his hair as he received a quiet nod.

Fingers slipping through the dark hair to remove the grains, he could feel a slight dampness to the strands. So close to the pre-teen's face, he could see the slight sweating he'd noticed earlier was a good bit heavier than he'd initially thought. His breathing was just as uneven, the man frowning at the sight.

As short a time as he'd known the boy, the sight before him felt off. It didn't seem like Itachi to let his nerves visibly get the best of him - the boy had knelt before him plenty of times already while they had uncomfortable conversations, but he had always kept an unreadable air about him.

Even now, his eyes were uninterested as his hair was cleaned through, expression as calm as ever. The only sign of anything being wrong was in the cold sweat across his body, the way his throat sunk a bit too far into itself with each breath, and the distinctly too pale shade he had taken.

Tobirama's hands fell back as he finished, moving to set the grains in the bowl he had shoved off to the side. He could tell Itachi was doing everything in his power not to draw attention to the obvious signs of distress, but found himself unsure of whether it would be better to play along or pry to make sure it wasn't something besides stress.

"...The straps seem a bit tighter than necessary. I'm going to loosen them a bit, and if Ibiki says anything, just tell him to talk to me." he frowned, recalling the way the man had held the boy to the table - using the raw muscle of an experienced shinobi to tighten the belts as far as they would go.

At least this way, whether it was mental or physical, it would hopefully ease the problem a bit regardless. He doubted being bound so tightly left much room to be able to calm one's self, and on the opposite side of it, the straps truly did look tighter than was strictly necessary. They pulled the fabric around them inwards, Itachi's chest pressed inwards in such a way Tobirama imagined it made it hard to breathe.

His brows raised as a frown made its way to Itachi's lips, the pre-teen objecting all too reasonably, "That's not necessary. I've already received more than enough accommodations as it is. My inability to handle basic procedure is hardly anything to be bothered with." the boy shook his head, "I appreciate that you want to help me, whatever your reason or lack thereof may be, but this is hardly going to kill me. Discomfort is a natural part of being a prisoner. Had I not been fine to deal with it, I would have refused to return to the village with you - or at the very least struggled."

Itachi paused for a moment, and Tobirama waited briefly despite the distinct feeling he wouldn't care for whatever words came next. He was proved correct as the ravenet continued, "I don't mean to overstep, but you give me far too much grace." he spoke bluntly, "Keeping me alive, looking after Sasuke, the blanket, the straps - picking rice from my hair, bothering to come and discuss anything outside of our village duties. You're the Hokage's advisor." he adjusted his words for the camera, but carried on even so.

"I can...I'm a shinobi too, even if I'm infinitely less experienced. Having been told to do the things I did doesn't make me any less at fault. I thought I was doing something terrible for the best possible outcome, but it turns out I only managed to do something terrible. I'm still proud to have avoided...the larger conflict...but- having done that little good doesn't change the bad I did. You truly don't need to continuously try to ease my punishment bit by bit. I deserve...something in retribution for the things I've done, at the very least. You've said yourself that you want to answer for your wrongs - how is it fair that you should be expected to but not me?"

Tobirama narrowed his eyes as he listened, holding him back from shutting the pre-teen down immediately as he spoke. He allowed Itachi's words to wash over him, only sighing a bit as he finished. "Itachi, there is a distinct difference between what you and I are doing." he corrected him mildly, "I am not punishing myself by looking after you and Sasuke. I'm moving forward, trying to make things right with both the clan and the village. That is atonement, not retribution. It has a purpose - to stop future problems and pains from growing, and to act as an apology for those I've wronged."

"This is pointless suffering - there's no reason for it. It serves no purpose." he moved forward at a careful pace, giving the young Uchiha plenty of time to backtrack before reaching around to loosen the straps one by one. With each adjustment, Itachi's breathing became steadier and steadier until finally it didn't sound nearly as painful to breathe. "It's natural to feel guilt for what has been done, but putting yourself through pain isn't going to make things right or change what has happened."

He sat back as he finished the last strap, looking the boy over as he spoke.

Momentarily, he considered whether it would be an insensitive suggestion to make or if it would ease the distinctly uncomfortable stiffening of the boy's shoulders he'd seen on so many of his comrades. After a moment, he suggested wearily, "As shinobi, we see and do a lot of horrible things. There are plenty of ways I'm sure you've seen people cope with it - smoking, drinking, gambling, bedding, working-"

He spoke bluntly, not thrilled to be a part of the conversation but knowing it was better than the alternative he worried could happen if he left the small seed to grow into a larger issue, "The list goes on. Many don't know how to handle it very well, myself included at times. However. There were different, more commonly used routes, to try before commercial goods became so readily available that are a bit more appropriate for your age. Sasuke and Hiruzen have both mentioned before your interest in history, so I'll ask- how familiar are you with what I speak of?"

"...Mildly. I've read a bit about different meditations and the general concept of keeping it under lock until some extra drive is needed for battle." he looked all too tired at the thought, as though he'd tried it a million times over and found it lacking.

Tobirama only shook his head a bit, "That is indeed one such way, though that goes back more so to my own father's generation. It's certainly a way, but has plenty of its own flaws that come with it."

The silver-haired man felt wildly underqualified to speak on the topic considering he himself had all but dove into the trap of trying to work himself to death at a young age, but he supposed he was at least self-aware enough about it that it was an acceptable issue to have.

"I am more so referring to the way my elder brother used to go about it." clearing his throat slightly as he noted, "Though, admittedly, he had a bit of help from the bottle and cards as well; I do feel that him being able to ease himself outside of that did help greatly."

Itachi nodded in understanding, watching from his spot with something akin to interest in his eyes as Tobirama continued, "He used to insist that being a person outside of the shinobi career kept him sane off the field and sharp on it. Though I also struggled to understand what he meant initially, I can say it has helped a good amount. For me it was inventing jutsu and returning to the forest every once and a while, for him it was skipping stones and decorating the village with plants of every kind. At one point in time, it was common to see dozens of flowers and brightly coloured trees along every road in our village. It was quite the sight, as you could imagine."

He allowed a thin smile to cross his lips as he spoke, watching Itachi's lips part slightly in surprise. Tobirama supposed the fact that the original Hokage, the God of Shinobi and founder of the village, enjoyed making the cherry blossoms bloom at times they objectively should not have been able to wasn't exactly trivia they felt needed to be put in the history books.

"For you, it could be any number of things. I've noticed your liking for sweet things - perhaps you can work on developing your skill in baking. Those crows seem to have taken a liking to you - perhaps you could see about helping with some of the village animals or get yourself a ninken to train." he mused, "Though, you by no means have to limit yourself to activities you're already familiar with. Part of it could be trying out new things to figure out what you like, outside of being a shinobi. Do you have anything like this you currently do?"

The boy blinked, trying to look nonchalant as the attention turned to him and away from the elder two Senju. His gaze shifted to the side as he spoke lowly, as if admitting to something, "...It's not quite applicable anymore, especially with the expectation that I'll be expected to stay in one area for the first bit after my trial, but I used to at least try to stop at every tea shop I passed when I had the time on my missions."

"Oh? Kakashi had you and Tenzo stopping for tea and mochi on the village's dime?" Tobirama quirked a brow, a dry smile lining his lips as the young Uchiha's eye just about popped out of its socket.

"No- I only meant that I-" he looked all but flabbergasted with brows furrowed at the obvious teasing from the elder shinobi, head ducting a bit with something akin to a blush spreading over his face and up his ears. The poor boy looked absolutely outraged at the joke despite his attempts to remain passive, shoulders hiking up just a tad.

Tobirama reached a hand out to pat the boy's shoulder, a bit worried that it he let it carry on longer than an instant the pre-teen would combust on the spot. He dismissed it with a low tsk, "I'm only teasing, Itachi. It's not as if you're paid by the hour anyway."

The masked man could see a distinct almost-glare from the boy and considered it a win. It wasn't normally a stunt he would pull with anyone besides perhaps his niece or students, but then, the look of almost guilt at admitting to the hobby made something in him stir awake.

Besides, it was bad enough remembering the weeks he and Sasuke had spent tip-toeing around each other. Knowing Itachi, those weeks would turn to months if he let them.

"...That's quite cruel, Lord Tobira." the pre-teen only muttered under his breath, the conflicted furrowing of his brows clashing with the heat on his face.

Tobirama could only huff briefly in dry amusement, "I'm aware."

Chapter Text

Itachi Uchiha - The top of his graduating class, record holder in two of his chuunin exam tests, youngest ANBU captain in Konoha’s history, heir to the Uchiha clan, and notorious S-rank rogue shinobi sat before Tobirama: the youth sulking over being on the receiving end of his teasing.

Perhaps he was biased, having lived with his brother for so long and thus being used to his antics, but the gag of the god of shinobi blooming flowers around the village to make it look ‘more homeish’  hardly held a candle to the ridiculousness before him as far as he was concerned.

It only made matters worse that the boy refused to even acknowledge that he was sulking, sending Tobirama a narrow-eyed warning scowl as if to ward him off before he could even suggest such foolery.

How the young Uchiha was willing to suffer silently through all the humiliation he’d been subjected to the last day but drew the line at being lightly poked fun at was beyond him, though Tobirama supposed it couldn’t be too bad of a thing. Not with the way Itachi glared back at him almost as if he were…eased by the teasing?

There was a distinct something in the way the other looked at him with annoyance, as if he were used to the playful jabs and comfortable in returning the energy - if just a bit.

Still. An air of reservation remained hung over the sapling, as if ready to drop the attitude at a moment's notice and return to what was proper and expected of him as a shinobi.

It reminded him all too much of a young cub testing its luck at nipping its mother back after a lifetime of being rolled around and manhandled as she pleased.

“Alright, alright. Forgive me.” he waved a hand loosely as it rested on his propped-up knee, dismissing the thought. “You’re as bad as Hashirama with that pouting of yours.”

An objectively untrue fact, but humoring similarities to consider side-by-side even so.

Tobirama gave the ravenet no time to voice his objections before asking, “I’ll stop by the market on the way home to get us some tea for when you make it back to the house in turn for my unkindness. What sort do you drink?”

He watched the words Itachi had been prepared to say die on his tongue, his light fluster from the teasing easing a bit further as he muttered, “Thank you for the offer, but that isn’t necessary.”

The masked man quirked a brow, ready to nip the issue in the bud before it became another situation like the hotel bed. Itachi was incredibly too stubborn when it came to these sorts of things, he was coming to learn. “Or I could buy some of each kind if you’d prefer?”

Itachi's gaze went analyzing as he looked up, as if trying to figure out whether the elder shinobi was serious in his threat or not. Seeing the blank expression on the other, he begrudgingly opened his mouth to answer.

The words never passed, however, interrupted by the door to the cell as it opened quietly.

Tobirama looked over his shoulder, a familiar young man appearing - this time, with an ANBU mask covering his naturally spooked expression. He stepped into the room, noting bluntly, “Itachi’s favourite tea is matcha.”

The young Uchiha frowned as he looked the other over, as if unsure of what to say. For a flicker of a second, Tobirama swore he saw uncertainty mixed with the calculating look in his eyes.

The silver-haired man momentarily regretted not filling the boy in on their earlier appearances yet.

It had been so difficult to get the young Uchiha somewhat eased, and he hadn't wanted to crush it the moment it had finally been attained. Especially considering he'd likely spent so long punishing himself the night prior.

Itachi settled on speaking coldly in the same tone Tobirama had heard him use during their first meeting in the compound and towards the other ANBU members, words dismissive, “It’s rude to eavesdrop, Yama.”

Yama - or rather, Tenzo, if his real name was being taken into consideration rather than just his code name - tilted his head a bit at the younger shinobi’s tone.

“...Sorry, Itachi” his words sounded sincere enough behind the muffling of the mask, even as Tobirama could practically hear the frown in his tone.

The brunet hesitated briefly, as if unsure whether it was acceptable to say or not before going through with it, “Though, it’s equal parts rude to be so harsh to me without reason.” he paused for only a moment before continuing, shifting his weight from one foot to another. “The village has officially been made aware of your former mission as of this morning. It’s finished, so please don’t feel the need to be so unkind to the captain or I unless you’re truly angry with us. Cruelty has never fit well to your face, so don’t force yourself.”

The icy dismissiveness on Itachi’s lips melted away, ever so slowly, with each word from the wood user. A small frown of confliction took its place, the young Uchiha quieting as Tenzo turned to Tobirama.

He kneeled in one swift movement, not missing a beat before continuing, “Lord Hokage has sent me to inform you that the final date has been chosen for the trial regarding Itachi Uchiha. It will be held up on the second-to-top floor of the tower at eight-thirty tomorrow morning. Upon discussion with some of the clan heads, he has also made the decision that should anyone fail to show up their opinion will be considered in favour of the majority.”

So in other words, they would lose their vote then.

Tobirama’s brow rose, the silver-haired man asking, “Not that it doesn’t please me immensely, but how so soon and sudden? We’ve been trying to find a time for half a week and have gotten nothing but conflicting schedules so far.”

“As it turns out, the heads are a lot more willing to clear their schedule when they have a dozen different members of their clans expressing their concerns and shinobi dropping missions by the hand-full to avoid leaving their family alone.” the boy spoke flatly, adding, “Not to mention the steep increase in petty squabbles between the higher and lower ranking shinobi.”

In-fighting? Tobirama frowned deeply, feeling his own chakra stir with unrest while Itachi stiffened a bit beside him. He turned so that he was facing both the younger shinobi, asking with a hand on either knee, “Petty squabbles?”

“Affirmative. It seems that some genin were spooked by the news and discussing their…views on the situation, near the communal training grounds this morning.” he reported with only a spec of hesitance to his voice, “Supposedly, some were boasting about how they’d never do something so dishonourable while others were agreeing and calling Itachi scum; saying he was likely waiting for a chance such as this to arise - repeating that he was a fool to think Lord Hokage would ever allow such a thing.”

The teen’s head bowed a bit further as if on reflex for his faction, the fist that supported his bow tightening a bit. “A few members of ANBU had been patrolling the area and heard them. Which led to…well, not quite a fight, but certainly a disagreement. No punches were thrown as far as I’ve heard, but supposedly one of the genin got shaken around a bit and pinned to a tree while the ANBU members scolded them for being so naive. Accusations were thrown around about the genin not being cut out for the shinobi life, then similarly, about the ANBU members being shameless monsters to defend him.”

Tenzo sighed lightly, shaking his head, “Now the genin’s parents are up in arms with complaints to their Jonin instructor while the ANBU headquarters are filled with their own conflict regarding the situation and how far is acceptable to go on anyones orders. So while it isn’t more than petty shoving and verbal discourse right now, Lord Hokage doesn’t want it to get out of hand. He wants the matter settled and done with as soon as possible.”

That did sound about like the decision his clone and Hiruzen would come to.

He certainly couldn’t say he disagreed. Yet. He almost wished his clone had dispersed itself and sent the memories back that way rather than sending a message. At least then Itachi wouldn’t have to sit on the information that discourse had already been born on him throughout the night.

Tobirama understood the clone likely had a mess to clean up still and so didn’t find it to be an option, but it was frustrating nonetheless.

“...I see.” was all he said, however, nodding to the brunet, “Thank you for letting me know. Is there anything else?”

The brunet shook his head silently, his report given and done within a matter of moments. He stood, head bowed and never once coming back up again until he was fully retreated from the room. "That is all. I'll be off now to inform the other clan heads."

He was in and out in an instant, a suffocating aura left in his wake.

As the door shut, Tobirama turned back to Itachi. The young Uchiha looked horribly disappointed in himself, lips pressed into a tight frown at the news.

Before Tobirama could so much as warn the boy off from blaming himself for the children's gossip or his faction's lack of restraint, Itachi asked with all too focused eyes - tone terribly low, "If the village knows of it, I imagine Sasuke does as well?"

Itachi sounded all too tired by the idea, a thin frown lining his face as he turned to Tobirama. His dark eyes met the elder's vibrant red ones, searching silently for any trace of deception as the other spoke honestly, "He does, for the most part." his tone lowered, not wanting to speak of it in front of the cameras but not wanting Itachi to out the knowledge himself by accident either. "The unnecessary details of the Uchiha clan's shame were left out. They don't change the fault of the elders in regard to the mission, so they've been left to the side for now. Perhaps one day, when he's older, he can be told the full truth of it. For now, I believe it's best to let him mourn without any added conflictions."

A low breath left the pre-teen, as if a heavy stone had been removed from his shoulders upon hearing of the preservation of the Uchiha name. His shoulders loosened, if just a bit. "Thank you, Lord Tobira."

His words seemed strikingly genuine as his head turned downwards, staring towards the floor below with an all-too-focused gaze. He looked over the faint repeating patterns in the blanket he was given, seemingly trying to find the words that lingered on the tip of his tongue but incapable of it.

"Of course." Tobirama settled on continuing carefully forward, "He took it well enough, all things considered. He's upset for the both of you, but that's only natural. It's a grave wound that has been imparted."

The distant look in Itachi's eyes deepened as he spoke, Tobirama frowning thinly to himself as he promised the boy, "All wounds require time to heal, and though some take longer than others, they do all one day come to a close. A scar may be left in its wake, but the pain will at least subside with time."

"Sasuke has always been resilient. He'll learn to manage, one day." Itachi let out a small breath, the news of the clan's name and Sasuke being secure seeming to take a great weight off his shoulders.

Even if he seemed doubtful of the thought of such a wound ever fully healing, he said nothing, only nodded in hallow agreement with his words.

The silver-haired man took no offence as the boy agreed insincerely with a look close to suspicion, understanding his hesitance more than he could ever know. After all, it was hard to imagine that such a hurt could ever dull.

Even Tobirama found himself a bit unsure of his own advice, no matter how many times he offered it to his students and comrades alike. It was advice that people sometimes needed to hear, however, so he didn't mind passing it on despite this slight doubt.

Two hands rested on either of his knees as he looked the other over, debating on his words briefly before commenting, "He and you both are." he reminded the boy, "You have...many people in your corner to help as well, Itachi. More than I think you realize."

The boy's toes curled as he listened to the elder's words, expressing what his hands were likely to numb to as he listened. "You don't need to hide your wounds, not any more. Leaving them to fester will only worsen them, and that's not what anyone wants. Not myself, not Sasuke, not Kakashi, not Tenzo, not the fellow shinobi of the village that can understand your pain, or the loved ones worrying for you from beyond in the pure lands."

Dark eyes carefully slid shut as the boy listened, brows pinching together briefly with a nod that wasn't nearly as convinced as the other claimed. Itachi's breath was perfectly measured, the young Uchiha seeming to calm himself and shove down the swelling of emotions that came.

Allowing himself to be louder than usual, Tobirama stood. It was already late in the afternoon, and he unfortunately still had to pick up Sasuke. His arm reached out, landing carefully on the younger shinobi's shoulder to give him a brief pat as he spoke.

He gave the child the dignity of not commenting as he spotted warm tears repressed to the corners of his eyes, there one minute and gone the next out of sheer practised will. "It's a hard pill to swallow, but know that you are not alone in this fight. None of us are willing to allow you to be, not now and not ever again. You have loyal comrades. Don't disrespect yourself or them by trying to take it all on alone."

Gods, he was such a hypocrite sometimes.

Chapter Text

"I'm not going to be so unreasonable as to demand you spill your guts before me. You were raised as a shinobi just the same as I was, even if you are a good bit younger." he clarified, standing up straight from his spot in front of the boy. "I won't be so presumptuous as to think I've earned such a right. However, I will ask that you keep in mind that I have no interest in shunning you should you one day decide to show me. It's...good, to have someone you can admit your worst and best self to."

Tobirama was sure of it, even if he had only ever met those he could show his worst or best to - never both at the same time. Even it had felt...relieving enough while it lasted, and he knew his brother had always sworn upon it being the basis of his own peace.

Perhaps, had he found someone like that in his lifetime too, he would have lived long enough not to leave so many shattered pieces in his wake.

"I need to go pick up Sasuke, but I can leave a clone here if you'd like to talk more. Or if you rather I be here, I can leave a clone with Sasuke for a bit while we're doing the usual run-around." he suggested carefully, not wanting to push the boy before he was ready but unwilling to discard him moments after such a declaration.

The boy only shook his head lightly however, not looking up from where he sat as he spoke in a low tone, "...No, please, go see to Sasuke. I'd like to...think a bit on what you've said, if that's alright."

Reluctantly, Tobirama nodded, though it came with a steady reminder, "Of course. Though, be sure not to wear yourself out. They'll likely come to get you early tomorrow before the meeting and you don't want to be worn out for it."

"I won't. Thank you." the boy let out a small breath, keeping his head bowed up until the moment Tobirama was out of the room.

It felt distinctly wrong to leave, but then, it hardly seemed fair to throw so much on the boy and expect him to take it all as it came without pause. Itachi had gotten a lot of new things to consider and learned a lot today. He deserved some time to brew on it.

Tobirama kept this in mind as he slowly made his way down the hall and towards the main exit. He only paused briefly as he spotted Ibiki speaking with a young woman purple-haired woman; the youth leaning on the bloodied table with ease and only pausing in their conversation as they heard another coming.

Ibiki quirked a brow briefly as he spotted Tobirama, asking as he crossed his arms, "Was our VIP prisoner having a hard time this morning? I heard he had to have some adjustments made."

"You say it like he was going easy on the brat." the girl tsked to the elder man with a too-sharp grin, "He had the kid ready to lick the floor within ten minutes of his visit - that beats most your times." she stood from where she sat against the table, hands folded behind her back with an all-too amused smirk despite the bulky man's faint glare.

"As kind as it is for you to offer that input, I don't recall asking for your expertise on the matter, Anko." the scarred man settled on with a slight twitch of his brow, "One of us is the head of this department, and I don't believe they're wearing fish-nets." he looked to the girl with something akin to smugness, though it quickly dispersed as he turned to Tobirama - utterly ignoring the teenage girl's outrage at his words. "Really, though, you have to know that the kid isn't nearly as fragile as you're making him out to be."

Tobirama narrowed his eyes a bit as the man spoke bluntly, keeping himself in check and listening as the other spoke with arms folded firmly over his chest. "Perhaps, but those restraints were tighter than was strictly necessary, even so. Considering the circumstances, there's hardly any excuse for him to be in there broken out with a cold sweat struggling to breathe fully in or out."

There was a distinct respect in the man's tone even as he disagreed, "I heard about the news this morning, and it is unfortunate, but Itachi isn't the kind of guy you have to be delicate with. I've seen that boy carry a grown man double his size over his shoulder like a sack of rice - and throw him down on this table just as roughly. He's helped me bind and remove troublesome hands from more than one prisoner; locking them under a spell with those eyes of his to keep them too terrified to move."

"I know you think I'm taking things too far with him, but I know and respect Itachi enough to not coddle him. We're both just doing our jobs as prisoner and keeper. The boy's not going to fall to pieces over facing a quarter of the same treatment he's served dozens of others up to." he assured the silver-haired man with a light frown.

Anko nodded, idly pushing herself away from the table to instead lean on it and face the elder shinobi - head propped up by her hand with a faint snort. "From what I've heard of him, that little weirdo is probably enjoying getting to see the inside of the cage for once. If Lord Hokage would permit it, I bet we could get some solid suggestions on how to improve our techniques if we had just a few hours to test a few things out on him. It would cure his boredom, too."

Her ramblings were cut off by a hand on the scruff of her shirt, Ibiki yanking her away from the table and then towards the door. "There's no 'we', brat. I told you, if you want to help in here, get assigned in here. I have enough kids to look after." he huffed a bit in amusement as she glowered at him, "Go on, make yourself useful and unlock the gate for him."

The bulky man noted as she stormed off to do what the elder suggested, dark eyes glancing Tobirama over briefly, "Itachi is going to be fine. As I said, I know you're worried, but it's basic protocol. We're all three doing our jobs here, so let's not make a fuss out of it now. He'll be out of my way by tomorrow morning anyway, from what I hear?"

"That is correct." Tobirama nodded with a firm frown, "As for it being protocol, I am well aware."

He wrote the damn thing, after all.

"However, perhaps take into account again what you said about being a glorified babysitter. He doesn't have any plans to anywhere."

At least not anymore, he silently tsked at the boy's previous considerations to escape.

"As well as who you're wrapping up. I imagine he was a lot healthier when he was swinging enemies around like sacks of rice, but as he is currently, he's pale as a ghost and can hardly down a single fish. If I were to peel back those restraints, I'm sure I'd see at least a bit of bruising despite Tsunade's warning to not harm in any way." his eyes narrowed slightly, reaffirming, "I am aware you are only doing your job - very thoroughly, at that - but I don't expect to see those restraints any tighter when I next see him. I won't make an event out of it now as I'm sure it would only stress him out further, but the Hokage and Tsunade will both hear of it should their orders be forgotten a second time."

It was strange, using his grandniece and his student as a threat, but it worked well enough.

The man only nodded, a thin frown lining his lips even as he spoke, "I understand. I suppose I'm unused to having to consider the well-being of those in my care beyond making sure they remain alive. I'll keep my hands to myself for the duration of his stay. Is that all, or-"

He was interrupted by the clearing of the girl's throat, the fish-net-clad teen tapping her foot impatiently as she held the door open and looked between the two.

It was strikingly rude in a way Tobirama hadn't had to deal with in ages.

The man frowned at her actions scoldingly on reflex, but shook his head at Ibiki. "That's all - though as I said, should the boy need anything, call for me. No matter the time of day or night." he spoke pointedly before turning on his heel, taking his time to walk through the gate. Perhaps it was due to an urge to teach the teen some patience, perhaps it was out of pettiness. Who was to say?

He strolled easily through the halls of the underground chambers, watching the girl move forward at a quicker pace. He could see her glance over her shoulder occasionally, though he said nothing as the two walked steadily towards the base floor of the tower. Her hands folded neatly behind her back, neither bothering to break the silence.

Tobirama paid her little mind beyond a brief sigh as they parted ways, moving along the opposite side of the tower and towards the front exit. He was all too ready to make it out of the tower and to Sasuke already.

It didn't take long until he was through the streets and to the school gates, parents shuffling in and out by the group.

He paused only briefly upon not seeing Sasuke in his usual spot out front, walking a bit further until he reached the front of the building.

Still no Sasuke in sight - nor any of the usual three he would stand with to ask.

Tobirama stretched his chakra inwards, feeling for any sense of the boy's signature. He frowned thinly, not quite alarmed but noting that he was still in his classroom.

The man came in through the front door, slipping past a few teachers with only brief explanations of where he was going and confirmations that Sasuke was still inside.

Upon reaching the classroom, his frown only deepened in worry.

Sasuke sat at his desk, scribbling away at the paper on his desk. He worked diligently, only pausing as Tobirama entered.

The boy all but shot up and out of his seat as the man entered, focused eyes turning bright with only a smidge of anxiety within. "Tobira! Sorry, I'm coming, I'll hurry." the little ravenet promised, quickly moving to fulfil his words by neatly sliding his papers and pencils into his backpack. A bit of the worry that had swelled in Tobirama's chest eased as he saw the ease with which the child moved - no signs that anything was especially wrong despite his odd placement.

Letting out a light sigh, he shook his head, "It's alright, though you know you should be out front when the time comes to go home. I'm sure you had your reasons, but try not to make a habit out of it."

"Ah, that's my fault, sorry about that sir." a young man with a scar across his face apologized from behind the teacher's desk, hands pressed together in apology.

Tobirama quirked a brow as he looked the boy over, finding that upon seeing him up close he was much younger than his rep sheet suggested.

Iruka Umino, Sasuke's teacher, sat behind the desk for what was probably his first year teaching. Even so, his back remained straight, a serious yet kind smile on his lips as he greeted the elder shinobi. Papers lay scattered across the desk, a young blond boy Tobirama recognized only from photos sitting between his legs to draw on a piece of loose paper while the young teacher worked.

"It's a non-issue, though I hope everything is alright for him to have needed to stay after?" Tobirama asked, hating the thought and doubting Sasuke had gone and gotten in any real trouble but not ready to turn a blind eye on purpose either.

Quickly, the brunet shook his head with a wave of his hand, "Yes, yes, everything is just fine. Some of the older kids were hounding him a bit outside, so I had him come wait here. It wasn't anything too serious, but I know Sasuke isn't big on crowds so I thought he might prefer this."

"Ah, I see." Tobirama nodded in understanding, watching vaguely as the blond scrunched up his nose towards his teacher and then Sasuke - the young Uchiha rolling his eyes to himself as he approached to stand beside Tobirama's leg and deliberately not look at his classmate. "Well, thank you for keeping an eye on him."

He nodded briefly in goodbye to both boys behind the desk, turning to leave with Sasuke fast on his heel.

Chapter Text

"How was your day?" Tobirama asked after a brief moment of walking beside Sasuke, the two making their way step by step towards the front exit to the academy. The boy was close behind him as they walked, though not nearly as on top of him as he had been yesterday.

He could hear the boy keeping a steady pace with him, his small form visible from the corner of Tobirama's vision. "It was good. We mostly did review work in groups today, since we're supposed to be helping the new students catch up."

The boy paused only briefly as they exited the building, frowning a bit beside Tobirama, "Though, I don't think they need as much help as the teachers think. A lot of them are...really good, when we practice."

Yes, Tobirama imagined the children recovered from ROOT would be quite good in practice.

If anything, he mused, the group review was meant more so to help the kids settle in with their classmates than anything - after all, it was a lot easier to get them to accept the newcomers if they were introduced as someone needing help rather than a gaggle of new students with skills far beyond their peers.

With any luck, it would cut down on the harsh feelings that were bound to arise before it made it to the level of real conflict.

He glanced lightly down at Sasuke as they walked towards the gate, nodding, "That's good, isn't it?" head tilted a bit as he mused, "You're a smart boy, it'll do you some good to have some more classmates to work alongside. Perhaps you can invite some of them out to the training grounds sometime to practice improving together."

"Maybe." the boy settled on reluctantly after a long moment, as if still unsure of what to make of his new classmates.

Tobirama didn't expect the boy to leap at the idea, knowing he wasn't the type to go out of his way to make friends, but it was at least something that he considered it a possibility. After all, the last thing the village needed was a split between their future shinobi.

Not to mention it would probably be good for Sasuke to see some fresh faces outside the handful of clan heirs he saw from day to day. Mingling with only those raised by the head families would limit him in time, especially with how diligent he was with his training for his age.

Based on what he’d heard and read of the future clan heads, it was easy to see they had potential. Once they got a bit older and started developing a bit more of a sense of pride in their abilities, he was sure they would make outstanding shinobi.

He rather not let Sasuke grow too comfortable with his current spot ahead of them and risk feeding the future idea that he was slowing down when they were in fact only speeding up. It was important for him to be able to look at his own skills as they were rather than in comparison to those around him.

A rival to push him forward wasn’t necessarily a bad idea, but for now, having some fellow shinobi around that he wasn’t inherently expected to surpass would be good for the young Uchiha.

It was more difficult than it should be, really.

He wanted the boy to be a bit more confident than he was now, but had no intentions of encouraging arrogance either.

It was a delicate balance he was coming to find - between the child being convinced he was inferior to his brother and the constant praises sung by the teachers across most of his graded work, it was hard to know where exactly he was meant to halt or continue with his praise.

The last thing he needed was a shinobi either too unsure to go through with his actions or one too sure of himself to know when it was time to stop. Tobirama would never forgive himself if he led the child into an early grave with his teachings.

"I thought you were stopping for groceries today?" the young ravenet broke through his thoughts, the masked man looking down at the boy as his head crooked to the side. Ah, right.

They had stopped in front of the marketplace, Tobirama giving the boy a small hum of confirmation. "I did - our fridge is all stocked up now."

His clone had, but that was beside the point.

"However, I forgot one small thing. I wanted to get some tea for Itachi while we're out. It'll only take a moment." he assured the boy in a low tone, watching as Sasuke nodded stiffly.

He watched as the boy made a straight shot for one of the stands, staying in Tobirama's sight even as he peeked over the woman's counter. The young Uchiha's dark eyes drifted over his shoulders and towards the other as if silently demanding for him to hurry, the shopkeeper stifling a smile as Tobirama slowly made his way over with a brief sigh.

The boy was trailing his eyes over the many different types of tea and spices, watching as Tobirama asked, "Two boxes of matcha, please."

"Of course." she only agreed, quickly moving to bag up the desired items as Tobirama passed her the payment.

Before the man could reach for them, however, Sasuke reached out his hands to take them. The woman passed them over wordlessly, watching with a spark of awe as the boy's lips quirked into a faint smile.

Tobirama shook his head briefly at the boy's antics, so eager to gather the tea despite knowing Itachi wouldn't be able to have it any sooner regardless. The man set a hand on his head as they turned to leave, musing, "I take it you like matcha as well? Or are you just excited to have it ready for him?"

Sasuke zipped around his leg to stand on his other side as they walked, flustering a bit at the affection but nodding seriously. "I like it, as long as there's not too much sugar, but not Itachi. When you make his, it has to have two scoops of sugar for the small cups and three for the big. Unless he's getting a treat with it, then one is okay."

Three scoops? Even for a big cup, Tobirama couldn't help but feel it would reduce the tea to borderline syrup at that point. He’d figured that the boy had a liking for sweets based on his desk upstairs and the candies he’d seen the crows collect, but that seemed a bit excessive even so…

The boy looked all too focused as he warned Tobirama, "He'll get sad if his tea is too bitter without a treat, so if he's coming back, we have to make sure we have some at home." he bit his lip faintly as his pace slowed a bit, playing with his hands behind his back as they walked. "Mom always made sure to buy him a treat for after his long missions, and he's been away for a long time, so maybe we should get him one to go with his tea too."

Tobirama resisted the urge to frown at the child's diligent awareness of his elder brother's tastes, finding that if he thought too long into it and allowed himself to imagine Sasuke and a woman with the same features as the boys preparing a not-quite-surprise for Itachi's return the image may refuse to ever leave his mind.

Sasuke was glancing over his shoulder, towards the few food shops they passed with a look of want. Tobirama only continued on with their walk, nodding in agreement despite his lack of stopping. "I think he'd appreciate that - though, if we get something from a restaurant or shop now it'll likely be stale by the time he's home. It might be better to make them ourselves so that they can be better kept We don’t kmow how long it will take for him to be allowed back home."

A spark of interest entered the boy's eyes, one Tobirama had slowly but steadily begun to see more of the longer he stayed within the walls of the compound. It was the same one he'd seen in Itachi's eyes when he spoke of his brother's safety - as well as the same one that came up in the rare moments Sasuke allowed himself to discuss his elder cousin or lost parents. The spark of love he had once found so dangerous somehow now felt...warm, like an oversized blanket being wrapped around those lucky enough to have the gaze turned upon them.

It almost made him feel a bit disgusted, having such affection sent his way despite his part in all the misery that had come upon them.

"You know how to make treats?" Sasuke's head tilted to the side as they neared the gates of the compound, unknowing of his inner conflict. "Mother used to sometimes when she wasn't busy, and my aunt and uncle did a lot too." his lips dipped into a light frown as they moved through the gates, lifting his hand for the first time to acknowledge the surrounding area.

His hand shook a bit with unease as he pointed to a large shop, keeping his eyes on Tobirama even as he tried his best to steady his voice. "Auntie used to leave the extra senbei from the day out in the window for us to have, because she didn't want to throw them away. Itachi...he used to really like them, so maybe we could make some for him." his hand curled against his chest as they walked, eyes trailing off to the side towards another house as his voice gained a faint quake he struggled to hide. "But- he used to get dango a lot too with Shisui and Izumi, so maybe he'd like that better."

Tobirama reached a hand out to lay lightly atop the back of the boy's neck as they walked, swallowing down his own thoughts to keeping them moving. He nodded carefully with assurance, "There are lots of good treats that go well with matcha tea. We'll be able to find something good to figure out how to cook, something he'll enjoy."

The boy bit the side of his cheek, hands falling to his sides even as he kept his back straight as a pole. His dark eyes focused forward, towards the main house as he agreed, "Yeah, I'm sure there's something we can find."

They made it up the stairs and through the front door before Sasuke slid off his backpack, setting it on the hook above where his shoes went. The boy made his way further inside while Tobirama took off his own shoes behind him, letting out a brief sigh.

It was clear to see the boy was more shaken up over the thought of Itachi's return than he let on, his want to see his brother clashing with the harsh memories that resurfaced with each mention of his name. Sasuke carried on however, doing his best to be brave in his own way.

Today, that meant hurrying to the kitchen to pull the dusty cookbook from the cabinet over the counter - prepared to make Itachi his treat entirely too early despite Tobirama's warnings that they didn’t know exactly when the other would be home.

Then again, if he didn't do it now, who was to say he would have the nerve to go through with it later on?

The silver-haired man followed the boy into the kitchen, taking the tea containers out of the bag and setting them atop the top shelf. Hopefully they wouldn’t remain there for long.

Chapter Text

“Senbei are probably our best bet.” Tobirama settled on after a good few minutes of watching the boy dig through the cookbook, unable to decide on what he wanted to do. “We should have all the ingredients, they keep well enough, and that way he’ll have something savoury to go with his sweet drink.”

Besides, it was probably best that they pick something Sasuke would like too - and based on the faces the boy kept pulling every time he came across a dessert in the book, sweets likely wouldn’t do the trick.

“What do we need for that?” Sasuke looked up at him expectantly upon hearing his suggestion, as if the older man should know every recipe in the world by heart.

Tobirama quirked a brow at the boy’s unblinking stare, crossing his arms over his chest before muttering, “...Go ahead and get out the rice flour while I look for it in the book. I know we’ll at least need that.”

The little ravenet made quick work of it, seeming accepting enough of the answer as the man went to flip through the aged cookbook.

He skimmed carefully through worn pages, finding that the set-up of it was all too familiar and odd at the same time. Its contents spoke true to the harsh condition it was left in, categories listed closer to the style Hashirama’s mother's had been in than anything he'd seen made post-village creation.

After all, with a bustling trading hub suddenly available, dozens of new ingredients and meals become much less difficult to obtain. Once the initial reservation period was over and after months of clans wasting time re-writing recipes for others to try, it was easy to see why a good number of more up-to-date cookbooks would begin floating around. The resources changed, and thus, so did the assumptions within the books for what would be available.

It was likely that the book in his hand from a time before the village founding - that, or a reprint made not long after. After all, even with the more efficient version, he doubted most were ready to toss their own clan's version that had served them so well for so long.

He doubted Sasuke understood the difference between the two, and thus, had handed him the first one he saw. The updated version was likely under the counter as well, yet...he couldn't help the curiosity that spiked in him upon being handed the aged Uchiha cookbook.

Red eyes lingered over the pages, lips pressing together in interest.

The beginning of the book listed the areas in which different ingredients could be found; from places plants tended to grow to the hiding spots of common animals.

Instructions for how to gather seeds from the wild plants were written neatly below, with small drawings of how to extract them to the right. Scribbles reminding the reader to take better care of their garden so the hassle of gathering wouldn’t be necessary lingered to the side, as if written in as an afterthought.

A small doodle of a distinctly familiar face sticking its tongue out rested underneath - still visible through the scribbles attempting to block it out. Tobirama’s brow twitched slightly as he read the faintly written apology of ‘Sorry for my disrespectful actions’ below.

That idiot Izuna always had been petty, even as a child. The silver-haired man found it all too easy to believe he was precisely the sort to argue with the dead through shared pages. The only thing he could find mildly surprising about the ordeal was the fact his stubborn rival had somehow been convinced to apologize for his actions.

Then again, based on the poor handwriting, he was likely quite young.

A pair of large dark eyes stared up at him from behind his book, snapping the elder shinobi out of his thoughts. Ah, right, he was supposed to be looking for a recipe.

Tobirama took one final glance at the childish doodle that so resembled Sasuke, eyes flickering between the two for only a moment before flipping the page.

How such a pair of good children had descended from the same main family as those two rat bastards was beyond him.

Then again. Itachi and Sasuke certainly had that same fiercely loving and stubborn attitude of theirs, even if they wore it a bit better.

...If he thought too long on it, he may be forced to wonder just how much of Madara and Izuna's insufferably had been real and how much of it was a tad bit blown out of proportion.

His initial guess would be a seventy-thirty ratio, but he wasn’t quite in the mood to open that bag of worms. Especially with the issue of Madara possibly still running around being up in the air.

As it was, he flipped in pages upon pages, trying to guess which category might have the rice crackers.

Winter of fall meals?  No.
Summer of spring meals? Unlikely.
Offerings? Plausible.
Festivals? Perhaps.
Gifts? Could be.

Eventually, he spotted them, hidden in a corner near one of the last pages as if solely to mock him. He let out a light breath, finally turning his attention fully to the child before him as he instructed, “I’ll get out all the smaller ingredients. You wash your hands and find a big bowl.”

The child nodded swiftly, turning to do as he was told while Tobirama began shifting through the cabinets for the needed items.

__________________________________________________________________

...By the time they were done, Sasuke had somehow managed to completely and utterly waste a good cup's worth of rice flour on his shirt and shorts alone. It was smudged against his pale cheeks likewise from his time trying to wipe away the mess with the back of his hands, white specs littering the floor due to the child's antics.

Each time Tobirama turned his back to slide a tray into the oven, he could see the boy faintly clapping his hands together through the glass of the appliance. The small ravenet would watch the powder fall down and onto the floor in a small puff cloud, lips quirking into a small interested smile.

Sasuke's hands would quickly return to being behind his back upon seeing Tobirama turn back towards him however, the young Uchiha looking elsewhere as if he weren't systematically making a mess the moment the elder turned his back.

It was hard to be truly mad or express his disappointment in the boy, though, when he watched his dark eyes widen a bit in awe with each instance of the falling powder.

The child was finally having a bit of fun outside of his training, no matter how simple-minded it may be or how little Tobirama could understand it. It seemed to be easing his nerves as well, the small trembling of his hands having disappeared over the course of their baking.

Unfortunately, he seemed to have decided the only way to possibly go about it was to make a mess that Tobirama would have to spend a good few minutes cleaning up.

Faintly, he wondered if he should buy the boy more toys for his slowly upcoming birthday - a mere month after Itachi's - rather than the new training equipment he'd been considering.

Then again. It wasn't like Sasuke had any shortage of toys as it was. Even if he hardly ever took them out, Tobirama knew for a fact he had an entire chest worth upstairs.

He supposed sometimes children just wanted to play messy...though, it didn't make it any less daunting to eye the young Uchiha who looked as if he were having almost too much fun baking rice crackers.

"That's the last tray." he settled on sighing, trying to keep both the tiredness and amusement from his voice as to not upset the child or encourage his messy antics. "I'll clean up down here - you need to head upstairs and get some new clothes for a bath."

The boy blinked up at him, looking down at his clothes as if only just noticing the mess he'd made. His face warmed briefly, staring down at clothing with either hand held out - looking between his shirt and powder covered fingers. "Oh."

"Oh indeed." Tobirama only snorted briefly at the young Uchiha, patting the spot between his shoulders to usher him towards the stairs. "I'll be right downstair if you need anything. I have some work to do once I'm done with taking this batch out, so perhaps you can entertain yourself upstairs or in the living room for a bit until dinner is ready. Make sure to do any homework you have if you haven't already before you go doing anything else."

The young Uchiha slowly made his way towards the staircase, nodding a bit with only a brief pout. "Okay. I will. Can I have some once they've cooled off though, as my snack?"

"Of course. You can come get some after your bath." he agreed easily, turning to return to the kitchen as the boy nodded, quickly moving upstairs with a small quirk of his lips at the agreement.

The silver-haired man shook his head briefly at the boy, making sure he was upstairs before returning to clean up the mess in the kitchen. It only took ten or so minutes before he was done, the man stretching a bit as he finished.

Sasuke had already made way for the bathroom by then, so he went ahead and reached for the far back of the fridge. He collected a thin binder from there, carrying it over to the table and sitting before it with a low sigh.

As much as he would rather spend the rest of the afternoon engaging in Sasuke's antics, he did need to focus fully on preparing for the meeting tomorrow.

His clones had all been dispersed mid-cooking session, their memories returning to him in a flash. It was almost relaxing, having his full chakra with him once again rather than having it split three or four different ways.

It would do him good to be able to focus on just this one thing for now - besides, maybe if he were busy it would give Sasuke a moment to do his own thing for a bit. It had been a while since the kid had some time to himself at home.

He straightened his back with this in mind, popping the binder open.

Alright. Time to get it sorted out.

...

Half an hour later and he only had a spare few points to show for it.

The blue binder had been labelled on the side as 'Case File - Itachi Uchiha'.

Dozens of papers that had been shoved into the boy's shinobi records in the Hokage tower, Danzo's personal records, and comments he'd gotten out of the elders and written down spread over the table as Tobirama tried to craft an argument out of them, messy and hardly comprehensible organization-wise to anyone outside of him.

The binder itself was pretty much empty outside of five division tabs, each with a brief phrase written on it.

'The Purpose Of Konoha'
'The Failings Of The Elders'
'Proof Of Regret'
'Benefits Of Pardon'
'Disciplinary Proposals'

Tobirama watched as Sasuke came out of his bath, the boy moving over the the kitchen to grab one of the senbei from the plate after briefly looking to Tobirama for any sign of objection. When he wasn't stopped, he only continued, picking three up and shoving a fourth in his mouth.

His hair dripped from the shower as he padded across the kitchen to set one on the table for Tobirama, biting through his current one while holding the other two at his side. He gnawed at the cracker as he looked towards the binder, asking, "Are you working on mission things?" the tip of his foot dug into the kitchen floor as he spoke, head tilted.

Tobirama reached out a hand, setting it on the boy's shoulder and swiftly turning him around in one quick movement with a tsk, "Indeed it is - and mission papers should only be looked at by the shinobi they're assigned to."

He really rather the boy not look too close and read something he would rather not. Even as the small ravenet squeaked a bit at being turned around, arms crossing at the elder's actions. "It isn't like I'm gonna tell anyone about your mission! I just want to look."

Tobirama deadpanned as the boy crossed his arms over his chest, unable to see his face but certain he was pouting even so. "You wouldn't look at your father or brother's mission details, so I can't imagine why you think it's an acceptable idea to look at mine." he settled on lightly scolding, "You'll have plenty of your own mission details to look at someday, but for now, you need to keep your eyes to yourself. I could get in trouble with Lord Third if you saw them, you know."

The boy's head lowered a bit as he listened, mumbling as his defensive annoyance melted into regret, "...Sorry. I just wanted to see what you were doing." he sounded all too much like he wanted to shrink away, hands falling loosely at his side. "I'll go upstairs while you're busy."

Tobirama took his hand off the boy's shoulder, instead moving to run it over his face with a light sigh. Sasuke's foot dug deeper into the ground below before moving away, towards the exit of the kitchen.

He only stopped as Tobirama cleared his throat, suggesting, "You're free to move around the house as you'd like - you just can't be looking at my papers. If you want to, perhaps bring some toys or books down to play with. I don't mind if you join me in the kitchen."

Sasuke still didn't turn his back towards Tobirama, holding the door frame and asking, "You're sure? I can go away while you're busy. I'm not...trying to be a pest, or to disturb your work. I can go be good upstairs until you're done."

He said it with all the calmness in the world, as if his fingers weren't curling against the wood of the doorframe or intending in the senbei he held. Tobirama's brows furrowed, the silver-haired man frowning, "I'm sure. You aren't a pest, Sasuke. I do have work to do, but it doesn't mean I don't want to see you until it's done. Go ahead, go get something to do and come join me. We can each do our own thing beside each other, alright?"

"...Alright."

Chapter Text

It didn’t take long for Sasuke to trot up the stairs, shuffling around on the upper floor for only a moment before returning. In his hands a bundle of empty papers and a box full of coloured pencils had appeared, the child moving to sit on the floor beside him.

Tobirama watched the boy sprawl out on the floor with his papers, ignoring the perfectly good counter he could sit at a mere few paces away. A silent huff of exasperated amusement left his lips as he watched the child begin to scribble on the paper, a distinct focus and determination resting on his small face.

The silver-haired man’s finger tapped at his own paper idly below as he observed the young Uchiha, sharp red eyes watching as the boy seemed to draw up some sort of fake mission sheet - or at least what Sasuke imagined one would look like.

Good, he settled on sighing as he returned to look towards his own project. It should keep him busy for a bit and give Tobirama time to at least get his report settled.

After all, beyond functioning as a way to get his thoughts in order, it would need to function sufficiently as a record of the event.

It was a horrific lesson they were learning as a village - one he wanted to make sure those who came after never had to repeat.

‘Purpose of Konoha’

He stared at the title for a long moment before beginning to write, the ink gliding effortlessly across the page as he spilt out his opening thoughts. It was an easy enough question to answer; after all, he had spent years of his life listening to his brother pitch the idea. He himself had repeated the sentients time and time again to his students - though apparently not clearly enough. Here, he would write it in detailed lettering so that it may never be mistaken again.

_________________________________

Konohagakure was not made in a night.

It grew from decades of anger and sorrow, from a sense of tired desperation only those who have forged a close bond with the shinigami could ever hope to understand. It came from fear and hope alike; a determination for a better world - one which was not composed only of suffering.

It was formed by parents and siblings; by lovers and friends. It came from the same primal desire within each of their hearts, the need to guard and cherish what was most precious to them with everything they had.

To spare those they loved from the darkness that had consumed their lives for so long. To purge the pain from the world around them, slowly yet steadily. To shoulder this darkness, taking it within themselves to keep those yet untainted by the horrors safe. That was the purpose of the Leaf Village’s first generation of shinobi.

They created their home with the knowledge that it would take decades, centuries even, to completely eliminate this darkness surrounding them.

Even so, for a better world for their loved ones, many accepted these shadows into their hearts in hope that they would someday die with them - never to see the hard-won light of day again.

The clans united with a promise to make a brighter world for their future kin; to be able to create a reality in which parents didn't have to send their children to die for the sake of troubles far beyond them.

A far-off dream, but a worthy legacy nonetheless.

...
...
...

This was the will of the first generation of Konoha shinobi, one I hope to see carried on throughout the generations long after all of our bones have turned to dust.

-Tobirama Senju, Second Hokage of Konohagakure

_________________________________

The silver-haired man tapped the writing utensil idly against the page, a brief embarrassment at claiming such a dream so bluntly rising in his chest. It was foolhardy and perhaps a bit sappy, but when it came down to it, it was the truth.

Tales of brave and innovative ancestors building a village from the ground up had clearly failed to capture the fires that had been held in their hearts at the time. Their will to protect had been morphed into something different, something far too self-important for the seat of the Hokage to represent.

He supposed that was what happened when history was left to be written by starry-eyed children that had heard nothing but epic tales from their fathers and mothers of their feats in the gathering days.

Tobirama's eyes shifted over to the senbei Sasuke had brought him, picking it up and taking a bite as his hand drifted reflexively down to ruffle the boy's hair below.

His eyes remained focused on a few of the papers surrounding, copies of motivating speeches from his brother or the past clan heads of Konoha spread out before him. He could feel Sasuke's half-hearted attempts to duck from his hand, eyes flicking over only briefly to see the thinnest smile on the child's lips while he drew.

A low breath of amusement left the man as he finished his senbei and mild teasing of Sasuke, lifting his hands to pace the copies of well-wishes and hopes for the many clans into the same section as his declaration.

The Senju's hopes of growth for their future home - their vision for something that would last long after they died.

The Uchiha's promises of hard work to secure a less daunting future for their kin.

The Aburame's oaths of doing their part to protect the village no matter the struggles that came.

The Akimichi's determination to stand unmoveable in the path they had laid before them.

The four noble clans' words were clipped in together, even with the knowledge that two of them were by now dwindled down to near nothing.

In the end, it seemed that neither the Senju or the Uchiha had truly won in their long-standing rivalry.

Tobirama's eyes narrowed down at the completed section before him, fingering briefly trailing over speeches long forgotten given by honourable shinobi far below the earth by now.

How unfortunate that they hadn't been able to impart the correct lessons to those who followed in their footsteps.

Or, rather, how unfortunate that the ones who had understood hadn't managed to make it to a position of power.

If only he had been a better teacher, perhaps Hiruzen would have been prepared and had the backbone to follow through with the lessons Tobirama knew he understood. Perhaps Koharu and Homura would be willing to bend their backs in the least, to admit that what they had done was wrong and work with him to rectify the situation.

Perhaps Kagami would have lasted long enough to sit in those seats with them, to keep Danzo's selfish hardheadedness matched with his own selfless levelheadedness.

He'd failed them all, every last one of them, and he knew it.

A pit of guilt and disgust towards himself built in his stomach as he laid the documentation of crimes - some official and some written up after the fact to describe the horrors they'd found committed - one by one into the second section.

Had it helped in the least, he would have himself executed right alongside the three of them.

'The Failings Of The Elders (Acting Hokage's Assistants)'

There were two sections clipped together within, one with an upper tab reading 'General' and another reading 'Case Relevant'.

He started with the first.

_________________________________

General.

Papers detailing numerous cases of inheritance theft cast upon children of fallen shinobi.

Graphs that had been drawn up detailing the ridiculous management of state funds and how they tended to channel entirely too much towards infrastructure rather than the overwhelming number of government dependents.

A list of small villages and areas that had been taken under Konoha's regime, untended to due to lack of resources despite the claim that had been laid.

Direct quotes from the current leader of the Land of Rain, detailing the ruin that Danzo had helped their former village head cast upon the civilians of the area.

Pages upon pages of unofficial shinobi records from the ROOT program as well as documents detailing the training they were subjected to. Accounts of both child trafficking and kidnapping, of blackmail and the elimination of those who refused to submit. An overall mess of an underground organization run by Danzo and supported financially by Homura and Koharu.

Case Relevant.

Changing of government and personal documents to surpass regulations set by the village.

Physical proof of multiple counts of bloodline theft.

Quotes given directly from their lips on the necessity of a clan extinction, of their thorough work to make sure each and every Uchiha was within the compound when the time came.

Blunt accounts of blackmail and threats made towards Sasuke under the pretence of needing to protect the village.

Re: Admittance of near clan extinction, Ordered murder of civilians, Ordered murder of children, Ordered execution of shinobi with unconfirmed offences, Blackmail, General abuse of power, document forging.
_________________________________

Tobirama pressed the pen to the paper, lingering on the final period as his eyes trailed over the list time and time again.

They had spoken so confidently, recounting the way they'd had to teach Itachi of the unfortunate yet necessary cruelties of the shinobi world. Danzo had bragged on about the boy as if he were his own student, in a twisted sort of way.

Hearing his praise for the boy coupled with the blunt admission of moulding his actions using the village and Sasuke as the carrot and stick of their relationship, it had made it hard to keep up the facade of a civil discussion. The man had honestly thought he was manipulating Tobirama into siding with him, and frankly, it was disgusting to consider.

So sure of themselves, so sure that they had done the right thing that all it took was a bit of fake consideration from Tobirama for them to climb further up their high horse and assure him that what they had done was for the best.

The small sneer that had begun to grow on his lips fell as he felt a small tug on his pant legs, the man glancing down in an instant to look at the small ravenet colouring beside him. He quirked a brow as the boy asked, body leaned forward to cover his fake mission details, "What shinobi rank are you?"

"A Jonin - specifically, Hokage's Advisor." he answered bluntly, taken out of his musing for only a moment as the boy asked his questions.

He was given no further content as the child nodded seriously, returning to his work and using an arm to obstruct Tobirama's view of the page.

The silver-haired man only shook his head briefly at Sasuke's antics before returning to his page, sitting up straight to stretch his back before falling back into line with his work.

It was a smaller section as far as documents went, but one of the most important even so.

His pen hovered over the page momentarily, considering the most convincing evidence and what was worth mentioning. How did he express Itachi's situation correctly without giving the impression he was making excuses for the boy?

A calloused hand ran over his tired features as the man looked down at the tab. A few dates would need to be smudged, but otherwise, it should be fairly straightforward. He only needed to place a few copies of Itachi's promotion records and set the stage for a clear picture to be formed.

He replaced the third tab's title with a new one, finding it a bit more fitting for what he had in mind.

'Itachi Uchiha's Situation - The Lead-Up and After Effects'

_________________________________

Lead Up / Dates To Be Considered

Age 7 - Early graduation from the Shinobi Academy despite a lack of large-scale conflict due to shining reviews of his skills and urging from multiple instructors

Age 7 - Assumed first encounter with Danzo Shimura; spectators (Hiruzen Sarotobi) at the event (class graduation ceremony) saw an exchange between the two, though what was discussed/whether it was simple congratulations given to a promising young shinobi or something more is unknown.

Age 10 - Allowed to participate in the chuunin exams without his team due to Danzo going against his Jonin instructor's wishes and giving his word to the Hokage that he was ready

Age 11 - Allowed to join ANBU under the Hokage, but is recommended for an abnormal amount of missions from Danzo

Age 11 - Itachi's cousin is murdered and stripped of his sharingan by Danzo and his men. Itachi and his cousin are unable to stop the theft, the latter resorting to suicide near-immediately after the fact.

Age 12 - Itachi's legal documents are changed by the elders a few months later; his age is adjusted from freshly twelve to freshly 13 so that he can qualify for the spot of an ANBU captain. This was done after Hiruzen's initial refusal to make an exception the year prior - likely unnoticed due to Itachi and his family's agreement to play along with the change for the sake of promotion.

Age 12 - A few months later, the elders' council summons Itachi to a private meeting. He is ordered to execute his clan on the basis of the village's resentment towards them (See Page 4 Section 3) becoming a possible problem in the future and it being important to keep their peace of mind intact. He initially refuses, but accepts the mission upon being told that it is the Hokage's will and that they will send someone less merciful out to cut them down along with him should he refuse. He is promised permission to keep one person from the clan alive if he obeys - he chooses his younger brother (Sasuke Uchiha).

Age 12 - The Uchiha Tragedy takes place. The Uchiha clan falls with the exception of Itachi and Sasuke. Itachi says nothing of his mission as he can not bring his brother with him, leaving and hoping the elders will keep their end of the deal + allow him to live. Itachi shows active signs of cruelty and hostility towards his brother to sever any possibility of giving in to the temptation to return for him. Itachi plots to have his brother kill him when he is older in order to give them both closure for the crimes committed.

Age 12 - Itachi leaves the village to keep tabs on a suspicious organization for the elders. He only returns upon being cornered by a task force sent out to retrieve him by the Third Hokage.

The After Effects

5/16 - Immediate submission to the Hokage's orders to return to the village despite his place in the bingo book

5/16 - Reluctant admittance to his distaste for Danzo's directives after initial probing; reluctancy born from an avoidance of conflict rather than uncertainty regarding his loyalties

5/16 - No resistance given to his items being taken and his chakra being bound

5/17 - Kind and respectful treatment towards his captors and the small child they had with them at the time; active attempts to ease the child's worries over travelling with a criminal while keeping a respectable distance despite the child's attempts to follow him around

5/18- Acceptance of excessive humiliation and berating up until the insinuation that his clan's fall was a good thing - nonviolent but harsh responses given only then.

