Archive of Our Own

Uchiha Tajima blinks at the sky above, stars scattered above, pale moonlight filtering through the trees, casting light on the forest. It would be a beautiful night time picture, if not for the scattered dead bodies. If not for Tajima slowly bleeding to death in the middle of the carnage. The stars blur and merge for a moment, before Tajima blinks and they separate.

He has some regrets, as he bleeds out, that the sons he still has left are so young. That he left them without a word. It was only supposed to be a scouting mission, no harm, he didn’t even think of saying goodbye. He regrets not telling them he was proud. He regrets not showing Madara the proper way to lead the clan. He regrets that his sons are going to be at the mercy of the Elders until Madara was old enough to take control himself.

He doesn’t regret what’s placed him in this position, laying on his back, stomach sliced open, slowly bleeding to death.

With great effort, Tajima turns his head to the side. To the reason he was dying in the first place.

The boy couldn’t be more than ten, he was tiny. Blood matted so badly that Tajima couldn’t decern his actual hair colour, but his red eyes seem to shine, as does the blood splattered on his face, as he surveyed the slaughter-scape of dead Hagoromo. Tajima’s haori wrapped tightly around him. The only thing the boy was wearing after the Hagoromo had ripped his clothes off of him, the only thing Tajima had had the mind to do before jumping in to kill them all. Well, the second thing, after beheading the Hagoromo holding the boy, he had dropped the Haori on the boy.

The boy finishes his survey, and walks over to Tajima, kneeling next to him.

The boy considers Tajima for a few seconds before furrowing his brow slightly, “Why would you do that?” The boy asks, finding Tajima’s actions confusing for some reason.

Tajima opens his mouth, but all that comes out in blood in a horrid cough.

The boy’s brow smooths, and he tilts his head slightly, “You are going to die soon. You have no allies in the area.” The boy looks around at the bodies, and allows, “None that you haven’t killed at least. The Hagoromo are close allies to the Uchiha, and yet you did not hesitate to kill them. You have no issue with killing children, why did you take issue with them doing so?”

Tajima can’t speak, doing so was near impossible without coughing up more blood, but he doesn’t tamper down the anger and outrage on his face at the implication. There was a difference between taking care of threats and raping children.

“Why did you assume I could not have dealt with them myself? If they had just been torturing me, would you not have moved on without another thought?” Tajima... would really like to be able to talk to the boy. The boy rolls his eyes and looks at Tajima’s wound. “You are going to die. I do not like having debts, and if you die, then my life debt will go to your sons. And that, would be less than ideal.” The boy eyes Tajima’s wound critically, before glancing around the clearing for a little before turning back to Tajima. “I will save you, and the debt will be null. If you would mind not describing me or even mentioning me, that would be preferable, but I cannot force it.”

Tajima blinks, and part of him wants to laugh. Even if he could get back to his clan, it was unlikely he would be saved, his injuries were rather extensive. But the boy ignores Tajima, leaning forward and placing his hands on Tajima’s wound for just a second before they started glowing. Tajima blinks in surprised, for such a young child to be trained in iryoninjutsu... Tajima did not think it was possible. Think that someone so young could be so proficient in healing. Then again, it wasn’t common for Uchiha to be particularly skilled in iryoninjutsu. Especially compared to some clans, like the Senju.

Tajima closes his eyes, and tries not to anger himself thinking about how Butsuma had bounced back from an injury that would’ve killed any Uchiha, because the Senju had more iryoninjutsu users and techniques than any clan, and never shared them. At least to Tajima’s knowledge, they never shared them.

“You’re going to pass out.”

Tajima opens his eyes for a moment, surprised at the warning, before his consciousness is ripped from him.

Tobirama considers the adult he had saved, that had saved him in turn. If word ever got back to Chichi-ue about what he’s done...

Tobirama sighs, he hopes it doesn’t. He can’t even imagine what the retribution would be. Tobirama stirs the stew he had been making, it would speed up Uchiha-dono’s healing. Not that Tobirama should really be doing anything to help Uchiha-dono. The man was out of harms way, by all means Tobirama’s debt was paid.

However, Tobirama was still confused. Uchiha-dono saved him. Obviously, he was unaware Tobirama was a Senju. But even still, the Hagoromo and Uchiha were long time allies. Uchiha-dono’s actions could put their clans at war and, Tobirama is rather positive the Uchiha could not afford another war right now.

And yet.

Uchiha-dono had only been witness for a moment before he had been beheading the Hagoromo holding Tobirama, and giving Tobirama his haori before slaughtering them all. When Tobirama had asked, Uchiha-dono had looked so angry, so outraged, that Tobirama would suggest he’d be okay with the Hagoromo’s actions. It was confusing.

Tobirama shifts the Haori on his person. Regrettably, the Hagoromo had thoroughly destroyed his clothes, so, he was rather stuck with Uchiha-dono’s Haori as his only clothing option. He had grabbed a sash off one of the bodies to tie the Haori closed, and folded it up so it wouldn’t drag so much. Even with the end of the Haori folded up to reach his waist where he had tied it off, the Haori still fell past his knees. At least he still had his shoes.

Tobirama considers Uchiha-dono, and decides for good measure to steal his katana, taking the large sword and placing it next to him, opposite Uchiha-dono, on the other side of the fire. Tobirama stirs the stew some more, waiting for Uchiha-dono to wake up.

It takes a while.

When Uchiha-dono wakes up, it’s slowly. He seems confused at first, before he sits up, fully taking in his continued survival. “There’s a bowl next to you, you should take some stew.” Tobirama suggests, pushing the ladle he had been using to stir the pot to Uchiha-dono’s side of the fire before leaning back on his knees.

“I’m... alive.”

“I do not like debts. You’re alive, our debt is null.”

Uchiha-dono furrows his brow, clearly confused. “Most children, they get their lives saved they say thanks and move on.”

“It is debatable whether you actually saved my life, however, considering that by executing these Hagoromo you quite probably threw your clan into another war, saving your life seemed like a fair recompense.” Tobirama states, having thought about it, Tobirama could’ve dealt with the Hagoromo himself. Had it been in his plan to get raped? No. But it’s not like he couldn’t get out of it.

Well. The rape part... probably not, but men are typically weaker after immediate orgasm. At least according to the Kunoichi Tobirama’s talked with.

“You’re ten. You think you can kill six grown Hagoromo?” Uchiha-dono demands, his disbelief clear.

“I’m twelve.” Well. Next month. “And last week I killed six grown Uchiha, how much harder would they have fought?” Tobirama challenges.

Uchiha-dono narrows his eyes, clearly considering Tobirama in a new light. Good. “You were hunting them.” What. “Why?”

Tobirama blinks, caught off guard for a moment. But answers all the same, “They killed my brothers. This squad and the Uchiha one. I’m petty.” That’s what Hashirama always said. Tobirama was heartless and petty.

Uchiha-dono nods, seemingly accepting the answer, accepting Tobirama’s revenge as a valid reason for killing six of his men. This was... not going how Tobirama thought it would. “And getting raped, was that part of your plan?”

“No.” Tobirama admits, but shrugs, “It wouldn’t have been hard to deal with. At the point of orgasm, the brain releases several chemicals, which makes the subject exist in a rather drugged like state for a few seconds, it would be rather easy to slide a knife into someone’s neck at the time, further, it is rather unlikely their cohorts would expect an immediate attack from the child they just raped and I would probably have been able to get two to three more before they caught on and I actually had to fight, in which it’s three or two against one, and with the proper preparations, that’s not a difficult fight.”

Uchiha-dono blinks at him, rapidly, clearly trying to process something.

Tobirama rolls his eyes, “Eat. It’ll make you feel better.” As a point, Tobirama gives himself some stew first and makes a point of eating some to prove it’s not poison. Uchiha-dono gets with the program, and ladles some for himself. Tobirama remains silent as they eat, but he doesn’t eat much, he’s not actually all that hungry and he has to consider what he is to do about his actual mission. He still needed to assassinate them, but it would be rather difficult in the Haori and he didn’t exactly have any other clothes. It was only supposed to take a day, maybe two for travelling. He didn’t have any money to buy more clothes. The Hagoromo didn’t have much, regrettably. Tobirama’s checked. He might be able to buy some pants. Maybe if he looks pathetic enough he could get a simple old yukata.

