I haven’t died!
***
Izuna stared at the group of children his patrol had stumbled across on their way back home. Five children to be precise, four of them sporting the Senju Clan emblem. The fifth looked nervous and resigned. He bore an odd six coin motif on his shirt.
The oldest, a blonde girl who was missing her front tooth, looked at the patrol with a frown.
“I thought for sure he would be here.”
The non Senju child groaned very quietly and hid his face in his hands, obviously giving up all hope. Weather it was hope for his companion or the situation in general was unknown.
“I told you this was stupid! Now if we don’t die here, our parents will kill us. And even if they don’t sensei will! We’re all gonna die and for a stupid reason!”
All the other children paled at that, except the oldest, who was looking at Izuna with open curiosity.
“Hey mister, you’re really pretty. Wanna trade places with my cousin? She’s kind of a jerk.”
Someone behind him choked on a laugh while the non Senju boy flushed bright red and looked to be praying for the ground to swollow him.
“Ah… no. I don’t think that would work out well for anyone involved.”
Catching sight of a rapidly approching figure, one that wasn’t even trying to hide his presence, many of the Uchiha shifted uncomfortably.
Surely he didn’t think they would harm these kids? Not after Kagami.
Instead of attacking, he stepped up behind the children, gave Izuna a greatful nod, then scowled down at the girl.
“Aeka.”
The voice, dry as dust, sent shivers down every spine in hearing range. The children’s expressions shifted rapidly between horror, delight and resignation. The girl who asked to trade her cousin went so pale Izuna thought she would faint.
“Sensei! I thought you were in a meeting?”
“I was. Until I noticed my students boarder crossing.”
Izuna wasn’t sure if the faint whimper came from him or one of the children. Either way he thought it a reasonable response.
Senju Tobirama was training the next generation of fighters.
“Oh… fuck me.”
***
So… sensei didn’t kill him. In fact he only had to run ten laps around the compound! Much better than the others, who had to run until they dropped. Hiro actually threw up from running so much. After the laps had been run Tobi-sensei had walked each of them home and made them explain what they had done.
Hiruzen was the last to go home, and Tobi-sensei had stopped him before knocking on the door.
“What you did was foolish and dangerous. However, it could have been much worse and you did well to let me know. But next time, come to me directly. It could save some ones life.”
He wound up grounded for a week, but he felt it was a small price to pay. Sensei wasn’t disappointed in him, his friends were alive and well and he got to see the Uchiha territory!
All was right in the world.
***
The world was ending. Everything was falling apart around him and it was that bastard Senju’s fault! All his careful plans, ruined. Madara was considering peace, Izuna was wailing about the end times and yet…
And yet he seemed more amused than anything. Something about the days encounter had changed his mind, just a little, just enough really.
Zetsu frowned.
How could one person with one small act of kindness, destroy decades of planning?
Tiny Kagami 4
Getting a letter from Hashirama so soon after Kagami’s little excursion wasn’t a surprise. The contents on the other hand…
He had expected a letter asking for peace talks, a meeting between old friends, blubbering praise for Tobirama (yes, there was a bit but not as much as he was expecting), something along those lines. Instead he got a letter urging him to keep “little Kagami” away from the Senju lands. The Senju Clan Elders, it would seem, were just as callous as the Uchiha Elders. Disgusting. Wanting to endanger a child to further the war.
Still, it was good to know his old friend hadn’t changed as much as he’d been led to believe. And learning that Tobirama shared his beliefs about children was welcome. Very welcome. The spies they had placed weren’t the most reliable, it would seem.
However he looked at it, the letter was as it appeared. Concern for a child and a gushing older brother being disgustingly proud of his little brother. Bastards, both of them. It was so much easier to lead his clan into battle thinking the spies reports about Hashirama going a bit mad were true.
Now, with the most recent battle and Kagamai himself providing so much evidence to the contrary, he wasn’t sure he could send his clansmen to their deaths so readily. It all seemed so unnecessary.
***
Hashirama froze in alarm when he saw his little brother stiffen n glare out the window in the middle of a meeting with the elders. The elders had noticed as well and seemed almost gleeful.
“Another visiter, Tobirama?”
If he hadn’t been watching his brother so closely Hashirama would have missed the slight twitching of his fingers. As it was he knew the warning signs and very nearly winced. Those poor brats picked a bad time to test Tobirama’s patience. That Sarutobi kid was a walking disaster and Hashirama was quite certian Tobi only trained him because his father had somehow become Tobi’s best friend.
“No. My students are going to be running laps until dusk. Anija, if you wouldn’t mind?”
Hashirama waved him off, turning his focus back to the elders, frowning at their disappointed looks. Bastards, the lot of them. How had they survived so long?
***
Hiruzen wanted it to be known, that for once, it wasn’t his fault. He had been the voice of reason this time! But the Senju kids were just so offended that an Uchiha kid was getting Tobirama sensei’s time and attention.
They had also been offended when he had joined their lessons but at least he was from an allied clan.
But this wasnt the same and they wanted to make sure this Kagami knew better than to think he had any right to their Tobirama-Sensei. He honestly couldn’t say who’s idea it was to go /to the Uchiha territory and tell him to stay away!/ but he had been carefully glaring his chakra at set intervals, knowing that his sensei would pick up on it and come to get them. And hopefully not kill him for this one.His prayers got more desperate as they approched the border and came face to face with a patrol.
“Fuck me…”
****
Life has been hectic. Have a short chapter. Just wanted to share this before life hits me like a train this weekend.
copyninken 