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Sunlight filtered softly through the curtains, bathing the room in a warm morning glow. Barely four years old, Jokirama was playing out in the backyard.
From the doorway leading out to the garden, Tobirama watched his son with a mixture of pride and quiet tenderness. Beside him, his husband, Izuna, offered a faint smile at the sight of their boy.
"He looks more like you every passing day," Izuna commented, shooting Tobirama an affectionate look.
Tobirama nodded, though his mind was elsewhere. He knew his most promising student, Kagami, would be arriving shortly. He had entrusted him with the mission of training Jokirama today, seeing as Izuna was still nursing an injury from the last time he’d sparred with their son.
He knew his student well… too well, in fact, especially regarding certain feelings that hadn't gone unnoticed. He just hoped today would go off without a hitch.
Minutes later, Kagami stepped into the garden, punctual as always. He greeted Tobirama and Izuna with deep respect before turning his attention to Jokirama, who immediately spun around upon feeling the older boy's gaze.
"Kagami-niisan," Jokirama greeted with his usual solemnity, though he allowed a tiny smile to slip through.
"You remembered me! I'm so glad. Are you ready for some training, Joki?" Kagami asked, beaming.
Jokirama gave a firm nod, though he still looked a bit conflicted. It was an unspoken rule that he only let his papa, Izuna, train him, but he supposed Kagami didn't look like a total amateur.
Tobirama stepped closer to his student.
"I will leave you two to it."
Kagami couldn't stop his eyes from lingering on Tobirama for just a fraction of a second too long. There was profound admiration there, yes, but also a raw yearning he was desperately trying to conceal. Fully aware of the stare, Tobirama opted to look away.
"Good luck."
Hours bled away after Tobirama and Izuna retreated indoors before the training session finally came to an end. Kagami was drenched in sweat, while Jokirama casually sipped his water as if the ordeal hadn't exhausted him in the slightest.
Izuna reappeared carrying a tray of tea and pastries.
"Hey. You two did a great job out there. Come eat."
Hearing the word about food, Kagami sprinted over with the last reserves of his energy. Joki didn't share the enthusiasm; he merely trotted over to his papa and hid behind his legs.
"Thank you, Izuna-san!" Kagami said, eagerly taking a cup of tea. His eyes briefly met Tobirama's, who was just walking back outside, and in that fleeting moment, the sheer infatuation on the teenager's face was painfully obvious.
Izuna caught it instantly. With a sharp, calculating gaze, he turned to the boy.
"Kagami, you are Tobirama's finest student," Izuna stated, his tone dangerously casual yet piercing. "You must admire him a great deal to take time out of your day to train his son."
Caught completely off guard, Kagami felt a sudden, thick lump form in his throat.
"I admire his dedication and his strength, Izuna-san," Kagami replied, fighting to keep his voice steady and neutral. "He is the Hokage, after all."
Izuna gave a slow nod, but his dark eyes never stopped scrutinizing the younger shinobi.
"That is good to hear," Izuna purred, a smile curving his lips that entirely failed to reach his eyes. "I hope you always remember the respect and absolute loyalty you owe to the Hokage—and to his family."
Kagami was paralyzed in an unsettling silence, staring at the Uchiha as if he had just laid bare his darkest secret. He knew his feelings for Tobirama were a live minefield, and every single step had to be calculated with absolute precision.
"Izuna-san..."
"Is something the matter out here?"
Tobirama's deep voice instantly sliced through the suffocating tension. Kagami just stared up at him from where he sat. Simultaneously, Izuna tilted his chin up, looking down his nose at both of them.
"We were just talking about Joki," Izuna said smoothly, scooping his son up into his arms. Without so much as a goodbye, he turned on his heel and disappeared back inside the house.
The white-haired Hokage watched his husband leave before finding himself alone with his student. Kagami, for his part, dragged his gaze back to Tobirama. The fifteen-year-old boy was painfully aware that his unrequited love would remain a closely guarded secret buried deep within his heart... and that his plot to dismantle their marriage was already in motion, inching closer to its ultimate goal with every passing day.