5/18 - No resistance given to being placed in the Konoha holding cells, full compliance with the protocol

5/19 - Premature acceptance of his execution; visible signs of stress upon being told there are no current plans to end his life - insinuations of compliance with punishment or torture despite it not being necessary due to his continued subordination

5/19 - Purposeful acts of retribution in his own treatment towards himself. Continuous kneeling in his cell despite the ability to lay flat, active displeasure at the loosening of over-tightened and dangerously compressing straps, insistence on sleeping on the floor during the trip back to Konoha despite a bed being available (5/17), unhealthily pale complexion and loss of weight compared to his bingo book photos - possible self starvation or inadequate care of wounds over the course of his time on the road.

5/19 - Open admittance of his actions being in the wrong with the insinuation that he feels guilty for hurting those he loved/loves and felt responsibility towards

5/19 - Inquirance regarding his brother's safety; earnest requests made towards the Hokage's Advisor to make sure he was safe if his trial did end in execution

Conclusion:

Itachi Uchiha, while guilty of the atrocious acts he has been accused of, does not hold sole responsibility. Clear implications of long-term grooming are present as well as clear instances of blackmail and manipulation of the truth.

His mind was warped from early childhood with multiple accommodations due to his skills; pushing him at high speeds through ranks he was not emotionally mature enough to handle - making him believe he was making a well-considered decision when the options were put in front of him.

He was young and, given the position of those inflicting their will on him and the atrocities he had seen them commit in front of him, it is unsurprising he felt there was no option but to do as he was told. Especially with the incorrect implications laid out that the Hokage was in support of the mission.

The elders have abused their power to an outrageous degree, while the Hokage unfortunately failed to notice until it was far too late to do anything beyond seek justice for those they have wronged behind his back.

Repercussions for his actions and restrictions for the village's peace of mind are expected, though in time it is the Hokage's hope that the boy can be led down a better path and allowed to grow past this.

_________________________________

It felt a bit...distasteful, to air Itachi's past and vulnerabilities about like this in front of the clan heads and his former team. Even so, the thought of not explaining the situation well enough and the boy ending up on the chopping block was infinitely worse.

He would hate to have to go through the trouble of having Hiruzen stage their deaths and handle the mess that would be getting them out of the country. Not to mention the distress it would cause both the young Uchiha, he was sure.

Tobirama ran his hands over his face, stretching his fingers out briefly. He had no intent of allowing that to happen. He was almost done now anyway, there were only two brief sections left to go before he had to make Sasuke dinner and get the boy situated in bed for the night.

He probably should have done this across the span of a few days, but then, he had thought he had more time.

Not that he wasn't grateful for it, he sighed lowly as he turned to the next sections. Sitting in that cell with only his thoughts to keep him company was probably arguably worse for someone like Itachi than had he been able to distract himself with Ibiki's torture.

Tobirama couldn't help but hate the thought as he eyed the second-to-last tab. At least they were brief sections.

'Benefits of Pardon'

_________________________________

Konoha is set to go through multiple large-scale shifts due to the recently uncovered crimes of the elders.

Corrupt shinobi are being smoked out of the system each and every day - lessening our numbers even more after the huge loss of the Uchiha clan as a faction. In addition, the age and skill requirements for various positions are being shifted around.

This will leave Konoha vulnerable to an attack from the outside, so our men have all been made aware of the need to stay extra alert. Spies have been sent out to keep an eye on the reactions of other nations and multiple high-level shinobi have been called back to the village to act as silent warnings for any considering attacking.

Itachi Uchiha would be a good ally to have on our side. With such a strong reputation, he will likely act as a good warning to other nations snopping around for information during their consideration of an attack.

Few would be willing to go up against Konoha knowing we have Tsunade Senju, Tobirama Senju, Hiruzen Satotobi, Kakashi Hatake, Itachi Uchiha, as well as a dozen powerful clan heads within our walls ready to let loose to defend at any given moment. While his presence alone may not be enough to completely ward off an attack, it will certainly aid in our efforts to keep the water calm.

Likewise, his survival is a good chance to convey a promise to the shinobi youth - an assurance that the village is not so cold and broken as to demand the unthinkable of them without offering any backup in turn. A reaffirmation of the familial bonds that have been boasted so loudly over the course of their lives.

Itachi is valuable as a silent warning, as a promise, and as a shinobi if he one day proves himself ready to rejoin our ranks. With the proper time and guidance, I believe he has this potential.

However - if he does not - there is little risk in keeping him alive.

So long as the proper precautions are taken, it will be of little consequence to keep him alive and inactive within the walls of Konoha as a mere warning and promise.

His story can frighten other nations and be a learning experience for ours - all the while his wings may remain clipped under Konoha's watchful eyes until the end of his days if need be.

_________________________________

Tobirama didn't allow himself a break, taking a deep breath and flipping the page with a pressed jaw.

At least here and now, the boy had a chance to live - had something similar happened in his youth he was sure blood would have been spilt days ago to mark the end of it all.

This world of theirs was cruel.

He only hoped he was doing the right thing and not merely extending his suffering by locking him in a village full of people who looked to him as though he were the scum of the earth.

'Disciplinary Proposals'
_________________________________

Though the restrictions placed upon Itachi during his return to Konoha must be strict, we must not allow our natural feelings of protectiveness and fear for our loved ones to have us act unfairly.

For his continued cooperation and efforts to make things right, it would be appropriate to meet him in the middle.

We must start with fair restraints.

If he is able to prove himself, he may have the privilege of having them loosened.

If he behaves maliciously, they will be tightened in turn.

Should an actual and real threat be posed, he will be eliminated.

As for the starting restraints, see below for the suggestions discussed between the current Hokage and his advisor. Adjustments will be made with the clan head's input as necessary and noted in the post-meeting summary.

-He is to remain within the walls of the Uchiha compound and may not exit unless explicitly given permission from the Hokage

-He is to be under 24-hour watch by a rotating team of appointed shinobi

-He is to follow the orders and instructions of his on-duty keeper at all times

-He is under no circumstances to physically or mentally damage another person unless expressly told by the Hokage himself

-He is to have his chakra completely sealed; including each chakra point, his chakra exit paths, and his sharingan.

-He is not to lay a hand on any and all weapons

-He is to have a hiraishin formula imprinted onto his body so that he is trackable at any given time

_________________________________

...Now. If he could just get through the meeting without anyone suggesting they scoop the boy's eye out or chop off his hands, they'd be set.

Chapter Text

The silver-haired man rearranged a few papers, straightening up the binder and making corrections as necessary.

Only as he finished did he allow himself to lean back, stretching his arms over his head and looking down at the boy below.

Sasuke seemed to have relaxed in his guarding of the paper, giving the man a semi-clear view of the page below.

He set his arms on the back of the chair, tilting his head with squinted eyes as he saw the collection of pictures Sasuke had before him. On one paper was a crudely drawn picture of Itachi and the Senju himself holding hands, both frowning far more than Tobirama felt was particularly fair. Sasuke was drawn beside them, far smaller than both with an equally serious frown.

Tobirama deadpanned as he stared down at the drawing, leaning forward just a bit to try to read the neat yet tilted handwriting below. He couldn't quite see what was written, but considering how far down it trailed, he doubted it was mindless babbling.

A hand was shoved in his face as the boy noticed his staring, the young Uchiha scrambling up as he looked to the elder with a look of outrage. His chest was puffed up alongside his cheeks, brows pulled together and into a glare as he blocked Tobirama's vision with his hands. "You aren't allowed to look!"

He said it as if it were the most obvious thing in the world - as if he had been horribly victimized by the elder shinobi's nerve to peek at the paper.

A singular brow rose as he eyes the boy's flustered and irritated expression, the silver-haired man standing in one easy movement.

"Apologies, I didn't realize." He spoke calmly, hand ruffling through the boy's hair as he passed to mess it up just enough to be obnoxious. The young Uchiha's cheeks warmed in further annoyance, and by the time Tobirama made it to the counter and looked back towards the boy, he looked all too much like a sopping wet cat.

He looked to Tobirama with a flustered glare, hands clenched into fists as he crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes in an unfortunately familiar form.

The only thing stopping Tobirama from entering mourning over seeing his habits reflected back to him on such a small canvas was the way the child puffed up his cheeks, his pouting ruining any sense of warning the stand may have given him.

"Did too." was all the boy muttered under his breath as he let his arms fall to his side, moving quickly to join Tobirama in the kitchen. He side-stepped around the elder shinobi, meeting him on one side and then wrapping around his back to stand in front of him. "It's not dinner time yet. Are you done with your work already?"

He once more stood practically on top of Tobirama's feet as he asked, head craned upwards to meet the man's gaze. For some reason, it also seemed to require he wrap his little lead-coloured fingers in the fabric of Tobirama's shirt.

The silver-haired man sighed silently, but only nodded, "It didn't take quite as long as I thought it would. Though, I suppose that's a good thing. It looks like you're overdue for a bit of... maintenance." he reached down to lift the tips of Sasuke's hair out of his face, the young Uchiha glancing upwards at the palm on his forehead as if only now noticing how long his hair had gotten. "Any longer and you'll need to start tying your hair up as well."

"You know how to cut hair?" the boy questioned, a distinctly sceptical look crossing his features as he eyed Tobirama's hair.

The silver-haired man was suddenly reminded just how snarky - intentional or otherwise - the child could be when he wasn't occupied bawling his eyes out. Red eyes narrowed down at the boy, nodding, "There isn't much to it. if you want it long, cut the bottom. If you want it short, cut it all around. It isn't terribly difficult."

He'd only ever cut his own hair, but then, if anything it should be easier on another person. At least he could see all the angles instead of having to strain to use a mirror or have a clone do it.

Besides. In his defence, he hadn't cut his hair since the jutsu had triggered.

He hadn't paid much attention to it, but at worst his short ponytail was a bit choppy at the tips and his sides were uneven.

"You can tell me exactly how you want me to do it if you're worried, alright? We just can't have your hair growing into your eyes and obscuring your vision for training." he shook his head briefly, "So we need to either cut it or find a different way to part it."

Sasuke seemed to consider it briefly before nodding, releasing his hold on Tobirama's shirt to go grab a pair of scissors from the junk drawer. "Okay. In the bathroom so I can see?"

"Mhm." Tobirama turned to follow the boy, slowly making his way after him as he moved quickly towards the bathroom. He grabbed a chair along the way, dragging it easily behind him.

By the time he had made it to the bathroom, the boy was already standing in front of the mirror - leaning one hand forward on the counter to press himself up for a better view as he poked and prodded at the strands atop his head. He only turned as he saw Tobirama enter behind him through the mirror, plopping down on the chair at the elder's direction to do so.

Sasuke stared towards him through the mirror, the silver-haired man tsking lightly as he moved his hands through the strands.

Little Izuna in the making indeed.

"Unless you want something different, I'm only going to trim the current length back to what I believe it looked like before it grew out. Just let me know if I need to stop." he spoke bluntly, waiting momentarily for a nod before he began to brush it out using the comb on the counter.

Sasuke's hair was thicker than it looked, the silver-haired man keeping his movements slow in an attempt not to pull at it. It didn't help that the boy kept shifting in his chair, back straight in a clear effort to remain still even as his body wanted otherwise.

He probably should have encouraged the boy to go out and stretch his legs considering he hadn't been able to train for at least two days now, outside of class. Possibly more, if he had stuck indoors for the week he was gone as much as Yoshino had said.

Tobirama supposed he should consider himself lucky all the boy had done to get his energy out was make a mess while cooking and wiggle a bit in his chair. He'd have to try to get the boy outside a bit more within the next few days.

"Can you make my bangs like they were before?" the boy asked as Tobirama finished trimming the back - leaving it perhaps a bit longer than the boy would usually have it but not wanting to take too much off. If need be, they could always go back to fix it.

As for the front of his hair...

"As in, shorter, or...?" the man frowned, looking the boy over through the mirror as he moved to part his own bangs and show the elder what he meant.

It was near identical to Itachi's part, if a bit less flat. He watched with mild interest as the split in his hair brought out a sort of natural lift, dark strands all but sectioning on their own. "I see." was all he said as he trimmed the tips, the bits that had been in front of his forehead channelling into the two strands.

In no time at all, the boy had returned to at least something close enough to his usual hairstyle, a thin smile lining his lips as he looked in the mirror and swung his legs briefly. As Tobirama sat the clippers to the side, the boy asked, "Are you going to do yours too?"

"...Just a few touch-ups. The meeting concerning Itachi is tomorrow, so it's best I look presentable." his hands lingered in the air for a brief moment before he sat them on the boy's shoulders, debating on how to say what needed to be said without startling the young Uchiha. He didn't imagine Sasuke would appreciate having both his brother's trial results and Tobirama's lie considering his identity sprung on him all at once, yet it wasn't as if he wanted to send the boy to school with such a heavy-weighted secret on his shoulders either.

Sasuke's head had turned up to look towards him in question as the hands landed on his shoulder, the silver-haired man managing to explain calmly after a moment of consideration, "A lot will be discussed tomorrow. We'll be seeing if and when he'll be allowed to come back home as well as what restraints he'll be under. He'll likely not be allowed to have chakra or train, which will be...a large change for him. There will be some discussion about myself as well, as far as who I am to be able to claim I'm enough to handle keeping guard over the two of you."

He paused briefly before adding, "You'll likely hear a lot of mixed feelings surrounding my intention to keep watch over you and Itachi, as well as a few mentions of truths I've unfortunately had to keep hidden as a shinobi. However. It is important you know that each altercation of the truth was made with the intention of staying by your side - just as my actions tomorrow will be in direct effort to do as well."

He idly swept some of the loose hair from the boy's shoulders, feeling as though he were pulling his own teeth as he did his best to be direct with his feelings. "I've already had this discussion with Itachi, so I feel it is important for you to know as well: I intend to stay by both of your sides, so long as you are willing. I intend to help the clan seek justice regardless of what others believe or whether I am welcome within, so disregard any baseless rumours that say otherwise. The small details I'll be sharing with the rest of the village tomorrow are of little importance to me - they do not change what I intend to do or how I see the two of you. We can talk more about it once the details have been officially released if you'd like, but for now, I hope you understand my point in all this."

Though the boy looked a bit nervous, he nodded, brows pulled together. "I understand, I think. It's like a mission you gave yourself?" he asked, watching as the elder nodded through the mirror.

"...I know shinobi have to lie all the time for missions, because it'll help keep the village and their family safe. You're...I don't think you'd try to hurt us. I don't know what's going on exactly, but I won't believe it if anyone says anything bad about you or tries to make me angry like they do with Itachi."

Frowning thinly, Tobirama nodded, "Your trust is appreciated, though I'm sorry you may have to go through the experience with two people now. It's ridiculous enough for them to try to actively bait you with your situation to start with. People are...unkind, but it's unfortunately the nature of many."

Sasuke nodded, a still quiet coming over the room until eventually he began lightly running his own thumbs over each other. The boy seemed to consider his words carefully before speaking them aloud, tone low. "It works, sometimes."

The young boy's words leaked with shame, even as his eyes remained steady in front of him - unmeeting with Tobirama's red ones. "It wasn't really a problem before, since I was mad at him so I could be mad with them. Now, though, it's...harder." the young Uchiha frowned, "I've heard so many people saying mean things about Itachi, but-" his brows furrowed, as if frustrated by his own lack of understanding. "I don't want them to be mean to him anymore, and I don't want to be mad at him either. I know he didn't want to and I know he was scared, but it makes my hands shake just to think about seeing him again. I want to see him again, but I just-" his breath picked up slightly as he tried to put his feelings into words, eyes clenching shut as a large hand began to rub the back of his throat in an attempt to ease his panic.

"It's natural, that fear," Tobirama spoke steadily, doing his best to keep the boy grounded. "As well as any feelings of anger you still have. It's an...upsetting situation, to be put in. One that will take time to handle." he frowned thinly, "I unfortunately don't have any answers for how to get through it beyond doing your best to continue day by day. Sometimes that's the only way to handle it - by reminding yourself that you don't want to feel this way forever."

It had been the only way he had managed to live day by day with the same men he'd seen kill dozens of his own comrades - by reminding himself that it was over and he could only do his best to make the days ahead bearable.

"It will get easier, in time. No one expects you to immediately forget all the pain you have been put through. Itachi hurt you, whether he wanted to or not - it's natural you'd find the thought of seeing him again frightening. However." he let out a brief sigh, "If you keep reminding yourself of what you want - of the bond you wish to restore between the two of you, it will one day be possible. It'll be difficult, but I know you and he are both capable of it. You're both strong like that."

A firm nod came from below, the boy taking a deep breath in an attempt to calm his nerves. The young Uchiha slowly slid out of the chair and looked to the elder with uncertainty as for what to say, hands folded neatly behind his back.

Tobirama attempted to ease some of the clear tension in his shoulders by suggesting mildly, "You should go put your papers away while I finish up my hair - then I'll meet you out there to make us some dinner before it gets too much later, alright?"

The boy looked far too content at being given something else to focus on.

______________________________________________

No more than an hour later, Sasuke had been put to bed - freshly showered with a haircut and a now full stomach. The boy's arm wrapped around the toy dinosaur that had taken permanent residency in this room, tucked under his shoulder as he shuffled briefly around the bed to make himself comfortable.

As finally managed to, he looked to Tobirama in the doorway with unblinking eyes, signaling that he was ready for the light to be turned off. He looked... precisely as content as he could be, given the circumstances. Hopefully, the dark spots faintly rimming the underside of his eyes would be enough to knock him out for the night.

"Goodnight." a low mumble left the boy's lips as the light switched off. He turned on his side to look towards the window as he spoke, apparently changing his mind already about how he wanted to sleep.

"Goodnight." Tobirama settled on nodding briefly even as Sasuke turned his back to him, closing the door all but an inch as he stepped out and into the hallway.

One more night until Itachi was, hopefully, returned to the compound.

Chapter Text

Tobirama's morning was a long one, once it finally managed to roll around.

From cooking breakfast, packing Sasuke's lunch, and prepping dinner so he wouldn't have to worry about it that night to arguing with the boy over whether he should be allowed to come with Tobirama to the meeting (No. The answer was a resounding no, no matter how many times it was asked.) to walking towards the school with an all-but-stomping academy student - he had already dealt with more than enough for the day.

A day which was, unfortunately, just starting as he reached the gates of the building with Sasuke. The boy's arms were still firmly crossed, head turned elsewhere with ire at Tobirama's refusal to let him come. Where the young Uchiha had gotten the impression he would be allowed to join in the first place was beyond him, but the mix-up was clearly not something the boy was pleased with.

How Sasuke managed to switch between cradling his own bleeding heart with as much tenderness as Hashirama and looking ready to shove a foot through Tobirama's throat with the same intensity as Izuna, he wasn't sure.

Even so, he motioned to the academy gates as they reached them, drumming his fingers against crossed arms with mild impatience as he watched the boy remain stuck to his side. Eyes narrowed down at the boy, he spoke with all the patience he'd had to work so hard to learn, "Have a good day, Sasuke. I'll see you tonight."

"...I'll see you tonight." the boy agreed after a long moment, moving to wrap his arms around Tobirama's side even as he looked elsewhere - glaring into the distance with a look of focus as he muttered, "Since I can't come to help, you have to do a twice-as-good job of making sure they let him come home. Okay?"

They were firm words, spoken with more force than any child who had just spent the day prior confessing to the fear that held him so tightly by the throat had any right to.

Even so, he indulged the childish demand, as if he hadn't intended to give it his all in the first place. A hand lingered on the boy's head as he swore, "I'm going to do all I can to make it so Itachi is home with us in the compound as soon as possible. I vow upon it."

It was only with this promise that the boy finally let go of his leg, the hand that had been atop his head dropping to pat the spot between his shoulders. "Now go on, before class starts. It'll be hard to convince them I know what I'm talking about if I'm late, won't it?"

Sasuke paused only momentarily before nodding, "...Okay, I'm going. Don't be late." the boy looked to Tobirama with all the seriousness in the world as he gave his goodbye, "I'll see you later."

The small Uchiha moved forward, glancing over his shoulder as he made it to the front door. He gave Tobirama one final look before heading inside, his teacher standing in the doorway to usher the last remaining kids into the building.

A small breath left his lips as Sasuke disappeared into the academy, though it was short-lived as a low whistle came from behind.

"Bossy little thing when he wants to be, isn't he?" the distinctly amused voice of Choza came from behind as Tobirama turned from his spot, sending an unimpressed look to the all too entertained Ino-Chika-Cho trio behind him.

The silver-haired man only spared them a brief roll of his eyes as he moved to walk past them, well aware of the lack of bite behind the man's teasing. "Indeed. Though, he isn't wrong per se. We have approximately fifteen minutes to make it to the tower."

"Hm, it would appear so." Inoichi mused, hands folding behind his back as he moved to follow Tobirama alongside the other two. He glanced idly towards the sealed binder in Tobirama's hands, though he made no comment on it. Instead, he noted, "Sasuke seems to be taking the news better than I would have thought, even with his frustrations. He's always been a level-headed kid, but to already be ready to speak for his brother after all that's happened...he's got a resolute head growing on his shoulders, even if it is a bit more than an academy student is ready to realistically tackle."

Tobirama eyed the man briefly out of the corner of his eye as he walked, nodding idly even as he noted the distinct lack of comment from the man's two close friends, "He has to. This world hasn't been kind to him so far, and it's not as if there's any assurance it will begin to soon."

His tone was even and mild as they moved through the streets, making their way to Hokage tower and ignoring the mild dig for information on his stance. They would be ready to hash it out soon enough - there was no reason to bother with pre-gaming the trial considering the three men walking beside him hardly had a quarter of the relevant information.

"I suppose that's true." was all the blond man said, a faint frown crossing his lips as they made it to the building.

Tobirama propped the door to the tower open, Inoichi following close behind alongside Shikaku and Choza. At his evasion of the talk of the trial, a heavy silence fell over the four - none of them quite sure what to say as they moved up the stairs and towards a room filled with air as suffocating as a battlefield.

Eyes turned to them as the door slid open, a variety of expressions landing on the three as they made it a mere five minutes before it was time to begin.

The trio moved to sit in each of their three chairs alongside the left of the round table, Tobirama moving easily past them and over to the seat to the right of the Hiruzen. Tsunade sat a pace over at his left, the two Senju briefly nodding to each other as he sat. The three were elevated a bit, a small gap left between them and the table.

Tobirama glanced out and over the row of clan leaders, some of which he recognized and some of which he'd yet to see even roaming the streets of Konoha. He knew them only through mentions from Hiruzen or through documents, likely the types to stay secluded in their compound.

Inoichi, Choza, and Shikaku had quickly settled themselves in their seats - Shikaku and Inoichi's hands folded atop the table while Choza's arms remained crossed over his chest.

To their side, the Inuzuka clan head sat, a brunette woman with sharp roaming eyes. Tsume, Tobirama believed her name was. Behind her sat a large nin-ken, an eye and ear both missing even as it seemed to take the others in with the same level of attention as its master.

Further still, the head of the Hyuuga clan sat, back straightened with pale eyes wandering over the empty seat nearby.

There was no sign of the Aburame clan head, his seat left distinctly empty.

So all in all, five clan heads sat before the three - a civilian representative sitting silently to the side with his hands folded atop the table, likely to remain that way due to his seat in the room being formality at best - while Itachi's former team sat together nearby.

At the two-minute-till mark, the door slid open.

A group of ANBU led Itachi into the room - his fabric constraints and blindfold having been refreshed by the looks of it. Each of his forearms were held by a shinobi, a preemptive kunai held to his throat as they moved him into the room.

Tobirama watched as the young Uchiha was shoved downwards by the shoulders, forced to kneel in front of Hiruzen by the group. The elderly man cleared his throat, watching as Itachi complied with the order by bowing his bound body down until his forehead rested against the floor - placing himself at the Hokage's feet as eyes drilled holes in his back.

Hiruzen made a dismissive motion towards the ANBU, reaching down to collect Itachi's face in his hand and scan over it. The boy remained still, likely well aware that any sudden moves in a room full of shinobi who had yet to reach a consensus on him was a bad idea. Tobirama watched as his student used his hand to guide the boy into sitting on the step directly between the round table and the elevated three - leaving him in perfect view of the others while giving them more than enough access to cut him down if he tried to make a move.

As the time for the meeting came to a start, a seal washed over the room, silencing them from the outside world and locking off all the doorways from interruption.

"I thank you all for coming." Hiruzen clapped his hands together as he looked out and over the room, his pipe held loosely between his lips as he spoke. "As I'm sure you are well aware, we are here today to discuss the recently discovered circumstances surrounding the Uchiha Clan Tragedy and how it affects our village as well as the last remaining Uchiha clan members. First, however, we have a few brief announcements to make."

A trail of smoke left his lips as he lifted a hand to his side, motioning to Tsunade. "As you may have noticed, Princess Tsunade has returned to Konoha in order to assist us during these times of change. She has likewise taken up the mantle of the Uzumaki clan head and officially submitted their clan as part of the village. After recent revelations concerning the Land of Rain's leader being of Uzumaki descent, the issues regarding the safekeeping of the ninetails vessel, and the recent Uzumaki orphan girl we've accepted into the village, we believe this is for the best."

He easily ignored the distinctly weary aura that fell over the room at the mention of the ninetails, continuing on without missing a beat, "She currently intends to remain in Konoha as a reserve shinobi and active aid for myself."

Hiruzen waited briefly, scanning the room for a long moment and waiting for any questions or objections before moving on to the next order of business. When he only saw varying polite bows, thanks, and welcomes for her return, he continued. "Next, to my right, you will find a shinobi I'm sure you've all at least heard in the whispers of the wind. He has been acting as my aid for the last few weeks in replacement of our recently disgraced elders, helping with both the matters of putting the new system adjustments into place and numerous tasks that require a certain level of...meticulousness."

Hiruzen nodded to Tobirama, the silver-haired man taking the moment to give a brief bow to those before them. "Many of you know me as Tobira of the Land of Mist - I will take this opportunity now to clarify that this is only a cover name and origin I have taken to using over the course of the last few weeks in order to keep the waters calm. Seeing as this level of secrecy no longer serves to benefit the village or myself, however, allow me to reintroduce myself."

His fingers reached up, carefully lowering his mark down until it merged with the fabric of his turtleneck below. "My true name and alliance is Tobirama Senju of Konoha."

A steep silence fell over the room, Tsume and Choza's face warping into ones of surprise while Shikaku and Inoichi had distinctly distressed expressions - the former pinching the bridge of his nose while the latter looked to the side with an almost embarrassed expression.

Hiashi scanned him over, eyes narrowed in observation as he remained calm in his seat. Kakashi likewise eyed him from his seat, sharp eyes flickering momentarily in interest and uncertainty.

The one who finally spoke was Tenzo, the teen asking bluntly with a slightly tilted head, "How?"

He ignored the critical looks from both Hiashi and Kakashi - one seeming a bit more well-meaning than the other - instead simply nodding along as the silver-haired man explained.

"A seal left on this village long ago," he explained mildly, altering the truth with ease to avoid any extra headaches the truth would likely bring. "One which was meant to bring me back under specific conditions in which it seemed the village was on the way to irreparably ruining its core."

He moved his hand, lightly motioning to the young Uchiha at Hiruzen's feet - not bothering to hide his ire at the situation even as he kept his tone formal. He had no interest in having the child remain there any longer than necessary, and thus, he held no qualms as he ripped the bandaid off and looked to the small group before him. "Though many steps lead to the trigger, the fall of the Uchiha Clan is what seems to have been the final nail in the coffin. So unless there are any questions, I believe lingering on the matter would be of little use. Let us proceed with the discussion concerning the events that have transpired in my time gone."

Chapter Text

Hearing no objections, the silver-haired man began - hands folded together in front of him as he eyed those ahead evenly.

"The seal with which I returned was one of my own creation. It restored my body using the soil of Konoha and some chakra-storing seals I had carved into the bones of my body before my death, which took roughly a month to finish its work." he explained, ignoring the mix of disturbed expressions and mild grimaces from the crowd. It hadn't been the most pleasurable thing he'd ever done, but it was far from the worst as far as his experiments went. "Thus, I was able to conclude that something had gone wrong roughly a month before my awakening."

"With this in mind, I made my way through Konoha; looking for anything out of the ordinary. In the end, all I could find was the blood-covered sight that was the Uchiha compound." reflexively, he hit the back of his hand to his other palm, a scolding edge filling his tone as his brows furrowed.

The sight seemed all too fresh in his memories, the gore having followed a distinct rhythm as he walked through the compound. It had been as if nearly every person had died where they stood in the streets, at most a futile chase having taken place. He still wasn't certain whether this had been better or worse than the alternative of them having been able to at least put up a mild fight before their demise.

"I was able to enter without any hurdles - which as a note was a dangerous gap in the village defence, especially for a Kekki Genkai wielding clan. We should consider ourselves lucky no visiting shinobi fell into the temptation to harvest an unguarded sharingan while here for work. Hence the new order being put into place for the clan grounds to have a separate code within the composition of the village seals." he distinctly did not look to Hiashi, having read up on the Hyuuga affair in detail when digging through Konoha's scarred and grotesquely gapping underbelly to understand what he had missed.

How they hadn't thought to add some sort of second layer of protection after an active attempt was beyond him, but at least it was being sorted out now. Even if it rubbed him the wrong way to know how incredibly easy it would have been for an enemy to get ahold of Sasuke, considering they'd nearly gotten away with stealing the Hyuuga heiress with hundreds of eyes in the vicinity. The fact he was able to stay an entire night with the boy without anyone taking notice was beyond a red flag for their security system.

Just because they had a strong outer layer didn't mean they should neglect the inner layer, damn it! Between Sasuke and Naruto's neglectful circumstances as a sharingan user and a jinchuriki, they were beyond lucky to only have to deal with his ire.

"The compound was, of course, empty when I arrived. Blood covered the ground, glass still shattered all over the place an entire month after the fact." a blatant safety hazard if he'd ever seen one, "It seemed abandoned, but I searched the houses within just in case. When I made it to the main house and saw various childlike items around - footstools, cartoon kunai towels, and so on I began to suspect that the children had been spared from whatever ill fate had befallen the clan."

"Clearly, this was not the case." he shook his head, "Sasuke came home as I was upstairs surveying the state of the house and trying to get an estimate on how many had made it out alive. He showed signs of paranoia as I watched him move through the house, falling into a panic after a few moments and convincing himself that Itachi was there with him likely due to feeling my gaze on him. He attempted to use a fireball jutsu to defend himself against the perceived threat, unintentionally forcing my hand and making me show myself in order to stop him from starting a fire in the very flammable house."

Tobirama frowned at the memory, of the terror that had fallen over the young Uchiha's face as he pinned him to the ground to stop him from hurting himself or the house surrounding. Of the way he had scratched, kicked, and bit in a manner entirely too desperate for the noble clan he'd once known so thoroughly. Of the utter rage and vexation that had so clouded his eyes, back before it had begun to melt into the numb pain and distress the child was working so hard to get through now.

"This led to me giving him my cover story of being a widow to an estranged Uchiha that had passed recently - trying to respect my partner's heritage by at least going to check in on the situation. It seemed at the time to be the most efficient way to dig for information on the events that had transpired and to give me an opening or reason to be in the compound."

By the time he had what he wanted out of the entire ordeal, it had been entirely too late to back out of the situation or pass the problem on to another.

Not with how Sasuke had so quickly begun to look to him with those awestruck dark eyes of his; as though he were spotting a shooting star - a passing spark of hope that he wasn't alone in the hauntingly dark streets of the compound.

Not with how he had nearly crumbled at the thought of Tobirama rejecting the offered clan title - with how he all but wept at the thought of the elder shinobi returning to his home and leaving him by himself once again.

Not with how he promised Tobirama time and time again that he would work hard as a student and shinobi, as if desperate for the approval and attention he'd been deprived of for the month prior - with how his lips quirked ever so slightly every time Tobirama passed him his lunch - with how he had taken to simply wanting to remain by his side day and night, whether they were working on something or not.

How was he to send the boy off and into another's hands knowing how he looked to Tobirama with all the admiration and trust in the world - as if he were handing his battered and mauled heart over one last time and daring him to drop it?

Tobirama said none of this, however, feeling entirely too much like his sorry sap of a brother as he forced himself to focus on the proceedings ahead.

"I managed to gather a few general facts from Sasuke that night - of the clan's recent fall, of his time alone in the compound, and of the person who had done it." he cast his eyes briefly over to Itachi, the boy never once moving even as he likely felt the stares from the near-dozen shinobi. He remained in place, sitting where he had been placed with his head bowed and lips pressed shut. "A few pieces, however, did not completely align."

"I was told that his actions were spurred on by a moment of madness and jealousy, yet this was not what I saw in the home he left behind. I saw handfuls of awards with confident yet saddened auras, books of various non-combative interests lining his shelves, candy jars sitting forgotten in his room-" he made no pause even as the boy's face reddened a bit at the mention, likely not understanding the relevance to the case despite it being so, so, clear to anyone who had ever had to watch their young forfeit pieces of their innocence bit by bit until it was completely left behind. The boy's face remained impassive even as his ears reddened a bit, brows only drawing together in mild discomfort by his lack of understanding.

Inoichi and Tsume's faces meanwhile had dropped into grim frowns at the mention of the forsaken pleasantries of his youth, Tobirama carrying on with his own thin frown, "-stories from Sasuke of the way his brother once smiled to him, back before his supposed true nature came out. I know madness plenty well, and the boy I saw in the shadows of that house did not portray the symptoms nearly as loudly as those around me seemed to want me to believe."

"I spoke with Hiruzen on the matter but we were unable to think of a possible rationalization. There was no proof left behind that our suspicions were correct, not until weeks into my return - when we met with the leader of the Land of Rain and learned of the slights Danzo had made against the foreign nation behind his back." he spoke the half-truth without a flicker of hesitance, having few qualms with it as he looked out and over the array of leaders. "With that, it was hard not to wonder what else he was hiding, so a full-on investigation was launched. It was there that we discovered an alarming amount of missions he had recommended Itachi for despite the fact he was supposed to be serving directly under Hiruzen at the time."

Tobirama's hand rested heavily on the binder his lap, leaning his head on the backside of his hand as he crossed his legs with a narrow-eyed look of disgust. A genjutsu was cast, copies of the binder appearing in front of the group. "One of which, we found, was the Uchiha Massacre - a mission meant to eliminate the clan on the basis of destroying a potential problem before it arose."

He frowned, speaking bluntly, "The Uchiha clan was eliminated due to a presumption of guilt regarding their actions during the nine-tailed best attack. Danzo believed that they were responsible, as did many shinobi outside of the clan from what I was able to gather. The clan was becoming ostracized from the village, and thus, he felt it better to remove it than to wait for it to fester into something more difficult to control."

"This was unacceptable treatment for a clan to receive from the village it has allied itself with, as well as being a true disgrace to the hard-working shinobi who protected those unfit to fight during the attack from the beast. Those who protected all the civilians, children, and elderly while the shinobi were busy fulfilling their duty. They took the role of protectors on for the innocent of every clan and family, yet received only blame and shame in turn as no one thought to wonder how many non-combative casualties there would have been without their rescue and guidance towards the shelters. The Uchiha clan was wronged by the village in this way, most executed due to the will of presumptuous elders while one in particular was left to carry the burden of being their misused weapon." his red eyes swept over the room, his silent disappointment and disgust seeming to leave a heavy bolder on each of the clan leader's chests as he spoke.

"In the binders you see before you, there are details on the mission as it is the one we are currently focusing on unwinding into something more manageable. Please take about fifteen minutes to go through them and we will discuss everyone's thoughts on the matter afterwards," he ordered with a firm yet respectful nod, watching the group hesitantly reach for the cast binders.

Tobirama leaned back in his seat beside his student and niece, taking in the subtle expressions on each of the clan head's faces.

No matter how well-trained they may be at hiding their expressions, Tobirama was nothing if not detail-oriented. He could sense the thick aura of distress, anger, and annoyance from a mile away - even as the most he got in terms of hints were faint frowns and slightly stiffened shoulders.

None were particularly hard to read, the ironic exceptions being the young Hatake and teen brunette scanning swiftly from page to page. Choza also gave few hints beyond his thin frown, the three seeming far too focused on taking all the information in to let themselves consider their own feelings.

Oddly enough, the easiest to read meanwhile were the Inuzuka and Hyuuga leaders.

Tsume he supposed he shouldn't be too surprised about as she gripped the binder, shoulders hiking up a bit as she tried to repress the urge to let whatever words were locked behind a tight jaw out. Her nin-ken watched from behind, their furry heads resting on her own in what was most likely meant to be an attempt to calm her.

Hiashi, however, he had expected to be better at keeping his opinions in line as he read. Instead, his pale eyes scanned the text almost boredly, brows furrowing as if not understanding the point of multiple sections. His eyes rose once to meet Tobirama's, but seeing the red ones match his easily, the man's pale Byakugan fell a mere moment later out of sheer awkwardness.

Tobirama tried to do Shikaku and Inoichi the service of not looking to them as their chakra signatures grew steadily more stressed by what they were reading, instead taking a moment to reach out and stick his fingers between the straps binding Itachi - receiving only a small angling of the boy's head towards him in turn.

Not too tight. Good.

Chapter Text

"...Not to be too blunt, but after reading through this, I'm not certain I understand why we're having this trial at all." Inoichi frowned, fingers tapping idly against the binder on the table as he looked to the Hokage and Senju duo. "I would say it's a quite clear-cut case. Orders that don't align with the village values were given out and followed, so those responsible must suffer the consequences and work to realign themselves with better behaviours in order to prove themselves worthy of being Konoha shinobi. In the elders' case, they seem unwilling, in Itachi's, he does. He is guilty as a person who has done terrible things, but innocent as a shinobi who obeyed his superior's orders."

The blond shook his head, "The conditions and reasoning all seem fair enough as well, and it isn't as if it's a stranger being sentenced. We all know Itachi. We know he's never been the malicious type - unwavering to a dangerous fault, perhaps - but never malicious. If we're able to...correct his understanding of the village goals, he'll be a valuable asset to have."

"Unwavering to a dangerous fault? Is that what you call the ability to murder your own kin in cold blood?" Choza frowned deeply towards his friend, looking non-too-pleased to be on opposite sides of the playing field but unwilling to simply go along with what he said either. "Orders or not, if someone has the ability to do something like that, you have to wonder what else they would be willing to do simply because they were told to do it. Should someone else come along and convince him that they are the ones that know best, should we be expected to trust that he won't follow their orders as well? How can we trust that he won't repeat these horrors again when he is so easily swayed by fear? We can't truely expect our clansmen to someday go out into the field with a shinobi like this."

Out of the corner of his eye, Tobirama could see Kakashi's mouth open behind his mask momentarily, only to snap back shut a mere moment later - as if reconsidering how his words would be taken. Tobirama's eyes lingered on the young man momentarily before his attention was drawn elsewhere, Shikaku's firm voice cutting between the two.

"I understand where you're coming from in your concerns, Choza, but it hardly seems fair to expect such dedicated resolve from a child of twelve. Your putting the horse ahead of the carriage." he shook his head, eyes narrowing as he looked towards the boy on the floor. "Skilled as he may be, let's all remember that he's the same age as Hana, who has only just become a genin." motioning to Tsume with a free hand as he leaned his elbows against the table.

"It was only two or three months ago that we got to see her trying to decide whether her headband fit better on her arm, waist, or forehead - and I alone have spotted her walking around with it on her neck, head, torso, leg, and nowhere at all since then. If she can't decide on where she wants her headband, how can we expect Itachi at the same age to know who to trust in a world like ours." he cleared his throat, adding, "I mean no disrespect to the dead, but we all knew Fugaku and Mikoto well enough to know their interests were not always...Itachi-focused so much as they were First-Son focused, if you understand my meaning. As for the elders, well, this village has always boasted itself as a family to the young aspiring shinobi. It's no wonder he would fall into the trap of not knowing who to obey."

Tobirama could see the boy's jaw lock in place, restraining himself from jumping to his parents' defence as he listened to the trio discourse over his ability to understand right from wrong.

Tsume's brows meanwhile rose at the mention of her daughter, an almost defensive aura welling in the woman's stomach as Hiashi shook his head from where he sat.

The Hyuuga sat straight in his seat, an unimpressed expression crossing his face as he listened to Shikaku speak. "Having too many blind loyalties that can crack under the pressure of fear hardly equates to a lack of commitment on where to place your headband. One is a matter of preference and one is a matter of village security."

"Which is why he will be removed from the shinobi ranks until we are sure he is able to handle the pressure of being a shinobi appropriately," Hiruzen spoke up, clearing his throat before adding, "I understand your concerns, I do. If he was able to be bent to Danzo and the other elders' will, what is stopping him from bending to a different enemy if one powerful enough comes along? However. We must remember that Itachi's actions were not taken out of cowardice or foolishness. They were made out of a lack of information and ability to see outside the walls that had been so carefully crafted for him."

"Yes, precisely." Tsunade nodded, voice grim as she locked eyes with each of the clan leaders. "Up to this point, Itachi has been told time and time again that he is competent and mature enough to handle the pressure that has been sent his way. He was told that he was ready to make the decision over whether hundreds of people deserved to die swiftly by his hands or slowly by another's. He was told he was ready to decide whether he wanted to die alongside his family or risk telling them and opening up the possibility of a civil war, since he was under the impression Lord Third had approved the execution call. He was told he was ready to decide if his little brother or clan meant more to him. It is not so simple as Danzo cornering him and telling him he had to."

"A dozen choices were given to him, and he was expected to choose one himself, without any help." Tenzo frowned, his calm voice cutting through the ruckus of the room. "He was under the impression the Hokage and elders were against him. He couldn't ask his teammates, not without leaking mission intel and risking the choice being revoked. He couldn't ask his family. Itachi...didn't know what to do. He made the wrong call, but it wasn't out of malicious intent or childish fear. This was a real mission he was given at the time, one which would have had consequences no matter the option he chose."

The teen kept his unblinking eyes on Choza, a thin frown lacing his lips. "Had he chosen to warn his clan, we would likely be in the middle of a full-blown war currently. His family as well as the village would be slowly suffering loss after loss as well as using a good number of resources. In all likelihood, we might have even found ourselves the target of another nation while in such a weak position."

"Then if he had simply refused and tried to stand up for the clan on his own, it would have been futile. He's strong, but he's only one shinobi." Tenzo continued, "He might be able to fight off the first, the second, even the third round of teams sent out to destroy the clan. Eventually, though, there would be a breakthrough and they would kill him and the rest of his clan. Likely with much harsher methods than the ones he would employ."

By now the brunette had begun counting on his fingers, his blunt and truthful evaluation of the situation carrying on even as Choza's certainty in his words increasingly waivered. "Had he tried to run away, he would have likely only been able to take Sasuke and perhaps a few other young clansmen. The majority would refuse on principle and carry on with the fight against the village if informed, and if not, simply die in the night. More had the ability to escape in this scenario, but it's also a much more dangerous gamble to make. He would be in charge of keeping them safe and giving them a life unmiserable enough to be worth living, all the while avoiding being spotted as he would likely be put in the bingo book. Which would be infinitely more difficult to manage with a young child attached to his sleeve."

"It's...difficult, to pry yourself from Danzo's influence. He makes you believe that he would never ask you to do anything to hurt the village while hiding behind you like a shield. He speaks as if he's done you a favour, as if you are lucky to be a kunai in his palm. He was able to manipulate hundreds of ROOT members in this way, so it's no surprise he was able to do it to Itachi too. ROOT is known to take from whoever they want, regardless of clan. It's likely he wanted Itachi but was unable to take him due to his importance to his clan. Had he been of any lower-standing birth he likely would have been taken. He...is no different from the clansmen that have been stolen and recently returned from many of your clans. He is no different from the other children being reintegrated into Konoha." a light hint of guilt lingered in his eyes, which flickered from Choza to his silver-haired friend.

Kakashi nodded from beside him, speaking finally with a hint of edge - as if knowing there was a high chance what he said next wouldn't go over well, "Itachi was in a no-win situation; something I'm sure we've all been in as shinobi." he looked to Hiashi, frowning, "As far as I am concerned, it's pointless to claim foul-play when we've all participated in it at one point or another. This village has proved time and time again that in the end, sacrifices for the greater good are expected. Whether we agree or not on a personal level, that is the oath we make by becoming shinobi. The issue here is that he was forced to make that oath before he was ready."

Hiashi's eyes narrowed at the boy, a distinct scowl crawling up his features as he stood in one swift movement - long flowing sleeves whipping to the side as he made a motion demanding silence from the younger shinobi. Clearly, a still raw wound had been poked. "Don't you dare think to compare Hizashi's sacrifice with that of Itachi's actions - let alone try to drag the case of the White Fang into the matter. You say he was too young to make that oath, yet you were even younger than he was when you made yours."

The young Hatake stood, unwilling to let the elder shinobi lord over him with his height as he spoke. A single visible brow pinched despite the unimpressed look in his eyes, voice stern and cutting as he refuted the other's words. "I made my oath during a time of war, a war which was over by the time Itachi was graduating." he somehow managed to give the impression he was looking down upon the elder even with the good foot's worth of height difference.

"As for the matters with Hizashi and Sakumo, I would say they're entirely relevant. Hizashi was expected to give up his life and leave behind a young son in order to appease the aggressors. Sakumo was publicly shamed to the point of suicide for choosing his teammate's lives over their mission's success. In both cases, the expectation was that the shinobi should be willing to give his life for the greater good. The matter of morals and feelings have little to do with the fact that in the end, this is the expectation the village has set for young shinobi. Leave those you care about to burn if it will protect the village, or be punished in turn for it."

Hiashi hissed, "Don't be ridiculous, Hizashi made a noble sacrifice on his own accord! If anything, you degrade Itachi's sacrifice by comparing it to that mongr-"

Everyone in the room jumped, from Tenzo to Tsunade as Tobirama let out a heavy blast of chakra - his aura washing over the room in warning as he remained seated with his arms crossed. The room became suffocating, the red-eyed man staring the two down with a warning scowl before speaking, "Sit, both of you! You can have a civil discussion or have both your inputs cast out. Have some dignity as clan heads."

He watched as both hesitantly sat down, Kakashi moving first and then Hiashi. Their faces had reddened a bit with restrained objections, their frustrations shoved down as Tobirama took a breath to ease his own chakra.

A heavy beat of silence filled the room as Tobirama rubbed his temple, giving those before him a moment to ease their own tensions before speaking. "This village has become entirely too comfortable with the raising and use of scapegoats, which is beyond unacceptable. If that is our intention with our young, we might as well have carried on with throwing them out onto the battlefield on their own."

The silver-haired man shook his head, "I can't claim to know enough about the inner workings of either case to know exactly what happened, but I do know that there is a distinct difference between sacrificing oneself for the village and being sacrificed by the village."

His words felt acidic in his mouth as he spoke, a firm frown lingering over his face as he continued, "In Itachi's case, it could not be clearer that he was led down this path for the express purpose of eventual slaughter. Whether he willingly trotted along or kicked and screamed the entire way is irrelevant."

His hand rose, carefully running over his eyes as he spoke. "...As a middle ground, to keep the safety of village intel in mind alongside the physical safety of the villagers, we can place a silencing seal on him for now to restrict his ability to repeat village secrets. At least until he is ready to return to the shinobi ranks, should the day ever come. With both his words and his abilities sealed, he'll hardly be any more threatening than a civilian."

Outside his taijutsu, but he rather not point this out. He supposed out of all the possible complaints he should count himself lucky they demanded extra security for their secrets. It was unfortunate, but it was ten times better than what he had been expecting.

"What do you think of all this, Itachi?" Tsume finally spoke, oddly quiet for all the barking Tobirama was used to seeing her send towards her youngest son during drop-offs and pick-ups by the school. Her eyes were intent, focused on the young Uchiha with slit pupils - dark eyes searching for any hint of a lie as Itachi carefully lifted his head. "All these regulations won't mean shit if we can't trust you to follow through with them, so tell us."

Her lips fell into a tight frown before she asked, gradually gaining more bite to her voice as she spoke, "Do you plan on trying to figure this out with us, or are you content to be led again and just hope for a better outcome this time? Will you blindly follow our words or are you only waiting until the opportunity to twist things in your favour arrives? Do you hate what you've done, or would you do it a hundred times over? Sitting there in silence while we argue over what's in your heart and how you should be treated...you made the wrong decision, but you're no idiot or coward, so don't act like one. Sit up and tell us!" she ordered, a severe expression falling over her face as the boy frowned in turn - a conflicted and frustrated expression falling over his face as he spoke.

"I'm not being silent out of fear or impassiveness."

Chapter Text

The boy's words had been blunt and straightforward, not a hint of doubt lingering behind them as he spoke to the elder shinobi. He had said it so matter-of-factly, as if the mere notion of him being scared or not caring was ridiculous.

If anything, he seemed almost insulted by the notion, his lips curving down into a tight frown as silence echoed in the meeting room. An air of further unease filled the area as he seemed to debate momentarily over his words - his bound feet withdrawing further against the steps where he sat; pulling as far away from the woman ahead as possible.

His words seemed stuck in his throat, as if unsure whether the woman truly wanted him to explain himself or was only letting off steam at his lack of words. The young Uchiha spoke after a long moment of unseen yet severe stares from the Inuzuka clan head, his voice wavering only briefly in comparison to the certainty that had come with his past words as his head tilted downward ever so slightly. "I...never wished to cause so much pain. I didn't want to hurt them so severely or frighten those who lived to be affected by it." the boy spoke lowly, pain dripping from the back of every word if one bothered to notice it behind the blunt admission of his intentions. "I tried to appease Danzo without fulfilling his request, to sway him away from the idea, but failed time and time again until eventually...he refused to hear any more of it. He took away the option to argue if I wanted any say in Sasuke's survival."

Itachi's brows furrowed, guilt lingering heavily on his lips as he frowned, "I should have tried harder to find a solution before it came to that. I failed my village and clan both with my inability to better handle the situation." his shoulders pulled inwards a bit, as if the bolder's on his shoulders had doubled in weight at the verbal acknowledgement. "The elders first mentioned it months ago. I had months to come up with a better solution, but failed to do so."

"I saw no end in sight that concluded without bloodshed on at least one side. It seemed inevitable. The clan might have been able to fight off the elders and a few rounds of ANBU, but if we did, it would only be a matter of time until their deaths were used as proof of our wrongdoing. Then we'd have not only them against us, but the standard forces as well. What would we do then? Fight to stay in a village that so visibly does not want us? Escape, and have one of the five great nations out for us? Talk them down, only to see it start again a few years down the line? This matter aside, Konoha was angry with us. It has been for a long while now, and no amount of time has managed to heal that. Not when every time we begin to feel united with the village a new issue comes along to pick at the scab." he let out a small breath, a distinctly tired look falling over his young face. "It seemed pointless to prolong their suffering, with this all considered."

A wave of offence fell over the clan leaders at the insinuation that they would have aided the village in such a heartless endeavour, Choza opening his mouth to object but falling silent as Inoichi placed a finger over his lips and sent his friend a warning look. The man clenched his teeth, head tilting downwards where he sat with a look of remorse after a moment further of thought.

An uncomfortable feeling seemed to wash over the group as they were confronted with the unfortunate truth, their vague feelings of envy and mourning for their own men which had spun into unease towards the Uchiha laid out before them in the form of a young boy who hadn't trusted any of them enough to seek help.

A boy who was so sure he had no one to depend on that he had instead stumbled and shoved his way through the situation on his own, doing the only thing he knew would make those around him listen and unhand the control they so loved to wave over his head - hacking and slashing through the problem while keeping his brother held close under his sleeve.

The unpleasant truth was laid before them, spoken in direct yet unblaming words.

There was no use denying what they all knew was the truth, no matter how much the thought felt like a kunai being twisted into their guts.

Had the Hokage ordered it and had they been shown the body count of ANBU slain in self-defence or otherwise, it would have been easy to convince them that it was the Uchiha clan in the wrong.

Tobirama wasn't so naive as to believe otherwise, and he had a feeling they knew this just as well as they considered the boy's words.

"To uproot the elderly from the only home they'd ever known...to look at the shopkeepers and homemakers and tell them they had to get up and fight now. To look at the genin and tell them their teachers and teammates were now their enemies. To pull Sasuke from the academy and have to tell him the village blamed him for an accident that happened while he was still in a sling in my arms." the young Uchiha's voice wavered further, sounding as if he was doing everything in his power to not allow a crack to slip through his voice. "It felt so much crueller than ending their suffering while they were still happy."

"At least then, it was just...a quick severing of their arteries for the civilians." his breath trembled ever so faintly, the imprints of his hands against his binding shifting as he dug his nails into his own hips. "The shinobi got to die fighting just as they wanted and the genin...they got to be led to their death using genjutsu - never knowing that they were gone until the very last moment. The only one that had to suffer was Sasuke. It was my intention that he...in time...would find peace and be able to make a new start for us. He could do better than we had and truly become part of the village by killing off the last of the clan that blame could reasonably be found in."

Tobirama watched the boy carefully, hand bracing against the wood of his seat as he debated on whether to reach in and slow the boy's spiralling explanations or to let him get all the words he'd been forced to keep to himself for so long out.

The pre-teen's shoulders were so taut in their bindings that Tobirama worried they may snap, his tone eerily calm as he spoke of his own planned demise - at most seeming disappointed in himself by the shortcomings of it. "I may have failed the village and my clan in not being able to come up with a better solution, but I at least wanted to do right by Sasuke. Though it seems I failed in that as well."

Tired.
Itachi looked so tired.

"Every course of action I take seems to be the wrong one, no matter how carefully I consider my options. I'm...inadept, as a shinobi and clansmen. I should have done better, but I don't- I didn't, and I'm unsure as to how I should have." Itachi let out a small breath, trying to find his words momentarily before continuing, "Had I followed every order given to me over the years, I firmly believe the suffering endured in the end would have multiplied tenfold. However, likewise, I do believe the choices I've made have caused more pain than was ever truly necessary."

"...I can't say whether things would have ended better if I had refused to follow through on my orders, but I know two irrefutable facts as it is: It has at the very least ended in a controlled issue compared to the chaos that could have unfolded, and Sasuke is not in immediate danger. I might not have been able to say the same had I either alerted my clan of the danger ahead or tried to campaign against the elders. Sasuke is at the same age I was when I was deemed old enough by both my clan and village to become a shinobi...and that isn't a risk I was willing to take on either side. I wanted to keep him safe from that life...if just for a bit longer." his lips fell into a firm frown, Shikaku's brows furrowing at the boy with a distinct look of understanding.

More likely than not, had they gone down that road, Sasuke would have hardly been the only one at risk of accelerated graduation if worse came to worst.

With the way things tended to unfold, assuming the worst would come to be was usually for the best.

"My point in all this is...I didn't see a better solution at the time, but I wish I had. I don't necessarily believe that there is anyone I trust to give me orders to follow unthinkingly, but I can't say I trust my own judgement any more after seeing the way things have fallen apart after thinking I knew better than them. All I know is that I don't want to hurt anyone else, and as much as I hate the thought of being unable to defend Sasuke, I understand that I can't expect you all to trust me to do the right thing when I can't even trust myself." the boy shook his head briefly.

"I want to become a shinobi again someday. No matter what has happened, this village is my home and I want to defend it and keep those I care for safe - even if it takes a long while for me to earn the right to. That is all I ask. To be able to prove that I am worthy of keeping my home and brother safe. I'll do whatever is needed - bind my chakra, seal my tongue, lock me in the compound and take my weapons. I'll follow through with whatever I need to in order to prove to you all that I can do better than the trail of failures I've left behind. I'll do whatever it takes to become someone who can serve his village and family in the way they deserve."

"...Itachi. We, or at least I, do not blame you for what has happened." Choza frowned deeply at the young boy's oath to do better, "I apologize if that is how it came across. I merely...worry for my son, as well as the rest of the young of the village. Though perhaps Shikaku and Tenzo are right - it's unfair of me to hold you to the standard of a shinobi and a child at the same time when those are such vastly different things." he shook his head, arms crossing in his seat as he spoke. "You made a horrible mistake, one you'll have to live with for many years now. As far as I am concerned, that is punishment enough. My only concern now is any future damage you may do - so let me make myself clear. If you are willing to put in the work to strive towards becoming a shinobi that we can depend on, I am willing to allow you to try."

Inochi nodded from beside his friend, agreeing, "Precisely. What's done is done, no matter how horrible." he frowned, "We live in a horrible world, one you are doing your best to adapt to just the same as us. It's not a wonder that you would wind up leaving corpses in your path when a blade was so carelessly shoved to your palm long before you ever wanted it, let alone were ready for it."

The blond shook his head, "This is not the life I want for my daughter, or for any of our children. This is not the life I want for you, if I may be so bold." hardly skipping a beat as he watched Itachi carefully. "You did not fail. You were given a question without an answer - you were asked to bloom in the dead of winter. There was no chance of a kind outcome to this situation - though I wish truly that there had been. If only we hadn't been so blinded by our loss during the ninetails incident and thus blinded by grief, perhaps you would have known to depend on us."

Inoichi's brows had drawn together, the mention of his fallen comrades clashing with the boy that had been knocked to his knees before him. "I know it means little now, but the Uchiha are our sister clan by our shared homeland. If ever you are unsure of what to do, I will be there to listen and discuss it with you as head of the Yamanaka clan - as I should have been years ago as fellow villagers. I ask that you remember that, and don't let yourself hesitate. We both want what is best for the village - for Ino and Sasuke. Understand?"

Itachi's lips pressed into a thin line, the pre-teen frowning in uncertainty even as he nodded to no one in particular through his bindings. "...I understand. Thank you."

"It is the same with the Nara clan." Shikaku's cut into the conversation, hands folding on the table as he looked down at the boy once more with a look of consideration. "You said you were not afraid, merely inadept...but it would not be disgraceful if you were."

The man looked all too tired as he spoke, the weight of a thousand suns seeming to rest on his back as he spoke to the young Uchiha. "A shinobi knowing no fear is one of the most dangerous myths to have ever been born. It's not something that is pleasant to acknowledge, but it's the truth." his dark eyes narrowed, a low sigh leaving his lips. "A healthy dose of fear is the backbone of any good shinobi - whether it be the fear of losing those we care for or the fear of failing to measure up to the standard we've set for ourselves. You can call it what you will. Bravery, ambition, recklessness, or desperation. It's all the same, in the end."

He leaned forward in his seat, a layer of thin dusty red crawling up his neck as he levelled with the boy, "Not a mission went by during the third war that I wasn't terrified by the thought of not being able to return to my wife and son. Of leaving my clan and village behind, never getting to know if they made it out alive. It made me do reckless things, and left permanent markings on my life I'll never be able to remove." the man didn't even bother motioning to his scarred and mutilated face, instead resting his chin atop his folded hands and giving the child a hard look he knew wouldn't be seen. "The fear you felt for Sasuke's life...the worry you had over the family you felt you couldn't save. It's nothing to be ashamed of. The terror of being a shinobi is one of the best-kept secrets across all nations."

