Chapter Text
A small, white-haired boy stood in front of a tall, dark-skinned man. The man watched the child silently.
“Father?” the child asked, fidgeting uneasily. “What’s going o–”
“You will stop calling me that from now on,” the man cut him off.
The boy hesitated. “Butsuma-sama?”
“That will do,” the man nodded. “Now… as I was saying, you will be joining the clan on the battlefield tomorrow.”
The child’s eyes widened. “Tomorrow? But Anija hasn’t gone to battle yet.”
“He will go to battle when I say so. As will you, boy.”
The small room was cast into silence. Butsuma stood by the door for a few seconds longer, watching the child with unreadable eyes.
“Tomorrow,” he continued eventually, “will be the first time you interact with the rest of the clan, which is why I don’t want you going around claiming to be my son. Is this understood?”
The child nodded again. “Yes… fa… Butsuma-sama.”
“Good. See to it that you find some armor that fits you.”
“You’re going to battle!?” a brunette demanded. He was a little younger, around for or five, and his eyes shone with admiration.
“I am,” the white-haired child replied matter-of-factly, rifling through a weapons box.
“You need to tell me everything when you get back! Not even Hashi-nii-san has been allowed there yet!”
“Ask uncle or f… father if you want details.”
“But nii-chan, they always tell the same stories.”
“Then ask someone else.”
“But, but, but – I wanna hear what it’s like from you! I bet you’re gonna have a duel with… with the Uchiha heir!”
“I sure hope not.”
“Boooring.”
A woman was watching the two children, leaning against the armory’s door frame as she did. Her face was creased in a somber expression, the skin of her face pale and taut. Gray hairs at her temples gave her the air of someone aged beyond her years. A hand rested over her swollen stomach, caressing it almost absentmindedly as she regarded the two children digging through the weapons box.
“Tobira-chan,” she murmured after a while. “Come, we will have to adjust that helmet for you,” she said.
Tobira, who was sporting an ill-fitting helmet and red armor put on backwards now, turned toward her. “Is that possible? I thought a blacksmith was needed for that.” He stepped closer, clutching a rusted katana to his chest. It was almost half his height. The woman plucked the helmet off his head and sighed, stroking the snowy hair with slow movements.
“Your mother knows a thing or two about bending metal."
“Really? But Mom, the forge isn’t a place for women!” the second child cut in.
“Now where did you hear that, Kawa-kun?”
“I dunno. Everywhere?”
The woman sighed, interrupting her stroking of Tobira’s head. “What the people don’t know won’t hurt them. Now. Run along back to the main house, my little river. We will be awhile at the forge.”
Kawa pouted. “But mom… I wanna see you adjust nii-chan's armor for him!”
“He can show you tomorrow, if you manage to get up in time. Now off you go.”
After she’d finished adjusting Tobira’s helmet and facial protections to fit his slight frame, mother ducked back to the shed with him, a conspiratorial smile on her tired face.
“What they won’t know can’t hurt ‘em,” she’d announced cheerfully. “Here, I’ve even brought some rice balls to eat! Saury, too. Your favorite.”
Tobira smiled at the rice balls and inhaled, then wrinkled his nose when he noticed another smell wafting through the air.
“Only you like how that incense smells.”
“I’ll have you know this incense is very expensive.”
“It smells like a weird doll.”
She laughed. “I don’t know where you got that impression from. My mother used to light it all the time.”
“I still don’t like it.”
“Hush, you. It’s good for falling asleep.”
“I don’t wanna sleep, mom. I want to… I want to stay with you longer.”
“And you will. I’m not going anywhere, Tobira. We still have some time before the sun sets and you have to go to sleep.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Eat your rice balls and shut it. You’re going to sleep when I say so! Tomorrow is a big day and you have to be well rested, young man.”
“No.”
“Yes. Come on.”
In the end, after the rice balls were finished and the incense had burned out, when all the light that remained was a lone candle, they’d burrowed into the covers of Tobira’s tatami, and Mother had held him as they listened to the rain prattle above them.
“Ne, Tobira… how much has your father taught you about battle?” she asked, when he was almost asleep. He burrowed deeper into her neck and said nothing. Later, after she thought he’d already fallen into slumber, he felt her chest shaking imperceptibly. Her fingers carded through his hair all night long.
