#First of all I believe Hashirama is insane for this. Second I think there's a quarter of truth in what he's saying.

[everymadara]

Chapter 625

#naruto #madara #madara uchiha #uchiha madara #hashirama flashback #+ hashirama #+ tobirama #First of all I believe Hashirama is insane for this. Second I think there's a quarter of truth in what he's saying. #As in I honestly don't believe Madara expected him to do either. He threw it out there because he's vindictive and angry and grieving but #I do believe the fact that he threw in the unthinkable as an option after the unthinkable happened to him speaks more to wanting to see his #pain heard rather than to actually recreate it. #I am not defending his little request to be clear. It was pretty fucked up and not everything is about him etc etc. But honestly it reads #more to me as ''There is literally nothing you can do to make this better so just go ahead and kill me'' than him genuinely believing #Hashirama would go through with it. #Essentially: I think Madara just thought Hashirama would kill him #Or hoped! #both I think

[nightofthemeteor]

We Just Kind of Assumed

(A ficlet for Mitoka Melee Month - also here on AO3. Warning for implied/referenced homophobia, but this is happy fluff, I promise)

In hindsight, Mito could see how things had turned out this way.

The start of the term found Mito fresh out of high school and new to the city, nervous and excited and as determined to make friends as she was to succeed in her classes. It wasn’t like she’d ever had real trouble making friends before, but this wasn’t her hometown – she didn’t know how things worked here. So Mito studiously attended the welcome events her university sponsored, politely introduced herself to the other girls in her dorm, and cautiously checked out a few of the parties big enough for the invitations to trickle down to freshmen.

It was at a truly terrible house party in the second week of the term where everything started, and it started in a way Mito absolutely hadn’t expected.

She spotted the frat boy several seconds after he’d spotted her, and by that time he was already weaving his way through the crowded, noisy room to come talk to her. Mito, who had been nursing a drink in a corner and pretending she wasn’t acutely aware that she didn’t know anyone here, looked away quickly and tried to look busy – completely impossible, given that she was at a party and had nobody to talk to, aside from the frat boy sidling up to her.

“Hey,” said the frat boy. He was tall, with enough brown hair to shove into a messy bun under a backwards snapback, and by Mito’s assessment, probably good-looking enough that he was used to getting his way. “Are you a new student? I don’t think I’ve seen you around before.”

Mito bit her lip. She had a feeling she knew where this was going, but she was in no position to pass up conversation. “Yep,” she said, still not quite committing to it.

“That’s cool,” said the frat boy. “I’m in second year.” He leaned his weight on the wall beside her, clearly aiming for casual but coming off as slightly awkward, and said, “You looking for someone to – uh – show you around?”

At least that was quick, thought Mito, wincing internally. That come-on had been about as artful as the moving truck she’d seen crash into one of the dorms last week, but at least this ordeal had been brief. “Sorry,” said Mito – and then found her tongue stuck to the roof of her suddenly dry mouth. She could easily have said I’m not interested, or It’s getting late, I was about to leave, or I suddenly have a case of horrible diarrhea, but…this wasn’t her hometown, and things were supposed to be different here. Mito steeled her nerves, looked the frat boy in the eye, and said, “Actually, I’m a lesbian.”

The frat boy blinked. “Really?” he exclaimed – and then his face lit with an enormous smile. “Me too!”

“What,” said Mito. Shit, had she read this situation totally wrong? She’d just assumed –

“Oh, no – I mean, I’m bi. Sorry. Uh,” the frat boy stuck his hand out towards her, still grinning hopefully. “My name’s Hashirama.”

“Mito,” said Mito, shaking his hand bemusedly. This was – not the reaction she’d expected.

“Sorry about…” Hashirama waved his hand vaguely at the space between them.

“No worries,” said Mito, “But if I’m being honest, your flirting could probably use some work.”

Hashirama clutched his heart with the melodrama of a stage actor, hung his head, and gave the deepest sigh Mito had ever heard. Then, before she could react, his head popped back up, this time with a rueful expression. “Not my best attempt, I’ll admit,” he said. “But in my defense: flirting with girls is extremely scary.”

Mito laughed. She was still reeling from the turn this conversation had taken, but she was also immensely relieved – this was much, much less awkward. “It’s not that scary,” she said, almost automatically, though it wasn’t like she’d had much experience in that department herself. “Is it worse than flirting with boys?”

“Yes,” said Hashirama, and then held up a finger to say, wait – “But boys are terrible at flirting back.”

It only took a couple hours for Mito to find herself on the back steps of the party house, sitting beside an extremely tipsy Hashirama, admitting her fears about this new city, and in return listening to him rant about the guy in his classes he was sure would never like him back.

“Honestly, I was trying to find a way to take my mind off him,” Hashirama told her, big brown eyes shining tearfully in the glow of the streetlamps.

“By trying to pick up random people at this shitty party?” Mito asked. “That’s a terrible idea, Hashirama.”

“Yeah,” said Hashirama, and nudged her shoulder with his knuckles. “Good thing I met the right one, huh?”

They were best friends from then on.

---

Hanging around Hashirama meant that Mito was quickly introduced to his entourage. His friend group was a mix of eclectic and not always exactly harmonious personalities, but at least getting to know them helped reduce Mito’s lack-of-friends problem. There was Hashirama’s brother, Tobirama, who was reserved and cantankerous, but did offer to help her edit her essays, despite being in the same year as her. Then, there was the object of Hashirama’s admiration, Madara, who was loud and cantankerous, but also nice to her in kind of a brusque way.

And there was Hashirama’s cousin, Tōka. Tōka, who was on the women’s softball team, but was also studying engineering; Tōka, who liked to wear flannels and dark red lipstick; Tōka, who was a head taller than Mito, and was even taller than Hashirama in her thick-soled combat boots; Tōka, who had big hands and a sharp wit and a soft smile. When Hashirama introduced her to Tōka, Mito told the story of how Hashirama had introduced himself to her, sparing none of Hashirama’s feelings in the recounting, and Tōka reached out and squeezed her shoulder.

“I like this one, Hashirama!” She declared, and Mito, overwhelmed by Tōka’s dizzying grin and Tōka’s warm hand on her shoulder, nearly melted into the floor. In her desperation to conceal the blush she could feel heating her face, it never occurred to Mito that she hadn’t explicitly said she’d turned Hashirama down.

It didn’t take long for Mito to formulate a plan. It was simple, but then, nothing complicated was called for in this circumstance – not like Hashirama’s convoluted attempts to get Madara’s attention. Mito’s plan was as follows:

Become friends with Tōka.

Flirt with Tōka.

Ask Tōka out on a date.

It was simple; it was straightforward; and the first step was successful almost immediately. Tōka and Hashirama were roommates, so just by virtue of hanging out with Hashirama, Mito ended up spending time with Tōka. Over the course of a couple weeks, Mito learned that Tōka’s easygoing attitude was shot through with a serious competitive streak – just like Hashirama, although, as Mito learned, Tōka had better alcohol tolerance. She wasn’t as outgoing as her cousin, but it took very little effort on Mito’s part to strike up conversation. But most importantly, Mito learned that just like her cousin, Tōka gave physical affection as easily as talking. She’d casually brush aside a strand of Mito’s hair from her face, or sling an arm around her shoulders, or run a hand up Mito’s back to get her attention. Mito wasn’t used to that kind of casual closeness – it was driving her insane. Not that she really minded.

The problem was that Mito couldn’t tell if Tōka’s touches indicated interest, or were purely friendly. After all, Hashirama also had a habit of resting his hand on Mito’s shoulder, and of ruffling her hair (especially when she’d just finished tying it up) – and despite the way their friendship had started, Mito was certain he wasn’t interested in anything other than friendship. And here was the reason Mito’s plan was stalling on step 2: she could return Tōka’s touches, she could lean close to her over the study table or cuddle next to her on the couch, or reach out and tangle their hands together…but Tōka accepted all this without so much as blinking. Mito couldn’t tell if she even noticed.

Other people, however, certainly did notice. Hashirama picked up on what was happening almost right away, and immediately offered to be Mito’s wingman. Mito, having observed her friend’s own bumbling attempts at romance, politely refused this offer, but was privately relieved that he didn’t seem to mind her interest in his cousin (and was secretly elated that he thought she had a chance). Unfortunately, she couldn’t prevent him from sending her exaggerated winks from behind Tōka’s back. As supportive as Hashirama was, it came as an unpleasant shock to Mito that his brother, Tobirama, was most certainly not on board. More than once, Mito would put an affectionate hand on Tōka’s shoulder or laugh at one of her jokes, and feel Tobirama’s glare like ice on the back of her neck. Mito couldn’t figure out what his problem was – did he not think she’d be a good fit for his cousin? Or, was it possible…he didn’t approve because she was a girl? Mito couldn’t believe that was the case – Hashirama was pretty open about his bisexuality, after all, and Tobirama didn’t have a problem with him – but against all logic, Mito found she couldn’t shake the specter of doubt.

Then, three weeks into the term, Mito’s roommate came down with the flu, and Hashirama offered to let Mito crash at his place for a few days. Mito expected to be sleeping on the living room couch, but Hashirama insisted that, as the guest, she should take his bed. They compromised with Mito on an air mattress on Hashirama’s floor, and Mito spend the next couple of nights enduring his truly awful snoring. Yet again, it never occurred to Mito that this decision might have unforeseen consequences (aside from the snoring), and so, two days later, when Mito tried to join Hashirama and Madara for a study session at their local coffeeshop, she was absolutely baffled when Madara snapped his textbook shut and announced, “I’m leaving.”

“What the hell?” said Mito, watching his retreating back.

Hashirama heaved a sigh so pitiful that it reminded Mito of the way her dog would sigh if you stopped petting him for a moment. “Something’s been up with him for a while,” he said, miserably, “But it’s gotten worse all of a sudden. I have no idea what it is.”

“I mean, you probably did something to piss him off,” Mito informed him, reasonably, “But what did I do?”

Amidst this weird hostility from both Madara and Tobirama, Mito was relieved to find that Tōka, at least, was still friendly with her. That was a side benefit of crashing at Hashirama’s place – she got the chance to spend a lot of extra time with his roommate. Mito had plenty of time to work herself up to step 3 of her plan: ask Tōka on a date.

She dropped the invitation oh-so-casually, with calculated thoughtlessness; no sense making it out to be a big deal. “Want to grab a coffee with me tomorrow?”

“Sure thing,” said Tōka, barely looking up from her phone, and Mito, despite the apparent success of her invitation, felt her heart sink. That wasn’t exactly the response she’d expect from someone who’d just been asked out.

Still, she forged on: “Maybe at 4? You’re out of class by then, right?”

Tōka looked up at that, and then, to the confused delight of Mito’s heart, gave her one of her long, slow smiles. “Yep, you got it. I’ll see you then,” she said, and Mito once again began to hope.

She was thinking of that smile as she agonized over her outfit the next day – it had to be casual, ordinary, but still perfect – styled her hair extra carefully, debated over whether to wear lipstick, and finally headed to the coffeeshop exactly on time. Tōka was already there, waiting in line. Mito’s heart began to race – she called Tōka’s name, and Tōka turned around, saw her standing there –

And a look of unease passed over her face. It was just a flicker, just a moment, so that Mito could almost believe she’d imagined it; even so, Mito felt her heart drop. This wasn’t what she’d been hoping for at all. But it was too soon to back out, and so Mito pasted on a cheerful smile and went to meet her friend for coffee.

The drinks were tasty, but the conversation was stilted, awkward in a way it never had been before. Mito had been imagining taking Tōka’s hand across the table, stealing her drink, maybe even sliding into the same side of the booth – but now she could only watch as Tōka’s eyes slid past her face. Mito could only think of one explanation for this change, and it didn’t take long for her worst fears to be confirmed.