Further, he couldn’t actually go home in the haori because the Uchiha fan was on the back.

He’s fucked.

“When I was dying,” Tobirama looks up to Uchiha-dono, who was focused on his bowl of stew, “you asked why I would kill them when I have no problem with child killers in my own clan.”

“I did.” Tobirama agrees. “I ended up deciding it was simply a way adults are off, like most things adults do.”

“Most things...” Uchiha-dono repeats dryly.

Tobirama tilts his head and well, he’s not exactly going to get another opportunity to tell a clan head off. He’s not Hashirama. One of them has to remain level-headed and not calling all the adults they know stupid. Even if Tobirama really wanted to. “At seven, I am old enough to die for your cause. I am old enough to kill. I am old enough to be tortured and undergo torture training. However, I am not old enough to hold an opinion on your cause. I am not old enough to object, to being sent out. Despite being considered a shinobi just as the others, I am expected to quietly follow orders while others can call issue with the orders.”

“And what problems do you have with your orders?”

“They’re stupid.” Uchiha-dono snorts, smiling softly in the way adults do when a they consider a child cute but stupid. It was, vastly irritating. “What’s the point of your war with the Senju?” Tobirama challenges. “What’s the reason behind the generations long war? Why have you been at war for so long? Why are you killing so many of your children every year to send them out as nothing more than cannon fodder? What is the point in fighting? Pride. Revenge. You’re all so blinded by your own egos and importance that you’d rather run your clans into the ground than even consider stopping. Why is it so impossible for adults to consider peace?”

Uchiha-dono shakes his head, and sighs, “You’ll understand when your older.”

“If.”

Uchiha-dono blinks at him. And Tobirama rolls his eyes.

“If I get older. For all you know, I could die tomorrow. Maybe one of your squads will get the jump on me. Maybe my mission will go bad.”

Uchiha-dono nods, silent for a moment before he changes the subject from Tobirama’s potential death, to the reason for fighting. “You called adults stupid for getting revenge, but are you not doing the same?” Uchiha-dono gestures to the bodies.

“One, you did this. Two, I’m twelve. I’m petty. Three, did you just compare your reasoning to a twelve-year-olds?” Tobirama points out arching an eyebrow.

“It’s more complicated than that, but its a basis that we have in common.”

“But it’s not.” Tobirama interrupts. “It’s not more complicated than my reasoning for going after these squads. Senju-dono kills your son, you kill his in turn, the boys brothers grow angry and take another son away to get out their need for revenge, and you just. Keep killing each other until everyone’s dead. When does it just, become too much? When do you decide it’s enough? When do you decide you don’t want to watch anymore of your family die?” Tobirama asks, then shakes his head. Off track. He needs to consider his next move. “Forget it. I need to get a change of clothes and finish my mission.”

“Even if I could convince the others of peace, Butsuma would never go for it.” Uchiha-dono states as Tobirama stands up.

Tobirama stills, because, he wasn’t wrong. Chichi-ue would never agree to peace. They’d have to make him. Senju bylaws dictate the clan head must be at least sixteen. Three more years... but how many more people would die? Hm. If he could perfect Edo Tensei, no one would notice Chichi-ue was dead, and he’d be nothing more than a puppet.

...Tobirama should not be considering ursurping Clan control at twelve.

But...

Maybe. He’ll think more on it later.

“Maybe he’ll grow just as tired. You’re both old, aren’t you? Down to two sons.”

Uchiha-dono sighs, “That is true. Will you sit? I did want to explain why I took issue with the Hagoromo.”

Tobirama considers that for a second before nodding and kneeling back down. “They did nothing worse than any Uchiha Child-killers.”

Huh. There goes Uchiha-dono’s bowl. Good thing it wasn’t Tobirama’s. It’s not like the Hagoromo care about their possessions anymore.

“I don’t suppose you know who those are.”

“I am just aware that sometimes the bodies we recover have semen inside and on them. Sometimes it’s post-mortem.”

“Why, are you aware of this?” Uchiha-dono asks, as if it physically pained him.

“I was interested in dead bodies, so I was allowed to shadow our coroner for several months.”

“Of course.” Uchiha-dono mutters before shaking his head. “There is a difference, between dealing with enemies, and raping them.”

“Battle-rape is not an uncommon occurrence. I have many cousins who have been raped by enemies. Capture and rape is not uncommon either.” Tobirama points.

“You’re twelve.”

“And I’ve killed dozens. I’m sent out to fight for my life weekly. It is fine for my cousins to be raped but not me?” It looked like Tobirama’s questions were causing Uchiha-dono actual physical pain. Wow. How terrible. “You’re okay with me being killed but not raped.” What kind of logic was that? If they were capable of it, the Hagoromo would’ve killed him afterwards anyways.

“That’s. It’s.” Uchiha-dono drops his face into his hands and groans. “Have your parents really not talked you through inappropriate shit?”

“Haha-ue is dead.” By Uchiha-dono’s hand, actually. “And Chichi-ue does not do this. However, if you mean that anyone having sexual inclinations toward me before I reach sixteen and they are an adult being bad and I should report it to the Elders immediately, I was given that talk. However, aside from the general statement of it being bad and reporting it, no further information was given. Furthermore, I do not understand what relevance that has to you deciding to potentially place your clan at war with saving my life. The Hagoromo were no doubt planning on killing me once done, why does it matter what they did before hand? Regardless I would be dead.”

“It’s, wrong.”

“Why.” Uchiha-dono snaps up to look at Tobirama like he was insane. “Why is my rape any more wrong than my cousins? Why would you want to kill your own clansmen for raping shinobi my age but do nothing to stop them raping my older couins? Why am I old enough to kill, to die, but being raped is a step too far for you?” Tobirama demands. Adults made no sense. Rape, in general, is a terrible thing. Tobirama can never bear to be around any of his clansmen when they talk about it, about committing it and being happy about it. He can’t do anything about it, but he doesn’t need to hear about it.

He might just commit murder and that would be bad. Well. So long as it could be traced back to him. If it couldn’t...

No. Not the time.

“It’s.” Uchiha-dono sighs. “Alright, you know why adults having sexual attraction to you is wrong, right?”

“No. I just know it is. No one has deemed fit to explain it to me.”

Uchiha-dono considers that for a second before deciding, “Yeah, I’m not doing that. Ask your dad.” Tobirama snorts, Chichi-ue wouldn’t answer either. Uchiha-dono ignores him, “It’s wrong. Any adult doing that to you, or any other shinobi your age, it indicates they would do that off the battlefield as well. Go after children in their own clan potentially. It tells that their sexual proclivities lie with children. And not only is that morally horrific, it’s dangerous too.”

“Why is sex at my age dangerous?”

“Ask-”

“I’m asking you, because you seem to hold the firmest opinion on this. There are those in my clan who have no care about what happens to a child before they are killed. You do. I have been told it’s wrong, and to report it. You’re the only one who’s said it’s dangerous. Further, I don’t plan on informing anyone of this and if I was to ask someone in my clan, I would have to either lie or tell them the truth. Neither of which I want to do.” Lying was tedious. Tobirama preferred to not with his own family.

“You should-”

“It wouldn’t do anything. They never got into the penetrative act, I am not injured. This was not my mission. There is no reason to report any of this. Why is sex at my age dangerous?” Tobirama persists.

Uchiha-dono looks at him for a second before sighing, rubbing his forehead, “Your body is not, ready for sexual activities yet. Penetrative sexual acts can cause lasting damage on your body at this point in time. Depending on how bad, it can cause incontinence, chronic pelvic pain, lower pain tolerance, distrust of adults.” Tobirama already doesn’t really trust adults. “Honestly your doctors could probably give you a far better in depth explanation of everything that could happen, that’s just what I know off the top of my head.”