At sunrise, he was woken up by the sound of Mother calling his name. She helped him into his armor and helmet. He wanted to take the sword he’d found, but she told him not to.
“It will slow you down, Tobira. You need to be fast today, my little astragal.”
“But… I’m supposed to fight?”
“You are not supposed to fight. Least of all with a sword you don’t know how to use. Better a shield than a sword, always. At the first sign of danger, I want you to duck and cover, okay? And don’t let them send you to the front lines. If anyone tries to, you run off and make a scene, okay, Tobira?”
They were interrupted before he could answer. Against all predictions, Kawa had managed to wake up on his own – and he had brought company.
“Anija,” Tobira greeted. His eyes had widened with surprise as he regarded the taller boy who had come with Kawa. His head was shaven clean off, and only an apricot-like stubble remained. His grin was brighter than even Kawa’s.
“Tobi!” the boy shouted. “I can’t believe dad’s letting you go to the front already! And you didn’t tell me, you jerk! Man, I’m so jealous!”
“Hashirama Senju, either you keep your voice down or you go back to your room.” Mom cut in irritably. “You two aren’t even supposed to be here.”
“Sorry, mom!”
“Ne, nii-chan, can I try your helmet on?” Kawa had his own agenda, it seemed.
“Hey, wait, me too!”
“You two can do that some other day. If you don’t hurry, the maid will discover you two are out of bed. She’s checking the kitchen already, so say goodbye to your brother and go.”
“But moooom–”
“Now.”
“How do you always know where everyone is like that?” Hashirama complained, grabbing Kawa by the scruff of his collar and dragging him out the door. “Anyways, good luck, little brother!”
“Kill lots of Uchiha for us!” Kawa yelled excitedly.
“Bye,” Tobira managed.
Then it was just him and mom. She didn’t cry this time. She fussed over his armor one last time, tutting over all the latches and fastening his helmet just so. She bustled off to find something more to eat on the way. She asked whether he knew how to get to the main square one last time. Finally, she gave him a long hug and then let go to take a good long look at him, holding his face in her hands as she did.
“You’ll stay in the back, Tobira. You have to, do you hear me? Don’t let anyone tell you to go elsewhere.”
“I will, I promise.”
“And you’ll run if an Uchiha sees you.”
“Yes, mom.”
“And you’ll close your eyes the second you see a sharingan.”
“Yes.”
“No! That was a trick question. If you see a sharingan you’ve already lost. You don’t look into anyone’s eyes, is that understood?”
“Yes, mom.”
“Oh, Tobira.” She stroked his cheek one last time.
“I have to go,” he said quietly.
“I know.” She kissed his forehead, like she did every night. “You have to be faster than them. You promise me that, alright?”
“I promise, mom.”
He turned and ran out the door.
The general had taken a look at him and sent him to the front of the group, where no other children were… He’d tried to do what mom told him to and say no, but the man had barked at him in a no-nonsense voice that he either listened or didn’t, but he wouldn’t like the consequences, and then he’d hit him, hard, and Tobira had gone. He’d just have to tell mom that he hadn’t been to the front line so she wouldn’t worry. He’d made it out today.
“Nii-chan, come on! You’re soo boring…! I wanna know what it’s like!”
“I already told you.”
“You only said what everyone says! That people were fighting and stuff, but I already knew that!”
“Then why are you asking, Kawa?”
“Because! Because I wanna know if you saw any Uchiha! Did any of them die?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“Like most people in a war.”
“Boooring! I want details!”
“Shove them up your nose.”
Tobira had seen an Uchiha die. He had even smelled it. The clansmen around him had thrown an explosive into the trench where Tobira had seen a little head poking out a second ago, and then the other boy – the Uchiha, though he didn’t have red eyes – jumped out of the hole and fell to the ground, right in front of Tobira. He had been a similar age.
'Kaa-san! Kaa-san!'
He screamed for his mother as he burned to death.
Later, their division had pressed forward and Tobira had taken cover in the very trench the boy had died, lying down next to him. He had noticed the ofuda clutched in a death grip in his hand. It was a blessing from a shrine. A beautiful picture of a fox was painted next to the kanji on it. That meant the ofuda was a blessing from Inari, the kami of rice and the harvest. Inari was Tobira’s favorite deity because mother always prayed to him, always lighting that old man incense that his grandma had favored. Mom had a lot of ofuda just like this one. Before he’d been sent to the battlefield, Tobira had had seen people that died get taken to the great temple, and from temple to the cemetery. This was a different death.