“Um, I’m really sorry for asking,” Tōka said, for once looking uncomfortable instead of self-assured, “But…is this a date?”

Oh no, thought Mito. She had no choice but to be honest – no point in lying to her friend – but this one was seriously going to hurt. “I was kind of hoping so,” she admitted, and wondered if she could make it back to her room before the tears came. "But it's fine - " her voice choked a little; she forced the words out, "If you don't like me that way - it's fine."

“Mito…” Tōka no longer looked just uncomfortable; she looked wretched, so much so that Mito was a little taken aback. She seized her short black hair in both hands and said, as if the words were torn from her: “I like you – I like you so much. You’re beautiful and smart and fucking great and I just – I don’t – why are you doing this to me?”

“What?” said Mito, startled enough to forget her impending tears. She’d been expecting Tōka to at least let her down gently.

“I thought Tobirama was insane when he said you were flirting.”

“Wh…why would that be insane?”

“Because it’s wrong,” said Tōka, with such conviction that Mito felt as though she’d been slapped. Wrong? Mito hadn’t expected to hear that here, not from her friend, not from Tōka. She felt as though her stomach was trying to climb out her throat. Had her suspicions about Tobirama been right after all?

The words came out low and angry, in a voice Mito barely recognized as her own. “What do you mean, ‘wrong’?”

“Hashirama’s my cousin,” said Tōka, anguished, “I can’t do this to him.”

Once again Mito was thrown for a loop. Why would Tōka think that Hashirama would disapprove of her dating a girl? “Hashirama’s bi,” she said, utterly confused.

Tōka leveled an accusatory look at her. “Just because he’s bi doesn’t mean he’s polyamorous.”

“Wait – what?”

“What?”

The two of them stared at each other across the table. Then, finally, the pieces began to fit together in Mito’s frazzled brain. Slowly, she asked, “Did you think I was dating Hashirama?”

Tōka’s eyes were locked on hers. “You mean…you’re not?”

“Oh my god,” said Mito. She slammed her hands on the table, startling them both, and practically shouted, “NO! No, I’m not dating him! I’m gay! GAY! One hundred percent lesbian!”

Out of the corner of her eye, Mito could see the people at the nearby tables staring at them; in front of her, Tōka covered her mouth with her hand and let out an uncharacteristically high-pitched giggle. “Okay! I get it. But…I don’t understand…”

“Did Hashirama say we were dating? If he did, I’m going to murder him.”

“No, he never told us, exactly, but like – he went out hoping to meet someone, and then suddenly you were always with him. I guess we just kind of assumed?”

“Oh my god,” said Mito again. She jabbed a finger at Tōka. “You nearly gave me a heart attack, you know! I thought you were homophobic or something!”

“No, no!” said Tōka, waving her hands in front of her, “I like girls! I swear!” She planted in face in her hands and said, through her fingers, “I like you! I felt so guilty when I realized.”

Mito, grinning so hard her cheeks hurt, reached out and tugged Tōka’s hands away from her face. “You like me?”

“Yeah,” said Tōka, breathless and holding Mito’s hands, and looking at her with the same expression of disbelief and joy Mito could feel on her own face. The world spun; the only thing holding Mito to the ground was the feel of Tōka’s hands in hers, and then –

Mito suddenly had a thought. “Wait,” she said. “Who’s ‘we’?”

“Huh?”

“You said, ‘We just kind of assumed’. Who else thinks Hashirama and I are dating?”

Tōka blinked at her. “Uh, definitely Tobirama, but probably most of his friends too.”

“Holy shit,” said Mito.

#mitoka melee 2020 #sneaking this in right before the end of the month #i have a bunch more ideas for fics but sadly no time to write them #hopefully i'll add to this someday #in the meantime here is my humble offering #mitoka #naruto #my writing

[permanentlyexhaustedpossum]

Old Men - Madatobi

This must be what it feels like. Tobirama nearly muses at the idea, his chest tightening, his heart aching with a pain he had only felt a handful of times before. Of all the stories he's read, all the poems in books and scrolls, nothing told him it would burn like a fireball lodged deep in his chest. One he can't put out. One that his very soul knows only Madara can soothe with the balm of his care.

Like a hole punched straight through. Leaving his veins on fire, his face hot behind the skin and eyes. If this is truly what it felt like to be consumed by Madara Uchiha, then it was a fitting description.

He thinks to himself, as the literal flaming idiot before him barks nonsense at the old shinobi. Madara's gaze flickers ever so discreetly to his undead ruby eyes and he realizes Madara is now reborn. And that he will have to face him ... or join him. There is a flicker of recognition there and then Madara's gaze is recentered on the Kuubi child before him.

And his soul grieves for a man he loved gone insane.

Its dark mostly, the sun has set on the fire country border, and on Tobirama Senju, the Second Hokage, Senju Clan Head, and sole survivor of the warring states period. In his final moments he thinks of his team. Of Danzo and the darkness in his heart that Tobirama knows he cannot change.

Of Kagami's softness that he wouldn't trade for the world. Of Koharu and her sharp wit but narrow thought processes. Of Homura and his weakness for Koharu. Of Torifu and his hidden strengths. Of Hiruzen and the heavy burden he's placed upon the boy.

He feels his blood seeping into the ground beneath him. His breath ragged and body jerks with pain in each breath. He prays Hiruzen has the courage and the strength to fix his mistakes, to lead the Leaf into the light. Tobirama coughs, blood pouring from his mouth and knows that Hiruzen will be tried and tempted above what he might be able.

His vision is blackening. His thoughts drift to Mito and Tsunade. The old harpy will be fine without him and Tsuna is a force all her own already. Tobirama worries for Nawaki, the last Senju heir. He is too young to see if Mokuton will manifest in him. Tobirama silently prays Madara doesn't get to him before he is old enough to manifest it. Nawaki might be the only one with the possibility of stopping Madara in the future.

Because Tobirama knows. He has always known Madara was alive. He can sense him from countries away. Can feel him even now, stronger than moments ago and Tobirama knows it's his paranoia thats climbing on him. 

His limbs are cold, and everything is beginning to numb. Tobirama thinks of his brothers that went before him. Of his young mother. Of Touka and the others. He wonders if he'll see them soon and drifts off into darkness.

His eyes crack open and Tobirama shifts in the sunlight warmth. His mind, as ever is running fast and he's unsure if this is the Spirit World or if he's still miraculously alive. He does his normal checks. All fingers and toes move just fine. His heart is a bit sore but working perfectly. Lungs don't burn and sensory-

He freezes, his mind coming to a dead stop on one word.

Madara.

The fire-bright-white-scorching feel of his chakra is burning so close it would be almost as if he were right-

"Good morning, Tobirama." The familiar, if not gruffer voice drawls lazily. Tobirama can't remember a time he more desperately wanted to remember what happened the night prior. Or maybe it would be best he didn't. Slowly, he opens his eyes to an old style house ceiling, sunlight filtering through the open doors and windows. He feels the light breeze upon his skin. He's not near Konoha at all. In fact, he and Madara are the only chakra signatures around for kilometers. 

"Madara." He manages to not sound terrified. The silence that follows allows him to sit up without worry. It dawns on him that he's clean and dressed in a dark blue yukata in swirling ocean waves. Tobirama pulls the blanket from his legs and crosses them, eyes locking on the enemy of his life for the first time since Hashirama delivered his clone corpse to Tobirama decades ago.

Madara is sitting at the door. He sees the silver starting to streak through the wild mane iconic to the Uchiha. He is witness to the new wrinkles starting to form at the edges of his eyes and forehead. Tobirama watches as he moves still effortlessly in a loose black yukata of his own, and locks eyes, dark, dark orbs piercing Tobirama's own red.

And his breath is taken. Even in their older years the man has a way of making his brain short circuit. The next things out of Madara's mouth surprise him even more as the Uchiha turns his gaze back outside. Especially since Tobirama has never been on Madara's radar.

"You aged well. You're more beautiful than I remembered."

Tobirama has no response. Coming from anyone else, he's trained himself to quip back something fierce and sassy. Right now his tongue is tied and his fingers itch for something to ground himself with. Its then that he notices he's not bound in anyway. No chakra seals. No ropes. Nothing. Just him, Madara and a one room house.

He wonders how long he's been here. "Don't suppose you'd care to stay?" Madara moves, sliding a shogi board over in Tobirama's direction and the Senju can't help but wonder why. Why any of this? His only thought process is next to Madara is the best place for him to be. If he's to keep the Leaf safe from the Uchiha. 

He gives in and begins a silent game with his old enemy.

Months since he decided to stay to watch Madara. To keep an eye on him. Well, two. And the man has made no moves that he can tell would directly or indirectly harm the Leaf. Tobirama thinks it naive to believe Madara would give up on destroying the leaf even after Hashirama's death.

But part of him.. yearns to believe the peace he feels is real. His companion walks with ease beside him in a little town where no one knows either of them. They buy fruit together in the autumn air and Tobirama wonders what this is all for.

They do not speak of Hashirama. Of Konoha. Of anything they shared prior. Tobirama sees the conversations in Madara's eyes but makes no move to intiate. Angering the Uchiha proves fruitless and honestly the past is dead for both of them. Or so he hopes. He spends days in silence sometimes. And when he finally finds something to say, Madara's eyes light just enough to make them different. He isn't sure what to think.

Tobirama isn't sure what to feel. It is hard not to admire Madara Uchiha. He is everything most people dream of. Powerful and alluring, strong and capable. He is intelligent and sharp, attractive under all that mass of tangles. Tobirama knows he's no different than the average person when it comes to Madara's charms. He keeps all these things to himself and remembers his self appointed duty to keep Madara in check.

They retire for the evening, like they always do. Tobirama settles in as the lightning bugs come out and sips his tea, watching Madara pull his hair down from a high tail through white lashes. His gaze lingers a bit too long and Madara's voice rumbles through the silence.

"I've never known you to be an indecisive man." 

The jab is pointed. He knows. Tobirama knows Madara knows of his wandering thoughts, his lingering eyes. And now they're at a tipping point. This was supposed to be a mission to keep Madara under watch. He had let his eyes linger too long though.

And now his desires were rearing their heads. 

"Indecision is still a decision." Tobirama tries to clarify without ruining all he has been given and all he has worked toward. Madara seems to have given it some thought though, and red eyes watch with suspicion and awe as the Uchiha crosses the room nearly undressed the way his yukata is so damn loose on him and-

"Tell me there is nothing here, and I will leave you to your own devices." The words hit him hard, but Madara's scent hits him harder and Tobirama stupidly snatches the Uchiha into his arms, pressing their lips together like he's wanted to do since the boy at the river turned his back on his brother and activated his Sharingan.

Madara has never looked at him. Always Hashirama. Always the village. To have his attention fully for so many months already has intoxicated him. Tobirama wonders if this is just an elaborate genjutsu. Pushed up against a hot chest and chapped lips, he can't find it in himself to care. What's the harm in giving in now? He would never turn on the village, and Madara has made no moves. Perhaps somewhere in his heart he thinks he might have a chance at diverting the man's attention away completely.

Its years later, and the aging Senju is now feeling it in his bones even if his albino compextion and his bloodline connection to Hashirama has slowed the visuals. His lover is old and white now. His long hair rivals Tobirama's snow white, and he is wrinkled from his schemes Tobirama knows he's been up to.

But the man doesn't stop him. There isn't much an old man can do in his position but dream. Tobirama smiles at his companion, and remembers fondly two nights ago upon their bed. It is then when his heart feels as if it will burst from his chest.

It's seconds he is sure of it, but it seems to last for hours as he crumbles to the floor, unable to catch himself. Madara lurches forward, catching him in his arms just barely, the two old men curled in a mess as Madara pours over him, trying to heal what he cannot hope to stop.