Tobirama nods, that was fair. “Could it kill me?”

“Not, to my knowledge. Not unless they were very rough.” Uchiha-dono states, clearly uncomfortable.

“Then I fail to see why it matters.” Tobirama probably shouldn’t have found Uchiha-dono’s deeply pained groan so funny, but... the man was so dramatic. “How is it any different from any other torture tactic? I can name several off the top of my head that could cause all of that and worse! The Uchiha have tortured children before, our children who’s bodies we’ve gotten back, the damage is clear as day on them. How is torturing a child like that okay but not raping them? Either you’re stupid, needlessly empathetic regarding children you really shouldn’t care about, or you’re fully aware rape in general is absolutely horrid and disgusting but are so set in your ways the only way you can rationalize being angry about it is when it’s directed at children. Or perhaps you don’t agree with killing children but can only justify stepping in when they’re being raped because everyone agrees that it’s wrong.” Tobirama points out. “So, unless you’re an idiot, you know something you and your clan currently doing is wrong but refuse to put in the effort to change it and console yourself with the compromise of saving children being raped. So. You’re stupid regardless.”

Uchiha-dono clearly did not like being called stupid by a twelve-year old, but, he doesn’t actually argue so Tobirama stands up. “What’s your mission?” Uchiha-dono asks as he does so.

“None of your business. First, however, I need to change and get into actual clothes. So, a mission that should’ve taken one day will probably end up taking two, without considering the travel time for returning home.” Tobirama states, slightly irritated. He couldn’t explain away more than a day’s delay, not unless he wants to build a capture story. Tobirama huffs, “I’m leaving. Do what you wish with the bodies, I don’t care.” And with that, Tobirama jumps away.

Tobirama stops at a river to wash off the blood and, makes the decision to turn the Haori inside out, at least the fan wasn’t so apparent. He could, probably, complete his mission in it and raid his target’s closet, hopefully. The only issue would if someone saw him with the fan on his back and decided to give the Uchiha the credit. Then all hell would rain down on him.

When he does finally finish his mission, a day late, he steals some money from the target and buys some clothes he could actually go home in. He considers the Haori once he’s changed. By all means, the safe and logical thing to do was throw it away. Toss it in a river. Burn it. If Chichi-ue ever caught him with it he’d be dead.

But.

Uchiha-dono stepping in was the first time that any adult stepped in to help him. Adults, for his entire shinobi life, had been a unilateral enemy. They never helped him in he was in trouble, either he would get out of it himself, or he would die. Adults, in general, didn’t like him. Haha-ue would say he was too smart, too observant, and too blunt for his own good. That it made the others uneasy, and given his colouring, particularly his eyes... well, Haha-ue did say he only grew up with them due to Chichi-ue’s soft heart.

(Where she got Chichi-ue having a soft heart, Tobirama didn’t know. Nothing about Chichi-ue gave that impression.)

And well. Hashirama got to be a sentimental idiot all the time. Couldn’t Tobirama afford it just once?

He’d need to cover the fan though. He’s not stupid. Tobirama seals the haori in a scroll and then checks how much money he still had. Probably enough for a piece of fabric. Maybe. It’s not like he was supposed to have any money on this trip at all. So, he had no qualms about going into the village and buying some black fabric that would, probably match. It’s not like anyone should see it, he was only covering the fan in case someone did.

When Tobirama returns to the compound, a day late and in different clothes, Chichi-ue immediately called Tobirama into his office, barely allowing Tobirama the time to put his mission supplies in his room, before he was required to kneel in front of Chichi-ue.

“What happened?” Chichi-ue demands, and Tobirama immediately starts in on his mission report. By the time he finished, Chichi-ue was rubbing one of his temples. “You know, I don’t recall you owning that set of clothes.” Chichi-ue drawls.

“I did not.” Tobirama agrees.

“Why did you change?”

“My old clothes were unusuable.”

“Why.” Chichi-ue demands, glaring.

Tobirama blinks, not, entirely sure why Chichi-ue cares that much. They were just clothes. Tobirama had replaced them, there wasn’t a need to look into anything. But, if Chichi-ue wishes to know, “On my way to the target, I encountered a Hagoromo Hunter Squad, they ruined my clothes.”

“Did you, buy new clothes because you got blood on the old ones?” Chichi-ue asks, trying to understand the logic behind that. “I- We, did teach you to wash blood out, right?” Chichi-ue asks, more to himself than Tobirama.

But Tobirama answers regardless, “You did. And I did not. They destroyed the clothes.”

“H- How?”

Tobirama blinks, “Chichi-ue, this has no bearing on my mission nor it’s completion. The only affect this had was that it delayed me by a day, I did not think the delay had much affect on my ability to complete the mission nor the sancity of the mission.”

Chichi-ue stares at Tobirama for a second before dropping his face into a hand, “I’m not going to like this.” He mutters, very much to himself before he straightens to look at Tobirama, “As your clan head, my interest stops at your mission, correct. As your father, I am vested in your continued survival, so what did the Hagoromo do to destroy your clothes?” Chichi-ue demands.

The logic was sound. So, despite not wanting to ever talk about it, Tobirama nods and answers, “They attempted to rape me.”

Chichi-ue’s eyes went wide, and he seemed to freeze. Tobirama wasn’t entirely sure if he was breathing. He was leaning forward to make sure Chichi-ue hadn’t suffered some sort of attack, when Chichi-ue seemed to come back to life. “They what?!”

Tobirama flinches back at the loudness, blinking in surprise. He did not mutter nor stutter. He spoke clearly and concisely. So, Chichi-ue probably didn’t need Tobirama to repeat himself. “Chichi-ue?”

“You. Go to the hospital. Now.”

“They did not succeed.” Tobirama objects, not seeing the point in going to the hospital. He wasn’t injured! “They got my clothes off, I suppose one of them had been groping my butt but that was as far as they got.”

“Tobirama, I trust in your abilities, but I highly doubt you were able to deal with the Hagoromo on your own.”

Well. Chichi-ue wasn’t wrong. “Correct. I did not. Another shinobi stepped in. He found issue with the Hagoromo raping a child.”

Chichi-ue’s face was in his hands, he seemed to be breathing deeply for several seconds before he drops his hands, “And you didn’t mention this other person before why?”

“I did not think it was relevant.”

“Will you-” Chichi-ue sighs, and mutters, “Different child, same headache.” Tobirama pouts at that. He was not the same headache as Hashirama. “Just. Tell me everything that happened with the Hagoromo Squad.”

Tobirama nods once, and obeys, reciting what happened, leaving out a few parts. Like that is was an Uchiha. That the man was injured. Tobirama just said the man passed out and he felt obligated to stay until he woke up to make sure he wasn’t dead since, technically one could argue he saved Tobirama’s life.

Chichi-ue looked at him like he was Hashirama and had just said something he considered monumentally stupid. “He did save your life. I don’t care, he saved your life. Fuck. Do you know who it was?”

And Tobirama.

Tobirama looked at the floor in front of him and did not answer. He had been trying to avoid this conversation, thank you. Especially this part.

“Tobirama.” Chichi-ue growls.

“You’re going to be mad.”

“...Oh fuck it was an Uchiha.” Chichi-ue bemoans, dropping his face into his hands with a whine.

“It was Uchiha-dono.” Because, well. How much worse was that?

“What.” Tobirama didn’t have a response, meeting Chichi-ue’s eyes blankly when he looks at Tobirama, Chichi-ue just groans again and drops his face into his hands. “Fuck. I cannot have that man lording a life debt over me.”

“Well. I don’t believe he recognized me, I had a lot of blood in my hair. And-” Tobirama snaps his mouth shut, which, was stupid, because Chichi-ue lifts his head up to stare at Tobirama suspiciously.

“And?” He prompts.

“...You’re going to be mad. More mad.”

“Tobirama, I don’t think it’s physically possible.”