Tsume gave a rough huff of agreement from beside him, leaning forward with a palm on either knee as she listened to the trio. "Exactly. Fear is just as natural as any other feeling we're born with." her head jerked forward with a nod, "And don't go thinking you can't be upset about what's happened either. At this point, it's not as simple as you being at fault or not - I don't know a single damn shinobi that doesn't have a list a mile long of regrets. A single person, as a matter a fact." her eyes narrowed in thought, mind drifting away only briefly to another private subject before returning, "Shit happens, and it hurts like hell, but once it's done, it's done. No matter how much we regret what has happened, there's no going back after a certain point. All we can do is try our best to fuck up what we have left as little as possible and cherish it while we can. It's difficult, but possible with enough work - especially for someone like you" she paused only briefly before adding, "I'm sure your parents would feel the same, this disaster of events aside. I don't know what your final moments with them were like, but it was clear to me on the few occasions your father and I worked together that they were proud of the boy they were raising. They'd of liked for you to keep pushing through this and become someone you could be proud of too, I think. Even if they aren't here to see it and found themselves upset with you at the time."

Itachi's brows drew together in uncertainty, though his doubt was never voiced as the brunette continued with a low huff of amusement - as if sensing his reluctance and aiming to smash it to bits before it had a moment to properly wrap around his mind. "You know, after Hana's first day at the academy, she came home in a fit of giggles." Tsume shook her head, "She ran up to me - so excited to tell me about the silly boy in her class. The boy who, when asked what his dream for the future was, stood before them all and said he wanted to 'Become the greatest shinobi ever, and erase all fighting from this world'. She thought it was the funniest thing."

A streak of red shot up Itachi's back and up his face, a faint grimace escaping the boy at the proud, naive words spoken so long ago. Tsume only smirked bittersweetly in turn, tsking to the pre-teen, "It was a fine dream then and it's a fine dream now. That is who I am putting my trust in and voting to allow back into our village. So be sure to honour that boy's vision with every step you take. Live a life that he could be proud of despite the passing of time."

Tobirama's brow only lifted briefly at the mention of the boy's past words and the woman's shared words of encouragement, feeling the dream spoken so long ago align all too closely with his and his brother's own decision to become strong enough to someday forge a more bearable world.

Naive, but not necessarily as foolish as those around them made it out to be.

Hiashi let out a low sigh, fingers pressing lightly over his own forehead and covering half his face - the same frustrated look of secondhand embarrassment he recognized from his own elders crossing the man's face as he listened to his allies - admittedly - sappy if not true speeches.

He looked all too much like Tobirama's own father, doing everything in his power to not backhand Hashirama for refusing to listen to the words he'd spoken fifteen times over.

"I likewise have no issue with Itachi returning to Konoha, so long as he cooperates with the restrictions placed upon him and keeps his distance from my clan and daughters. He did his duty as best he could as a shinobi and clansman, and for that, he has my respect. However, I have no interest in seeing head or tail of him near my compound. Understood?"

"Understood." the boy all but snapped from the fluster he'd earlier worn, back straightening as he bowed with practice to the elder shinobi.

Hm. So that was what his own appeasing but not quite genuine bow looked like from this angle. He'd seen it twice now on the boy, and it didn't seem to look any more convincing the second time.

Perhaps the man's ego was well-fluffed enough that it didn't need to be, or perhaps Tobirama's eyes were simply sharper than they needed to be. Who was to say?

It seemed to work regardless, Tenzo and Kakashi nodding in union as they voiced their obvious agreement.

"Taking on missions of such a harsh nature despite not agreeing with them...it happens, as shinobi, especially in ANBU. Itachi shouldn't be blamed for the mistakes of his elders, at least not completely. How should he have known that of all the horrible things he's been asked to do, this would be the one that was not acceptable?" Tenzo frowned, looking to Hiruzen. "He wants to do better, which is such an incredibly hard thing to do in itself without the weight of past wrongs. If he's willing to try despite this, he deserves the chance."

Kakashi nodded along, albeit a bit more hesitantly to the last bit. "He made his mistakes, but so have we all." the young Hatake frowned behind his mask, gaze focused on the ravenet. "The elders should have never misused their station in the village to hold his loved ones' lives over his head. His parents never should have agreed to go along with so many exemptions for the sake of promotion. The clan heads should have been there as the allies they swore to be instead of leaving him feeling cornered. His teachers and genin instructors should have noticed something was off in his relationship with Danzo. As his captain and teammate...I should have noticed something was wrong and held out a hand before it was too late. So many of us have failed him time and time again. So giving him this chance to do better in the future is the least we can do."

Chapter Text

...The meeting had gone better than Tobirama expected. By a long shot.

The silver-haired man's shoulders had lost just a bit of stiffness at the general verdict, the reflexive scowl he hadn't noticed before easing just a bit as he listened to the words of the various clan leaders.

Perhaps he had been a bit too harsh with his own worries, vision clouded by the cut-throat cruelty of the past clan heads that weren't yet so adjusted to the idea of mercy and peace coexisting.

The men and women he saw before him were not meek or foolish by any means, but their words reflected his brother's efforts so much clearer than he'd seen displayed in a long while. It was as if the sharp gnarled edges of the original founding heads had been smoothed over if just a bit.

He wasn't sure whether it restored a bit of his lost pride in the village or simply made himself feel a bit uneasy with his own gnarled heart. He had been so ready to have to argue for the boy's right to keep his eyes and hands intact, at the very least.

A dull pain lingered in the centre of his forehead even as he forced the rest of his body to calm, looking over the nods of agreement from the other clan heads and Tenzo while letting out a brief breath.

His student nodded beside him, doing his part as the current acting Hokage and standing from his seat. "If we are all in agreement, then." the man took a long drag of his pipe, "It is settled. Itachi is to follow the orders set here today until further notice. The boy will have his chakra as well as his tongue sealed before his core signature is bound to the Uchiha compound, and forfeit the rights to any of the weapons in his quarters. He is expected to remain under the strict supervision of Lord Second and the chosen ANBU aids as well. As for the elders...their execution is set for tonight, on account of the charges listed here today and many others."

A heavy and stubborn silence filled the room, not an single objection grazing their ears as Hiruzen spoke.

The man turned to look at Tobirama after a long moment, motioning briefly to the duo at the side. "...Though Kakashi is technically transitioning from his duties as an ANBU member to a Jonin instructor, he still has a few more months until the next batch of graduates will be ready - or until the instructor course is ready as a matter a fact. I would recommend Tenzo and him for the supervision job, considering they so thoroughly know of his skill set and are clearly able to be civil enough with him."

Tenzo and Kakashi both nodded in quick acceptance of the idea, Itachi letting out a silent breath at the thought from where he sat. Tobirama glanced over the three momentarily, not having to think too long on it when comparing the duo to the ANBU that had escorted them a few days prior or of the stories he'd heard regarding the faction's current unrest surrounding the pre-teen. "That would be acceptable." he agreed, "Take the afternoon to gather whatever you need while Tsunade and I are occupied with the seal placement, then meet back with us at the Uchiha compound tonight. He's already very aware of your presence, so there's no use making you hunch outside in a tree for the entirety of your assignment - you are free to come and go from the house so long as at least one of you remains in the location at all times in case you are needed. Is this permissible?"

After all. If anything, he left upspoken, the two were there more for the comfort of the villagers than anything. An extra two sets of eyes for the unsettling presence. He highly doubted this would be much more than an easy paycheck for the two, in the end.

"Yes, Lord Hokage." they both confirmed in union, Shikaku quirking a brow from beside the two young men.

He waited for them to finish receiving their orders to turn to Tobirama, asking with just a bit more of an edge to his tone than the silver-haired man was used to hearing in their conversations, "You'll be personally overseeing the boy, then?"

"It makes the most sense." Tobirama nodded, "I am already overseeing Sasuke and will be in the area should any issues arise with his seals or probation." he shook his head, "Besides, this way I can be sure he isn't simply being handed off to another who would seek to use him as Danzo did."

A low hum of understanding left the man, who only stood as he noted, "I see, that is fitting."

His eyes lingered heavily on Itachi as he spoke, as if wanting to say something but unable to.

The man had a distinct look of pity on his face - for all that Itachi had been through. From his stolen childhood - to his fallen best friend - to his lost mother and father - to his destroyed reputation - to weeks on the road, alone. None of these words were spoken however, the man refraining from twisting the knife any further than it already had been.

"...If that is all, then, I'll be taking my leave." he jerked his head towards the doorway instead, the others in the room moving to stand as well as the meeting came to a close.

Tobirama only nodded, watching as they began to filter out one by one until the only three that were left were Hiruzen, Tsunade, and Itachi.

"I'll be on my way as well, to go ahead and work on releasing the official statement. If I am needed, you know where I am." Hiruzen was the next to leave, Tobirama giving a low noise of acknowledgement as he stood.

That was for the best. They didn't need the rumour mill to have a chance to shape the public's view of the events before they could.

This left only the young Uchiha and two Senju in the room, his niece standing from her seat and sharing a brief glance with Tobirama before they moved over to Itachi.

The ravenet had remained still as people began to filter out of the room, legs pressed tightly beneath him in his seat. His head tilted downwards and into his slightly curled shoulders - only looking up as he felt the two move from their seats.

Despite the aura of placidity Itachi was so clearly trying to convey as Tobirama sat a hand on his shoulder to beckon him to stand, the man couldn't help but notice the overwhelmed twitch of the boy's lips.

It had been a long morning, and it wasn't about to be much easier of an afternoon.

Itachi stood even so, allowing Tobirama and Tsunade to take hold of one of the straps on either side of his bindings and continuing to march on through the situation. At the very least, it wouldn't be long until they were done with the damned things.

The elder Senju moved steadily alongside the two, keeping his pace light so as to not trip up the boy on his leg bindings. He ignored the various glances that were sent their way, most of them averting within a mere moment by Tsunade's look of warning.

It helped also that any who lingered to look at the small trio found their attention drifting away from the quiet boy being led through the streets to the distinctly unmasked one to his right.

Tobirama kept his expression calm and focused even as he saw one or two young shinobi do a double take between him and the mountain overhead, forcing down the scowl at the sudden skyrocketing of attention.

Damn it, it was like his first week as Hokage all over again. So many people looking at him with that distinct expression of realization, as if only now discovering that he was more than an important man's shadow.

Oh, how he sometimes missed the days when that were the case. Back when he could disappear into his lab for days at a time without anyone but his brother ever coming by to break the peace in the form of snacks and sincere blubbering over his lack of sleep. It had been all but impossible to focus with the fool in the room...

His own eyes trailed only briefly up the mountain before slamming back to the pathway ahead, red eyes closing for a mere few seconds before reopening to the familiar uchiwa symbol.

Tsunade pressed the large gates open with ease, holding it open for the two to make their way in.

"We'll need an open space to perform the seals, preferably somewhere inside so bugs and animals aren't smudging the print," Tsunade spoke, pausing briefly in front of the gate as she looked at the two. "One of these houses has a basement, I'm sure? Or better yet, I would assume there's a dojo somewhere in the compound so we can see what we're doing?"

"Yes, there's a dojo connected to the main house." the boy nodded, "There should be plenty of space there, with sufficient lighting."

The blonde seemed content enough with this answer, continuing on with their walk as she mused seemingly more to herself than anyone, "Good, good."

It wasn't long until they made it to said dojo, Tsunade taking a step up to the wooden porch outside then holding out her hand to help pull Tobirama up just the same.

Before either could move to help the bound boy up the stairs, he had hopped up on his own without a second thought, the familiarity of his surroundings ingrained in his movements enough that he hardly seemed to think about it. Even with his legs, arms, and vision tied, Itachi's practised sense of balance seemed to persevere.

Tobirama let out a light breath and shook his head briefly before moving to open the dojo door for them, the three funnelling inside the room before it slid closed with a light thud.

The large windows let in bounds of sunlight which cascaded across the open floor, Tsunade moving ahead to pull out the supplies while Tobirama was left behind to release and prep the boy.

"I'm going to start removing your restraints now, then we'll get you ready for the seals." the silver-haired man muttered in warning before reaching out to untie the band of fabric restricting Itachi's vision.

"Alright."

Tired dark eyes were revealed once more to the world, gaze turned downwards as the boy's attention seemed focused wholly on the simple patterns of the dojo's wooden floors. Even as Tobirama began removing the straps wrapped around his body one by one - the thick leather falling to the corner of the room with a light thump each time - the young Uchiha only stood, looking all too wrapped up in his own mind as he allowed the elder shinobi to do as was agreed upon.

It wasn't until the chakra-repressing fabric on his shoulders was removed that he gave any significant attention to the ordeal, the boy restraining a faint grimace as Tobirama helped slowly unbind one of his arms so it could fall to his side.

The silver-haired man frowned at the sight, keeping his movements slow and steady as he did the same to the next arm. "It will take a moment for the blood to get flowing again. Try not to move until it does." he coached, hand on the pre-teen's shoulder as his arms hung by his side with the jacket half off - pain seeming to shoot through them as he was able to truly move them for the first time in days.

Itachi however only gave that forced numb, numb nod of his, keeping still while Tobirama moved on to untying the fabric at his ankles and tossing it into the pile with the rest.

The uneasy pinch of the young Uchiha's brows eased after a long moment as he regained feeling in his hands, fingers twitching behind the fabric as if to test the waters. Tobirama waited for a moment before reaching out to the fabric on his shoulders, pulling the main piece off and freeing his arms.

As was expected, dull purple strips could be seen lining Itachi's upper and forearms, matching a bit too well with the netted shirt he wore. Tobirama made a mental note to ask Tsunade to heal the boy, once he had a moment to move around a bit.

As it was currently, his hands hung loose by his side, sharp dark eyes looking away with no shortage of unease as he spoke, "Thank you."

"Of course." Tobirama dismissed with a wave of his hand, feeling the air was far too thick as he advised, "You should go ahead and stretch for a bit while I help Tsunade prepare. You'll likely be stuck in the same position for quite a bit while we perform the seal, and I'll have a few quick questions to ask you before your village intel is sealed."

Chapter Text

As Tobirama made his way over to where his niece was sitting on the floor - her scroll unwound and visible for her to copy the thousands of kanji from and onto the floor - Tobirama couldn't help but notice that she was writing in ink rather than blood.

It wouldn't be impossible to wash off, but it was certainly an interesting choice. He hadn't seen anyone pre-write their seal script in ages, not since Mito had taken the time one day to show Tsunade on a whim during a family gathering. Such a practice was typically reserved for children still yet learning, to give them a sense of practice without needing to slice open their palms.

The seals were considerably weaker, able to be broken by the barest flex of chakra more often than not - and as much as he would prefer to not have to truly restrain the boy, he didn't imagine the other clan leaders would take them manipulating the conditions very well if they noticed.

Debating briefly on how to bring this up to the other shinobi, he sat beside her, folding his hands on his lap as he watched her work.

The silver-haired man tried not to find offence in the way her movements became less precise and more weary as he sat by her - her chakra reeking of insecurity despite the intent expression on her face. Especially considering there was little cause for it, with the way she so perfectly replicated the strokes from the aged scroll.

It was odd, seeing something he and Mito had spent months bent over so worn and torn by time.

Tobirama couldn't help but feel he was missing an important piece of the puzzle as Tsunade worked diligently in front of him, so perfectly replicating their work despite using an inferior practice. Had they improved it over time to strengthen it, making drawing blood an unnecessary part of the process?

His head cocked to the side, red eyes narrowing in interest as they shifted between the scroll and markings on the floor. "What has changed in regards to the sealing process since I've been gone?" he settled on asking, watching as her brush stopped only momentarily before continuing.

"The sealing process is largely the same. There hasn't been much improvement in recent years considering the fall of Uzushiogakure meant the loss of many fuinjutsu specialists." she shook her head briefly, "I'm pre-writing the seal to avoid having the boy stuck in place too long and excessive blood having to be drawn due to us trying to juggle reading and writing."

A low noise of understanding left Tobirama as he listened, understanding well what she meant as he moved to pick up the second brush and begin working alongside her.

It was becoming a lost art, it seemed.

Between her taking up the path of healing and the only other adult Uzumaki left having been an orphan based on his stories...the list of people Naruto or Karin could learn the Uzumaki sealing techniques from was dwindling severely.

"I'm also..." Tsunade broke him away from his thoughts, the blonde looking all too condemned as she moved further down the line of kanji, her back turned to him as she hunched over the small symbols as if deliberately not looking to him, "I have developed hemophobia, over the course of the wars."

Her tone was even, the blonde's voice steady as she confessed...something, to her uncle.

What exactly, Tobirama couldn't say.

"I see." he settled on, keeping his work steady even as he very much did not see. The two worked side by side on different rows of the script, the silver-haired man asking with a thin frown as he sensed he was on dangerously thin ice, "...What, exactly, is hemophobia?" he glanced over their work, considering his words. "A phobia, I gather, though I don't recognize the suffix?"

To his left, Tsunade nodded, shifting over to start on the next row. "It's a relatively new word, though the condition has been around for ages. It is the ordeal in which a person is unable to handle the sight or thought of blood...to varying degrees." she shifted the scroll closer to them as their lines of kanji grew longer, "So I, unfortunately, won't be able to aid you in tracing the seal once we are done pre-writing it. Even if I were to make an attempt, it's unlikely I would be able to successfully perform the seal without smudging our work. So I will instead take my leave and return to Karin."

She spoke firmly, leaving no room for argument despite the hint of insecurity buried deep in her voice - far behind focused eyes and a proudly risen chin as she worked perfectly on what she could.

"I see. Yes, that would make it quite difficult to draw the script." he settled on nodding stiffly, more than understanding the discomfort surrounding the conversation as they wrote in silence for a moment.

After all, as she said, it was nothing new.

Though that didn't mean it had ever been accepted any better, back when admitting to such a condition was met with a firm talking to from the clan head and a reminder that the invisible blood or too-real nightmares would be infinitely less of a threat than the enemy attacking while they were weakened in numbers.

A man frozen on the field, unable to move from his spot and shaken to tears as an enemy approached, was still of more use than a fool cocooned back home - too uneasy to stand near even the heat of the living room flame in the dead of winter. At least the trembling fool took time and attention to kill, giving them an opening...at least they didn't use their resources, still managing to serve their clan as a shinobi even with their weakness.

These were the words Tobirama had heard a good handful of times, leaked from the mouths of many of the elder clansmen as well as his own father. He had never quite been sure how to feel about them...though agreement had certainly never been on the list of possibilities. Their mockery had always left something in him...unsatisfied.

Tobirama blinked down at the writing beneath him, finding that he had finished his row and was prepared to move on to the next one.

His body shifted to the side, neck turning to read the print he'd written so long ago as he swallowed down his own unease. That was then. This was now.

His niece was a strong, intelligent, and spirited kunoichi - one who just so happened to have an extra set of barriers to break through and balance in her work. He wasn't about to sit here and berate her for reactions she couldn't control, especially when it was of so little issue. He could handle sketching over the seal himself without issue.

Besides. At her age, what shinobi didn't have some sort of extra barrier to have to power through?

As far as he was concerned, it was simply a new fact he had acquired concerning his grandniece - even if it was an unfortunate one he would rather she not have to deal with.

"...How is Karin?" he settled on asking instead of trying to explain this however, focusing on their work and hoping his lack of judgement was communicated by his absence of rude commentary. He let out a quiet breath of relief as she seemed to relax a bit beside him, the man continuing, "Is she settling in well enough?"

Tsunade nodded to the side, "I believe so. She's much more...vocal, now that she's starting to get comfortable." a thin smile curling against the woman's lips as she switched to the final row of print. "She's been making both Shizune and I very aware of her likes and dislikes, so it hasn't been too difficult settling her in."

The blonde looked over her shoulder briefly before turning back to her brush, voice raising high enough to ensure the young Uchiha heard her whether he was listening in or not from his spot looking out the nearby window. "For instance. She loves running around the house with poor Tonton, having Shizune do her makeup, and hanging off my sleeve asking when she gets to see this Naruto boy Itachi so generously suggested she could befriend."

Tobirama's brows rose at the accusatory tone in her voice, glancing up briefly and finding Itachi's only reaction being a small shift of his gaze from the window to her - then back to outside once more as he gave a mild shrug.

Tsunade only tsked at his lack of willingness to take the bait, looking to Tobirama as she mused with mock seriousness, "If it so comes to be, the boy will owe me at least one babysitting session for unleashing further hell on my home. He's already saddled me with one child, and now here he is trying to do it again."

"All I suggested was that Karin should be taken into village custody and could befriend Naruto if the chance arose. I don't recall forcing adoption papers for either of them into your hands, Lady Tsunade." Itachi spoke with a wry and thin tilt of his lips, his ability to sound so deeply respectful and patronizing in the face of her teasing honestly being something Tobirama was half tempted to say should be studied.

Ah, dry humour. Mito's favourite.

It would be infinitely more relieving to see if it weren't weighed down by the pretence of Tsunade preparing herself and the boy for the seal the two Senju had just finished prepping - as well as the momentary shutting of Itachi's eyes as he steeled himself for the upcoming seal, the woman's efforts not lost on him.

Tobirama didn't rush the pre-teen.

He understood well his reluctance - after all, even he himself had to stretch far into the realm of possibilities to think of a situation in which he would willingly sit down and allow not one, but two of his largest defences to be locked away and pulled from his grasp.

As surprisingly willing as the clan leaders had been to give Itachi a second chance, largely due to their personal experiences with him and thoughts of their own children as it was, they were still leaders who had to keep their clan's will in mind with their choices.

No one in their right mind would read Itachi's rep sheet which spoke of his manipulative tactics, extensive spy work, and strikingly high kill count and consider giving him the go-ahead to return full-throttle to the village - not when they didn't know him as the ones in the meeting had.

For the sake of both keeping the villagers content and ensuring he had the highest possible chance of reintegrating into the village, it was for the best.

This didn't mean any of them had to like it as he finally reopened his eyes, shifting his body towards them and slowly making his way towards the two; ever careful not to smudge the ink written on the ground as he prepared to have all but his taijutsu forced deep down within him.

Tobirama would be lying if he said there wasn't a small part of him that was immensely satisfied there was no seal to restrain taijutsu for what was probably the first time ever.

The man helped Itachi position himself on the ground next to their kneeling forms, reaching out to fold his long pant legs upwards and into shorts so that they wouldn't get in the way while the boy slid off his shirt to make it easier to draw the kanji up his sides and into his chakra centre.

Tsunade's healing hands moved over the faint bruises as if on instinct, making quick work of them despite Itachi's initial attempt to wave her off with an assurance of it being fine. Tobirama moved to begin rolling up the chakra seal and unwind the speech one in its place, letting the two hash it out on their own until something caught his eye.

Out of the corner of his vision, he could see Tsunade's furrowed brows and Itachi's almost too-still breathing as the woman healed a bruise directly over his heart - vibrant amber eyes matching opaque black ones in a silent fight; one side turning from calm to agitated in a flash while the other seemed content to try to will their opponent into silence.

The silver-haired man lifted his head from his work unwinding the scroll, brow raising at the two in question but having no chance to voice his inquires before his niece was delivering a light smack to the pre-teen's stomach with the back of her hand; clearly meant to convey her annoyance more than any real pain as the blonde looked to Tobirama, "Has he told you he's sick?"

Itachi let out a low hiss of his own annoyance at the action, hand moving up to cover his stomach while looking to the woman with furrowed brows - as if unsure whether to be angry with her for ratting him out or offended by her rough treatment.

Eventually, he settled on shifting his gaze towards Tobirama.

Looking straight into the elder man's red eyes, the boy lied with all the well-practised certainty in the world, "It's hardly anything - a small bug I caught on the road. It will pass."

Tobirama couldn't help the long and heavy sigh that left his lips, fingers coming up to pinch the bridge of his nose as he asked, "Is that so?"

Chapter Text

A beat of silence filled the room as Tobirama gathered his patience, eyes closed with the bridge of his nose held tightly between his fingers.

Breathe in, breathe out.

He could hear the small, uncomfortable shifting of fabric from ahead of him - directly beside the agitated and scolding voice of his niece. “Your heart feels like it's about to pop out of your damn chest, brat. Not to mention the sound of your poor lungs quaking beside it. It's a miracle you have enough breath in you to spout your excuses.”

“It's only a mild chest infection, " Itachi stubbornly insisted - the young Uchiha curtly assuring the medic of such before his tone dropped to a more patient and mild one.

He explained in an attempt to pacify the outrage which was so well hid her worry,  “I've had it looked at and have medicine for it. I wasn't able to take it while locked away, but once I continue through the last few doses, it should clear by the end of the month. It likely sounds worse than it is due to the skipped doses and extended pressure.”

The silver-haired man opened his eyes, looking towards the two with a small frown.

Tsunade knelt beside the boy, head over his chest to listen in on his breathing while Itachi tried with all his might to remain as calm and open-looking as possible. Tobirama may have let himself believe that the boy spoke the truth and that a chest infection was all there was to it - if not for the tone which was just a bit too docile to be the full truth.

For as far from perfect as Tobirama was at reading young Uchiha, his blank expressions and thoughtful gaze being near impossible to interpret if not carefully studied, he had at least gotten a bit better at it since their initial meeting in the compound. Seeing the boy shift between the handful of masks he carried closely throughout his missions had at least done that much.

He'd watched the boy lie to a dozen people over the course of the last few weeks, and throughout this, Tobirama had at least managed to develop a small sense of when the boy was either lying or omitting important pieces of the situation.

Here and now, that sense kicked in, watching the young ravenet assure the medic of his health - a steep 180 from where they had been a mere few days ago.

Tobirama had no idea what might be leading the pre-teen to try to deceive them. However. Whether it was out of distrust, shame, or sheer exhaustion, the boy looked as though he were near ready to either implode or deteriorate on the spot if his attempts to quell the talk of his health failed - hidden far behind calm explanations and soft words.

And as little as Tobirama liked the idea of allowing the boy to get away with continuing to hide his problems where they were unable to see them, he couldn't quite bring himself to force the information out of the young Uchiha at the moment. Not as he lay on the firm floor of the dojo - tired, spent, and too-thin body ready to be branded from eye to tongue to stomach. The last few days had surely taken a toll on him, both physically and mentally. The man supposed he couldn't blame the sapling for not wanting to open up an entirely new issue at the moment.

"We can discuss this later, after the seals have been put in place and you've had the chance to rest for a bit. Perhaps you can explain it to me tonight, and Tsunade can take a look tomorrow if need be." he settled on allowing, watching his niece frown deeply from beside the boy who regarded him with a sceptical glance. He considered his words briefly before adding, "I understand you are likely tired and sore from the last few days, but for future reference, all you need to say is that you don't wish to discuss it and we can work from there. We both share the same goal - we want this village and Sasuke protected and happy. Lying to me won't help either of us make this happen."

The poor boy looked as if he'd just been kicked directly below the belt as he registered the silver-haired man's disappointment, his collected expression falling into something between hurt and upset in the same way Hiruzen's once had. His brows pulled together, lips dipping downwards and into a small frown as he muttered more sincerely, "...I apologize."

He looked as if he wanted to say more, to perhaps explain himself, but held himself back from doing so. The boy's mind seemed to buffer momentarily at his lie being so easily caught that for a moment, Tobirama finding himself questioning if it were really such a rare occurrence.

Itachi was hard to read, no doubt, but so long as one bothered to look it wasn't necessarily impossible. Though, he supposed he did have more practice dissecting the information he was presented with than most...and most wouldn't have much of a reason to dig through the boy's intentions as he did.

Regardless, he used his hand to lightly press Itachi back to the ground from where he had been propped up on his elbows. The silver-haired man looked to his niece, nodding in gratitude before speaking, "Thank you for your aid today. I appreciate it."

"...No problem." a long sigh left the blonde's lips as she stood, looking down at Itachi with a firm expression. "If you keep pushing yourself, it's only going to cause an even bigger mess inside that body of yours to untangle. So slow down, if not for your sake then for the sake of whatever damned medic gets put in charge of trying to unwind that mess. Alright?"

"Alright." a low mutter came from Tobirama's side, the young uchiha watching as Tsunade began making her way towards the door. It wasn't long until the two were left in silence, Itachi's opaque black eyes cast off to the side while the silver-haired man reached downwards.

Tobirama let out a low sigh as he drew his kunai from his pockets, moving to start at the edge of the seal and work his way inwards. Cold metal dug deeply against the palm of his hand, blood pooling out as he sat his weapon to the side.

He used his other hand to dip into the blood, quickly tracing the kanji. He let the heavy silence linger for a mere moment more before he asked, knowing it couldn't be put off for any longer, "Since it was your previous mission, I believe you would like to be made aware. We've come to an understanding, Konoha and the Akatsuki."

The boy's eyes trailed away from their spot averted, attention drawn to the information and away from his own mild sulking. He remained perfectly still as Tobirama drew around him, though his lips parted momentarily to ask, "...How so?"

"The promise of justice they've been denied so long, as well as a very long discussion." he let out a thin frown, remembering the vicious debate over the relation of pain and love to one another. "Konoha has pledged to aid in the reconstruction of Amegakure as well as a good number of neutral zones that are still struggling to pick themselves back up after being damaged in the wars. We will work alongside one another to set the world right, and in turn, their leaders have agreed to disband the group."

"That's good." a low breath left the dark-haired boy, goosebumps crawling across his skin as the elder shinobi began to trace the kanji up his sides and towards the centre of his stomach. He stayed incredibly still as the bloodied patterns were applied, a calculating hint filling his eyes as he asked, "What of the rest of the group? Pain and Konan may be satisfied with it, but surely the others will be displeased."

The pre-teen paused momentarily before reevaluating, "Then again. Juzo and Kakuzu likely won't much care as far as the organization goals go, and will simply find someone new to pay them. Sasori and Deidara were all but forced into the group anyway...Orochimaru was already in the process of being expelled due to his behaviour to the point we already had a replacement ready. So I suppose Zetsu and Tobi would be the only two remaining that may find issue with it."

"That's precisely what I wanted to ask you about." Tobirama nodded in confirmation, "Zetsu...I know little about, as even to the Akatsuki he seems to have reserved ambitions. With him, we will unfortunately have to wait and watch to see if he attempts anything. Tobi, on the other hand..." he frowned deeply, eyes focused as he moved on to the next line of sealing script. "Pain and Konan have confirmed your words, as far as his identity goes."

"Supposedly, Madara approached them during the war, offering his aid in their goals. He was originally rejected by a member of their organization who is no longer among them, but managed to change their minds in recent years and take on the name 'Tobi' in order to keep his identity hidden." he noted, "It seems to me that his goal is to cause harm to Konoha just as it was all those years ago, during his original deflection. He was using the Akatsuki to do this, but now left on his own, he'll likely be forced to attempt other means."

The silver-haired man shook his head briefly, healing his original cut only to make an identical one in its place. He continued with the second half of the seal, explaining, "I intend to keep close watch over the village alongside the rest of the high-ranking shinobi who have been called back from their missions." he eyed the boy momentarily, "I inform you of this not because I expect you to help, but because I want you to know that we have the situation under control. All your efforts for the sake of Konoha are appreciated, but for now, you need to leave things to Hiruzen, Tsunade, and myself. Your only job in all this will be to let one of us know if you spot him or if he attempts to get back in touch with you. Understand?"

Tobirama doubted it would be possible with two ANBU and himself at the boy's side at nearly all hours of the day, but it was better safe than sorry.

"I understand." the boy looked as if he had just been ordered to drink a cup of lemon juice, but agreed nonetheless. "I understand that I'm not...I'm no longer a shinobi, but do I have any orders besides this I need to keep in mind?"

"Not particularly." Tobirama frowned as Itachi's fingers twitched by his sides, betraying the calm expression on his face. The silver-haired man reluctantly allowed, "...Your only mission for now is to keep an eye out for Madara, to focus on settling back in, and to try to figure out what you want from this life until you are able to return to active duty - if ever. I realize there is no great epiphany to be had or solution to be found for what has happened...but I do ask that you try your best to make peace with it, someday. For now, we just need you to keep living. For Sasuke and your own sake, if nothing else."

Itachi nodded, fingers curling into faint fists beside him as he promised, "I will."

His breath nearly seemed to stop as Tobirama finished drawing the main seal on his stomach, beginning to trail the last few markings up his torso and towards his neck.

Up they crawled, the boy's throat exposed to give him more room, until they reached his eyelids and extended tongue. The young Uchiha remained still even as Tobirama placed the final markings atop his eyes and in the centre of his tongue, the elder moving backwards and gathering a pool of chakra in his hands.

Looking out and over the small ravenet, he could practically hear the boy chanting reminders that it was all for Sasuke in his mind.

Tobirama held out his free hand, taking the younger's smaller one in his grasp as he warned, "The pain will only last for an instant - this will all be over soon. Just take a deep breath."

Chapter Text

A loud hiss of pain escaped the young Uchiha's lips as the hand was pressed to his stomach, dark eyes screwing shut as tears shot to the corners in an instant. Tobirama kept hold of his hand even as he felt Itachi put enough pressure on it to damn near break it, the boy's shoulders pinching outwards as his spine curled in distress.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck-!" the curses were chanted like a prayer, Tobirama giving a faint grimace at the burst of profanity and heavy pain left behind in his own hand. Itachi's feet and free hand gripped against the dojo's mat as the Kanji travelled up his body and into his opened seals, head craning back further as he tried with all his might to remain as still as possible.

An unwilling tear escaped the boy's left eye as his tongue and sharingan were sealed, the remaining script crawling into his stomach as Itachi's legs trembled in a focused attempt not to kick outwards and smear the blood.

Tobirama kept his free hand on the younger's shoulder, keeping him in place as the final few lines made their way inwards, hardening into a seal directly over his chakra centre. Hard, labouring breaths escaped him as the initial stabbing pain eased - a tender ache left in its wake.

"There you go. It's over. Breathe. Steady breathes." Tobirama reminded him, watching as the small ravenet followed his instructions with a pinched expression - biting his tongue in refusal as unconsciousness threatened to overtake him.

The silver-haired man gave him a moment in case he did fall before letting go of his shoulder, though his hand remained in an attempt to keep the boy grounded from the elevation of pain he insisted on remaining awake for. He watched Itachi carefully with a low sigh, red eyes drifting over the young Uchiha's form for any sign of malfunction in the script's sealing. The skin around the markings was red and angry, contrasting sharply with the sharp and icy feeling of his own chakra despite its apparent success.

Itachi's grip on his hand loosened as his body became limp on the floor - head turned the other way as he roughly blinked away the tears that had built in the corners of his eyes. He lay as if his limbs had doubled in weight, free hand trembling beside him in effort.

After a long moment, his eyes reopened, and he slowly returned his head to its natural position - staring upwards and at the ceiling with difficult breaths. He took only a moment more before moving to force himself into a sitting position, attempting to curl upwards in one swift movement.

Unfortunately, in a very un-Itachi-like manner, he faltered halfway through - his arm managing to get him about halfway up before giving out and sending his shoulders and head crashing back down towards the dojo's floor. Tobirama's own free hand shot out to buffer the impact, barking on reflex at the sudden and shaky movement, "Easy! What did we just say about not pushing yourself?" he scolded, the alarm in his voice dying out as he saw the preteen turn his head away once more - throat tightening as he seemed to repress the urge to give into his own reflexive defensive upset at the reprimanding. Tobirama grimaced a bit, adjusting his tone as he repeated, "...Breathe, there's no rush to get up. It's normal for your body to feel sore and out of place for the first few hours after the seal is put in place. The worst of it will be over soon, so just...give it a moment."

A tight nod came from the boy as he allowed himself to be laid back down against the ground, eyes screwed shut as he kept his hand placed firmly within Tobirama's grasp despite his chiding. It wasn't until a good twenty minutes later that his eyes reopened, exhausted gaze drifting towards the elder at his side.

"How are you feeling?" Tobirama questioned, hand moving over the agitated and tender markings on his stomach in an attempt to at least alleviate what he could of the pain. There was no technical injury, but at the very least, the feeling of his cool chakra against the sore flesh should help ease the discomfort.

Itachi remained still, keeping himself in place outside of a single hand which reached up to wipe the dried tear line from the side of his face. "Fine." he nodded, hand falling back to his side as he noted, "I should be able to get up now."

Tobirama's hands paused in their work, looking over the boy momentarily before giving a nod of his own. "Carefully. I can carry you inside if need be."

"That's not necessary," Itachi assured quickly despite Tobirama's scrutinizing glance, letting go of the man's hand and using his elbows to prop himself up. He moved slowly and carefully, movements deliberate in an attempt to keep himself moving forward. As he moved to sit fully up, Tobirama stood, reaching his hands out to help Itachi find his footing a bit easier.

With a quick hoist, the young Uchiha was back on his feet, albeit swaying ever so slightly. The dark-haired boy gathered his shirt from the ground nearby, pulling it back over his head while Tobirama moved to attach the sealing scroll to his back and gather the remainder of their things. The boy's hand lingered briefly over his stomach, staring at the scroll with something akin to distaste while he waited on the silver-haired man.

Tobirama moved past him as he finished gathering their things, making a mild note to himself to come back for the bindings so they could be returned to the interrogation and holding department. For now, however, he focused on sliding the door open, waiting patiently as Itachi took focused but unsteady steps towards him.

His dark eyes traced the patterns of the floor intensely, as if worried he would misstep into a pit of vipers if his attention faltered for a mere second.

He was so focused, in fact, that he failed to notice the upcoming doorway until the very last second - very nearly walking into the wood if not for Tobirama's hand shooting out to grab the frame of the door. His hand acted as a buffer, though Itachi backed up post-impact regardless. He rubbed his likely pounding head with a distinct look of annoyance at his own actions, sidestepping the doorway with all the grace he didn't seem to have in him at the moment as he muttered, "My apologies."

Itachi glanced over the compound from the porch of the dojo, the slight but steady easing of his shoulders Tobirama had witnessed over the course of the last few days undoing in an instant. He looked as if a thousand-pound weight had just been shoved directly back into his arms, the dark spots beneath his eyes seeming to deepen at the sight of his former home.

"Which house am I to reside in for the time being?" Itachi asked in a voice that seemed entirely too old to be his, the tone nearly unrecognizable compared to the one which had all but shaken as he admitted to his uncertainty in his own actions or spoke so tenderly of the little brother he wanted to keep safe from harm's way a mere two or three hours ago. He sounded entirely too hardened, as if he were a cattle being told which method of butchering he would soon find himself facing.

Tobirama frowned, shaking his head as he walked over to the young Uchiha who was trying entirely too hard to keep himself together after the long day.

Few managed to resist the call of unconsciousness after facing such a complex and life-altering seal, let alone keeping their head on straight enough to focus on the situation ahead.

Tobirama would almost deem it impressive, if not for the unfortunate hurdle of having to watch the boy nearly crack his skull open twice now due to the haziness that had wrapped itself around his mind and through his entire being.

"Sasuke reacted well enough that I believe it would be a safe call to have you stay in the main house instead of an outer one as originally planned. We'll take it slow, but for now, it seems to be for the best on both sides. We can adjust as necessary." he didn't bother warning the pre-teen as he reached around his shoulders, pulling the shorter boy to his side so that he was under his arm.

Owlish dark eyes that reminded him entirely too much of Sasuke nearly popped out of Itachi's sockets at the sudden movement, the elder reaching down to help Itachi position his arms around him as he instructed, pressing down the urge to huff in amusement at the boy's expression, "Hold onto my side for balance. It would be quite unfortunate if you fell and split your skull now that we're finally finished."

Tobirama could feel Itachi's fingers dig briefly into his sides, the long-haired boy nodding beside him as he seemed to soak in the information. "I can walk, Lord Hokage.." he muttered only briefly as Tobirama began taking steady steps beside him, guiding the boy along the porch and towards the stairs on the far side of the dojo.

The elder didn't bother responding the his comment, well aware that if they opened that conversation it would likely end in the same stubborn upset as the hotel room had. At least now, despite Itachi's objections, he didn't seem...unhappy, per se.

A wave of mild mortification radiated from the younger as he remained tucked under the Tobirama's arm, but then, he walked alongside him even so - his fingers clawing deeper into the silver-haired man's side than he probably realized while his head found respite leaning against his side.

Itachi was perhaps a bit embarrassed, but with the way he nearly teetered towards the house even with the extra support, Tobirama doubted he would remember it vividly enough to be awkward about it by the time he was in bed and rested.

Honestly. The boy was entirely too stubborn. If he had just passed out like nearly every other person subjected to that damn scroll, he could have just carried him home and plopped him in his bed until he was rested and well again. Instead, Tobirama found himself helping the boy walk towards the main house - the two moving step by step up the staircase and through the front door.

He hadn't wanted his clan to suffer, indeed. If only he could apply that same logic to himself.

Tobirama moved slowly and carefully up the steps with the pre-teen, noting, "You should rest for a bit. I'll go downstairs and get you some lunch for when you wake up, and bring the scroll containing your things up with me on the way. You can take your medicine with your lunch, presuming that part of the situation was true?"

Even with the active attempt to keep his tone objective and accusation-free, the dark-haired boy's head hung as they made it to the top of the staircase. Itachi sounded all too defeated as he nodded, speaking as though he had been cornered despite Tobirama actually being innocent of it on this rare occasion. "It was. Just...don't do anything rash if you see it before I wake up. I know...it isn't a permitted village substance, but I need it. It took so long to find something that works to alleviate my symptoms. I've had this ailment for nearly four years now and only recently managed to find it."

Four years. Itachi would have been hardly nine, not long before his chuunin certificate was dated.

The silver-haired man's brows furrowed at this, leading him to his room at an easy pace as he assured the half-conscious boy, "I won't throw it away, but if it's not a permitted substance, I doubt it's ideal for treatment. Temporarily until we can find a better medicine is one thing...but I won't have you paying for relief using your lifespan or anything of that sort." he frowned, "It was understandable that a high-risk treatment was acceptable to you before, when you thought you were on a timer regardless, but we'll have to find something more suitable for you in the long run if it's something that merely endangers your health in a secondary way."

He finally released the boy as they made it to the room, Itachi's dark eyes scanning the room briefly before he let go of Tobirama's side with a nod - arms falling loose by his own as he made his way slowly towards the bed. The boy didn't bother to pull back the blankets as he let himself lay heavily on the twin mattress, gaze focusing on the distinctly empty ceiling above. "There's a difference between being willing to die and seeking out ways to do it."

He paused only briefly before continuing - his eyes seeming to struggle to stay open even long enough to finish the conversation, voice dipping into a low mutter as he promised, "Believe it or not, I have no urge to end this life of mine - if I did, I would have had ample opportunity to follow through by now. That medicine...it ensures my continued survival at a cost much lower than my life."

Chapter Text

"Good. Someone like you would be wasted in an early death." Tobirama nodded with a low sigh - more to himself than to anyone - as Itachi's body finally seemed to give in to the exhaustion of the last few days.

The pre-teen lay out over the bed, heavy eyes falling closed as his body reflexively turned to his side once the conversation came to an apparent end. He curled into himself just as he had at the hotel, blanket tighter in his grip than was strictly necessary.

His hair and clothes were worn in a way Tobirama hadn't quite noticed before, so preoccupied with the sealing and merely getting the boy off the road alive.

It was hard not to notice now, however, as he lay in the spotless bedsheets. He seemed almost out of place in the pristinely neat room he had left behind a mere few weeks ago. Tobirama doubted he had had a chance to wash off since that day in the hotel - and he certainly hadn't changed clothes since then outside of shedding his coat.

He should probably take one himself while the chance was there too, as a matter of fact.

Tobirama glanced at the clock as he made his way downstairs. It was nearly noon now, though not quite. If he was quick, he should be able to take a shower while a clone was left to cook lunch for the two of them. It would give Itachi an extra moment to at least regain some energy and soak in the effects of his nap as well.

The silver-haired man created a clone with one easy movement, sending it off to create some fried chicken and rice for their lunch. It would be a good middle ground, he decided - something that was neither too large of a leap from the small meals and prison rations he'd been eating the last few days but not something that was of equally weak calibre.

With this in action, he moved towards the bag that resided at the edge of the couch. Out came a pair of clothes identical to the ones he wore now, the turtleneck and pants hanging between his fingers as he gathered the remainder of what was needed.

It wasn't long until he was making his way towards the bathroom, discarding the worn and dirty clothes to the side as he stepped under the water and rinsed the filth of the last few days from his hair and body.

The water ran over him, easing the dull pain that had progressed over the last month from sleeping on the couch.

He really needed to find a more pernament solution.

The man knew he couldn't keep avoiding the awkward situation that was the free bedroom upstairs, but in the same breath. He wasn't sure how Sasuke or Itachi would feel about him claiming their parents bedroom as his own - He certainly didn't want to ask and risk sending either of them into their own spirally thoughts.

He let out a low sigh, closing his eyes briefly as he listened to the faint sound of cooking a mere room over - and felt the unsteady repressed chakra signature flowing in circles above. He had lived through plenty more pain. He supposed there was no real rush.

His eyes reopened at the distant sound of a clone popping from the kitchen.

Tobirama took a step back from where he had sat under the water - perhaps for a bit too long - and began making his way back out of the shower and into his set of fresh clothes. A brush ran through his still semi-long hair, hands reaching back to pull the small tuff on the back of his neck into a short ponytail.

His hand ran over his face as he spotted himself in the mirror, the red tics on each side of his face leaving an odd spot in his stomach. How long had it been since he'd been able to walk around like this, his true face visible and unhidden?

It had been somewhat nice, those first few days when he'd still had that certain level of anonymity to his name. He'd been little more than a foreigner, oddly invested in the remnants of his fallen lover's clan as he was.

It had given him a degree of free movement, something he had gradually lost as he began naturally tying new names and feats to his cover name. By the time yesterday night had rolled around, he had become as important as any other clan head.

Today, the moment he removed his mask in that meeting, he lost what little leeway even that gave him. It had only been two or so months, but even so...he couldn't help the distinctly odd feeling that washed over him as being seen once again.

Not as the desperate mourning man sticking his nose where it didn't belong.

Not as the foreign shinobi who found himself entirely too comfortable standing beside the clan heads and Hokage.

Not as the fool who willingly stuck his hand into a scorpion's den and somehow managed to wrangle it out in his decision to drag his charge's supposedly lunatic brother back home.

But as Tobirama Senju, the Second Hokage of Konohagakure.

It was odd, to see his own face again and know that so many others would do the same each time he made his way outside.

Good odd or bad odd, he wasn't sure.

The silver-haired man shook his head briefly before turning to grab his dirty clothes, dismissing the profoundly unhelpful thoughts as his free hand reached up to roughly wipe the exhaustion from his own eyes. He'd healed the cuts on his hand, but that had still been...a fairly decent amount of blood. Perhaps not the worst, but weighed down by the knowledge there was still more to be spilt.

His dirty clothes were tossed in the laundry room, the man glancing only briefly at the kitchen. Two bowls of food sat prepared - a plate atop both to keep the heat in.

Reluctantly, Tobirama reached up atop the fridge for Itachi and his item scrolls. He still had time before the food became cold, and would rather not have to make a show of doing this in front of the pre-teen. Itachi was well aware of his own shortcomings; he didn't need to be reminded.

As such, the two were rolled out in their entirety along the living room floor.

In his own, numerous weapons appeared atop the fabric - along with clothes, sleeping bags, rations, and other such items of equal usefulness.

In Itachi's, there was a bit more of a mix. Before him was everything the younger had deemed important enough to take with him on what he thought to be his final mission.

Cash.
Emergency Rations.
A traveller's hat.
His Akatsuki cloak.
A slashed headband.
Numerous swords and kunai alike.
Ninja wire.
Shuriken of various sizes.
Soldier pills.
Sets of clothes.
Hair and toothbrushes.
Showering supplies.
Medical rub.
Stitches.
Bandages.

...

A small bottle of some sort of deep purple substance.
A pile of mixed candy.
An ANBU mask.
A bundle of photos.

...

He held the small bundle of photos in one hand, and the little vial between the fingers of the other.

Lightly, he swirled the purple substance - watching as it clashed against the sides of the bottle and swirled into a small whirlpool within. Faintly, he could smell what seemed to be a gentle flower-like aroma, though he didn't dare take too deep of a breath. Not when he could feel his own head lightening from it even through the bottle.

He sat it to the side, hand briefly falling over his own stomach as he felt himself react to the scent. It felt almost like a genjutsu had traced the outside of his chakra system, trying to infect him but falling short. Had he not been preoccupied with a dozen other things to do, he would have loved to try analyzing it and seeing how it worked. Perhaps he or Tsunade could try to refine it, rather than having to search for an entirely new medicine.

If they could ease or erase whatever the side effects of the liquid were, that would be ideal. Until then, however, it would have to do.

Slowly, his eyes drifted over to the folded piles of paper in his other hand.

It was nosy at best and horribly intrusive at worst, he knew.

However. At the same time, there was only so long he could let the small whisper in the back of his mind have its way with him. How was he meant to focus on the matters at hand when every two days or so Sasuke would look at him with an expression that sent him spiralling in interest if not unease - the itch in the back of his mind demanding to know whether it was mere clan resemblance or something more.

On one hand. If he opened the photo and either of their parents had Izuna's ridiculously petite nose, outlandish pufferfish lips, or those arrogant eyes of his, Tobirama was viable to implode on the spot.

On the other, if he opened it and saw no sign of anyone but Sasuke or Itachi himself. He was viable to climb into the rock garden outside and let nature take its course for having spent so much time on such a pointless debate.

Tobirama ran a heavy hand over his face as he propped the photos open, one by one. Surely, Itachi wouldn't be too annoyed with him. He was a clever boy. He would understand Tobirama's need to click the pieces together - he seemed to have enough books lining his shelves. He had likely experienced the same itch many times before himself. Not to mention the boy had essentially given him permission to open his bag and get the medicine so in other words-

...The man shook his head, dismissing his excuses.

As with many things he had studied, the question of right or wrong was outweighed by his own interest.

He unfolded the first photo, staring blankly as he was met with the image of a young girl - no older than eleven or twelve - standing side by side with Itachi atop a wooden water bridge.

The two were dressed in simple yet refined black and scarlet kimonos, Itachi's hair loose at his side while hers was done up with an array of beautiful red flowers and pins.

Tobirama squinted briefly at the photo, taking in the faces of the young couple.

It was difficult to see through the mist of night and clearly unskilled photographer's shaky hands, but in the dim lighting of the vibrant festival fireworks, a pair of matching flusters stood side by side - hand in hand.

A bright smile radiated from the young brunette, her eyes creasing into crescents as she seemed to try to hide her amusement behind her free sleeve.

It was a sharp contrast to Itachi, who stared at the cameraman with a look of ire and vexation that was so often reserved for only one's worst enemy or dearest friend.

Tobirama folded the paper back up, setting it to the side with a brief agitated fluster of his own.

Clearly, the pair before him did not hold the answer to his question.

He moved on to the next photo, finding himself slightly less disappointed despite it not being quite what he was looking for.

Sasuke sat, no older than two or three years old, on the hip of an older clansman - a happy flush on his cheeks even as he twisted his small body away from the one carrying him.

The teen holding him had a familiar green dinosaur in his free hand, new and unworn compared to the one Tobirama had seen the boy cuddle up to each night over the course of the last few weeks. He was tilted, easily balancing the small child as he dug the toy into the boy's stomach - seeming to try to draw a laugh from the stubborn boy with a ridiculous grin.

This was Kagami's grandson? The Kagami whose young, intent face still echoed heavily in his memory - his determined expression having sat before Tobirama a mere two or so months ago?

The memory of his final moments clashed heavily with the boy in this photograph.

Kagami had passed away decades ago, a mere month after his own death.

This boy...this boy had been sired by Kagami's own son, the young son that had never quite been brave enough to look him in the eye when he came to speak with Kagami despite having known him damn near his entire life.

That shy boy was likely dead by either Itachi or Madara's hands, with a son of his own that had passed away far too young.

A son that looked all too happy and playful in the picture before him - a son that Sasuke spoke of with awe and ambition - a son that Itachi seemed to think of with the utmost respect and affection.

A son that Sasuke claimed to have once loved taking his friends out for dango - a son that had once taken it upon himself to teach the young of his clan of the importance of stealth to keep the civilians around them unfrightened - a son that had given his life for a village and clan that frankly didn't deserve him.

Tobirama wasn't quite sure whether the heavy ache in his chest was for Shisui, Kagami, or an odd mixture of the two.

Chapter Text

Distantly, Tobirama could feel Itachi's chakra signature beginning to shift around upstairs.

The man continued to hold the photo carefully in his hand even so, eyes tracing over it as the boy began reluctantly making his way downstairs. Near-silent footsteps padded against the wood of the staircase, a hand sliding steadily along the railings.

Looking up, he spotted the pre-teen at the base - hands having fallen to his side as he watched Tobirama with something akin to unease. Dark eyes glanced momentarily over the scroll, then to the photos in his hands, and finally into the eyes of the elder shinobi.

Briefly using his free hand to motion the boy over, Tobirama sat the photos back atop the scroll with the utmost carefulness. "Good morning. I was collecting your weapons for the time being and getting your medicine out for after lunch," he explained, "I happened to notice the photos and...well...my curiosity got the better of me."

Itachi sank down into a practiced and proper sitting position beside him once he made it over, legs folded neatly beneath him as he nodded in understanding. His hands remained firmly on either of his thighs, still-tired eyes prying away from the laminated paper and back to Tobirama. "I see."

A heavy silence filled the room as the boy sat patiently at his side, shoulders taut with apprehension - as if unsure of how he should act now that the water had finally begun to still.

"...You know." Tobirama ran a hand over the back of his throat, his own hands falling to his lap as he saw the stiff posture of the child beside him. "Shisui looked a lot like his grandfather did at that age."

He wasn't necessarily sure it was a great idea to bring the subject up, but then, he wasn't exactly sure he should bury it either.

On one hand. He didn't want to reawaken any more pain for Itachi than he already had today. On the other, he didn't want the boy to think he was content to accept the sacrifice and consider it a convenient contribution he'd been too late to reject.

Tobirama could see it in the way Hiruzen spoke of Itachi and Shisui's work, as well as in the way Itachi had watched the photos in his hands - as if protecting the paper between his fingers would keep the last of his spirit safe.

Itachi cared deeply for his cousin, no matter how he tried to keep his expression schooled in front of the elder.

"We don't have to talk about it if you'd rather not." he settled on when Itachi only responded with a mild nod of acknowledgement, watching as Itachi's fingers curled slightly into the fabric of his pants. "But I am sorry, for not arriving here in time to protect him. He shouldn't have had to give up his life to solve our problems - neither of you should have had to. Shisui...the young lady...Sasuke, you, and all the others. You all deserved more than this."

Tobirama let out a small breath, turning his attention to the last three photos and setting them down alongside the other opened ones. "I know no number of apologies will return what has been taken from you, but I do apologize for my part in your suffering. If there is anything I can do to ease it in the least, I need you to communicate it to me. You and Sasuke both. I realize this is an...unusual arrangement we've found ourselves in, but we might as well make the best of it."

"You've already done more than enough," Itachi spoke after a long moment, a thin frown lacing his lips as he looked down at his own hands. "Keeping Sasuke safe in my time away, stopping Danzo from hurting anyone else, dismantling the Akatsuki, allowing me back into the village despite my failures-" his eyes closed briefly, an expression of mourning falling over his face as guilt and ire at his own perceived failures seemed to attempt to swallow him whole. "Shisui and Izumi would have been grateful to see the good that has come to the village as a whole despite their own suffering."

"And concerning the need for better communication-" Itachi's head bowed slightly as he spoke with forced genuineness, as if he were handing Tobirama a stick to beat him with by speaking his true feelings aloud. "I apologize for being untruthful earlier. I have no right to make things harder than they need to be when you're already going so far out of your way to help me. It was not my intention."

Ebony eyes lingered heavily on the hands in his lap, the previously decaying nail polish now all but gone. His shoulders dipped with the weight of a thousand suns as he explained, "I first started experiencing symptoms not long before I became a chuunin, though they weren't all that severe then. That combined with how long it took to convince my jonin instructor to agree to Danzo's recommendations...I thought it would be better to wait until afterwards to get it looked into."

"I see." Tobirama settled on, moving to continue his work in moving Itachi's weapons from his scroll to Tobirama's own as he listened to the boy - splitting his attention to give the boy more room to breathe. "I never saw any mention of it in your files, so I presume you either didn't or did it through a clan medic?"

Itachi shook his head, watching as his weapons were moved one by one into the opposite scroll. "I didn't. Things were moving further and further along with the coup, and a good portion of my clan refused to listen to me as it was due to my age. They were only willing to hear me out as little as they did because they knew I had a shot at becoming a key piece if I continued on as I had been. Had they realized my body was deteriorating, there was little chance anyone would have bothered listening to me any more than they listened to the others my age who weren't aligned."

"I didn't want to give the clan more of a reason to dismiss me, I couldn't put that on my parents when they were already so occupied with keeping the clan steady, and if I told the village...I didn't want them to think they'd gotten all the information they could from me and go ahead with their confrontation," he spoke the last bit carefully, hesitant to cast blame upon the village even now. "Shisui and I were independent yet together in our mission to stop the coup, so I didn't want him to feel weighed down by the fact it seemed I would only become worse in time. I wanted him to be able to depend on me. As for Izumi..." he shook his head, "She worried enough for me as it was. I was going to tell her if we both made it to the end of it all alive, but since that wasn't a certainty, I saw no point in causing her needless unease."

"It's easy to push things back," Tobirama admitted, countless accidental all-nighters and forgotten meals from his time before he had been forced to get his shit together as the Hokage running mildly through the back of his mind. Training he should have given Hiruzen as one of the top contenders to someday take his position. Dozens of conversations he had meant to have with his brother but never found the time to before it was too late. "But it's a habit that is best broken. I may not know much of them, but I don't think they'd have wanted you to suffer like this."

He stood, moving to gather the weapons hung on the walls as he spoke. "I realize the situation was more complex than simply not feeling like doing something about it, but it isn't something you should let fester any further. I don't think you any less competent - if anything, it assures me of your own awareness that you're able to admit it is something that needs attention."

"Acknowledging an issue is the first step to rectifying or at least lessening it. It's difficult, and takes a strong person to admit to it, but it's more than worth it in the end. Ignoring the problem won't make it go away, as I'm sure you know by this point." he carefully placed the old blades in his own scroll for safekeeping, the worn and dusty metal clashing with the shine of Itachi's own well-kept blades. "Speaking of correctly addressing things. You should eat while we talk. You haven't had anything since breakfast this morning and it takes a lot of energy for your body to get used to one seal, let alone four."

He motioned loosely for the boy to follow him to the kitchen as he spoke, content when he heard no objections. Quiet footsteps tailed behind him, pausing only as they made it to the table and the silver-haired man removed the plates over the bowls. A small burst of steam escaped from both, the food within still warm. Tired pitch black eyes landed on the meal as the pre-teen sat heavily down in his chair, clearly still exhausted from the day even as he nodded, "Thank you."

"Of course." Tobirama only mused as he sat heavily on the side opposite to eat his own food, watching the boy carefully. "Now. About this illness and how we are going to handle it...what symptoms have you been experiencing thus far? Of them, which does the medicine seem to help, and what are the side effects you spoke of earlier? Do you have any idea if it is something you caught or if it is something you were born with?" he asked, fingers tapping idly together as he tried to cover all the bases.

The last thing he needed was to not be thorough enough and have them miss a key piece of information.

"Lightheadedness, headaches, chest pains, general waves of fatigue. Occasional trouble waking up or falling asleep. Sudden spikes or drops in my heart rate and periodic coughing fits." the boy listed, a small frown on his lips as he spoke. "Blood splatter sometimes comes with the fits, though I'm not certain whether it's from my chest or if it is a side effect of my throat being coughed raw."