Tobirama knows this is his time. He has cheated death one too many times. His mind barely registers the tears on his own face, since his gaze is locked so fully on his lover. The man babbles constantly, saying things that Tobirama has never heard. Spilling secrets of love and hate alike as if he'll never see the Senju ever again. Tobirama tries to ignore the way his heart is losing beats, and reaches for Madara's face. 

His lover's eyes swirl and the last thing Tobirama sees is Madara crying, his eyes a brilliant violet he has never seen before. His lover's voice cuts through the darkness as his eyes close.

"I have always loved-"

Tobirama's chest feels lighter. There's tears threatening to crawl down his face but he's stronger than that.

The flaming idiot, Uchiha counterpart, and the only sane member of their team managed to stop Kaguya, freeing Madara in the process. But his lover is dying again, and this time he is semi-alive to witness it. He should be at his side, but for the entire battle they have both lingered away, playing their respective roles.

Even when he challenged Madara, knowing he could not defeat him, Tobirama smiled at him as he drove rods through his edo tensei body. It was all a game. A rouse. 

Red eyes watch has his secret lover and his brother make amends. He longs to have Madara look at him once more, but they both know he won't. His gaze remains skyward as Hashirama talks about drinking as brothers and war buddies. Tobirama wants to laugh at the obsurdity of it. Wants to laugh at how much Hashirama just does not know about his best friend.

Wants to see Madara again in the Spirit World. To make him laugh and smile. To make him see Tobirama again. To drag moans from him and listen to him rant about overcooked eggs and rice. But Tobirama knows Madara hasn't stopped loving him. 

No Uchiha ever stops loving anyone.

And so Tobirama waits patiently, allowing his body to dissolve and smiling to himself. He will find Madara on the other side, he is sure if it.

#tobiramasenju #senju tobirama #tobirama #tobirama senju #madatobi #madarauchiha #madara uchiha #madara #someone please teach me how to make those keep reading cuts

[crystallized-shadow]

Rating: Teen Pairing: Kakashi/Madara Word Count: 1590 Warnings: Light angst, mentions of human experimentation, Obito and Madara swap generations Summary: Kakashi's heart died when he lost Madara. Then he finds Madara again and Kakashi's not sure if his heart can take losing the Uchiha again.

For @naruto-rarepair-bingo Board A: generation swap

Follow the link or read it under the cut!

When Kakashi’s stubborn stupidity had caused Madara’s death his heart had died too. He swore he’d never let anyone get close enough to hurt him again, he couldn’t handle losing anyone else. Rin and Minato-sensei had accepted the familiar cold attitude with pitying looks and a promise to listen whenever he was ready to talk. Kakashi found that odd, he’d never talked to them about anything before, so why would he start now?

It had taken Rin nearly getting kidnapped by Mist shinobi for Kakashi to realize he’d let her get close to him. That her death would be nearly as bad as losing Madara again. Minato-sensei has commented on how brutal his kills were, but the tone had told Kakashi the older man would have done the same thing if Kakashi hadn’t beaten him to it. Apparently Minato-sensei couldn’t stand the thought of losing another team member anymore than he could.

Kakashi’s promotion to ANBU had been met with resistance, but he’d managed to convince his sensei he could handle it. He excelled in the ANBU, rumor had it he might make captain soon. Normally Kakashi wouldn’t believe such rumors, but his next wave of missions had been his hardest yet. He’d done them without compliant, despite how utterly insane some of them were, and even enjoyed the solo aspect of them. That being said, Kakashi was secretly glad to be added to a team for the next mission, taking the position of second in command. He vowed this mission would be his smoothest one yet.

Staring at body floating in the large tube-like chamber, Kakashi finds himself at a loss. This was supposed to be an easy mission; all his team had to do was infiltrate one of Orochimaru’s supposed labs and find any useful information they could. That was it, simple easy mission; aside from the high chance of deadly traps and running into the sannin himself. Taking on Orochimaru single-handedly would be preferable to this; at least it would be a quick end. Not this slow agony that made his heart skip several painful beats.

Madara

Madara Uchiha

The selfless idiot that had pushed him out of harms away…

…that had given him his Sharingan…

…that should be DEAD…

…not floating in a glass tube filled with some strange liquid.

Kakashi wants to write it off as just his heart getting the better of his brain and making him see someone else as Madara, even if no one else had such a wild mane of hair. He wants to lock this moment away and never think of it again, and he’s going to, but then-

Then the pale figure opens his eyes and an achingly familiar Sharingan locks onto his own gifted one.

The world disappears around Kakashi as an inferno of chakra overwhelms him.

Instinctive awareness comes back to Kakashi first and he realizes he’s in a hospital before he’s fully conscious. Once he’s capable of higher thinking, the Hatake is torn between praying everything he remembered from the mission was just a nightmare and hoping it really happened.

“Welcome back.” That calm, compassionate voice could only be Minato-sensei.

“Did it really happen?” Kakashi questions softly, opening his eye to look at the blonde, aware his expression is a thousand times more open than he wants it to be.

“I…” Minato starts before he cuts himself with a sigh and breaks eye contact. It takes him a moment, but when Minato looks back at Kakashi, he’s no longer a sensei, but the Hokage. “What do you remember?”

“Madara, alive.”

“Yes, that really happened.” Minato pauses, knowing his former student needs a few moments to process that statement.

“How?” Kakashi finally asks, because that’s what he desperately needs to know; he doesn’t care about anything else, just how his best friend came back from the dead.

“That is unclear,” Minato says, unable to suppress his laugh at the unimpressed glare Kakashi shoots at him. “From our primary look at Orochimaru’s notes it would seem that he found Madara on the brink of death and decided to experiment on him. The full extent of what happened to him is unknown, those notes weren’t recovered, but it appears Orochimaru was still looking into Hashirama’s DNA.”

“Hashirama’s DNA…?” Kakashi mutters in confusion before his eye widens, “the Mokuton.”

“Precisely,” Minato sighs, rubbing a hand over his eyes and Kakashi notices for the first time just how tired his sensei looks. “Madara displayed the ability when he broke out of his container to get to you.”

“To get to me?”

“The other ANBU reported that he broke out, injured you in the process, and then refused to let anyone near you. He had to be sedated so you could both be brought back here.”

“He’s here?”

“Of course,” Minato grins brightly, “we would never abandon a fellow Leaf shinobi! He’s still sedated though, until we can make sure he’s stable and still on our side.”

“Madara would never betray us!” Kakashi snaps before he can stop himself, much to his embarrassment.

“Kakashi…” Minato catches the younger shinobi’s eyes, a pained look in his deep blue eyes. “The Madara you lost might not be the Madara you found.”

“Impossible.”

“Just keep it in mind,” Minato advises as he stands up, “once you are discharged come see me with your mission report and we can discuss this more then.”

In the end Kakashi is given a week’s leave from the ANBU to recover, which is hardly necessary for the minor concussion he’d had, even Rin had agreed with him, but Minato-sensei had held firm. He had claimed it was for the emotional trauma of finding Madara like that, but Kakashi called bullshit; his sensei just wanted him to take it easy for longer.

Life passes by in a blur of missions, and the occasional, reluctant social outing Rin had dragged him along for, until 3 months later Kakashi finds himself being assigned a long-term mission: helping Madara get reacquainted with the village. At first Kakashi is overjoyed, not that he shows it, until he realizes that means Madara is temporarily staying with him and that makes his heart beat painfully. He wants to protest, but he knows Madara doesn’t have anyone to stay with and he couldn’t turn his friend away. Kakashi was sure he could handle it.

Not even a week later, Kakashi knows he was wrong, very, very wrong. If his heart kept skipping beats every time he saw Madara stumbling sleepily into the kitchen or when the Uchiha smiled at him he was going to have a damn heart attack. Then there was also his ever increasing nighttime problems; why did Madara have to invade his dreams and why did he have to be naked in those dreams!? Kakashi was going to have to try harder to ignore the Uchiha, maybe then the stupid dreams would stop.

“I’m moving back in with my clan,” Madara declares one night, nearly 2 weeks after he’s moved into the lonely Hatake household.

“What?” Kakashi mutters, barely hearing his own words over the sound of something in his heart shattering.

“I said I’m going back to my clan.”

“Why?”

“You clearly hate my presence,” Madara grumbles with huff, crossing his arms over his chest and pouting in a manner that shouldn’t be so cute. “You’ve barely spoken to me at all this week and you yell at me almost every morning.”

“I…” Kakashi trails off, not sure how to make Madara stay. “I don’t...that’s not…”

“Spit it out!” Madara snaps, glaring at Kakashi with his one visible black eye. Whatever Orochimaru had done to Madara had grown his eye back and turned the remaining one purple; Kakashi thought the purple suited Madara just fine, but the Uchiha always covered the eye with his hair.

“I don’t hate you,” Kakashi finally manages to spit out, feeling a blush spread across his cheeks, “you can stay.”

“Even if you don’t hate me,” Madara pauses briefly, doubt coloring his words, “you clearly aren’t happy that I’m here.”

“You have no idea how happy I am that you’re not dead,” Kakashi says honestly, knowing he needs to choose his next words carefully so he doesn’t lose the Uchiha, “I’m just not used to…”

“Used to what?”

“Havingacrush!” Kakashi blurts the words in a rush before he can stop himself, startling his older teammate. It takes Madara a minute to decode what he’d just said, but when he does, he can’t help but chuckle.

“Kakashi,” Madara coos, moving to sit next to his teammate and throwing an arm over the other’s shoulders, “that is both the saddest and most adorable thing I’ve ever heard.”

“Fuck you.”

“If you think you can.” Both shinobi flush darkly at Madara’s unexpected reply as the Uchiha quickly scrambles away. It takes Kakashi several minutes to get over the shock, but when he does he finds Madara across the room, doing his best impression of a startled cat.

“W-what?”

“I said uhh…” Madara mutters, ducking under his hair to avoid making eye contact, “how about dinner?”

“Are you asking me out?” Kakashi asks, unsure if he’s reading the situation right, Rin had told him he wasn’t the best when it came to understanding romantic situations.

“Would you be upset if I was?”

“No.” Kakashi says without any hesitation, knowing he said the right thing when Madara meets his eyes with a brilliant grin.

“Then yes, I am.”

“Dinner sounds nice,” Kakashi agrees with a smaller, more sedate but no less happy grin.

#KakaMada #Kakashi Hatake #Madara Uchiha #naruto rarepair bingo 2019 #Board A #Generation Swap #Madara and Obito switch places #Rin lives #Minato & Kushina live too #light angst #Orochimaru experiments on Madara #Madara still gets the Mokuton #and the Rinnegan #but that's only hinted at #awkward teenagers #both of them fail at feelings #my writing #Crystal writes

[sennokami]

“ i will not live much longer. “

the song of achilles meme – not accepting !!

Konoha was so perfect that it felt like a dream. It was a dream, in many ways, built on the highest delusions of two idiots. (Or visionaries. It depended on which side of history you wanted to stand on.) 

Day one eked into day two, then into week one, and then month, a year. People who’d carried themselves like burnt cats – wide-eyed, stiff-legged, always ready to go bugfuck and claw a face – relaxed out of their shocked dumb stupors. They nodded to themselves and the dream sunk into their skins. They ate their meals and muttered their conversations; little by little, like some shy boy slowly shedding his clothes, everyone shucked off the last of their fight-ready modesty and got down to business.

Madara was one of them. Right in the middle of the frothing insanity, he was riding this wave of maybe-possibly-could-be, struck blind and loving it.

It was like they were all blind now. All of them on their hands and knees, groping the rocky dirt, cutting their hands and sucking up the blood, seeking the diamond they’d been promised. Stupid, it was all so stupid – but it was wonderful. It was a miracle.