“Come on, Anija! Don’t leave us hanging here,” Hashirama needled, giving him a puppy dog look along with Kawa.
Sighing, Tobira pulled out the ofuda and held it out to him. “I found this lying around.”
He had taken it from the Uchiha child before he even knew what he was doing.
Kawa grasped it with greedy hands and scanned the charm with interest. After staring at it for a few seconds, his face fell. “But nii-chan, this is just like the ofuda we have at home! What’s so special about it?”
He passed it off to Hashirama, who blinked at it with equal confusion. “It has blood on the back.”
“Wait! Can I see?”
“Nu-huh, you already had your turn. Hey, Tobi, where did you get this? Is it from somebody we know?”
Tobira cast him a dark look and said nothing.
“Come on, where?”
“Yeah, spill,” Hashirama egged on. “Did it fall off uncle Rinosuke’s pocket? He’s so religious!”
Both stared at him expectantly.
“An Uchiha had it,” Tobira admitted.
Both boys stilled. “What?” Kawa asked incredulously.
“Uchiha have gods?” Hashirama wondered, staring at the charm. “I thought dad said they’re demons.”
“They’re not demons, idiot. They’re human,” Tobira cut off.
“But Inari-sama gives us protection! Why would he protect the Uchiha too? You must’ve made a mistake, nii-chan!”
Tobira frowned, remembering how that boy had screamed for his mother. “I don’t think Inari-sama would care a lot who gives him offerings as long as he gets them.”
“But! But! It’s the Uchiha! Do you think they’re bribing him with lots of rice balls?”
Hashirama was quiet throughout. “What do you think we should do with the ofuda?” he asked into the silence.
“Give it to mom,” Tobira suggested.
“But an Uchiha had it!”
“So? It’s still an ofuda.”
“You’re so callous, Tobi. We can’t give this to mom .”
Tobira huffed irritably. “Fine, give it back, then. I’ll keep it.”
He snatched the ofuda from his brother’s hands and stuffed it in his pocket.
“I know you’re cheating, Tobibaka! Don’t deny it!”
“That’s not my name – and I’m not, Owl Eyes!”
“Oh, yeah? And how else do you always know when I’m sneaking up on you?”
“Maybe because you’re loud enough to wake the dead?”
“I’m not loud!”
“No, of course not.”
“Stop being sarcastic, you jerk!”
“I’ll stop being sarcastic when you stop waving your katana around like a chopstick. Aren’t you the son of a kenjutsu instructor?”
“Shut your face!”
“Oi, Tobirama, where are you?”
Both of the arguing boys turned, glancing at the adult approaching them..
“I’m here, sensei.”
The wizened man approached quickly. “Dad, what’s going on?” asked Owl Eyes.
“I don’t know, Akio. I sure hope it’s nothing.” The man sighed. “Tobirama, the clan head is looking for you.”
“The clan head?” exclaimed Owl Eyes with even bigger eyes than usual. “Why?”
“I’ll go. Please excuse me.”
“Tobirama, you’ve proven that you’re my son. You may call me father in public from now on.”
Tobirama stared at the tall man with wide eyes.
Silence.
“I’m told you have developed sensory abilities,” Butsuma added.
“...yes… father.”
Butsuma crossed his arms. “Good. It seems my blood flows through your veins after all. Now, in light of this discovery, you will join the clan’s guard rotation. I want you to practice your sensing every day, understood?”
“Yes, father.” Tobirama hesitated. “Does that… does that mean I will be excluded from battle now?”
“No. Once a warrior, always a warrior. However, I’ve had a word with our general about not sending you to the front lines again.”
“Thank you, father… but I would prefer – my friend is still –”
“What friend?”
“Akio. He’s the son of the kenjutsu instructor–”
“What instructor?”
“Uh. Souseki-sensei, but–”
“Hm. That man isn’t nearly competent enough to train my flesh and blood.” Butsuma glared down at him. “You will join your uncle’s sparring group from now on.”
“Alright, but Akio – he’s still stationed at the front lines, can’t you–?”