Itachi slowly ate the warm rice bit by bit between his words, eyes focused on his bowl rather than the man ahead of him. "I can't tell if the issue is coming from my lungs or heart, but I have a strong suspicion it's one of the two if not both. As for whether I caught it or not..." his frown deepened. "I can't say. I wasn't on many missions outside the village near the time it started, but surely my mother or father would have been watching for signs of it if they thought it was something that might have been passed down. Unless it's recessive and merely skipped a few generations, of course."

He seemed entirely too sure in each of his answers, having clearly asked himself the very same thing Tobirama did now long ago. Itachi picked at the chopped chicken, holding it in his mouth momentarily before swallowing and adding, "My mangekyou seems to be agitating it as well. Since I've awakened it and begun using it more, the pain in my body has started to feel more constant compared to the brief spouts of discomfort I felt before. Though I suppose that won't be much of an issue for the time being..." his voice laced with mild dry humour.

Tobirama was trying incredibly hard not to pinch the bridge of his nose as Itachi listed off his symptoms.

These were the pains that had simply had to be pushed to the back burner in favour of keeping his focus steady on his missions?

These were the symptoms he had deemed less important than keeping ahold of his clan and village's confidence in him?

These were the aches he had carried with him through the night of the Uchiha tragedy, during his time with the Akatsuki, in the trees as he watched over Tobirama and Sasuke like a hawk from above, at his feet in the Hokage's chambers, through his week-long mission trying to track Tsunade, as he was bound and tossed around like a rag doll in front of Ibiki and the clan heads alike-

Tobirama couldn't help the hand that came to reflexively move through his own hair as he thought back to the days before for any signs he may have missed.

The too-real grimaces of pain from the fake doctor's appointment lingered heavily in his mind, the man cursing himself for his assumption that it had simply felt real due to Itachi's previously flawless acting. The image of the boy keeping steady pace with him bit at his heels likewise, the elder Senju left to wonder if he had been keeping up as effortlessly as he had appeared.

The more recent memory of Itachi's face pinching together as he was held against the interrogation table, Tobirama useless to help in the face of his own regulations.

How to boy managed to continue to follow him without question and even reluctantly trust in his promises to keep him safe after such blatant blunders, Tobirama wasn't sure.

He felt utterly blind, cursing his own lack of attention and belated correction of the pre-teen's rough handling.

Just how much pain was Itachi truly in, for the resolve which had held strong through all this to weaken enough for him to call out in pain as the seal was cast upon him?

The silver-haired man said none of this, however, even as his insides tightened with unrest. Not with the distinctly weary glance Itachi was sending him for his silence from behind his steadily dwindling bowl.

The boy all but dared him to voice his pity, shoulders taut with unease - as if by recalling any of the signs Tobirama would be criticizing Itachi's performance as a shinobi rather than his own lack of attention to the ward he was supposed to be responsible for.

"...What of your medicine? You mentioned it has some side effects earlier?" he asked instead, holding his utensil perhaps a bit firmer than was necessary as he took another bite. He would just need to pay more attention, that was all. He wouldn't let it happen twice.

He watched as Itachi nodded briefly, shoulders relaxing just a bit as he explained, "Kotaro can be taken many ways - as injections, body rubs, cigarettes, pills, eardrops, a nasal spray- just about any way you can get it inside your body. I've tried a few options but eyedrops seem to be the most effective at dispersing my symptoms. I'm guessing this is since my eyes are connected to my chakra system, which runs along the same routes as my bloodstream; at least from what I understand." eyeing Tobirama mildly and continuing when he got a nod of confirmation. "So I typically take it in the form of two or three eyedrops every few days. As for the side effects."

Itachi frowned thinly, utensil tracing the empty bottom of his bowl. "It tends to worsen my headache and lightheadedness for the first few minutes but helps relieve the rest of my body in turn. Around the ten-minute mark, the pain in my head disperses as well, at the expense of leaving me blinded for varying amounts of time. The shortest has been around fifteen minutes while the longest has been three hours so far." he paused momentarily, a wave of reluctance washing over him before he added, "It seems that the more I use my mangekyou, the longer these side effects seem to linger. If I had to guess, the chakra network behind my eyes has most likely been fried from a combination of the two."

"You're most likely right, unfortunately." Tobirama shook his head, standing to take both of their bowls to the sink as he spoke. "When Tsunade visits tomorrow, I'll see about asking her or her assistant to go fetch some more from wherever it is you've been getting this from. Enough that we can take a good look at it and try to find a less damaging way to take it. For now though, if you feel that you need it, you should go ahead and use it. With her skill, Tsunade should be able to heal the damage it leaves behind. Especially if it's only just begun being worn down in recent months."

"I'll go ahead and take it, then, so it's out of the way," Itachi noted with understanding, pulling himself up from his chair as he spoke. Tobirama could feel the boy's eyes on his back as the younger continued, "...It's from a small village not far from here - Howling Wolf village. I had the next few months pre-paid so that I could stop by and grab it without Juzo's notice. Whoever goes should be able to say they're there for my next few doses and get it within a day or two of arrival."

"Perfect."

Chapter Text

Tobirama made his way upstairs as Itachi got himself settled on the couch, making quick work of gathering the last of the weapons from Itachi's room and carrying them downstairs to add to his own scroll.

They were placed alongside the rest of the weapons, the impressive arsenal disappearing into the seal as he rolled it up and placed it back on the fridge for now.

By the time he was done, Itachi seemed to be finished with taking his medicine.

The boy sat leaned back against the couch as he returned to the living room, head tilted upwards as a thin purple glaze fell over his dark eyes. His suppressed chakra recoiled and reached for the substance simultaneously, the foreign liquid seeming to mix and mingle with his own until finally a serene balance was found.

It was as if a numbness was spreading through Itachi as his eyes closed - first through his body and then through his head - until finally something akin to relief fell over his face. His uneasy chakra settled, the permanent lump in his throat seeming to ease under its influence.

Tobirama leaned against the doorway as he took this all in, red eyes narrowed with a mix of interest and weariness. He kept a close eye on the chakra seals which flared back to the surface at the sudden addition of a third signature - confirming briefly that they hadn’t broken.

His head leaned against the cool wood door frame, attention rising from the seal to the pre-teen’s face.

There was no sign of discomfort from the slightly agitated seals, but then, that hardly meant much with Itachi. A swarm of bugs could be eating the boy from the inside out and he’d likely not get much more of a hint than some brief squirming.

After a long few moments, Itachi's head leaned forward.

His eyes reopened, staring ahead without focus even as he turned towards Tobirama's direction.

Blank, blank eyes lingered on him - just as directionless as the boy himself had been for the last few days. He was only able to look vaguely to the person he had the mildest trust in, hoping desperately that he hadn’t made a miscalculation.

"...I'll take your things upstairs. Once your vision returns, you should go rinse off and get a fresh change of clothes. I imagine Kakashi and Tenzo will be here soon enough to keep you company while I go pick up Sasuke from the academy." he noted, sitting up from his leaning position.

He moved past Itachi with a faint touch of his palm to the top of the boy's head, a brief attempt at reassurance as he passed by. He hadn’t made a mistake in showing him his guts, the man silently tried to convey.

He could feel Itachi's gaze follow loosely in his direction as he continued on and knelt down to gather his things - a small nod of understanding leaving the boy. “...Thank you.”

Tobirama watched him for only a moment more before heading upstairs, careful not to damage the more fragile items as he made his way towards Itachi's room.

The boy's things were sat down on his desk, one by one, until Tobirama's arms were emptied. He glanced momentarily at the remaining unopened photos, curious, but restraining himself this time.

Itachi's comment lingered heavily in the back of his mind.

He hadn't been on many outside missions during the time of the illness's initial rise. Yet no one had warned him of the possibility that this was coming either...which left things pointing to the third option: A recessive illness, one that only made an appearance frequently enough to be a burden. Yet not enough to be marked noteworthy by the clan.

Perhaps some digging was in order, his own interest aside. If nothing else, it could help solidify their understanding of the illness's nature if there was something to be found.

Symptoms Itachi may not have experienced yet but should be aware of - the likeliness of whether Sasuke had anything to worry about - any progress the last inheritor may have found, even if they hadn't known it was something of the genetic nature that warranted warning to their kin.

There was much to be gained from an investigation, though Tobirama wasn't quite sure where he would start. Itachi was only among the fourth or so generation of Uchiha living in Konoha, and if they were going to find something, it seemed unlikely it would be so recent. Not to mention the Konoha records would likely hold the bare minimum for the initial two generations, given how fragile peace was back then.

Medical information was valuable. It wasn't the sort of thing a shinobi should carelessly hand over to someone who could very well become an enemy one day. That had been the thought process of many back in the starting days...which was unfortunate now, in retrospect.

Instead, they would likely have to dig through the Uchiha clan's own files and family records.

It would just be a matter of finding them, somewhere within the large compound.

Possibly within the ever-locked room to his side, or along with the photos that he had a feeling hadn't magically swept themselves from the walls before his arrival...

Itachi's quiet footsteps appeared behind him, the boy entering in through the door and moving past him without a word.

His eyes seemed more focused now, though not entirely.

They still strayed slightly to the left of the closet as Itachi approached it, neck craning up as his hands shuffled from one outfit to another. He looked for a curiously long time, though Tobirama had little time to dwell on it as a knock came from below.

Ah. There were their semi-permanent guests, based on the feel of the chakra below.

Tobirama gave the boy one more quick glance before making way for the door, moving along the staircase and past the still-blank walls he'd noticed all those weeks ago.

He was faster this time, between not having to pry himself out from under a teary six-year-old and being more aware of their sheer impatience. His lips twitched with amusement as he came face to face with the little brunet from earlier - prepared to knock a second time.

Or. Well. Face to shoulder.

The smile dyed off against his lips.

Fucking Danzo.

"Come in." was all he said, however, as he moved from the doorway. "Itachi is upstairs preparing to take a shower. His chakra, eyes, and ability to speak with those who don't reside within the Konoha citizen database have been sealed - as well as having my teleportation mark placed against him. You two shouldn't need to do much besides keep an eye on him per our earlier discussion."

The two made their way inside as he spoke, Tenzo nodding along as he watched Tobirama with eerily focused eyes - soaking in his words as though they were filled with all the answers to the universe.

Kakashi meanwhile nodded along all the same, though his single dark eye instead was busy roaming over the expanses of the house.

"Yes, Lord Hokage." they both agreed in union even so, each bowing deeply as they spoke. It wasn't until he continued that Kakashi managed to pry his eyes away from the staircase and refocus his attention on the elder.

"...You may notice some tiredness or achiness coming from him. It's only due to the seals settling, so there's no need to be alarmed if he ends up lying down for a bit or cycling through the fridge. Despite his appearance, it's likely he's in a lot of pain, so try to avoid putting any additional strain on him for now. I'm sure there's plenty you would like to discuss, but it would be best to wait for now." he explained, watching as the young man and teen before him nodded. "I don't imagine this will be the case, but if I am needed, simply send out a chakra flare and I'll return immediately. I have a few things to do before I pick Sasuke up from the academy, so he'll need watched over until then."

"Yes, Lord Hokage." the duo repeated, entirely too much like the good little soldier boys the village had handcrafted them to be.

Tobirama shook his head briefly to himself, calling up the stairs, "I'll be back in about an hour and a half. If my return is needed sooner, press your chakra hard against the seal on your stomach and it will alert me."

He highly doubted the younger's chakra would be enough to actually break the seal, so it would make a good emergency alert if something was to go awry while he was out.

For as close as the three seemed, as willing as the two appeared willing to stick their necks out, and as much as his gut told him these two could be entrusted to not harm him - in the end - Tobirama could still hardly be sure.

The last thing he wanted to do was miscalculate and leave the boy locked in the compound, unable to defend himself and without backup.

"...Yes, Lord Hokage." Itachi's voice carried steadily down the staircase, unaware of Tobirama's own oncoming migraine.

The silver-haired man only let out a low sigh as he turned on his heel to exit the house, waving one final farewell to the two ANBU before closing the door behind him.

There were two quick matters to attend to before picking up Sasuke from the academy - neither particularly entertaining but necessary nonetheless.

First, he needed to finish one final seal in accordance with Itachi's house arrest.

The silver-haired man moved quietly through the compound, red eyes falling over the homes which had already begun to show signs of decay.

He moved between two of the nearby houses, the lengthy grass troublesome but not impossible to move past. Tobirama steadied himself against the walls of the homes as he stepped over the previous resident's miscellaneous hoses and forever unfinished woodwork, side-stepping both in order to reach the far end of the property.

A kunai slid out from his weapon holster effortlessly as he made it to the edge, the blade sliding across his own flesh once more. Blood trickled outwards as his fingers dipped inwards to coat themselves, the seal all but writing itself as he moved along the outermost wall of the clan.

Tobirama moved quickly along the rim, fringers occasionally dipping in and out of his own blood as the kanji were drawn along the outline of the compound.

With this, Itachi would have physical proof that he was not the one to blame if something were to go awry in the rest of the village. He would be unable to leave as per their earlier agreement, but beyond that, he would be incapable of it.

This seal would leave Itachi protected just as much as it would leave him trapped. Unfortunate, but quite necessary given the general edge of the situation.

He moved along the walls silently, fingers tracing in repetitive motions as he moved. Small bits of Itachi's chakra, which still all but smothered the compound, were laced within the seal from start to finish. His eyes trailed mildly over the beginning stages of overgrowth, bugs abound the further near the back woods he got.

It wasn't until he managed to make it back to the starting point that he noticed the distant shuffling from within the abandoned homes - faint enough that even he could hardly hear it.

Briefly, he glanced to the seal; using one final burst of chakra to set in in place before moving over to the house he heard it coming from.

The back window was shattered, glass still scattered along the outside of the window. He stepped over it without much thought beyond a mildly grim feeling in his stomach however, head poking into the abandoned home for any sign of a disturbance.

To the left - nothing. To the right - nothing.

In the centre...a young black cat with vibrant blue eyes staring up at him with all the ire in the world compacted into one small fuzzy body - as if he were intruding with his inquires.

Tobirama let out a light breath, his unease filtering out of him as he shook his head.

This damn compound was going to be the death of him.

Chapter Text

Tobirama glanced down at the cat with a thin frown, red eyes narrowing at the small beast as it hunched itself up - hissing in his direction before bolting into another room.

What he had done to warrant its ire, he wasn't precisely sure.

His hands gripped against the ledge of the window, considering briefly going after it before shoving the ridiculous idea down. Odd behaviour or not, he had other matters to focus on. It was more than likely only startled by his sudden appearance within its home, especially with it likely having been weeks since its caretaker was home.

Tobirama shook his head, loosening his grip as he let out a light breath.

He had heard mention that the Inuzuka clan had come by to collect the dogs that had been left behind, but not much considered the others.

At the very least, the feline seemed to be taking well enough care of itself with all things considered. Scrawny as it was, it was at least alive and well enough to pick fights it seemed.

He took a step back from the broken window, refocusing himself and dismissing the eerie feeling that attempted to latch onto him.

Past exploits considered, it wasn't a terribly difficult task.

He moved along the edge of the house and through the gap between it and the next one, side-stepping the miscellaneous debris once more until finally he made it back to the main road.

More aware of the faint noises coming from within the houses now, he took note. Mildly glances in either direction as an occasional scatter or creak would make its way out and into the open. It was much harder to hear along the main road compared to his previous spot a mere few paces away, but certainly not impossible.

The various crows scattered throughout the compound were the most obvious, their watchful eyes focusing on him as he moved along the now familiar path once more.

They stuck close together, watching him with their dozens of eyes as he moved through the compound.

His hand reached up to set aside the wood of the front gate as he gave them one last glance, brows furrowing together at the sudden disdain he seemed to have gathered from the Uchiha clan's animal population.

He couldn't recall seeing quite so many lingering around before, and he certainly didn't remember such blatant acts of warning and aggression.

If they were going to react to him imposing on their territory, surely it should have been when he first arrived rather than now?

It was odd, indeed.

He moved on despite this, pressing the front gate open and slipping out of it. The judgemental eyes of the animals were replaced by the curious eyes of the people outside the compound - gazes lifting up as the heavy wood door swung shut behind him only to lower a moment later.

The silver-haired man moved through the streets, ignoring the whispers of interest as he focused instead on making his way towards the hokage tower.

Or, more specifically, the interrogations department below.

He passed by the front desk with little more than a nod, the stationed ANBU moving to allow him in as they spotted him. A long, dark hallway came into and out of view in a mere moment or two; the man wasting no time as he made way for the familiar pit of the building.

"...I suppose this is the real you, this time?" Ibiki's idle voice filtered through the bars of the front entrance as it was unlocked by the stationed young woman - hardly looking up from his work. A rag drowned with what smelt like metal polish ran over the thick blade in his hand, a weapon entirely too large to standardly be used for torture.

More likely than not, it was the blade that would sever Danzo's head from his shoulders in a mere few hours.

"It is." his eyes lifted from the blade and to the bulky man before him, "I've come to collect the extractions my clone has made."

The blade was sat down atop the same table Itachi had been held against a mere few days ago, Ibiki nodding as he moved to open one of the various chests against the wall. "I believe he left the last of them in here- there they are." the man nodded to himself as he sorted through three or so before finally finding what he was looking for.

Tobirama opened an empty travel scroll from his holster and laid it out over the opposite side of the table, unravelling it in preparation.

Ibiki lifted a decently sized jar from the chest, passing it over with a mild look of amusement. "You know...with all due respect, Lord Hokage, you handle interrogation much more efficiently than one would think. I wouldn't have taken you as the type based on how attentive you were in handling Itachi's imprisonment."

Tobirama took the jar cautiously, holding it steadily in his hands as he turned it - staring into the blank sharingan as the floated in the preservation liquid. He took the comment for what it was meant to be - a compliment on his harshness, no matter how it was buried behind accusations of softness. "...Yes, well, I'm not the type to partake in needless violence. I don't mind doing what needs to be done, but it's not as if I have a particular interest in causing pain. Especially to a child that has already experienced so much from hands that were never fit to be leading him to begin with."

Besides. It wasn't as though he had ended up needing to resort to an actual fight anyway, not beyond some mild struggling near the end when he was too worn down to really be successful.

The man had been so sure in his little underground army that he had willingly allowed himself to be locked up - likely hoping to keep his dignity and expecting to be able to get orders in and out. After all, how was he to know they would continue to dig into his crimes far enough to find his underground operations?

He was so painfully sure of himself that it blinded him, getting in the way of any real chance he had at salvation.

As for the other two, it wasn't as if they were of much help.

"Mm." the man made a low noise of understanding as he spoke, seeming to mull over the information for a moment before nodding, "Well then, it sounds like you're just the person to help him get a handle on...all that he has going on." the man huffed briefly in amusement, "With any luck, he'll be back on the road towards being a proper shinobi in no time."

Setting the jar atop the seal and making a quick movement with his hand, Tobirama could only will himself to give a disinterested, "Perhaps." to the man's attempt at support for the boy. "I'll let him know you send your regards."

The scroll felt infinitely heavier than it was as it was placed back on his hip, his head dipping down into a firm nod as he saw the other man do the same.

The silver-haired man glanced briefly at the hallway to the side, considering whether or not he should go give one final farewell to his two students, if not Danzo.

In the end, he decided it was probably for the best that he didn't.

Not when the only words that would fill the air would likely be ones filled with malice or blame.

No, it was better he not.

Besides, It was nearing time to pick Sasuke up from the academy. The last thing he wanted was to be late, especially with his nerves likely already being fried after the long day.

Tobirama himself was more than prepared to disappear into a long, hard sleep.

"I'll be taking my leave, then. If assistance is needed tonight, call for me." he noted despite this tiredness in his shoulders and the prayer that he would not be needed. It was his responsibility, exhaustion aside.

Though he would be lying if he were to say the thought that a dozen well-trusted ANBU, Ibiki, his own clone, and Hiruzen couldn't handle the execution of a half-dead man with his two elderly counterparts themselves didn't agitate him.

"Understood." Ibiki nodded, returning to his work as Tobirama moved towards the door leading upstairs. The same ANBU from before held it open, Tobirama nodding mildly in thanks as he began to make his way back towards the base floor.

He glanced briefly at the clock overhead as he made it upstairs, slowing his pace ever so slightly. He still had a decent enough amount of time before the academy let out, enough that he certainly didn't need to rush.

Even so, he carried on through the streets, glancing idly at the various shops and people hurrying to finish their errands before their children needed to be picked up.

It was quite odd to think that he himself had become one of those people.

Near impossible to imagine, as a matter of fact.

Yet there he was, slowly making his way past the academy gates and into the front area to wait for Sasuke all the same.

The eyes on him had eased a bit as he made it to the familiar area, the people within seeming less awed and more awkward due to the admittedly large amount of time they had spent together as strangers.

Beyond the clan heads, Tobirama could not name a single other in the group, but it was a familiar one even so. He knew which were elder siblings that had come to pick up their younger ones. He knew which parents came every day. Which ones had only begun showing up upon Itachi's return. Which ones had children who ran up to them and which ones had saplings that only followed behind them meekly.

He supposed it was this familiarity that left them less in awe of the feat of rising from the dead and more awkward in the knowledge that they had spent the last few weeks scolding their children and gossiping around him without a speck of the poise typically shown around someone of his position.

It wasn't as if he particularly minded the gossip or such, it was bound to happen anywhere and even he himself was guilty of indulging in it occasionally with his brother or sister-in-law, but it did leave quite the heavy air in its wake.

Tobirama's arms crossed as he glanced at the front of the building, attempting with all his might to not make the air any heavier than it was. It certainly didn't help that it was dead silent between the nine or so people who stood there, besides the distant chattering of two teachers stationed near the front.

A small, distant part of him wanted to grouch that his brother had never been subjected to such treatment when he went to surprise his children by picking them up.

"So. I take it Itachi has been settled for the time being?" Inoichi finally asked with a brief cough into his hand after a long few minutes.

Tobirama nodded, glancing lightly at the three clan heads to his side as he confirmed what he assumed they wanted to hear, "He has had his chakra, sharingan, and tongue sealed as well as his presence tied to the Uchiha compound grounds. The weapons have been put up as much as they can be, and his guards are both with him now. He's completely set."

A round of nods and relief came from the three, though beyond that a hint of guilt shined through.

Shikaku was the one to ask, however, "How about...him? Is the boy doing alright, all things considered?"

"As well as you can expect." he settled on, frowning thinly at the thought of the boy's pained scream as the seal was cast upon him or the way he had so reluctantly clung to Tobirama's side - refusing to be carried but unable to stand.

Letting out a low sigh as the front door to the building opened and children began to filter out, Tobirama's gaze fell over the many aspiring shinobi as he noted, "...He's prepared to work hard to make up for his mistakes. He knows it won't be easy, but he's willing to try. If nothing else, that determination should lead him long enough to help him find his footing."

Chapter Text

He could sense Choza nodding in his peripheral, though he paid little mind to it.

Instead, he focused on the group ahead, scanning the top for Sasuke's familiar spikey black hair.

Inoichi's daughter moved past him, dragging both Choza and Shikaku's boys after her with an oddly excited glint in her eye.

A young Hyuuga boy led a girl hardly his junior from the school, the brunette's lavender eyes falling heavy on Tobirama - as if thinking incredibly hard on something before turning once more to the ground.

The spitting image of Tsume shot past him and over to his mother, hanging off her as he all but bounced out of his skin, "Mom, mom- guess what Akamaru did during shuriken practice this morning?"

His face split into a grin a small white dog wagged its tail from beside him - his mother looking all too much like her faith that it was anything good was gone as she asked, "What's that, hm?"

A little boy wandered past Tobirama to his opposite side, all too focused on the handful of bugs he held and spoke lowly with to notice how close he was to walking into the man in question.

A girl with cherry blossom pink hair walked side by side with a brunette child with space buns atop her head, neither talking as they left the school on their own - heading towards the civilian district by the looks of it.

A little boy with outlandish eyebrows and a long braid all but sped past him and out the gate - in the same direction as the girls.

Yet no sign of Sasuke.

A thin frown left the man as he took a step forward, prepared to go collect him from within once more, only to find it utterly unnecessary.

For the young Uchiha came walking quickly out the door the moment he moved forward, bag gripped tightly in his hold as he passed by classmate after classmate. His head remained dipped up until he reached Tobirama himself, frowning deeply as his dark eyes flickered up to the elder shinobi.

Sasuke steadied himself before the former hokage, back straight as a pencil as his feet planted to the ground. As if waiting to be eaten whole by the silver-haired shinobi, his mouth opened one moment, only to close the next.

"...Sorry I was being a brat this morning." the boy finally got out after a long moment, digging his sandal roughly into the ground below as his eyes lowered back down with a distinct look of focus. "I meant no disrespect, Lord Hokage."

He looked all too much like a cat that had been sprayed with a hose in passing as his nose scrunched slightly under the elder's gaze, something in Tobirama's gut shifting at the apology.

It was nothing like the sheepish or truly remorseful apologies that came when the boy had admitted his mistakes in the past - such as getting carried away in the kitchen and not listening to Tobirama's bids to calm down until he noticed the mess he had created or his tearful upset at the realisation that he hadn't meant it when he spent half a week saying he didn't care if Tobirama came back from his mission.

No, Tobirama noted with a brief tilt of his head, this stiff and prickly apology sounded all too much like the half-arsed one he'd given when caught trying to shove a pencil through Hashirama's face in his school book. The half-arsed apology of a boy who had been told to apologize rather than made the decision himself.

It was utterly unfitting for someone as typically bold-hearted as Sasuke.

Settling on leaning down, Tobirama ignored the weary look the boy sent him and instead reached out to pull on the child's cheek loosely with an unimpressed expression.

"Rehearse that, did you?" he accused, humming lowly with amusement as Sasuke's suppressed irritation popped to the surface in an instant, a scandalized fluster falling over the child's face.

"Lord Hokage!" the child fumed as his cheek puffed out and into a pout, arms crossing over his chest at the elder's teasing. Sasuke sent him a glare worth a thousand suns as he stood before him with hunched-up shoulders, his warning gaze only weakened by the distinct pout on his lips.

The boy reached up to wave his arms haphazardly, shooing Tobirama's hands from his face and spinning around so his back was to the man - sulking at the continued glance of amusement that had made its way to Tobirama's face.

"Konoha's Great White Demon, yeah right-" the boy muttered more to himself than anyone, looking over his shoulder wearily for a split second before returning to his brooding, "I changed my mind. I'm not sorry, not at all-!"

A sharp gasp of outrage escaped the little ravenet as he was lifted from under the arms from behind, Tobirama effortlessly swooping him up to set him on his hip mid-miniature tantrum - Sasuke's fuse seeming to dampen as he was swept up.

The boy turned his head over to Tobirama as he shifted briefly to make himself more comfortable in the hold, huffing heavily and wrapping his arms around the elder's shoulders after a long moment. He buried his face in the fabric of Tobirama's shirt as he grumbled, "You can be really annoying sometimes."

Ah.

"Or so I've been told." Tobirama could only muse dryly as he ran a hand over the boy's head, the last person to have so vehemently reminded him of the fact having shared the very same face as the one before him now.

Apples and trees, he supposed. Apples and trees.

Despite this, he turned to make his way towards the academy gates with a low hum, noting, "I told you the omitted information wouldn't change anything, did I not?"

Sasuke huffed in his arms, moving his head so it was propped up on the silver-haired man's shoulder as they walked. He picked at his fingers as they moved through the streets, focusing on his nails rather than the occasional glances sent their way. "...I guess."

His voice lowered a bit as he seemed to calm down under the steady hold of the elder shinobi, his grouchiness melting into something closer to reluctant acceptance.

"...Your pictures and statue make you look mean."

"As I told you, photos are not always an accurate representation of a person's feelings. I was trying to look professional."

"You look mean."

Tobirama side-eyed the boy mildly as he played with his fingers behind Tobirama's back, a low sigh escaping his lips at the child's bluntness.

Well. It wasn't as if he hadn't quite literally asked for it.

"Do you wish to continue making fun of the man who helped pave the streets we're walking on, or do you want to hear about how the little mission you gave me this morning went?" he asked instead of bothering to argue, watching as the boy sat up in his hold, giving him an equally critical look as he seemed to debate over it in his head.

"It wasn't a little mission, it was important." the child finally settled on correcting him, Tobirama reaching up with his free hand to pinch his nose.

Something he tended to forget when riling up the typically well-behaved boy was just how damn sassy he could be when he was sure he wasn't going to get in trouble for it.

"Yes, you're right. My apologies. Would you like the results of the very important mission you imparted upon me this morning?" he tried once more, looking down at the little ravenet.

"Mhm." the boy nodded after a long moment, head plopping back down onto his shoulder as he looked up at Tobirama with something between hope and dread - seeming to have finally run out of ways to dodge the elephant in the room. Instead, he asked, "How much longer until Itachi gets to come home? I want him to have the senbei while they're still fresh."

Snorting rather unceremoniously at the child's concern for the treat, Tobirama assured him, "You'll be able to give them to him while they're still perfectly fresh, that I promise."

He paused as they reached the gates of the Uchiha compound, feeling Itachi's chakra still lingering within the main house alongside his two guards.

The silver-haired man took a breath as he looked at the gate, their long efforts finally ready to come to fruition.

It was equally as nerve-wracking as it was relieving.

Sasuke looked up to him, lifting his head at the promise. His dark eyes watched Tobirama carefully, taking in his words as he took a deep breath of his own.

Carefully, the silver-haired man let the boy loose from his hold, the young Uchiha beginning to still as he sensed the shift in Tobirama's tone.

No longer did he squirm or harmlessly press at the elder's buttons to test his affections, instead looking up at the man with regarding eyes and a thin frown of focus.

Lowering himself so that he was on one knee, Tobirama sat a hand on either of the boy's shoulders - matching his eyes with a firm gaze of his own.

"...Teasing aside, Sasuke, there is something I need to say before we head in."

The boy nodded firmly, seeming to soak in each of his words as if they were descending from the heavens themself. "Mhm!"

"I am the former hokage, as you clearly have been made aware." Tobirama began, trying to find the best way to put it. "As well as someone who wishes to see both you and Itachi taken care of, as I have previously promised."

Sasuke's head craned to the side in thought, considering his words briefly.

Tobirama paused, giving time for the question he was sure would eventually come to slip out.

It didn't take long, the little ravenet as sharp as ever as his hands folded behind him, shoe tracing lightly over the dirt below as he asked, "You aren't from Kiri then," the boy stated first, continuing only as he got a nod, "And I don't think you had a husband in our clan...?"

"...No, I did not, you are correct." Tobirama confirmed, seeing the wheels turning and adding briefly, "...I had no partner within the Uchiha clan, married or otherwise."

"Were you just friends with the clan then?" the boy asked, eyes narrowing as he seemed to try to wrap his head around why Tobirama would possibly go so far out of his way to help them. "Or did you just help because the clan is part of the village, and it's your job to take care of the village?"

He didn't seem to be the biggest fan of the second suggestion, but Tobirama wasn't quite sure it was a good idea to bury the lead twice. He settled on answering as honestly as he could instead, explaining, "I helped because neither of you deserved to be going through the hell that you were. It was unfair that you were left all alone in your home, just as it was unfair that Itachi was chased out of his. My elder brother and I created this village with the intention of protecting children from those horrors. Not to endorse them." he frowned. "None of this ever should have happened, but if I can't undo it, the least I can do is make sure nothing like it ever happens again."

Slowly, the boy nodded, reaching up to wipe at his eye as he blinked away the beginning mists of his tears, only for his hands to fall back behind him once more as he bit at the inside of his cheek, "...And you're still going to stay, like you said? To make sure no one tricks Itachi into thinking he has to leave again?"

"How many times do I have to say it before you listen?" Tobirama sighed lightly, giving the boy a brief huff of amusement as he spoke, "I'm not going anywhere. You're stuck with me, no matter how annoying I get."

Tobirama shook his head as the boy's cheeks puffed up, looking to the side as if able to deflect his baiting by doing so.

The silver-haired let him have it, continuing, "No one is going to bring harm to either you or Itachi under my watch. I am going to keep you both safe to the absolute best of my capabilities. Though to do that, there are a few rules Itachi is going to have to follow. Just until things calm down and the village is able to fully understand that Itachi means no harm."

Tobirama explained, doing his best to keep his tone even, "He has had his chakra and sharingan sealed away so that he isn't able to use either. He has also had all his weapons taken and his ability to leave the compound restricted. He may not train using any of these, he may not fight unless I give him express permission, and he may not leave the sight of either myself or his two assigned ANBU guards."

Sasuke's eyes looked damn near ready to pop out of his skull, but he nodded along anyway, an uneasy expression on his face. "Itachi has been severely limited in his power. He has agreed to do this because he wants you and the rest of the village to feel safe with him."

He paused momentarily before adding, "I realize it's not easy to stand side by side with someone who has hurt you so horribly in the past, but I know you two are strong enough to do it. It will take time, but it will be well worth it in the end. Take it one day at a time, and should you need it, I will always be there to help. No one will blame you if you find it too hard and need to take a step back. Sometimes, retreating to try again another day is the best option. Itachi and I both understand that."

"...And he's inside, right now? At home? Waiting for us?" Sasuke asked, fingers tightening behind him.

Upon receiving a nod, the young Uchiha glanced to the gate, a firm frown on his lips as he spoke with all the perseverance in his small little body, "We should go in, then. He shouldn't have to...I want to see him, if he misses me too." he decided resolutely, even as his voice cracked horribly. "Because I miss him, I really do."

Chapter Text

Giving one final squeeze to the boy's shoulders, Tobirama stood, turning to the compound gates. He could feel Sasuke shift beside him, a small hand forcing its way into his hold as the gate was opened.

Steadily, the two walked through the compound, Sasuke's eyes reaching up and over the house to glance at the flock of crows that seemed to await them. The birds shifted from the top of the roof, peering down at the two even as the boy's free hand recoiled lightly to his chest at the sight.

It didn't take long for them to reach the porch where the others remained, their small heads turning as if to better see them upon their approach.

The young Uchiha watched them with an equally focused gaze as they neared, only entering through the opened front door as Tobirama lightly nudged him inwards.

Dark charcoal eyes flashed across the room as the boy slid his shoes off beside the elder shinobi, a deep breath escaping the boy as he looked over the house and somewhat hid behind the silver-haired man.

It was starkly empty from the entrance, the only sign of life coming from the near-statue-like presence by the stairway.

Tenzo stood stationed there with his feet planted firmly in the ground, eyes turned ever so slightly to look at the small ravenet and silver-haired man.

"Itachi is upstairs," he spoke after a brief moment, gaze shifting away from the two as he spoke, "He has opted to remain stationed there until you are ready for him to join you."

Sasuke shifted once more from beside him, the grip on his hand tightening as the young Uchiha watched the brunet guard with heavy eyes. Trying with all his might to say he was ready but unable to find the words as his chest seemed to constrict each time he opened his mouth.

After a long moment, Tobirama leaned down a bit, suggesting, "How about we get him his after-mission snack first? We can go ahead and get his tea started so that that way-"

"No!" the boy shook his head, eyes wide as he snapped his gaze to the elder shinobi, hands pulling away and coming together in front of him to grip the fabric of his shorts. "I mean- I want to go up now. I don't want to wait anymore."

Tobirama watched the boy carefully as he spoke, considering it for a brief moment before giving a light nod. Reluctantly, he agreed, "Alright. Just remember that I'm right here if you need me."

"I know..." the boy nearly whined, reaching up to rub at his nose as he seemed to do his best to steel himself.

The youth took another deep breath, reaching back up and all but yanking Tobirama forward as he sprinted for the stairs in a sudden and quick movement that would have had a civilian falling on their face. Tenzo all but lept out of the way as Sasuke had them barreling up the stairs and through the hall, Kakashi side-stepping from his spot outside the door with only a brief quirk of his brow at the boy's rush.

The child paused briefly at the base of his brother's door, shoulders stiff as his free hand reached up to take hold of the knob. A cold sweat coated his hand as he twisted the knob open with more force than was strictly necessary, swinging the door open with no regard for the way it slammed against the inside wall of the room.

Dark eyes clenched shut only to snap back open as the boy stepped into the room - the little uchiha using all his willpower to make it that far but freezing upon coming face to face with the one he had moved so hastily to see.

Tobirama gave the small hand in his grasp a brief squeeze as his gaze shifted between the two; both seeming damn near ready to sprint for an exit at the sight of the other - one from fear, and one from the guilt associated with seeing it.

Itachi stood near his opened window, dressed in a plain black high-collar shirt and tan pants. His hair was pulled into a ponytail tightly behind him, familiar icy blue chakra stretching from the corners of his eyes and into two small tick marks on either side. The seals suppressing his sharingan seemed to be working double time as the boy's emotions spiked, the stress of the situation seeming to trigger an attempt at activation whether the young uchiha meant it or not.

Haunted ebony eyes focused wholly on the small ravenet standing ahead of him, the pre-teen taking a brief step back only to be stopped by the window seal behind. His fingers gripped the inner frame, mouth opening briefly as his brows drew together - trying to find the words to say but finding them stuck in the back of his throat.

Sasuke's brows furrowed from beside Tobirama, gripping his hand tight enough to damn near cut off blood flow. The boy's neck craned upwards to look at his elder brother, a look of conflict overcoming him. "Itachi, I- we-" his words freezing up in his throat despite himself.

The two met each other's eyes, Sasuke's gaze flickering between the icy blue chakra on his cheeks and the elder's distinctly dark irises. Itachi's brows pinched impossibly tight with worry meanwhile, snapping between their shared hold and the boy himself.

A heavy thump broke the echoing silence that threatened to accumulate between them, Itachi's knees hitting the floor and his palms following soon after. Sasuke just about jumped out of his skin as Itachi pressed his forehead firmly to the ground, their stiff stare-off coming to an end as the boy hid behind a curtain of hair. "I'm sorry, Sasuke," the words nearly trembled out, voice tightening in remorse that he didn't quite know how to convey and for sins he couldn't quite bring himself to vocalize. "I should have done better by you and the clan. I should have been a better big brother, I should have been able to protect you from this. I'm so sorry. I know it's not nearly enough for all that I've done, but I truly am."

Small fingers curled into the side of Tobirama's pants as Itachi spoke, both hands now clung to the elder as a familiar crimson overtook the child's eyes - two small tomoe swirling to life in each iris as he looked down at the unfamiliarly ignoble form of his elder brother. It was a stark contrast from the powerful presence the boy had likely come to associate with the other.

Tobirama tore his eyes away from the child and to Itachi, his own hand moving on instinct. It ran carefully through Sasuke's hair in a weak attempt to ease the mountain of distress within the boy - or at least what little he could.

After all, even he, who had slowly begun to understand just how painfully human the pale pre-teen could be when given the chance, found it hard to consider. The idea of him side by side with the cloaked shinobi that had tried so hard to be intimidating during their first meeting simply felt…unnatural.

"My actions are inexcusable," Itachi's fingers dug into the carpet below as he spoke, "No matter what my reasons were, I hurt you. I took mother and father- our aunts, our uncles- our cousins and our family. I took our entire clan in front of you, time and time again. Then I left you alone with it all, and for that I am so sorry-"

The pre-teen’s voice cracked under the pressure of his own words, all but choking down the feelings he didn't feel worthy of letting out. "I know what I've done is unforgivable. I've done a terrible job at showing it both past and present, but you at least deserve to know- I am so sorry for all the pain that I've caused you. I love you so, so much. This isn't- I wanted so much more for you than this, and I'm sorry I wasn't enough to give it to you."

Silent, nearly unnoticeable, tears lined the boy's eyes despite his best efforts as he spoke - a stark contrast to the low sob that rose from the child beside him.

"I know I don't deserve to be here, but if you really intend to let me stay by your side, I'll do better. I'll become a brother worth having. I swear." Itachi swore breathlessly, clenching his teeth, "I'll do whatever it takes to make it up to you, even if it's only one one-hundredth of the way."

Sasuke's face reddened as his expression pinched together, as if hearing the despair in his brother's voice and seeing him brought to his knees was enough to bring him physical pain. His breathing became uneasy, tears beginning to blur his vision as his lip quivered in anguish - the apologies only seeming to dig the knife deeper into his heart.

The confirmation that what was done was done.

The confirmation that all Itachi could truly be at this point was sorry.

The confirmation that this was all that was left for them.

Fingers loosening from Tobirama's hand and pant leg, Sasuke took a shaky step forward. Each foot moved heavily, a deliberate effort behind each step until finally he made it to the kneeling form before him.

A second thud sounded through the room as Sasuke sat in front of his brother, arms reaching out to wrap around the elder even as tears clouded his vision. The boy's face nuzzled into the spot between Itachi's head and shoulder, soaking the dark fabric against his neck as he all but hissed, "I- I've- missed- you- so- much- Please, please don't, Itachi-" his lungs seemed ready to collapse as he forced the words past gut-wrenching sobs, shoulders quivering as he held onto the elder. "I- love- you-"

The poor boy repeated it like a mantra, as if by saying it enough he would be able to heal the deep gash that had found itself within his and his brother's hearts.

Slowly, Itachi forced himself up, arms lifting from the ground to wrap around his younger brother. His shoulders trembled ever so slightly with effort as he pulled Sasuke closer, tucking the smaller one under his chin and enveloping his arms around him - as if he were able to protect him from the hurt in his own heart by doing so.

The tears welling in his eyes began to silently slip downwards as he held his little brother, one arm wrapped around the younger's back while the other held the boy's head in place by his throat - allowing Sasuke's tears to soak his collar as his own eyes screwed together in shame and regret.

Small, pale fingers dug into the elder's shirt as the boy let himself be held, only managing to flinch slightly at Itachi's initial grab. Sasuke hid within Itachi's shirt, his desperation for something to be right in the world overtaking the terror in his heart for the moment. "Please don't go again Itachi, please. We- We'll be good, and the elders will be gone- and- it'll be okay. They won't be mean to you anymore. We'll be okay- He said-"

Tobirama slowly moved forward as the boy's words became inaudible against his brother's shoulder, sitting on his knees beside the two as Itachi's silent tears began to escalate into quiet weeping at the sight of the child's begging and his unintentional reminder of what could have been. The boy used the hand that had previously been holding Sasuke's head in place to cover his own mouth, eyes clenching shut.

The silver-haired man firmly ran his fingers over Itachi's back in small circles just as he'd learned to do for Sasuke, voice as steady as it could be as he coached the boy, "...Breathe Itachi, breath. He's right here. He's not going anywhere."

A shuttering breath escaped the boy as he held his brother tightly, shoulders trembling with a mix of relief and terror as Tobirama tried to rub away even a bit of the primal fear buried so far within the sapling's bones.

The man grimaced lightly to himself as a fresh wave of muted tears began to slip out, Itachi's head turning the opposite way as if to scavenge what little pride he had left. His breath shuttered under the pressure of it all, sounding all too much like a dying man as the two's shared agony threatened to swallow him whole. "I'm not- I'm not going to leave again Sasuke. I promise. I've got you. I've got you."

Tobirama continued on even with this promise of strength, watching as Itachi's shoulders began to steadily loosen and Sasuke's wails became lesser and lesser. No words were spoken between the three for a few long moments as the two allowed their remorse and grief to run through their veins in bursts - shattering their usual resolve and allowing themselves to be seen by each other despite it all.

Itachi's quiet weeping slowly began to fade as time went on, head easing downward under the exhaustion of it all. His arms held steady against Sasuke still, having taken to lightly running a thumb over the back of his younger brother's neck in a bid to ease the louder cries of the little ravenet.

A bid which seemed to be successful, if the way Sasuke's near indiscernible cries of pain seemed to quell under his hold was anything to go off of.

The boy had by the end of it all but curled into his brother, reduced to little more than a pile of sniffles and hics.

Tobirama remained by their sides for a long few moments, doing his best to give them the space they needed without merely tossing them at one another to figure it out.

Steadily, once he felt enough time had passed, the silver-haired man reached out to each of them; setting a hand on either of their shoulders and watching as they slowly separated from each other.

Or, well, as much as they were willing to.

Itachi sat up slightly from his curled position, back straightening as he looked to the elder with a small sniff - eyes averting with shame for his state after a brief second. Sasuke did the same, head popping out from his brother's collar and reaching up to wipe his nose with his sleeve - though his puffy red-rimmed eyes remained trained wholly on Tobirama, sharingan by now faded and gone.

Calloused hands reached up to wipe the river of tears he had failed to prevent in each of the Konoha children, the youthful curve of their faces painfully enhanced by their suffering. Tobirama's palm stilled against each of their cheeks, feeling as Sasuke leaned into it while Itachi seemed to allow it out of sheer exhaustion.

"...It's going to take time, but things will get better." a wry smile made its way to his lips as Sasuke sent him a wearied look for his words, the silver-haired man continuing, "I'm aware it is likely something I've said a dozen times over, but it's merely the truth of the matter."

He took a brief breath, vibrant red eyes focusing on the two before him. "I have seen my fair share of tragedy, and though such full-hearted foolery is better suited for my elder brother's lips, far am I from one who ignores the fact I have seen proven again and again throughout my life: It takes a great deal of patience and love to overcome the darkness of this world, but in doing it, something great can be achieved."

The former hokage considered Itachi's averted eyes briefly, lightly tapping his thumb to the boy's face until his dark eyes drew back towards him once more.

"Looking at you two, I truly believe it is a strength both of you possess, to be able to lead one another to such a future so long as you stick by each other's side and keep your hearts as open as they are now." he mused, "It is far from easy, but it's something I know you both have the aptitude for as children of both Konoha and the Uchiha Clan. The fire within each of your hearts will lead you that far, at least."

The dim flusters that overtook each of the boys' faces at the praise were doubled as the man gave a firm pat to either of their cheeks, suggesting with a low huff in an attempt to ease their nerves, "Now. I believe Sasuke mentioned something about it being of the utmost importance that you get a post-mission treat upon your return - and someone is still owed a snack for his hard work in class."

Chapter Text

The two moved slowly apart as he spoke, the silver-haired man standing and wiping his knees briefly as he waited on the two - keeping an eye on them even as he turned towards the window to give them a moment to collect themselves.

He could see Sasuke pull himself up from Itachi's lap in his peripheral, the young uchiha wiping his eyes roughly as he shuffled over to stand beside Tobirama. His eyes were still terribly tender looking as he laid his head against the elder's side, fingers once more intertwining with Tobirama's pant leg as he looked out the window.

Dark eyes shifted between the trees outside and the exhausted form of his elder brother a mere few paces away - watching Itachi for a long few seconds from Tobirama's left before nuzzling his face into the fabric of the former hokage's shirt. As if by hiding within he would be able to block out the uneasy feelings.

Tobirama's hand moved reflexively to run through the boy's short fluffy locks, holding him to his left and glancing briefly over as Itachi seemed to finish scrubbing the last remaining tears from his face.

The pre-teen stood off to the side, eyes locked to the ground as Sasuke hid against Tobirama. A soft red hue lingered against his pale nose, the icy blue marks on either side of his face unfading even now.

Itachi's brows furrowed as a large hand fell over his shoulder. Tobirama shook his head briefly at the boy and tugged him closer so he could stand to his right, ruby eyes falling over the younger as he fit entirely too well under his arm. He reminded the man entirely too much of a fledgling as he hesitantly allowed himself to be manoeuvred into the half-hold, ebony eyes shifting upwards to look up at the elder.

"Sasuke was quite adamant that you needed to be home in time to try some of the senbei he made for you while they were still fresh." the man spoke calmly, doing his best to keep the waters still despite the two trembling time bombs he held under either arm.

For as desperately as they each seemed to be in conveying their love for each other and intentions to do their best in rebuilding what they had lost, they both seemed painfully aware of just how difficult such a task would be.

Professions of love and demands he stay aside, Sasuke still clung to Tobirama's hip, hiding behind the safety of the man's hold.

Despite his vow to become a worthy elder brother and promises of staying, Itachi tried with all the focus his drained body could muster to keep himself as far away from the other as possible - as if by merely making eye contact he would be dirtying the younger.

It left Tobirama directly in the middle, once more forced to pry himself from the shadows to play mediator as best he could.

"...Thank you Sasuke, but you really didn't need to do that," Itachi spoke lowly, a thin frown lacing his lips as they headed downstairs, hands loose at his sides and eyes cast to the ground ahead as if unsure what to do with himself as he spoke.

"I wanted to." the younger of the two saplings spoke, voice muffled by the fabric he insisted on keeping his face buried in even as they headed down the stairs. "...Lord Hokage said they go good with matcha, because they're salty and you like your tea sweet, so..."

Sasuke trailed off in explanation as they reached the kitchen, prying himself away from Tobirama slowly - his feet padding softly against the floor as he reached up to grab a handful from the cookie jar Tobirama had managed to fish out from the far back of the cabinets. He stood on the tips of his feet to get a plate down from the overhead shelf, the silver-haired man moving to help him by fetching one of the boxes of matcha.

Tobirama began to prepare it with practised ease, his own father having had quite the liking for it as well. Though he would have likely bawled at the sheer amount of sugar Tobirama put in the cup now, the silver-haired man following Sasuke's previous instructions and dropping three scoops of sugar into the large cup before him.

"Besides," Tobirama noted as they worked to prepare the afternoon snack, Itachi lingering in the doorway as if not wanting to intrude on their process. His dark eyes flickered over Sasuke as he sat them neatly on the plate, the boy in question lining the baked goods into a swirled formation to distract himself from the gaze on his back, then back up to Tobirama. "It's a good middle ground to have in the house for you two, with Sasuke not caring much for sweets."

"Yes, that's true..." Itachi nodded, mouth opening to say something more only to click shut the very next second. The boy reached up to rub the tender skin near his eyes, shifting so that he was further into the kitchen as Kakashi moved from upstairs and into the living room - standing side by side with Tenzo.

Tobirama sat the array of cups before him as he finished, red eyes glancing at Itachi's former teammates as he noted, "You two are free to head home for the day if you'd like. I'll call for you if needed, but you should be fine to consider yourselves off-duty until I need to drop Sasuke off at the academy tomorrow morning."

The two nodded in unison, disappearing in an instant with little more than one last quick glance at Itachi's back from Kakashi. "Understood, Lord Hokage."

The silver-haired man watched them leave as he finished preparing the tea, making a mental note to prepare a bit extra for the young man and brunet boy next time. Typically he wouldn't be so quick to shoo them off, but given the overwhelming enough situation at hand, he would rather not push things.

"Itachi," the man waved a hand briefly, trying to keep said issue under control by keeping him engaged. "Do me a favour and set these on the table." he instructed - watching as, just like Sasuke, the young uchiha seemed all too willing to have something to occupy his hands with. "Good, thank you."

Tobirama watched as Itachi sat the cups down on the table, one by one, Sasuke peering over to him from his spot half-hidden behind Tobirama. The boy's ebony eyes watched his brother carefully, taking in each of his movements as if watching an animal that he wasn't quite sure was completely friendly.

The ravenet let out a quiet huff as Tobirama laid a hand atop his head, looking up at the older shinobi with a mild glare that all but screamed Stop It, I'm Busy.

Tobirama's brow rose at the child, lifting his hand from the boy's head with a small tsk of his own.

For as prickly as his brother used to tease him for being as a child, he was fairly sure he hadn't held half a candle to Sasuke when he got into one of his moods powerful enough to overshadow his usual clingy nature.

How the boy managed to glare at him for disrupting him while simultaneously standing atop Tobirama's feet, he wasn't sure.

He reached over to lift the plate of senbei from the counter, Sasuke shifting so that he was walking ahead of him and could claim the spot closest to the window - sitting diagonal to Itachi and looking at Tobirama expectantly.

The plate was set carefully down between the three of them, Tobirama seating himself beside Sasuke and directly across from Itachi.

An uneasy stillness fell between the three as they each reached for the senbei, Sasuke blazing through the crackers like he was worried they'd vanish while Itachi slowly nibbled on the same piece - neither of them willing to look the other in the eye.

"...You never did mention how the academy went today," Tobirama suggested after a long moment, looking to the youngest Uchiha. All the prickliness seemed to dissolve out of him as he became the centre of attention, appearing as if he were doing his best to not melt down and into his chair.

Tobirama grimaced internally at his misstep, watching as Sasuke nodded, all but hiding behind his cup. "It was okay. We mostly just sparred in the morning and did a history review after lunch."

There was a lack of his typical passion when speaking about his day, what would have usually tumbled into a long-winded explanation about how he did in his spars or follow-up questions about his lesson ending there. Instead, he sipped at his drink, shoulders turned slightly away from them as if to will the conversation towards someone else.

"That's good. It's important to practice." Tobirama allowed, turning his focus towards his cup as he tried to dig for something that would soothe the conversation. "It's been a bit since you were last able to go outside for some training."

A tight nod came from the boy beside him, setting his cup down and rubbing the side of his face with a thin frown.

Echoing silence returned between the three as they sat, quiet sips from their slowly dwindling cups being the only sign that anyone was there at all.

Itachi's lips remained pressed firmly together as he focused wholly on the cup in his hand, finger tracing idly up the side to feel its warmth. Something in the way he watched it gave Tobirama the impression that he wanted to speak, but found the thought just as daunting as he himself did.

"...I'm going to go rest for a bit longer." Itachi's eyes averted from his cup after a long moment, eyes narrowing in focus as he moved to stand from the table, "Thank you for the food and tea. You did a good job with it, Sasuke."

The words seemed unnatural on Itachi's tongue as he moved to rinse his cup out, something about them seeming unright. They were sincere enough, yet almost...forced. As if the pre-teen was digging at the bottom of the barrel to find some way to convey that his lack of commentary was not out of ill will. A silent apology for his own awkward jadedness and inability to let himself be vulnerable now that the moment had passed.

The pre-teen looked as though he would rather gouge his own eyes out than risk making eye contact with either Tobirama or Sasuke, conflicting sharply with the subtle desperation in his words which begged Sasuke not to think he was doing it out of dismissal or malice.

"I'm glad- I mean, thank you," Sasuke spoke from beside him, peeking around his side to watch Itachi from his seat even as he continued twisting his fingers on his lap. "I'll see you later."

"I'll see you later." Itachi nodded, watching his younger brother with those focused, intent eyes which truly had no place on such a young face. They averted only as Sasuke's fingers began to still, the smaller uchiha seeming to shrink into himself under Itachi's studying gaze.

He moved towards the living room as he finished washing his cup, pausing only briefly as Tobirama spoke with a thin frown, "I'll come to wake you up once dinner is ready if you aren't up by then."

"Thank you." was all he said as he continued on, making his way upstairs without bothering to look back. It was only a mere second later that Tobirama heard the faint click of a bedroom door shutting, leaving him alone once more with the youngest Uchiha.

Sasuke's head had turned downwards, the boy looking all too frustrated with the situation at hand.

His love for his brother seemed to conflict with the fear in his heart, the silent fight between finding it too good to be true and too cruel to be real buzzing around within his young mind.

Chapter Text

Sasuke's eyes slowly descended away from the staircase, landing instead on his near-empty cup.

He looked tired, the distinct stare of a marching shinobi reminding Tobirama entirely too much of the first few days he had been in the compound. The boy's fingers gripped his cup, gaze lifting up to meet Tobirama's before immediately slamming back down upon seeing the man's eyes already on him.

It was clear he had something he wanted to say but was unable to, mouth parting only briefly before shutting once more - as if his voice refused to cooperate with his attempts.

Tobirama gave him a moment more before giving in, bringing his own half-empty cup to his lips as the boy seemed to curl into himself atop the seat; seemingly content to let the words never see the light of day.

"If you keep this up, I'm going to have to dig through my old records to try and find that half-finished telepathy jutsu." he tsked, trying to coax the words out of Sasuke's mouth. The boy only pouted, however, turning his head to the side to look away from Tobirama.. "...I'm kidding."

Another beat of heavy silence passed before Sasuke let himself turn back to the table, reaching forward to snatch another senbei as his shoulders deflated.

He bit down on it with furrowed brows, looking back up to Tobirama as he finally spoke, "Itachi looks...different, from last time I saw him."

Sasuke reached up to rub his eye, a tight frown on his lips as he tried and failed to articulate exactly what he meant. "I didn't, I know you said the elders had threatened him into listening to them, but- I didn't think that..."

Tobirama's hand fell on the lower part of the boy's back, watching as the young uchiha squirmed from his seat to sit a bit closer - knees slipping from the pillow below in favour of returning to the clingy habits he tried so hard to repress.

Tobirama's arm lifted to accommodate the sudden shift, setting it atop his shoulders instead. He kept his voice even as he coaxed the boy on, "That what?"

"It's just. Itachi never...looked like that." the boy frowned, toying with the rice cracker in his hand as he looked down. "He was always so...even when something scary was happening, he never let it get to him. He could get upset or angry, but he didn't let it scare him. So why is he...why does he look so uneasy now?" he bit the inside of his cheek, "Why is he looking at you and me like we're the ones he should be nervous around?"

Tobirama frowned at the boy's words, considering how to best articulate his brother's descent in confidence and rightful unease without casting responsibility onto the young ravenet or dragging the elder through the mud.

He settled on after a moment, "It isn't that he's scared of you or me, not necessarily."

Or at least he hoped that wasn't the case.

"He's just...hurting, if I had to estimate." his red eyes narrowed in thought as he spoke, hand running idly through Sasuke's hair as he collected his thoughts. "I'm sure he misses the clan and finds this near-empty compound hard to handle, but is painfully aware that he was the one to empty it in the first place. He's likely angry with himself for letting the elders intimidate him into doing it and thus hurting you, so he's trying to keep a distance in order to avoid doing it again."

He could feel the child's shoulders stiffen with unease as he listened, head leaning into the elder's grasp as if it would keep him safe from his own thoughts. Tobirama frowned thinly, continuing after a brief moment, "All he wants is for you to be safe. He thought he was doing that by listening to the elders, but now finds that all he has managed to do was make you suffer. So he does not...trust himself, per se. It isn't that he wants to be distant, he's just trying to make sure he doesn't slip up again and accidentally hurt you."

"But he wouldn't, not if he went back to the way things were before," Sasuke muttered lowly, staring at his hands as the last of the cracker disappeared. "I don't want him to be scared like that, and I don't want to be either..." he frowned, "It doesn't make sense. I know he wouldn't hurt me on purpose, or at least I want to believe that this isn't just another game to him like he said it was the first time. I don't...I don't think I can do it again if it is."

His voice quivered slightly at the end, the poor boy taking a deep breath to try to keep the emotions under wraps; his throat still raw from the last time he had let them get away. "I just want things to go back to how they were, even before this. I want things to be like they were before I was in the academy. I don't want him to be scared of hurting me - I want. I want him to train me again, and carry me when I fall, and make me dinners, and come tell me goodnight even though I'm pretending to be asleep - but he knows I'm awake but he tells me goodnight after his mission anyway, every time-" Sasuke's words descended into faint blabbering, trying his damnedest to convey how miserable his brother's distance made him with a head hung low.