Sometimes, Madara felt like an empty container of a man with all his feelings exploded from him. During these dazes, he had only two thoughts.

One: This is really happening. Our dream is coming true. Hashirama held out and it’s going to happen, we’re going to build the future we want. Together. Uchiha and Senju, hand in hand. We are no longer the tools of our fathers.

Two: I wish I could really believe that.

It was his nature. To second guess, to doubt, to see beneath the underneath. His father had trained him to see every angle that could be squeezed out of a person’s intentions and he can’t stop it now, this need to think and analyze everything. He had to be prepared. He had to know. Blind trust was for other people – people who had less responsibility. This wasn’t a mistake he could make, not unless he wanted to stumble with all the hopes and dreams of his clan.

So he saw him. Him. Behind Hashirama’s flash and glamour, behind the summer sunshine of his smile – Tobirama. Pale. Cold. Bloodless. A sullen ghost of a younger sibling, the malformed ball left in the womb after Hashirama. (Ah, but they were half-brothers, weren’t they? What cold bitch had Senju Butsuma fucked to make that thing?)

Madara had a million and one reasons to hate Tobirama. The first and foremost of them was never far from his thoughts. But contrary to common opinion, that wasn’t the only reason to hate him.

The problem with Tobirama was that he never acted with passion. Everything he did, he had some rationale for. It was infuriating. It made Madara want to slit him open and see if his blood was even red, because if he were a feeling, fighting man, Madara could have choked him empty. But Tobirama was neither, so he took his resentment and dressed it in logic to make it easy to swallow. Everything had a reason and so everything was rational. Tobirama would never stoop so low so as to be irrational. Not ever. He was above it, even though he really, really wasn’t.

Not in Hashirama’s eyes, anyway. So Madara watched him cling to his portion of Hashirama’s heart and gnaw on it until Hashirama, inevitably, swayed to his demands. It was love, so Madara didn’t hate Hashirama for it. He understood love, especially when it came to little brothers who were a little too sharp to be left alone.

But that didn’t mean he rested easy. It haunted him in the night’s pale hours, the question he didn’t pose to Hashirama. The truth was… Madara had gotten used to thinking of him, Hashirama, as mine. That they were equals on a perfectly-balanced plane, having been invaded by each other in every way that mattered.

But he could be wrong. He could be very wrong. The question he never uttered sat in his stomach like something sour. It went something like this:

Who would you pick, me or your brother?

That was just one iteration. There was also If your brother killed me, would you kill him? and Who do you trust more? and so on and so forth.

Sometimes, Madara is sure, so sure, that it’s him. That they were destiny-bound lunatics in one boat and Hashirama would always pick him. He just had to put aside his thinking brain and do as Hashirama did and have faith. But… but…

Still.

It was the way Tobirama looked him at him, all that flat, insect-like calculation, and the way he could pinch Hashirama’s heart shut. Then Madara had to think that maybe, just maybe, that this man, his man, his boy from the river, his universe-given equal in all things… might not pick him. He had to think that:

He will choose.

And:

When he does, I will not live much longer.

It was enough to drive any man insane. Perfectly, utterly insane.

#hashirama #madara #hashimada #kinokami #ask #answered meme #drabble #damn im tired after writing this

[myaekingheart]

26. Konoha Matsuri

Just wanna say real quick that this is lowkey my absolute favorite chapter so far and I quickly posted the two previous just so I could post this one on my birthday (May 13th) ^_^

read the scarecrow and the bell on ao3

index | from the beginning | < previous | next >

               For as long as anyone could remember, Konohagakure held a festival smack dab in the middle of every May to commemorate its celebrated establishment. It was no secret that Konoha was a monumental fixture in shinobi history, the first dedicated shinobi village. After its creation, more and more areas followed suit until reaching the geographical landscape of today. Children learned about Konoha Matsuri in the Academy, where in history books it was said that Hashirama Senju created the holiday at first to commemorate the Leaf Village’s first successful year, only for it to become an annual tradition, a true display of patriotism and loyalty to one’s own home.

               It was a few days before the festival when Kakashi paced his apartment as he shuffled through his thoughts. He was grateful to have gotten off work for the day of the festival, a truly coveted achievement in the ANBU especially. His only hope was that Rei may have, as well. The inner cogs of his mind churned as he formulated his plan.

               When Rei awoke that morning, she found a bag of pastries on her doorstep and a note from Kakashi. She unfolded and skimmed it, then pressed her hand to her forehead and sighed. Kakashi would be expecting a response, and soon as this was time sensitive. Konoha Matsuri was a huge celebration that warranted preparation. She wasn’t sure what to tell him.

               As a child, she remembered being mesmerized by the all the festivities, as most children are. The colorful lights, symphony of smells, luxurious kimonos, and brilliant fireworks display were enchanting. Now that she was an adult, the novelty had worn off. This was only further enforced by the social climate she was currently trapped in. The aftermath of her mother’s birthday still loomed overhead, everpresent.

               “I think you should go” Naru said with a definitive nod. That was the only way Rei was ever going to firmly make a decision: confide in her best friend. “I know you’re nervous, but this is supposed to be fun! Try to lighten up just for one day. Oh! And besides, this gives us an excuse to do my favorite thing: shopping!”

               Rei groaned and buried her face in her hands. “My drawers are already stuffed enough, I can’t handle anymore clothes.”

               “Rei, you wear the same three outfits every week and the only reason your drawers won’t shut is because you don’t fold a damn thing” Naru replied nonchalantly. “Whether you like it or not, we are going shopping for Konoha Matsuri.” It was hard to argue with her when she was this excited. Besides, if Naru was going then that provided an extra cushion for any negative encounters she might face. Or so she thought. The blonde’s face suddenly lit up and she squealed with delight. “Oh my god I just got the best idea!”

               “Normally your ‘best ideas’ always end up being the worst” Rei replied skeptically.

               “No, no, no, I mean it! This time, it’s gold” Naru insisted. “I’ll invite Sekkachi to go with us tomorrow, and we can all try on kimonos together and have a great time! It’ll be just like the old days!” Naru was full to bursting with excitement, meanwhile her best friend flopped back on her bed and made the most ungodly noise.

               “I liked the old days better when they were just that: old and in the past” she sighed. “Does Sekkachi really have to come? I’ve had my fill of her for the rest of the year. She barged into my apartment the other day, you know.”

               “Oh, she’s not that bad!” Naru said with a dismissing wave of her hand. “Why can’t you just let bygones be bygones? We’re all adults here! We can be civil with each other, right?” The way Naru looked at her then made Rei feel vulnerable and exposed. Naru wasn’t an Uchiha but with that glare, she might as well have been.

               “Okay, fine, Sekkachi can come but I’m not happy about it!” Rei finally agreed. Naru leapt up in the air and squealed as she did a little happy dance. If only making her happy wasn’t such a pain in the ass.

               It wasn’t that Rei disliked Sekkachi. The blue-haired ninja actually had many positive qualities that Rei found admirable. It was just that Sekkachi was also rude, cynical, insane, and a total killjoy. She lacked the scruples of a compassionate person. Rei was certain the only time she had ever seen her former teammate smile—genuinely smile—was whenever she was hanging out with Might Guy of all people. She never understood the dynamics of their friendship, but somehow she supposed it worked if they had remained steadfast and true to one another this long.

               When Rei awoke the next morning, Naru was standing in the lobby by herself. For a moment, Rei felt a surge of relief thinking that perhaps Sekkachi had cancelled on them. She was also always impulsive and flaky, as far as Rei was concerned. As she descended the stairs, however, she caught sight of the ninja in question standing outside with a cigarette between her lips. Typical.

               Naru waltzed them down the street with one girl in each arm and a massive grin on her face. “Isn’t this just the best? All we’re missing is Chikara-sensei and it’ll be just like old times!” she enthused.

               Sekkachi smirked and flicked some ash onto the ground. “So where are you dragging us first?” she asked. The inclusion of first was instrumental here, because when Naru went shopping, it was an exhausting, all-day endeavor that involved at least an hour in every shop’s dressing room. At least this was one thing Rei and Sekkachi could agree on: they hated shopping.

               After a few hours of no success, Naru insisted they get something to eat since, after all, they needed to keep their energy up for the second half of their adventure. They slipped into Yakiniku Q, and Sekkachi was more than grateful for a chance to sit down.

               “So, I know you’re going with Kakashi, but what about you, Naru?” she asked, tending to her meat on the barbeque.

               “I actually have someone, too!” Naru exclaimed. “It’s Konoha Matsuri, after all, so I had no choice but to go big and hire someone!”

               Rei nearly choked on her pork. “I’m sorry, hired?” Naru nodded vigorously, a wide grin on her face. “Who the hell did you…?”

               “You’ll never guess” the blonde replied, full to bursting with laughter. Rei and Sekkachi blinked in unison. Naru then turned to the redhead, resting her chin in her palm, and said, “I guess there was at least one good thing about your mother’s birthday, and that’s that I was able to get set up with one of the boys her friends were trying to pawn off on you.”

               “Oh, no…which one?” Rei asked, dropping her head to the table.

               “Nibui!” Naru exclaimed. She couldn’t hold back her laughter any longer. Sekkachi looked at her quizzically.

               “And who is this Nibui guy, exactly?” she asked.

               Rei turned her face toward her former teammate and replied, “Nibui is the nephew of this lady my mom is friends with named Suisen. Apparently he is newly single and great with finances.” Sekkachi nodded knowingly, then turned back to Naru.

               “So you having trouble filing your taxes or something? You were always were an idiot when it came to math” she said. Naru frowned and delicately took another piece of meat into her mouth.

               “I’ll have you know, Nibui is brilliant. So much so that he even works in the cryptology department” she explained. Sekkachi nearly choked on her food.

               “And how much did you pay this nerd for this?” she asked.

               “A hundred bucks an hour” the blonde replied casually. Again, Sekkachi nearly choked.

               “A hundred an hour?!” Rei repeated. “Naru, don’t you think that’s a little…I don’t know, steep?”

               “You really do need help with your finances” Sekkachi said in disbelief.

               Naru waved them off and laughed. “Don’t worry about it, I am perfectly fine with my finances! You wouldn’t believe the kinds of mission the hokage has been sending me on lately.” And that was the last that was said on that.

                It wasn’t until late in the afternoon that Naru had finally found the perfect outfit for the festival. She squealed and burst out of the dressing room showing off the color and fabric of the “perfect” kimono. Rei caught a glimpse of the price tag and winced. She doubted she would find anything within her budget here, nor did she have much luck anywhere else. Sekkachi, however, was perhaps in the worst shape of them all. Not only had she not found anything for herself (though, honestly, she wasn’t even really looking) but she had by now become incredibly fatigued and her face had grown considerably pale.

               “Alright, you found the kimono. Wonderful. Now can I go home?” she sighed, leaning against a rack of clothing.

               “But what about you guys?” Naru asked, looking them up and down. Quite frankly, she didn’t think much of their senses of style. Konoha Matsuri was a celebration and it called for spectacular clothes, which neither of these girls really owned.

               “I will go in a chicken suit if you let me leave right now” Sekkachi begged. “Just please…I need to go home. This has been too much for one day.”

               The blonde paused for a moment, then sighed. “Fine” she said, waving her off. “Go ahead.” Sekkachi looked like she was nearly about to break down in tears, she was so grateful. She rushed off as quickly as she could. Now that it was just the two of them, however, Rei knew there was no way she was going to get out of the remainder of this. Naru wasn’t going to let her go until she found the perfect outfit.

               She flipped through racks and racks of kimonos, offering up ones she thought would look good with her hair color and whatnot, but Rei shook her head to most of them, mainly due to the price tag. After a while, Naru caught on.