“That boy isn’t anyone a son of mine should be talking with,” Butsuma said dismissively. “Was that all of your concerns?” Tobirama said nothing. “Good. Then come with me, I will introduce you to your uncle.”
Owl Eyes was killed two months later. An Uchiha child with blazing eyes jumped forward and jammed a senbon into his eye. As Owl Eyes stumbled, the Uchiha pierced his naginata across his neck.
Tobirama saw red. He shot forward, past his elders and his general, past the trenches and into the front line, and then past even that, until he’d reached Owl Eyes. And then he swung his katana, just like Uncle Rinosuke had taught him, and he beheaded the Uchiha who had killed him in turn.
A boy, who had been standing slightly behind the Uchiha, screamed.
“Shun! Shun! Shun!” He continued to shout his name, rushing to crouch next to Owl Eyes’ murderer and grasping at his prone form with trembling hands, at his severed head, at –
Bot Tobirama barely even heard him. Reality was a blur as he stared at his best friend’s body.
Owl eyes was dead. He’d never call him Tobibaka again. He’d never smile again. He was dead–
An Uchiha killed him.
Tobirama crouched and heaved his best friend over his shoulders, casting the naginata that had killed him aside. Distantly, he heard his uncle screaming at him.
“Tobirama, you fool! Drop that dead weight and get your ass back here–!”
No.
No, he wouldn’t. He’d carry him back–
He turned, feeling almost as if someone else were doing so, and began to drag Owl Eyes back to the safer area, back to uncle and the generals–
“You! I’ll kill you!” a voice yelled out. “You monster!”
It was the same voice had been screaming ‘Shun’ over and over again, the voice belonging to the boy who had tried to put Shun’s head back on his neck with hands that trembled so hard they’d dropped a kunai. It was then that Tobirama made a fatal mistake: he glanced back. Into the boy’s eyes.
He had seen earlier that they were black still, which meant it would be safe to do so – but in that moment they bloomed red.
Sharingan! every fiber of his being screeched, and yet, he couldn’t look away.
Why couldn’t he look away?
This was the first sharingan he’d ever seen, which many said was the last. And yet, despite all the warnings he’d heard in his life, time and time again, about not looking into those red eyes, they still pinned him in place.
Fir a moment, he and the boy just stared at each other.
“Izuna!” someone shouted far off.
“Tobirama!” His uncle screamed.
More shouting on both sides. All Tobirama could hear was static, and all he could see was red. Red like the blood splatter Owl Eyes had left on the pavement, red like the spray that had hit Tobirama as he beheaded his only friend’s killer.
The boy with the sharingan looked a little girly, with unmarred skin that was as pale as a doll’s, and also a little dumb, with hair tousled up like a duck’s reqr feathers. But
For a moment, Tobirama stared into just another boy’s face, and in the next second he stared at death.
His mother, lying on the ground as she bled out, a myriad of senbon stabbed through her pregnant belly.
He saw his anija, bones twisted unnaturally.
He saw Kawa, hanging from a rope.
He saw the baby inside mom – he’d felt her bump against his hand a few times, the warmth of an extra chakra – he’d imagined it would be a girl with a blinding smile, only now his little sister to be lay dead in her crib, a kunai stabbed into her throat.
They were all dead, like Owl Eyes. He didn’t realize he’d been screaming until a hand slapped him hard, the pain turning his cheek the other way. The coppery taste of blood bloomed in his mouth.
As he jolted into clarity, the images disappeared, replaced by his uncle’s face hovering over him. “You little fool! Never look into an Uchiha’s eyes again! You’re lucky that miscreant just awakened his sharingan or you’d be dead already–”
They were back at the other end of camp, where it was safe. Owl Eyes’ body had been moved to the body cart, wrapped into a cloth. His uncle kept talking, calling him an idiot and demanding he never be so stupid again, but Tobirama barely heard him.
Later, when he was clean of blood and home, he found his mom and pressed himself into her arms. Then he patted her belly to stroke his future sister – or brother, he supposed. After that, he went to see for himself that Kawa and Anija were alive. He saw them dead again that night, in his nightmares. The following morning, he attended Owl Eyes’ burial. Souseki-sensei thanked him for bringing the body back.
He asked mother about how to keep a shrine, and he lit her incense for the first time.
Sakura woke up, panting and covered in sweat.