“There is no life debt because I saved his life?”

“WHY?!”

“Because if he died, the life debt I would owe would go to his sons, who would be controlled by the Elders who would be as-sh-mean about it.”

“You can swear for fucks sake and that does not validate what you did! If he died no one would have known!” Chichi-ue objects.

“You don’t know that. By the time I was returning, they were already talking about an Uchiha killing a Hagoromo squad, it could have very easily gotten back to the Uchiha. Further, I did it so I wouldn’t have to talk about any of this because if the debt was voided there was nothing to tell you.” Tobirama admits, and hunches his shoulders a little at Chichi-ue stare. “I did not see the point in informing you of this, it had no bearing on my mission and there are no consequences to my actions. It’s as if it never happened.” Tobirama admits, and Chichi-ue was silent in turn. He was silent for a while.

“Why the fuck did Tajima even jump in?!” Chichi-ue explains, clearly not understanding.

“He finds issue with child rape. He was not good at explaining himself.”

“You talked to him?”

“...I was curious. The Uchiha are well known for child killing, they have tortured children, and we sometimes locate bodies killed by their squads with semen still inside.”

“We what?!”

Tobirama blinks, “You should. Talk to Tanaka-san.” Because Tobirama wasn’t getting into that and he also didn’t understand how Chichi-ue didn’t already know but. Also not the point. “So I asked him why he found issue with my raping but not anything else. He could not give me a firm answer as to why me being raped was unforgiveable, but older shinobi being raped was, me being killed was, me being tortured was, even though the Hagoromo would’ve attempted to kill me immediately afterwards regardless. He said there was dangers associated with being raped at a young age, but nothing he said was anything that couldn’t happen with some other form of torture. In general, I found his reasoning lacking.”

Chichi-ue was once again holding his head in his hands. “Tobirama. Do me a favour. Don’t go onto the battlefield anytime soon.”

“That is up to you Chichi-ue.”

“I know. Don’t let me. I don’t need Tajima figuring it out and asking questions.”

“About what?”

“Anything.” Chichi-ue seemed rather distressed at that.

Tobirama just nods. Adults don’t make sense. They never do. “Yes, Chichi-ue.”

“Just. Go unpack. I still want you to go talk to a doctor. Just to be safe.”

Tobirama does not sigh nor roll his eyes at the remark, despite wanting to. Instead, he nods, stands, and departs. He could go to the doctor after he hides the Fan. It’s not like he needs to go to the doctor with any urgency.

Upon returning to the compound, Tajima immediately visits a doctor, just to be sure everything was fine. Wataru-san raises an eyebrow when Tajima requests to be examined, but does so all the same. When he comes out perfectly healthy, Tajima tells Wataru how injured he’d been, and the doctor just stares. For a solid two seconds before he reexamines his results, but finds them the same.

“Where did you find them? How?”

“It was a twelve year old I saved from being raped. He said it evened out a debt.”

Wataru-san blinks at him, then holds his hand out to the side, “Pale, red eyes, white hair, looks younger, blunt to an extreme?”

“...Didn’t see the white hair but, yeah.”

“Did you get his name? Last time I met up with some other doctors, they had a few tales but no name, nothing identifying, just that the kid verbally ripped them to shreds, and had insane iryoninjutsu.”

“...No but that, was basically what happened. He does this often?”

“Apparently. But only when debts are involved. He doesn’t help people unless they’ve done something to indebt him to them. Some people say he’s a yokai, and that debts are the only way he can help people.”

Tajima shakes his head, “No, he’s a clan brat. Had a lot to say about being sent to die at seven but not being able to have an opinion. Also could not understand why I had a problem with child rape but not child killing or adult rape. I, do not envy whatever parent has to deal with that.”

Wataru-san snorts, “Let me guess, he out-logicked you and then called you an idiot.”

“Repeatedly. Please tell no one I was outsmarted by a twelve year old.”

Wataru-san laughs and shakes his head, when he quiets he asks, “What was his logic? Regarding child rape?”

Tajima blinks, not sure why Wataru-san would be interested, but he obliges, “It’s no different from any other torture we would do to a child. The lasting effects could be mimicked with any other torture technique. He was going to die regardless, so what did it matter what the Hagoromo did with him before? He asked why I had a problem with him being raped, but not him dying. Not battle rape or capture rape. Not him being tortured.”

“And you didn’t have an answer.”

“Do you?”

Wataru-san considers it for a few seconds before shrugging, “I don’t agree with killing children period. I understand sometimes they’re assassins, sometimes they’re our enemy, but they’re still kids. It’s horrifying, the amount of small bodies that come in here. How many parents I have to tell to say goodbye because their kid is dying and there is nothing we can do to save them.”

Tajima looks away from Wataru-san, he knows this. He knows how many of their children die. He hates it. “He asked me what is keeping our war going. Why we can’t just stop. Then he answered it himself.”

“And what is the omnipotent twelve year olds opinion?”

Tajima looks back at Wataru-san, “That we’re too proud and full of revenge to stop. We can’t see past our own egos to the horrors we’re putting our clan through.” Tajima’s shoulders droop. “Wataru, I am so tired of our children dying.”

“The elders won’t agree to raising the age.”

“I know.” He had barely convinced them to let Izuna stick to courier missions. He’s pretty sure they only agreed because he was desperate. Sometimes, he really hated the elders. “Wataru, could you do me a favour?”

“Of course, Uchiha-dono.”

Tajima snorts, “You don’t even know what I’m going to ask.”

“So long as it doesn’t involve killing anyone, I trust you.”

“Thanks.” Tajima retorts dryly, looking around the room before he asks, “I want you to subtly find peoples opinions.”

“Opinions?”

“On the war. I want, I want to know if everyone is as tired as I am. I’ve buried three sons, only one reached his teenage years. If everyone is tired, I might be able to browbeat the Elders. But, I don’t want anyone knowing it came from me.”

“Yes, Uchiha-dono. I will have the atmost of discretion.” Tajima nods and exits the hospital. His health check done, he was going to give his sons the biggest of hugs. To which Izuna gags and tries to wriggle out of, and Madara just stares at him like he’s gone crazy. He was so glad to be home.

“What do you mean an adult has to go with me?” Hashirama whines, pouting up at Chichi-ue. Tobirama does not roll his eyes, instead he focuses on the medical texts he had liberated from Tanaka-san.

“There are Hagoromo squads in our land, one of them tried to rape Tobirama. Neither of you are leaving this compound without an adult.”

“What are they going to do?” Tobirama mutters, not, entirely meaning to, but, he really couldn’t help himself. When had an adult been helpful?

Obviously, both Hashirama and Chichi-ue heard that. “And what does that mean?”

Tobirama. Tobirama debates how to answer that. And after minor thought settles on, “Nothing Chichi-ue. Sorry, Chichi-ue.”

“No. You meant something. Please don’t make this like pulling teeth Tobirama.” Tobirama winces at the metaphor, Chichi-ue had pulled out their baby teeth. And it had hurt. A lot.

“...Just, adults have never been particularly helpful. If I go out on a mission with one, they typically leave me to fend for myself even if they could help.” Tobirama states.

“What.” And now Chichi-ue sounds angry. “What do mean they don’t help?”

Tobirama would really like for this to stop happening. He doesn’t want to talk about this stuff. But now he has too. “Haha-ue said it was because they do not like me. Or they consider me old enough to fend for myself.”

“...She died when you were eight.” Chichi-ue buries his face in his hands and groans.

“So. Do I have to take an adult with me? Tobi’s not wrong in that they aren’t really helpful.”

Chichi-ue sighs and straightens, placing his hands on his hips. “Alright. Both of you, get out of the compound. Don’t come back until sunset. Stay together. If I hear you separated, I’m getting Yuna to make you a pair shirt and you will both hate it.”

“Yes, Chichi-ue.” Tobirama and Hashirama chorus and Tobirama sets down his texts to follow Hashirama out of the house.