               “Rei, is there something bothering you?” she finally asked, extending her arm across the rack so Rei couldn’t continue searching. “Something tells me you don’t even want to do this.”

               A stout woman in the back room poked her head out and announced impatiently that they were closing in ten minutes. The pressure rose.

               “Listen, it’s not that. I’m just really nervous about this, the last thing I have on my mind is clothes, alright?” Rei explained.

               “There’s nothing for you to be nervous about! Like I said, can you just relax for, like, one day in your life?” Naru replied.

               “I relax!” Rei countered. Naru stared her down. “I just don’t know if I even want to go through with this, you know?”

               “Well, you’re going to whether you want to or not now we’ve got a total of eight minutes left to find you something to wear and buy it and we’re going to find you something, got it?” the blonde insisted. She then began frantically searching through the kimonos, pulling whatever she could find, and shoving them into Rei’s arms. She then pushed the redhead into the nearest dressing room, insisting, “Try on every single one and then pick which one you like best! If money is the problem then I’ll buy it for you, don’t worry about it!”

               Rei had to admit, Naru offering to buy her something was insanely generous. Not that she wasn’t a generous enough girl already, but the prices in this store were quite frankly obscene. This had to have been really important to Naru for her to be so determined to spend this much money.

               It took Rei all of five minutes to whip through the three kimonos Naru had pulled for her, though she admittedly did not pay much mind to the proper procedures. She eventually picked a floral turquoise brocade and that was the end of it. She zipped out of the dressing room, dragged Naru to the cash register, and checked out much to the shopkeeper’s dismay. They left with two minutes to spare.

               When the day of the festival arrived, it took all of Rei’s strength not to sit and have a panic attack for fifteen minutes. She took her time getting ready, standing under the shower head and just letting the hot water beat against her back. She even applied minimal makeup just to waste time and keep her mind occupied. She was scared that if she got ready too quickly, and was stuck waiting, she would surely lose her damn mind.

               There was a knock at the door just as she was pinning her kanzashi in place. She sighed and mentally prepared herself for what was about to happen, then opened the door to find Kakashi standing on the other side. She had never seen him quite like this before, dressed so casual and relaxed. He still wore his ninja headband covering his left eye and, of course, his mask, but his kimono and sandals were a welcome surprise.

               “Are you ready to go?” he asked, looking her up and down. She nodded, then took his offered hand. “You look beautiful” he commented as they descended the stairs.

               “Thanks. It’s new” she laughed, extending her arm out to fully display her long sleeve. “Naru forced me to get it.”

               As they stepped out into the streets, they were instantly assaulted with the chaotic splendor of festival life. For a moment, standing there beside Kakashi, the novelty of it all returned to her. The lights were mesmerizing, the food smelled to die for, and a tinge of excitement (or was it panic?) struck her chest at the thought of fireworks. She smiled up at him and he returned the favor.

               It didn’t take long for Naru to track down the happy couple, dragging a deadpan Nibui along behind her. Kakashi eyed the young man suspiciously, asking, “Have we met…?” Nibui shook his head.

               “I know you, but you don’t know me. But then again everyone knows you, Kakashi Hatake” he explained. Rei hated the fact that her first impression of him was that he greatly resembled a mole. His beaty little eyes were unsettling, and that middle part in his hair certainly was not the most flattering. But what else could she expect from a cryptologist? They all gave off an aura of sleep-deprived intellectual maniacs.

               As they passed a game of Ningyo sukui, Kakashi nudged Rei on the shoulder and with a smile and whispered, “You should go play a round. That used to be your favorite, right?”

               Rei’s cheeks went dark red as she laughed nervously. “What? Kakashi, no, that’s a kid’s game” she insisted.

               “Dammit! How many times is it going to take?!” a voice then erupted. Kakashi and Rei, as well as Naru and Nibui, looked over to find a familiar face crouched by the Ningyo sukui tub, a focused expression on his face.

               Kakashi chuckled, then turned to Rei. “Well, Guy doesn’t seem to think so.”

               Sekkachi stood over him, arms crossed, then handed the person manning the game another dollar. “Guy, I’m gonna go broke if you keep this up” she said.

               “Just one more try! I’ll get it this time, I swear” Guy insisted. The blue-haired kunoichi didn’t seem convinced.

               “Glad to see you’re feeling better, Sekkachi” Naru greeted as she approached. Sekkachi rolled her eyes.

               “I’m only here because Guy made me come” she replied. Then her eyes shifted to Nibui standing dutifully behind his date, and she couldn’t help but stifle a laugh. “Is this your man-whore?” she asked.

               “Excuse you!” Naru shouted, slapping Sekkachi with her fan. “Don’t be rude! I know that’s hard for you, but at least try, alright?”

               “And what about you?” Sekkachi asked, then turning to Rei. “And where is your date?”

               Rei blinked, then turned around to find Kakashi had disappeared. A surge of panic coursed through her, her mind jumping to the worst case scenarios. “H-he was just here a second ago!” she replied.

               A look of concern crossed Naru’s face, as well, searching the area for where he may have gone. Then, her concern changed to a sweet delight and she pointed in the direction of the sukui tank. Kakashi was handing over a dollar, then approaching with a small paper paddle and a grin.

               “Kakashi, no!” Rei whispered, hiding her face with her hand. But Kakashi persisted. He handed her the paddle and then guided her to the tank with a smile.

               “You do remember how to play, don’t you?” he asked.

               “Kakashi, this is ridiculous. I’m not doing this” she insisted. “This is a kid’s game, I’m going to get in trouble.”

               “So long as he’s getting money, I don’t think the man running the game really cares” Kakashi replied. “I would go for that rubber duck if I were you” he then added.

               Rei huffed and shook her head. She couldn’t believe she was doing this. She had never felt so hyperaware of her own age before, terrified someone was going to come along and tell her she couldn’t do that. Yet every time she turned around, Kakashi was crouching beside her grinning and silently encouraging her to go on and just do it. Dammit, I hate how convincing he is.

               It took her only a few tries before she was able to scoop the rubber duck out of the water and into her little basket. And when she did, it all came rushing back: that childhood nostalgia, the unadulterated happiness, a simple sense of victory. She laughed and turned back to Kakashi, taking pride in her success. He smiled back at her, overflowing with nothing but love for her.

               “Oh, look! A photo booth!” Naru then exclaimed, gripping Sekkachi’s arm excitedly. She looked around at their little group, then announced, “We all need to go get a picture together, all six of us!”

               “Ugh, is that really necessary?” Sekkachi groaned.

               Naru narrowed her eyes. “Yes. It is” she growled, then in a lighter tone, “I mean, how often are we all together like this? This is a once in a lifetime chance! We have to take it!”

               Before anyone could protest, Naru was dragging the whole clan toward the little shack like a chain of kindergarteners on a field trip. She paid for their picture, then situated everyone in the perfect position. Sekkachi went in the back because she was the tallest, and then Guy went next to her. Kakashi belonged on Sekkachi’s other side, but Rei should be in front of him just enough so that he can put his hand over her shoulder, and Naru would put herself on the other side of her. Nibui, despite Naru’s protesting, opted to stay out of the picture. He didn’t feel particularly included in their little group. After all, he was just a paid date. He didn’t have any emotional or historical connection to any of these people, and he never would. If he was to join in, they would all look back on this night struggling to remember who he was.

               “Alright, fine, you’ve gotten out of it this time but I’m getting another one of just the two of us!” Naru shouted right before the photographer snapped the picture. There was a bright flash of light, and then it was over. He smiled as he watched the final product develop.

               “That sure is a keeper alright” he commented, then turned to the group and asked, “Alright, who gets to take this photo home?”

               As the sky darkened overhead and the festivities began to wind down, the little group made their way to the roof of a nearby building to watch the fireworks. Rei held her little rubber duck in her hands as she cuddled close against Kakashi, resting her head on his shoulder.

               “Don’t fall asleep on me yet” he laughed. “Or else you’ll miss the fireworks.”

               “I know!” Rei replied. “I’m not falling asleep. I’m just happy.” And she truly was. She looked around at their motley little crew and her heart swelled. True, Sekkachi was as unpleasant as ever, Guy was a little too pumped up, and she couldn’t care less about Nibui, but all in all this was the absolute perfect night. She almost felt as if she was going to cry at the thought of how it would all be over soon. The fireworks would flare, they would watch in awe, and then once they were over, the night would end. The street vendors would close up shop. The festival games would be gone by morning. Sleepy children would be carted home on their parents’ backs. And when she awoke the following day, reality would seep back in.

               And speaking of reality, a part of her was truly shocked she had not run into anyone she knew or overheard any snide remarks. Little did she know, Kakashi was determined to give her the best night possible. He had met up with the others previously, insisting that they help him shield Rei from anything that might ruin her night. They put their ninja skills to good use, expertly steering her away from bad situations and distracting her with rubber ducks and photo ops. Every positive memory she would have of this night was the result of her friends fighting to keep away the bad ones. Had she known this, she may have perhaps considered this night even more special.

               Explosions of color and light danced overhead, bursting so close that Rei could feel the vibrations in her chest. She gripped Kakashi’s hand in hers and sighed happily, fighting back tears. She hadn’t realized how badly she needed this until now. And as she sat there atop the roof surrounded by all the people she cared for the most, she realized just how important each and every one of them was to her, regardless of whether they were overbearing or snarky or what have you. Her parents may have rejected and renounced her, but that didn’t mean anything. A family is not determined by blood or by clan affiliation, but by those who care about you the most and in those halcyon moments, Rei realized that she was surrounded by her true family and that was all she could have ever asked for.

#kakashi hatake #rei natsuki #the scarecrow and the bell #naruto #naruto oc #fanfiction

[ahkaraii]

'headcanon rant for another day' oh please when its another day tell me :DDD

HEE okay, the comparative biologist in me that I truncated when I deviated towards medicine is excited af about Naruto world genetics and how the heck chakra works in the human body.

If you look cross-sectionally at the expression of chakra in all the existing dojutsu (ex. Uchiha’s sharingan, Hyuuga’s byakugan; possibly the Yamanaka’s characteristic generation-spanning pupil-less eyes that may facilitate their mind-share technique) and genkai kekkei (Yamato and Hashirama’s Wood style release, Haku’s ice mirrors, etc), there’s definitely an emphasis on certain powers being strictly genetic, not something you can learn. Like, you literally express it uncontrollably after a certain trigger (epigenetics yo!!! gotta modify those histones to activate the genetic expression), and only then train it once its manifest.

You can, however, “transplant” body parts that contain the style -- like Kakashi with Obito’s sharingan, or Yamato being genetically modified with Hashirama’s cells as an infant -- and bypass that required pedigree. You just have to work super hard to “master” it, and it will be taxing to your body that wasn’t born to express that technique. (In fact, I like to believe these transplantees are more prone to autoimmune diseases and/or infections due to graft-versus-host disease).

Canonically there are others that are explicitly stated to be learned techniques that are simply “secretly” passed down generation to generation and have little to do with your genes (the “Hiden” techniques, like the Nara shadow stitching), but we never really see any non-clan characters learning techniques from other clans, so it’s hard to say. I think there’s a specific chakra pathway you must be born with to learn specific Hiden techniques. Like, Nara are genetically predisposed to have chakra pathways that facilitate their shadow stitching. So while a random stranger could theoretically learn after years and years of practicing, some -- like our chakra-less Lee -- would simply fail no matter how hard they try because they don’t have the proper chakra setup.