Tobirama simply didn't have the needless cruelty for the boy in his heart to remind him that things would never be exactly the same, instead allowing Sasuke to get it all out as he carefully massaged the child's scalp. Mental images of an openly smitten Itachi and untainted Sasuke ran rampant in his mind, the silver-haired man shoving down the uneasy feeling in his stomach as he finally cut Sasuke's aimless attempts to convey his frustrations off.

"Sasuke, look at me."

The boy's neck craned upwards as he spoke, a thin quiver of a frown having overtaken his lips as his brows pressed together.

"Itachi loves you more than anything in the entire world. He is your big brother who loves you more than life itself, and no amount of distancing on his end or fear on yours is going to change that." he frowned thinly, wiping the unshed tears from the boy's eyes. "He may not be showing it very well right now, but if you two can just remember that much, it will get you through this."

He paused briefly, glancing consideringly over at the child as he debated on whether Sasuke would deem himself as too old for his suggestion or not.

Hashirama's children had by that age, yet, times were different back then.

Tobirama carried on at Sasuke's searching look, supposing the worst he would do was get embarrassed and scold him for his mis-guess.

"Things may not be the same as they once were, but that doesn't mean they have to be bad. If you so desired, I have no doubt Itachi would help you get settled in bed tonight. It'd even make him happy, I believe, if you let him read one of those books from your end table for you." he suggested carefully, "If nothing else, as a small step towards you two becoming more comfortable in each other's presence once again."

Sasuke's eyes averted as he listened to Tobirama, hands falling down to dig into the fabric of his shorts. He debated it, seeming to struggle back and forth with the idea momentarily before nodding. "...I'll ask him when it's dinner time, or when he's finished resting."

"Good." Tobirama's gentle touch turned a bit looser, the silver-haired man's hand ruffling Sasuke's hair into disarray once more to ease the nervous expression on his face. "Perhaps you should go up and pick one now while I heat up dinner."

Not that he had much confidence it would be finished considering Sasuke still had rice cracker crumbs littering the side of his face, but it was what it was. If there was ever a day that the boy deserved to indulge...

A brief pout was pointed at him despite his thoughts, Sasuke reaching up to shove the elder's hand off his head. "Tobira, quit it!"

Tittering lightly at the child, Tobirama watched him stand with light amusement, a deep fluster covering Sasuke's face as he wrapped his arms around the back of Tobirama's shoulders. "...I mean, quit it Lord Hokage." the boy pouted from behind, hugging onto his shoulders even as he plopped his chin atop his own head.

Tobirama shook his head at the half-arsed correction, feeling as Sasuke sat up from his spot behind him. "You may continue calling me Tobira if you so wish," he noted, standing from his seat as he turned to the boy - arms crossed with his head tilted appraisingly. "Or Tobirama, as a matter of fact. It makes little difference to me."

Tobira, Tobirama, Lord Second, Lord Hokage - it didn't matter terribly to him.

Respect for the station was important, but it wasn't as if he was going to throw a hissy fit over a child refusing to call him by his title.

If it deflated the boy so, what was truly the point of it?

Owlish, searching eyes looked up at him as he stood - scanning over him as if to confirm his seriousness. An almost bashful frown fell over the little ravenet's lips as his head turned to the side, a rigid nod coming from him. "Okay."

His legs cricketed together briefly before his feet were remounted to the ground, the academy student reminding him with a flicker of determination, "I'll be right back. I'm just gonna go pick a book. Then I'll help with dinner, okay?"

Tobirama nodded, watching with a faint feeling of amusement as the small uchiha spoke with such focus.

It was only a mere few seconds later that he was off, feet padding through the living room and quietly up the stairs towards his room.

Quiet fell over the room as the two dispersed one after the other, Tobirama shaking his head briefly at the pair.

He moved to heat up the dinner he had prepared priorly - the senju dumping the container out and into the pan in one quick movement. He refreshed the stir fry with a mix of oil and water, watching it come back to life as he shifted it with his spatula.

Tobirama stared into the pan as he swerved the contents from one side to another, shoving down his own urge to crawl over and onto his makeshift bed. His chakra wrapped tightly around the two upstairs, feeling for their presence and keeping a close eye on them even as he worked.

He could feel Sasuke and Itachi lingering above in their own rooms, separated only by the thin walls of the house. The faint shuffling of Sasuke's movements could be heard overhead as he took three plates out - lining them up one by one along the counter.

Three forks sat atop them as Tobirama slid bit by bit some onto each plate - giving them equal portions until there was no more left.

It was only as he finished that Sasuke came quietly tip-tapping down the staircase, seemingly doing his best not to wake up Itachi as he hurried on towards the kitchen.

His expression seemed to sour as he saw that Tobirama was all but done preparing the food, moving instead to pick up the empty plate and half-drunk cups from the table.

Sasuke stacked them perfectly atop one another, steadily making his way over and dodging Tobirama in order to set them into the sink beside the still-hot frying pan.

Tobirama watched him out of the corner of his eye, setting each of the plates on top of the table while Sasuke sat the small handful of dishes up to soak while they ate.

"Good job." a firm nod came from the man, hands on his hips as he looked over the small meal and prepped dishes.

It was an odd feeling, having another seat to set, but certainly not a bad one by any means.

It felt...strangely right, though he wasn't quite sure how that had come to be.

It seemed as if it were only yesterday he was reeling at the way Sasuke had taken to following him around like a lost baby duckling...now here they were, trying with all their might to coax Itachi back towards the home he had to leave behind. To convince him that it would not be an unforgivable crime to accept the warmth they had worked so hard to keep lit between the two of them.

A mission more easily said than done, as he was coming to realize.

"...I'm going to go get Itachi for dinner - you can go ahead and take your seat if you'd like." Tobirama let out a small breath as his hands fell from his hips, turning on his heel and towards the living room once more. "We'll be right down."

Chapter Text

Tobirama reached out as he arrived upstairs, pressing a steady hand to the wood of Itachi's bedroom door to let himself in.

The pre-teen lay in his bed, resting just as he had claimed, but with eyes awake enough to give away his lack of actual sleep. He hadn't so much as bothered to cover himself with his blanket, sock-covered feet pressed together atop the fabric alongside the rest of his body.

His body which was curled slightly inwards as he lay on his side, one hand tucked under his head while the other reached out to pet the crow nestled beside him on his pillow. Itachi's lips fell into a brief frown as he spotted Tobirama, hand slowing in its efforts to appease the small cluster of feathers until finally it came to a stop.

His half-lidded eyes closed only momentarily before he moved to press himself up from his spot on the bed, achy body moving despite the small hunch in his shoulders.

Had Tobirama trusted the boy not to take the opening and use it to crouch behind, he would have suggested Itachi eat his food upstairs while his body recovered a bit more.

Unfortunately, given the way he had already begun trying to hide behind the excuse of resting to avoid the stiff air downstairs, he wasn't sure it was a good idea to give him another reason to hide away.

The air would never clear if that were the case, and besides, as much as he loathed to admit it...excessive solitude wasn't good for the heart. As many days as he himself had spent hidden away in his labs or offices, he knew it was the truth. He had never quite realized how much so until the previously agitating knocking had finally ceased, leaving him in the deafening silence of his work.

A hand reached up to run over his face as he stood in the doorway, his own eyes closing as he steadied himself and looked down over the young uchiha before him. Itachi had stood from his spot lying down, the crow that had been receiving his affections a mere moment ago having disappeared into seemingly thin air.

Tobirama dismissed it, instead focusing on the child in front of him. He stood with far too intent of a gaze, back straightened slightly from its hunches as he listened. He looked more like he was waiting for orders than an invite to dinner, but it was at the very least a start. Tobirama tried not to let the awkwardness seep out of his voice as he spoke plainly, "Dinner is prepared, if you're ready."

A tight nod came from the boy before him, Itachi waiting silently until Tobirama turned to lead them downstairs before following.

The steady sound of near-silent footsteps on wood followed behind him, Tobirama glancing briefly to Itachi in his peripheral as they moved. Dark eyes traced the too-blank walls beside the staircase for only a moment before slamming back down to the ground before him. He walked with the same stiffened upper lip as Sasuke, as if Tobirama were dragging him out to a battlefield rather than dinner with his brother.

A low sigh escaped the silver-haired man as they made it downstairs, restraining the urge to shake his head.

One day at a time, he mentally reminded the boy.

Sasuke was waiting for them dutifully as they returned, sitting atop his cushion with his hands pressed to either side of his lap.

The six-year-old looked to Itachi with a mix of reverence and resolve, standing from his seat to pad over to the taller boy. Small fingers reached up to grab Itachi's hand, paying little heed to the way furrowed brow he was given. Itachi seemed to bite back a scolding for Sasuke's blunt demand, instead following dutifully as his younger brother asked, "Sit by me. I put your plate over here."

"Alright, I'm coming." Dark eyes cast briefly over the three identical plates, a thin frown of consideration falling over Itachi's face even as he sat diligently before the one Sasuke had chosen for him. A mere few inches beside where the smaller of the two had opted to sit, right across from Tobirama's seating.

The man in question slid down easily into his seat, hardly so much as blinking as he sank into the seat. Faintly, he could hear Itachi's muttered "Thank you for the meal", which was mimicked near-immediately by Sasuke. Tobirama picked at his food as he gave a brief nod, at least attempting to balance keeping an eye on the two to make sure all was well and not staring into their souls without realizing it.

He'd done that quite enough with Sasuke, and he had a feeling Itachi would find it even more troubling.

He huffed internally to himself at the thought. No, he certainly didn't need to be handing out more reasons for Itachi to be overthinking.

Briefly, his gaze shifted upwards away from his bowl and over to the two. He watched as they picked slowly through the meal - stealing glances at each other as the thick air surrounding them was too much to talk through.

Itachi moved the food to his mouth almost mechanically while Sasuke merely stabbed as his, taking a long moment to build up the courage before asking with only a slight waver to his voice, "Itachi?"

"Yes?"

Itachi's reply was automatic and weary. For a split second, Tobirama almost regretted putting Sasuke up to what he was about to ask.

Almost.

It was a cheap and dirty thing to do, he knew, but hopefully effective all the same.

Better the boy find himself physically exhausted and ready to collapse into his bed later than awake and restless, trying to grasp at a plan to rebuild the walls that had been thoroughly smashed over the course of the last few days.

It was a precarious line Tobirama walked on, but one he hoped would lead Itachi in a better direction than he had been headed previously.

"You know the Ash On Snow book?" Sasuke shifted in his seat, looking up to the older boy. "The one you got me for my birthday last year?"

"Yes, I know the one." Itachi let out a soft huff of air at his younger brother's prompting, as if the very thought of forgetting the year prior's gift was ridiculous. "What of it?"

"It has too many hard words. I need help with it, and you don't have any missions you need to sleep for, so-"

He drawled off, looking up at Itachi who had begun to slow in his movements ever so slightly - dinner held momentarily in front of his mouth as he took in Sasuke's indirect request.

After a brief minute, Itachi confirmed, "You want me to help you read it tonight?" glancing to the side to take in Sasuke's certain nod. "...Very well, I will."

Itachi's words were calm and easy, conflicting sharply with the faint loosening of his shoulders.

The pre-teen looked to the side, muttering in an utterly unscolding tone, "...You've had it for nearly a year and still haven't read it. Unbelievable."

His hands pinched roughly against the chopsticks pressed in his mouth, keeping himself steady as he ever so gently teased the younger. Softly feeling out the unsteady wall between them. He pointedly did not look as Sasuke's eyes widened, a flabbergasted noise escaping the child's lips.

"You were too busy to ask, I didn't want to bother you!" the boy leaned forward on the table - nearly whining to his elder brother in such a way Tobirama was sure it would have given his father an aneurysm to hear.

The silver-haired man put his own elbows on the table, folding one hand loosely over the other as he held his chopsticks. "Oh? Have you not had the chance to ask me these last few weeks? Or am I not suitable for the job?" he pressed, a thin smirk falling over his lips as he watched the young uchiha sink back into his chair - sulking up at them for their teasing.

Itachi continued to look away from Sasuke, the corner of his mouth twitching ever so faintly into a smile as he heard the small voice grumble beside him, "I wanted Itachi to, he's the one who picked a hard book, so he should have to read it to me."

"Now I'm reading rather than helping. How convenient for you." Itachi noted idly, a flicker of amusement crossing his eyes as he finally glanced over to the cross-armed six-year-old beside him. "Perhaps I should get you a dictionary for you this year instead."

"Itachi!" Sasuke riled in his seat, looking up at the pre-teen with a single cheek puffed out and into a pout. "I'm putting a big layer of wasabi in the middle of your birthday cake if you do. With Tuna mixed into the frosting."

The boy seemed entirely too proud of his grotesque promise, chin jutted upwards with a cheeky grin while Itachi only seemed able to try to process the frankly cruel combination.

His slender brows pressed together, lips parting slightly in silent appall at the suggestion.

The boy looked outright offended, Tobirama's hand lifting over his mouth to clear his throat and stifle the amusement that threatened to slip past his lips. "Let's not say anything we'll regret now." he tsked, shaking his head as he stood with his empty bowl in hand.

He could see Itachi awkwardly press his hands to his lap out of the corner of his vision, though it seemed to be more out of embarrassment than discomfort now at least. He at least had the decency to look admonished, a sharp contrast to the unimpressed pout Sasuke sent him over his shoulder.

They were utterly ridiculous.

A distinct flavour of entirely too proud and utterly insecure, the lot of them.

Silently, they picked through their bowls despite this, Itachi continuing at a steady pace while Sasuke seemed to copy right alongside him. Tobirama leaned on the counter with his legs crossed and arms settled behind him, red eyes flickering over the somehow endearing and prickly pair.

They carried on eating even as Itachi's brows drew together in brief discomfort, Sasuke's nose pinching slightly between bites.

Tobirama's brow rose as he watched the two, noting idly, "If you're full, there's no need to finish it. We can set it in the fridge for lunch tomorrow or I can repurpose it for breakfast."

Two pairs of matching dark eyes glanced slightly over their shoulder, Itachi's lips pressing together in consideration while Sasuke shifted to look at him - as if whatever his brother decided would be the law to follow.

"There's no use making yourselves sick for the sake of not wasting food. It's better it be used for another meal when you're actually hungry anyway." Tobirama suggested, outstretching his hand as Itachi moved to stand and Sasuke followed suit.

Itachi was reluctant to hand over his bowl, his expression matching horribly close to that of the other parents waiting to pick up their charges from the academy.

That damned and awkward look that so clearly asked why in the hell he was doing such a menial task. As if by becoming the hokage he had been given a pass on all things mundane - as if it was a half finished bowl of stir fry that would dirty his hands rather than the pools of blood he had dipped them within time and time again.

He shook his head briefly at the thought, setting the bowls in the fridge for now to handle later and turning back to the lanky teen and diligently waiting child.

A small puff of air escaped Tobirama's lips as he moved past them, hand reflexively moving to ruffle Sasuke's hair and pat Itachi's shoulder. "Come. You two should get ready for bed. You've both had a long day and Sasuke still has academy lessons tomorrow."

Chapter Text

It wasn't long before the two had finished brushing their teeth and otherwise preparing for bed - Sasuke crawling easily into his bed while Itachi sat at its edge.

The small child lay buried deeply against his pillow in a matter of moments, legs curled up slightly under his blanket as he glanced over towards his brother. His arms wrapped securely around his toy dinosaur, squeezing it perhaps a bit too tightly as he settled in for his story.

Itachi meanwhile held the requested book in hand, smoothing over the cover which looked all too torn to have just been gifted a year ago. Deft fingers traced along the top of the white leatherback book, idly pressing the peeling faux fabric back into place - an almost bittersweet expression tugging on the pre-teen's lips as he waited for his brother to settle down.

Dark eyes lifted after a moment of Sasuke wriggling himself into a comfortable spot, landing on the boy and turning further onto the bed. Itachi's legs folded beneath him, one hand propping the book open in front of his stomach while the other reached up to trace the opening photo.

Tobirama himself watched from a few good paces away, directly beside Sasuke. He leaned on the end table, eyes scanning over the abandoned but apparently not forgotten gift.

He stayed silently by their sides as Itachi began to read, something in Sasuke's shoulders loosening a bit as he watched his brother begin.

Itachi's voice had lowered somehow further than usual, a certain softness encasing his words as he spoke. It was distinctly different from the reserved yet certain demeanour Tobirama had been presented with during their first few meetings, nor did it match the almost horrifyingly pitiful heap of remorse he'd found himself faced with the last few days.

This was something...more careful, more weary. It was the same gentleness with which he handled his crows - the same attentive tenderness with which he had watched Karin run around the campground. A look Tobirama now was sure had been borrowed from his bond with Sasuke to begin with.

It was an expression of great attention and care, one which silently swore to the world that the boy knew just how lucky he was to be trusted with something so fragile. A promise to not fail the small being that had so entrusted itself to him.

Not again, Itachi's eyes promised even as he focused wholly on the book in his lap. Not again.

"Ash on Snow - A Fool's Oath of Kindness."

Itachi's fingers dragged carefully below the title page, tapping loosely below the image of two young shinobi dancing in a field of fully blossomed blue flowers - their display held directly under the bright rays of a full moon.

A tall, lean figure stood to the left. Dressed head to toe in navy armour that seemed to predate even Tobirama's distant memories of Tajima's oldest battle gear, the man held his hand outwards and towards a woman - his wild dark hair restrained only by a single white ribbon as he seemed to focus wholly on her. Faintly blue lips curled into a dim smile, utterly smitten.

To his right was a woman of equal stature, chestnut hair loose around her as she held his hand like-wise. Her own armour was a vibrant white with the exception of the brown-tinged sleeves and lower robes, fire damage apparent even as they danced with vigour below the moon's beams.

Bandages covered the eyes of both figures, a distinctly sombre echo escaping the photo even as the two smiled with ease.

Sasuke let out a low huff at the title from beside him, though his dark eyes watched the pages with steady curiosity as Itachi moved to flip them.

"There were once two clans, hidden deep in the bushy forests of the Land of Fire."

Itachi began, head leaned down to glance over the image below. The man from the cover page stood tall atop a cliff with ebony eyes, while the woman looked upwards from the river below with blank silver ones. They regarded one another wearily, heads each tilted in curiosity.

"Divided by a steep cliff, the two clans kept mostly to themselves." Itachi read off, an at least mild nostalgia for the children's storybook lingering in his tone.

"The Clan of Ash - renowned for their pitch black eyes and utter devotion to the sun goddess - lived atop the cliff. The Clan Of Snow - known for their snowy white eyes and origins from the Lands of Frost - lived below."

He flipped a page, looking up briefly at Sasuke before he continued, "The two lived like this for many years, unaffected by one another but weary nonetheless. It wasn't until a horrible surge of natural disasters overcame the lands that they finally saw fit to acknowledge one another. Sadly, it was in the worst of ways."

Itachi took a brief breath, a dramatic and grave pause filling the air.

"The terrible sequence of events fell like dominos."

Tobirama glanced briefly to the side as Sasuke squirmed a bit in his seat, a thin frown of interest gracing his lips even as he tried to remain calm in the face of his brother's theatrics. He hid partially behind his stuffed dragon, dark eyes peering over the ridges of its head.

"First came the drought, which dried up the few sources of water within the Ash Clan's territories. Their crops shrivelled right alongside their reserves, leaving them both hungry and thirsty. The animals had all gone away due to the harsh conditions, leaving them without a chance of survival if they dared to linger for too long."

Itachi idly tapped the image of an emptied watering hole, frowning thinly before continuing, "Unfortunately, the clan head was stubborn. He refused the words of his clansmen, advisors, and children alike. He did not want to seek help from the clans surrounding, instead declaring that they would pray for five days and five nights. If the sun goddess still refused to relent in her punishment, he would offer up his own life in penance for whatever crime they had unknowingly committed."

...Tobirama was beginning to gather why exactly Sasuke had found it difficult to read through the story on his own. Had it truly been that long since Itachi was his age, or had the boy merely been leagues ahead of his peers here too?

This was clearly a storybook meant to be read to children, not by them regardless. Or at the very least certainly not a child as young as six.

Itachi turned the page even so, horribly unaware of his own unrealistic expectations. The image of many shinobi kneeling dutifully before the sun came into view as he mused, "The clan, ever-faithful, followed in their leader's words despite their own reservations. All but one, that was - the clan head's own eldest son."

"Worried for both his clan and father, he slipped away during the clan's prayer, hoping to find the help their head so refused to seek."

He flipped the page once more, the image of the young girl from before coming into view. "He travelled from clan to clan seeking help. The first day passed without success, then the second, then the third. It was only on the fourth day that he managed to find their saviour. She came in the form of a girl his age, the heiress to the Snow Clan."

"She spotted him climbing down the shared cliff, hungry and reluctant. His worn and tired body nearly collapsed at her feet upon hearing her demands to know what exactly he thought he was doing, forehead pressed to the ground as he pleaded for their aid."

"Though hesitant, she found herself unable to turn him away. He was hurt, hungry, and alone - a pitiful sight indeed. As the heiress to the clan, she had been raised to protect and care for those around her. It just so happened that, for the first time in her life, she had been faced with someone beyond the clan borders in need of this attention."

He flipped the page, dark eyes glancing upwards to the slowly lulling form of his brother.

The curious tension Sasuke had previously held seemed to leak out of his body, furthered by his own fingers which ran idly over the sides of his dinosaur plush.

Sasuke was simultaneously zoned out from all that was around him and into the story, though his eyes did flicker upwards as he heard Itachi's tone shift to something more grim.

Interestingly enough, Itachi seemed just as immersed in the story as he told it, falling utterly into the role of storyteller just as he had so dutifully done in his many roles before. It was almost odd, watching him fall into his own lull as he told the story, though he supposed not necessarily bad.

"Knowing better than to take an unknown shinobi further into her clan's territory, she instead stayed with him on the outskirts. She gave him food and water, using her steady and precise hands to heal his wounds faster than the young man even knew possible. In a mere matter of hours, he was doing leagues better than before, nearly thriving under her skillful care. The heiress had even taken to showing her new friend the basics of water jutsu, something previously unknown to the Ash Clan, in hopes of gifting them a more permanent solution to their problem."

Itachi mused almost somberly, "In turn, the young heir took to showing her a wide array of fire jutsu, hoping to help her keep warm under the severe shadow of the cliff in the cold months. The heiress paid little mind to the fact her clan's skin was far too thick from generations of icy weather for it to be of much use to her, instead opting to bask in the warmth of his returned gesture. The two quickly warmed up to one another, sharing stories of their clans and wondering if, perhaps, they could one day learn more from one another than simple jutsu. The two wondered just how much of the world they were missing by remaining hidden away in their homes. They wanted - no, needed - to see more. Unfortunately, this was not a sentiment shared by the watch party that found them."

Sasuke's fingers turned from gently running along the side of the dinosaur to gripping it with his small fingers, its head lay against the boy's mouth as he watched his brother with tense, tired eyes.

"The young heir was beaten within an inch of his life, undoing all the hard work the heiress had put into healing him. They accused him of manipulating and playing their heiress for a fool, ignoring her adamant demands that this wasn't the case. She tried time and time again to explain that he had only come seeking help, but it was no use. The elder shinobi's hearts had already been hardened by the passing of time, leaving them unyielding in their attacks against the perceived threat. It was then that the young heiress was forced to make a choice."

Itachi's head tilted idly as he flipped the page, dark eyes tracing over the displayed fight below. "She could stand by idly and allow her clansmen to finish him off. It would be quite easy. She could tell herself that she had no choice, that she had tried. She could go home and forget all about the boy - she had only known him a mere few hours, after all. She could return to the safety of her father's arms that night, well aware that a mere cliff away a man just his age was likely sending desperate search parties out in hopes of finding his son who loved him nearly to a fault. It would be so, so, so easy."

"Or, she could stop her clansmen using all the skill that had been so perfectly woven into her being since the night of her birth. She could protect this foolish yet full-hearted boy which she hardly knew, well aware of the mountain of repercussions she risked in doing so. She could put herself between her clansmen and the kind boy she had come to know for no other reason than it being the right thing to do, clan code aside." he paused briefly before flipping the page. "She-"

Itachi's words trailed off as he spotted the now-closed eyes of his little brother, the boy letting out a soft sigh at the sight - as if mourning the fact Sasuke had fallen asleep directly before the climax of the chapter. There was still a good chunk of the story left to be read, Itachi only having gotten through about forty percent. An almost exasperated look fell over the pre-teen, though the small quirk of his lips gave away his lack of true frustration.

Carefully and with all the poise of an experienced shinobi, Itachi stood, setting the book on the dresser behind him with a small shake of his head. His hand lingered on the book for a moment, taking a small breath before returning - as if forcing on one final wind for the day.

By the time he turned back around, any traces of the smile he previously wore were gone.

Instead, Itachi stood motionless, watching as Tobirama pulled the blanket up so it was completely covering Sasuke. He looked all too much like a wind-up toy that hadn't been put into motion as he stood there, dark eyes watching perhaps more intently than was strictly necessary.

Awkwardly, Tobirama finished pulling up the blanket while making eye contact with the boy.

...Perhaps he, like his brother, would benefit from the reminder that Tobirama could not in fact read minds quite yet.

Chapter Text

The eye contact lingered for only a moment longer before it broke away, dark eyes shifting from the Senju and down towards Sasuke's sleeping form.

Itachi slowly moved forward, leaning down over his brother and setting his hands carefully on either side of his small face - a thumb tracing idly over the curve of his small cheek.

Tobirama watched, shoulders releasing some of the tension he hadn't noticed was there before, as Sasuke leaned into the affection even in his sleep. The boy looked all too much like a kitten that had found a particularly nice rock to sunbathe on as his chin naturally tilted into his brother's palm, his grip on his stuffed animal loosening further until it all but lay unclasped beside him.

The two seemed to vanish into a third layer of reality as they leaned into one another, a solid minute passing before Itachi finally straightened back up and released himself from its grasp. He watched Sasuke with focused eyes for only a few seconds more before stepping back - hands slipping away from the younger's face and to his sides. His eyes remained locked on Sasuke however, unmoving.

He seemed to consider something briefly, lips pressed into a firm line as he mulled over his next words carefully. The silence in the room felt heavier as Itachi tried to gather his words but found himself unable to, gaze locked forward as he dug through a thousand thoughts but ultimately found himself unwilling or unable to convey whatever it was that weighed so heavily on his tongue.

Itachi twitched briefly as Tobirama sat a hand on his shoulder, jaw locking in weariness but making no move to pull away as his gaze lifted up to meet Tobirama's once more. He seemed uneasy, but not quite displeased, so Tobirama made no move to pull away.

"There's no need to figure everything out today, Itachi." he cautioned instead, "You have plenty of time. Neither of you are going anywhere, and neither am I. Don't overexert yourself trying to tackle every issue at once."

Tobirama let out a small breath, giving Itachi's shoulder a hopefully reassuring squeeze. "You've worked hard these last few months. Let your body and mind rest for tonight. You deserve that much at least."

The dip in Itachi's lips furthered as he listened, brows furrowing in objection even as he nodded. "Yes, Lord Hokage." the solemness in his expression unchanging as he spoke, all poise and seriousness despite the faint beating behind the pre-teen's eyes which gave away his urge to argue on the matter.

Honestly. Between Sasuke's pouting and Itachi's brooding, Tobirama wasn't sure which one was worse.

"Good. I'll be downstairs if you need me." he gave the young Uchiha a final pat on the shoulder before letting go, shaking his head briefly and turning on his heel. "And I mean it. You look like you're about to tumble over at the slightest breeze. Sleep."

He was sure that had he looked back, he would spot the familiar pursed eyebrows and mild scowl that came with the territory of daring to prod at the dark-haired youth. Instead, he kept his head forward, listening as a soft puff of air left the boy. "I understand, Lord Hokage."

The words were muttered with light offence, though no argument was made against Tobirama's own.

Itachi paused in front of his door as Tobirama made his way towards the staircase.

He halted at the top with a hand held firmly against the rail, tilting his head to listen as Itachi lingered in front of his bedroom door as if to say something else.

Finally, the young Uchiha spoke, hand holding the poor doorknob in a death grip.

"...Thank you, Lord Hokage." Itachi's gaze remained firmly on the door ahead of him, never once leaving it even as he seemed to come to some sort of agreement with himself. "I know I've been discharged from active duty, but if there's ever any way for me to- if there's ever anything at all I can do to repay you for all you've done for Sasuke and I, then please..."

He sounded all too earnest, reminding Tobirama far too much of the countless other shinobi that had likewise pledged themselves to him over the years.

The thought left a horrible cold spot in the centre of his chest, wrapping and squeezing around his heart to cause more pain than a blade ever could.

He allowed his head to move forward and back to the space ahead, looking down the stairs before he closed his eyes momentarily. He stabbed and strangled back the images that threatened to plague his mind.

Distant memories of Hiruzen, Homura, and Koharu - all as enamoured and awed as Sasuke during their first training session together.

Danzo, always so quick to volunteer to be on his team and prove himself a worthy shinobi.

Kagami, so young and full of life, gathering his courage to approach him after he had dismissed his team for the day and ask for personal mentorship.

...

Danzo, Homura, and Koharu refusing to change their ways or so much as admit their wrongs. Convinced that they were right to order the slaughter of hundreds of innocent civilians and children. Claiming it as a necessary sacrifice.

It was as if he were still seven, listening to his father prattle on about the supposed admirability of it all. As if he had never truly managed to convey the difference between respecting their sacrifice and thinking it was at all acceptable.

The three looking at him, uncomprehending even now as they were sentenced to death for the threat they posed to the village they claimed to love yet insisted on covering in a blanket of misery.

Hiruzen, staring at him with his pipe threatening to snap between his teeth as he recalled the countless young sacrifices he'd made over the years. Too willing to accept the mental burden of these morbid choices rather than having the strength to face them head on or work to avoid them. Making excuse after excuse and shoving the hat back into his hands rather than having the guts to own up to his own failings and become the awe-inspiring Hokage so many thought him to be.

Kagami, far too trusting in the stupid, stupid decision of his deceased teacher, following his chosen predecessor's orders with all the loyalty in the world. Dying too young on the same battlefields Tobirama had worked so hard to empty over the years, spirit left to mingle with the long-gone ghosts of Uchiha and Senju children alike. Bleeding out on the very lands Hashirama and he had all but drug them off of in their youth.

His legacies, all disgraceful, dying, or dead. Mere shadows of their former selves.

That wasn't what he wanted for Itachi.

He wanted the boy to be more than that.

He wanted him to have a chance to grow into the brilliant shinobi he so clearly had the potential to be.

To live without being punished for his trust in the village as Kagami had. To be able to still look himself in the mirror when he reached Hiruzen's age. To not give into the darkness that had so enveloped Danzo, Koharu, and Homura.

He wanted Itachi to be able to stand among a village he could be proud of, as a shinobi he could be proud of. To be able to at least try to make that fantasy world Tsume's daughter had recounted as silly and outlandish a reality.

Tobirama wouldn't fail him as he had the others, he silently promised, hand coming up to press his fingers to his temples - the itching under his skin quelling as he lowered his hand and reopened his eyes.

Itachi had entrusted him with his loyalty. He wouldn't make either of them regret it.

"...All I ask is that you continue to do your best to make the sort of world you want to see exist from here on out, Itachi." he let out a light breath, turning to face the boy.

"Shinobi or not, I can still say with certainty that you are a child of the leaf at your core." he ignored the small scrunch of Itachi's brows as his gaze lifted from the door to meet Tobirama's, something conflicted entering the young Uchiha's expression as Tobirama continued. "You have the same gentle heart as my elder brother, the same one which yearns to protect those you love from the horrors you know are lingering nearby. The same resolve within you to do what is necessary to secure the peaceful existence you want for them."

Distant memories lingered against the back of Tobirama's mind.

Memories of his brother, nursing his swollen face after making the mistake of letting his grief for Kawarama overtake him in front of their father; teary gaze locked on both of his remaining younger siblings as they spoke of peace they never truly thought would come. Of his brother, prepared to spill his own guts for the sake of their clan and leave everything to Tobirama. Of his brother, returning through the gates of the village after his fight with Madara, hands held up almost appeasingly before the cheering of the villagers - eyes distant and shaking even as he assured the clan heads everything would be fine.

His elder brother, always far too willing to take on the burdens of those around him if it meant creating a better world for those that would come after him. All the way down to his very last breath.

"He would be proud to see that his dream had carried on and evolved over time, led by someone who understands the long road both behind and head. Someone who is able to at least try to reach for a solution before his blade."

A distinct warmth seemed to grow up the pre-teen's throat and along his cheeks as he listened, reminding Tobirama momentarily of the fame and awe his dork of a brother had accumulated over the years.

Tobirama's lips twisted into a complicated half-smile half-huff, shaking his head briefly with a low sigh. "This village was founded by my brother and I using that very same will for a better future, for a world forged without senseless bloodshed. A will I know is still lingering within you despite all that has transpired. If that can at least survive, I will be more than content."

A heavy silence fell over the hallway as Itachi seemed to soak in his words, the faint heat that had threatened to overtake his face dwindling into something less pleasant to see.

The slight widening of the boy's eyes had eased, parted lips pressed into a firm line as his gaze fell back down to his door once more.

Unreadable, if not for the faint stiffness in his shoulders and light coiling of his repressed chakra against Tobirama's seal.

Itachi's fingers were held steady against the doorknob even so, his thumb tracing over the top as he frowned thinly and kept his body turned away from Tobirama - as if he intended to will away his reservations about the request. "I will do my best. I won't waste the opportunity if I'm truly able to help at all in shaping such a future for Sasuke and the other children of the village. I swear."

I'll do better, the silent words hung heavy in the air even as they never once left Itachi's lips.

"I know you will." a light nod came from Tobirama, the silver-haired man watching the thoughtful expression on the boy's face for only a moment longer before urging him, "That will come later, however. For now, focus on resting and allowing your body time to heal. You can't help anyone if you're dead." he reminded bluntly, "Once you're a bit better, we can work from there."

It was an odd feeling, dangling the promise of more work over the pre-teen's head in order to bribe him towards taking his health seriously, but effective even so. Itachi's eyes slid back over to him briefly as if to check his sincerity, looking almost like a cat that was trying incredibly hard not to seem too interested. "Understood."

...

Tobirama turned after a glance of mutual understanding, silently moving down the stairs as they parted ways - the soft click of Itachi's door sounding off behind him as the boy finally allowed himself to reluctantly retire for the night. 

The silver-haired man willed himself to be able to do the same.

Chapter Text

The moon was too bright outside.

This was the single thought that refused to leave Sasuke all throughout the night as he woke, again and again, to the window's glow.

For as easy as it had been to fall asleep with Tobirama and Itachi with him...now, with them gone, he couldn't help but feel it was a bit harder to actually stay asleep.

The boy rolled over and onto his side for what felt like the tenth time, reaching up to rub the heavy feeling from his eyes.

How wasn't it morning yet?

He felt like he'd been in bed for hours already, yet the sun still showed no sign of being ready to take its turn.

Not to mention he hadn't even gotten to finish the story...

Slowly he sat, looking around the dim room for the book in question.

It didn't take long for him to spot it. It was on the nearby dresser, sealed and forgotten by the only two able to read it.

A light frown fell over the boy as he considered this, and, moving with all the carefulness he could muster - he did his best to stay silent as he crawled out of bed.

His feet fell one after the other onto the ground below, arms gripping the sheets of his bed to lessen the drop. It was only once he had made it fully to the floor that he reached back up to grab his dinosaur, tucking it securely under his arm for safekeeping.

Just in case he needed him for later.

First, though, he would try getting what he needed done - well, done - on his own.

It shouldn't be that hard, after all. He'd seen plenty of shinobi do it before, and it wasn't like he was trying to climb all that high.

Looking down at his feet, he blinked, trying to focus and push.

He knew he could do it - after all, his new classmates hadn't had any problems with it and a good number of them looked even younger than him.

All he had to do was use his chakra, just like they did. Just like mother and father and Itachi and Tobirama. Just-

His foot refused to do anything more than sit there as he lifted it to the wood of the dresser, unchanging if a bit more sore. His brows furrowed in focus and annoyance before he squeezed his eyes shut, pushing once more for the little ball in his stomach to spread downwards and towards the flat part of his foot.

"Damn it." he muttered, rubbing his eyes once more before lowering the foot back down to the ground. He paused momentarily and glanced at the door to make sure no one had heard him - a beat of silence filling the room before he turned back to the dresser once more.

Well. This was annoying. Maybe he could ask Iruka if he could work on that instead during target practice, since he pretty much had that down...

With a shake of his head, he sat it aside. He would figure it out later. Right now, he had other means to work with. Like his shinobi tools.

Untucking his dinosaur once more, Sasuke held it up and over his head; stretching so that he was on the very tips of his toes as he moved the toy back and forth against the edge of the dresser.

This carried on for a good few seconds before, finally, something shifted overhead. He stilled momentarily at the sound, doing his best to stiffen his heels as he made his moves more purposeful and aimed.

Then finally, at long last, the book fell - down and directly into his arms as he teetered back to keep his grip on both it and the dinosaur steady.

Perfect.

A victorious glow and slightly smug grin emitted from the young Uchiha as he rearranged himself so that one was in each hand, dangling on either side of him as he looked them over.

Okay.

Now he just had to read it.

It had been a while since he last tried after all, and most of what Itachi had said had made sense, so he was probably ready for it now. Just for a little bit before bed. Father and mother hadn't cared when Itachi read before bed, and Tobirama was in all sorts of books, so why would he care?

Yeah, it would be okay. Just until he got tired again. Then he'd go back to bed.

Walking carefully over to the window seal with this in mind, he laid the book down, setting his dinosaur to the side as he started to flip through page after page. Where had they been again?

The heiress was going to maybe beat up her clansmen for being mean, and the heir was going to maybe die or get help for his clan. Depending. And there was a search party, possibly...?

It took some digging, but eventually, he found it.

'She- made a de-ss-is-ee-on. She made a decision...then and there. She was no fool and he was no mon-s-ter. She would stand for what was right, even if it meant giving her life. The-us, Thus, she moved for-ward, su-mm-minging, summoning a burst of flame in one fell swoop and lur-lure. Luring. Lure-ch-ing. Lurching-'

Quickly, he grew bored with his self-assigned mission - laying his head down upon the still-open book and glancing over at his dinosaur once more.

His foot hurt. It felt like he had spent the entire day running on it, or like he had burnt it.

Idly, he cricketted his feet together, eyes closing as he buried his head in his arms.

For a split second, he had almost fallen back asleep despite being twice as close to the bright moonlight - his heavy eyes outweighing the looming feeling sleep seemed to bring to his stomach.

That was, until a heavy shift disrupted his body's attempts.

Sasuke nearly fell back as a small shadow lunged out of the tree near his window, reaching quickly for his dinosaur to hold it in front of him like a barrier - hoping to at least soften whatever blow he was sure was coming.

His eyes screwed shut, a heavy lump entering his throat as he tried to stay perfectly still - to avoid gathering the attention of the unknown attacker if it hadn't already noticed him awake.

He tried likewise to recall where he had left his training kunai - or preferably, the real weapons mother had shown him were hidden for emergencies - but found himself frozen instead.

Further back, he recalled Tobirama's words. He would be downstairs. He always was. He just had to call for him, and he'd be there.

Or Itachi, Itachi would get it. Itachi was just in the room over. As long as it wasn't...as long as it wasn't Itachi…

The uncomfortable feeling in his stomach came back ten-fold, his chest both burning and horribly cold at the thought. It was as if his heart had jumped upwards and into his throat, the quiet night gone and replaced with a loud pulsing he couldn’t quite identify.

His voice seemed to fail him as he opened his mouth, something in the back of his mind screaming at him to calm down even as his body refused to listen.

Sasuke remained stuck in place for a good few seconds before he was able to will himself past the beating in his ears.

Reluctantly, he cracked an eye open, peering past his protective layer and towards the window. Trying to prepare himself for the sight of an enemy or monster - of Itachi or the looming figure of the elders he had only ever seen in books but knew to be just as terrifying…

Upon finally managing to build the courage and look at the sight before him, his eyes taking a moment to focus and overpower the beating of his own heart, a hot rage replaced his fear - face warming at the sight before him.

It was not a shinobi with an unfamiliar headband, nor a razor-toothed beast that had emerged from the forest. It was not Itachi, standing with sword in hand, or a hunched-over elder with a crazed grin and horribly dead eyes.

"Junior!" he hissed more to himself than the cat, eyes narrowing as he tossed his stuffed shield aside.

A familiar black cat sat on the window outside, its bright blue eyes focused entirely on him as it cocked its head - as if not knowing it had just about scared him to death!

Sasuke gripped his chest, scrambling slowly up to his weak knees as he watched the cat pace back and forth at the window - pausing in the centre to dig at the window seal as she saw him nearing.

"Stop, you're gonna wake Itachi or Tobirama up- quit it-" he shushed the cat, trying his best to remain quiet as he unlatched the lock - eyes far too busy scanning over the cat which had halved in size since he last saw her to notice the faint blue glow of chakra that rimmed the window seal.

The cat squeezed in under the thin gap he made in one quick movement, all but sprinting into the room and under his bed.

“You-!” he turned on his heel to glare towards the small animal, precisely in time to see the door to his bedroom swing open.

Sasuke’s eyes lifted from the bed to the doorway, blinking heavily at the elder shinobi before him.

Despite having only seen Tobirama a few hours ago, he looked as if he had just gotten home from a long mission.

He seemed both dazed and alert, his loose silver hair going every which way while his eyes scanned the room. He looked to the window then to Sasuke, to the book behind him and back to his bed - from the left to the right then up and down - before finally falling back on Sasuke with a light breath.

The stern narrowing of his eyes came soon after.

Shoot.

Sasuke felt himself freeze once more, though this time he at least was able to muster up the courage to keep his eyes on Tobirama as the man walked forward - leaning over him to shut the window with one quick click as he let out a second sigh.

Silence which felt all too heavy filled the room as Tobirama seemed to gather himself, trying to blink away the sleep he had likely just been pulled out of.

Had he heard Sasuke open the window? Or did he hear him talking to Sushi Jr?

Sasuke’s heel dug into the ground, hands sliding behind his back as he tugged and pulled on his fingers with a bowed head.

What was he supposed to say?

Tobirama was rubbing his eyes with hardly restrained frustration in much the same way his father and mother once had, the thought leaving a heavier lump in his throat than the one before.

He had gotten out of bed, opened the window in the middle of the night without asking, let an animal in, and woken up Tobirama all in the span of a few minutes.

What had he been thinking? Maybe it was just because he was tired…no, making excuses wasn’t…it was wrong. Father would have been disappointed in him for it, and Sasuke had a feeling Tobirama would be too.

He couldn’t make father proud or disappointed anymore - or at least not until he met him again in the purelands, but Tobirama…Tobirama was here, and he should know better, and he didn’t want to make either of them disappointed in him-

“I didn’t mean to wake you up.” his voice wasn’t nearly as strong as he hoped it would be, but he carried on, watching carefully as a bit of the frustration seemed to leak away from Tobirama’s expression. “Sorry.”

A brief moment passed as Tobirama considered something, his heavy hand falling on Sasuke’s head shortly thereafter. His own hair was set into further disarray to match the elder’s, a pit of relief and annoyance filling Sasuke’s stomach in an instant.

Really, why did Tobirama always have to do this?

The boy glared lightly up at Tobirama for his teasing, biting back the sharp words lingering on the back of his tongue as he crossed his arms.

He was less sorry about waking him up now, but he kept that bit to himself.

“It’s fine. It just startled me.” the man shook his head. He knelt down on the ground, voice a mix of seriousness and another emotion Sasuke couldn’t quite place but was sure did not look right on the elder, “Was the room getting too hot? Or was there somewhere specific you were trying to go?”

His words were firm despite the calmness with which he spoke, his searching red eyes almost making Sasuke want to squirm.

He held these instincts back however, instead gripping onto the fabric of his sleeves as he made himself look anywhere but at the elder shinobi. Pointedly, at his legs.

“No,” he spoke honestly, a small frown falling over his lips before he looked back up. After a beat of hesitation, he explained, “I couldn’t sleep, so I was going to read my book until I could, but then Sushi jumped up on the window, and she’s not supposed to be outside, but she has to be because there’s no one left to watch her at home, so-”

He trailed off, watching Tobirama’s brows raise slowly at his words. Quickly, he uncrossed his arms and pointed to under the bed, hoping to explain better as he realized Tobirama was missing a few important pieces of the story. “Sushi, well I mean Sushi Junior, was my cousin Shisui’s cat. He found her as a kitten when she was too little to be by herself, so he and his mom were going to bottle-fed her until she got older. But by the time she was big enough to go outside she didn’t really know how to hunt and do cat things so his mom said she had to be an inside cat because she didn’t want her getting hurt.” he tried to explain, the tension leaving his own shoulders as he saw Tobirama relax further.

“She was scratching on the window so I was letting her in in case it woke you or Itachi up. But ended up doing it myself.” he frowned heavily even with this relief, displeased with his failure.

He would have to be more careful next time.

“It’s fine, no harm was done in the end.” Tobirama reiterated, moving to sit down on the twin bed in one heavy movement while patting the spot beside him. Sasuke took the queue, slowly making his way over. He climbed up and onto the bed, sitting up for only a moment before letting his head fall on the other’s shoulder. “However, for future reference, it is unsafe to open windows or doors in the middle of the night. A less friendly animal, or, less likely but still possible - an enemy. Especially with all the mixed feelings going on concerning Itachi’s return. People are prone to unreasonableness when they’re upset, and I would rather you not end up the target of it. So it is very important you remain vigilant as things continue to settle. Understand?”

“I understand,” Sasuke repeated, his frown tightening at the thought and light scolding alike.

He glanced momentarily upwards to make sure Tobirama still didn’t seem mad or disappointed, and let out a small breath upon seeing no sign of it.

His eyes fell back down to his own lap, trying to urge the on-edge feeling that had plagued him throughout the night further into the back of his mind.

Nothing was going to happen. The people who had hurt his brother, parents, and the rest of the clan were going to die tonight. They probably already had. Tobirama and Itachi were both there. Everything would be okay, he tried to ease the painful turn in his gut, rubbing his sore foot idly against the bottom board of his bed.

“Good.” Tobirama’s praise cut through the uneasy feeling at least temporarily, his hand coming up to lightly pat the side of Sasuke’s head in a way he wasn’t quite sure he minded this time. “Now. How about you lay back down and tell me some more about our visitor while I try to catch her?”

Sasuke let the patting go on for only a moment longer before lifting his head from Tobirama’s arm, reaching up to rub at his eyes with an uneven nod, “Okay.”

Slowly he moved, crawling over to the top of the bed and pulling his covers back further in the process. He let them fall over him with a small huff, eyeing Tobirama as the typically intense man began to squat down beside the bed - fingers outstretched to tap the floor and lure the cat forward.

He was reminded again of their class lessons, of the ridiculousness of them all. 

…The Tobirama from history was nothing like the one squatting down beside him, he couldn’t help but think.

…

No, the Tobirama from history and the one before him were…not the same at all, he decided as he watched the elder shinobi.

The Tobirama from their books was way too calm - or maybe stoic was a better way to put it? Prepared for anything, like a wire trap waiting to go off on anyone who dared to make an enemy of him or his village.

The one he saw here and knew was closer to a…well, he didn't quite know how to put it.

He was strong and intelligent, just like the books said, and did seem like he could handle just about anything. But at the same time, he seemed more…he wasn't as empty as they made him look. 

The Tobirama he knew cared - or at the very least - Sasuke was pretty sure he did. 

It was a strange realization to have. 

Because for all the books repeated, again and again, that Tobirama had helped his older brother build a village in memory of their lost little brothers. For all it repeated his close attention to detail in the building of their village and academy. His honorable sacrifice for the sake of his students. Something about it all just hadn't lined up with the stone-faced blurry images they'd been shown throughout the school year.

It was much easier to understand, Sasuke thought, when he was able to see the real Tobirama. The Tobirama had heard about Sasuke's lost brother and decided to drag him home. The one that sat and explained in sometimes horrible and sometimes fascinating detail the answer to every one of his questions. The one who always seemed so uneasy or frustrated when he had no answer to give. The one who sought these answers out, not because he had to, but merely because he could. Because he wanted to. Because he needed to.

It was something he was pretty sure the ones writing their books had missed, though he wasn’t quite sure how. 

Tobirama was a bit like Itachi when it came to that, he couldn’t help but think…though Itachi hadn’t had the time to talk to him in the way Tobirama did for a long while now.

He hoped that would change soon, with his brother’s return to the village and leave from work. 

Maybe having Tobirama around to help him find his answers would help. So that he didn’t have to do it all on his own. Maybe he wouldn’t have to be buried so deep in his scrolls now, with Tobirama to be a second pair of eyes. Maybe with two Hokage, there wouldn’t be so much work even when Itachi did go back, and they could train together.

Sasuke pulled the blanket up close, idly covering the lower half of his face with it as his brows furrowed.

Itachi better have enough time for it. There were no more excuses of missions, after all. And he could only claim to need rest for so long. 

Because as angry and upset as he was with Itachi right now, he was still his brother. 

Brothers…had to take care of each other, just like mother and father had said. 

Itachi had done it so many times…had kept him safe for as long as he could remember. So even if he had messed up…maybe more than he could forgive, at least for a long while…he would try to do his part as Itachi’s brother and protect him back. Just like Itachi had done every time he found himself in trouble. 

“I suppose I should go get her some fish from downstairs to lure her out, given her name?” Tobirama let out a low huff, hands resting on his knees as he failed to convince the cat of his good intentions.

Sasuke shook his head, moving it from side to side to both shake the half-coherent half-baked  thoughts from his head and refute Tobirama’s probably-unserious suggestion. “No, she doesn’t like fish. She likes chicken, and it has to be shredded up for her.”

Brow raising slowly, the silver-haired man looked over to Sasuke. The elder looked him up and down, as if trying to find any hint of a lie or joke. “...So you mean to tell me, this cat, Sushi, does not like fish?”

Sasuke nodded firmly however, head tilted to the side from under his blanket as he rose his brows back. “Mhm. Her name is Sushi Junior. It would have just been Sushi if she was named after her favorite food.”

Or, well, it would have been chicken. But that was a ridiculous name for a cat. Not nearly as fitting.

“...So her mother or father was named Sushi, then?” Tobirama carried on, voice low and calm even as his eyes narrowed at the cat which refused to come out. 

Sasuke sighed softly in exasperation, rubbing his eyes through his blanket.

“No, it’s Sushi like Shisui. Because they sound the same, and she was his baby. But two Shisui’s would’ve been confusing, so Itachi said they should name her something else. So Shisui picked Sushi Junior.”

He pointedly glared from behind the blanket as the elder shinobi let out a thin smirk of amusement for whatever reason at this, at first pleased that he seemed to have gotten the point but sensing that there was something else he found amusing beyond the corny name. 

Itachi had said it wasn’t funny, and Sasuke for some reason agreed more now. 

“I see. Well, do you have any tips on how to get her to come out, then?”

Sasuke sank further into his sheets. 

“She’s a good cat. She won’t get into anything if she’s inside…just until we can catch her…”

He knew it was a long shot, but then, he might as well see if Tobirama would play along. Especially when Sasuke already had a feeling Tobirama could have caught her long ago had he truly wanted her out of the room.

“...Perhaps just for tonight, she can stay in here and keep you company.” he nodded after a long moment, a certain glint in his eye Sasuke wasn't sure he recongized. “After all, she isn’t supposed to be outside, hm?”

Nodding quickly, Sasuke agreed without hesitation, eager to keep him on his side. “Mhm. She can stay in here and sleep with me. She’ll be good, I promise."

He held the back of his hand in front of his mouth to block a yawn as he assured the elder man. 

Chapter Text

It wasn't long after Tobirama had given in to Sasuke's request that he left, leaving only a vague reminder to stay in bed in his wake. Not that it had been strictly necessary. Not when the boy's eyes were all but cemented shut by the time he left, the heavy feeling of unease calmed ever so slightly by the warm ball of fur that lept onto the bed mere seconds after the door shut.

He only wished the deepness of his sleep had made up for the shortness of it - something he quickly realized wasn't the case as he woke up to Tobirama shuffling around downstairs. The pots seemed to cling and clang louder than they usually did in the morning, though Sasuke wasn't completely sure whether that was in his head or something Tobirama was doing on purpose...he was usually awake by now, after all.

The thought drew a low grumble from his lips as he rolled from his back and onto his stomach, holding his pillow under him as he glared towards nothing in particular.

He didn't want to get up, and the cat sleeping directly beside him on his pillow did little to help this.

No, he did not want to get up, and he certainly did not want to go to the academy.

But go he would.

This much he knew was a fact as he forced himself to sit up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

At least it was just one more day until the weekend. Just a few more hours until he was free to train how he wanted, when he wanted, without Iruka over his shoulder telling him it was time to do this or that. Having to wait for half his class to catch up while trying to make sure his teachers knew he was on the other half's level and not to be babied.

If he got stuck using the dull practice kunai one more time, he was going to start sneaking in his own.

Another slightly loud shift from downstairs hurried him away from his thoughts, quick to go over to his closet and gather his things for the day. He moved through the motions quickly, grabbing a grey shirt and some white shorts before making way for the bathroom.

The bathroom which already had someone showering in it. Most likely Itachi, if the slightly ajar door to his room and Tobirama's rustlings from below were anything to go off of.

Too slow, he silently cursed himself - sulking a bit before moving towards the stairs.

Fine, he would use the smaller bathroom. Itachi probably needed more room anyway with all that hair of his...

"Morning." Tobirama nodded to him as he came downstairs, not so much as turning his back as Sasuke passed by him - the younger making a beeline to the downstairs bathroom as he walked.

"Morning," Sasuke repeated, glancing idly at the two masked ANBU with vague suspicion before nodding to them as well.

Itachi's work friends, he recognised them. Or at least he thought he did, if the familiar masks and distinct hair were anything to go off...

Really, he understood why it was the way it was when ANBU were out of the village, but inside it...

Itachi had only really had two friends outside of the clan. Two friends who always showed up to pick him up in the same armour as his ANBU team.

It was ridiculous, and they never made it any easier.

'Who is Hound? Who is Cat? Who is Weasel?'

Urg.

He spun on his heel towards the bathroom, making quick work of rushing in and shutting the door behind him before the annoyance could shut up on his face. Hopefully, they'd be less of a pain the more they were around. Surely teasing him would get old fast...especially when Itachi was right there.

Because as odd as it might sound, there seemed to just be something about his brother that attracted it. From Shisui, from Izumi, from Hound and Cat, and from their aunts and uncles to even mother at times-

He turned the water up as high as it went, ignoring the poor water pressure and instead letting himself focus on the probably too-hot shower.

It woke him up by the end of it, at least.

Plus left him in clothes no longer covered in cat fur.

He rubbed his eyes once more as he finished rinsing off and getting dressed, standing on his footstool he almost didn't need to brush his teeth.

Pointedly glaring downwards as he felt the faint stinging return to his foot. Shouldn't that be gone by now? He shook the offending foot briefly in an attempt to shoo the pain away, but found that it only made it hurt worse.

He really didn't want to have to get it looked at. He hated the hospital, and definitely didn't want to have to ask Tobirama or his teachers for help. Not if it meant having to admit to not being able to climb a measly foot or two upwards...

Faintly, he kicked his foot into the sink cabinet.

His new classmates had no problem doing it, and he was sure Itachi had been doing it since before Sasuke himself could remember. Everyone ANBU to genin seemed to do it with no problem. So surely it wasn't that hard of a skill to master. Maybe not something typical of their age, but still. Not difficult even so.

No way he was going to stand there and admit to having poor chakra control. No, he'd just have to figure out how to do it correctly and let it heal on its own. Or think of some other way he could have hurt his foot that was less pathetic.

A big rock maybe? Or a stray nail? No, those were both worse...oh well, it didn't hurt that much now as long as he didn't walk on it all the way, so he guessed it didn't matter all that much.

He had better things to focus on, like getting to breakfast before he accidentally made himself late for the academy.

Sasuke moved quicker at that thought, rinsing his mouth out with water a few times before the mint was finally out. It wasn't until he was sure it was completely gone that he stepped down, washing his hands and drying them on the towel beside the sink.

By the time he made it back out to the kitchen, Itachi had joined Hound and Cat in the doorway between the dining area and living room. The three's voices were too low for him to hear as he left the bathroom, and ceased completely as he left the hallway.

The two masked shinobi turned their stares briefly towards him before pivoting downwards, leaning on the doorway with their arms crossed silently. As if trying to blend into the wallpaper without a single hinge or trick. Sasuke watched them carefully, eyes locked on two until he saw Itachi shift from his spot beside them.

His older brother turned to look at him just as he had last night at the dinner table, eyes locked onto him in a way that felt...not exactly right, but not exactly wrong. Like Shino watching his bugs crawl across his desk, or Kiba when Akamaru had injured his leg a few months back. As if waiting and watching for something to go wrong, focused and unfocused at the same time.

Slowly, Sasuke moved over, keeping his eyes pointed away from the accompanying ANBU and instead focusing on putting one foot in front of the other.

It took more effort than it should have, but eventually, he made it to Itachi. His eyes remained down even then, not looking up as he reached out to hold his brother's wrist with both his hands. It hung loose in his grip, cold like a corpse-

He didn't look up to see Itachi's face, instead roughly tugging on the elder's wrist to drag him towards the table. "Come sit by me, Itachi." his demand came out weaker than he wanted it to, though the same didn't seem to be true of his grip.

Itachi followed behind him like one of Ino's stuffed dolls, the elder moving without complaint even as he was pulled from his spot and towards the table.

Sasuke was half waiting for Itachi to scold him for being rude or remind him that he had to wait his turn when he was clearly busy talking to others, but it never came. Instead, the elder only followed, making no comment until they reached their spots. "Alright."

Turning his head, Sasuke let his eyes lift up past his waist and to his face. His eyes furrowed as he saw the passive expression on the other, Itachi's too-calm eyes he couldn't quite look directly into not matching the quick pulse of his wrist at all. That combined with the same clammy feeling he had noticed yesterday...he was beginning to wonder if Itachi had caught a cold again.

It would also explain why he was letting himself get dragged around, something he rarely did unless he was deep in the trenches of whatever stand of the flu he was trying to fight off.

Yes, that must be it. It all made sense now.

He gave his brother a knowing nod, a silent promise to keep quiet about it. After all, he knew how much Itachi hated it when Shisui found out. He didn't imagine he'd like it any more if Hound, Cat, or Tobirama were to either.

The small furrowing of his brother's brows did little to deter his thoughts, not ready to be tricked again. Itachi was his brother and he was going to take care of him - even if he always had to make it difficult.

Just as soon as he got home from the academy, he promised himself, hardly noticing Itachi's brows as they drew further and further up his face before - finally - sitting down in one quick motion.

Oh, he refocused. Good. Itachi needed to be sitting if he had a cold.

The younger Uchiha made quick work of moving to sit at Itachi's side, making himself comfortable as he sat and pulled his bowl closer to him - peeking out of the corner of his eye to make sure Itachi was doing the same.

He watched as Itachi began to slowly eat by his side before turning back to his own, gritting his teeth and bracing himself.

Natto. How nutritious.