“Hey Tobi, what’s a pair shirt?”

“I do not know. I do not want to know.” Tobirama states as they walk through the compound. Hashirama clearly has a destination in mind, and Tobirama doesn’t mind letting him take the lead. However, as they get close, Hashirama slows.

“Um. Tobi. Would you, mind leaving?”

“Yes. Chichi-ue wants us to stay together.” Tobirama did not want to know what a pair shirt was by experience.

“Right, I know. But. I’m. Well. I made a friend, but I don’t want Chichi-ue to know.”

“Ok?” What does that have to do with Tobirama?

“So, could you leave so I can meet them without Chichi-ue finding out?”

Tobirama gives Hashirama a flat look. “I do not tell Chichi-ue everything.”

“You do too!”

“I tell him anything he asks of me.” Tobirama states, crossing his arms. “Why do you want this friend to be a secret anyways?”

“I just, do. Please? Can you just leave us be?”

Part of Tobirama wants to give into Hashirama’s puppy eyes. The larger part has been dealing with them for a decade and does not care. “No. Anija, how angry do you think Chichi-ue will be when he inevitably finds out we separated at your request after I was the one almost raped?”

Hashirama blinks, “Wait that’s true?!”

“Why would Chichi-ue lie-”

“I don’t know! How come you didn’t tell me?!”

“I just- Chichi-ue did!”

“He lies all the time! Like that month long mission he sent you on because an Elder tried to kill you.”

“...Anija. That was the truth.”

“What?!”

“Why do you think Chichi-ue lies so much?”

“Because you’re never affected!” Tobirama blinks at the exclamation. Hashirama seemed to be spiralling, badly. “You never react or comment on anything! Chichi-ue will tell me Haha-ue tried to kill you and you just. Sit there. Right next to her, letting her brush your hair without a care! Chichi-ue will say someone tried to gouge out your eyes and you’re right there, calmly eating supper without even a glance up! You never care about anything so I just. Assumed he was lying. He said you were raped and your only comment was that adults aren’t helpful! Which, they’re not, but!” Hashirama seemed rather distressed and confused.

Shame Tobirama is just as confused and not entirely sure what to do with the distress. “They, happened. Nothing I do will change that. Distancing myself from Haha-ue wouldn’t undo that she tried to kill me, it would’ve made all of you uncomfortable so I did not bother. People don’t like my eyes, it’s understandable they might take action, Chichi-ue stopped them before they could do anything really so it didn’t matter. Some Hagoromo tried to rape me, someone stopped them before they could do more than take off my clothes, it doesn’t matter.” Tobirama states calmly.

“Yes.” Hashirama argues. “Yes it does. Why don’t you see that? Why can you understand that that sort of stuff happening matters and it affects you!”

“It doesn’t.”

“God you don’t mourn, you don’t react, you’re not affected, nothing matters, are you even human?!” It was stress. Hashirama was stressed. That was why he was lashing out. He just found out everything he thought a lie was the truth, and further, Tobirama was preventing him from seeing his friend.

Tobirama can’t stop himself from flinching at the words though, looking down and away. Entirely missing the instant regret that flashes across Hashirama’s face and his attempt to reach Tobirama that stops half way.

“You have five minutes. Meet your friend. I’ll stay here.”

“Tobi-”

“Just go.” Tobirama orders, sitting down against a tree, knees against his chest and still not looking at Hashirama.

Hashirama hesitates a second more before leaving, heading toward the Naka.

When Hashirama gets there, Madara was already waiting for him. “Madara!”

“You’re late!” Madara comments.

Hashirama winces, “Um. Actually I’m not staying either. See, Chichi-ue ordered me and Otouto to stick together when we leave the compound because he almost got raped last week so, unless you want to hang around my very prickly Otouto I’m gonna go. I’ll try to meet you soon though! When Chichi-ue lets up on the rules.”

Madara grabs his arm, “Um. You, you could bring him over. I don’t mind.”

Hashirama blinks, and brightens, “You sure?”

“Mmhmm.”

“I’ll be right back!” Hashirama exclaims and disappears into the trees. “Tobi!”

“Shush.” Tobirama hisses, eyes closed, hands against the ground. “We need to go.”

“What? Why?”

“There are Uchiha nearby. Two. Young but, they’re still dangerous and we don’t have any weapons.” Tobirama pointedly gestures at their lack of weaponry. “Chichi-ue doesn’t want us back in the compound, but, we should head somewhere safe.”

“Nono, Tobi, my friend is here. He wants to meet you, come on! It’s safe.” Hashirama urges, pulling Tobirama up by his arm. Tobirama narrows his eyes suspiciously.

“Are you friends with an Uchiha?”

“Nooooo. Look, I’m sorry about what I said earlier. I know you’re human Tobi. I know stuff hurts you, you just react differently than me, and sometimes it confuses me. But I shouldn’t have said that. I really am sorry. I didn’t mean it.” Hashirama apologies, entirely genuine, also entirely to distract Tobirama from his sensing.

“You know. Apologizing with the intent to distract me removes the sincerity of your apology.” Tobirama points out dryly, arching an eyebrow. “But I know you don’t mean it. You never mean it, you just get upset.”

Wow. Hashirama really needs to work on thinking before speaking if Tobirama is so used to his outbursts that he is already confident Hashirama never means a cruel word he says to Tobirama. Especially with that reasoning. That was reasoning Hashirama might use for Chichi-ue. Tobirama using it with him... hurts, but also opens certain eyes.

“Why are you hugging me?” Tobirama demands, irritated but not pushing Hashirama off.

“I never mean a word because I love you and nothing will ever change that. No matter how you act, I will always love you.”

“I am painfully aware of that Anija. Why are you reminding me?”

“...No reason. Let’s go meet Madara.” Hashirama exclaims, pulling Tobirama with him through the forest.

Behind him, Tobirama mouths the name, and winces, silently praying Hashirama was not that stupid.

Upon reaching the Naka, Tobirama’s prayers were ignored. Hashirama was that stupid. At least he understands why Hashirama doesn’t want Chichi-ue to know. “You’re a moron.” Tobirama states, glaring directly at Hashirama so Madara didn’t think it was directed at him.

Hashirama pouts, “Why?” He asks, not even arguing.

Tobirama arches an eyebrow, “If you don’t know why, you’re a bigger moron.”

“Your brother’s a delight Hashirama.” Madara remarks, clearly amused.

Hashirama sticks his tongue out, and happily introduces them, “Madara, this is Tobirama. Tobirama, this is Madara. We decided on no clan names.”

Of course they did. “Right. And do we get to meet your brother?”

“My, brother? Why? He’s not around.”

“He’s hiding in that tree.” Tobirama points and Madara whirls around immediately. The hidden Uchiha chakra spikes in fear and then a yelp can be heard from the trees as Madara rushes into them. Tobirama turns to Hashirama and mutters, “Chichi-ue is going to be so pissed.”

“Tobi! Don’t tell him!”

“I won’t. But he’ll find out. And he’ll be pissed.”

“...Who says he has to find out?”

“Tou-san told me to do it!” The other Uchiha was screeching as Madara came back to the Naka, holding the smaller Uchiha by the back of his shirt.

“Because. If he reports back, their father will kill you.” Tobirama hisses lowly before shutting up as Madara and his brother come within earshot. Hashirama looks concerned for a moment before he masks it with cheer.

“Hi! I’m Hashirama, this is Tobirama!” Hashirama greets.

Madara shakes his brother when he just stay silent, glaring at them. The boy makes a face before saying, “I’m Izuna.”

“Nice to meet you!” Hashirama says cheerily, before elbowing Tobirama.

“Your stealth is shit.”

“Tobi!”

“It is! A child could’ve found him. A child did find him!” Tobirama exclaims, he really hated referring to himself as a child, but, he technically was.

“How would I improve it?” Izuna asks, wriggling himself out of Madara’s grip.

Tobirama sighs, “It’d be better to get an adult from your clan to teach you.”

“Ew. Adults are stupid.”

