Work Text:
Six-year-old Jōki stood in the warm kitchen, watching a younger Izuna Uchiha prepare lunch.
"Papa," the little boy called out.
Izuna paused, setting his knife down on the cutting board to give his son his full attention. "Yes, Jōki?"
"Where is Father?"
"Oh, did I not tell you?" Izuna asked, lightly tapping his forehead with a sheepish grin. "I must have forgotten, sweetie... Your father had to visit another village for official business."
Jōki adjusted his stance, his face completely serious. "Why did you marry him?"
Izuna froze, his expression a perfect picture of pure shock. "W-Where is this coming from all of a sudden?"
"I just want to know," Jōki mumbled, his tiny brow furrowing.
Izuna softened, a warm look replacing his surprise. He leaned down slightly to meet his son's eyes. "I know you think your father is cold and mean. And you're right, we are very different. But your father and I are bound together by something incredibly special."
"By what?"
"By you," Izuna said softly, offering a tender smile before turning back to chop the vegetables.
Jōki remained quiet, staring at his papa. That answer made absolutely no sense to his six-year-old mind, and he doubted it ever would. He simply couldn't fathom how his papa, who was the sweetest, most considerate person in the entire world, had ever thought it was a good idea to fall in love with someone as grumpy and stern as Tobirama.
He didn't understand it. But as he watched his papa work, a fierce wave of protectiveness washed over him. He didn't need to understand it; all he knew was that as long as he was around, he would make sure nothing bad ever happened to his papa.