Sasuke took bite after bite, shoving down his urge to spit it out the window when Tobirama turned his back. He looked over at Itachi as he ate, watching his brother slowly work his way through the food; never once letting his face show the disgust he must also be feeling.

His eyes would occasionally shift over to Sasuke however, reminding him mildly that he was staring.

"Sushi Jr. came here last night," he noted, turning his eyes back down to his own meal and forcing down the last of his beans before switching to the next portion. "She slept with me."

"Oh?" Itachi mused to his side, not so much as looking up from his breakfast as he seemed to consider his next words. "I had thought I saw her on the street. It seems she decided to stay here with you instead of going to join Nekobaa like the others."

Nodding, Sasuke agreed, "...Yeah, that's what it looks like. She went missing with the others at first, but I think she came back not long after." he took another bite, considering whether it was okay to say or not before adding, "She's a lot smaller now."

"She never was one to hunt." Itachi let out a low sigh, setting his now empty bowl on the table. "I'll try to get her to come to me today and look her over. It shouldn't be hard to get her weight back up so long as she isn't injured or sick."

"She didn't look like she was." Sasuke shook his head, standing to grab his backpack and bring it to Tobirama while Itachi made quick work of rinsing out their bowls. "She kept itching her ears though."

He peeked over the counter to try to see what Tobirama had made him for lunch, but failed as the container popped closed right as soon as he got near - prepped and ready for later. Sasuke pointedly did not pout as Tobirama slipped it in the already opened bag Sasuke had ready for him, instead muttering, "Thank you." to the elder shinobi and clipping it shut.

"Yes, I imagine she has gathered at least some fleas by now," Itachi noted mildly as he washed their dishes out, beginning to set them on the drying wrack as he did so. "Which likely means she has worms as well. I wouldn't recommend reusing that pillow tonight or touching your face without washing your hands until they're gone."

Itachi was copying Mother, once again without even seeming to notice...

"...Though, I wouldn't repeat that at the academy." Tobirama cut in, moving to put away the extra ingredients as he spoke. "Especially not to the Inuzuka boy in your class."

As if Kiba would care about proper sanitation. Sasuke had seen him eat one of Shino's bugs before and not so much as blink. Still though.

"I won't," he promised, moving past the two ANBU standing guard. He paused briefly in front of Hound, considering for a split second wiping his hands on him, before quickly shutting the idea out.

He wasn't gross like Kiba - and the look of warning he could feel through the elder shinobi's mask certainly didn't hurt either.

Not that he would have to begin with.

Sasuke's pace picked up once more as he moved to the living room and towards the front door, grabbing his shoes to slip them on while Tobirama followed. It didn't take long for the silver-haired man to reach him and follow suit, the two soon ready to head out for the academy.

"I'll be back soon. Should the need arise, you know how to call me." Tobirama spoke to the three before refocusing his attention back on Sasuke. "Now. Are you ready to go?"

"Mhm. I am." he agreed quickly, straightening his back before turning to wave to his brother. "...Bye Itachi," he nodded, forcing his eyes upwards to meet the elder Uchiha's gaze for just a split second. His fingers reflexively gripped onto Tobirama's pant legs, though they loosened ever so slightly as he saw the faintest almost-smile pull at Itachi's lips.

"Goodbye, Sasuke. I'll see you in a bit."

Chapter Text

The streets of Konoha were quieter than usual.

Sasuke glanced curiously around as he and Tobirama managed to make it past the front gates of the compound, taking in the mostly empty streets.

There were ANBU stationed around the village right alongside the usual clan-appointed shinobi, their backs straightened so tensely that Sasuke found himself mimicking them on reflex. Their shadowed and hidden eyes seemed to drill into him from behind their masks as the compound door shut behind them, heads turning at once only to immediately return to station as they found no danger. There was no idle chat between them as usual, or mild nods sent to passing civilians. They were unsettlingly still in their spots, as if they had been turned to machines overnight.

Slowly, Sasuke forced his eyes away from them, the uncanny feeling that all their attention was on him despite his lack of proof making his skin crawl a bit.

He shifted his weight so that he was closer to Tobirama as they walked, eyes narrowing in uncertainty at the strange feeling he got from the shinobi.

It seemed he was not the only one that had felt off the night before – though, he supposed it had been worse than he thought if even elite shinobi like the ANBU were affected by it...as well as the few non-shinobi that were out and about today. Really, it didn’t look like anyone had avoided it, the more he looked around.

The shop keepers weren’t calling out to people passing by. Shoppers weren’t discussing things among themselves as they went about their day. The younger shinobi weren’t running or jumping from spot to spot, but rather, simply dragging their feet towards the woods Sasuke knew housed the community training grounds. Even the occasional classmate they passed by, walking side by side with their own escorts, seemed to keep their head down.

It was like a shadow had fallen over Konoha, one Sasuke both understood completely...and not at all.

His free hand gripped tightly against his own shirt, the young Uchiha toying with the fabric as he frowned thinly.

Something about it all...it felt wrong, and right, all at once.

The relief at having his brother back. The terror at seeing how different he seemed now. The execution of the elder, who had murdered his clan. The sickening feeling in his gut as he thought of their heads falling from their bodies. The cool hand on his shoulder as he walked, the hand of the man that had saved both he and Itachi from the elders. The hand of the man who had probably helped sign the papers agreeing that the elders needed to die.

Sasuke pressed himself tighter against Tobirama as they walked, all but standing on his toes, but unable to stop himself even so. There was something both assuring and terrifying about the thoughts. Comforting and unnerving.

It made his stomach hurt, just a little.

“Breathe, Sasuke.” Tobirama’s calm and steady words seemed deafening in the street’s silence, his red eyes turning down to look at him as they moved through the streets. Not seeming aware, or perhaps not caring, as the weight of the ANBU guards' stares doubled.

Toes curling in his shoes, Sasuke kept his eyes locked up on the other’s, biting down the odd sense of unease and focusing instead on the cool fingers which had shifted to now idly ruffle the side of his hair – this time softly enough that it didn’t send the stands flying every which way. “I am.” he grumbled, a bit of the stiffness from his shoulders melting away as Tobirama let out a faint scoff of amusement.

“Right, right. Of course you are. Good job.” the elder spoke instead, gaze casting upwards once again as they made it nearer and nearer to the front gates of the academy. “Just do me a favor and keep doing it throughout the day, hm?” a bit of his humor leaked from there into something more serious, giving Sasuke’s head one final pat before he noted, “It’ll only be for a few hours, then you’ll get to spend a few days at home catching up with Itachi as much as you’d like. For now, however, I’m sure he would want you to focus on your lessons. Right?”

“Right. I know.” Sasuke couldn’t help the small huff that came as he spoke, hand reflexively reaching up to rub at his eyes. “Hound and Cat better not use all his energy up while I’m gone though.”

Especially not if Itachi had a cold - or was still recovering from being out on the road and having his abilities sealed. Whichever it was, he needed his rest, and as much as Sasuke would do his best to stay out of the way and let him get it...he would really rather it happen while he was already at school.

“They won’t. I’ll make sure.” Tobirama promised, “Itachi is going to get lots of rest today - and then be seen by a medic to get some extra vitamins as well. So don’t you worry about him being too worn out.”

There was a certain finality in the way Tobirama nodded, a finality that told Sasuke the elder knew just as well as he did that they were about four minutes off from him being late to class.

Though, the steadily emptying academy yard and instructor out front that seemed to be trying incredibly hard not to look like he was rushing them probably didn’t help.

“Good.” Sasuke nodded back with what he hoped was equal firmness, the twist in his stomach tightening as he slowly let go of Tobirama’s shirt. “I’ll see you later.”

He pointedly did not look back as he made way towards the school, cramming the awkward feelings down to instead focus on making it to his seat before class started. After all, the last thing he needed was to be late and give his teachers more of a reason to stare than they already had.

Sasuke kept his head down and focused as he moved past the instructor at the front door and to his classroom, passing by door after door until he finally spotted the familiar one which held his class number.

He tried incredibly hard not to pay it much mind as he opened the door and things around him seemed to come to a halt. Iruka had paused mid-sentence, hand still hovering in the air as he turned from the rest of the class to Sasuke. The others sat half up and half down – the other clan children for the most part stiff in their seats while the civilian-born remained slumped. Half out of what seemed to be the same unease he held, and half in boredom.

Sasuke looked upwards and towards Iruka as he entered, nodding briefly in greeting and apology for interrupting even as the words never left his mouth. He carried on towards his seat as he heard Iruka aligning himself from behind, plopping down and into his seat as he’d seen Naruto and Kiba do a dozen times over when late.

“Ah, I didn’t realize you were coming today Sasuke, or I would have waited for you.” Iruka, for his part, seemed to regain his footing quickly even as he cleared his throat.

“...It’s Friday. We have class.”

Now. Perhaps it wasn’t the most polite thing to say, but it was something even so. Which was, currently, all Sasuke felt he could manage. He did not have it in him to play teachers pet even on the best of days, let alone one as suffocating as today.

Besides. It wasn’t as if he were wrong.

Sasuke watched as Iruka’s brow ticked a bit, their dark eyes matching for only a moment before the older shinobi let out a small sigh somewhere between frustration and allowance. “Yes, that is true I suppose. We all have one day left before the weekend, as I was just saying.”

The man clapped his hands together, perhaps a bit too high-energy for this early in the morning, but there even so. It was at least better than the stiff aura radiating off the others he had passed, if nothing else.

“Now. Despite, or rather because of, the eventfulness of the last few days - we do still have a lot to catch up on. I know we all have a lot on our minds right now, but first and foremost, it is important that you all continue to focus on your studies if you want to become a shinobi this village can be proud to call its own – as well as one you can be proud to call yourself. Now, with that said...”

Iruka's voice began to drone on and on despite Sasuke’s best attempts to remain focused – his hands moving instead to flip his academy book open to their opening subject and wait for them to reach it.

His mind continued to wonder even as their instructor began to slowly shift from his opening notes to their actual classwork, hands moving on their own to do as Iruka said. He copied page after page of notes perfectly, showing what he was hoped not a single indicator of his straying thoughts.

Oh, he wanted this class to be over, and he wanted it to be over soon.

He knew he needed to participate – to keep what Iruka and his books were saying in mind so that they could be applied later – but it was all so dull. What was a textbook explanation of how to focus chakra output compared to the real thing?

He would much rather be at home, watching and learning from Tobirama – or sitting to the side and seeing how medical ninjutsu worked.

Besides, it wasn’t as if he really needed to listen or read all this to understand it. His grades had admittedly...fallen...a bit recently, but they were still far above most of his classmates even without him having been trying nearly as hard as before.

It was a two way street, really.

He wanted Tobirama and Itachi to be proud of his work, but at the same time, what did any of the numbers really mean if he couldn’t do any of it in practice? It left an itch in his spine, one that wanted beyond all wants to make it outside for the practical portion of their day.

He wanted to be able to prove he was getting stronger, to show them he was working hard, but it felt a bit pointless on paper. A ninety-seven to a hundred, after all, was not that huge of a leap. Especially when Itachi had been making hundreds from the start, and kept up with it all throughout his time in the academy.

If Sasuke wanted to prove he was good enough to graduate early too and become a shinobi they could be proud of, he had to do something amazing. Something that would be noteworthy to even someone like those two.

Father had been surprised Itachi knew the clone jutsu at his age, but then, that wasn’t all that impressive if Itachi had already managed it.

The new students which now surrounded him on near all sides all seemed to balance and leap up the unimaginable using chakra without a problem, but then, that seemed more like an expectation than a feat if all of them were able to.

Medical ninjutsu could work, but then, not even all the chuunin instructors could do that. There was impressive, and just plain not possible when it came to some things, he recognized.

What else was there, though? Genjutsu? Taijutsu? Both things Itachi and Tobirama excelled at...there was no way anything he could manage would be enough to impress them or prove that he was capable.

Anything to get out of this classroom and out onto real missions. That was what he needed. They didn’t have to be hard ones, just...something more than this. He couldn’t sit here until the standard graduation year. Six whole years later than Itachi would be humiliating. They would never trust him to be a good shinobi or be able to stand by their sides if that were the case.

He could protect them too, they could count on him, he just had to figure out a way to prove it. Or well. Get there and then prove it.

Just a few more months of hard work was all it would take, he was sure. If he just put his all into it and focused on expanding his skill set and strength, he would be good enough to become a shinobi too. He could help Tobirama protect Itachi then from any more of those monsters that wanted to trick him, and be ready to be by Itachi’s side when his brother was able to be a shinobi again.

Even if they couldn’t work at the police force together anymore, they could at least do that. Maybe he and Itachi could be on a team, or both be in ANBU. Sasuke was pretty sure he had what it took for it. Iruka said it was all about helping the Hokage – he could do that. Especially if he had Itachi and Tobirama to learn from. Maybe even Hound and Cat, if he could wear them down enough.

He just had to prove to them that he was worth teaching first, that was all.

Chapter Text

Eventually, Iruka’s hands clapped together once more, drawing him from his thoughts and back to the class before him. His own hands slowed from their automatic movements, eyes turning upwards to land on his instructor.

“So, after lunch, we will be putting some of this to practice with a shared class activity. You will each be split into teams of three with one elder classmate to guide you in your tracking.” the chuunin’s hand rested on his hip as he spoke, using the back of his knuckle to lightly tap the board behind him. “It will be your job to follow the clues that have been laid out before you and find the hidden kunai. A red ribbon will be worth 5 points, a yellow one worth 10, a blue one worth 20, and a green one worth 30. The total number of points you emerge with will be the grade you receive, which will count for this week’s practical test. Any questions?”

There was a brief silence in which Iruka waited, dark eyes glancing from one side of the room to another.

When he got nothing more than a few light shakes of the head and some slightly straightened backs, he let out a low sigh – shaking his head at the remaining slouched students as he spoke. “And as a reminder, this is the last test grade of the month. Your monthly report will be going home as usual come Monday, so be sure to give it your best.”

Sasuke frowned thinly at this, listening to the man as his fingers gripped slightly into his pencil – faint noises of understanding hardly seeming to register as his mind focused instead on the intense look that had crossed Iruka’s face. The same look that crossed it every time a test was up and coming, one of utter focus and severity. As if he were the one stuck taking it instead of them.

Instinctively, Sasuke shifted in his seat.

“With this in mind, I will now announce your teams for today’s afternoon exercise. Once your group has been announced, you may go meet with Mizuki outside at the training grounds to meet up with your assigned exercise leader and eat your lunch. I would recommend discussing your strategy while doing so, though it is not required.” he shifted from his spot after giving them one final look-over, hand moving to the board ahead to list the teams out on it.

“First we have Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji teaming up with upper classmen Rock Lee.” he didn’t so much as pause even as Ino and Shikamaru seemed to deflate in their seats. “Next is Naruto, Karin, and Sai under upper classmen Shin.”

The red-haired girl that had recently joined their class all but seemed to glow at the news, a sharp contrast from Sai whose face remained unreadable even with his hands clenched in his lap.

Naruto was up and heading towards the door before Sasuke could so much as bother to look towards him - Ino and Karin right on his tail while Shikarmu, Choji, and Sai followed shortly thereafter.

Sasuke’s foot tapped impatiently against the floor below, willing Iruka to hurry with his next announcement.

The door to the classroom clicked shut before their instructor continued.

“Hinata, Sasuke, and Shino – you three will be working with upper classmen Neji.”

He silently thanked the world around him for not ending up stuck with one of his louder or less reasonable classmates.

Out of everyone in the room, Hinata and Shino were probably his best bet for getting through the exercise without having to deal with them being weird about it. He didn’t know much about Neji, given, but if he was anything like his cousin Sasuke doubted it would be much of a problem.

With this in mind, he stood, grabbing his bag and making way for the door with Hinata and Shino following quickly after. “Then under upper classmen Tenten will be Kiba, Sakura, and-”

The door shut behind them as they left, none of them quite caring who would wind up on the other teams. After all, it didn’t matter all that much. Whoever it was, they would just have to be better than them, Sasuke decided easily.

Surely it couldn’t be that difficult to find a few well-placed kunai. Especially with himself, Hinata, and Shino on a team. Those two were practically built for tracking, and he always had been pretty good at noticing small details.

It would just be a matter of putting their strengths to good use.

Sasuke nodded quietly to himself as they passed teacher after teacher on the way to the school training yards, eventually spotting Mizuki standing in the doorway of the building alongside their upperclassmen’s teacher. The silver-haired man only nodded in passing as they made their way past, bored eyes scanning over them before skipping back over to the academy yard.

It didn’t take long for him to spot Neji, the older boy having been waiting for them near the front of the yard in contrast to the other team leaders who were spread out here and there.

He held a tight, tired frown on his face as he saw them - a sharp contrast to the focused expression Sasuke usually saw him wearing on the rare chance they crossed paths during class. It seemed he hadn’t had a good night either.

For a moment, Sasuke’s brows furrowed, but he quickly dropped the curiosity lingering in his gut as Neji bowed his head lightly in greeting. Ever calm, even now as something obviously seemed to be buzzing in the back of his mind. Something he seemed determined to stomp down using sheer pleasantries alone. “Hello. I have been put in charge of leading today’s exercise for you all. Let’s go sit our things down so we can discuss our strategy while we eat.”

There was a certain edge to his voice as he spoke and pointed to the same spot up against the wall that they had sat at last time lunch was outside, as if he were steadying himself. As if he were trying to balance staying polite with the poor mood that so clearly lingered around him.

The slight awkwardness in the air didn’t help either. Awkwardness Sasuke couldn’t quite pinpoint, but could sense sitting directly between Neji and himself – as well as, surprisingly, Neji and Hinata.

It was odd, but not entirely out of nowhere he guessed. Everyone seemed preoccupied with their own thoughts today, like they were lost in their own world. Even those that Sasuke was sure hadn’t known the elders' names before today...

For now, he decided to chalk the unease up to the suffocating air that had filled the village. Something he was sure would go away with time. Yes, that was it. It was just like Tobirama said. It just took time for things to be okay.

He would set the unknown heaviness to the side for now, and focus on Neji’s slightly unsure words as they were. It was very possible, after all, that the older boy was merely nervous about the assignment. Walking the thin line between taking his responsibility seriously and knowing exactly how absurd it was for him to have been given it.

Though. Sasuke supposed. It wasn’t as if it was that odd of an ordeal when it came to being a shinobi. Most of those in ANBU seemed younger than those who were chuunin, and no one ever seemed to blink twice then. Itachi himself had only been thirteen – or wait, twelve - when he had been able to force multiple members of the police force to back down.

Or, well, at the very least had gotten away with fighting them without facing any real trouble from anyone besides father and mother...

Sasuke blinked rapidly, shoving the images that threatened to overtake his mind further down and into his stomach. He refused to acknowledge the way it made his gut hurt all the worse, or the way Shino and Hinata were walking ahead of him by the time he came back-to.

He hurried to follow them, keeping his movements light but taking long-brisk steps until they reached the wall. That was what he got for getting so distracted with Neji, he supposed.

He watched as the brunet sat facing the wall while Hinata sat off to the side against it – a few paces away from Shino who had flopped unceremoniously in front of the elder boy.

Sasuke knelt down beside the latter in one swift movement, shoving his backpack to the side and hurrying to get his lunch out alongside the others as the three seemed to try to shake off the awkward air that had grown between the four – Shino's hidden eyes revealing nothing on where he stood.

“So - it seems we have gotten quite lucky with our team today.” Neji noted mildly, tilting his head just a fraction to look at the other teams behind him. “With two Byuakugan users to find the particularly well-hidden kunai, a colony of bugs to search all the small nooks of the building, and a sharingan user to thoroughly scan each room in a matter of seconds. Our group was practically built for tracking.”

His praise seemed half true and half hollow, voice both firm and soft – as if he were trying to assure them of something Sasuke couldn’t quite put his finger on.

“Mhm, we should be able to gather enough points to pass without much of a problem.” Hinata agreed quietly from beside him, seeming to understand whatever it was he was trying to convey. Her shoulders had loosened considerably, hands reaching down to click the edges of her bento open so she could begin to eat.

Shino nodded from beside her, moving to his own food without comment.

Sasuke was the last to prop open his lunch, the leftovers from the night prior and carefully packed senbei not nearly as appetizing as they should be when he considered their words.

His sharingan. Right.

Mildly, he considered whether he should correct Neji or not.

It wasn’t as if it was any of the other’s business, really, and he hadn’t actually asked. Sasuke was fairly sure he could manage getting through the exercise without the others catching on as well, if he were careful enough...

Yet there was a distinct itching under his skin at the other’s words, a slight irritation that crawled its way in at the assumption of their clan’s workings. As if it were as simple as a bad thing happening and the sharingan appearing in tow.

He bit into one of the crackers, the sour feeling in his stomach doubling at the thought.

He focused on breathing out, doing his best to remember Tobirama’s instructions even now as he was away.

Sasuke just had to make it through today and then he would be home for the weekend. He doubted Tobirama would be very happy with him if he got into a fight right beforehand...and he didn’t really want to be stuck hiding out in his room all weekend with Sushi Jr. either. So it was probably best for him to do his best not to pick that fight, even if there was a distinct discomfort that came with not correcting the other. As if there was some reason for him to be embarrassed about not having his sharingan...

Neji was just stupid, he settled on.

Slowly he began to pick through his food, head leaned back as he neither denied nor agreed with the other’s observation. He could hear a soft huff come from someone in their group as he ate, but said nothing.

The sound of chewing filled his ears, a sound he quickly ignored in favor of listening to the other nearby students. Shouting and laughing, arguing and shifting from one place to another.

Sasuke bit into another cracker, trying to force down the buzzing in his head but failing up until the very last moment. The moment in which Neji let out a sigh from across from him, loud enough to gather their attention but quiet enough that it didn’t quite cross the border between notable and annoying.

He cracked an eye open to see Neji had pulled a single leg up to rest his arm on, food already half gone as he picked at it with his free one. The lavender-eyed boy shifted his eyes between Hinata, Shino, and finally, Sasuke himself, before lingering there.

It was clear he had something he wanted to say, and for a brief moment, Sasuke felt a pinch in his gut that told him he had been caught in his deception. He supposed he hadn’t done a terribly good at hiding his lack of response, but even so-

“What is Lord Second like?” the question cut through Sasuke’s focus like a knife to butter, the stiffness that had quickly began gathering in his shoulders all but melting away as he heard the bizarre question leave Neji’s lips.

“Neji!” Hinata all but squeaked to his left, the grip on her chopstick tightening; as though Neji was dancing along some sort of thin line Sasuke hadn’t been made aware was there. Sasuke glanced to the side as he heard her, spotting her brief fluster as well as the way Shino’s head shifted. Cocking to the side slightly with interest even as his face remained hidden behind his food. Like he was reluctant to be listening.

A thin frown made its way to Sasuke’s lips as he saw the two clash with Neji’s slowly intensifying gaze – the older boy seeming to swallow down whatever it was that had been holding him back during the beginning of their lunch. The stiff atmosphere not seeming to be enough to smother whatever it was that made the other want to know about Tobirama so badly.

Large, pupilless eyes shifted away from him and over to Hinata as Neji continued, hands curled into his pants as if to keep himself from backing out. “I’m only curious, and if anyone should know, it’s him, right?”

Sasuke had a distinct feeling that Neji was more than ‘Only Curious’, though for what reason he couldn’t quite pin-point.

Chapter Text

Neji watched him with a certain intensity, lavender eyes locked in with his own opaque ones. The elder boy’s hands curled against the fabric of his pants, shoulders stiff as he looked to Sasuke for his answer. As though his next words were of grave importance, like a an officer awaiting orders from his captain.  

Slowly, some of the irritation in Sasuke’s gut began to whither, replaced instead with suspicion.  

What reason did Neji have to want to know about Tobirama, and why were Hinata and Shino so reluctant to be part of it? 

Biting down on his last senbei, he turned his head away from the older boy and to his classmates. Set to understand the awkward feeling that underlined the conversation and uninterested in simply giving Neji his answers without getting some of his own in return.  

“I don’t mind telling you about him some. But is there a reason I shouldn’t be?” he spoke blunt and to the point, unrelenting even as Shino’s eyes fell to the food in his lap to avoid the question or as Hinata froze up at it.

Her eyes remained locked with his just as Neji’s had, though they lacked her elder cousin’s ferocity. “You two seem awfully nervous, and I rather not Iruka come yelling if there was something he told us before I got there this morning...” 

“No, it’s nothing like that.” Hinata shook her head, straightening her back as her hands gripped just as tightly against her lap as Neji’s did – not letting herself look over as the elder boy let out a light huff to the side and instead focusing entirely on Sasuke. “Iruka just...he didn’t want us bothering you. With everything going on, and so many of us belonging to the heads of our clans, he didn’t want us trying to...um...” 

She trailed off, unwilling or unable to continue even as she did her best keep hold over her resolve. It shattered in an instant however as Neji let out a second, less ignorable, huff from ahead of them. “What Hinata means to say is – Iruka does not want any of the clan heirs using their status as your classmate to help their parents. To bother you over their clan’s opinion on what happened with your brother and the elders or to find out more about Lord Second for their own sakes.” 

The older boy spoke firmly and to the point, not quite unkind but not far from nicely even so.

Sasuke’s eyes narrowed a bit in consideration over his words, looking to his upperclassmen with mild doubt. “Yes, well, that’s all quite unnecessary.” the almost-seven-year-old unconsciously puffed himself up, careful not to fumble over his words and embarrass himself in front of the others. “I don’t care what anyone else thinks about what happened with my brother. The elders used their power to hurt my clan and him, so they got punished by the village. Whether anyone likes it or not, he’s home now – and he’s staying there.” 

Tobirama would make sure of it. There was no way the man would go through so much trouble for them only to turn his back on them over something like that. Tobirama was on their side, he had said so.  

“And about learning more about Tobirama for their own sakes...I don’t know what Iruka thinks I would know. It isn’t like he’s laying out which clans he likes the worst while tucking me in.” he rolled his eyes.

He crossed his arms over his chest as Shino blinked slowly at him – the three apparently not having expected Sasuke to be so blunt about it.  

For a brief moment, a feeling of satisfied certainty washed over the boy. That was right. His brother was back, the elders were gone forever, and no one was going to tear their family apart ever again.

Even with the faint bad taste left on his tongue at the thought of death, these feelings continued, soothed and reaffirmed by the knowledge that theirs had likely prevented a hundred more. That the monstrous people who had been so cruel to his brother and clan were now gone, unable to hurt anyone else.  

He turned back to Neji with a quirked brow of his own as he saw the other’s furrowed brows, an unreadable expression on the older boy’s face.

He opened his mouth to ask if the other had a problem with that, but was interrupted as the other asked, “Lord Second...tucks you in?” something between suspicion and doubt leaking into his own voice as he eyed the younger. Eyes narrowed at his description of his relationship with Tobirama, and seemingly unwilling to so much as approach the topic of Itachi.  

Quickly, Sasuke shook his head, more preoccupied at the moment with the former. A strike of embarrassment running up his spine as he hissed, “Obviously not! It was sarcasm. Can’t you read a room, Hyuuga?”

It wasn't tucking in if he didn't actually move the blanket, right? And Tobirama didn't always do that, so technically-

Sasuke followed his accusation with a bite of the leftover stir-fry, giving himself time to think up his response as Hinata moved her hands in front of her – trying to smooth things over as her cousin gave his own glower at the challenging words.

“Ah, I mean, there’s nothing wrong with it. Lord Second seems like he could be, um, nice, if he wanted to be-” she attempted, even as her voice willed with doubt to match her cousin’s. Her head tilted downwards with hesitance to believe it, just as Shino’s was. 

Briefly, Sasuke almost felt offended on the silver-haired man’s behalf. He could be grouchy, and a bit too serious sometimes, sure. But he wasn’t mean like they were making him out to be! 

In one swift movement, he set his bento down roughly against the floor – glaring the three of them down from left to right to try and turn the tables. “He is. Tobirama is very nice, nicer than any of you could imagine. So I would like it if you’d stop making those faces and talking about him like that. You act like he’s been mean to you himself, like he doesn’t just spend all day working and watching me and Itachi.”  

Like he didn’t save the compound from being taken, or help rescue the village from whatever the elders had in store for it, or save Itachi from having to be on the run for the rest of his life. Like he doesn’t make him delicious food every day, or help when the girls won’t get out of his face, or train him when they had time, or offer to help him review his schoolwork every Friday- 

And sure, he might be a little annoying every once in a while. Messing with his hair, getting a bit too intense when it came to his school work or mission papers, turning everything into a lecture and a half, sneaking peeks at papers he was explicitly told not to look at- 

But still, Sasuke let out a breath, shoving the agitation building in his gut down once more and turning his gaze to the three.  

“Tobirama can look a bit scary at first. I know that.” He forced himself to admit, frowning deeply at it even as he spoke. Thinking back to the way his soul had nearly left his body when he had been so sure Itachi was back to get him, but instead found a different pair of red eyes staring him down.

Hands around his wrists, stopping him from blowing the intruder to pieces. Stopping him with ease no matter how much he trashed and kicked, unaffected by his attempts to scare the – unknown to him – former hokage from his home.

Inside, he grimaced at the memory. “He isn’t as mean as he looks, though. He just. A bit bad at showing that he means well.” he tried to explain. 

After all, as terrifying as it had been at the time, he guessed he would be lying if he said it hadn’t been for the best...it wouldn’t have been great if he had set a fire off in the house.

Father and mother definitely wouldn’t have let him hear the end of it if they had been the ones who had had to stop it.  

The stiff moment of silence that passed afterwards was long, broken only as Neji pressed, “...But he does mean well?” the Hyuuga’s brows pressed together in focus, lips dipping into a faint frown as Sasuke nodded firmly. “And he means well for...everyone? Not just for you and your brother?” 

Shino shook his head to the side before Sasuke could answer, the boy lowering and raising his finger lightly to look at the small ladybug that sat on top of it. “...The more I think about it, the more that much is clear.” 

“How so, Shino?” Hinata tilted her head a bit at the other boy, eyes flicking back and forth between the bug and him.  

She and Neji both let out a slight grimace as the insect crawled up along his finger and under his skin, disappearing in a matter of seconds. “I mean. If you listen, you can hear it all around you. I’ve heard some of our new classmates mention that Lord Second and Lord Third were the ones to save them. That new red-haired girl said that he, your brother, and Lady Tsunade were the ones to help her escape her old village and let her stay here. Then there’s Naruto, who hasn’t been able to quiet down once about Lord Second and Lord Third pulling him out of class to ask if he would accept Iruka as his overseer...even going so far as to ask him if he’d rather have someone else.” the Aburame furrowed his brows down at his hand, “His actions...they’re much kinder than his expressions.” 

“That is true, Naruto does seem much happier.” Hinata nodded slightly after a moment, a light blush crawling up her skin as she shook her head. “And I did hear Ino and Tenten talking to that red haired girl, Karin, yesterday like you said. She did seem to like all three of them an awful lot...so, you’re probably right now that I think about it.” 

Sasuke blinked briefly at the two’s words, having been a bit...busy, yesterday, with his worrying over the trial. He had of course heard Naruto’s blabbering – how could he not have – and he had known that Lord Third and by extension likely Tobirama had been directly involved in their new classmates’ arrivals from the days prior...but he hadn’t had much of a chance to talk to the red haired girl since she arrived. Karin, was it?  

Tobirama and Itachi had helped her too? When? While out on their mission? Alongside that woman, ‘Lady Tsunade’?  

Well. If it worked to prove his point, he supposed. Though he would have to ask his brother and Tobirama about it later. Or do some investigating on his own, if the chance came up.

The last thing he needed was someone going around talking about his brother. Though, it did seem the girl was on his and Tobirama’s side so maybe it wouldn’t be too bad... 

Still. It was best to be sure.  

“...Exactly, Tobirama is a good person. He wants what’s best for everyone in Konoha.” he nodded, “So you don’t have to worry about that. He’s going to protect everyone just like he does Itachi and me. I’m sure of it.” his head held high as he looked over to Neji – the brunet boy letting out a small huff after the initial reluctance to accept their words crumbled, bit by bit. 

Accepting the truth he had demanded, but for some reason didn’t want to listen to.  

His elbow lifted up to rest on his knee, fingers itching idly over the seemingly permanent bandages which wrapped around his skull. His usual sharp tone dulled, even as the gears behind his eyes that Sasuke wasn’t quite sure about continued to turn.

“The rest of the village should be content in its trusting of him, then, if he’s as great as you say.” his eyes closing as the scratching came to a halt. “I guess I’ll just have to take your word for it for now.”  

Chapter Text

The rest of lunch passed in relative silence between the four, each occupied with their own meals – the children mulling over what they had learned from their little discussion with focused expressions.

It wasn’t until Iruka exited the building that this broke, Sasuke’s eyes lifting from the practically empty bento and up to the instructor. He clipped it shut before the man so much as began, already in the process of setting it back in his bag while Iruka spoke.

“Lunch time is about over, you have five minutes left to finish eating and begin making your way to the east training fields. Please begin putting your leftovers away and make your way to the gate.” he ordered, “You may scout ahead from the starting point, but do not pass the first shuriken log until you have been given permission.”

Sasuke was already halfway to the gate by the time he spoke, Neji right beside him. In his peripheral, he could see Shino slowly making way to follow them and Hinata not far behind him. He didn’t bother to wait, more focused on the idea of getting a sneak peak while their slower classmates packed up.

He imagined Neji had the same intentions, if the speed with which the other walked was anything to go by. He had spared only a brief glance at his cousin before moving on, large lavender eyes narrowing in focus as they passed through the gates.

Quickly, Sasuke’s reservations about whether he would be able to preform well enough without the sharingan Neji seemed to believe he possessed vanished.

Only an idiot could miss the array of points that had been placed ahead.

There were six red-ribboned kunai sticking out of the training logs...thirty points there...

Four yellow-ribboned kunai...two in the window seal of the supply shed, one half buried in the dirt, one on top of the tallest training log...forty points there...

Two blue-ribboned kunai, one on the top of the supply shed’s roof and one dangling from some ninja-wire overhead...forty points there, though Sasuke wasn’t sure how they were supposed to reach the second one...

There were no green-ribboned kunai as far as he could see, though he supposed that made sense. It was more likely than not hidden deeper than the others since a team would only need three to make a ninety, and one or two of the other colors to round them out to a flat one-hundred.

“Our best bet is to go for the ones that have been hidden out of sight.” Neji spoke after a low moment, keeping his voice down as he leaned down a bit so he was just beside Sasuke’s ear. Sasuke leaned back in turn, dark eyes casting upwards towards the older boy as the other gave his input. Neji’s eyes pulsed as they looked over the field for only a moment more before dulling, the painful looking scrunch on his temples fading as he continued, “The less skilled will run for the five-point kunai, while the students that seek a decent grade will hurry to try and find the ten-point. We shouldn’t bother with either, unless we so happen to be passing them by.”

He spoke with certainly, “If we want to impress, which I imagine you do, we should aim for only the blue or green ones. There’s no point wasting our efforts with the others, especially when leaving them behind for those slower will help us keep them busy. It will give us a chance to get ahead.”

A beat of consideration washed over Sasuke before he nodded in agreement, “I’ll look inside the supply shed. I have good pattern recognition,” he repeated the praise he’d heard from his teachers a hundred times over, praise his father had once said was the destiny of all Uchiha to receive. “So I’ll be able to find any out of place.”

“Good.” Neji nodded, leaning up and then back to speak to Hinata and Shino. “Hinata and I will focus on clearing out the field. I can see a couple different kunai underground, so we should focus on trying to dig them out. They’ll most likely be higher on the point scale.”

“...What should I do, then?” Shino’s voice was quiet behind them, head tilting from straight ahead upwards, to the trees where the single blue-ribboned kunai was hanging. He suggested, “I can send my beetles up to try and bring the wire down, then send them further up to see if any were hidden in the trees.”

Neji gave a firm nod, “Okay, perfect. We’re all set then.” leaning forward as they were settled and focusing his eyes once more on the field ahead. Sasuke followed his gaze to the teacher walking in from the gate on the opposite side of the field, their upperclassmen’s teacher making his way to stand in front of them.

Alright. All they had to do was make it to a hundred. That was just three green kunai with one or two yellow or red. They could do that much. They just had to focus.

This was what Sasuke told himself as Iruka walked past them to stand beside the other man, expression serious.

“We will now begin the collaborative exam. No kunai have been hidden beyond the training ground fence. No use of jutsu, chakra, illusions, and/or taijutsu may be used to inflict injury or otherwise hinder the other teams. You have Twenty-five minutes. Begin.”

Iruka hit his fingers to the palm of his hand as he spoke, Sasuke watching him with a small nod – doing so more to himself than anything as his classmates immediately began to scatter.

He didn’t so much as glance in their direction as he rushed to the supply shed, moving quickly.

Sasuke snatched the two yellow kunai from the window seal as he moved, glancing upwards at the blue one lingering atop the roof. He debated momentarily on whether it was worth trying to get it down first or if he should focus on the inside of the building, though his decision was made for him as someone ran past him and upwards.

His eyes narrowed as Tenten all but flew past him and upwards – using the jumping start to make it up to the window ledge and propel herself towards a low-hanging tree branch.

Sasuke turned, not wasting his time with watching her despite his own curiosity egging him on to see how she would get it down. It didn’t matter, he reminded himself. He needed to stay on track, and the last thing he wanted to do was waste time that could be spent looking. It was only a matter of time before someone else came looking inside the shed too.

He moved towards the entrance to the building with this in mind, twisting the heavy handle and shoving the door open with a low huff. Sasuke shut it behind him as he moved, though he left his hand on the handle – twisted downwards so that whoever wanted in would have to push harder than him to make it in.

It took him a mere few seconds to spot a chair in the corner, and even less time than that for him to empty the boxes off from it. He propped it up against the handle so that no one else could enter, a wave of satisfaction washing over him as he looked to his handy work.

Good. That should keep everyone out of his way while he searches. He would just have to keep an ear out in case a teacher came and he had to move it.

It wasn’t technically against the rules, but then, he doubted they’d be trilled with him for locking them out anyway.

Though. He doubted he would be in the shed that long, if what he had spotted so far was anything to go off of.

Already he could see a splatter of yellow peeking out from under the rows and rows of unbound kunai, his hands reaching out to grasp it quickly despite the lack of others in the room.

Better safe than sorry.

He looked down at his small collection. Three yellow. That was...thirty points, not counting whatever his teammates would be able to find. So he was already on the right path, then, even if it wasn’t near perfect. He just needed to look for a couple more – to assure their victory.

Carefully he looked around, shuffling the dulled practice seals to one side before putting them back in their place. Not there. Nor hidden behind the neatly lined boxes, or on top of the shelves.

His brows furrowed as he looked over the room, certain that there had to be more inside. There had been a dozen on the way there after all. It didn’t make sense to fill the other areas up so fully but to hide only one in another...unless he was thinking too far into it, and he had only managed to waste time by sprinting past the lower pointed items.

Sasuke grimaced a bit at the thought, shaking his head as he looked down at the box of wire in his hands.

No, that wasn’t right. He wouldn’t make such a stupid mistake. There had to be more in the room. There had to be. Even if he didn’t see it no matter how he shifted the items within around. There had to be something.

He let out a low huff as he moved to set the box back down, looking over the room for anywhere he might have forgotten to look.

The corners were clear, top and bottom...
The boxes had all been dug through...
The shelves had all been looked over...

Carefully, he lowered himself to the ground. He hadn’t seen any when he was walking, but then, maybe he had missed then. Even if the thought of the teachers leaving kunai sticking out of the ground was unlikely.

He moved around on the ground, peeking up on the undersides of the shelves and chair but finding nothing. No kunai taped to them, no pressed into the floor for him to find.

For a moment, he considered moving on and forgetting about the high-point kunai that may or may not exist within the room. He considered making his way back out to the other three to offer his aid, or seeing if he could catch the one un the roof. Tenten was still hopping around up there, is sounded like, so he doubted she had managed to reach it. That or she had spotted another...

Sasuke shook this thought away.

There had to be one in the shed. He could feel it. It was somewhere he had been borderline unsure he was allowed to look in at first, not to mention one with a marked kunai just sitting around.

It wasn’t like Iruka to tease them like this. If he was being told that they were allowed in with the yellow kunai, that must mean there were others to be found. There was no point in hiding just one. Unless it was a trick meant to waste their time...

Urg. Sasuke was really sick of this assignment already, he grumbled internally as he sat up from his spot on the floor. Itachi would probably have a straight one-hundred by this point, even without his teammates.

Itachi probably had his sharingan by his age, Sasuke imagined, though he couldn’t quite remember...

He had probably all but torn through the assignment. Using his chakra or birds to gather the ones hidden in the trees. Walking along the ground and pointing out the spots that were uneven from digging. Using his eyes to see through any of the fake-outs or genjustu his teachers had used to hide them from him.

Slowly, Sasuke blinked, gripping the fabric against his shorts.

It would be so much easier if he had his sharingan, or even a fraction of the skill Itachi had. Unfortunately, though, that wasn’t the case. He had neither, and sitting in a shed by himself cursing it and wishing otherwise wouldn’t change it.

He used his hands to grip harder into his shorts, twisting the skin underneath until it was just uncomfortable enough to hurt. Just uncomfortable enough to send a wave of pain jolting through his body, to stop the forces he felt pushing and pulling inside him as he sat. To interrupt the genjutsu he just barely recognized, and pull him out from it.

When he reopened his eyes, body much heavier now, he was no longer sitting on the floor. Instead, he stood at the supply shed’s entrance, door not so much as shut behind him. His heart hammered in his chest as he stood, a dull pain pulsing in his head as he reached up to press his palm to his forehead. It was as if a million needles were pressing against it, leaving behind a nasty headache.

It wasn’t helped much by the steady sound of Tenten trying to leap up towards the roof, nor Naruto and Kiba’s shouting in the distance. Sasuke let out a low whine in the back of his throat despite himself, biting back the tears that threatened to prick in the corners of his eyes and instead glaring forward.

Mizuki sat a few paces ahead of him, in the chair Sasuke had been sure he had moved to block the door with a mere few moments ago. The silver-haired man looked to him with a wry smile as he lifted himself from the chair, using his elbows to press himself upwards before taking his time in heading over to meet him.

He reached out, setting a hand on Sasuke’s head which the younger immediately shook off with another huff.

Swatting the hand away, he took a step back, reaching up to rub his nose with a stronger glare. Mizuki may be one of his teachers, but that didn’t mean Sasuke wanted his hands on him. Especially while the man was giving that annoyingly unnerving smile, leaning down to him with a green-ribboned kunai like he was giving out a present.

“Good job, Sasuke. You not only thoroughly searched the supply shed, found the decoy kunai, and recognized you were in a genjutsu – you managed to put up enough of a fight to break through it. You did well.” he praised, letting out a low huff as Sasuke snatched the green kunai from his hands.

The older man eyed him with that same look he’d seen a dozen older shinobi before – a look which assured him he wasn’t being taken seriously.

“Thank you.” he grumbled, turning on his heel as the other locked the door behind him; signally that they had no real intentions of letting the students make a mess of the supply shed. The man opened his mouth to say more, but Sasuke had already left by that point. Turning a corner on the building to zip over to where the others were.

Steadily ignoring the faint prickling in his head and the rekindled pain in his foot from walking on it all day, Sasuke moved towards the group once more. Blinking away the slight stinging he felt as he stopped in front of Neji.

“...I’ve got two yellow and a green one. That’s fifty points.” he held them out to their team leader who sat kneeling down on the dirt, surrounded by various small holes he and Hinata had dug. His straightened back and neat array of ribboned kunai very different from the messy, winding tunnels Akamaru and Kiba dug nearby.

Sasuke watched as the older boy took them, nodding as he laid them beside his leg alongside the others. “We have three red and two blue – so our fifty-five and your fifty makes our score one-hundred and five whether Shino had any luck or not.” he spoke, a pleased glint entering his eyes as he spoke. “Hopefully if we go over the one-hundred mark, they’ll be counted as bonus points.”

“Mhm.” Sasuke nodded in agreement, glancing to the side to look over at Shino.

The blue kunai that had been in the tree moments ago hung by his side as he walked over, seeming to have noticed their group coming together and content with what he had to offer. It didn’t seem as though he’d found any up in the trees, but then, Sasuke supposed that didn’t matter very much.

“That makes one hundred and twenty.” Hinata eyed the kunai carefully, shoulders lowering a bit in relief.

They had done well, Sasuke nodded slightly to himself, his sense of pride in their work outweighing the dim discomfort that the genjutsu had caused.

It was precisely ten seconds later that Iruka appeared, his hand resting on both his own and Neji’s shoulder as he began nudging them towards the edge of the field. “Okay, okay! Good job, you four, but let’s leave some of those for your classmates too.” he encouraged even as he shooed them away from the field where the others still scurried around. “Neji, there’s still twenty minutes left in the exam, so how about you go take these three back to class and help them study for a bit? Your teacher will be sure to come collect you once it’s time to go back to your classroom.”

Even as he spoke so kindly, it was obvious to the four that it was not a request they were allowed to refuse.

Neji’s brows furrowed at the order, allowing Iruka to take the kunai from his hands even as he huffed slightly, “Yes sir, I will.”

So much for trying to find bonus points, Sasuke tsked.

Chapter Text

The four students had sat and sailed on through their studies for a good few moments before Neji had been sent back to his class. The older boy nodding to them in parting as he followed his teacher out, hands folded idly behind his back as he walked.

Sasuke watched him leave with a low sigh, snapping his textbook shut as he heard the distant sound of their approaching classmates. He was caught somewhere between being relieved that the group work hadn’t been near as aggravating as usual and being glad it was finally over with. He really rather not depend on others for his grades more than he was already made to.

He hoisted himself up, taking the chair he had turned to point towards the group and dragging it back into its proper place. Sasuke took his normal seat while the other three did the same in their own, setting his book on the table to lean as he waited for the others to finish arriving. They had already started to file in as he resettled into his seat, elbows propped up on his book. His hands laced together, making for a good resting spot for his head as he waited.

Idly he glanced out the window, foot tapping with impatience of his own as he listened to Iruka try to get his classmates to be quiet for just a moment. As if allowing them outside had turned them into a bunch of yapping dogs, no longer able to behave themselves.

It wasn’t an easy task by any means, but it was one Iruka eventually did manage.

Even if it had been done with a too-loud clap and too-tight expression, the teacher folding his arms and tapping his own foot as he scolded, “I have asked you all to be quiet three times now. Is this how you plan to treat your jonin sensei when you graduate? Or your superiors when they gave you the results of your mission?”

Iruka seemed caught between beyond agitated and exasperated, caring entirely too much about gathering their attention and just about ready to throw his hands in the air at the same time. A silence fell over the room as Iruka spoke, Sasuke’s own impatient tapping coming to a halt and his arms falling down to his lap as he looked up at the other.

Iruka gave them one final sigh before easing the warning expression on his face, his shoulders loosening just a bit as his hands fell to his sides.

It was only then, once he was sure he had all their attention, that Iruka continued on with what he was trying to say.

Sasuke’s felt himself let out a breath he hadn’t felt himself holding before as Iruka continued on, the young boy once again content to let his words fade into the back of his mind. He half-listened as Iruka began a long-winded lecture on where they had each faltered and thrived, not all that concerned with it since his team had clearly done well enough. They had been sent inside way before anyone else, after all.

It was only once it was over that they got their grades and Sasuke began to pay a bit more attention – Iruka announcing the expected perfect result as he got to their group.

A sense of pride and further ease washed over the boy as he heard his instructor’s words, a warmth spreading through his body and overtaking the tight feeling in his stomach - at least for the moment.

Not even the sudden spike of giggling and whispers from behind could stop it, Sasuke being far too focused on his own victory to notice them. Or the huffing and puffing coming from Naruto’s direction.

Tobirama was going to be so proud – and Itachi...Itachi would be too, he was sure of it. Not to mention the boost to his overall grade he was sure it would give.

Yes, it had been a perfect success, Sasuke decided as he sat listening to the grades of the other students. Both a blessing and a curse, easing some of the weight he had felt hovering on his shoulders while also making the wait to get home all the worse.

Just what had Tobirama and Itachi been up to all day, besides Itachi’s supposed promise to check Sushi Jr. Over for worms?

He hoped it wasn’t too much. Tobirama had just gotten back from a mission, and Itachi was probably still tired from having the seals put on him...

Sasuke glanced down to the pit of his stomach where he knew his chakra sat.

The same, overused, chakra network drawing that could be found in just about any textbook popped into his head as he did so, hands folding neatly over the center of his waist.

It was probably where Itachi had his seal, if Sasuke had to guess. Or at least one of them.

The small, blue markings he had seen the day prior popped into his mind the more he thought about it, far more interested in his own thoughts than Iruka’s third time explaining the concept of friendly fire to Ino and Shikamaru.

Briefly, he wondered if the one on Itachi’s stomach was the same as the one he had seen placed on his eyes – or if it was any different. It was probably the same colour since it was Tobirama’s chakra, but was it the same size? Or larger? Brighter? Or duller? Like the one on Sasuke’s own arm? Or different?

The question bound idly around his head as he sat, the internal debate interrupted only by Iruka’s instructions to open their book. He shifted a bit in his seat as he heard them switch from old topics to new, the young Uchiha shaking off the thought as class returned to motion, finally moving forward as they were hurried onto the next assignment.

----------

After what seemed to be forever, the day came to an end, the students all quick to pack up their things for the week and make their way towards the front of the academy. Sasuke began sliding his book into his own bag as he watched the others shove past one another to make their escape, the young Uchiha not exactly jumping at the chance to be trampled. Nor did he really want to deal with pushing past them and getting scolded by Tobirama or Iruka.

So instead he settled on moving at a decent but easy pace, walking towards the door once the majority of the class was gone. Or, well, all of it he supposed. Naruto certainly didn’t seem ready to leave any time soon, not with the way he was all but climbing up the side of Iruka’s desk as he prattled on about something or another.

Sasuke let out a low huff, almost finding it funny if not for the fact it also sort of made him want to roll his eyes at the idiot.

He shook his head lightly, tossing it aside for now as he jogged lightly towards the front of the building. He held his bag close, a thin frown crossing his lips as the people ahead of him continued on slowly. Sasuke slowed his pace, keeping himself just behind them until they reached outside.

Sun filled his vision as he finally made it, the young boy lifting his hand up to block it from his eyes. It seemed extra bright today, a sharp contrast to the general stiff feeling that had seemed to take over the first half of the day. It was still there, of course, but at least it had lessened a bit.

He supposed mother was right...sunshine did have a way of fixing almost any foul mood.

Even if he hadn’t really cared to hear it at the time, he huffed half-heartedly.

Sasuke’s dark eyes scanned across the outer gate as he mulled this over, eventually stopping as he spotted a distant spot of silver.

It was less than a minute later that Sasuke was by its side, the young boy returning to Tobirama’s leg and cranking his head up to look at the elder. The fingers of his free hand held reflexively onto the man, his other resting carefully on his book bag.

“...Well hello to you too.” Tobirama gave a wry smile, reaching down to rest a hand on Sasuke’s head – lifting it only as the boy used the one that had been on his bag to shoo him off.

“Hn,” Sasuke grumbled back at him, sending the elder a weary glance as his hand retracted to instead sit on the boy’s shoulder. Sasuke’s hand fell back down to his bag once he was sure Tobirama was done.

He watched as the elder’s red eyes flickered down to him once more before lifting up, Tobirama’s gaze falling over his classmates as he idly thumped his hand against his charge’s shoulder. Patting it without thought as he noted, “Your classmate, Karin Uzumaki. She’ll be walking home with us today. Have you seen her anywhere?”

Sasuke blinked lightly, turning his gaze away from Tobirama and towards the cluster of classmates moving all around them. “She was in class earlier, and left before me too. So she should be out here...” he frowned thinly, not seeing the distinct cherry-red hair anywhere as he looked.

Or at least, up until a group of girls turned the corner, Ino leading the charge with Sakura and Karin close behind. For some reason having wandered behind the side of the building to do who knows what. “Oh, there they are.” he pointed, Tobirama nodding slightly as he looked to the spot. Sasuke’s hand fell back down once more, the younger of the two looking up as Tobirama continued to have them wait for the girl. “Why is she coming home with us?”

“My niece is at the house helping Itachi right now, and she’s the one responsible for Karin for the time being.”

A spark of panic washed through Sasuke for a split second, his shoulders stiffening as he heard these words. A dozen different worst answers as to what Tobirama meant pushing through his mind. Before he could ask, however, the silver-haired man had continued with furrowed brows. “...He’s fine, you don’t need to worry. She and her assistant are just checking him over for any injuries or sicknesses he might have caught on the road. They’re making sure he’s in good condition to get the rest he needs and to be able to see you.”

“...Yeah, I figured.” Sasuke spoke despite his initial worry, turning his head away from Tobirama and over to the group of girls. Ino had split off to join her father, Sakura was hurrying on past them, and Karin...was standing nearly a yard away from them, bright red eyes staring through them with an almost owlish look.

The girl had her arms folded neatly behind her, short hair pinned back with those little hair clips he’d seen a couple of the girls in their class use throughout the year. It was a deep purple, one almost the exact same shade as the jacket she wore.

Sasuke glanced her over for the first real time since she’d joined their class, though he remained quiet as Tobirama spoke to her. “Karin, Tsunade and Shizune sent me to come pick you up for them. They’re at the Uchiha Compound, making sure Itachi is completely healed from his mission. They only have another hour or so of work, so it shouldn’t be too much waiting.” he explained, motioning for her to come closer.

Karin only nodded lightly however, slowly making her way to Tobirama’s free leg and turning to look up at him as he took her hand. Sasuke and Karin shared a brief glance before they each turned their attentions elsewhere, neither exactly familiar with one another.

They followed Tobirama as he began to move towards the gate and near the street, leading the two down a road that was forever familiar to Sasuke. He watched as they passed by person after person, his dark eyes drawn to them as he listened to Tobirama’s voice. “Now. I take it you both want to tell me how your day went, based on all this bouncing about?”

Chapter Text

Itachi supposed he had no right to complain, given all the frankly unwarranted kindness the world had shown him over the last few weeks. Yet. It took a distinct amount of effort to keep his mouth shut as the medical duo poked and prodded him inside and out.

He leaned lightly on his elbow, using the arm rest to keep his hand propped below his throat. The boy looked elsewhere as Tsunade stood before him, her arms crossed as she drilled holes into the side of his head. Seemingly intent on finishing up her scolding rant while leaving the actual treatment to her assistant. The props of being the elder in the room, he supposed...

Shizune leaned down over him to pull yet another blood sample from his arm, not looking any more pleased about it all than either he nor her mentor. A thin frown laced her lips as she stuck the needle in, Itachi’s fingers twitching a bit on reflex but nothing more.

“Honestly,” Tsunade tapped her foot from where she stood, apparently ready to use the opportunity to speak with him semi-alone to her fullest. Lord Second had left to pick Sasuke up from the academy, so there was no longer anyone left to keep her grounded from her annoyance. Besides Shizune, he supposed, but based on the critical eye she was giving him Itachi doubted she would be much help…let alone his so-called team, who had conveniently decided that they should keep their station in mind. Off to the side, still as statues with their arms folded firmly behind them.

Willing to stand up for him in front of all the clan heads, but ducking and hiding at the sight of an angry medic.

Itachi couldn’t say he quite blamed them, yet. It didn’t stop the cornered feeling that wrapped idly around him as the two continued on his case, their wrath made all the worse by the good intentions hidden within.

Tsunade’s single hand which had reached up to massage her temples didn’t help the feeling any, the expression on her face leading Itachi to feel more like a toddler that had spilt his drink and tried to hide the stain it left behind than a shinobi.

“You knew you had a predisposition, yet still you continued on using your eyes and pushing yourself. Surely you must have known it would only worsen your condition.” Tsunade let out a low tsk, a distinct sense of disappointment Itachi wasn’t quite sure was warranted from a borderline stranger radiating off her. “You’re a lot of things, but stupid isn’t one of them. Did you honestly think this wouldn’t catch up to you?”

Shizune used a disinfected cloth to wipe his arm, muttering lightly as she began slipping a bandage over the injection site, “Kids always think they’re unbreakable at this age, Lady Tsunade. I suppose knowing your more vulnerable than your peers doesn’t change that.”

Her dark eyes cast upwards, giving Itachi a pointed look as she worked.

Itachi frowned a bit as the woman tightened a bandage around his arm, covering the few small areas where he had been pricked on with a bandage.

Something he wasn’t thrilled about, but had in fact requested, the sour expression he was receiving aside.

The less threatening he looked to Sasuke, after all, the better. Lord Second had likely already promised the boy he had him under wraps, but looking the part should help as well. The last thing he wanted was Sasuke doubting their words and thinking it was yet another lie on his part. Not after all Lord Second and his old team had done to give him a chance to do better.

If he couldn’t be a good shinobi or clansmen, the least he could do was be a good brother. He had already messed it up a hundred times over by this point…the last thing he wanted to do was continue on that path. Especially when those around him were being so generous as to help him fix his mistakes.

“…It isn’t that I didn’t believe it would catch up with me.” he answered after a long minute, feeling the expectant gazes of the two medics even as he turned his eyes away from them - keeping them aligned ahead of him and continuing to have his head turned from their wrath. Eyes tracing the furniture on the other side of the room idly. “I just…didn’t think it would be so soon.”

A long sigh came from Tsunade, her hands falling to her sides in Itachi’s peripheral. “Yes, well, you’re lucky it did. Had it gone on for much longer, there wouldn’t be much at all to be done about it. Had my uncle not come back, you would have been dead by twenty at the rate you’re going.”

“My apologies. I wasn’t exactly intending on being pulled from my mission.” he frowned thinly, not arguing her point, but not caring for the borderline patronizing tone she took either. He was not a fool. He had accounted for this, as well as the consequences of it.

Perhaps he had been wrong to ignore the warning signs his body had begun giving at every turn - he certainly was not pleased doing so had caused the two additional work - but still. How was he to know this was to come. Less than a month ago, he had been sure he would spend the rest of his days on the run. Not back home, scrambling and trying his best to pick up the pieces of a mirror he himself had shattered. “…Nor to end up being seen by a medic at all, let alone one with any hope of fixing my body. Had I known, I wouldn’t have left things in such a mess.”

A long silence passed between the three, Itachi adding after a moment, “Again, my apologies.” hoping to reiterate and clarify his words.

Of all the skills he possessed, after all…making others unhappy with his words was unfortunately one of his better ones. Whether intentionally or not. Which was not exactly something he was interested in when it came to these two. He did not need to make enemies of Lady Tsunade nor her mentee. Let alone due to his own inability to explain his reasoning...

A second low sigh left Tsunade after a moment, an act Itachi was starting to think might be a Senju thing if the way she and Lord Second both were was anything to go off. She shook her head, the displeased expression on her face only further encouraging him to look anywhere but at the two. His eyes lingered boredly on the couch a few paces away, trying not to let out a sigh of his own as he heard Shizune speak.

Her hands, just barely larger than his, wrapped around the one he had left lingering outwards even after the blood was finished being drawn. Her fingers held his, the firmness leaving him a bit unsure whether she meant to scold or comfort him.