“Glad we all agree on that.” Madara mutters.

“They are. However, they typically have more knowledge on ninjutsu and survival skills than us.” Tobirama points out. “I can teach you what I know, if you’d like. But having a teacher in your clan would be better as they can monitor your progress more closely.”

Izuna squints at him. “How old are you?”

“Eleven.”

“Twelve.”

“Tobi.”

“You called yourself ten when you were eight.”

“...I’m the eldest! And also I forgot my age.” Hashirama admits, which, Tobirama was already aware of.

“This one is eleven too.” Madara interjects.

“Oh cool! You can finally play with someone your own age!” Hashirama exclaims happily.

“Anija, I do not interact with children my age because they are idiots. Just as I prefer to not interact with most adults, because they’re stupid.”

Izuna scoffs, “What? No one’s smart enough for your big brain?”

Tobirama blinks at him, “I simply do not find purpose in dumbing myself down to fit in with their ideas for how an eleven year old should behave. If I acted as they wish, I would’ve died eleven times over. Did you wish to learn how to hide your chakra?”

Izuna considers him for a few seconds before nodding, “I guess. If you have anything good to teach me.”

Tobirama rolls his eyes and ushers Izuna away from the other two to walk him through hiding his chakra. Izuna was minorly succeeding when he decided to start talking to Tobirama about something other than training. “Can you heal people?”

“No.” Tobirama immediately refutes. Technically, he wasn’t allowed to practice Iryoninjutsu without Tanaka’s supervision. But Tanaka-san had said it was more of a formality and he just didn’t want to deal with anyone’s bitchfit about a twelve-year-old healer. So. “Why?”

“Tou-san says the Senju are the best healers. They can heal wounds every other clan would consider fatal. Apparently he got badly wounded a few days ago, and a kid my age healed him up perfectly. Do Senju have medics that young?” Izuna asks, resting his chin on his knees after pulling them up to his chest.

“I thought we weren’t supposed to be talking about clan stuff.” Tobirama remarks dryly.

“...That’s Madara and Hashirama’s rule. Who says we need to follow it?” Izuna points out after minor thought.

And Tobirama could see the logic in that. It’s not like either of them agreed to not talk clan stuff. So he answers Izuna’s question. “Rarely. Chichi-ue forced Anija into learning Iryoninjutsu after we discovered he self-heals at an accelerated rate.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means, a year ago I cut off his hands because he was being clingy, and within an hour he had his hands back and there was a spare set on the ground.”

“What.”

“...I have them in a jar.” Tobirama states, not entirely sure what else to say.

“We have our eyes in jars. Well. They’re in a shrine.” Izuna seems to curl into himself a bit more. “I don’t want to awaken my Sharingan, I don’t want my eyes in a jar after I’m dead.” Tobirama’s... not entirely sure what to do with that so he just pats Izuna on the back.

“Why did you ask if I was a healer?”

Izuna was silent for a while, eyeing their older brothers who were gleefully skipping rocks and laughing, before quietly admitting, “I overheard one of our doctors, Wataru-san, talking. I’m not that bad at stealth. With how Tou-san described his injury, he should’ve been marked as dead. The only thing any clan could’ve done was make his last hours peaceful. But Senju are stronger in Iryoninjutsu than any other clan. Wataru-san said the only option was that a Senju healed Tou-san.”

“Why would a Senju heal Uchiha-dono?”

“I dunno. I was gonna ask you.”

“Why does it matter?” Izuna blinks, turning to look at Tobirama, who shrugs. “Why? Regardless of the answer, your father is alright.”

“I guess. I just. I dunno. If they were friendly, I wanna learn.”

“You want to learn how to heal?”

“I wanna learn the Senju’s secret Iryo techniques. It’s not fair that they hoard life-saving techiques.” Tobirama hums and stands. Izuna wasn’t wrong. Most of their medics raged at the Elders about hoarding their research. Chichi-ue had long learned to not take sides and steer clear of the arguments. Tobirama walks over to the river and does a simple jutsu catching several fish and taking them back to Izuna. “I’m not hungry.”

“Good. They’re not for eating. Do you have any experience in Iryoninjutsu?”

As expected, Izuna’s answer was, “No.”

So Tobirama dropped most of the fish beside him and them placed one in front of Izuna. “First lesson, revive the fish.”

Izuna narrows his eyes, “I thought you didn’t know how to heal.”

“I’m a shinobi. I lied.” Tobirama deadpans. “I also healed Uchiha-dono last week, but I’d rather you not tell that one about it.” Tobirama requests, pointing to Hashirama. “He overreacts. To everything.”

Izuna snorts and leans forward. “How do I, revive a fish?”

And so, Tobirama walks Izuna through the basics of healing. Izuna seemed to get a good grasp on the logic, the science behind it and the amount of chakra needed for it.

The fish explodes.

“Ew.”

Tobirama snorts and picks off the fish guts that got onto his face. “Don’t worry. They always explode. It’s why we use fish and not people.”

“...Did, did we ever use people?”

Tobirama shrugs, “Probably in the beginning. No one does anymore. Not that I know of at least.” Tobirama grabs another fish. “Try again. Do you know what you did wrong?”

“...Too much?”

“So try less.”

“You’re not helping me much.” Izuna notes with irritation.

“With this part, I find trial and error best. Besides, you can get further instruction from your own medics. I’m not teaching you any complicated healing until you’re at least a novice healer.” Tobirama states.

Izuna narrows his eyes, “So. I can’t tell Tou-san about Madara’s Senju friend until then.”

Tobirama shrugs, “If you want to learn.”

“You’re evil.”

“...Maybe.”

“I don’t think Tou-san knows you healed him.” Izuna comments as he starts with the new fish.

“Unlikely. My hair was covered in blood and I didn’t have any Senju crests on me. Red eyes, aren’t uncommon in certain areas.”

“Neither is white hair.”

“Yes,” Tobirama agrees, “but them together and my complexion leads to my condition called Albinism which can be identifiable.”

“I’ve heard that before. What’s Albinism?”

“It’s a lack of pigment.” Tobirama shuts his mouth in anticipation of the fish exploding, which is does and makes Izuna groan in irritation. Then Tobirama continues, “Your skin, your hair, your eyes, they all have pigmentation that give them colour. My hair, my eyes, my skin, it lacks the pigmentation. It also means I’m more sensitive to the sunlight than you would be. I burn more easily, my eyes are phototrophic.”

“Photo-what?”

“Sunlight can make me blind.”

“So. It’d be to my advantage to fight you on a sunny battlefield.”

Tobirama snorts and slaps another fish down in front of Izuna, “No. When I’m on the battlefield, I have seals that prevent the sun from affecting my preformance. Do you know what you did wrong then?”

“I don’t even know the right way to do it!” Izuna exclaims.

Tobirama rolls his eyes but slides the fish in front of him, and shows Izuna what he does the best he can, since explaining clearly didn’t help. Izuna watches raptly as Tobirama revives the fish, and then immediately kills it.

“You are cold.”

“It’s a fish. You’re going to explode it anyways.”

“Why are you so certain?”

“Anija went through a dozen before he succeeded. Most go through more. Our doctors always hate when new recruits are training because it means an entire room of the hospital just smells of exploded fish.”

Izuna gets through two more before he decides to practice somewhere he has access to a bath. Tobirama smiles, and soaks him with one of his water jutsu’s. At Izuna’s irate screech, both Hashirama and Madara turn to look at them, and promptly go over.

“Why do you look like a drowned cat?” Madara asks, holding Izuna back from attacking Tobirama.

“Tobiiiii, what did you do?” Hashirama asks, rests his head on Tobirama’s shoulder.

“He was complaining about the smell of fish. I washed him off.”

“Tobi.”

“You dirty- I’m going-” Izuna just screeches, struggling against Madara’s hold.

“Why were you two exploding fish? Hashirama just said not to worry.”

“Izuna expressed an interest in learning Iryoninjutsu, I was simply teaching him the basics.” Tobirama states, shrugging.