This all got me thinking about the clanless/bloodline limit-lacking characters that look phenotypically similar to clans or characters possessing dojutsu and/or genkai kekkei. Folks like Anko, who has the characteristic Yamanaka pupilless eyes but instead of pale green they’re brown, suggesting she’s a Yamanaka mutt-mix that, due to a combination of a poor genetic lottery and no teacher, failed to develop the Yamanaka mind share technique entirely. She’s still a Torture and Interrogation nin tho, suggesting she was either raised around the Yamanaka (who all ultimately seem to end up doing jobs in T&I lol), or was taken pity by a Yamanaka in T&I who realized she was probably of their blood and never claimed and gave her a decent job. We all know how Konoha treats their clanless orphans, yeah? :(

I like to think certain “mixes” are unviable (else there’d already exist characters with it in canon, yanno?), or just a really bad idea (congenital defects-wise). Like Hyuuga and Uchiha. The Hyuuga academy teacher I doodled in my comic is an OC of mine whose backstory is she -- scandalously! -- had a kid with an Uchiha and their kid was born with a lot of genetic defects centering around the face and eyes (specifically holoprosencepahly).

Another character that looks Yamanaka-like and actually manifests Yamanaka-like chakra techniques is Tsunade’s old boyfriend Dan Kato. His power is the power to astrally project himself -- much like the Yamanaka! -- and possess others -- very much like the Yamanaka. Now, of course, one could butt in and say the Yamanaka mind body technique is probably a Hiden technique, not a bloodline limit, and thus Dan is entirely capable of learning it despite not belonging to the clan, but I like the chakra genetics headcanon and I’m sticking to it, so the Kato clan is an offshoot of some branch Yamanaka that specialized in the mind-body technique since the mind-share technique is probably only taught to the Main House.

Unlike the Hyuuga, whose Main and Branch houses take the toxic hierarchy to its extreme, the Yamanaka are more chill with their families expanding and marrying whoever they want, so not everyone has the Yamanaka last name. The Ino-Shika-Chou formation ensures that at least one kid is born and raised to have all their desired techniques, so the rest of the family’s kids can be born doing whatever. Presumably they gotta learn about the Yamanaka family history and all that pizzazz, but they aren’t enslaved to the family like the Hyuuga (or arguably the Uchiha).

That’s why Shizune Kato canonically uses poisons and healing techniques, and has no ability in the astral projection her uncle Dan so famously had. She just wasn’t born with the chakra pathways for it, and that’s okay. She’s not gonna get kicked out of the family for it like other characters are (like my Hyuuga OC, who never manifested the Byakugan, or her husband, who never manifested the sharingan. It’s why their baby managed to be born at all and not entirely stillborn -- neither of them were *rolls eyes* ““pureblood””).

Other clanless characters I think are probably mutts are:

- Ebisu, whose use of sunglasses suggest to me he’s a main branch Aburame bastard who was never implanted with bugs (I hc most if not all Aburame have severely impaired vision, hence the sunglasses -- they use their bugs to “see”) but was raised knowing it, so that’s why he’s a snooty asshole about Clans and gets to train the Hokage’s grandchild and other high ranking kids. He can’t inherit the title of Aburame Clan Head because he doesn’t have bugs, but he does get a cozy high ranking job without having to really work for it.

- Aoba, whose sunglasses and liberal use of fire techniques and crows could mean he’s got Aburame and/or Uchiha blood in him. 

I definitely think the Naruto world’s necessary emphasis on genetics and purity of blood for the sake of your bloodline limit expression has damaging effects on people’s health, congenital defects wise. For example: I headcanon Hayate Gekko has cystic fibrosis! It’s why he’s always coughing and sick. The Senju clan has a defect in a tumor-suppressing gene, which explains why they were of the few clans to have multiple kids (Hashirama had 3 brothers! how rare in the naruto world of being single children or having only a single sibling! lol) and yet the entire freaking clan was reduced to only Tsunade in three generations of peace. Let’s face it: Hashirama absolutely died of some form of cancer -- Hashirama cells are Naruto world’s HeLa cells, after all. Plus, it would explain why only he could do the wood release and no other person until yamato has managed it -- you HAVE to have a defect in a tumor suppressing gene, and to wood release you have to selectively induce a second insult to cause your cells to divide like crazy. But you also have to have the ability to combine earth and water release, and also chakra mold, and also a bunch of other crazy shit which made it super hard for Orochimaru to re-create it. It’s a miracle Hashirama didn’t die earlier, tbh.

I headcanon Tsunade totally got uterine cancer (she can’t have kids) and breast cancer (her breasts are so large because they are fake :V) and it’s why she’s the only Senju alive -- she has kept herself alive using her insanely OP healing skills. Its how she knows how to keep herself young-looking, too -- she was always replenishing her cells. I HC her brother Nawaki had leucemia and it was only sheer chance that a landmine got to him first before his own sickness did. That’s why Orochimaru is so knowledgeable about Hashirama’s cells in the first place, to the point where he was recruited to ROOT! Orochimaru was Nawaki’s sensei and was actively helping Tsunade find a cure for the Senju Clan’s propensity to develop cancer to save Nawaki and the Senju line as a whole. After Nawaki’s passing, Orochimaru kind of went crazy and decided instead to focus on curing death....

ANYWAY I could keep going but I’ve lost track of what I was originally answering lmfao. I have too many headcanons XD;;;;;

#ask responses #karaii's headcanons #i gotta learn to be more succinct jesus XD;; #fluffyfoxtales

[lazyaris]

[MadaTobiWeek] Sixth Day: Supernatural

Title: The Cursed Child & His Savior

Pairing: Madara x Tobirama

Theme: Supernatural, Soulmate

Summary:

Human fear what they don't know, but they must never forget, they reap what they sow. The child they hunted no longer the small weak child, and now, they paid their sins. They will never know all it takes was one meeting, and the fate already sealed. Dead is the only thing left for them...

@madatobiweek

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                                           The Cursed Child and his Savior

 Footsteps after footsteps, echoed sharply around the dark forest, and as the small person walked deeper and deeper inside this place, the winds sudden picked up its sound and howled right next to him, as if it wanted him to go back to where he belonged to. Stopped for a few seconds, he took a look at his surrounding, but there was no one else here but the lone figure, except for the Moon Goddess – who he has always considered as his mother because his mother died after giving birth to his youngest brother. Go back? He couldn’t, especial when it is better this way. Without him, his brothers wouldn’t have to endure Butsuma’s beat up, because he knew they only receive it due to him. If he wasn’t there, they wouldn’t need to try and protect him anymore, right? It hurts, he didn’t want to leave them behind, but this is the only choice he has in order to protect them. He didn’t ask to be born as an albino, or the fact he received that damn curse, but it happened and he was too young to do something about that. Everywhere he goes, people scorn him and taunt him, everywhere he shows up, people would hide away their kids... Hashirama, Kawarama and Itama are the one three that care for him, and he didn’t want to burden anymore, so he left.

 Carried on, the small child never knew he was being watched by not just one but two pairs of onyx eyes. However, they weren’t any around him, but rather, they were watching him through an orb, this has been happening since the moment he stepped inside the forest.

“So he is finally here....” One of the two male spoke up, eyes still glued on the orbs, not only amusement but also in curious.

“You should never doubt my skill, little bro.” Narrowed eyes in dangerous, but there was no threat behind those dark and deep orbs – this earned a chuckle from the younger male between the two.

“I never doubt you, brother, but I will forever find this amusement.” Who would think his brother’s mate would born that late? No wonder the man is so grumpy and insane half of the time, probably because the empty feeling due to the fact his mate has yet been born. “But, what are you going to do?”

That’s a good question, because he barely knows a thing about this small figure, except for the fact he is his mate. Mused for a moment, he knew with or without a mate, he still alive and as strong as ever, after all, wizards like him has plenty ways to twist the rules. However, he did want to accept the young human as well, after all, this stranger was born to be his mate, that mean they will work well together, yes? And as someone who is quite strong himself, the Uchiha believed that his mate will be as strong as he is. Perhaps the young one still small and weak right now, but years is meaningless in their view, especial when wizards like them can live really long... More than human can ever dream of.

 “You can enjoy the show, Izuna. I will go check on him myself.”

Indeed, Madara is quite curious himself, he wanted to know what made his mate entered this forest as such time, especial when this is called the Forest of Death. Through the orbs, there weren’t many things he could see, and Madara wasn’t that patient, he wanted to learn about his mate right now to decide if he is worth keeping or not. Arrogant Madara may said, but it wasn’t his fault for being such strong creature? Ignored the look from his brother, Madara vanished from his spot just to appeared right in front his supposed-to-be-mate, which startled the young male a lot because he didn’t expect this to happen. Tobirama has no idea how this male can suddenly appeare out of thin air like that, but he is far from stupid. There is a reason why he chose this forest instead, it wasn’t just because it is near his village but there was something more... The rumours about a pair of dark wizards who live deep inside this forest...

 “Well well... What do we have here?” Dark deep voice echoed through the air and Tobirama felt chill ran down to his spin. He is scared and he knows he should run right away, but no, this is his choice and it wasn’t like the Senju even has any other choice. Gripped on his own hoodie, the young boy looked up, red orbs full of determine even if he is shaking in fear. However, this still impressed Madara a lot, not many dare to meet his eyes like that, especial a brat who he believed only 8 or 9 – at least that’s how Tobirama looks like, small and weak.

“Are.... Are you the dark wizard?” Lifted an eyebrow from the young boy’s question, but Madara decided to play along, he is here because of this after all.

“Oh? Searching for me, are you? Shouldn’t you state your name first, little human?” Scoffed at being called ‘little’, Tobirama wasted no time to answer him.

“I’m Senju Tobirama, and I have come here to ask you for a favor?” Paused, Tobirama looked down slightly, that’s why he missed the calculation look on Madara's face. Deep breath, the young Senju finally looked up, red orbs bored straight into onyx one, and he heard himself told him his wish. “I want you to kill me.”

Out of everything, this clearly wasn’t what Madara expected. Frowned lightly, the Uchiha knelt down in front of Tobirama, especial after he has noticed those scars on his little mate’s face. Truth it is still night time, but the light from the moon is more than enough to show him what he needed to see.

“Hold out your hand.” Confused by the wizard’s demand, but being a good boy, Tobirama still did as order. However, only when Madara rolled up Tobirama’s sleeves that he realized what the wizard wanted and quickly withdrew his hand, but it’s already too late. What needed to be seen already seen by Madara. And honestly, even if Tobirama wasn’t his mate, he will still get angry by what he just seen. For wizards like them, children are to be treasure, not to be abused like that. No wonder he could hear the faint scent of blood in the air, no wonder his mate seem so small... All the scars and bruises, it is all clear now.

 “Who did it?”

“. . .”

“Who.Did.It?”

Tobirama truly couldn’t understand it, why would the wizard even care? Wasn’t he the bad one? Shouldn’t he kill him right now? The young boy just stood like there, eyes glanced away as he was unsure about what to do.

“Tobirama... Answer me, or I will make you.” It wouldn’t that hard to spill the secret from the young boy, he has many ways to do it – which didn’t involve harming him.

“I... It’s my village” Muttered quietly, yet, he still avoided Madara’s eyes. “I’m a cursed to them... so I suppose it just make sense why they would hate me so much. But why do you even care anyway?”

“And why do you think you are a cursed to them?”

“Because...” Tobirama bit down on his lower lip, however, in the end he still told him, he knew he wouldn’t able to lie to him anyway. “Because I was bitten by a werewolf... They couldn’t kill me because Butsuma, I mean, the one who supposed to be my father, is the chief of the village, but that didn’t mean they can’t hurt me.” He would never accept that man as his father, Butsuma was supposed to protect him, but no, that man was the one who encourage the village to beat him, believe it will make him submit to them even when he changed into werewolf...