He considered pulling his hand away, but stopped himself, letting the medic simply continue to grip his hand as she spoke. “I may not be the most experienced medic, but I’ve been one long enough to understand what you mean.” she shook her head. “Just…try to remember that it has, actually, happened. You aren’t on the road anymore. You’re back home, with a steadily healing body and your little brother relying on you to stay around from now on. Don’t let yourself fall into this state again, if you can help it. For both your sake and his. No one wants to lose their sibling once, let along twice.”

Itachi’s chest felt heavier the longer he listened to the woman only a few years older than him, her words softening from warning to something softer the longer he listened. It was a gentleness he didn’t deserve.

“I understand. I’ve left Sasuke once; I have no intention of doing it a second time.”

It was the truth, no matter how hard it was for him to imagine.

Sasuke had once trusted him with all his little heart.

He’d let him drag him all around the house as a baby, followed behind him like a little duckling when he was a toddler, and…well, he hadn’t been able to spend near as much time with him since, but he had still always been there. Right by his side, playing with his fingers behind his back as he tried to get him to play along with this or that.

Unwavering even as he was failed again and again, shoved to the side by his own elder brother - as though it wasn’t already happening enough with father. Always mad enough to call out the injustice, but never enough to stop it from happening again. Always returning to his side like a rejected kitten that didn’t understand why its mother refused to care for it. Or rather, was unable to.

If only. If only that were the case, it would be so much easier. But it wasn’t.

He had been plenty able to…but he hadn’t. All those nights returning home from late missions and promising Sasuke they could play the next day. All those times he had told himself it was fine to set Sasuke to the side for now - that he would make it all up to him once he had the clan and village at peace. They had all been lies, delusions he fed to both himself and his brother.

Had things gone just a bit differently…it was how things would have ended. Sasuke would have had to watch his family drift further and further apart for reasons he was too young to know, to watch as all three of them became busier and busier with a project everyone but he was allowed to know about.

Until finally, even that was lost, his once happy family torn to shreds. His no-good elder brother taking even the distracted forms of their parents, unwilling to let him have even that as he turned worse and worse. Leaving him all alone, without anyone in the world to call family.

Instead, they had been blessed with a second chance. A chance for Itachi to right his wrongs, to hold his little brother once more. To try to make up for all the rotten things he’d done over the last few years.

No matter how heavily his heart sat in his chest, begging to be ripped out and crushed beneath Sasuke’s boot.

Sasuke needed him, and he wasn’t about to not be there yet again.

“…Good.” Tsunade nodded, moving slowly to lean down in front of him. His eyes flickering up to match hers as she reached out, squishing his face - there being no question to the intentions of her hands, unlike Shizune’s hold. It was just a tad too firm for that, one of the fingers holding his cheeks tapping idly as she scolded, “Let’s start by taking care of yourself at least half as much as you do Sasuke and the village. Not by skipping meals. Not by ignoring injuries. Not by rummaging around checking for worms next time I tell you we’re taking a break.”

Itachi frowned up at her, unhappy but equally unsurprised she had yet to drop the early morning issue. “The last think you need right now is to catch worms. There isn’t enough meat on your bones for you to survive that.”

He made a point not to pout or sulk as she loosely flicked his face away, the woman standing and looking down at him as he stared up at her.

“…You said to stretch my-” he opted not to finish his objection as her warning glance doubled, deflating a bit.

On second thought, he didn’t need to be called a fool by the woman again. Not when her points were technically right, no matter how they frustrated him to consider. The idea of surviving as many fights as he had only to fall to a feline parasite leaving a sour taste in his mouth, but not near as sour as the second scolding he was sure to receive for tempting fate before the eyes of the healer.

“Right, I won’t, my apologies.” he answered instead, letting a quiet silence flow between them. Shoving his objections to the side; content to sit and watch Shizune pack up the medical supplies and samples while Tsunade leaned on the semi-wall that separated the living room and kitchen. Her arms crossed and head tilted up in thought.

Only lowering as the front door swung open; revealing the much too excited form of Karin - the little red-head not nearly as reserved as the last time Itachi had seen her. She seemed almost brighter now, her lips curling into a smile as she spotted the three.

She moved along ahead of both Sasuke and Lord Second, nearly forgetting to slide off her shoes before retreating back to do so. She made quick work of it, and in a flash, was back heading towards them. She was standing in front of them long before the other two so much as made it to the door, big red eyes flipping between Shizune and Tsunade first before landing on him.

The girl seemed to feel a lot better now, out of the grime from the streets and woods - finally dressed up in something without holes lining each and every side.

Shizune let out a small chuckle from her spot kneeling on the ground - the woman finishing in her work of properly sealing her equipment away. Left only with a few spare samples to pack and a couple of tests to be sat to the side for now and looked at once enough time had passed.

She looked up at Karin, lifting her arm to motion the girl closer. Karin was quick to oblige, seeming to bask in the other’s attention. “You seem pleased. I take it class went better today?” she mused, watching as the girl nodded quickly.

“Mhm, a girl in my class, Ino, gave me hair clips!” she turned from Shizune to Itachi, beaming at her own knowledge, “Just like crows! Tobirama said crows like bringing their friends gifts too, just like yours brought you those berries the other day, right?”

So pure and excited.

Utterly unaware of the much different, less pleased, beam Sasuke was directing her way from the room’s entrance.

Chapter Text

One would think Sasuke was moving in on a decades old target, the way he all but marched across the room - kicking his shoes off quickly before moving ahead of his silver-haired keeper to place himself directly between Karin and his elder brother.

Itachi couldn’t help but watch with a slightly bewildered expression as the nearly seven year old climbed up on the couch, plopping himself directly on his lap. His dark eyes locked onto the girl before him with no intent of stopping any time soon.

It was a sharp contrast to the usual reluctant and shy child he was used to seeing both before and after that night…though his glare remained all the same. Pointed and warning, daring his target not to take him seriously as he set his sights on them.

This time, however, it was unfortunately aimed at the equally owlish Karin in front of him rather than any of the dozens of people who may truly deserve his wrath.

His dark eyes warning her off even as Itachi reflexively sat his hands on his brothers back, scolding, “Sasuke-” unsure of where to start but unable to not say anything in the face of the children’s one-sided stand-off.

Before he could struggle too much to find a solution to smooth things over, Shizune was fast at work.

The dark haired woman stood from her now finished work to swoop the girl up and hold her to her chest in a baby’s cradle. One which didn’t look quite right due to the sheer age of the child, but carried on without issue from either.

Karin let out a soft gasp and small pitchy squeal of surprise as she looked up at the woman, smiling all the while. Shizune’s voice calm even as she asked pleasantly, “My apologies Miss. Karin, I just couldn’t help but get a bit jealous. Itachi had a cute little one in his arms, so I wanted one too you see. Forgive me, please?”

The woman’s teasing drawing soft laughter from the red-head as she used her hands to guard her face from the woman’s smile. “Miss Shizune-! You-!” Her lanky legs stretched outwards as they kicked with amusement, the medical-nin never once breaking a sweat despite the child’s wiggling.

Momentarily, Itachi had to wonder if that was what he looked like, lugging Sasuke around despite the boy probably being just a tad too old for it.

Then again…it had been a while since he’d been allowed to do such a thing.

Even in the months leading up to that night, the boy had been determined to walk himself unless absolutely necessary. Or a solid enough excuse provided itself.

It was something Sasuke seemed to have discarded sometime among the month he had been missing, based on the not-so-little-anymore child currently taking up the entirety of his lap. His legs drawn upwards as he held his arms clingily to his elder brother - eyes remaining trained on the two others for only a moment more before looking up at the elder Uchiha.

Dark eyes locked together, Itachi’s hand remaining carefully on Sasuke’s back. Somewhat worried that moving too fast would scare him away. A bit of a paranoid worry, he acknowledged, yet...not one that was a complete impossibility.

The two remained locked in each other’s gazes for a solid few seconds, taking each other in and trying to decide what to say. Sasuke’s own head dipping after a brief moment as the embarrassment of his actions kicked in. Itachi couldn’t help but smile thinly at the sight. It was almost cute, if not for the rowdiness which had gotten them there...

A low cough-chuckle sounded behind them, the two’s heads snapping back to lock onto Lord Second as he slowly made his way through the living room. His hands were folded behind his back as though the composed appearance would dissuade any ideas that it could have come from him, the only give away being the slight warmth to the man’s pale cheeks.

Itachi frowned thinly as he carefully watched, feeling Sasuke bounce a bit as Lord Second suggested, “Yes, well, let’s not starve the ‘cute little ones’, then.” his flat sarcastic tone doing little to stop the low snicker which came from his niece. Nor Sasuke’s outrage at being described as such, the boy wilting from his proud stance on the spot as he glowered up at the elder man.

Itachi could have died.

Sasuke, he silently pleaded, please stop sending death glares towards the Second Hokage.

Even as the man hardly seemed to take notice of it, Itachi couldn’t help the sour taste it left on his tongue. A taste which doubled in potency as he felt his little brother began to squirm off his lap to rush side by side with Karin towards Lord Second.

The two more interested in the promised snack than their own pouting.

Willing to forgive the man but seeming intent on having him make it up to them....

He watched Lord Second move slowly through the room with focused, steady eyes – the two children following him like lost little ducks. The man only stopped in his steady tread as he reached the briefly amused expression of Lady Tsunade, taking notice of it and seeming to decide upon something.

Itachi watched with furrowed brows as his hand reached up to lightly pat her cheek, the blonde’s smile dropping immediately as he continued on, “Including my dear niece, of course.”

Lord Second’s red eyes watched her with his own wave of amusement, lips curved into a smile which could only be identified as taunting. One which only grew in size as the woman all but growled at him, hands falling to her hips in challenge.

Itachi’s jaw just about unhinged from his skull as he heard the woman scold him in the same tone she had used with him earlier, amber eyes sparking with warning, “I will put you right back in your coffin if this is how you intend to be the whole time you’re back!” her hand raising up solely to wave pointedly at the elder shinobi. Something in her tone telling Itachi she was only half joking…if at all…

“Kids these days…” Lord Second shook his head at her in mock-annoyance, hand coming up to his brow. “At least Sasuke and Karin pretend to show me some respect when I speak…”

Pretend!?

Itachi grimaced on their behalf even as Sasuke and Karin barely hid their grins from behind him, hands which had priorly been holding Sasuke falling to his lap as the man bickered back and forth with his niece solely for their amusement. Shizune’s own hands had fallen to her sides as well as she turned to Itachi, expression serious even as she seemed to try to play along with the two – by her master’s side even in such a trivial matter.

“I suppose the old rumors are true.” she shook her head, whispering by his side as she folded her hands behind her. “Lord Second really does like to kidnap little Uchiha when no one is looking.”

Itachi only blinked owlishly at her, unsure what exactly she meant but feeling a thin frown cross his lips even so.

It was clearly a pointed comment, though not one he was necessarily meant to understand if the way Lord Second’s face warped to outrage was any indication.

...Lord Second? Stealing children? He couldn’t recall ever hearing of such a thing...

Who would say something so crass about one of their village’s founders?

Briefly, he glanced over at the man in question.

The playful hints which had spread over his face fell as he crossed his arms, the picture of intimidation as he snapped at the less than fearful nor interested Tsunade, “You’d repeat such dribble to your ward! You know very well how difficult it was for me to obtain the Uchiha’s blessing to train that boy!” the tone in his voice giving Itachi the distinct feeling it was a long-running argument.

Both Sasuke and Karin froze momentarily, staring up at him with wide, weary eyes.

They almost looked ready to retreat back to Itachi and Shizune, if not for the too-strong hold the promise of a snack seemed to hold on the two of them.

Really, Itachi didn’t remember Sasuke being so food-driven...

Though. Tsunade’s unworried expression and Shizune’s laughter from behind her hand likely didn’t help Lord Second’s attempt to intimidate much either.

“Grandfather would be outraged to hear you. Shouting at your beloved grandniece. For shame.” the woman shook her head scoldingly, not at all affected by his words as she moved past him and into the kitchen. “Come Karin, don’t stand too close. He might get a taste for Uzumaki children next.” her hand waving the girl along lightly. A smug glance sent to her outraged uncle as the little red-head squeaked, darting away from him to hide under Tsunade’s arm.

Itachi felt years falling off his life span as the two playfully bickered, the only soothing sound mixed within being the rare quiet huff of laughter from Sasuke as the boy lingered behind Lord Second - hands gripping his pant legs as he grinned smugly at the two ahead. As if proud of his perceived monopoly on the man’s attention.

Itachi watched with a hand pressed to his temple as the two Senju moved one after another towards the kitchen, the two children fast on their heels - brief mutterings and laughter from Karin sounding for only a moment more before silence fell over the house.

“We’re missing two.” the elderly pair called sternly from the kitchen after a moment, Itachi’s frown dipping down further from where he sat. Their tones serious even with the clear teasing laced within.

He shared a brief look with Shizune as she sighed lightly at his side, hand reaching up to hold her own temple.

Surely they didn’t mean...?

Shizune seemed to mourn their lost pride for the both of them as she nodded to his unasked question, sighing, “Lady Tsunade…Lord Second…” her short bob swaying back and forth with each shake of her head.

The pig - Tonton, was it? - was already rushing ahead of them and towards the kitchen as Itachi lifted himself up from the couch. Unwilling to ignore the two even as he couldn’t help but share the older girl’s sentiment.

“…Sill missing two!” Sasuke shouted just a bit too loud, Itachi lifting his own hands up to run his hand down his face as he walked steadily towards the kitchen with a low sigh.

When had his brother become so demanding? Was this what being an only child did? Or was it merely the result of being Lord Second’s only ward…

Itachi wouldn’t lie and say he disliked seeing his brother so set and ready on what he wanted, but neither would he sit there and say it wasn’t beyond stressful to see the child all but hanging off the elder man every second of the day.

It was one thing for Sasuke to do it to him...it was another for him to do it to another who had already so graciously agreed to keep watch over him while Itachi was away.

Kinder than he initially looked or not, Itachi doubted the man had intended to sign up for a child hanging off his leg for the foreseeable future when he had taken the Uchiha clan’s problems on as his own.

“…Still missing two cute little ones…” Kakashi tsked lowly under his breath as Itachi passed him by, his former captain’s head tilting just a bit as Itachi paused in front of him with furrowed brows. His playful words not hidden in the least by his firm posture and mask.

ANBU were not to speak unless spoken to when standing guard, he wanted to shoot back.

His mouth opening only to fall closed a mere few seconds later - the younger just barely catching himself. He gave the other only a disapproving shake of the head instead, moving past him and after the now hurrying Shizune.

"Hm." He gave a non-comitting response.

Probably best not to bite the hand that had helped lead him away from the slaughterhouse…even if it had been doing its absolute best to get on his nerves over the course of the last few days.

After all, successful in his attempts or not, it was still Captain Kakashi that was doing it.

If there was one thing he knew - it was that the man did not act out of malice. No matter what his actions would otherwise imply.

He was only poking for sport, hoping to get a rise out of him, Itachi reminded himself as he walked with his head turned away towards the kitchen. Unwilling to give the elder the reaction he so wanted despite this understanding they both held that it was in good fun for the other.

Besides...it was guard duty.

The man had to find fun somewhere, he supposed…and it was better it be through him. The last thing he needed was Kakashi setting his sights on Sasuke as his next target – he wasn’t sure the child would be able to scoff and roll his eyes out of that one. Not with Kakashi’s particular skills in pressing on just the right nerves.

He would really rather his little brother not begin holding a grudge against his former captain.

“Itachi, your seat is here.” Sasuke launched his order as soon as he entered the kitchen, hand pointing to the seat beside him. Like a boy who had finally found his lost dog and was unwilling to lose him once again...

The elder let out a low sigh at his little brother’s blunt words, but complied all the same.

He hadn’t been so brash the night prior, Itachi was sure...but then, he had been a bit grouchy this morning. Perhaps it was merely a matter of him waking up on the wrong side of the bed.

Itachi supposed it wasn’t a problem for now. Neither Lord Second nor Lady Tsunade were taking offense, and Sasuke did seem quite happy as he followed the two in their bickering which reminded him a tad too much of Kushina – though far from the same.

At least as Lady Tsunade sat there half-sulking half smirking, there seemed to be no true rage behind her eyes. Something he couldn’t quite have said the same for when his godmother had grown rowdy.

He considered this briefly, gaze shifting lightly between her and her two companions as they made residence on her side of the table. The little red-head sitting contently on her lap so that her assistant could sit to her right with Tonton.

Between the two of them sharing a seat, Shizune taking the one by her side, Sasuke and himself on the opposite…it left not a single chair open.

Itachi glanced over at Lord Second as the man worked on reheating the last of the stir-fry leftovers, leaning on the counter with his arms crossed as he simply stood. Listening, by the looks of it, as Sasuke and Karin pitter-pattered on with each other about an exercise they’d done in class. The traces of agitation having begun to dullen up until Karin decided to so eloquently open her mouth and ask her elder clansmen, “Lady Tsunade, does he really kidnap children?” her hushed whisper a resounding failure in the room full of shinobi.

Lord Second’s eyes narrowed as he watched his niece consider the child’s words for just a tad too long, tapping his foot impatiently from behind her. Daring her to double-down on the claims which frankly Itachi couldn’t help but feel a bit alerted by as well despite his own doubts the man would do such a thing.

“…No, I suppose he doesn’t.” Tsunade allowed after a long moment, a low huff of amusement escaping her as the child continued to eye her with a hint of disbelief.

She certainly made no move to make her words convincing.

“Lady Tsunade and I are only teasing.” Shizune shook her head from the side, reaching over to pat the girl on the head. “He was a very good shinobi, so many children wanted to learn from him with or without their parent’s blessing. Sometimes, they say, with or without his own…” the older girl explained, though Itachi couldn’t help but feel it left him with more questions than answers…

How, exactly, did one become someone’s student without their blessing?

Surely this wasn’t how Shisui’s grandfather had gone about it…right?

Itachi thought back to his cousin’s own mischief streak and grimaced a bit.

On second thought…

“…Hooligans.” Tobirama shook his head, setting the small bowls down on the table as he walked over.

Lifting Sasuke with one quick movement before dumping the child unceremoniously back on his lap. “This village was filled with hooligans from the start.”

Chapter Text

 Itachi stared down at his bowl, quietly poking through it as the five surrounding continued rattling on plesantly. It was the third time in a row now that they were having the meal, but then, he hardly minded. It was healthy enough, and not terribly hard on his stomach. It was probably a step in the right direction for his health, if he wanted Tsunade to believe his promises to take care of himself.   

Even if the sheer amount he’d eaten over the last few days was beginning to become a bit uncomfortable both physically and...otherwise.  

Itachi plucked a pepper from the mix, setting it in his mouth and chewing mechanically despite it as he listened to the dull yet happy lull of the voices surrounding. He stared at the table ahead, each bite feeling heavier and heavier in his stomach – just the same as every other meal he had eaten over the course of the last few weeks.  

The skewered fish he and Lord Second had shared near the fountain reminded him all too much of the ones Shisui and he used to catch in the Naka river. Crisp and perfect.   

The ready-to-go dumpling soup he had been given while resting in the hotel all too much like the meals Kakashi, Tenzo, and he had once spent countless nights hunched over after many long hours spent in the field. Warm and soothing.   

The senbei and tea Sasuke had made for him far too much like the treats his mother had once gone so far out of her way to make sure resided on the table after days spent away. The tea as delicious as nectar – just the way he liked it, but somehow nauseating now.   

The stir-fry perfect and filling, simple yet delectable. Made with time and quality in mind, shared around a table just like those final few meals their family had managed to sit through together without conflict in the months leading up to that night.   

Itachi was certain there was something wrong with him. Something rotten and foul which made him capable of such discomforts...as if he had any right to be haunted with the ashes of the memories which he himself had burnt to the ground with his own two hands.  

As though it were anyone else’s fault he would never again fish with Shisui, go out on missions with his team, return home to his mother’s praising words, or sit at the blissfully silent table across from his father in the rare occasions their days had aligned enough not to stir tensions.   

His stomach turned terribly as he shoved it all down, focusing on the ramblings of the children nearby and the rhythm of their snack rather than the sharp pain in his heart.  

Open, chew, swallow. Open, chew, swallow. Open chew, swallow.   

His bowl was nearly empty now. He simply had to finish the last bit and then he would be free to rinse it out and be done with it until dinner. He kept his eyes trained away from those surrounding, dark eyes latching onto the wood of the table as he did his best to shake off the feeling.  

Sasuke and Karin’s minor squabbling, at the very least, helped with that much.

Even as he had to force an effort to smooth over the unease in his gut as his little brother leaned forward in his peripheral, hands on the table with a far-too serious expression. His little determined face the only one Itachi could bear to pry his eyes away from the table for.  

“If he hadn’t cut us off, we could have gotten two-hundred by the end of the exercise.” Sasuke nodded seriously in a rare show of certainty. Undeterred as Lord Second let out a low huff of amusement from behind him, his words bordering on arrogant as he bounced upwards a bit in the elder shinobi’s lap. “That’s why we had to go in early. Because he had to make sure the others got some.”  

Itachi watched his little brother’s pleased expression as it grew further and further at his own words, the end of his chopsticks resting lightly against his lips as he watched the boy receive his praise from Lord Second with just a spec of smugness. The conversation somehow having turned on its head from Lord Second’s apparent success as a teacher to Sasuke’s success as a student.   

Once more, he wasn’t sure whether to be pleased or embarrassed on behalf of his brother’s steadily increasing ego.  

Then again, he supposed he didn’t really have a right to comment on such a thing anymore. Not when he hadn’t been able to so much as manage keeping his own in check over the last few years.  

“What score did you get, Itachi?” Sasuke’s big, focused eyes zeroed in on him once he had received what he deemed to be adequate praise from Lord Second and Shizune alike, undeterred by Lady Tsunade’s disinterest in commenting on his accomplishments.   

Sasuke's gaze only broke for a split second to glance over at Karin as the girl jumped forward twice as much on the table, leaning over her bowl from the woman’s arms. Her red eyes just as big and doe-like despite the lack of competitiveness in her tone. “Yeah, what did you get?”  

Itachi lowered his utensils from his lips, internally grimacing at the utter excitement and adoration in both of their eyes as they watched him - as well as the question, which he had no good answer for at the moment.   

It was less what score he had gotten, and more so what score his clone had.  

This of course was not information he intended to share with this particular group. If not for the sake of Sasuke and Karin’s impressionable little minds, for the silver-haired man he refused to look towards.  

He had a feeling it would be a bit of an insult to find out the structure he must have put years into perfecting had been tossed to the side by a foolish, foolish child like himself who had thought himself above it.   

“I don’t recall. It’s been a long while.” he turned his head down to his food, focusing on it if nothing else to avoid the gaze of the two academy students. He pulled the last scrapes from his bowl, forcing the food down as he listened to varying levels of disappointment from either child. “...Though, my score is irrelevant, regardless. You both did well.”  

He turned his body away from the table to slide out of his chair as he spoke, taking both his and Sasuke’s dirty bowls to the sink to rinse off. Refusing to turn his head even as he heard Karin’s reluctant noise of agreement and Sasuke’s brief huffy pout. The eyes of the three elder shinobi lingering on him as he rinsed the dishes, though blessedly none called him out if they noticed his bluff nor the faint tremble of his hands which he couldn’t quite manage to stop.  

Hopefully, he had concealed it well enough. For while he rather not lie to them, he much rather not have to confess to any further misdeeds made out of sheer arrogance in his own abilities.  

Really...he had been such a fool from the start – never truly able to properly gauge himself.  

“...I’ll be back, I have to use the restroom.” he excused himself once their bowls were cleaned, aware he couldn’t go running off without a chaperone but needing a moment to himself even so.  

He could sense Tsunade’s brief ire through her chakra alone, though he set it aside for now, not having a much of a chance to consider it as Sasuke called after him, “When you get back, don’t forget to tell me what you found when you looked at Junior!”   

The boy was a good bit more energetic than he had been this morning, or when he first arrived home. That was good to see, at the very least. Despite what the steadily increasing tremble of his hands below his sleeve would lead him to believe.   

“Yes, yes. Of course, Sasuke.” he waved his arm briefly towards the boy before making his way down the hallway and to the bathroom – shoulders taut. Kakashi and Tenzo’s gazes bore heavily on his back as he passed by with legs heavy as stone. Unreadable behind those masks of theirs even as he glanced briefly towards them in passing.   

He could hear Karin shout something or another towards the two as she seemed to notice them, though he couldn’t quite focus on what exactly it was she said. It was quite unlike him, Itachi frowned as he shut the bathroom door behind him.  

Then again. His ears didn’t tend to drum so loudly, even after the most unpleasant of missions. He was half tempted to confront Lord Second and ask about it, to see if perhaps the sudden inability to control his heart and nerves was a side effect some sort. If perhaps having his chakra sealed or his eyes bound had damaged something within him.  

Of course, he’d never actually go through with such a thing. To further trouble the man like that…to go whining to him like a child because he couldn’t handle the just punishment the village had delt him. It was unthinkable. After all he had done, this discomfort was the least he deserved. Particularly when his sentence had been beyond light as it was.  

Slowly, Itachi crouched down on the floor, setting his back to the tub as he let out a few unsteady breaths. Eyes closing as his brows pulled together - his heart thumping impossibly loud in his ears.  

The village would have been well within it’s rights to lop off his head. Danzo and Hiruzen’s actions and subsequence inactions aside…he was still a threat.  

Had the clans wished for it, they could have demanded it. They could have secured the safety of their own in one swift movement of justice.   

Yet instead they had been merciful. So, horribly, merciful. Willing to look past his inadequacies and deal with mountains of extra work for the sake of someone like him. To claim that they believed in that stupid, stupid dream of his which had been abandoned so long ago. To apologize for not giving him their support earlier. To declare that he had a good heart, as if his naive dreams did him any good when he was too weak and foolish to follow through on them.  

To believe in him, to stick their necks out for him and claim he deserved to live through happy moments such as this, despite all he had done. It was sickening.  

How many times had he gone back and forth with Shikaku in clan meetings, opening his arrogant mouth rather than sitting and behaving like the other heirs he thought himself more experienced than? How many times had he shown up to Inoichi’s door right alongside his parents and Sasuke, lecturing his daughter right alongside Sasuke when they were caught sneaking tomatoes from her aunt’s garden, as if he had any right? How few times had he actually run into Tsume before the trial, and how many of those had been mere half-aware nods before he was rushing off to do whatever it was that had seemed so important at the time?  

Naive, Naive, Naive he was! 

How could they all be so willing to trust him, to forgive him. To give him this second chance at life. How could any of them…how could Kakashi and Tenzo, who both already struggled so much to claim an ounce of respect from those around him, be willing to stay by his side? How could they throw away the small place they had finally begun to carve for themselves in the shinobi forces for the sake of a teammate they had only known for a mere few months?  

Selfish, Selfish, Selfish he was! 

How could Lord Second be so willing to stick his neck out for him? For someone he hardly knew. For someone who had been so arrogant as to try to intimidate him from the shadows before he became aware of just who it was he was trying to push around…for someone who held himself so haughty in the Hokage office, believing himself above the village reforms. For someone who couldn’t even fulfil the busy-work he was sent off with or manage sitting in his well-earned confinement cell without making an ordeal about the bindings being too tight.   

Arrogant, Arrogant, Arrogant he was! 

How could Sasuke continue looking him in the eyes…how could he hug him, how could he cry to him, how could he ask for a bedtime story, how could he want to sit next to him, how could he continue to love someone like him, to ask him about the condition of Shisui’s cat, to trust him to go out looking for the feline, to sit by him and chatter on about school, to compare himself to him, as though he was anyone to look up to, as if he were not a failure of a brother, clansmen, and shinobi, as if he was worth forgiving, as if he deserved to be part of snack time or-  

“...Itachi, you’ve been in there a while. You okay?” a light knock at the door came, Itachi’s eyes reopening with a snap. His head had somehow wound up tucked between his knees, his hands holding tightly to his pant legs as his eyes unclenched.  

As if he was someone to be checked on.  To be worried over. As If he hadn't damned them both with his own incompetency. 

“...I’m fine. I simply ate too fast.” he called back, leaning back and reaching up to run his hands over his face – scrubbing out the numbness from it as Sasuke shifted from foot to foot reluctantly outside the door. “I’ll be out in just a moment – once I find the tums.”   

Itachi let out a long, quiet sigh to himself as he heard Sasuke perk up from outside the door - all the pride in the world washing through the small boy at being able to help as he called, “I have them in my room! I’ll go get them for you.”   

The distant sound of Sasuke’s feet making way for his bedroom sounding through Itachi’s ears, an improvement from the prior drumming, but deafening even so.  

He looked down at himself, using his hand to continue rubbing the numbness from his face as well as the moisture which threatened to spill from his eyes the longer he sat. His entire body ached, as though he had just finished a particularly rough training session…though he pried himself up from the floor even so.   

How pathetic, he silently mourned as he made his way over to the mirror. Watching himself through heavy eyelids as he did his best to remove the evidence of his misery.

Lost in the weight of his own foolish decisions while Sasuke worked so hard to help him.

Spitting in the face of all those who gifted him with this second chance. Breaking down like a genin after their first kill.  

As though having a nice afternoon was the end of the world.  

As though fulfilling Lord Second's simple, simple request to rest would be the end of him.

As though remaining afloat as the medics and he had discussed was the most unimaginable struggle when the path had alreary been so clearly laid before him.

“I got them!” Sasuke knocked on the door after just a moment more, Itachi running his hands over his face one final time before turning to leave the bathroom. His expression cleared of the previous struggles as he opened the door - heavy eyes casting downwards towards the all too excited form of his little brother.  

Sasuke’s prideful little smile peeking out from behind the tums bottle as he turned his head away - all too much like Junior when she wanted pet but refused to come close enough that it was obvious. His hands folding once more behind his back as Itachi accepted the bottle. Waiting, always waiting. Waiting for him no matter how many times he failed to deliver…

“Thank you, Sasuke.” Itachi swallowed down the lump in his throat as he leaned down, pulling his brother up against his waist as he leaned down to wrap his arms around him. The voice in the back of his head which scorned him for being so selfish as to claim the hug clashing sharply with the one which begged him to give into the desire if not for himself, for Sasuke. 

A bright blush had crawled up Sasuke’s face as Itachi hugged him, the younger hiding his face against his elder brother with a semi-embarrassed huff. “It’s just tums, Itachi.” he reminded, even as he remained tucked under Itachi’s chin. His disinterested tone doing little to hide his contentment. 

Itachi had no idea what he was doing, but at the very least, it was a good sign. 

He watched his little brother carefully, mimicking Lord Second’s actions which Sasuke so seemed to take to. Running his hands carefully through the boy’s hair as he let out a second, low sigh. Trying to explain himself, to give the boy at least an inch of the gratitude he deserved for his efforts. To push down the part of him that worried Sasuke was far too kind for his own good. “…You know very well what I mean. I-” 

“I don't want to talk about it right now. Don’t make me cry in front of my classmate.” Sasuke grumbled against him, his smile melting a bit into a not-quite sincere pout as he leaned on his brother. “Tobirama is already never going to take me seriously with how much I do…” 

Ah, yes, Itachi silently agreed. The infinite pool of respect he was sure the Second Hokage had for his almost seven-year-old ward. It was in danger.  

He swallowed the thought down along with the second - far larger - lump in his throat at the mention of Sasuke’s past tears.

Steadying the rushing beat of his heart as he nodded, smoothing over Sasuke’s hair as he shook his head. “My apologies.” 

...Sasuke peeked up from his spot against Itachi's waist, eyes narrowing for a split second before moving into action. He grabbed ahold of one of Itachi's wrists using both his hands, leading him down the hallway.

Then into the kitchen. Then into the livingroom?

Itachi allowed himself to be drug through the house by his wrist, though his brows did furrow as his younger brother called to Lord Second with all the authority in the world, "Me and Itachi are going upstairs if you need us!"

Not so much as waiting for a reply as he continued to pull Itachi along up the stairs. 

Itachi's eyes flashed briefly to Lord Second to confirm it was alright for him to be left alone with Sasuke so soon, but receiving only a wry smile in turn.

Unspoken words Itachi found himself unable to decipher sent his way with that too-knowing expression. 

Really, he sighed once more as he was tugged to the top of the staircase, everyone in this village had far too much faith in him. 

Chapter Text

Itachi’s brows pulled together briefly as he was tugged further and further up the staircase, eventually reaching the top alongside Sasuke.   

His little brother did not stop there however, his head bobbing back and forth between the three bedrooms before settling on the one furthest.   

Itachi’s own room.  

“...And what is it, precisely, that we need to do upstairs? It’s not polite to leave guests to fend for themselves in your home, Sasuke.” he reminded, even as the words lay heavy on his tongue.   

Unable to truly rebut the younger, yet unable to stop the reminder from leaving his mouth as the younger twisted his doorknob open – dragging him in by the hand with all the determination of a first responder.   

“I’m not, Lord Second is down there.” Sasuke shook his head, continuing to pull and pull on Itachi’s hand until they were near his bed. He looked from Itachi to it, then back to Itachi, pointing with his free hand as he ordered, “Lay down.”   

Utterly uncaring of the fact he had just left Lord Second on hosting duty.   

...Which, sure, Itachi supposed the elder had taken up the mantle of the head of household in the absence of any other adults, but he was there now. Even if Sasuke couldn’t be expected to tend to them, he should at the very least-  

“Lay down...” Sasuke repeated, pouting a bit as he continued pointing to the bed.  

Itachi glanced between the two as he was pulled from his thoughts, resisting only momentarily before giving into the nonsensical demands. He sat heavily on the side of the mattress, leaving himself level with Sasuke as he hunched forward just a bit – objecting only mildly, “You never did answer my question as for why you brought me up here to begin with...”  

He watched with a thin frown of confusion as his brother moved directly in front of him, brows furrowed.  

Sasuke reached up, pushing against his chest with one quick movement. “You aren’t laying down, Itachi. You’re supposed to lay down.” he repeated with a continued pout, one which doubled at the low string of coughs which left the elder’s lips at the unexpected shove.  

Really, Itachi was certain those seals were doing something to his body. Never before had he found it so very impossible to keep up with his little brother.   

“That’s why.” Sasuke continued on even so, pushing and nudging him until he was laying on his bed as was demanded of him. Itachi let out a brief, exasperated sigh at the younger's behavior, but let him do as he pleased for now.   

The bottle of tums he had been given a mere moment ago pulled from his grip and poured out into Sasuke’s hands.   

Itachi watched with furrowed brows as Sasuke leaned over the bed, making an ‘ahh’ sound.   

“Sasuke. I can take the tums myself.” he reminded lightly, brow twitching as his brother’s hands half-shoved into his mouth right alongside the tablet.  

The scolding on his tongue died a moment after it was born, the intent look on Sasuke’s face too much for him to break as he began to gather what he had been brought upstairs for.  

A long sigh left his lips as he allowed his brother to do as he wished, biting down on the chewable tablets as Sasuke pulled his hands back and shook his head seriously. “I know. I want to help though.”  

His young eyes remained locked onto Itachi as the waited for the other to finish chewing – head lowering to listen to Itachi’s heartbeat. Something Itachi was fairly sure was pointless, considering his little brother’s lack of medical training...  

“You have a cough, and were clammy last night. Plus you keep getting distracted...” the boy sulked against his chest, “Tobirama said that lady was going to check you for injuries and sicknesses from your mission. Did she find any?”  

Itachi forced his wills to remain in place, taking a breath as he focused on keeping his heart steady below Sasuke’s head.   

He reached his arms out, lifting the younger by his underarms and carefully dragging him up onto the bed despite the awkward lack of room on the twin-sized mattress.   

...There had been a time when they could both fit perfectly with room to spare, a time when they both had done so near-daily...  

“Just a few bumps and bruises – with a small bit of sick as well. Nothing too major.” he promised, tucking Sasuke under his arm. “Nothing contagious, either.”   

He watched as the younger nodded slowly, squirming at his side until he was comfortable in his spot. Sasuke’s arms reached up to hold the one that lay draped over his shoulder, a tired look in his eye as he began picking non-committedly at the bandages Lady Shizune had just laid.  

“They didn’t heal you all the way.” Sasuke pointed out, looking all too much like he had just finished sucking on a lemon. “We should ask Tobirama to finish once they leave.”   

Completely and utterly missing Itachi’s previous intentions as he spoke, the attempt to sooth his brother’s fears falling flat in the face of his too-big heart.  

Itachi reached up with his free hand, running it over his face with a brief shake of his head.   

“That’s okay, Sasuke. Healing is a bit trickier given my seals – it would be unreasonable to waste their energy on such small marks rather than letting them heal naturally.” he shifted his hands carefully through his brother’s hair, “They’ll be healed in no time at all.”  

Perhaps quicker than he would like.   

For as worried as Sasuke may be now, and as much as it hurts to see his little brother sad for him, it was better than the alternative.   

He didn’t need to go scaring him anymore than he already had.   

“They had better.” Sasuke mumbled against his side, “They should have just taken the seals off to heal you then put them back on.”  

Blessedly not looking up to see the faint cringe which befell Itachi at the very idea.  

He would take his due punishment, but those seals were not something he ever wished to endure again. They had hurt far worse than any other injury he had endured over the years, and even now, settled and unagitated – he felt them.   

They lingered heavily on his eyes, tongue, and stomach; not quite painful, but heavy even so. They twisted and turned with each reflexive flicker of chakra, spinning rapidly and suppressing it with ease.   

Though. The unbothered state was not much of an improvement, either.  
 
Even undisturbed, it continued to press into his skin, weighing down with a thousand pounds despite the distinct lack of pain.  

It was as though the wind was permanently knocked out of him, his head held steadily below water.  

A horribly, agonizing emptiness filling his body with every breath.  

A constant state of chakra exhaustion without the adrenalin to subdue the sheer tiredness and helplessness which it left behind...  

A physical manifestation of his weakness and worthlessness, now known by all the world.  

“You know they can’t do that, Sasuke.” he continued toying with the younger’s hair, his own eyes closing briefly as he spoke. “My being sealed is one of the most important conditions for me being allowed to stay here with you. For Lady Tsunade and Lord Second to go unsealing and resealing me for mere convenience's sake...I have a feeling the other clans would be quite upset with us for going back on our word like that.”   

After all, how were they to know he wouldn’t take the opportunity to escape the discomfort that were these seals? How were they to know he had no intention of fleeing from his punishment or lashing out against those who had distributed this retribution?  

“That’s stupid.” his brother let out another childish grumble as Itachi felt him hide further in his side. “They’re stupid for making you have it to begin with, and for making you stay locked away when you finally made it back. For not letting you be a ninja too, and saying you're in trouble. I don’t like them at all.”  

Itachi let a low puff of air escape his lips, caught between amusement at the naive grievances and exhaustion at the idea of explaining why it had to be the way it was.  

“They’re quite kind, actually.” he settled on musing back lightly, “Things could have been much worse for me, yet they alongside Hound and Cat vouched for me. Lady Tsunade, Lord Second, Lord Third...they’ve all been kinder than you know. So please, don’t say such things.”   

The heavy silence which followed stretched for a long while, Itachi’s eyes cracking back open to peer down at his brother. Sasuke only continued craning his neck up towards him however, a conflicted expression lingering on his face as they took each other in.   

“...Fine. But I still don’t like it.” Sasuke mumbled into the side of his shirt, hands falling him his bandages and over to his shirt. He shifted, turning off his back and further towards Itachi’s side. His knees drew up to his chest, looking entirely too small as he seemed to debate speaking.  

Itachi gave him a moment, a thin frown lining his lips as Sasuke finally asked, “What was it like? Being stuck outside the village. Tobirama said you had to sneak around all the time. He said you had people trying to kill you, and people that wouldn’t let you buy food...”  

Silently, Itachi wondered why in the world Lord Second would repeat such things to Sasuke. He could understand the need for Sasuke to find him disarming, yet still...  

“It wasn’t as bad as it seems.” he assured, “Perhaps in the long run it would have been, but for only a little over a month, it was no worse than a standard mission in enemy lands.”   

Besides. It was hardly the waking hours he needed to concern himself with. Those were far easier to handle than the counterpart – the counterpart he was sure Sasuke himself had grown familiar with over the last month.  

The hand resting on Sasuke’s head firmed just a bit, Itachi’s fingers coming to a still as he held him tightly to his side.   

“If anything, I imagine your month was much longer.” he used his free hand to carefully caress his face, watching the brief flickering in his eyes as Itachi did his best to keep his voice steady.   

He could only imagine the shadows which must have haunted his baby brother, both day and night. Itachi’s memories terrifyingly perfect, perfect enough to be crystal clear each time he had so cruelly replayed it in his little brother’s mind.   

Trying so hard to stomp down that too-kind heart of his...the too-kind heart he had been sure would get him killed one day without him around.   

The too-kind heart that just barely seemed to survive despite his own monstrous attempts.  

“...I missed mother and father.” Sasuke face fell fully into Itachi’s side, as if to both hide from and behind him. Itachi’s heart fell to pieces as he lifted his hand from Sasuke’s face and used it instead to wrap around his baby brother’s shoulders - the faint tremble to them impossible to not notice even in his tired state. “A lot.”  

Itachi’s words felt frozen in his throat, his mouth parting only to seal once more as his eyes flittered from Sasuke then off to the side. Unsure of where to look or what to say in the face of the confession.  

“I’m sorry.” he finally managed after a long moment, trying desperately to suppress the waiver in his voice. Blinking and blinking as his eyes cast upwards, the watering in his eyes cast away before it could even begin.  

He had no right. No right at all.  

No right to envision the now far away silhouette of his mother.  

His mother, who once indulged in his want to listen for a heartbeat in her stomach which hadn’t yet grown. His mother, who once pinned report card after report card on the fridge despite each one being the same. His mother, who once made him his favorite dinners for a week straight after his sharingan awakened. His mother, who once washed stain after stain from his clothes, who so closely watched over  him, only to be slain in the end just like the rest of them...  

No right to listen for the once grating voice of his father which would never again resound through their home.  

The man who had once infuriated him, yet he now couldn’t help but miss. The man who once indulged in his wandering eyes every time they were sent out to the market, buying him book after book which now lined his shelves. The man who insisted on holding his head high enough to snap every time he spoke of his boy, his genius boy which preformed far beyond the rest. The man who held far too much faith in him, so blinded by his own pride and certainty in his son that he was unable to see the betrayal coming until the very end...  

His parents, which had been so very good to him despite it all. Despite the disagreements and heated words, despite his sheer failure to measure up to the greatness they were so sure resided within him. Their years of training and love lost in an instant, destroyed with the flash of Itachi’s sword as he bent his knee to the elders.  

He was such a rotten son, in the end.  

So utterly blinded by their praise and certainty in him that he was unable to see the mistakes he was making – too blind to reach beyond the painfully straightforward choices he had been given and find another one which wouldn’t have damned them all. Too stubborn to listen to his parents’ when they spoke of the dangerous path he was walking, too arrogant to at least give them the decency of...of...  

Even now, Itachi was unsure of what he should have done. Unable to learn even as the village coddled him, sad eyes cast towards him all around as though his own incompetence was anyone’s fault but his own.  

As if he hadn’t been the one to cut down his mother and father, orphaning and abandoning his baby brother to the cruel world he knew wanted so badly to crush and control him.  

“...I missed you too.” Sasuke’s voice muffled behind the fabric of Itachi’s shirt, “The house was way too quiet.”  

Itachi’s brows tensed further as he looked down at the younger once more, answering just as uselessly as the first time, “I’m sorry, Sasuke. I..”  

His eyes lingered on his brother’s small form, frowning thinly as a long sigh escaped his lips. Quite aware his apologies were useless, yet not having much to give in its place. It wasn’t as if there was any making up for what he had done, despite the effort he was prepared to put in to do just that.  

“If you’re sorry, stop running away.” Sasuke pouted into his side, twisting his body in the nonsensical way which only a child could pull off without injuring themselves. He rolled from his side and onto Itachi’s stomach, leaning down to butt their heads together with a scowl. “Mother said that brothers have to take care of each other, and you’re making it way harder than it has to be.”  

Itachi blinked, opening his mouth, only to feel Sasuke’s forehead once more come down against his with a heavy ‘thunk!’  

“And don’t say sorry again!” he ordered, his own scowl warping into a glower as he watched his elder brother hiss briefly in pain. “Tree-hugger!”  

“Sasuke!” Itachi scolded, reaching up to hold his forehead as he glanced elsewhere to protect it from another headbutt. “What did I tell you about repeating words you don’t know the meaning of!”  

Silently, he cursed Yashiro.  

No doubt it was that wretched old man that had taught his adoring little brother such filth.  

“You don’t know that I don’t know what it means.” Sasuke argued, pouting slightly as Itachi peered at him out of the corner of his eye with a criticizing look. “...I could! I mean, I do!”  

He nodded so certainly, leaning up and crossing his arms with his head held high.  

Itachi used the hand on his forehead to rub the sore skin there, doing his best to ease the pain which came forth. Perhaps from his little brother’s actions, perhaps from his words...  

He took a breath, steadying himself from his reflexive urge to further lecture the child.  

Then a second one as he felt Sasuke start to slow in his arrogance atop him, his head slowly lowering from up high to down low. Almost looking...nervous, in the face of Itachi’s silence.  

Slowly, he turned his head back to the boy. An unimpressed and exasperated expression falling across his face as he let out a long sigh at the look.  

Well.  

“Is that so?” he challenged, hands lifting upwards and onto either side of the bed as he slid himself into a sitting position quickly. “If that’s the case, I suppose I have no choice but to go report this to Lord Second.”  

He shifted further, making a show of it as he gently swooped his brother off his lap and sat him to the side – slipping his legs off the side of the bed as he moved to walk towards the door.  

“No! Itachi, wait!” Sasuke all but lunged across the bed, grabbing onto his shoulders like his life depended on it. “I didn’t mean- I just-”  

“No, no. I understand completely. It’s not that it’s unwarranted, I just...” Itachi shook his head, continuing to walk even as Sasuke tried with all his might to drag him down. “I don’t think it’s appropriate for someone of your age to be spouting such things, Sasuke...I’m sure he would want to be informed...”  

“Itachi!” Sasuke growled, lifting himself with his arms to put his head against his neck – arms still wrapped tightly around the elder’s shoulders.  

Sasuke was a bit heavier than he last remembered...  

Yet still he walked on towards the door, shaking his head as he wrapped his arms around his brother’s dangling legs to better support him. “He’ll hear you now if you keep yelling...” he reminded, not quite wanting to have to actually explain the situation despite his rebutting.  

“Ita-ch-i... I don’t know exactly what it means, I just-” Sasuke whined in his ear, hiding his face in his shoulder as Itachi carried him down the stairs ever so carefully.  

After all, he meant to tease and rebut his brother, not hurt him...  

By the time he made it halfway down the stairs, Lord Second was near the base, waiting with both arms crossed and a brow raised.  

Itachi paused in his pace, the distinct lack of other personnel in the house now apparent.  

So Lady Tsunade and Lady Shizune had been able to give their report on his condition so swiftly...how very impressive, it was, if a bit inconvenient at the moment...  

“Is he...alright?” Lord Second inquired, watching Sasuke’s teary and soppy form with an unreadable expression.  

The stiffness in Itachi’s spine doubled ten-fold as his brother’s head popped up from his shoulder, shaking back and forth rapidly as he reported, “Itachi was being mean!”  

“I was being mean?” Itachi half-sincerely seethed, not caring in the least for the cherry-picked report yet unable to precisely say that he hadn’t gone perhaps a bit too far too soon. His brother’s sad, pouty eyes wore down the former feelings, leaving only the latter behind as they stood halfway down the staircase.  

Itachi ducted his head a bit as he turned away, brows furrowing as he sighed, “I’m sor-”  

A sharp kick to his sides cut him off, the elder Uchiha stumbling a bit at the sheer force of the little shinobi and his own inability to balance himself with a small child on his back.  

“Itachi, I told you, sto- ah!”  

He had grown entirely too dependent on his own chakra, he realized, in precisely the same moment he stumbled forward –  a flash of pure panic filling him as he felt himself fall forward; reaching out with quick reflexes to try and grab the handrails despite the limitations.  

His eyes clenched closed reflexively, heart racing in his ears right alongside Sasuke’s yelp as he felt the cool wood slowly register under his palms. His reflexive grimace only easing as a long moment passed with him leaning forward by the guard rails – eyes creaking open reluctantly to glance from one hand to the next.  

Itachi let out a low, relieved sigh as it finally registered that he had, in fact, caught them – and that his brother was not, in fact, spawn out at the bottom of the staircase below no matter the horrific sights he foresaw splayed out across his mind.  

The sigh did, however, retract as he spotted Lord Second precisely two stairs in front of him, his expression beyond displeased as he held his hands out. The silver-haired man’s brow twitched as he reached up the stairs in a cautionary motion, voice tight.  

“Sasuke, do not kick your brother.” he warned, sounding entirely too done with the whole ordeal despite the tightrope he seemed to be walking. Itachi glanced elsewhere, pulling himself back with the handrails so he was standing properly as Lord Second continued, “Itachi, please, carefully, walk down. I doubt either of us wants me to have to call Tsunade back so soon. Yes?”  

“...Yes.” Itachi agreed, shoving down the reflex to apologize once again for the trouble caused as he slowly made his way down with a weary glance towards the elder. Watching as he slowly retracted down the stairs himself, his hand raising to massage his temple with a low sigh as he reached the bottom.  

No, he silently sighed to himself with remorse, he was certain that if Tsunade returned now it would be with ropes to bind him to his bed and force his rest...  

He allowed Sasuke to wiggle off his back as they arrived downstairs, head still lowered in penitence as his brother rushed over to Lord Second – wrapping his arms around the man’s waste as he seemed to try to recenter himself.  

“Now, who is being mean?” Lord Second asked as they all once again got their bearings, glancing between the two of them. “I expect there is more context to this?”  

“Itachi was.” Sasuke started as he looked up at the man, pausing only momentarily before backtracking with a half-pout against Lord Second’s stomach, “...And me, too. We were being mean.”  

“...Ah. I see.” Tobirama’s hands lowered to Sasuke’s shoulders, the twitching in his brow never ceasing.  

Chapter Text

Lord Second seemed to be attempting to stare a hole through Itachi as they stood at the bottom of the staircase, his red eyes peering through the fingers pressed to his forehead as he seemed to consider whether it was worth asking or not.   

His gaze almost as strong as Sasuke’s, his younger brother’s large pleading eyes all but shooting through Itachi’s heart with each blink. Begging him to indicate that it wasn’t, as though Itachi had the least bit of control over what Lord Second chose to do.   

Lightly, Itachi crossed his arms, eyes drifting away from both pairs even as he felt his spine stiffen further and further with each millisecond. Prepared for any of the dozens of lectures he was sure would come, for whatever scolding he would be given for going along with such horseplay rather than stopping it as a responsible elder brother should. Ready for the reminder that, shinobi or not, he was still older than Sasuke and thus needed to set a good example. An example better than the terrible one he had flaunted time and time again over the last two months.   

Itachi’s finger twitched reflexively against his own arm as Lord Second let out a low sigh, his eyes drifting over to watch the man in his peripheral.   

Lord Second had taken to shifting his hand through Sasuke’s hair, ignoring his quiet cries of complaint as he shook his head. “Well, let’s not be ‘mean’, then. After all, I do believe we’ve already discussed this, Sasuke.” His pointed words shutting down the last of the child’s objections, a low huff escaping Sasuke’s lips as his arms went limp by his side – seemingly content to accept the rough treatment of his hair for the sake of whatever it was Lord Second was referencing...  

Itachi watched them carefully out of the corner of his vision, eyes drifting between the mildly amused form of the elder and the light pout on the younger.   

Just how much trouble could Sasuke have managed to get into over the course of a few spare weeks with the man?   

“...As for you, Itachi.” Lord Second continued, hands finally easing atop Sasuke’s head to instead smooth over his disarrayed locks. “I believe your friend put it perfectly when he said cruelty was not a look which fell well over your face...”   

His words stated as simple facts even as Itachi felt his face warm mildly at the reminder of Tenzo’s prior words, the fingers lingering on his arm twitching once more as he tilted his head downwards. Accepting the man’s mild words even as he turned his face away from Captain Kakashi and Tenzo’s too-still stances off to the side.   

Shoving down the admittedly immature want to remind the man that he had not been there, neither wanting to direct Lord Second’s true ire towards his little brother nor wanting to have to dig into the events which had transpired and how irresponsibly he had handled them.   

For as frankly little as Itachi minded being called a tree-hugger, and as much as the title’s contents were probably warranted, he had a feeling the man wouldn’t care for the specifics. After all, despite his deservingness of the title, it didn’t negate the utter disrespect it laid on Lord First’s name.   

He himself certainly wouldn’t care to hear his brother’s name uttered as a curse.   

So it was with that he accepted the not-quite sincere scolding, uninterested in pushing his luck and obtaining one which rang truer for either Sasuke nor himself.   

He opened his mouth to apologize to Lord Second – someone he at least had good faith wouldn’t headbutt or kick him for merely paying his dues – when Sasuke shifted from under the man’s hand.   

Not so much as blinking as he agreed with the elder, “It doesn’t, not in the least.” his words proud as his hands folded behind his back – looking up at Lord Second as if expecting a reward for his agreement.   

Itachi eyed Sasuke with an unimpressed glace, watching as the silver-haired man let out a low huff of amusement.  Encouraging his brother’s words without a second thought as he patted the boy’s shoulders. “Good we’re in agreement, then. No more being mean from anyone” he nodded seriously, a perfect match for Sasuke as his neck snapped up and down in focused agreement.  

“It is Friday, after all – and we still have much left to do. The last thing we need is to waste daylight on matters such as that.” Lord Second continued, Sasuke’s nodding slowing as he seemed to take in his words. His eyes flashing with remembrance that was precisely caught between excitement and reluctance.   

Friday? Was there something unique about Fridays? Matters they reserved for them that he hadn’t noticed during his brief peeks into the routine they had built? Itachi’s eyes narrowed briefly in consideration, frowning thinly as nothing immediately came to mind.   

“That’s true...” Sasuke frowned alongside him, his own gaze switching between Lord Second and Itachi swiftly as he seemed to debate on something within his mind. After a long moment, he asked, “Can we do the review first, then training if we still have time after? With Itachi, if he’s not busy?”   

His questions answering all of Itachi’s, unaware as his elder brother let out a silent breath.   

Reviews and training.  

So that was all it was.   

“That sounds perfect.” Lord Second nodded in agreement, “We’ll go over your returned classwork first, then head out for some training if we have enough time before dinner needs cooked. And as for Itachi, he is of course free to join us if he wishes, though he won’t be training with us for the night. He still needs quite a bit of rest after being gone on such a mission.”   

His steady reminder to the boy a kindness, Itachi recognized. One which would both give him a pass to fulfil Tsunade’s orders to rest and allow him to follow his probation orders without needing to shame himself by speaking the reminder aloud.   

His focused eyes softened as his brother turned to him once more, suggesting as he slipped out from under Lord Second’s hand and moved to instead wrap his arms around Itachi’s body, “Right. Maybe you should sleep, actually. Does your stomach feel better?”   

Sasuke’s head resting on his stomach, as though able to hear the stomach ache Itachi had earlier excused himself with.  

A low huff of amusement left Itachi’s lips as he sat his hands on the younger’s head, patting the fluffy dark locks as he dismissed, “It does. The medicine helped a lot, so don’t worry yourself with it.” pointedly keeping his eyes trained on Sasuke and away from the single risen brow of Lord Second.   

He shook his head briefly to himself as he saw Sasuke’s mildly doubtful and suspicious glance, bargaining, “How about this. I’ll stay with you while you and Lord Second work on your review, then stay behind with Hound and Cat while you have some training time with Lord Second.” his dark eyes lifting up to match the gaze of red ones as he suggested, “So long as that’s alright, of course.”  

Lord Second’s eyes swept over him in a distinctly unreadable way, his arms crossing as he seemed to consider it.   

...For a split second, Itachi wondered if he should have held his tongue and simply gone along with whichever way the elder directed.  

If perhaps he was getting a bit ahead of himself with his words and stepping just a tad too far from his lead.   

He kept his hand set atop Sasuke’s head however, eyes twitching to the side as he considered it briefly. Amending his words as to not force Lord Second into the false stance of a villain should he disagree, “Or I could come with and sit off to the side, of course. Whichever is preferred.” he allowed, Sasuke’s own gaze flittering between the two as they spoke.   

A single beat more of silence passed between them before Lord Second nodded, his hand falling to his hip as he motioned towards Itachi with his still-steady words. Agreeing, “That is more than fine with me. The less strain you’re putting on your body, the better – so long as you’re sure you’ll be fine with us being off and away for an hour or two?”  

His words leaving an awkward feeling of shame in Itachi’s chest, the pre-teen blinking slowly at the other as he spoke.   

Why should he not be alright on his own for a few hours?   

He may not be in the best shape of his life by any means, but it had been many long years since he had last struggled with something like that. If he had ever, for the matter.  

Surely, he must mean something else, Itachi decided in an instant. Forcing the mild shame which came from the idea out of his chest, he steadied himself a bit.  

Yes. That was it, he must mean in regards to his ability to properly handle himself with his accompanying ANBU without someone to oversee them. He supposed it made sense, considering he had just been told he was being unkind with Sasuke...  

“Of course. As a matter a fact, to ensure you have time for training and don’t have a need to rush through his review, I can cook dinner while you two are out.” he suggested, hoping to both prolong his brother’s training time and amend the trouble Sasuke and he had caused with their foolishness.   

Besides, it was the least he could do.  

Lord Second had already cooked for them more than enough over the last few weeks, right alongside the other dozens of tasks he’d taken on in place of their mother. It was only fair that he should take a turn.   

If anything, perhaps he should put on a slow cooking meal and take some time to tidy up around the house as well. For as perfectly as the house aligned with the home he’d left behind weeks ago, he was sure there was still much to be done. Matters even a clone of Lord Second would find itself too busy to tend to. Matters a clone or even the man himself might not have considered, considering the sheer amount there were to do.  

“...If you’re certain, that’s fine.” Lord Second nodded after a long moment, his hands lingering on the bottom half of his mouth as he considered it for only a moment more. “If you begin feeling unwell or change your mind, you can always send one of them after us to let me know. We’ll be training in the compound fields today.”   

The same spot they had been last time, Itachi silently noted with a nod. Bowing his head briefly as he agreed despite his certainty it wouldn’t be necessary, “...Noted. Thank you.”   

He watched as the silver-haired man began making his way towards the kitchen at that, motioning for Sasuke to follow with one quick wave of the wrist. His little brother quick to follow, small hands intertwined with his own all the while. His reluctance seeming to have vanished despite his brief pouting over Itachi’s choice to stay behind.  

Too distracted by the prospect of his cooking, the hands which were quickly pulling book after book from his backpack now rather than holding his own quite disconnected from the interested eyes which pinned his brother down from across the table. “What are you going to cook, Itachi? Rice? Chicken? Soup?”  

All too excited at the prospect, Lord Second’s brows furrowing in brief amusement off to the side as he began slipping through page after page of Sasuke’s graded work. Just as baffled as Itachi by the sudden interest in dinner, it seemed.   