“Hey, Hashirama, how long does it take to get good at Iryoninjutsu?” Izuna demands, glaring at Tobirama.

“Um.” Hashirama furrows his brow in thought, “I think maybe two?” Tobirama shrugs when Hashirama looks to him for confirmation, “Around two years I think. Neither of us are a good basis. I naturally do it, Tobirama started learning when he was five. So. I dunno. It takes a while though.”

“Years?!”

“Tobi can probably teach you faster once you get the basics down though.” Hashirama states, “He’s good at skipping over the unnecessary steps.”

Tobirama hums, “They’re not unnecessary, but there is not always much point in learning them if it’s not your focus.”

“What is Izuna’s focus?”

“And why are you even interested in Iryoninjutsu?” Madara asks, making a face at Izuna.

“Advanced Serious Mechanics.” Tobirama states, shrugging and dislodging Hashirama from his shoulder, making his brother stand up straight.

“Wow. That’ll take a while.”

“Mmhmm.” Tobirama agrees.

“How long of a while?”

“How long did it take you?” Hashirama asks, looking to Tobirama.

“Ignoring all the time spent convincing Chichi-ue I wasn’t stupid? At least a year for all of them.” Izuna groans again. “Best start practicing.”

“You’re mean.”

“Yes. Teaching is a torture technique.” Tobirama deadpans and both Uchiha look at him with wide eyes. Tobirama’s not entirely sure if they would’ve been aware of the Uchiha Tobirama had tortured with Biochemistry and essays, but they might’ve. Honestly, it was more of a Tobirama had no idea what to do with the three Uchiha prisoners he wasn’t allowed to kill but was expected to torture. He didn’t like hurting people, and there wasn’t any information Chichi-ue had expected from them. He just wanted Tobirama to make their lives hell. So, they got locked in his lab, and at all of nine, Tobirama assigned them all textbooks to read and essays to write while he did his own research. Thoroughly ignoring all their attempts at angering him or escape. They had been thoroughly confused and shaken when they had finally been released.

Chichi-ue had laughed when Tobirama told him what he had done. And never made him torture anyone again.

“Tobi don’t be mean.” Hashirama scolds. “You’re not torturing Izuna.”

“...Debatabe. Some of our techniques could definitely be qualified as torture.”

Madara clears his throat, “Um. Right. Well, we should be getting back.”

“Oh, ok! It was nice meeting you Izuna!”

“I’m coming back! Tobirama said he’d teach me and I’m holding you to that!” Izuna exclaims.

“Great.” Madara mutters and jumps into the trees without another word.

“Why are you teaching Izuna our secret techniques?” Hashirama asks after the Uchiha had been gone for a while.

“Because. He asked. And it will absolutely be torture.” Tobirama smirks slightly. In reality, he was hoping it could be seen as an olive branch. Hopefully sharing their techniques could be the first step to actual peace.

“You are. So evil.”

“Probably. Want to deal with the Hagoromo?”

“...Sure. Not like there’s anything else to do.” Hashirama shrugs and then head off in the direction of the Hagoromo squad they were told to avoid.

Tajima was thoroughly confused. He had sent Izuna out to see where Madara kept going when he left the compound, and they come back together. Madara grumpy, presumably at being followed, but Izuna makes a beeline for Wataru-san, talking a mile a minute and dragging the man to the hospital. Tajima blinks after them, and looks down at Madara.

“What.”

“He wants to learn Iryoninjutsu.” Madara grumbles, then glares. “You sent him to follow me!”

Tajima arches an eyebrow, “Yes. You don’t tell me where you’re going or what you’re doing. Of course I’m sending someone to follow you. Time and place for secrets Madara. Why does Izuna care about Iryoninjutsu?”

“Ask him. You’re asking everything of him.” Madara grumps and stomps away.

Well. Tajima needed to talk to Izuna anyways.

“I told you to stay away from them!”

“You also told us to stick together! Tobi wanted to go after them was I just supposed to stay back?” Hashirama argues, glaring up at their father.

“You’re supposed to stop him!”

“How can I stop Tobi when he wants to do something?” Hashirama whines. “When does he ever want to do something that’s not research?” Hashirama asks, gesturing to where Tobirama was sitting, reading the medical texts he was forced to abandon earlier. Part of him was offended, the other part was aware that Hashirama wasn’t wrong. Just. He never found interest in things other than research. It’s not like it was a bad thing.

“No! You do not- Do not use your brother as a rationalization!”

“Why not? He’s uses me constantly!”

Chichi-ue groans. “Both of you, just, why can’t you just behave?”

“Because you raised us to be intelligent and yet constantly act in the stupidest of ways?” Tobirama mutters lowly, mostly to himself. He assumed he was far enough away that neither Hashirama nor Chichi-ue would hear him.

He was wrong. “What was that?”

Tobirama blinks, looking up at Chichi-ue. “I’d. Rather not repeat it. Sorry, Chichi-ue.”

“No.” Chichi-ue refutes, “Explain yourself. How are my actions stupid?”

Tobirama would like out of this conversation. Please. Please.

“You send us out to die at seven! How stupider can you get!” Hashirama cuts in angrily.

But Chichi-ue. Chichi-ue doesn’t even look at Hashirama, he holds up a hand to Hashirama, keeping his eyes on Tobirama. “You can speak later, Hashirama.” Damnit. “Tobirama. Explain yourself.”

“Is that. Necessary? I’m really sorry Chichi-ue, I didn’t mean to say anything.” Tobirama tries, hoping enough apologies will get him out of this. They don’t.

“Yes. Explain yourself.” And now Chichi-ue was getting angry. Well shit.

“I. In my opinion, I simply find some, rationale you use... unwise. The actions you take in certain circumstances to be, irrational.” Tobirama states, as politely as he possibly could.

“Irrational how?” Tobirama would like to die. He does not want to have this conversation. It was one thing to call Uchiha-dono stupid, the man couldn’t and wouldn’t, do anything in retaliation. And Tobirama wouldn’t see him in friendly circumstances ever again.

Calling Chichi-ue stupid will have consequences, and Tobirama has to live with him. “Can I be excused from this conversation?”

“No. Irrational how?”

“I, I am aware your rational for your actions will no doubt be clear should- when I get older, but right now, I do not find rationality in continuing our war with the Uchiha on the sole basis of revenge and pride.” Tobirama states carefully. “It just, seems childish and stupid, to continue fighting and killing each other when there’s not a real basis to the battles. Can I be excused yet?” Tobirama is about ten seconds away from just running away regardless. Hashirama was of no help. Normally it was Tobirama stepping in between Chichi-ue and Hashirama, Hashirama has no basis on what to do. Tobirama’s not even sure what Hashirama could do. Chichi-ue had already shut down Hashirama’s attempt to bait him.

“No.” Yeah, no, fuck it. Tobirama’s out. Chichi-ue opens his mouth to ask something else, and Tobirama bolts out the door. “Tobirama!”

Does Tobirama immediately shunsin to the Hospital and run into Tanaka-san’s office? Yes. Chichi-ue doesn’t like the hospital and, like any sane being, is scared of the doctors. Tanaka-san raises an eyebrow as Tobirama hides behind his desk.

“I don’t think you’ve done this since you were eight.”

“Chichi-ue was making me talk. I did not want to.” Tobirama states, clutching his knees against his chest. Tanaka-san, the ass, snorts.

“I think that was your reasoning then too.”

And... yeah, it probably was. But more in the form of Chichi-ue was just, straight up making Tobirama talk in general, and not letting Hashirama just decide what Tobirama was thinking and wanting and going with it as he had allowed them to do for several years. Sometimes, Tobirama preferred that. Hashirama knew him better then. He was never wrong with Tobirama’s wants. But Chichi-ue obviously wanted Tobirama to use his words, despite Tobirama finding them irritating and stupid. Well. He found the way he had to speak irritating and stupid. Chichi-ue gave up on getting him to be polite after several months, content to let Tobirama talk how he wants; blunt, honest, and straightforward, in exchange for Tobirama actually talking.