 Silence seem to fill the forest, and the small Senju wondered if it will be the same for the wizard as well, will he hates him for something he has no control over. After all, while they are both some creatures belong to the darkness, werewolf is known for their crazy and blood lust when the full moon appeared, Tobirama has heard story about it, but he never test it himself, after all, he only 11 right now. The changing only happened when he reached 12, which will be a few months later, he didn’t want to hurt his brothers in accident, that’s why he left and hoped to die before something bad happen.

“Do you hate them?”

Right now, Madara could fully understand the story, but why would he hates him? This is more than perfect, as a dark creature, he wouldn’t want his mate someone too naive or innocence, thus, it only pleased him when he knew Tobirama is the same like him. As for the werewolf’s blood lust, he believed he can make some potion for that.

Blinked at the wizard’s question, Tobirama wasn’t sure how to answer him. Will it changes anything?

“And what if I said yes? That I hate them, that I wish to kill them for everything they have done to me!” All the hate he always hides, there was nothing for him to hold it back anymore. He just wanted them dead, it was their choices to hurt him, so it only mutual that this is his choice, to hurt them back. He wasn’t born a demon, it was them who created this demon!

“Then give me your everything... I can fulfill your wish, I can kill them. All you needed to do is give yourself to me, from your mind, your heart, to your body and your soul...”

 Madara isn’t a good person, but as he said, children are to be treasure, not to abuse like that. He has no idea what Tobirama has gone through, but he will soon figure it out. Still, Madara believed it wasn’t something small, especial with the injures and bruises on the young Senju’s arms. He believed there is more under those old clothes. However, Madara didn’t expect Tobirama's answer to be something like that.

“No. I don’t need you to kill them for me.” Hands tightened into a fist, enough to dig his nails into his palm, Tobirama looked at Madara with every courage he ever has and spoke clearly each words. “I will kill them myself...That’s why I’m willing to give you my everything, as long as you make me stronger.” Enough to protect his brothers and enough to kill them all. They will pay for their crimes...

Blinked, Madara truly surprise by Tobirama’s words, honestly, he has expected the young boy to agree to it without hesitate, but this is even better. Unable to control himself, he bursted into laughter, pleased by his mate’s answer as he finished his examination. Yes, this one is perfect, but even if his mate isn’t, he will still keep him anyway. Who would turn away someone with such looks and a clever mind like that? It seems like his life will no longer boring, and he will have fun making Tobirama the strongest werewolf ever. After all, only the strongest could stand by his side, yes? He wasn’t just a dark wizard, he is the strongest one ever. Destruction – that’s what he will bring upon whoever dare to stand against him. However, whoever he considers as his family, Madara can promise he will give them nothing but glory.

 “Very well... Tobirama.” Chuckled, the man lifted up Tobirama’s chin and allowed their eyes to meet, red orbs crossed onyx one, and Tobirama felt as if there is nothing he can hide from this man. But at the same time, something inside him just ... fullfil. Confused, but he must admit, he doesn’t fear him. “Remember this, my name is Uchiha Madara and under my name, I swear to you... No matter what, I will always protect you and care you, I will make you the strongest werewolf ever and I will give you all the tool you need for your revenge.”

Eyes widen, there was barely anything for the young Senju to say, his mind blank as he just didn’t know what is happening anymore. Too many things run through his mind right now, but one thing he is sure of – Madara won’t lie to him. He has no idea why but he just knows! There is someone beside his brothers who trust in him and willing to protect him, someone that accept him no matter. It just too much for the young Senju and he just couldn’t hold it back anymore, tears ran down to his cheek and he threw himself at the wizard, clung to him with everything he has. He has no idea why Madara chose to help him or protect him, no knowledge why he trusts the man this much, but he willing to make a bet and follows him... It wasn’t like Tobirama has anything to lost, he already accepted his death, why would he cares now?

 “Shh.... I promise you, little one, I will never leave you...”

“I .... I promise you too, I will always stand by your side and follow your words.”

Just as they finished their sentence, red strings appeared out of thin airs and wrapped around their wrist. Perhaps Tobirama is too clueless for this, but someone like Madara could understand this so well. The more it wrapped around their arms, the more crazy they are for each other. It promised a love where they could never separate each other, a relationship where they love and love, even more than they ever know. Onyx eyes seems to lit up as this, amused by what just happened, but he barely made any comment, just hugged him closer. The night still young and this only the beginning, he has many things to explain and of course, he wouldn’t force himself on Tobirama. He believed his mate will fall for him eventually, and only when his small mate is at age that he would accept him.

“Come... it’s time to go home.”

And with that, the two figures disappeared, as if they have never been there in the first place.

 One fateful meeting, and that was all it needs to change the whole land. The villagers will never know just what have they brought upon their village, nor what have they lost. Too happy because the cursed child is gone, they never noticed the darkness from the forest seem to spread wider and wider...

Soon, his brothers would be found missing as well and within a few years... the village was no more. Destroyed by wild animal – but those who managed to escape know better than that, it wasn’t some wild animal, it was him, the one who they have scorned and abused, he has returned for their blood and even if they are well hidden now, they can still hear it, his taunts, his laugh and his bloody eyes... But is it just their imagine? They soon knew their answers when suddenly, they were transported to somewhere else.

“You can run, but you can’ hide.”

And screamed they did, because Tobirama was no longer alone, because he no longer the small kid they once abused. The Tobirama they knew no longer exist, in his place is now a mature man, with dark red eyes that promised a lot of pain, and beside him, the fearsome wizard laughed. They knew, they are doomed...

 [We stopped checking for monster under our bed when we realized they were inside us.]

 End.

#madatobiweek2018 #madara #tobirama #madatobi #madtob #madatob #alternate universe #au #werewolf tobirama #wizard madara #child abuse #bad Butsuma #alive Kawarama #alive Itama #myfanfic #day 6 #supernatural #ivysylph

[raendown]

Pairing: MadaraTobirama Word count: 1782 Summary: Tobirama's plans to keep Madara in the village are obvious yet unexpected. Everyone sees it but no one believes it.

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Follow Me To Reward Or Ruin

Years of working and living so close to her two cousins had given Touka the ability to tell all of Hashirama’s many sighs apart from each other. The one she’d just heard drifting out of the storeroom she’d passed a moment ago was most definitely the I’m-very-worried-about-my-brother sigh and for a moment she wondered if it was worth getting herself involved. All sorts of wild shenanigans could be set in motion with just a teensy bit of curiosity in the wrong place.

With a sigh of her own, Touka turned her steps around and reached for the door of the storeroom. That was one of his more sincere sighs and it usually meant that something was actually wrong. If the matter wasn’t very serious he would probably have used his the-world-is-confusing-and-out-to-get-me sigh. Or maybe the it’s-for-your-own-good-I-swear sigh. Had it been either of those she wouldn’t have even considered stopping.

Hauling the door open, she found Hashirama wedged in to the far corner of the tiny little closet, his arms folded on the sill of the small window and his face morose as he stared down at something on the ground below. 

“Tell me what’s got your panties twisted,” she demanded with little finesse. Unfazed by her typical bluntness, Hashirama release a puff of air that shifted his fringe. 

“Something is wrong with Brother,” he said. “I can’t figure out what he’s trying to do but I’m worried that he’s hurting himself again.”

“Hurting himself?” 

Frowning, Touka marched over and squeezed herself in next to her cousin, blithely ignoring Hashirama’s squawk of protest as he was unceremoniously shoved aside. She looked out through the window and scanned the world outside until a clump of white hair caught her eye and she glared down at Tobirama, trying to guess at what the hell was going on. 

The first thing she noticed was how insane he looked with his hair all sticking up like that and she wondered if he’d even noticed. Second she noticed how oddly he was behaving. All of his body language was just slightly off, very unlike his usual poised self, as he strutted around a very uncomfortable looking Madara. The two of them appeared to be trading quips and insults – not all that uncommon – and Touka squashed her face up against the window while she stared harder, trying to decipher was Hashirama was talking about.

“Hurting himself how?” she asked because while he never deliberately meant to do it, there were a lot of ways Tobirama had hurt himself in the past. 

“I don’t think he’s sleeping and I’m pretty sure he had more than three pots of coffee before I even got up this morning. He’s got some kind of idea in his head and you know how he gets when he can’t put something down.”

Rather than reply Touka only nodded. She did know, all too well. Tobirama was well-known in their clan for his manic episodes when he seemed to stop functioning until he had worked through some problem or another. 

“Any idea what it is this time?” 

Hashirama shook his head beside her. “Only that it has something to do with Madara. Tobi just won’t leave him alone lately.”

Touka hummed and tilted her head, trying to think outside the box the way her younger cousin might. He always came up with crazy ideas that no one else would conceive of and so she challenged herself to think of the most out-there, nonsense reason she possibly could.

From up here it almost looked like Tobirama was flirting with the older man but she immediately dismissed the idea as soon as it entered her mind. Not a chance was that actually the case. He had to have something more important up his sleeve than seducing his greatest enemy. What possible reason could he had for that? It made no sense. No, she was just going to have to keep thinking and maybe watch him a little more closely until she had figured out what was going on. 

-

Madara prided himself on being a smart man, no matter what impression his temper gave to others. He was a better politician that many would think, a genius of battlefield tactics, and he could run circles around most of the mathematicians he had met, much to his own smug delight. 

The one area in which his intellect regularly failed him, the one area he desperately needed some insight on right now, was interpersonal relationships. He and Tobirama had hated each other right from the moment they met and nothing about that had changed in the handful of years since their two clans had finally made peace and started a village together. Now things were different in a way he couldn’t put his finger on. Something strange was happening between the two of them that he just couldn’t define and it bothered him every time they came face to face. 

Like now. Madara narrowed his eyes at Tobirama and turned the younger man’s last comment over inside his mind, picking it apart. He was certain there was some sort of innuendo meant there but whether he was being threatened or not remained to be seen.

“I’m sure this conversation would be much more satisfying for both of us if you would just say whatever it is you want from me,” he growled, tired of playing games. Tobirama’s lips quirked up in a smirk that was jagged around the edges. 

“So many things, Madara. I want so many things from you.” 

“Well then?”

“And, believe me, all of them would most definitely satisfy.” 

“You’re still making no sense.”

Madara strained to keep a lid on his temper as Tobirama laughed. The sound of it was low and rumbling, like rock sliding downhill in the distance, and he thought he should have found it much more grating than he did. Had Tobirama’s laugh always had such an oddly pleasant sound? What a strange thing to notice. 

“If you’re not going to make any sense then just leave me alone. I do have things I’m supposed to be doing; I can’t waste my entirely day wasting time here with you. Especially if you’re not going to say anything useful.” 

“You’ll come back though.” Tobirama’s body was moving strangely as he turned, not at all his usual prowling movements. “I always make sure to keep them coming back for more.” With that last confusing statement he walked away, hips swaying from side to side as though he were fighting to keep his balance. For whatever reason, Madara couldn’t stop watching. 

He could have tried to stop the other from leaving, yelled at him to stay and demanded that he confess more clearly what it was he was up to. Something inside him held him back from doing so, some half-formed thought in the back of his mind that told him he wasn’t really prepared to deal with whatever it was just yet. By the way he couldn’t seem to peel his eyes away from the subtle shifting under the hem of that ridiculous blue kimono shirt, Madara agreed with that half buried thought. Perhaps something was wrong with both of them. He must not be feeling well if he was accidentally staring at Tobirama’s rear. 

When he realized just how long he’d been standing there watching the other man walk away, Madara huffed and forced himself to stop, turning around and purposefully setting off in the direction he had originally meant to go. Tobirama and his strange behavior seemed to be on Madara’s mind a lot lately and that needed to stop. He shouldn’t be wasting so much time and energy on a bastard like that. 

It was just such an intriguing mystery, though. If he didn’t know better he would almost think that Tobirama was trying to seduce him. 

Good thing he knew better.