“I don’t recall you ever being this interested in what I’m cooking for dinner...” Lord Second mused idly, not seeming all that upset at the prospect, but noting it even so. His red eyes lingering on Itachi as he asked, “Have I obtained a second assistant in the kitchen?”   

Eyes unmoving even as Itachi sat down in his own seat beside the two, resting his chin on his propped arm and glancing elsewhere. His tone mild and polite even as he did his best to brush the matter aside. “I suppose. I am fairly well practiced in the kitchen.”  

His own brows pinching slightly in objection but arguing none as he felt Sasuke puff up beside him – his younger brother quick to begin as he waited for Lord Second to finish sorting through his worksheets, “Big brother is being too modest again! It’s not like that, in the least.”   

His words slow and careful, as though he were mimicking someone.   

Privately, Itachi disagreed with the remark, though he kept it to himself. Instead simple turning his head back towards the conversation, warning ever so lightly, “Sasuke...”  

Well aware of where the younger intended to go with his words, and not quite eager to be embarrassed as he had the last dozen times he had gone bragging about it to Shisui or Izumi. Or any of the number of dinner guests they’d had over throughout the years.   

Yet still his brother carried on, sparing him little more than a glance before huffing out, “It’s true.”   

His head turning back to Lord Second as the man seemed to begin organizing the sheets within his hand. Not looking up, but clearly listening even so as he ‘Oh?’ and ‘Ah’d along with Sasuke and his conversation.   

“Once,” Sasuke started the damning sentence, freeing any hope Itachi had of escaping with what little pride he still had left. “Mother and father, they had to go to grandmother’s house for the night, so they left Itachi in charge.” he explained, “Itachi made us a whole buffet for dinner. We had a whole turkey, and crabs, and squid, and fish, and egg rice, and potato soup – and he even put lettuce on everything to make it look fancy, like the meals in the back of cookbooks.”   

Sasuke smiled even as his eyes became a bit tired at the mention of mother and father, his hands held out in front of him as if to show how far the meal had spread over the table. “It took us all night to finish, and when we were done, we even got to sleep outside on the patio! It was all so good, Tobirama. Itachi’s food is the best. Even mother said she couldn’t blame us for eating it all, and she was. Not very happy she had to re-buy all the groceries after it happened.”   

His words more than a bit of an understatement, based on the half-an-hour long lecture father had given him over resource managing...though blessedly, Itachi was fairly sure that was not a part of the matter Sasuke was aware of.   

Itachi let out a low sigh to himself, watching his little brother carry on with his praise with a thin smile. A good bit more pleased with the memories than he had been during the actual event, if Itachi recalled correctly.  

“Hm. I see.” Lord Second sat the sheets in a variety of different stacks before him, each one set atop the academy book of the coordinated subject. His eyes filled with a brief fondness which...was odd to see, yet at the same time not all that surprising.   

After all, it wasn’t often one got to see Sasuke so openly excited anymore. It was something to be treasured – something he supposed even one as important and busy as Lord Second couldn’t help but take notice of.   

His own thin smile fell as Lord Second turned to him, the man’s lips curving upwards in the very same beat. Tone all too forthright and sincere as he mused approvingly, “I’m excited to try whatever it is you choose to cook, then.”   

Pausing only a moment before adding, “Though, I would rather not have to go out again tomorrow morning, so perhaps one meal will suffice...” he suggested, the distinct lack of teasing in his tone causing Itachi’s frown to stretch down even further.   

“...Yes, of course.” he dissuaded the worries of the man, “That story is many years old, so I can assure you. Such a thing is no longer a risk.”   

Not in the least bit pleased as Lord Second merely nodded, seeming only half content with the answer as he slid the first paper over from himself to Sasuke.   

As though he were still so shortsighted in his actions.   

Chapter Text

It didn’t take long for Lord Second and Sasuke to work through the homework and returned sheets, both all too focused on their work as they sat pouring through text book after text book. Sasuke’s sheer lack of missed questions was certainly helping the entire ordeal – the boy ever dutiful in his studies despite everything. 

Mother and father would be proud, Itachi couldn’t help but think as he watched the two; his hands resting patiently in his lap on the off chance he was needed. 

An unlikely event considering who it was his brother currently had aiding him, but one he was prepared for all the same as the minutes ticked by. One after another, long as ever. The steady sound of their discussion filling the room as he sat, eyes lingering over the two for quite a while before shifting over towards the window.  

Two of his birds lingered there, watching his actions as they tapped at the window seal below with their frail feet – caught between keeping steady in their quest to follow him and trying their best to become comfortable as they were locked outside.  

Itachi made a mental note to let them in once Lord Second and Sasuke were off, though he held back for now as to not distracted them from their work.  

His decision paying off this time as the feathered animals lingered patiently, seeming to understand his intentions as they held their ground for another good few moments. Unmoving even as Sasuke and Lord Second began shifting to his side, the two standing as their work was completed.  

“You’ve done well today, Sasuke.” Itachi could vaguely hear Lord Second’s words to the side, his attention turning to the two even as he remained seated.  

Lord Second stood tall across from him, looking down at Sasuke will all the pride the younger deserved.  

Pride he deserved to be receiving from father and mother, Itachi couldn’t help but silently lament.  

It was something he couldn’t quite blame the man for giving, considering Sasuke’s skill and dedication; yet still it made his heart ache all the same as he held his wrist below the table.  

His nails pressed against the soft flesh there as he was reminded for what felt like the hundredth time that day all he had taken from his beloved younger sibling, of all the sins his saint of a brother so kindly and cruelly ignored. 

...

...

Yes.

As time went on, Itachi was beginning to realize more and more just how selfish he had been.  

Beyond what he had taken. Beyond the weight he had forced atop his baby brother’s shoulders... 

“Thank you.” Sasuke nodded to his side, puffing up bit by bit with the praise of the elder shinobi. His chin held high as he stood and began putting his text books away, even as Itachi could feel him peering out of the corner of his vision as he moved. 

It drove Itachi mad.  

“Yes, you did very well.” Itachi mimicked Lord Second’s words, shoving down the urge to remind Sasuke that he was the last person he should be seeking validation from after all that had transpired. Letting his brother have this win, even if he himself didn’t quite agree that he was the one which should be passing it along.  

The slight quirk of Sasuke’s lips as his head tilted downwards in acceptance of the praise made it worth the off feeling in Itachi’s gut, his younger brother’s hands resting neatly behind his back as he moved to stand by Lord Second’s side with the approval.  

“Mhm.” Sasuke agreed with a distinct lack of enthusiasm which immediately gave away his efforts to remain calm and cool in the face of his elder brother, his back straightened to a line as he lifted his head once more to look at Lord Second. 

His eyes seeming to tell the man all he needed to know, Lord Second’s hand coming down on Sasuke’s dark messy locks a mere few seconds later as he spoke, “Very well indeed. Now. Let’s hope you saved some of that effort for your physical training, yes?” he suggested, his usually severe expression lightening just a bit as Sasuke nodded firmly. 

Ever determined, ever brave.  

“Good. We’ll be off then, as we’ve said.” Lord Second spoke, “If you need anything, send Hound after us and we’ll return right away.” he reminded as he glanced to Itachi one last time. 

Waiting for his nod of agreement before turning and heading on his way towards the front door, Sasuke quick on his heels. 

The wood clicked shut in what seemed to be a mere instant later -  once more leaving a deafening silence in the house.

It was something Itachi wasn’t sure if he preferred or hated when compared to the hurricane of people that had filled it this afternoon.  

Lightly, he shook his head, standing from his spot at the table.  

He supposed it didn’t matter all that much. He had far too much to do to be spending his time idling away over his thoughts, after all.  

Itachi stretched only briefly as he stood, beginning to make his way over to the window first to let the birds in – his fingers clicking the lock on either side open and sliding the glass open in one easy movement.  

Dark feathers lifted up in mere seconds, gliding in through the window to make a brief loop around the kitchen before landing in their respective spots.  

...One on the shelf, one on his shoulder... 

Itachi let out a low huff of half-amusement half-exasperation as he reached up to run his fingers over the animal’s top feathers, using one hand to do so as the other slid the window shut quietly. 

The low shuffling noises from the birds the only noise in the room besides his own quiet footsteps as he made his way over to the fridge.

Itachi’s eyes careful as the ran through everything within as well as the cabinets overhead, taking his first chance in a long while to familiarize himself with the ingredients within.  

A long, quiet breath left his lips as he forced himself to focus on the matter at hand rather than the dozens of larger ones which demanded his attention.  

He noticed quickly the sheer amount he had to work with. 

There were many vegetables...meats...fruits, even. Though they did seem to be low on quite a few spices...with some he had never seen before lined up ever so neatly near the front.  

No doubt, he decided as he rummaged, the usual ones hadn’t been refilled in a good few months now. At the very least not since he had last cooked, considering the faint layer of dust atop the majority of the back row...the visual a sharp difference from the orderly arrangement of the front.  

Not to mention the near-empty forms of their meal-prepped spice mixes in the middle.  

Mixes he had no doubt hadn’t been touched let alone refreshed since that night.   

Not with Sasuke’s lack of knowledge for how things should be in their kitchen, let alone Lord Second’s.  

...A claim which was likely only possible in this current field, Itachi mused dryly... 

His suspicions were confirmed as he pulled a few small bottles up from the middle to glance over, half empty as they had been when he had left. His fingers moving back further and further in admittedly pointless self-indulgence, towards one of the familiar small bottles from the back right corner.  

The custom label written in his mother’s quick and hurried handwriting assuring him that he was right in his assumptions. The small puffs of red powder shifting pitifully from one side to another and he shook it lightly, quiet like clumped sand as the abandoned spice moved.  

It was vastly different from the dozens of little green spices...or...herbs? Lining the front row. Half used despite clearly being rather new.  

The little bottle had likely found itself forgotten in the wake of the new seasoning, assuming it was the same spice which had been left behind and not a mere re-use of the bottle.  

Something Itachi doubted severely, considering its lack of updated label and the musty layer of dust atop it.  

His thoughts were only proven further by the distinct smell of the spice mix as he popped the lid open, allowing the distant scent to once more fill his senses. 

No. This was certainly mother’s doing.  

Lightly, Itachi clicked the bottle shut, reaching up to massage the moisture from his eyes as he sat it down to the side. 

Perhaps it wasn’t the best idea to go around sniffing powdery spices. Especially not ones so potent. 

The bird on his shoulder whipped its head around, biting at the underside of its wing as if to agree.  

Ah, how short-sighted of him. 

Itachi sat the spice back in its place, shaking his head briefly.  

It was probably best to decide what he was cooking first, then worry about the specifics of seasoning. After all, substitutions were always an option.

Itachi leaned backed on the counter as he shut the cabinet door, holding his hand to his lips as he thought over all he had seen in the kitchen. His heavy eyes scanning the empty counter in front of him, trying to find something worth deciding on. 

It was best to pick something high in protein and carbs, considering they would have spent quite a while training by the time they returned. They would need a good meal to make up for all the energy they had spent...Sasuke more so than Lord Second, but still. 

Itachi considered this, trying to decide what would make for the best combination while also catering to both of their tastes. 

Sasuke liked his rice and most of his veggies...fish...and tomatoes as well...through he didn’t care for beans or sweets...and while he was unwilling to admit it, he was not one for excessive spice...but certainly wasn’t a huge fan of bland foods either... 

Lord Second...he had less to work with.  

The man had bought them fish kabobs while on the first day of the hunt for Lady Tsunade...noodles and mixed dumplings on the second. Then he and Karin had caught some fish to eat following the eventual meeting with Lady Tsunade. Stir fry the night prior...and, as he thought back, he had also made fish that first night, when Itachi had just arrived in the compound... 

So it seemed the man favored fish at least in some capacity, with light seasoning. Much the same as Sasuke.  

It certainly simplified things if that were the case. 

Yes, it would be a simple matter of setting the already partially thawed fish from the bottom of the fridge out while he prepared the other components. Something not too spicy...not too bland...not too sweet...something which would complement the fish well... 

Itachi thought over it as he pulled out the fish from the fridge, taking one from the freezer and setting it in its place all the while. 

He held the fish consideringly, idly tapping his fingers against the packaging before moving to run it under some water.  

Alright, he decided. 

He would make some grilled fish, and set out a few sauce bowls on the table for them to pick from. That should do it for the protein portion of their meal. As for the starches...some steamed rice would do nicely. Especially with the sauce bowls there to help adjust the meal to their preferences. 

Some veggies would be preferable as well, perhaps soaked in soy-sauce with just a bit of spice. Not enough to out-do Sasuke, just enough to give the meal a bit of a kick.  

...Though, at that point, it may be best to finish it off with some soup as well. They had been eating quite a lot of quick, borderline shinobi-grade meals over the last few weeks if what he had seen was anything to go by.  

Something which was not necessarily terrible by any means, yet...something he imaged they would tire of quickly. Perhaps it was best he give them a break from it by preparing a nice rounded and indulging meal. One which wouldn’t destroy their reserves, but would still leave them pleased by the end of it. 

A less than flashy meal, but a relaxing one all the same. The type they no doubt simply hadn’t had time to make recently, all things considered.... 

Itachi nodded briefly to himself, setting to work at once. 

Confirming the thawing water was still warm... 

Setting the rice on the counter... 

Pulling out a few veggies... 

Collecting sauces... 

Starting the stove burners... 

Laying out the variety of pots and pans he would need... 

Very nearly feeling the pit in his stomach implode as he saw two pairs of ANBU masks pop around the corner of the half-wall, out of the living room and into the kitchen in one silent motion... 

... 

Itachi’s back turned from the stove and towards the two in one swift, purposeful movement. His actions unstopping even as he heard the two continue their steady and unyielding inching into the room. 

Both unfazed as they ignored his attempts to keep himself busy, to block out their purposeful gazes and expectant presences. To keep his hold strong and focused as he had the day prior. 

Their eyes seeming to bore through him despite their masks, not half as willing today to cooperate as they had yesterday. His brief success in dodging their focus lost - so very quickly.  

Left to linger, unable to find the excuses or reasons he knew he owed them as they stood damningly close to him – each one taking an end of the counter. No doubt waiting for...ah, something. Something he couldn’t quite place.  

... 

Not in the least bit hostile. 

Not in the least bit avoidable. 

... 

Captain Kakashi to his right. 

Tenzo to his left. 

... 

Both. So. Damningly. Still. 

... 

Tenzo’s eyes owlish and unmoving. 

Captain Kakashi’s horribly lax in a way which could only spell trouble. 

... 

Neither yielding as he stood in the middle of the counter, fingers pressed idly to the not at all thawed fish packaging.  

His dark eyes shifting from Tenzo’s to Kakashi’s, expression flat as he attempted to crush the stiff air in the room using sheer will alone.  

... 

So much for focusing on the matter at hand and setting aside the larger issues for a moment, Itachi silently frowned - his gaze falling down and towards the frozen lump of meat as he steadied himself with a low sigh. 

The bird on his shoulder ever unhelpful as it continued tugging and pulling at its own feathers, unaffected in the least by the array of man-made issues.

Chapter Text

Itachi glanced between his two old teammates out of the corners of his vision, considering briefly the merits of simply continuing on as he was. Ignoring them would be quite rude, given, but perhaps a necessary endeavour given the circumstances. At the very least, until he had more time to decide upon what he needed to- 

No.  

Itachi’s attention fell back to the meat in hand, his lips weighing downwards as he slowly allowed it to slip back into the sink for thawing. His hands reaching up slowly to turn on the water as he rinsed them without comment, focusing himself and steadying the slight waver in his chest. 

He had no right to ignore them. 

Not after all they had done for him. 

Not after all he had done to them. 

He needed to take responsibility while he still could. It was as Lord Second had said, after all. He could not change what he had done; only what he would do. The unfair shame he had placed on their shoulders…it was already there. The least he could do was acknowledge it. 

“…I’m sorry-” he began after a long moment, gritting his teeth as his arms fell to either of his sides. Just barely stopping himself before he could utter the word ‘captain’, the honor lost here and now. “…Kakashi, Tenzo. None of this was my intention.”  

He forced the words out, his mouth uncharacteristically dry as his head bowed down in repentence. The hands at either of his sides twitching, faintly, as he thought back to the piercing words which had been exchanged during his trial - to the verbal battlefield which had carried on relentlessly without shame or shyness.

Their too-forgiving words scraping mercilessly against his ears even now, far greater a punishment than anything Lord Second or Lord Third could have laid out. 

Their understanding made all the worse by the sound logic they used, their examples plain and clear, so very neglecting of the terribleness behind his actions. 

Their reminders to the others of his youth lingering in his chest, cruel and unyielding in their kindness.

So many excuses given on his behalf, as though they weren’t fully aware of just what sort of monster he could be when the mission called for it.  

Kakashi’s father…Tenzo’s own pain…both dragged out from the shadows and waved around for his sake.  

It was all terribly unfair to them.  

He could feel them shifting to his side without so much as looking up, their forms slowly approaching even as he refused to raise his eyes from the clear water below. His hands aching, faintly, as they continued to linger.  

Itachi’s eyes slid closed as his lips dipped further downwards, the vaugely familiar form of Kakashi’s hand resting atop his head as he stood. Something in his chest squeezing the breath from him as he felt another to his opposite shoulder, the hands like fire as they rested there motionlessly.  

“You don’t have to apologize.” Kakashi’s too-smooth voice came from his right, so horribly low and easy as he spoke. There was no lingering resentment for the reputation Itachi was certain he had set back to square one, no rage for having to drag his father’s skeleton from the closet to save Itachi’s sorry self, no warning of his due repayment for all they had done to help him. Just as Itachi had known there wouldn’t be.  

“I do.” Itachi argued faintly, forcing his eyes open as he looked between the two taller shinobi. His eyes shifting from Tenzo’s dark eyes to Kakashi’s single visible one - their ANBU masks pulled upwards in a pointless disregard for the rules. “I have failed. Both my mission and the two of you. For that, I can not be anything but sorry.”  

No matter how much undeserved leeway they insisted upon giving him.  

A steady beat of silence lingered between the three, their hands increasingly heavy against his skin the longer they remained. The air all too stiff and suffocating as they seemed to debate whether to accept his apology or not, unyielding in their gazes as Itachi attempted to match them both. To read the faces which were so plain they might as well be wearing masks. 

“Some missions are not meant to be completed.” Kakashi spoke after a long moment, his words firm even as his eyes seemed to go somewhere else. “You are already well aware of our thoughts on the mission itself…and whether you agree with them or not…they will remain the same.”  

His frown steady as he watched Itachi, eyes refocusing slowly the longer they lingered on him.  

“You did your best. It’s all any of us in the ANBU can do.” he noted, his thumb tracing slowly over the top of Itachi’s hair in a terribly easing way. “Besides. It’s not as though I don’t have my own blame to carry. As your captain and friend…I should have known something was wrong. No…I should have talked to you when I saw that something was wrong. But I didn’t. I put my own comfort above your needs, and for that, I’m sorry.”  

‘I thought you were strong enough to handle it, whatever it was’ hung heavy in the air, unspoken but just as damning a reminder of his failure.  

“You shouldn’t have had to. I should have been able to handle it myself. It wasn’t your problem.” Itachi could feel his hands numbing by his side as his head dipped back down, the pain which burnt heavy in his chest swallowed. “But all I managed to do was expand the issue ten-fold and force you into it without the option to remain uninvolved.” 

Kakashi’s reputation ruined once more over the course of a single night, his bad luck streak everlasting no matter how genuine and kind he seemed to be. 

Damned by the world no matter which new, rotten, teammate he found himself with.  

“…Captain Kakashi. Let go of Itachi.”  

The hand on Itachi’s head lingered for only a moment before it lifted upwards without question, the hand on his shoulder pulling forward just a bit - neither harshly nor gently.  

It turned him around in one easy movement which he allowed, his head rising from Tenzo’s shoes up towards his face. Though. He never did make it that far.  

Itachi’s brows furrowed briefly as he felt himself pulled into a stiff hug, Tenzo’s grip more like a cage than a comfort as he held him in place. His head held to the other’s chest for an awkwardly long time before finally he could feel firm pats hitting the center of his back in perfect synchronization.

“You are our friend, Itachi. Friends help each other with their problems. There is no reason to feel bad about it.” his words careful as he spoke, head just above Itachi’s. His eyes peering over the younger shinobi’s skull and towards their captain, as if seeking confirmation for his actions and words. “Kakashi and I…we don’t mind helping. We would rather help and have you here with us than see you gone.” 

Tenzo paused only momentarily before correcting himself, “We wish we had helped when it all began, as we should have, had we been less negligent. Leaving you alone now…would be no different from abandoning you on a mission we were meant to set out to together. For the second time.”  

His apology real despite the stiffness of his actions, the hand on his back thumping steadily with perhaps a bit more force than necessary as they stood. 

Itachi listened as it seemed to line up perfectly with Tenzo’s steadily quickening heartbeat, his nerves seeming to claim him as he took the lead for once.  

Itachi’s lips remained crooked downwards as he glanced upwards at the older boy, Tenzo’s dark eyes drifting down from Kakashi and towards him with a frown of his own. Kakashi’s low sigh of reluctance from behind telling Itachi all he had to know about his thoughts on Tenzo’s attempts to comfort him.

He was. Trying his best, they both knew.  

Which meant something that in itself, if nothing else.  

“Tenzo, maybe-”  

“…Thank you.”  

Itachi mumbled slightly, not having it in him to speak above a whisper. The steady thumping on his back slowing as he lingered there, his quiet words overtaking the room for a brief moment. Tenzo’s steadying heartbeat sounding in his ears, right alongside Kakashi’s slow movements around them. 

He could see his former captain out of the corner of his eye as he remained slightly smushed against Tenzo’s chest, the taller man’s gaze shifting between them slowly - wearily. 

After a long moment, the man let out a low breath, setting a hand on either of his hips.  

“This team is a trainwreck.” Kakashi seemed to mourn, his eyes closing briefly as his brows pinched together; refusing to so much as watch the rightfully downturned expressions of his former subordinates.  

“…Why’s that, Captain?” Tenzo asked from above, utterly ruining any chances they might have had to argue against his words.  

Not that Itachi particularly thought they would succeed.

After all.

Just look at them.

Kakashi, quite blessedly, did not take Tenzo’s unknowing bait - instead, he merely cracked an eye open, stepping forward and crouching down.

His hands stretching forward as he, unblessedly, chose to set his sights on the shortest in the trio instead.  

“Look at Itachi…he can’t even hug right. What a careless captain I’ve been.” Kakashi shook his head, reaching down to wrap his hands around either of Itachi’s wrists from behind Tenzo. His movements easy as he resettled the smaller arms around the taller boy, effectively making him hug the other back. “Forgive me, Itachi?” 

His teasing not hid at all by the sincerity in his voice as he looked down at the two from over the top of Tenzo’s head, his masked smile mockingly endearing in a way only he could get away with.  

Itachi could hug just fine, and he knew it.  

Not that either would call the fact out in front of Tenzo. 

Who, once again, was trying his best. 

“…Of course. Thank you, Kakashi.” Itachi allowed after a long moment, a lot sigh leaving his lips as he tilted his head upwards to look at the two. His chin resting on Tenzo’s chest as the other continued looking down with those earnestly blank eyes of his, unblinking as he settled into Itachi’s assisted hug. 

They really were a trainwreck. 

“Good. Now.” Kakashi nodded with approval as he looked down upon the two, “Let’s take a page out of your darling brother’s book and cut it out with the apologies for now, hm? It would be a shame, after all, for him to return home from training to an empty plate.”  

His hands lifting off Itachi’s to clap together briefly, head nodding firmly in decision despite the younger’s skeptical glance. He and Tenzo slowly loosened their hold on each other, watching as the taller man set to lean on one of the nearby counters. “Besides. I don’t know about you, Tenzo, but I’ve quite missed Itachi’s cooking. So let’s not waste the opportunity to help get it done fast enough for a taste, hm?”  

So easily taking the charge, even now, Itachi mourned with mild exasperation as he watched his former captain so quickly draw Tenzo’s attention. The brunet turning and nodding firmly at attention, as though he had just received an order.  

“Of course.” Tenzo agreed, his head turning towards Itachi in an instant, locking onto him with the very same focus the younger had seen directed towards their targets time and time again. “What will we be making tonight? Is it anything we can be of assistance with?”  

"…"

"Unless you’re still too upset with us-” Kakashi began, the blunt and cut-throat mask he had spent the last week showing off slipping away as he allowed a pitiful expression to befall his face.

His eyes so very saddened - if not for the clear taunt behind them. “In which case we can only respect your wishes, no matter how it ails our poor bleeding hea-"

“Please steam the rice, Tenzo.” Itachi forced out the words, turning to the side as he put his back to the silver-haired man. Feeling a bit bad, given, but reminding himself all the while that this was Kakashi he was talking to. He’d likely be more disheartened than anything if he were to let him finish his sentence… 

“Kakashi. Please check and confirm whether the fish is thawed enough to grill yet.” he instructed lightly, moving over towards the edge of the counter to begin slicing up the prepped veggies while watching two hurry towards the sink to complete their tasks.  

His eyes shifting back and forth between them and the matter at hand, even as he tried to remain focused on his own work. His hands just barely steady as they shifted from one veggie to the next, placing them in a bowl one after another for now. 

Silence lingered between them for a good long while, the idle sound of food preparation almost peaceful as they worked through the meal. Each keeping close attention on their portion, uninterrupted by one another even as they stood so close in proximity. 

It wasn’t until a fair amount of time had passed that Kakashi continued to speak, shifting over from where he was allowing the fish to grill and over towards Itachi. His hands reaching out to take the bowl as he asked, “Grilled? Steamed? Or?” 

He held the bowl up as he awaited the answer, only setting it beside the stove as Itachi nodded, pulling one of the mixed spices down to hand to the other. “Steamed. With soy-sauce and just a bit of this.”  

Itachi felt the other take it from his hand before he moved over towards the last empty pot, beginning some miso soup to finish the meal off. He sat the pot side by side with Tenzo’s, beginning his work while being weary not bump into the older boy. 

From there, he was sure the silence would resume…something which was only half right.  

“…Do you want to talk about it?” Kakashi asked from the opposite side of the kitchen, his eyes never lifting from the fish and veggies at hand even as Itachi’s shot over towards him.

“…Talk about what?” Itachi allowed, eyes shifting down from him and back towards the cooking at hand as he continued prepping the ingredients for the soup.  

Well aware of what he meant…yet at the same time not at all. Not when there was so much laying heavy over their heads these days… 

“Any of it. Or at least of the things your seal will allow.” Kakashi eleborated mildly, tone as bored as one might be while discussing the weather. 

His words easy, undemanding.

Itachi frowned down at his pending soup, considering it briefly before he shook his head. Admitting selfishly, “…I don’t. Not really.”  

At least not yet. 

Chapter Text

Dinner preperations carried on without further issue, the three moving around the kitchen easily together. Falling into a familiar rythme even there, far away from the battlefields they were used to.  

Itachi could feel their gazes shifting over towards him occasionally, his own doing the same to them. Their pace easy and without strain even as they tip-toed around one another. Itachi’s rightful weariness sliding into place uncomfortably perfect alongside their unjust and uncharacterisitcly blunt care. 

The pre-teen let out a low sigh to himself as he began setting the plates on the table, his face warming just a bit as he felt their familiar gazes on his back.  

Out in the field was one thing, but here and now, even he had to admit it was a bit awkward to have their eyes focused so entirely on him. Partiucarly when there was no enemy in sight…and he was able to tell clearly by their movements that they did not consider him one. 

Really, now.

Captain had never been one to stick too closely to the rules - at least not for so long as Itachi had known him - but for Tenzo to be so lax with them. It was unexpected at best, worrying at worst. But then. Itachi supposed the silver-haired man had never made any claims of being a good influence. 

...Actually.

...Speaking of which. 

Itachi sat down and into his usual chair in one easy movement, his dark eyes shifting upwards to look at both Kakashi and Tenzo as they did the same in the seats opposite. So quick to gather food onto their plates, one after another, before Lord Second returned with Sasuke.  

Perhaps more sincere in their wish to share a meal than Itachi had initially thought. 

Clearing his throat lightly, Itachi began to pull his own dinner from the main bowls.

Asking in a vein attempt to ease the seeking glances Tenzo continously sent Kakashi, his own reservations over the whole ordeal set to the side for now as he ventured, “…Where is your book, Kakashi? I don’t recall you setting it to the side this long for even field missions.”  

The small potion he had gathered for himself sliding quietly into his mouth as he finished speaking, neither wishing to fill up before his meal with Sasuke nor neglect to join them for theirs.

“Mm? My Icha Icha books?” Kakashi hummed idly as he began picking easily at his own food. As though there were any other books he bothered to carry with him. “Itachi…even I have my limits. Reading such things in front of Lord Second would be…a bit much, wouldn’t you say? No matter how juicy they may be.”  

His eyes almost lost as he spoke, utterly unaware as Tenzo’s brows pulled together beside him and Itachi’s own expression pinched slightly.  

He didn’t recall asking for such details… 

“I suppose so…” Itachi nodded, keeping his tone even as he picked at his food. Uneager to pursue the topic, but finding little else to comment on in the echoing silence of the room. “It’s just…suprising, I suppose. Considering you never seemed to mind holding them in front of Lord Third or Ibiki.”  

Two men with argueable the greatest natural incentives to keep pleased and approving of their actions. 

Both superiors they had seen often in their line of work. Yet had never found themselves pitied as Kakashi carried on with those disruptive and dismissing books of his. The disrespect unending in a terrible balance of bravery and carelessness...the elder shinobi nearly seeming to plead his way onto their bad sides.

Something Itachi himself would have never dared to try, if not out of respect, out of self preservation.

The two had plenty of ways to torment - no - leverage them - as it was.

He had no interest in providing them with any fresh inspiration. Partiucarly not Ibiki, who always was a bit too personal with his work when it came to past ANBU.

Speak too sharply to him too routinely...lose the tip of the tongue. 

Brag again and again over feats past...lose the right to one's own two feet.

Escape enemy ruins...be turned to ruin.

Even now, Itachi wasn’t certain whether he should be greatful or not to Ibiki for the restraint he had shown during his brief stay in the torture department. The standard treatment he had been shown in front of the other ANBU appreciated on a long-term level, yet just as painful and humiliating on the next.

The elder shinobi having not so much as begun any real torture, yet still managing to leave an empty weight in the holding cell.

Briefly, Itachi’s lips twitched, the pre-teen lifting his soup to his lips as he tasted it. The warmth filling his stomach in a way the rice from those few days simply hadn’t, that same rotting pit in his stomach returning as he ate. Remaining even as he forced his attention to his meal partners.  

“Ah, that’s a bit different.” Kakashi waved his hand lightly as he ate, “If Ibiki gets ahold of me, he’s going to have ahold of me. There will be little to be done at that point.”  

The elder shinobi lowered his bowl, his secondary mask somehow just as in place as it had been when he lifted it to his lips. His suddenly up-beated mood just a bit inappropriate as he discussed the idea, but unwavering even so. “As for Lord Third…well. He’s my great grand-sensei so…” 

“Great grand-sensei…?” Tenzo repeated, brows furrowing in doubt as he looked up from his own meal. 

Itachi let out a low sigh, setting his own bowl down as he refused to look towards the older two. “That isn’t a thing, Tenzo.” he corrected Kakashi before the other could do anymore damage than he already had, his brows pinching a bit as he heard Kakashi’s decidedly false gasp.  

“To say such a thing…at the table of my great-great-grand-sensei…Itachi…” Kakashi tittered in disappointment which would hurt if, again, it weren’t so glaringly fake… 

Itachi, despite his own reservations, sent the other a brief frown. Refusing to answer his bait, even as the other’s fingers tapped idly against the table. Unwilling to play into his game no matter how far down Kakashi’s pout began to spread.  

“He is not your great-great-grand-sensei.” Itachi answered after a long moment, unable to resist the other’s disapproving glances. Something which would unfortunately come back to bite him near immediately, the sulking turning to disbelief in mere seconds.  

“Itachi, I’m not going to read such things in front of Lord Second, no matter how you try to sway it…really now, I would have expected better from you.” Kakashi shook his head, unyieldingly calm even as Itachi nearly choked on his grilled fish. “Suggesting such things, claiming Lord Second is anything but great, and refusing to acknowledge the wisdom of your elders…what a terrible leader I’ve been indeed…”  

“I did not say that!” Itachi hissed at once, warmth spreading to his cheeks as he held a hand to his chest - coughing through his words as he defended himself. “I was merely- you-!”  

Itachi leaned forward a bit, scowling in confliction as Tenzo began to smile thinly at Kakashi’s side. His eyes shifting between the two as Itachi spoke, finger lifted mid-air as though he would be able to scold the teasing out of the too-pleasant seeming elder shinobi. 

After a brief moment, Itachi leaned back, allowing himself to plop back into his seat with a brief frown of confliction. 

He would never say such things, and the others both knew it. It was merely an attempt to get a rise out of him, something he had no interest in giving into despite their attempts. 

With this in mind, Itachi glanced off to the side, focusing instead on his meal despite Kakashi’s continued prodding.

“I was merely…” 

“I was only…” 

“Itachi…” 

“My favorite tweeny bird…” 

The words echoed idly in Itachi’s ears as he ate, playing along by refusing to play along, his dish now empty as he moved to prep Sasuke and Lord Second’s plate instead. His own plate filled with a bit more despite his reservations, the three aligning perfectly before him. 

His favorite tweeny bird, he said, to the only tween he had on his squad. 

Itachi rolled his eyes, only lifting them as he heard the other give a final sigh of defeat. His plates stacked up and off to the side as he leaned forward on his elbows, watching Itachi so bluntly.  

“See Tenzo, this is what being one of Lord Second’s favorites does to a person…he’s been here a mere few weeks and already his attitude has grown ten-fold…” pausing only momentarily before he added, “Then again…I suppose if anyone deserves the right. Itachi was a pretty sweet kid. So it’s only fair he gets to claim as much sass as he would like come his teen years. To even it out-” 

Itachi flushed mildly, setting the serving spoon he had been using to proportion the food to the side perhaps a bit rougher than was strictly necessary. “Kakashi.” he reiterated, standing slowly from his seat to begin washing their dishes for them. “Poking fun at me is one thing, but putting false claims in Lord Second’s mouth is a bit much, isn’t it?”  

His eyes focusing on the dirty dishes as he rinsed and washed them, refusing to acknowledge the way his insides turned at the other’s words. One of Lord Second’s favorites…how absurd. 

The man was doing him a great kindness, surely, but Itachi was not so naive as to believe it was out of a specific favoritism towards he himself.  

No, he just so happened to have found himself lucky enough to be caught up in the elder shinobi’s righteous deeds. The man’s oath towards the village's wellbeing true and strong as the stories said…to the point he was willing to help even the lowest of the low in order to prove a point and restore it to his initial expectations.  

Itachi’s own mere place as a vessel for these changes. Something which was accepted and appreciated, yet not misunderstood as more than they were at the same time.  

Lord Second…he was doing Itachi a service, and the younger shinobi had no interest in either taking advantage of the fact nor slandering the man’s name by agreeing otherwise. Even in the privacy of the compound. 

“Right, right, of course.” Kakashi hummed from the table, his gaze heavy on Itachi’s back even as the younger shinobi refused to turn back towards it. “Lord Second spent weeks upturning each and every one of Danzo’s plots, publicly shaming him, dragging you home, and visiting you even in Ibiki’s dungeon of an office. Because you aren’t one of his favorites.” 

Itachi could feel his hair turning grey the longer he listened, the next sigh which escaped his chest three times as heavy as the last.  

He had said he didn’t wish to talk about it…yet here they were even so. 

Kakashi, he could be quite pushy when it fit him, it seemed.  

“I highly doubt he decided I was one of his favorites before he so much as met me.” Itachi mummbled slightly despite himself, his brows furrowing as he spoke out against the verbal onslaught. 

“Perhaps not. But he seems to be a smart man. I’m sure he had his senses to follow, and hints to find when it came to your true nature.” Kakashi argued, kindly avoiding bringing up the large hurdle to his argument which was that night. 

Itachi rinses off the last of the plates, watching the still fresh food come off with ease as he sat it to the side with the others. The tall stack ready to be dried as he moved on from one task to another.  

“…If I was at all particular in my return, it was simply to prove a point. Perhaps to Sasuke, considering how Lord Second seems to gravitate towards him, perhaps to the village. Nothing more." Itachi allowed, setting the middle ground firmly between them as he spoke. “Besides, favoritism or lack there of aside, it’s not as though my attitude has truly changed any.” 

Inabi’s distant scolding voice lingering in the back of his head as he dried the plates and bowls off one by one, setting them in the cabinet. His not quite distant snarl of insolence lingering in his mind as he worked, right alongside the fresher-still image of the man’s terror mere moments before his demise. 

All Yoshiro's insistence that there was no middle ground to be found proven in a moment.  

All Inabi's complaints to father regarding his clear inability to listen as a good son should confirmed. 

All his snide remarks concerning his loyalty proven right, right, right as he and Yashiro fell at once, mere moments apart from one another- 

“...I suppose not.” Kakashi’s hands lowered down and onto his shoulders, the silver-haired man having at some point risen to stand behind him. His hands laying heavy as they sat, his voice low in doubt

Itachi stared down at the bone-dry plate, his eyes tracing over it as he took in the silent comment. 

The plate was. Perfectly dry. 

He sat it to the side, along with the others which he had already finished. A fresh wet one replaced near immediately, his lips lingering downwards even as he agreed, “...Right.” the air surrounding heavy once more as he debated whether it would be ruder to shake the elder off or continue to greedily soak up the calmness which came with hearing his steady heartbeat behind him.  

Slowly, Itachi finished wiping the water from the last remaining dishes. Setting them to the side to be put up later as he couldn’t help but note, “You and Tenzo are awfully touchy today…” 

The other helping precisely…none at all as he merely hummed, “Is that so?” 

So eager to point and prod at Itachi’s supposedly odd behavior that he failed to acknowledge his own. Something Itachi was certain he must be at least somewhat aware of, given it was both of them rather than one or the other… 

Lightly, Itachi glanced over his shoulder, making eye contact with his former captain before shifting over towards Tenzo. 

Certainly, the two must have had some sort of discussion, based on the way they were signaling and collaborating with one another. Yet. Itachi couldn’t quite place the goal they had in mind.  

The obvious answer lingering lightly in front of him, no matter how he wished to will it out of existence. Suffocating him mildly with the shame of it. 

Truely, there must not be a single person left in Konoha which respected him in even the mildest of capacities outside of Sasuke.  

Not that he could blame them all that much, but… 

Ah.  

How could everything simultaneously be so much and not enough? 

How pathetic he was.

Chapter Text

Tobirama kicked his shoes off as he entered the house, watching as they fell easily into line with the variety of others. Sasuke’s small shoes already in place by the time he took his own off, the young Uchiha quick to make his way towards the kitchen where he knew his elder brother was waiting.  

A low huff of mild amusement left his lips as he followed, watching as the boy zipped his way towards the room only to slow to a near-halt once he finally made it there. His hands folded nearly behind his back as he walked further in, back straight as a pin.  

His eyes filled with a quiet attention as he passed Itachi’s still form to wash his hands. Unblinking and unsparing of even a glance towards the two ANBU which so steadily watched his every move, infinitely more aware of the younger of the two brothers it seemed.  

Something which Tobirama both hardly restrained the urge to correct them for…and couldn’t fully blame them for, considering the state of the boy. Covered head to toe in dirt, his efforts to remove his shoes having done little good in the long run as he left a long line of filth in his wake. 

It truly had been too long since his last training session, Tobirama silently mourned.  

He had been half prepared for the boy to run right out of his skin with how uncharacteristically energized he had been. His movements fast and sloppy, his hits hard and endless. Packed with perhaps a bit more restlessness and focus than should be caused by mere pent-up energy… 

Lightly, Tobirama shook his head, interrupting the boy before he made it to the sink to wash his hands.  

“Go take your shower first. Dinner can wait.” he instructed, watching the young shinobi’s head whip around with a faint scowl of objection. His eyes narrowed in protest, even as he lowered himself from the tips of his toes and began moving towards the bathroom. 

“Okay.” Sasuke agreed despite his clear reservations over the matter, his head turning only briefly to look at his elder brother before refocusing on the task at hand. His feet pattering up the stairs to gather his clothes and rinse off the filth of his training, his quiet presence somehow managing to leave a heavy silence in its wake as he left. 

Tobirama’s eyes shifted away from the staircase and over towards Itachi, his gaze flickering over him from top to bottom as he took in his slightly crooked stature. His back bowed downwards as he sat so patiently at the dining table, dark eyes lingering tiredly on the staircase as well.  

His spine snapping upwards like a ruler as he seemed to realize he was being watched, eyes rising up towards Tobirama’s one minute only to fall back down to his already prepared plate the next. Waiting, still as water, as he sat. His expression deceptively calm as a statue. 

Mildly, Tobirama was left to wonder just how blind he had been during their first meeting. For him to have thought the boy the least bit sincere in his iciness. For him to have thought him the least bit severe.  

No, he couldn’t help but think. Itachi was nothing like the eerily silent crows he so insisted on intertwining himself with. He was a bit more like…well. A kid. Regardless of how many illusions he tried to put up to trick others into thinking otherwise.  

His earlier shows of intimidation and stoicism well-played, but simply impossible to keep up with the longer time went on and the further his former acts were held up and picked apart. The poor boy’s efforts unfortunately shattered the moment someone bothered to truly look past his harsh exterior and at him. 

…Hm. Perhaps he was a bit like a crow then, actually… 

Tobirama slowly moved to rinse his hands, considering it momentarily before finally moving to sit at one of the prepared seats, settling easily on the one opposite of Itachi. The younger shinobi tight in his movements, still as stone as he kept his eyes latched onto his own bowl. 

His eyes heavy and dull as they had been when they left, his posture returning to the same stiff form as before. Broken in a way completely opposite from even his prior cruel mask - the drained determination he wore then now looking less like a shinobi marching through the trees to battle and more like a weary veteran, ready to find the closest hole to drag himself into.  

Stiffly, Tobirama reached for the drink the boy had prepared, lifting it to his lips as he considered his words carefully. It seemed he had gotten a bit too used to Sasuke’s tricky yet manageable enough routine over the last few months, and now found himself uncertain with this new angle.  

He could tell Itachi was exhausted in a way sleep would only worsen. Yet. 

With Sasuke, there were clearer guidelines to follow, once he had managed to find them. With Itachi, he had no such cushion. 

…His time with his genin teen considered briefly before it was tossed to the side, the wound still a bit fresh yet to be prodded. The failures he’d made would need to be considered later down the line of course, but even he could admit that the day after their heads had been lopped off was a bit much… 

…Tobirama selfishly allowed his thoughts to drift elsewhere, away from the distant form of Homura’s moody sulking and Koharu’s firm glowers. Both so eager to grow up and make their village proud, only to find an end almost as shameful as their deviant of a teammate… 

His lips pressed firmly together as he lowered his cup, letting out a silent yet heavy breath at the thought. 

It was irrelevant to the matter at hand, he reminded himself, red eyes lingering on the boy ahead of him. 

The embodiment and result of all they had done wrong in the world. 

Their past childish antics unable to hide the fact that they had helped Danzo break the next generation rather than helping it along as they should have. So caught up in their own minds that they failed to see how warped they had become. Unable to wash the filth of either Danzo’s current words nor Tobirama’s own past ones.  

Neither - no, none of them, he corrected - willing to shake the steady foundation they had built themselves up with, no matter how much proof they had that it was rotting from within. 

Unwilling to acknowledge it as it crept further and further out, engulfing the ghost of a boy across from him.  

“…Dinner looks good.” Tobirama spoke after a long moment, his eyes trailing over the variety of delicious foods before them. The meal simple, but practically a buffet compared to the quick and easy ones he had been cooking as of late. “Sasuke was right to be excited for it.”  

He offered the praise even before they began, waiting patiently for the younger of the two to return from his shower.  

“...Thank you, Lord Second.” was all he got in turn, the pre-teen’s eyes lingering on his own bowl as he spoke. Hopefully, only tired from all Tsunade and her little assistant’s poking and prodding.  

Though the heaviness in his voice gave him little hope for that being the case.  

Tobirama glanced over the boy once more, allowing a long moment to pass before he spoke again. Hoping to ease his mind with the permission just as he had Sasuke the night prior, he suggested, “You may call me Tobirama, if you’d like.” 

His words mild and even as he spoke, not expecting the younger to take him up on them by any means, but hoping it would at least help in some capacity. If nothing else, to aid in loosening his stiffness, even if he wasn’t near prepared enough to let it go. It wasn’t as though Tobirama himself would be.  

Another long moment passed between them, Itachi’s eyes still stuck to his bowl, before finally he answered rigidly, “Thank you.” 

The younger unacknowledging of the way his voice wavered just slightly at the beginning - only to harden near the end. Quite quickly giving away his reservations to the elder shinobi who was all too used to younger recruits and their attempts to seem hardened before their more experienced teammates. Even if it was a bit of a stretch to refer to Itachi as such…his heart quite adequately hardened if not for the spare few spots which still remained vulnerable. 

The spare few spots Tobirama would have to focus on, to exploit for the boy’s own good. The harsh exterior all well and good for a shinobi, but unfitting in this rare case. The hardened shell having little to no potential to protect the boy as he was now. 

No. If Itachi was to continue on as he was. Well. Tobirama had seen the two ways such a thing tended to go…and neither ends were quite fitting for the boy. Nor would they be something he wished to put Sasuke through, truth be told… 

…Hashirama truly would have been the better choice for this, Tobirama couldn’t help but sigh briefly as he sat across from the boy. His brother’s naivity percisely what they needed at the moment - if not for the hidden wisdom within, for his mere presence alone. 

Yes, the boy did seem quite receptive to praise and motivation when elder brother was involved. Had Tobirama been any more of a coward, he might have been tempted to call his brother back for that express purpose. Itachi’s initial reluctance be damned.

Lightly, Tobirama shook his head.  

How ridiculous.  

He had been able to handle things thus far.  

Itachi Uchiha would not be his final straw. 

Even if he had to take a cheap shot or two. 

“…Hound, Cat. At ease.” Tobirama lifted a hand, steeling his own resolve as he motioned them over. His eyes shooting over towards them as he saw the two stiffen in their spots. 

Birds of a feather flocked together, he supposed.  

“Come, eat. It’s more efficient than you two taking turns leaving.” his eyes lingering on the two as slowly they obeyed his order. Hound’s mask slipping off to reveal the young Hatake they all knew remained below…while Cat’s mask slipped off closely after. His pupils still as abnormal as they had been the last time he’d seen them, the teen’s gaze shifting towards Hound as if expecting him to say something. 

The boy’s brows furrowed slightly as his captain merely nodded however, bowing his head as he took a step forward. “You have our thanks, Lord Second.”  

Moving ahead to linger at one end of the table while Tenzo took the other, reminding Tobirama once again of their dire need for more seats. Their lack of complaint doing little to help the slightly awkward air which came with each lingering on one side of the table. 

“Of course.” Tobirama nodded firmly, his hands resting idly on his knees as he heard the faint sound of the shower turning off from above. Sasuke’s footsteps steady as they sat, waiting for the final person to join them. The three younger shinobi seeming to play a game of look-away as they sat at the table. 

Itachi looked to Tobirama…Tobirama looked to Itachi…Itachi looked away.  

Kakashi looked to Itachi…Itachi looked to the table…Kakashi looked to Tobirama. 

Tobirama looked to Itachi…Itachi looked away…Tobirama looked to Kakashi…Kakashi kept sharp eye-contact…Kakashi shifted to Tenzo. 

Tenzo stared down at the table…Kakashi looked to Tenzo…Tenzo looked to Kakashi…Kakashi looked to Itachi…Tenzo looked to Itachi…Tenzo looked to Tobirama…Tobirama looked to Tenzo…Tenzo looked to Tobirama… 

It was as close to suffocating as Tobirama had been since he got out of that damned grave of his, and of course, it fell to him as the elder in the room to dig them out of it. The only other adult between them being Kakashi, and, well…that was another matter all together.  

A low sigh left the man’s lips as he closed his eyes momentarily, considering his words as the two ANBU finally began to prepare their small meals.

Where to begin…

Elder brother, just this once, offer some guidance… 

After a long moment, he reopened his eyes, allowing them to cast over the three. Deciding finally to focus on the path of least resistance, the one which he could likely treat down without finding the situation worse for wear.  

Tobirama’s eyes lingered on Tenzo’s, considering the spare few times he’d seen the boy before he spoke. The man pulling on the weak threats until finally they were united in a half-solid piece, one which woould hopefully help him half as much as he thought it would. The thin line walked carefully as he expressed his gratitude to the boys through him, “…It’s been a bit since we were last able to speak, so allow me to give my thanks for your recommendation now. Matcha was a good choice.”  

Tobirama nodded in approval even as the younger shinobi merely blinked, a low and near-silence sigh escaping Itachi to the side. His brows furrowed ever so slightly as he heard Tobirama’s words - a faint but visible improvement compared to the hollowed look he’d claimed throughout the day.  

He’d consider it a win, for now.  

Even if it did earn him a weary cut-eye from the young Hatake… 

Chapter Text

“It was no problem, Lord Second.” Tenzo spoke from his spot at the side of the table, his voice low and mild as his gaze shifted between Tobirama and Itachi. No doubt he was thinking back to the younger shinobi’s objections from that day, his attempt at kindness refused for the sake of Itachi’s cover, but given even so. “Itachi always has been the type to be reluctant to seek out what he wants, unless it is a practical matter.”  

The teen turned his head towards Itachi as he spoke, as if hoping to turn the conversation over to him. Something which ended in swift failure as Itachi merely continued sitting still in his seat, eyes focused entirely on the food before him. His mouth void of any scolding or thanks as he sat, seemingly too lost within his own thoughts to so much as nod in recognition of Tenzo’s words.

“This is true.” Kakashi confirmed on behalf of the younger, taking Tenzo’s attempt at a hook if only to not leave him unanswered. His single visible dark eye lingering between his two former subordinates, heavy in its gaze.  

The slowly creeping silence began to return the longer the four remained, Tobirama’s fingers tapping idly to his leg as he frowned thinly. There was little else to say, unless he wished to return to the deep side of the lake. Which was not something he was currently interested in, truth be told. 

If anything, at least the stiff and awkward silence between them was an improvement from the borderline hostility and desperation from their first meetings. Or Itachi’s frankly destructive urges to find a punishment which did not await him.  

The boy so focused on making amends for his wrongs that he couldn’t begin to fathem the idea that he should allow his body rest after all it had been through the last few weeks. Especially now that he was wrapped up head to toe in bandages meant to soothe Sasuke’s mind, with no way to alleviate the pain on his own now that his chakra was sealed.  

Stubborn little sapling that he was.  

Tobirama let out a low, silent breath as he heard Sasuke finally begin making his way down the stairs. The distant and quiet sound of feet padding against wood sounding off in his ears as he took another sip of his drink, the young boy quick to move towards Itachi’s side as he finally made it down.  

Setting his cup back in place, Tobirama glanced towards the still damp boy with a slight nod in greeting. Just a bit of the stiffness left his back as he saw the younger return the motion in turn, back straight as a needle as he seemed to let his eyes flicker between Itachi and the two now unmasked ANBU. His previous wound up energy finally depleted as he returned to his more sullen and serious self, his head turned just a bit as he sat - as thought he might be able to block out the very presences of Kakashi and Tenzo.  

Certainly, the more they were around, the more it fed into Tobirama’s suspicion that for some reason or another…the younger Uchiha did not care in the least for the two. Hopefully, it was only a matter of petty jealousy over his elder brother’s time and attention rather than anything serious. 

Still though. He would have to keep an eye on it.  

“Let’s begin, then.” Tobirama allowed, silently pushing the awkward aura down once more as he moved to begin eating at long last. Shameless as he took advantage of the younger to pull the conversation back to life once more, Itachi’s attention finally seeming to shift away from his own thoughts as Tobirama commented, “After all, that was quite a lot of work you put in this afternoon. You must be sure to replenish your energy.”  

He took a bite of the fish as he spoke, brows furrowing a bit as the odd mix of flavors landed on his tongue. Sasuke's firm nod registered distantly as he felt the sensation, his attention turning mildly to the food.

It was rather unfamiliar, and a bit spicy for his own personal tastes, but not bad by any means. Even if he did reel a bit at the odd choice to add such flavors to a grilled fish - his eyes lifting from his plate to switch between the others at the table as he chewed slowly. 

Itachi was eating it without much issue at all, his movements slow but otherwise unhindered as he steadily lifted bit by bit into his mouth. The fish on his plate red-hot, his rice nearly drowned in a green sauce which Tobirama himself doubted he should venture and try. The portion small, but otherwise outlandish in its presence. A bit like his tea had been, if only in the other direction, now that he considered it… 

Sasuke. Was all but devouring his meal. The younger boy quick in his movements as he bit down on piece after piece, sipping at his soup in easy intervals. Neat as he ate, yet unstopping in a way Tobirama had rarely seen… 

Both unblinking as they ate the fish which were about three hues darker than either Tobirama, Kakashi, or Tenzo’s - so easily pouring this and that on their food for extra flavor. Mildly, Tobirama wondered if they could even taste the food itself under the heaps of sauces and mixes. 

“Mhm.” Sasuke hummed in agreement across from him, finishing chewing his food before he responded to Tobirama’s guiding. “I will.”  

Seeming to stay true to his word as he continued on with his meal, something in him relaxing as he sat beside his elder brother and enjoyed his food. His dark eyes lingering on Tobirama as he spoke, a proud hint within them as he chewed. Silently bragging on behalf of his brother’s cooking, no doubt.  

Something which was…not wrong, per se, Tobirama supposed as he took another slow bite of the food. His mouth burnt a bit as he chewed, again and again, something odd in him wishing to continue even with the brief inconsequential tingling such actions left behind. 

His brows remaining locked together as he ate, uncertain over whether he liked it or not. The feeling new, but not necessarily bad.  

Rather. Tobirama was much more concerned with the implications this left for the last few months, if this was what Sasuke considered delicious.  

…Had he been cooking the boy the equivalent of cardboard over the last few months? Had the earthy tones he so enjoyed tasted more like dirt against his tongue? Was this why Sasuke was always so split on whether he inhaled the meal or drug his feet through dinner? Tobirama had thought it due to the less than pleasant circumstances they tended to find themselves in, but… 

Tobirama’s gaze shifted over towards Itachi’s former teammates, watching as they both took steady bites of the extra fish which had been prepared. Both seeming to quite enjoy it, despite  their dozen or so trips to their glasses of water. 

Was this simply how food was prepared these days? Or was this something specific to the Uchiha clan.  

Mildly, his mind switched between the clan’s trademark fire and the burning feeling in his mouth. Wondering, just a bit, if it was to bold of an assumption to make.  

“This is quite good, Itachi. Sasuke was right to be excited.” Tobirama allowed the words to leave his mouth despite his own private reservations on the matter, forcing a wave of calmness to erase the reflexive tension which had slowly began filling his body.  

He continued slowly trying the different components of the meal, speaking in between bites, “Once time allows, I’ll have to ask that you share the recipes and techniques.” 

After all, even if he wasn’t quite sure how he felt about the distinctly different flavor so far, if the two favored it so much. He supposed it would be unfair of him to force them to sit through his own preferences with no regard for their own. Besides, he could always alter his own plate a bit if he did decide he disliked it that much. 

“Thank you, and of course.” Itachi nodded, bowing his head forward as he paused in his meal to agree to the request. “Most recipes can be found within the cookbook in the cabinet, but I wouldn’t mind at all to write out the techniques or show you them in practice.”  

Itachi’s eyes seemed to focus elsewhere still as he spoke, gears beginning to turn in his mind as his eyes narrowed ever so slightly. Something close to unspoken inspiration hitting the boy, if Tobirama was reading him correctly. 

Like a bloodhound sniffing out purpose, he couldn’t help but mourn to himself in mild exasperation.  

At the very least, it seemed to have lifted his spirits, if just a bit. 

“You have my thanks, then.” Tobirama nodded, his eyes lingering on the teen for just a moment longer as he took another bite. His plate slowly emptying right alongside the others despite his internal debate, the glass below slowly uncovered as he continued to eat. “I’ll have to take a look at it tonight.”  

His words the final sealing of the conversation as silence once more returned, neither of the teenagers interested in continuing it, let alone Kakashi or Sasuke, who he belatedly noticed seemed to be having some sort of stare off of their own. Kakashi’s mild and unmoving expression a stark contrast to the slightly scrunched up face of the child.  

It was something Tobirama, regrettably, did not have the energy to tackle tonight.  

Slowly, he stood from his seat, leaving his plate as it was for now.  

“Sasuke, Itachi. It’s been a long day. You should both begin getting ready for bed once you are done eating.” he suggested, silently surrendering in his attempts to revive the conversation for now. It may be best to allow everyone a break from their progress, if just temporarily, he supposed. “Perhaps you two can finish your previous conversation regarding Sushi Junior’s health and read for a bit before bed. I’ll come join you shortly, once I am finished cleaning up down here.” 

“Okay…” 

“Alright.” 

The two answered in near-perfect unison, their dark eyes watching him like a pair of particularly attentive cats as they finished their meals. Sasuke’s eyes already seeming heavy as he practically hauled himself out of his seat, rubbing briefly at his eyes as he moved to stand by his brother’s leg.  

The weariness of the situation seeming to be wearing off for him, his eyes barely lifting as Itachi reflexively sat a hand on the younger’s shoulder to lead him upstairs.  

Lightly, Tobirama let out a small breath, watching as the two began making their way towards the stairs.  

What a mess. 

Tobirama stood still for only a moment more, watching them make their way up the staircase, before finally he turned back to the table. He began picking up the various plates, one after another, until they aligned in an even stack in his hands. One which was quite easy to carry over to the sink and begin washing, the only one left behind being the small plate of leftovers.  

“You two are free to return to your homes for the night.” he noted mildly as he began, his back turned to the two accompanying ANBU as he shoo'd them lightly, “I have it from here.” 

Not quite caring that it proved his earlier excuse for them to join them for dinner practically useless, his mind far too tired to bother. He had been hoping them being there would ease Itachi, if just a bit, though he couldn’t say for certain whether his plan had succeeded. The pre-teen not seeming the least bit less tired by their presences. But not any more worn down, either. 

He’d have to consider it later. When his mind wasn’t so fried from the long medical reports, the dizzying political climate, and his own newfound failure to make Sasuke a proper meal. 

“Understood, Lord Second.” he listened as the young Hatake spoke from behind him, the two’s chakra signature there one moment and gone the next. Their forms fading into the distance at once, all too eager to be off duty, no doubt. 

Tobirama shook his head briefly as he washed dish after dish, allowing the still fresh food to slide off the plate and disappear with the soap of the sponge. His mind finally allowed to be blessedly empty as he worked, the seemingly never ending night stretching on as he let out a low breath. 

The meal leaving a distinctly warm feeling in his stomach, one which made him just as unforunately tired as the boy. 

He only needed to have his discussion with Itachi once Sasuke went to bed. Then he would be free to relax for the night.  

Or at the very least, it was what he told himself.