“I accidentally called him stupid. He wanted me to explain.” Tanaka-san snorts and starts laughing in earnest at that. “Dick.”

“Tobirama. That man has spent the whole day on a warpath of every Shinobi he’s ever sent out with kids because he found out they don’t do shit to help. Apparently from you, and you called him stupid?” Tanaka-san points out, still laughing.

“He asked why we couldn’t behave, I didn’t even mean to say it out loud, but I said because he raised us to be intelligent and he was being stupid.” Tobirama admits.

“...You’re not wrong.”

“He asked me explain what I meant. And did not allow me to be excused from the conversation so I ran.”

Tanaka-san arches an eyebrow, “You call adults stupid all the time. And more than happily explain why they are.”

“I don’t have to deal with those adults ever again. I have to deal with Chichi-ue every day.”

“Fair. Why is Butsuma-sama stupid? In your opinion?”

“All adults are. You care more about getting revenge for the dead than about saving the lives of the living.” Tobirama states, curling in on himself a little more. He, doesn’t really talk about this stuff with adults he knows. It’s uncomfortable. “Chichi-ue will keep us at war with the Uchiha because they deserve to die for killing our clansmen, and the Uchiha will keep at war with us because we deserve to die for killing their clansmen. At what point is it enough? At what point will enough people be dead? Blood for blood, life for life, it’ll just kill us all in the end. The Elders preach and rant about the fall of our clan anytime Hashirama suggests peace, but won’t we fall anyways when we’re all dead?”

“Do you expect people to just give up? Let go of their need for revenge?” Tanaka-san asks. “Did you not go after the people who killed Itama and Kawarama?”

“Yes. But like I told the last adult, adults should not have an eleven year old’s rationale. The fact that you compare my desire for revenge with grown adults shows you know their reasoning is childish and immature! Should adults not be better than a petty child? Or is that all adults are? Petty children who never grew out of it?” Tobirama challenges. “How can a clan survive when they constantly send their children out to die? How can a clan thrive when they can’t look past their own egos to the horrors they subject their people to?”

“Is this how you get adults to shut up? Ask them questions they don’t want to answer?” Tanaka-san asks, amused.

“I want them to answer them. If they don’t have a good answer that’s on them. Any clan head should consider what’s best for the clan and if their current state is what’s best and if it could be improved. They should consider if they have any problems with how the clan is currently run and make changes if they do. Uchiha Tajima found issue with my potential rape, but would not with my death or with the rape of older shinobi. He could not give a concrete reasoning as to why child rape broke rules for him but not general rape or child death. Therefore, he either has an issue with both or one, but for some reason cannot stop either and decides to comfort himself with a ridiculous compromise.”

“I’m sorry. Potential rape?” Tanaka-san.

Tobirama waves his hand, “I’m fine. I wasn’t injured. If Chichi-ue wanted us to be obedient little soldiers, he either shouldn’t have raised us to be so smart, or he shouldn’t make stupid decisions. If he wasn’t so stupid we wouldn’t misbehave.” Tobirama grumbles. “Not that we actually misbehave.”

“Tobirama, I have known you a long time, you take behaving as following the rules to the letter, not the spirit.” Tanaka comments dryly. “I’m not entirely sure Butsuma-sama thinks you behave.”

Tobirama sticks his tongue out at Tanaka-san. “Behaving is subjective. But that doesn’t matter.”

“No, I suppose it doesn’t. What’s your opinion on all this Butsuma-sama?” Tobirama freezes, and considers the window in front of him. He could jump out. He would be fine. He could survive.

“Don’t you dare jump out that window.” Chichi-ue orders.

Well, fuck.

“Hi Chichi-ue. How long have you been here?” Tobirama asks, burying his face in his knees, not bothering to get up. He was in so much trouble.

“Long enough. Get out from behind Tanaka-san’s desk.”

“Do I have to?” Tobirama whines.

Silence answered him for the longest time before Chichi-ue sighs and says, “No. Tanaka-san?”

Tanaka-san, the traitor, stands up and exits his office. And Chichi-ue rounds the desk, leaning against the wall behind it, crossing his arms and looking down at Tobirama. Tobirama forces himself to look up, but not all the way, he manages to look at Chichi-ue’s stomach and can’t make himself look up further. “You’ve never said any of this before.”

“You get angry when Anija tries to talk about it.”

“Hashirama does not think things through. He will suggest things and act on them without thinking of all that goes into it. You do not. Very rarely do you act without thinking. Only when you’re distressed, actually.” Chichi-ue points out. “If you had brought your own thoughts with Hashirama I might’ve been more inclined to listen.”

“No you wouldn’t.” Tobirama refutes. “I’m eleven, Anija’s thirteen. We’re stupid children who don’t understand the complexities of life and our opinions wouldn’t count for anything because we’re too naive to understand what's going on.” Was Tobirama repeating things he had been told before? Yes. Did he believe them? No. Did Chichi-ue believe it? Tobirama didn't know.

Chichi-ue remains silent for a while. Tobirama clutches his knees a little tighter the longer Chichi-ue remains silent. This wasn’t good. “How would you go about peace?”

Tobirama blinks, surprised, and for the first time looks up at Chichi-ue’s face. He wasn’t mad. He was curious. Tobirama blinks again, but then starts considering Chichi-ue’s question, looking away to think for a few seconds. “We have those Uchiha prisoners still, right?”

“Mmhmm.”

“Have they been tortured?”

“...I locked them in your lab, so. Debatable.”

“If they broke anything I’m going to scream.” Tobirama mutters, then at a normal volume, “Ok. Then, we return them. No fanfare, no demands, nothing in return. In a week, we send a ceasefire request. If they agree, we can meet for peacetalks.”

Chichi-ue nods, but Tobirama doubts he’d actually go through with the plan. But, he was listening. He was thinking about it. So, maybe he was just going to change it, shift it into working with the political climate Tobirama is unacquainted with. “And the Elders?”

“...Fuck.” Tobirama mutters, dropping his forehead to his knees. “Can’t we just. Kill them and get new ones?”

Chichi-ue was silent for a second before saying, “No.” Sounding far too amused for the topic. “As much as I would like to. No. There’d be more problems with that.”

Tobirama huffs, “Fine. Talk to the younger shinobi, the ones who aren’t numb to the loss, if you get the support of the majority of the clan, the Elders will have a hard time arguing.”

“Really?”

“Either the Elders will listen, or we don’t.”

Chichi-ue huffs, “It doesn’t work like that.”

Tobirama squints at Chichi-ue, “You’re clan head. I thought the Elders were just advisors. What kind of leader can’t ignore his adivsors? Especially when those advisors are hated by most of the clan?” Tobirama challenges, Chichi-ue considers his words for a second before nodding once, conceding the point.

“And what if the Uchiha see the prisoner release as a manipulation tactic?”

“They will. So we have to show we’re not going to manipulate them. None of this is false, we just want peace.”

“Do you think this will work?”

Tobirama shrugs, “Maybe. But we won’t know until we try.” Tobirama admits, then adds, “This is going better than I thought it would. My initial plan was very different.”

“Oh? What was your initial plan?”

Tobirama’s eyes blow wide, and um. No. He does not want to tell Chichi-ue he was considering killing him. “Um. You know that Kinjutsu I made a while back?” Tobirama asks hesitantly, he’s made a lot. He’s really hoping Chichi-ue wouldn’t remember the right one.

Chichi-ue furrows his brow in thought for a few seconds before it deepens in anger, “Were you going to kill me or mind control me?!”

Ohhh, Tobirama had forgotten about his mind control technique. Huh. That would be a lot easier. They could use it on the Elders!

“Tobirama!”

Tobirama blinks, looking up at Chichi-ue and decides.

Nope.

Not having this conversation.

So he does the sensible thing.

And dives out the window.

“Tobirama! We’re talking about this!”

No.

Not if Tobirama has anything to do about it.