-

Jittering hands reached for the freshly brewed pot of coffee as soon as he entered his workshop and Tobirama gave a lusty sigh of satisfaction at the taste of his favorite drink. No one else brewed coffee just the way he liked it. 

After downing most of the cup in one go he refilled it and sunk down in to the seat at his work bench. Papers were strewn every which way, most of them covered in his own rushed handwriting. Without looking at it, he very carefully covered up the one paper filled with nothing but a drawing in his own hand which he would rather no one else stumble upon. It would ruin all of his carefully laid plans if anyone were to carry tales about this to the subject of said drawing.

He was so close he could practically taste it. Everything was going exactly how he had imagined it. By the end of the month he would have Uchiha Madara’s undivided attention and after that it would take very little to push him over the edge in to a physical relationship of some sort. Beyond that his plans were admittedly a little fuzzy but Tobirama knew himself well enough to know that when the time came he would be prepared for anything. 

What was important was that Madara seemed less flighty lately, less prone to dark silences when he would stare out the window with a thoughtful expression, his eyes scanning the horizon. Instead his thoughts appeared to be turned inward now, staying within the village borders where they should be. 

If only he had thought of this a long time ago Tobirama just knew he could have saved himself a lot of headaches and sleepless nights. No more would he have to worry about the safety of the village and the innocent people who had chosen to live here. No more would he have to worry about his poor brother’s heart breaking, losing the other half of his childhood dream. It no longer seemed imminent that Madara might abandon the village and everything they had all worked so hard to build.

Rubbing his hands together briefly, Tobirama reached for his coffee and drained half the cup again before setting it aside and taking up his pencil. Just because everything was going the way he wanted it to right now didn’t mean he should take it easy and stop planning for the future. There were a lot of “what ifs” he hadn’t made contingency plans for yet.

Falling back in to his plans with ease, Tobirama snickered to himself since there was no one else there to hear him. He almost couldn’t believe how easy it had been so far. He was a genius. An absolute genius. 

He should have thought to seduce Madara years ago. 

#rae writes #inbox spring cleaning #madatobi #madara #tobirama #touka #hashirama #fanfiction #naruto shippuden

[mishamoonberry]

baby that’s what i do (part 1)

In which Kakuzu isn’t always Kakuzu, and Kakuzu is living as Kakuzu who is not truly Kakuzu, but he’s still Kakuzu, really.

(A crossover with Katekyo Hitman Reborn).

Available on AO3 and FFN

Kakuzu hasn't always been Kakuzu.

It's a bit hard to comprehend, and even he finds himself sometimes wondering if he's really Kakuzu, or he's not Kakuzu, or if he's really just trapped in some nasty genjutsu shit that makes him question his very own identity.

But he is Kakuzu, he knows that first and foremost. Kakuzu of Taki. Or, well, formerly of Taki, considering his slashed hitai-ate.

Sometimes, he'll frown at his own hitai-ate, the pain and somehow disappointment resurfacing whenever he remembered the day when he slaughtered the people within his own village. The disappointment goes both ways: to the people who turned their backs on him because he failed to kill the God of Shinobi and to himself, who found it easy to kill them in his bout of anger, disappointment and fury.

But, well, when he thinks over it again, it hadn't been easy. It weighed on him when he did it, when he had to do it for his own survival.

It was a do or die situation, and the shinobi inside him told him that he couldn't just run.

(He ran from Senju Hashirama, and look where that had gotten him into).

And so he took the village elders' hearts, a bunch of forbidden techniques in his arsenal (it would be useful, his mind told him that day), and went out of Takigakure, the place he'd treated as home until that moment, the place and the people he was willing to sacrifice his limbs and life for.

He took action in accordance to his fury and walked out with his dying will.

A sardonic smile lifts upon his lips. Dying will, alright.

He doesn't know what made it happen, nor the circumstances that triggered it. But when he was on his way out of the village, when he slaughtered elders upon elders and took their hearts, it was as if something was insistently whispering in his mind; telling him of when and where the elders would strike back during their battle, a strong intuition that he'd come to trust fervently.

It was as if fire had burst from his chest, his eyes, his whole body, engulfing him in calm tranquility in the midst of his fury.

It was flickering, but it was there, however it went ignored when he was on his way out of the village.

Only later on when he was settled far, far away from that wretched, traitorous, sickening place he once called as home--

Everything--

Spilled out.

He remembered of days with his family, and his Family, his friends and comrades and underlings. Remembered of days filled with laughter and warmth, remembered of days when he was afraid and scared for his friends that he dragged into this mess, for his future, for his safety and the people beside him. Remembered of days when he fought and fought and fought. Remembered of days when he won, when he lost, when he won and lost and won again. Remembered of days when he ruled, when he took leadership alongside his comrades.

He remembered of days passed and when he finally lied down and took his last breath.

Remembered of a life when he lived as Sawada Tsunayoshi, Vongola Decimo.

And even to this day onward, he will always remember it, will always finds himself reminiscing the distant, fond memory.

Perhaps when he remembered, he should have taken a complete U turn, should've turned into Sawada Tsunayoshi, instead of the angry and betrayed Kakuzu of Taki, who not even five hours ago had murdered his village's elders.

But in this life he's Kakuzu first and foremost, and Sawada Tsunayoshi second.

Their personalities mashed with each other, beliefs and cultures and values, all mixing into one. Some clashed, some mixed in together perfectly. In the cases when they clashed, one should win.

Kakuzu of Taki, and Sawada Tsunayoshi of the Vongola.

Both are different people,

but both are one and the same.

From that point on, he became Kakuzu who is not entirely Kakuzu, but still Kakuzu nevertheless.

From that point on, he became Sawada Tsunayoshi, who lived as Kakuzu, and will always continue living as Kakuzu.

He's Kakuzu now. And he will never change it for the world.

----

Money makes the world go round.

Kakuzu believes that in this world filled with treachery and back stabbing, money is one thing that he can always depend on.

He sometimes cannot believe he starts to think like Mammon, but nevertheless that is the one thing Kakuzu believes in. And his intuition agrees. After all, with money, he can pay someone that his intuition doesn't trust, into following his whims.

With enough money, he can live comfortably, wandering through this world and visiting many places in a comfortable pace, without having to worry much about what to eat, where to sleep.

Well, he's a shinobi anyway, so without money he can still live by. But with money, everything is easier.

He truly believes that Mammon must have influenced him somehow. It cannot be any other way. He did spend quite a lot of time with the Varia back then, despite Xanxus's characteristic wrath at almost everything from Sawada to Tsunayoshi. As angry and pissed off Xanxus was, he was a comrade he could always trust to protect Vongola.

And he did miss the guy. He missed everyone.

Nevertheless, they are mere memories for him now. Important memories, yes, but still just memories. He's Kakuzu now and he has to live on.

Perhaps some time in the future, he'll be able to gain another family.

His intuition seems to agree with him, and Kakuzu smiles behind his mask.

Soon, soon.

-------------

Akatsuki.

Kakuzu glances at the person (or is it?) who introduced himself as Pein, and to the strange creature called Zetsu. There's warning bells ringing inside his head, cautioning him that this... Pein, is dangerous.

And those eyes.

Ripples, ripples upon ripples.

A doujutsu? Truly, he hadn't focused much on doujutsu other than the Sharingan, more because he has no desire to obtain such eyes and that he hasn't encountered any ninja with particular doujutsus despite his many, many years as a nuke-nin. Perhaps it's because he hasn't found it necessary to travel to the Fire Country just yet, alongside him steering as far away as he can from Kiri thanks to its battles he has no interest in joining.

His knowledge in this particular purple doujutsu itself is almost close to none. But he knows enough that this person must be, in a way, dangerous.

Trust your intuition, Tsuna, Reborn seems to chide him inside his mind. Don't jump into conclusions, don't jump into the fight. Look, pay attention, and then fight back.

Kakuzu smiles lightly behind his mask.

I know, Reborn.

"Leader-sama wants you to join the organization," the creature resembling that of an Aloe Vera (and it's that just strange) says to him, and Kakuzu finds that it isn't a lie, not really. Something seems to tell him that there's something else though, something... more, in this Aloe Vera guy, but he cannot seem to find any that supports his intuition.

But a warning is a warning, and he trusts his intuition. Therefore, he shelves that particular thought for later and focuses on Leader-sama instead.

"And what is the purpose of this... organization?" He asks. "And why do you need me?"

"We are collecting S-rank nuke-nin to join our cause," Pein says ominously. "Your abilities and prowess have interested me, and therefore we are giving you a position within it."

So, an organization filled with traitors. His mind concludes. It doesn't sound like a place that Kakuzu wants to spend his time in. Especially when he doesn't know what this organization even wants.

And thus he asks just that.

"For peace," Pein answers swiftly, and Kakuzu is surprised when he finds true belief and conviction within the man. "Akatsuki aims for world peace, and it will create true peace with any means necessary."

"Peace," Kakuzu deadpans, "and how, I pray tell, will you be able to achieve such a thing?"

Despite believing in the notion in peace itself, Kakuzu cannot help but to be skeptical. No matter what, conflict will always happen, no matter how small. That's just how the world is. Effort can be done to minimize it, yes, things can be done to resolve it. But a true, whole peace, in a world filled with many differences, as well as a world filled with shinobi that seem to depend on conflicts to continue on living, an abstract notion of "true peace" seems to be... very lacking.

And to see group filled with terrorists aiming for world peace, even an insane man would question it.

"A person can truly desire for peace when they've experienced pain and anguish," Pein answers, and Kakuzu's brain almost short circuited when he realizes the implication within the name Pein. "If that must be done to have the people within this world to desire for peace, then so be it."

"So you're going to do genocide," he almost sneers, green eyes focusing on the minuscule twitch on Pein's eyebrow. "Or am I mistaken?"

"Perhaps," Pein answers, "The Akatsuki has established another way beside total annihilation of the people, Kakuzu of Taki, although you shouldn't be against it, given your reputation." The jab is as clear as day, but it goes ignored. After a small pause, Pein continues. "We are to collect the bijuu, and to do that, we need strong shinobi. I ask you again, Kakuzu of Taki, would you join the Akatsuki?"

Kakuzu almost balks. The bijuu? They want to collect the bijuu? What can the bijuu do to gain world peace save for being used to destroy villages?

He can believe that Pein is insane, for believing in this abstract notion of peace through receiving pain (how masochistic, Bianchi seems to comment inside his mind, sounding coy) and he's willing to do so either. Only, only, they're staring at him, expectant, and his intuition tells him that whatever he may think, there is no getting out of this.

"And what would you do," he tests, "if I refuse?"

Silence.

"I will fight you," Pein says, "if you win, I will let you go. If I win, you have to join us."

Yeaaaah. There is no getting out of this.

Kakuzu sighs. "On one condition," he tells them, "I shall be given the freedom to do whatever I want inbetween organization duties."

Pein seems to raise his eyebrow, "If you try to betray the Akatsuki, I will know."

The threat is as clear as day. Kakuzu simply stares at him in return.

"However," the orange haired man seems to amend, "bounty hunting is always welcomed."

Well, that explains that he knows exactly what Kakuzu likes to do.

"And vacation time," Kakuzu says, easily, like a child demanding candy from a mother.

Pein blinks. "Very well."

Beside him, Zetsu seems to tilt his head. "So you'll join?" The Aloe Vera's voice seems to echo even in a wide space such as this, and Kakuzu has to resist a shiver. There is definitely something wrong with this creature.

"Fighting two unknown people, one with a doujutsu, is a hassle," he simply replies, staring at them evenly. "And I trust my instincts."

"Oh, man, and I wanna see a fight, too."

"Too bad."

And thus, begins his days in the Akatsuki.

-----

Next chapter: Bad Habit (or is it?)

#kakuzu #naruto #misha writes #sprint helps me with this